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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-Q |
[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006 |
or |
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from ________ to _______ |
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Commission File Number 001-31901 |
Protective Life Insurance Company |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Tennessee (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 63-0169720 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
2801 Highway 280 South Birmingham, Alabama 35223 (Address of principal executive offices and zip code) |
(205) 268-1000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) |
________________ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ] No [ ] |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer o Accelerated Filer o Non-accelerated filer ý Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ] |
Number of shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, outstanding as of May 15, 2006: 5,000,000 shares. |
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PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q For Quarter Ended March 31, 2006 INDEX |
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Part I. | Financial Information: | |
Item 1. | Financial Statements (unaudited): | |
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the | |
Three Months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 | |
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2006 | |
and December 31, 2005 | |
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the | |
Three Months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 | |
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements | |
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Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition | |
and Results of Operations | |
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Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |
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Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | |
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Part II. | Other Information: | |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | |
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Item 6. | Exhibits | |
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Signature | |
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PROTECTIVE LIFE INURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
160; Three Months Ended | |
160; March 31 | |
2006 | | | 2005 | |
Revenues | | | | | |
Gross premiums and policy fees | | $ | 480,748 | | $ | 466,705 | |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (249,086 | ) | | (279,534 | ) |
Net premiums and policy fees | | | 231,662 | | | 187,171 | |
Net investment income | | | 282,452 | | | 275,695 | |
Realized investment gains (losses): Derivative financial instruments | | | 19,324 | | | (5,847 | ) |
All other investments | | | 4,015 | | | 27,877 | |
Other income | | | 17,428 | | | 14,211 | |
Total revenues | | | 554,881 | | | 499,107 | |
Benefits and expenses Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (three months: 2006 - $240,821; 2005 - $261,546) | | | 349,608 | | | 300,435 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 49,262 | | | 74,251 | |
Other operating expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (three months: 2006 - $37,269; 2005 - $36,303) | | | 46,936 | | | 33,301 | |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 445,806 | | | 407,987 | |
Income before income tax | | | 109,075 | | | 91,120 | |
Income tax expense | | | 39,267 | | | 31,409 | |
Net income | | $ | 69,808 | | $ | 59,711 | |
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| March 31 | December 31 |
| 2006 | 2005 |
Assets Investments: Fixed maturities, at market (amortized cost: 2006 - $14,570,656; 2005 - $14,735,583) | | $ | 14,534,478 | | $ | 15,037,225 | |
Equity securities, at market (cost: 2006 - $82,041; 2005 - $79,322) | | | 87,900 | | | 85,340 | |
Mortgage loans on real estate | | | 3,411,337 | | | 3,287,745 | |
Investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation (2006 - $363; 2005 - $899) | | | 61,223 | | | 65,301 | |
Policy loans | | | 456,147 | | | 458,825 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 260,447 | | | 273,768 | |
Short-term investments | | | 829,251 | | | 755,805 | |
Total investments | | | 19,640,783 | | | 19,964,009 | |
Cash | | | 7,619 | | | 52,086 | |
Accrued investment income | | | 189,892 | | | 185,546 | |
Accounts and premiums receivable, net of allowance uncollectible amounts (2006 - $2,124; 2005 - $2,149) | | | 43,329 | | | 60,983 | |
Reinsurance receivables | | | 3,105,664 | | | 2,993,240 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 2,378,924 | | | 2,204,111 | |
Goodwill | | | 38,782 | | | 38,782 | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 40,560 | | | 41,484 | |
Other assets | | | 85,168 | | | 80,915 | |
Income tax receivable | | | 97,949 | | | 88,985 | |
Assets related to separate accounts Variable annuity | | | 2,447,968 | | | 2,377,124 | |
Variable universal life | | | 269,532 | | | 251,329 | |
| | $ | 28,346,170 | | $ | 28,338,594 | |
Liabilities Policy liabilities and accruals | | $ | 12,167,947 | | $ | 11,848,528 | |
Stable value product account balances | | | 5,873,092 | | | 6,057,721 | |
Annuity account balances | | | 3,330,897 | | | 3,388,005 | |
Other policyholders' funds | | | 146,637 | | | 147,233 | |
Other liabilities | | | 801,207 | | | 880,425 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 255,909 | | | 290,231 | |
Non-recourse funding obligations | | | 150,000 | | | 125,000 | |
Liabilities related to variable interest entities | | | 42,388 | | | 42,604 | |
Liabilities related to separate accounts Variable annuity | | | 2,447,968 | | | 2,377,124 | |
Variable universal life | | | 269,532 | | | 251,329 | |
| | | 25,485,577 | | | 25,408,200 | |
Commitments and contingent liabilities - Note 2 | | | | | | | |
Share-owner's equity Preferred Stock, $1 par value, shares authorized and issued: 2,000, liquidation preference $2,000 | | | 2 | | | 2 | |
Common Stock, $1 par value, shares authorized and issued: 5,000,000 | | | 5,000 | | | 5,000 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 932,805 | | | 932,805 | |
Note receivable from PLC Employee Stock Ownership Plan | | | (1,995 | ) | | (2,507 | ) |
Retained earnings | | | 1,959,417 | | | 1,889,611 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of income tax: (2006 - $(21,062); 2005 - $57,795) | | | (39,670 | ) | | 104,753 | |
Accumulated gain - hedging, net of income tax: (2006 - $2,673; 2005 - $393) | | | 5,034 | | | 730 | |
| | | 2,860,593 | | | 2,930,394 | |
| | $ | 28,346,170 | | $ | 28,338,594 | |
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended |
| March 31 |
| 2006 | 2005 |
Cash flows from operating activities Net income | | $ | 69,808 | | $ | 59,711 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Realized investment gains | | | (4,015 | ) | | (27,877 | ) |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 49,262 | | | 74,251 | |
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | (111,132 | ) | | (98,572 | ) |
Depreciation expense | | | 3,164 | | | 3,843 | |
Deferred income tax | | | 42,876 | | | 7,355 | |
Accrued income tax | | | (8,964 | ) | | 3,173 | |
Interest credited to universal life and investment products | | | 189,714 | | | 175,257 | |
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products | | | (119,662 | ) | | (96,921 | ) |
Change in reinsurance receivables | | | (112,424 | ) | | (86,144 | ) |
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables | | | 13,307 | | | (8,134 | ) |
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds of traditional life and health products | | | 262,122 | | | 157,264 | |
Change in other liabilities | | | (54,915 | ) | | 333,939 | |
Other, net | | | (14,006 | ) | | 732 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 205,135 | | | 497,877 | |
Cash flows from investing activities Investments available for sale: | | | | | | | |
Maturities and principal reductions of investments | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities | | | 265,356 | | | 422,148 | |
Equity securities | | | 0 | | | 94 | |
Sale of investments | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities | | | 2,073,708 | | | 1,028,680 | |
Equity securities | | | 1,858 | | | 1,326 | |
Cost of investments acquired | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities | | | (2,176,778 | ) | | (2,473,826 | ) |
Equity securities | | | (1,706 | ) | | (14,359 | ) |
Mortgage loans: | | | | | | | |
New borrowings | | | (262,617 | ) | | (131,113 | ) |
Repayments | | | 141,448 | | | 92,263 | |
Change in investment in real estate, net | | | 9,647 | | | 1,478 | |
Change in policy loans, net | | | 2,678 | | | 10,435 | |
Change in other long-term investments, net | | | 18,402 | | | 6,141 | |
Change in short-term investments, net | | | (83,017 | ) | | 276,533 | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | | (1,210 | ) | | (2,460 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (12,231 | ) | | (782,660 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | |
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and debt | | | 0 | | | (9 | ) |
Payments on liabilities related to variable interest entities | | | (216 | ) | | (457 | ) |
Issuance of non-recourse funding obligations | | | 25,000 | | | 0 | |
Investment product deposits and change in universal life deposits | | | 486,646 | | | 734,458 | |
Investment product withdrawals | | | (748,801 | ) | | (652,232 | ) |
Other financing activities, net | | | 0 | | | 125,000 | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | | (237,371 | ) | | 206,760 | |
Change in cash | | | (44,467 | ) | | (78,023 | ) |
Cash at beginning of period | | | 52,086 | | | 110,456 | |
Cash at end of period | | $ | 7,619 | | $ | 32,433 | |
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands)
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Protective Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the “Company") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006. The year-end consolidated condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation ("PLC").
Certain reclassifications have been made in the previously reported financial statements and accompanying notes to make the prior period amounts comparable to those of the current period. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or share-owner’s equity.
2. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Under insurance guaranty fund laws, in most states insurance companies doing business therein can be assessed up to prescribed limits for policyholder losses incurred by insolvent companies. The Company does not believe such assessments will be materially different from amounts already provided for in the financial statements. Most of these laws do provide, however, that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would threaten an insurer's own financial strength.
A number of civil jury verdicts have been returned against insurers and other providers of financial services involving sales practices, alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise representatives, relationships with agents or persons with whom the insurer does business, and other matters. Increasingly these lawsuits have resulted in the award of substantial judgments that are disproportionate to the actual damages, including material amounts of punitive and non-economic compensatory damages. In some states, juries, judges, and arbitrators have substantial discretion in awarding punitive and non-economic compensatory damages, which creates the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments or awards in any given lawsuit or arbitration. Arbitration awards are subject to very limited appellate review. In addition, in some class action and other lawsuits, companies have made material settlement payments. The Company, like other financial services companies, in the ordinary course of business, is involved in such litigation and arbitration. Although the outcome of any such litigation or arbitration cannot be predicted, the Company believes that at the present time there are no pending or threatened lawsuits that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.
3. Operating Segments
The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. A brief description of each segment follows:
· | The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance (collectively “traditional life”), universal life, variable universal life and “bank owned life insurance” (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and independent marketing organizations. |
· | The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals. |
· | The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent agents and brokers. |
· | The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans. |
· | The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product and a guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”) product. |
The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities), various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several small subsidiaries.
The Company uses the same accounting policies and procedures to measure segment operating income and assets as it uses to measure its consolidated net income and assets. Segment operating income is generally income before income tax, excluding net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and participating income from real estate ventures). Periodic settlements of derivatives associated with certain investments and annuity products are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of operating income because the derivatives are used to mitigate risk in items affecting consolidated and segment operating income. Segment operating income represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is internally assessed by management. Premiums and policy fees, other income, benefits and settlement expenses, and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs are attributed directly to each operating segment. Net investment income is allocated based on directly related assets required for transacting the business of that segment. Realized investment gains (losses) and other operating expenses are allocated to the segments in a manner that most appropriately reflects the operations of that segment. Investments and other assets are allocated based on statutory policy liabilities, while deferred policy acquisition costs and goodwill are shown in the segments to which they are attributable.
There are no significant intersegment transactions.
The following tables summarize financial information for the Company’s segments. Asset adjustments represent the inclusion of assets related to previously reported discontinued operations.
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Revenues | | | | | |
Life Marketing | | $ | 188,230 | | $ | 135,129 | |
Acquisitions | | | 101,451 | | | 102,546 | |
Annuities | | | 63,419 | | | 92,913 | |
Stable Value Products | | | 77,379 | | | 74,494 | |
Asset Protection | | | 69,218 | | | 64,760 | |
Corporate and Other | | | 55,184 | | | 29,265 | |
Total revenues | | $ | 554,881 | | $ | 499,107 | |
Segment Operating Income | | | | | |
Life Marketing | | $ | 39,983 | | $ | 37,698 | |
Acquisitions | | | 19,906 | | | 21,076 | |
Annuities | | | 4,396 | | | 3,811 | |
Stable Value Products | | | 12,344 | | | 14,399 | |
Asset Protection | | | 8,543 | | | 6,224 | |
Corporate and Other | | | 5,343 | | | 9,115 | |
Total segment operating income | | | 90,515 | | | 92,323 | |
| | | | | | | |
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1) | | | (1,311 | ) | | 5,465 | |
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2) | | | 19,871 | | | (6,668 | ) |
Income tax expense | | | (39,267 | ) | | (31,409 | ) |
Net income | | $ | 69,808 | | $ | 59,711 | |
| | | | | | | |
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments | | $ | 4,015 | | $ | 27,877 | |
Less participating income from real estate ventures | | | 5,326 | | | 0 | |
Less related amortization of DAC | | | 0 | | | 22,412 | |
| | $ | (1,311 | ) | $ | 5,465 | |
| | | | | | | |
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives | | $ | 19,324 | | $ | (5,847 | ) |
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps | | | 104 | | | 821 | |
Less derivative losses related to certain annuities | | | (651 | ) | | 0 | |
| | $ | 19,871 | | $ | (6,668 | ) |
Operating Segment Assets
March 31, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)
| | Life Marketing | | Acquisitions | | Annuities | | Stable Value Products | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Investments and other assets | | $ | 7,470,167 | | $ | 3,869,571 | | $ | 6,131,131 | | $ | 5,761,450 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 1,714,490 | | | 340,994 | | | 122,606 | | | 18,159 | |
Goodwill | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | |
Total assets | | $ | 9,184,657 | | $ | 4,210,565 | | $ | 6,253,737 | | $ | 5,779,609 | |
| | Asset Protection | | Corporate and Other | | Adjustments | | Total Consolidated | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Investments and other assets | | $ | 709,475 | | $ | 1,948,535 | | $ | 38,135 | | $ | 25,928,464 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 154,812 | | | 27,863 | | | 0 | | | 2,378,924 | |
Goodwill | | | 38,782 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 38,782 | |
Total assets | | $ | 903,069 | | $ | 1,976,398 | | $ | 38,135 | | $ | 28,346,170 | |
Operating Segment Assets
December 31, 2005
(Dollars in thousands)
| | Life Marketing | | Acquisitions | | Annuities | | Stable Value Products | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Investments and other assets | | $ | 7,205,218 | | $ | 3,940,294 | | $ | 6,062,542 | | $ | 5,959,112 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 1,584,121 | | | 304,837 | | | 128,930 | | | 19,102 | |
Goodwill | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | |
Total assets | | $ | 8,789,339 | | $ | 4,245,131 | | $ | 6,191,472 | | $ | 5,978,214 | |
| | Asset Protection | | Corporate and Other | | Adjustments | | Total Consolidated | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Investments and other assets | | $ | 718,389 | | $ | 2,172,036 | | $ | 38,110 | | $ | 26,095,701 | |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 159,740 | | | 7,381 | | | 0 | | | 2,204,111 | |
Goodwill | | | 38,782 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 38,782 | |
Total assets | | $ | 916,911 | | $ | 2,179,417 | | $ | 38,110 | | $ | 28,338,594 | |
4. Statutory Reporting Practices
Financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP differ in some respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. In accordance with statutory reporting practices, at March 31, 2006, and for the three months then ended, the Company and its insurance subsidiaries had combined capital and surplus of $1.4 billion and net loss of $58.3 million. At March 31, 2006, the combined asset valuation reserve held by the Company and its insurance subsidiaries was $103.1 million.
The statutory net loss for the first quarter of 2006 is the result of an increase in the level of reserves maintained for statutory reporting practices, combined with a loss from separate accounts related primarily to the Company’s market value adjusted annuities. An amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38 increased the level of statutory reserves required for certain universal life with secondary guarantee insurance products issued on or after July 1, 2005. Additionally, during 2005 statutory reserves required by Regulation XXX were reinsured with a special purpose finance captive insurance company wholly owned by the Company. A substantial portion of these reserves were previously reinsured with unaffiliated reinsurers.
5. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AcSEC”) issued SOP05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts.” This SOP provides guidance on accounting by insurance enterprises for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in FAS97. The SOP defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SOP05-1, which is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, but does not currently believe that its adoption will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” (“FAS155”). FAS155 amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS133”) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities” (“FAS140”) and resolves issues addressed in FAS133 DIG Issue D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interest in Securitized Financial Assets.” FAS155 eliminates the exemption from applying the bifurcation requirements of FAS133 to interests in securitized financial assets, in an effort to ensure that similar instruments are accounted for consistently regardless of the form of the instrument. The Company is currently evaluating the impact FAS155, which is effective January 1, 2007, but does not currently believe that its adoption will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
6. Comprehensive Income
The following table sets forth the Company's comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented below:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 |
| | | 2006 | 2005 |
| | | (Dollars in thousands) |
Net income | | | $ 69,808 | $ 59,711 |
Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments, net of income tax: (three months: 2006 - $(78,120); 2005 - $(44,440)) | | | (147,126) | (82,531) |
Change in accumulated gain-hedging, net of income tax: (three months: 2006 - $2,285; 2005 - $1,897) | | | 4,303 | 3,523 |
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of income tax: (three months: 2006 - $1,442; 2005 - $(9,757)) | | | 2,703 | (18,120) |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | | $ (70,312) | $(37,417) |
7. Retirement Benefit Plans
Components of the net periodic benefit cost of PLC’s defined benefit pension plan and unfunded excess benefits plan are as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Service cost - Benefits earned during the period | | $ | 2,576 | | $ | 2,104 | |
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations | | | 2,496 | | | 2,408 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (3,096 | ) | | (2,428 | ) |
Amortization of prior service cost | | | 64 | | | 82 | |
Amortization of actuarial losses | | | 1,272 | | | 789 | |
Net periodic benefit cost | | $ | 3,312 | | $ | 2,955 | |
PLC previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005, that it expected its defined benefit pension plan and unfunded excess benefits plan expenses for 2006 to be $7.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and these estimates have not changed. PLC’s estimated expense related to the defined benefit pension plan equals its expected contributions to the plan during 2006. As of March 31, 2006, no contributions have been made to the defined benefit pension plan.
In addition to pension benefits, PLC provides limited healthcare benefits and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees. The cost of these plans for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 was immaterial.
8. Non-Recourse Funding Obligations
The Company issued $25 million of non-recourse funding obligations during the first quarter of 2006, bringing the total amount outstanding to $150 million at March 31, 2006. The weighted average interest rate as of March 31, 2006, was 6.1%.
10. Stock-Based Compensation
Since 1973, PLC has had stock-based incentive plans to motivate management to focus on PLC’s long-range performance through the awarding of stock-based compensation. Under plans approved by share owners in 1997 and 2003, up to 6,500,000 PLC shares may be issued in payment of awards. Certain Company employees participate in PLC’s stock-based incentive plans and receive stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) from PLC.
Through December 31, 2005, PLC accounted for its stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“FAS123”), which was originally issued by the FASB in 1995. As originally issued, FAS123 provided companies with the option to either record expense for share-based payments under a fair value model, or to simply disclose the impact of the expense. Effective January 1, 2006, PLC adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS123R”), using the modified prospective method, and accordingly, prior periods have not been restated. FAS123R requires companies to measure the cost of share-based payments to employees using a fair value model and to recognize that cost over the relevant service period. Since PLC elected to recognize the cost of its share-based compensation plans in its financial statements when it originally adopted FAS123, the adoption of FAS123R in the first quarter of 2006 did not have a material impact on PLC’s financial position, results of operations, or earnings per share.
In addition, FAS123R requires that an estimate of future award forfeitures be made at the grant date, while FAS123 permitted recognition of forfeitures on an as incurred basis. Prior to the adoption of FAS123R, PLC accounted for forfeitures as they occurred. This change in method related to forfeitures also did not have a material impact on PLC’s financial position or results of operations.
Prior to adopting FAS123R, PLC presented all tax benefits of deductions resulting from payouts of stock based compensation as operating cash flows. FAS123R requires the cash flows resulting from excess tax benefits (tax deductions realized in excess of the compensation costs recognized for the exercise of the awards) from the date of adoption of FAS123R to be classified as a part of cash flows from financing activities. As a result of adopting FAS123R as of January 1, 2006, $2.4 million of excess tax benefits for the first quarter of 2006 have been classified as financing cash flows for PLC.
The criteria for payment of 2006 performance awards is based primarily upon a comparison of PLC’s average return on average equity over a four-year period (earlier upon the death, disability, or retirement of the executive, or in certain circumstances, upon a change in control of PLC) to that of a comparison group of publicly held life and multiline insurance companies. If PLC’s results are below the median of the comparison group (40th percentile for 2006 awards), no portion of the award is earned. If PLC’s results are at or above the 90th percentile, the award maximum is earned. Awards are paid in shares of PLC Common Stock.
Performance shares awarded in the first quarter of 2006 and their estimated fair value at grant date are as follows:
Year Awarded | | Performance Shares | | Estimated Fair Value | |
| | | | (Dollars in thousands) | |
| | | | | |
2006 | | | 125,430 | | $ | 6,100 | |
Performance shares are equivalent in value to one share of PLC Common Stock times the award earned percentage payout. At March 31, 2006, the total outstanding performance shares related to these performance-based plans (including shares issued prior to January 1, 2006) measured at maximum payouts were 1,080,201.
During the first quarter of 2006, SARs were granted to certain officers of the Company to provide long-term incentive compensation based solely on the performance of the PLC’s Common Stock. The SARs are exercisable either in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant or after five years depending on the terms of the grant (earlier upon the death, disability, or retirement of the officer, or in certain circumstances, of a change in control of PLC) and expire after ten years or upon termination of employment. The SARs activity as well as weighted average base price for the first quarter of 2006 is as follows:
| | Weighted Average Base Price | | No. of SARs | |
Balance at December 31, 2005 | | $ | 26.89 | | | 1,467,210 | |
SARs granted | | | 48.60 | | | 46,900 | |
SARs exercised | | | 20.30 | | | (260,199 | ) |
Balance at March 31, 2006 | | $ | 29.07 | | | 1,253,911 | |
The outstanding SARs at March 31, 2006, were at the following base prices:
Base Price | SARs Outstanding | Remaining Life in Years | Currently Exercisable |
$22.31 | 520,111 | 3 | 520,111 |
31.26 | 50,000 | 4 | 50,000 |
31.29 | 2,500 | 4 | 2,500 |
32.00 | 435,000 | 5 | 0 |
26.49 | 80,000 | 6 | 0 |
41.05 | 119,400 | 8 | 11,100 |
48.60 | 46,900 | 9 | 0 |
The SARs issued in the first quarter of 2006 had estimated fair values at grant date of $0.7 million. The fair value of the 2006 SARs was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The assumptions used varied depending on the vesting period of the awards. Assumptions used in the model were as follows: expected volatility ranged from 16.1% to 32.5%, the risk-free interest rate ranged from 4.9% to 5.0%, a dividend rate of 1.6%, a zero forfeiture rate, and the expected exercise date ranged from 2011 to 2014. PLC will pay an amount in stock equal to the difference between the specified base price of PLC’s Common Stock and the market value at the exercise date for each SAR.
PLC recognizes all stock based compensation expense over the related service period of the award, or earlier for retirement eligible employees. The expense recorded by PLC for its stock-based compensation plans was $1.1 million for the first quarter of 2006. Additionally, as of March 31, 2006, $16.3 million of unrecognized expense related to PLC’s stock-based compensation plans is expected to be recognized in future periods through December 31, 2009. PLC’s obligations of its stock-based compensation plans that are expected to be settled in shares of PLC’s Common Stock are reported as a component of PLC’s share-owners’ equity, net of deferred taxes.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands unless otherwise noted)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in its entirety, since it contains detailed information that is important to understanding the Company’s results and financial condition. The Overview below is qualified in its entirety by the full Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE
This report reviews the Company’s financial condition and results of operations including its liquidity and capital resources. Historical information is presented and discussed. Where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance are also identified and discussed. Certain statements made in this report include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical facts and may contain words like “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “will,” “shall,” “may,” and other words, phrases, or expressions with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements, and the Company cannot give assurances that such statements will prove to be correct. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.
For a more complete understanding of the Company’s business and its current period results, please read the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in conjunction with the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC.
INTRODUCTION
Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation ("PLC"), an insurance holding company whose common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PL". Founded in 1907, the Company provides financial services through the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products. Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company" refers to the consolidated group of Protective Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.
The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. The Company's operating segments are Life Marketing, Acquisitions, Annuities, Stable Value Products, and Asset Protection. The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other which consists of net investment income on unallocated capital, earnings from various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several non-strategic lines of business. The Company periodically evaluates its operating segments in light of the segment reporting requirements prescribed by FAS131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” and makes adjustments to its segment reporting as needed.
KNOWN TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The factors which could affect the Company's future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the following known trends and uncertainties: we are exposed to the risks of natural disasters, pandemics, malicious and terrorist acts that could adversely affect our operations; we operate in a mature, highly competitive industry, which could limit our ability to gain or maintain our position in the industry; a ratings downgrade could adversely affect our ability to compete; our policy claims fluctuate from period to period, and actual results could differ from our expectations; our results may be negatively affected should actual experience differ from management's assumptions and estimates; the use of reinsurance introduces variability in our statements of income; we could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder withdrawals; interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect our spread income or otherwise impact our business; equity market volatility could negatively impact our business; insurance companies are highly regulated and subject to numerous legal restrictions and regulations; changes to tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could adversely affect the Company and its ability to compete with non-insurance products or reduce the demand for certain insurance products; financial services companies are frequently the targets of litigation, including class action litigation, which could result in substantial judgments; the financial services industry is sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations and the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny; our ability to maintain low unit costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency of existing business; our investments are subject to market and credit risks; we may not realize our anticipated financial results from our acquisitions strategy; we may not be able to close our pending acquisition, or may not be able to achieve the expected results once it is consummated; we are dependent on the performance of others; our reinsurers could fail to meet assumed obligations, increase rates or be subject to adverse developments that could affect us; computer viruses or network security breaches could affect our data processing systems or those of our business partners; our ability to grow depends in large part upon the continued availability of capital; and new accounting rules or changes to existing accounting rules could negatively impact us. Please refer to Exhibit 99 for additional information about these factors that could affect future results.
The Company’s results may fluctuate from period to period due to fluctuations in mortality, persistency, claims, expenses, interest rates, and other factors. Therefore, it is management's opinion that quarterly operating results for an insurance company are not necessarily indicative of results to be achieved in future periods, and that a review of operating results over a longer period is necessary to assess an insurance company's performance.
OVERVIEW
In the following discussion, segment operating income is defined as income before income tax, excluding net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and participating income from real estate ventures). Periodic settlements of derivatives associated with certain investments and annuity products are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of segment operating income because the derivatives are used to mitigate risk in items affecting segment operating income. Management believes that segment operating income provides relevant and useful information to investors, as it represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is internally assessed. Although the items excluded from segment operating income may be significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s overall financial performance, management believes that segment operating income enhances an investor’s understanding of the Company’s results of operations by highlighting the income (loss) attributable to the normal, recurring operations of the Company’s business. Note that the Company’s segment operating income measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
The following table presents a summary of results and reconciles segment operating income to consolidated net income:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Segment Operating Income | | | | | | | |
Life Marketing | | $ | 39,983 | | $ | 37,698 | | | 6.1 | % |
Acquisitions | | | 19,906 | | | 21,076 | | | (5.6 | ) |
Annuities | | | 4,396 | | | 3,811 | | | 15.3 | |
Stable Value Products | | | 12,344 | | | 14,399 | | | (14.3 | ) |
Asset Protection | | | 8,543 | | | 6,224 | | | 37.3 | |
Corporate and Other | | | 5,343 | | | 9,115 | | | (41.4 | ) |
Total segment operating income | | | 90,515 | | | 92,323 | | | (2.0 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1) | | | (1,311 | ) | | 5,465 | | | | |
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2) | | | 19,871 | | | (6,668 | ) | | | |
Income tax expense | | | (39,267 | ) | | (31,409 | ) | | | |
Net income | | $ | 69,808 | | $ | 59,711 | | | 16.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments | | $ | 4,015 | | $ | 27,877 | | | | |
Less participating income from real estate ventures | | | 5,326 | | | 0 | | | | |
Less related amortization of DAC | | | 0 | | | 22,412 | | | | |
| | $ | (1,311 | ) | $ | 5,465 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives | | $ | 19,324 | | $ | (5,847 | ) | | | |
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps | | | 104 | | | 821 | | | | |
Less derivative losses related to certain annuities | | | (651 | ) | | 0 | | | | |
| | $ | 19,871 | | $ | (6,668 | ) | | | |
Net income for the first three months of 2006 reflects a slight decline in segment operating income, offset by higher net realized investment gains. Net realized investment gains were $18.6 million for the first three months of 2006, compared to net realized investment losses of $1.2 million for the same period of 2005, a change of $19.8 million. Life Marketing segment operating income was $40.0 million in the current quarter, an increase of 6.1% over the prior year’s quarter. The increase in the quarter was attributable to growth in business in-force due to strong sales in prior periods, partially offset by higher mortality and expenses. The quarterly decline in the Acquisitions segment’s operating income is due to the normal runoff of the segment’s previously acquired blocks of business. Improvement in the equity markets and increasing account balances contributed to the quarterly increase of 15.3% in the Annuities segment’s earnings, while spread compression due to increasing short term interest rates caused operating income to decline 14.3% for the first quarter of 2006 in the Stable Value Products segment compared to the same period of 2005. The 37.3% increase over the prior year in the Asset Protection segment’s operating income is primarily due to improvements in the segment’s inventory protection product line.
RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
In the following segment discussions, various statistics and other key data the Company uses to evaluate its segments are presented. Sales statistics are used by the Company to measure the relative progress in its marketing efforts, but may or may not have an immediate impact on reported segment operating income. Sales data for traditional life insurance are based on annualized premiums, while universal life sales are based on annualized planned (target) premiums plus 6% of amounts received in excess of target premiums. Sales of annuities are measured based on the amount of deposits received. Stable value contract sales are measured at the time that the funding commitment is made based on the amount of deposit to be received. Sales within the Asset Protection segment are generally based on the amount of single premium and fees received.
Sales and life insurance in-force amounts are derived from the Company’s various sales tracking and administrative systems and are not derived from the Company’s financial reporting systems or financial statements. Mortality variances are derived from actual claims compared to expected claims. These variances do not represent the net impact to earnings due to the interplay of reserves and DAC amortization.
Life Marketing
The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance (collectively “traditional life”), universal life (“UL”), variable universal life and bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and independent marketing organizations. Segment results were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums and policy fees | | $ | 325,364 | | $ | 273,769 | | | 18.8 | % |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (208,631 | ) | | (199,746 | ) | | 4.4 | |
Net premiums and policy fees | | | 116,733 | | | 74,023 | | | 57.7 | |
Net investment income | | | 72,604 | | | 60,915 | | | 19.2 | |
Other income | | | (1,107 | ) | | 191 | | | (679.6 | ) |
Total operating revenues | | | 188,230 | | | 135,129 | | | 39.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | |
Benefits and settlement expenses | | | 135,899 | | | 89,784 | | | 51.4 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 19,466 | | | 17,827 | | | 9.2 | |
Other operating expenses | | | (7,118 | ) | | (10,180 | ) | | (30.1 | ) |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 148,247 | | | 97,431 | | | 52.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 39,983 | | | 37,698 | | | 6.1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX | | $ | 39,983 | | $ | 37,698 | | | 6.1 | |
The following table summarizes key data for the Life Marketing segment:
| | | | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
| | | | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Sales By Product | | | | | | | | | |
Traditional | | | | | $ | 37,476 | | $ | 34,508 | | | 8.6 | % |
Universal life | | | | | | 31,488 | | | 32,747 | | | (3.8 | ) |
Variable universal life | | | | | | 1,285 | | | 1,138 | | | 12.9 | |
| | | | | $ | 70,249 | | $ | 68,393 | | | 2.7 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales By Distribution Channel | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brokerage general agents | | | | | $ | 38,179 | | $ | 36,173 | | | 5.5 | |
Independent agents | | | | | | 13,800 | | | 17,309 | | | (20.3 | ) |
Stockbrokers/banks | | | | | | 13,567 | | | 12,670 | | | 7.1 | |
BOLI/other | | | | | | 4,703 | | | 2,241 | | | 109.9 | |
| | | | | $ | 70,249 | | $ | 68,393 | | | 2.7 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Traditional | | | | | $ | 363,267,522 | | $ | 328,905,530 | | | 10.4 | |
Universal life | | | | | | 49,263,933 | | | 43,105,270 | | | 14.3 | |
| | | | | $ | 412,531,455 | | $ | 372,010,800 | | | 10.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Account Values | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Universal life | | | | | $ | 4,619,947 | | $ | 3,876,441 | | | 19.2 | |
Variable universal life | | | | | | 260,431 | | | 217,131 | | | 19.9 | |
| | | | | $ | 4,880,378 | | $ | 4,093,572 | | | 19.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortality Experience (2) | | | | | $ | (201 | ) | $ | 1,252 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded. (2) Represents a favorable (unfavorable) variance as compared to pricing assumptions. |
Operating income increased 6.1% from the first quarter of 2005. This increase is the result of a 39.3% increase in total revenues resulting from moderate increases in sales of new business and growth of life insurance in-force and average account values. The increase in revenues was partially offset by 52.2% higher overall benefits and expenses. Additionally, as discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, during 2005 the Company reduced its reliance on reinsurance (see additional comments below) and entered into a capital markets solution to fund the additional statutory reserves required as a result of these changes in the Company’s reinsurance arrangements. In addition to the expected fluctuations in premiums and benefits and settlement expenses discussed below, earnings emerge more slowly under a capital markets structure relative to the previous reinsurance structure utilized by the Company.
Net premiums and policy fees grew by 57.7% in the current quarter due in part to the growth in life insurance in-force achieved over the last several quarters. Net premiums and policy fees are also higher than the prior year due to an increase in retention levels on certain newly written traditional life products. Beginning in the second quarter of 2005, the Company reduced its reliance on reinsurance by changing from coinsurance to yearly renewable term insurance agreements and increased the maximum amount retained on any one life from $500,000 to $1,000,000 on certain of its newly written traditional life products. In addition to increasing net premiums, this change will result in higher benefits and settlement expenses, and will cause greater variability in financial results due to fluctuations in mortality results. Net investment income increased 19.2% for the quarter, reflecting the growth of the segment’s assets caused by the increase in life reserves, offset by lower investment yields.
Benefits and settlement expenses were 51.4% higher than the first quarter of 2005, due to growth in life insurance in-force, increased retention levels on certain newly written traditional life products, higher credited interest on UL products resulting from increases in account values, and unfavorable fluctuations in mortality experience. Mortality (actual results compared to pricing) for the current quarter was $0.2 million unfavorable, compared to a favorable mortality variance of $1.3 million for the same period of 2005, an unfavorable change of $1.5 million. The estimated mortality negative impact on earnings for the first quarter of 2006 was $0.8 million, which was approximately $0.7 million less favorable than the same period of 2005. Amortization of DAC was 9.2% higher for the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005 primarily due to growth of life insurance in-force and the change in the Company’s reinsurance strategy.
Other operating expenses for the segment were as follows:
| | | | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
| | | | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
First year commissions | | | | | $ | 94,268 | | $ | 80,048 | | | 17.8 | % |
Renewal commissions | | | | | | 8,404 | | | 7,794 | | | 7.8 | |
First year ceding allowances | | | | | | (32,832 | ) | | (40,353 | ) | | (18.6 | ) |
Renewal ceding allowances | | | | | | (46,332 | ) | | (38,126 | ) | | 21.5 | |
General & administrative | | | | | | 43,660 | | | 46,891 | | | (6.9 | ) |
Taxes, licenses and fees | | | | | | 7,356 | | | 6,480 | | | 13.5 | |
Other operating expenses incurred | | | | | | 74,524 | | | 62,734 | | | 18.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less commissions, allowances & expenses capitalized | | | | | | (81,642 | ) | | (72,914 | ) | | 12.0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other operating expenses | | | | | $ | (7,118 | ) | $ | (10,180 | ) | | (30.1 | ) |
Currently, the segment reinsures significant amounts of its life insurance in-force. Pursuant to the underlying reinsurance contracts, reinsurers pay allowances to the segment as a percentage of both first year and renewal premiums. A portion of these allowances is deferred as part of DAC while the remainder is recognized immediately as a reduction of other operating expenses. While the recognition of reinsurance allowances is consistent with GAAP, non-deferred allowances often exceed the segment’s non-deferred direct costs, causing net other operating expenses to be negative. Consideration of all components of the segment’s income statement, including amortization of DAC, is required to assess the impact of reinsurance on segment operating income.
Other operating expenses for the segment have increased from the prior year as a result of lower DAC capitalization, primarily due to lower UL sales. Amounts capitalized as DAC generally include first year commissions and allowances and other deferrable acquisition expenses. The change in these amounts generally reflects the trend in sales for the quarter. The first quarter of 2006 included a $2.1 million true-up of field compensation expenses related to sales in prior periods.
Sales for the segment increased 2.7% versus the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to an increase in traditional life sales. Traditional life sales were negatively impacted during the first half of 2005 as a result of pricing adjustments on certain traditional life products in response to the rising cost of reinsurance. The Company was able to improve its competitive position with respect to these products in the second quarter of 2005 by reducing its reliance on reinsurance for certain newly written traditional products. As a result, traditional life sales improved during the second half of 2005, and this upward trend in traditional life sales continued in the first quarter of 2006. UL sales declined 3.8% during the current quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2005, as a result of pricing adjustments on certain UL products in response to the higher reserve levels required under Actuarial Guideline 38 (“AG38”). The Company expects UL sales to continue to decline during the second quarter of 2006 compared to the sales levels achieved in 2005. See additional discussion of AG38 and its impact on certain UL products in the “Recent Developments” section herein. Sales of BOLI business improved from 2005. BOLI sales can vary widely between periods as the segment responds to opportunities for these products only when required returns can be achieved.
Acquisitions
The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals. Segment results were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums and policy fees | | $ | 62,986 | | $ | 65,500 | | | (3.8 | )% |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (16,642 | ) | | (20,029 | ) | | (16.9 | ) |
Net premiums and policy fees | | | 46,344 | | | 45,471 | | | 1.9 | |
Net investment income | | | 54,490 | | | 56,714 | | | (3.9 | ) |
Other income | | | 617 | | | 361 | | | 70.9 | |
Total operating revenues | | | 101,451 | | | 102,546 | | | (1.1 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | |
Benefits and settlement expenses | | | 67,454 | | | 66,399 | | | 1.6 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 6,335 | | | 7,071 | | | (10.4 | ) |
Other operating expenses | | | 7,756 | | | 8,000 | | | (3.1 | ) |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 81,545 | | | 81,470 | | | 0.1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 19,906 | | | 21,076 | | | (5.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX | | $ | 19,906 | | $ | 21,076 | | | (5.6 | ) |
The following table summarizes key data for the Acquisitions segment:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1) | | | | | | | |
Traditional | | $ | 10,166,239 | | $ | 11,190,436 | | | (9.2 | )% |
Universal life | | | 16,455,957 | | | 17,633,906 | | | (6.7 | ) |
| | $ | 26,622,196 | | $ | 28,824,342 | | | (7.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Average Account Values | | | | | | | | | | |
Universal life | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed annuity(2) | | $ | 1,688,627 | | $ | 1,715,584 | | | (1.6 | ) |
Variable annuity | | | 209,049 | | | 215,707 | | | (3.1 | ) |
| | | 65,543 | | | 83,925 | | | (21.9 | ) |
| | $ | 1,963,219 | | $ | 2,015,216 | | | (2.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Spread - UL & Fixed Annuities | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income yield | | | 6.87 | % | | 7.09 | % | | | |
Interest credited to policyholders | | | 5.10 | | | 5.15 | | | | |
Interest spread | | | 1.77 | % | | 1.94 | % | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Mortality Experience(3) | | $ | 267 | | $ | 447 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded. (2) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products. (3) Represents a favorable variance as compared to pricing assumptions. |
Policies acquired through this segment are typically “closed” blocks of business (no new policies are being marketed). Therefore, earnings and account values are expected to decline as the result of lapses, deaths, and other terminations of coverage.
Net premiums and policy fees increased 1.9% during the current period compared to the first quarter of 2005. Net premiums for the first quarter of 2005 were decreased by payment of amounts due under two reinsurance treaties. While this had no net income impact, the payments decreased net premiums and policy fees by $3.9 million, benefits and settlement expenses by $3.5 million, and other operating expenses by $0.3 million. Excluding the impact of this transaction, net premiums and policy fees decreased $3.0 million (6.0%) during the first quarter of 2006, compared to the same period of 2005. This decline is the result of the runoff of the acquired blocks of business.
Net investment income was also lower in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 due to the runoff of business and lower overall earned rates. The segment continues to review credited rates on UL and annuity business to minimize the impact of lower earned rates on interest spreads. The interest spread declined 17 basis points from the first quarter of 2005.
Benefits and settlement expenses for the first quarter of 2006 are 1.6% higher than the comparable period of 2006 due to the impact of the reinsurance payments in the first quarter of 2005 mentioned above. Excluding the impact of this transaction, benefits and settlement expenses decreased $2.5 million (3.5%) during the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. This decrease is due to the decline in in-force business. Amortization of DAC decreased 10.4% during the current quarter compared to the same period of 2005 due to the overall decline in business. Other operating expenses decreased 3.1% from the first quarter of 2005 due to lower commissions resulting from lower net premiums and reductions in other general expenses.
The segment’s life insurance in-force and UL and annuity account values have declined from 2005 levels as no new acquisitions have been made since 2002. In the ordinary course of business, the segment regularly considers acquisitions of blocks of policies or smaller insurance companies. However, the level of the segment’s acquisition activity is predicated upon many factors, including available capital, operating capacity, and market dynamics. The Company continues to pursue suitable acquisitions as they become available.
On February 7, the Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire from JPMorgan Chase & Co. the stock of five life insurance companies that manufacture and distribute traditional life insurance and annuities (the “Chase Insurance Group”) and the stock of four related non-insurance companies. This transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and is currently expected to close during the third quarter of 2006.
Annuities
The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent agents and brokers. Segment results were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums and policy fees | | $ | 8,144 | | $ | 7,840 | | | 3.9 | % |
Reinsurance ceded | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0.0 | |
Net premiums and policy fees | | | 8,144 | | | 7,840 | | | 3.9 | |
Net investment income | | | 53,486 | | | 56,146 | | | (4.7 | ) |
Realized gains (losses) - derivatives | | | (651 | ) | | 0 | | | n/a | |
Other income | | | 2,531 | | | 1,465 | | | 72.8 | |
Total operating revenues | | | 63,510 | | | 65,451 | | | (3.0 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | |
Benefits and settlement expenses | | | 47,313 | | | 48,080 | | | (1.6 | ) |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 5,126 | | | 7,226 | | | (29.1 | ) |
Other operating expenses | | | 6,675 | | | 6,334 | | | 5.4 | |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 59,114 | | | 61,640 | | | (4.1 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 4,396 | | | 3,811 | | | 15.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Realized gains (losses) - derivatives | | | 0 | | | (162 | ) | | | |
Realized gains (losses) - investments | | | (90 | ) | | 27,624 | | | | |
Related amortization of DAC | | | 0 | | | (22,412 | ) | | | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX | | $ | 4,306 | | $ | 8,861 | | | (51.4 | ) |
The following table summarizes key data for the Annuities segment:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Sales | | | | | | | |
Fixed annuity | | $ | 92,090 | | $ | 59,568 | | | 54.6 | % |
Variable annuity | | | 73,731 | | | 77,003 | | | (4.2 | ) |
| | $ | 165,821 | | $ | 136,571 | | | 21.4 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Average Account Values | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed annuity(1) | | $ | 3,422,366 | | $ | 3,442,520 | | | (0.6 | ) |
Variable annuity | | | 2,358,898 | | | 2,194,782 | | | 7.5 | |
| | $ | 5,781,264 | | $ | 5,637,302 | | | 2.6 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Spread - Fixed Annuities(2) | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income yield | | | 6.14 | % | | 6.60 | % | | | |
Interest credited to policyholders | | | 5.39 | | | 5.60 | | | | |
Interest spread | | | 0.75 | % | | 1.00 | % | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | As of March 31 | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | | | | |
GMDB - Net amount at risk(3) | | $ | 120,269 | | $ | 198,954 | |
GMDB - Reserves | | $ | 2,561 | | $ | 4,382 | |
S&P 500 Index | | | 1,295 | | | 1,181 | |
| | | | | | | |
(1) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products. (2) Interest spread on average general account values. (3) Guaranteed death benefit in excess of contract holder account balance. |
Segment operating revenues decreased 3.0% compared to the first quarter of 2005, primarily as a result of lower net investment income. Additional income resulting from the modest 2.6% increase in average account balances was reduced by lower interest spreads. Interest spreads on fixed annuities declined 25 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2005, primarily due to the rebalancing of the investment portfolio discussed below. The increase in other income is primarily due to an increase in asset-based fees.
During the first quarter of 2005, the investment portfolio was rebalanced to improve the duration match between the segment’s assets and liabilities. Approximately $300 million in securities were sold, causing the large realized investment gains for the three months ended March 31, 2005. These gains were partially offset by $22.4 million in DAC amortization associated with those gains. The resulting funds from this transaction were reinvested in assets with lower rates than the investments that were sold, causing a decline in the investment income yield for the segment’s portfolio beginning in the second quarter of 2005. The segment continually monitors and adjusts credited rates as appropriate in an effort to maintain the interest spread.
Total benefits and expenses decreased 4.1% for the quarter compared to the same period of 2005. Benefits and settlement expenses for the first three months of 2006 are $0.8 million lower than the same period of the prior year due to reductions in credited interest rates in its market value adjusted annuity line, partially offset by less favorable mortality. Mortality was $1.6 million unfavorable for the first quarter of 2006, compared to a $1.2 million unfavorable mortality variance for the same period of 2005, an unfavorable variance of $0.4 million. These unfavorable mortality variances primarily relate to the nonrecurring sales of $122 million of single premium immediate annuities on approximately 28 lives sold in the fourth quarter of 2004 in a structured transaction. Because this block of annuities is large relative to the total amount of annuities in-force, volatility in mortality results are expected.
The decrease in DAC amortization for the quarter is primarily the result of lower gross profits in the market value adjusted and variable deferred annuity lines resulting from fourth quarter 2005 unlocking. DAC is amortized in proportion to gross profits, so decreased gross profits results in less DAC amortization.
Total sales are 21.4% higher than the prior year. Sales of fixed annuities increased 54.6% as a result of higher interest rates compared to the first quarter of 2005 and strong sales increases in the equity indexed annuity product introduced in 2005. Sales of variable annuities decreased 4.2% from the first quarter of 2005. A general improvement in the equity markets reduced the net amount at risk with respect to guaranteed minimum death benefits by 39.5%.
Stable Value Products
The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans. Segment results were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 82,233 | | $ | 73,875 | | | 11.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | |
Benefits and settlement expenses | | | 67,463 | | | 57,169 | | | 18.0 | |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 1,229 | | | 1,084 | | | 13.4 | |
Other operating expenses | | | 1,197 | | | 1,223 | | | (2.1 | ) |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 69,889 | | | 59,476 | | | 17.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 12,344 | | | 14,399 | | | (14.3 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Realized gains (losses) | | | (4,854 | ) | | 619 | | | | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX | | $ | 7,490 | | $ | 15,018 | | | (50.1 | ) |
The following table summarizes key data for the Stable Value Products segment:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Sales | | | | | | | |
GIC | | $ | 46,200 | | $ | 24,050 | | | 92.1 | % |
GFA - Registered Notes - Institutional | | | 0 | | | 350,000 | | | n/a | |
GFA - Registered Notes - Retail | | | 40,841 | | | 31,845 | | | 28.2 | |
| | $ | 87,041 | | $ | 405,895 | | | (78.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Average Account Values | | $ | 5,976,606 | | $ | 5,716,571 | | | 4.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Spread | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income yield | | | 5.60 | % | | 5.33 | % | | | |
Interest credited | | | 4.60 | | | 4.12 | | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 0.16 | | | 0.17 | | | | |
Operating spread | | | 0.84 | % | | 1.04 | % | | | |
Operating income declined 14.3% for the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. This decline is primarily due to spread compression of 20 basis points, partially offset by a 4.5% growth in average account balances. The primary driver of the spread compression has been increasing short term interest rates, resulting in higher interest credited rates. The segment continues to review its investment portfolio for opportunities to increase the net investment income yield in an effort to maintain interest spreads. Operating spreads are not expected to change significantly during the remainder of 2006. The moderate growth in average account balances was primarily driven by sales of the Company’s registered funding agreement-backed notes program over the past two years.
Total sales were 78.6% lower than the first quarter of 2005. The Company is not currently participating in the institutional market due to current market conditions and in order to conserve capital in anticipation of the Chase Insurance Group acquisition. This transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2006, at which time the segment plans to reenter the institutional market. Both GIC and retail note sales improved during the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005.
Asset Protection
The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product (“IPP”) and a guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”) product. Segment results were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
REVENUES | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums and policy fees | | $ | 73,744 | | $ | 105,804 | | | (30.3 | )% |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (23,809 | ) | | (56,923 | ) | | (58.2 | ) |
Net premiums and policy fees | | | 49,935 | | | 48,881 | | | 2.2 | |
Net investment income | | | 7,364 | | | 7,446 | | | (1.1 | ) |
Other income | | | 11,919 | | | 8,433 | | | 41.3 | |
Total operating revenues | | | 69,218 | | | 64,760 | | | 6.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | |
Benefits and settlement expenses | | | 22,208 | | | 26,529 | | | (16.3 | ) |
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 16,152 | | | 17,546 | | | (7.9 | ) |
Other operating expenses | | | 22,315 | | | 14,461 | | | 54.3 | |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 60,675 | | | 58,536 | | | 3.7 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 8,543 | | | 6,224 | | | 37.3 | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX | | $ | 8,543 | | $ | 6,224 | | | 37.3 | |
The following table summarizes key data for the Asset Protection segment:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Sales | | | | | | | |
Credit insurance | | $ | 31,847 | | $ | 50,106 | | | (36.4 | )% |
Service contracts | | | 53,717 | | | 47,138 | | | 14.0 | |
Other products | | | 16,921 | | | 9,075 | | | 86.5 | |
| | $ | 102,485 | | $ | 106,319 | | | (3.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Loss Ratios (1) | | | | | | | | | | |
Credit insurance | | | 34.1 | % | | 32.1 | % | | | |
Service contracts | | | 66.1 | | | 73.4 | | | | |
Other products | | | 31.6 | | | 62.0 | | | | |
(1) Incurred claims as a percentage of earned premiums. |
Operating income increased 37.3% during the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. Within the segment’s core product lines, service contract earnings improved $0.2 million, earnings from other products improved $2.0 million, and credit insurance earnings were unchanged for the quarter. $1.5 million of the improvement in earnings from other products is related to the segment’s IPP line. IPP earnings improved due to higher premiums and favorable claim results during the current quarter. The remaining $0.5 million improvement in earnings from other products is related to the segment’s GAP product line.
Net premiums and policy fees increased 2.2% primarily as a result of a 58.2% decrease in ceded premiums, partially offset by a decline in credit insurance in-force. Other income increased 41.3% from the prior year due to increases in administrative fees on service contracts primarily resulting from the increased volume of contracts sold in this product line.
Benefits and settlement expenses decreased 16.3% from the first quarter of 2005, reflecting the decrease in the segment’s net premiums. In addition to lower net premiums, benefits and settlement expenses have also been favorably impacted by improved loss ratios, most notably in the service contract and other product lines. Although loss ratios were slightly higher in the credit insurance lines during the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same quarter of 2005, the current quarter results still compare favorably with the 2005 year-to-date loss ratio of 36.7% in this line. Loss ratios in the service contract lines continue to benefit from the segment’s initiatives to increase pricing and tighten the underwriting and claims processes. The decrease in the loss ratio for other products during the first quarter of 2006 is the result of favorable claims experience, primarily related to the inventory protection product. Amortization of DAC for the first quarter of 2006 was lower than the comparable period of 2005 due to the decline in the segment’s credit business. Other operating expenses have increased in 2006 compared to the prior period primarily due to higher commissions on service contracts due to increased volume.
Total segment sales decreased 3.6% for the first quarter, compared to the same period of 2005 primarily due to a 56.1% decrease in sales of credit insurance through financial institutions. The bulk of these sales are derived from a third party administrator relationship which is in runoff. We therefore expect these sales to continue to decline during 2006 compared to 2005 amounts. Credit insurance sold through automobile dealers increased 10.3% from the prior year, resulting in a net decline in total credit insurance sales of 36.4% for the quarter. Service contract sales continued to improve in the first quarter, exceeding the prior year amounts by 14.0%. The first quarter improvement in service contract sales is comprised of an increase of $7.4 million and a decrease of $0.8 million, respectively, in the vehicle and marine lines.
Corporate and Other
The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities).
The following table summarizes results for this segment:
| | | | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
| | | | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Operating income (1) | | | | | $ | 5,343 | | $ | 9,115 | | $ | (3,772 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Realized gains and losses - investments | | | | | | 3,945 | | | (75 | ) | | 4,020 | |
Realized gains and losses - derivatives | | | | | | 19,559 | | | (6,798 | ) | | 26,357 | |
Income before income tax | | | | | $ | 28,847 | | $ | 2,242 | | $ | 26,605 | |
(1) Includes settlements on interest rate swaps of $104 and $821 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Also includes participating income from real estate ventures of $5,326 and $0 for 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
Operating income decreased $3.8 million from the first quarter of 2005 as a result of lower investment income on unallocated capital, offset by higher participating income from real estate ventures and prepayment fees on mortgage loans. Results for the runoff insurance lines improved compared to the prior year, with operating losses of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2006 compared to losses of $2.8 million for the same period of 2005.
Realized Gains and Losses
The following table sets forth realized investment gains and losses for the periods shown:
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
Fixed maturity gains | | $ | 16,215 | | $ | 36,763 | | $ | (20,548 | ) |
Fixed maturity losses | | | (20,609 | ) | | (6,397 | ) | | (14,212 | ) |
Equity gains | | | 235 | | | 138 | | | 97 | |
Equity losses | | | 0 | | | (807 | ) | | 807 | |
Impairments on fixed maturity securities | | | 0 | | | (246 | ) | | 246 | |
Impairments on equity securities | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | |
Other | | | 8,174 | | | (1,574 | ) | | 9,748 | |
Total realized gains (losses) - investments | | $ | 4,015 | | $ | 27,877 | | $ | (23,862 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 926 | | $ | (3,977 | ) | $ | 4,903 | |
Foreign currency adjustments on stable value contracts | | | (744 | ) | | 4,225 | | | (4,969 | ) |
Derivatives related to mortgage loan commitments | | | 19,698 | | | 4,870 | | | 14,828 | |
Derivatives related to various investments | | | (556 | ) | | (10,965 | ) | | 10,409 | |
Total realized gains (losses) - derivatives | | $ | 19,324 | | $ | (5,847 | ) | $ | 25,171 | |
Realized gains and losses on investments reflect portfolio management activities designed to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities and to enhance long-term investment portfolio performance. The change in net realized investment gains for the current quarter, excluding impairments, reflects the normal operation of the Company’s asset/liability program within the context of the changing interest rate environment. The absence of impairments for the first quarter of 2006 compared to impairments of $0.2 million for the same period of 2005 reflects a general improvement in the corporate credit environment. The $8.2 million of other realized gains recognized in the first quarter of 2006 includes gains of $4.9 million related to real estate investments, a loss of $0.9 million related to mortgage loans, and a $4.3 million decrease in the Company’s allowance for mortgage loan credit losses. Additional details on the Company’s investment performance and evaluation is provided in the “Consolidated Investments” section below.
Realized investment gains and losses related to derivatives represent changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and gains (losses) on derivative contracts closed during the period. The Company has entered into foreign currency swaps to mitigate the risk of changes in the value of principal and interest payments to be made on certain of its foreign currency denominated stable value contracts. The Company recorded a net realized gain resulting from these securities of $0.2 million in the first quarter of both 2006 and 2005. These gains were the result of differences in the related foreign currency spot and forward rates used to value the stable value contracts and foreign currency swaps. The Company has taken short positions in U.S. Treasury futures to mitigate interest rate risk related to the Company’s mortgage loan commitments. The gains from these securities in the first quarter were the result of increasing interest rates in the current quarter.
The Company also uses various swaps and options to mitigate risk related to other interest rate exposures of the Company. For the first quarter of 2006, a portion of the change, a net $3.6 million increase in realized gains (losses) resulted from higher interest rates in 2006, which impacted the fair value of certain interest rate swaps and options. During the first quarter of 2006, a net $0.2 million decrease in realized gains (losses) resulted from embedded derivatives within annuity contracts and reinsurance agreements.
Additionally, in the first quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a $7.1 million realized investment loss (derivative financial instruments) related to accrued investment income which arose in periods prior to 2003. The impact had no effect on previously reported segment operating income and no material effect on previously reported net income.
CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS
Portfolio Description
The Company's investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) and commercial mortgage loans. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity by purchasing investments that match future cash flow needs. However, the Company may sell any of its investments to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has classified its fixed maturities and certain other securities as “available for sale.”
The Company's investments in debt and equity securities are reported at market value, and investments in mortgage loans are reported at amortized cost. At March 31, 2006, the Company's fixed maturity investments had a market value of $14.5 billion, which is less than 1% below amortized cost of $14.6 billion. The Company had $3.4 billion in mortgage loans at March 31, 2006. While the Company's mortgage loans do not have quoted market values, at March 31, 2006, the Company estimates the market value of its mortgage loans to be $3.5 billion (using discounted cash flows from the next call date), which is 1.2% above amortized cost. Most of the Company's mortgage loans have significant prepayment fees. These assets are invested for terms approximately corresponding to anticipated future benefit payments. Thus, market fluctuations are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.
The following table shows the reported values of the Company's invested assets.
| | March 31, 2006 | | December 31, 2005 | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Publicly-issued bonds | | $ | 12,618,266 | | | 64.2 | % | $ | 13,232,599 | | | 66.3 | % |
Privately-issued bonds | | | 1,916,128 | | | 9.8 | | | 1,802,118 | | | 9.0 | |
Redeemable preferred stock | | | 84 | | | 0.0 | | | 2,508 | | | 0.0 | |
Fixed maturities | | | 14,534,478 | | | 74.0 | | | 15,037,225 | | | 75.3 | |
Equity securities | | | 87,900 | | | 0.5 | | | 85,340 | | | 0.4 | |
Mortgage loans | | | 3,411,337 | | | 17.4 | | | 3,287,745 | | | 16.5 | |
Investment real estate | | | 61,223 | | | 0.3 | | | 65,301 | | | 0.3 | |
Policy loans | | | 456,147 | | | 2.3 | | | 458,825 | | | 2.3 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 260,447 | | | 1.3 | | | 273,768 | | | 1.4 | |
Short-term investments | | | 829,251 | | | 4.2 | | | 755,805 | | | 3.8 | |
Total investments | | $ | 19,640,783 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | 19,964,009 | | | 100.0 | % |
Market values for private, non-traded securities are determined as follows: 1) the Company obtains estimates from independent pricing services or 2) the Company estimates market value based upon a comparison to quoted issues of the same issuer or issues of other issuers with similar terms and risk characteristics. The market value of private, non-traded securities was $1.9 billion at March 31, 2006, representing 9.8% of the Company’s total invested assets.
The Company participates in securities lending, primarily as an investment yield enhancement, whereby securities that are held as investments are loaned to third parties for short periods of time. The Company requires collateral of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities to be separately maintained. The loaned securities’ market value is monitored on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained as necessary. At March 31, 2006, securities with a market value of $329.1 million were loaned under these agreements. As collateral for the loaned securities, the Company receives short-term investments, which are recorded in “short-term investments” with a corresponding liability recorded in “other liabilities” to account for the Company’s obligation to return the collateral.
Risk Management and Impairment Review
The Company monitors the overall credit quality of its portfolio within general guidelines. The following table shows the Company's fixed maturities by credit rating at March 31, 2006.
S&P or Equivalent Designation | | Market Value | | Percent of Market Value | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | | | |
AAA | | $ | 5,990,192 | | | 41.2 | % |
AA | | | 512,469 | | | 3.5 | |
A | | | 2,436,240 | | | 16.8 | |
BBB | | | 4,489,772 | | | 30.9 | |
Investment grade | | | 13,428,673 | | | 92.4 | |
BB | | | 684,584 | | | 4.7 | |
B | | | 356,968 | | | 2.5 | |
CCC or lower | | | 14,809 | | | 0.1 | |
In or near default | | | 49,396 | | | 0.3 | |
Below investment grade | | | 1,105,757 | | | 7.6 | |
Redeemable preferred stock | | | 48 | | | 0.0 | |
Total | | $ | 14,534,478 | | | 100.0 | % |
Limiting bond exposure to any creditor group is another way the Company manages credit risk. The following table summarizes the Company's ten largest fixed maturity exposures to an individual creditor group as of March 31, 2006.
Creditor | | Market Value | |
| | (Dollars in millions) | |
Dominion Resources | | $ | 81.9 | |
Wachovia | | | 76.1 | |
Bank of America | | | 75.8 | |
Comcast | | | 75.1 | |
Kinder Morgan | | | 74.7 | |
Progress Energy | | | 70.9 | |
Berkshire Hathaway | | | 69.9 | |
Entergy | | | 69.7 | |
Bellsouth | | | 69.4 | |
American Electric Power | | | 67.8 | |
The Company's management considers a number of factors when determining the impairment status of individual securities. These include the economic condition of various industry segments and geographic locations and other areas of identified risks. Although it is possible for the impairment of one investment to affect other investments, the Company engages in ongoing risk management to safeguard against and limit any further risk to its investment portfolio. Special attention is given to correlated risks within specific industries, related parties and business markets.
The Company generally considers a number of factors in determining whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. These include, but are not limited to: 1) actions taken by rating agencies, 2) default by the issuer, 3) the significance of the decline, 4) the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment until recovery, 5) the time period during which the decline has occurred, 6) an economic analysis of the issuer’s industry, and 7) the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of the issuer. Management performs a security-by-security review each quarter in evaluating the need for any other-than-temporary impairment. Although no set formula is used in this process, the investment performance, collateral position and continued viability of the issuer are significant measures considered.
The Company generally considers a number of factors relating to the issuer in determining the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of an issuer. These include but are not limited to: available collateral, assets that might be available to repay debt, operating cash flows, financial ratios, access to capital markets, quality of management, market position, exposure to litigation or product warranties, and the effect of general economic conditions on the issuer. Once management has determined that a particular investment has suffered an other-than-temporary impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.
There are certain risks and uncertainties associated with determining whether declines in market values are other-than-temporary. These include significant changes in general economic conditions and business markets, trends in certain industry segments, interest rate fluctuations, rating agency actions, changes in significant accounting estimates and assumptions, commission of fraud, and legislative actions. The Company continuously monitors these factors as they relate to the investment portfolio in determining the status of each investment. Provided below are additional facts concerning the potential effect upon the Company's earnings should circumstances lead management to conclude that some of the current declines in market value are other-than-temporary.
Unrealized Gains and Losses
The information presented below relates to investments at a certain point in time and is not necessarily indicative of the status of the portfolio at any time after March 31, 2006, the balance sheet date. Information about unrealized gains and losses is subject to rapidly changing conditions, including volatility of financial markets and changes in interest rates. As indicated above, the Company’s management considers a number of factors in determining if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, including its ability and intent to hold the security until recovery. Furthermore, since the timing of recognizing realized gains and losses is largely based on management’s decisions as to the timing and selection of investments to be sold, the tables and information provided below should be considered within the context of the overall unrealized gain (loss) position of the portfolio. At March 31, 2006, the Company had an overall pretax net unrealized loss of $29.5 million.
For traded and private fixed maturity and equity securities held by the Company that are in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2006, the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss, and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.
| | Estimated Market Value | | % Market Value | | Amortized Cost | | % Amortized Cost | | Unrealized Loss | | % Unrealized Loss | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
<= 90 days | | $ | 3,423,827 | | | 36.9 | % | $ | 3,495,385 | | | 36.3 | % | $ | (71,558 | ) | | 21.8 | % |
>90 days but <= 180 days | | | 2,013,945 | | | 21.7 | | | 2,074,889 | | | 21.6 | | | (60,944 | ) | | 18.6 | |
>180 days but <= 270 days | | | 3,171,613 | | | 34.1 | | | 3,304,241 | | | 34.4 | | | (132,628 | ) | | 40.5 | |
>270 days but <= 1 year | | | 73,116 | | | 0.8 | | | 77,919 | | | 0.8 | | | (4,803 | ) | | 1.5 | |
>1 year but <= 2 years | | | 427,191 | | | 4.6 | | | 455,065 | | | 4.7 | | | (27,874 | ) | | 8.5 | |
>2 years but <= 3 years | | | 151,720 | | | 1.6 | | | 164,357 | | | 1.7 | | | (12,637 | ) | | 3.9 | |
>3 years but <= 4 years | | | 266 | | | 0.0 | | | 299 | | | 0.0 | | | (33 | ) | | 0.0 | |
>4 years but <= 5 years | | | 323 | | | 0.0 | | | 389 | | | 0.0 | | | (66 | ) | | 0.0 | |
>5 years | | | 26,230 | | | 0.3 | | | 43,474 | | | 0.5 | | | (17,244 | ) | | 5.2 | |
Total | | $ | 9,288,231 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | 9,616,018 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | (327,787 | ) | | 100.0 | % |
At March 31, 2006, securities with a market value of $26.3 million and $16.7 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including $16.6 million of unrealized losses greater than five years. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.
The Company has no material concentrations of issuers or guarantors of fixed maturity securities. The industry segment composition of all securities in an unrealized loss position held by the Company at March 31, 2006, is presented in the following table.
| | Estimated Market Value | | % Market Value | | Amortized Cost | | % Amortized Cost | | Unrealized Loss | | % Unrealized Loss | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Agency Mortgages | | $ | 2,260,530 | | | 24.3 | % | $ | 2,336,129 | | | 24.3 | % | $ | (75,599 | ) | | 23.1 | % |
Banking | | | 583,395 | | | 6.3 | | | 603,737 | | | 6.3 | | | (20,342 | ) | | 6.2 | |
Basic Industrial | | | 255,508 | | | 2.8 | | | 267,012 | | | 2.8 | | | (11,504 | ) | | 3.5 | |
Brokerage | | | 162,143 | | | 1.7 | | | 167,302 | | | 1.7 | | | (5,159 | ) | | 1.6 | |
Canadian Govt Agencies | | | 19,186 | | | 0.2 | | | 19,788 | | | 0.2 | | | (602 | ) | | 0.2 | |
Capital Goods | | | 67,350 | | | 0.7 | | | 69,159 | | | 0.7 | | | (1,809 | ) | | 0.6 | |
Communications | | | 239,772 | | | 2.6 | | | 256,095 | | | 2.7 | | | (16,323 | ) | | 5.0 | |
Consumer Cyclical | | | 218,337 | | | 2.4 | | | 230,877 | | | 2.4 | | | (12,540 | ) | | 3.8 | |
Consumer Noncyclical | | | 195,653 | | | 2.1 | | | 202,909 | | | 2.1 | | | (7,256 | ) | | 2.2 | |
Electric | | | 954,831 | | | 10.3 | | | 993,703 | | | 10.3 | | | (38,872 | ) | | 11.9 | |
Energy | | | 167,686 | | | 1.8 | | | 174,488 | | | 1.8 | | | (6,802 | ) | | 2.1 | |
Finance Companies | | | 192,840 | | | 2.1 | | | 201,880 | | | 2.1 | | | (9,040 | ) | | 2.7 | |
Insurance | | | 196,779 | | | 2.1 | | | 204,387 | | | 2.2 | | | (7,608 | ) | | 2.3 | |
Municipal Agencies | | | 3,221 | | | 0.0 | | | 3,268 | | | 0.0 | | | (47 | ) | | 0.0 | |
Natural Gas | | | 412,558 | | | 4.4 | | | 431,563 | | | 4.5 | | | (19,005 | ) | | 5.8 | |
Non-Agency Mortgages | | | 2,826,353 | | | 30.5 | | | 2,901,129 | | | 30.2 | | | (74,776 | ) | | 22.8 | |
Other Finance | | | 96,557 | | | 1.0 | | | 102,246 | | | 1.1 | | | (5,689 | ) | | 1.7 | |
Other Industrial | | | 76,299 | | | 0.8 | | | 79,218 | | | 0.8 | | | (2,919 | ) | | 0.9 | |
Other Utility | | | 21 | | | 0.0 | | | 44 | | | 0.0 | | | (23 | ) | | 0.0 | |
Technology | | | 77,476 | | | 0.8 | | | 80,911 | | | 0.8 | | | (3,435 | ) | | 1.0 | |
Transportation | | | 199,532 | | | 2.2 | | | 206,249 | | | 2.1 | | | (6,717 | ) | | 2.0 | |
U.S. Government | | | 75,147 | | | 0.8 | | | 76,697 | | | 0.8 | | | (1,550 | ) | | 0.5 | |
U.S. Govt Agencies | | | 7,057 | | | 0.1 | | | 7,227 | | | 0.1 | | | (170 | ) | | 0.1 | |
Total | | $ | 9,288,231 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | 9,616,018 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | (327,787 | ) | | 100.0 | % |
The range of maturity dates for securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2006 varies, with 6.4% maturing in less than 5 years, 19.7% maturing between 5 and 10 years, and 73.9% maturing after 10 years. The following table shows the credit rating of securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2006.
S&P or Equivalent Designation | | Estimated Market Value | | % Market Value | | Amortized Cost | | % Amortized Cost | | Unrealized Loss | | % Unrealized Loss | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
AAA/AA/A | | $ | 6,580,262 | | | 70.8 | % | $ | 6,771,797 | | | 70.4 | % | $ | (191,535 | ) | | 58.4 | % |
BBB | | | 2,345,088 | | | 25.3 | | | 2,444,488 | | | 25.4 | | | (99,400 | ) | | 30.4 | |
Investment grade | | | 8,925,350 | | | 96.1 | | | 9,216,285 | | | 95.8 | | | (290,935 | ) | | 88.8 | |
BB | | | 256,254 | | | 2.8 | | | 270,342 | | | 2.8 | | | (14,088 | ) | | 4.3 | |
B | | | 69,268 | | | 0.7 | | | 75,950 | | | 0.8 | | | (6,682 | ) | | 2.0 | |
CCC or lower | | | 37,359 | | | 0.4 | | | 53,441 | | | 0.6 | | | (16,082 | ) | | 4.9 | |
Below investment grade | | | 362,881 | | | 3.9 | | | 399,733 | | | 4.2 | | | (36,852 | ) | | 11.2 | |
Total | | $ | 9,288,231 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | 9,616,018 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | (327,787 | ) | | 100.0 | % |
At March 31, 2006, securities in an unrealized loss position that were rated as below investment grade represented 3.9% of the total market value and 11.2% of the total unrealized loss. Unrealized losses related to below investment grade securities that had been in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months were $27.2 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position rated less than investment grade were 1.8% of invested assets. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.
The following table shows the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss, and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position for all below investment grade securities.
| | Estimated Market Value | | % Market Value | | Amortized Cost | | % Amortized Cost | | Unrealized Loss | | % Unrealized Loss | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
<= 90 days | | $ | 94,195 | | | 26.0 | % | $ | 96,795 | | | 24.3 | % | $ | (2,600 | ) | | 7.1 | % |
>90 days but <= 180 days | | | 65,205 | | | 18.0 | | | 68,273 | | | 17.1 | | | (3,068 | ) | | 8.3 | |
>180 days but <= 270 days | | | 61,199 | | | 16.9 | | | 64,517 | | | 16.1 | | | (3,318 | ) | | 9.0 | |
>270 days but <= 1 year | | | 19,404 | | | 5.3 | | | 20,000 | | | 5.0 | | | (596 | ) | | 1.6 | |
>1 year but <= 2 years | | | 88,128 | | | 24.3 | | | 97,794 | | | 24.5 | | | (9,666 | ) | | 26.2 | |
>2 years but <= 3 years | | | 11,255 | | | 3.1 | | | 12,565 | | | 3.1 | | | (1,310 | ) | | 3.6 | |
>3 years but <= 4 years | | | 164 | | | 0.0 | | | 189 | | | 0.0 | | | (25 | ) | | 0.1 | |
>4 years but <= 5 years | | | 49 | | | 0.0 | | | 52 | | | 0.0 | | | (3 | ) | | 0.0 | |
>5 years | | | 23,282 | | | 6.4 | | | 39,548 | | | 9.9 | | | (16,266 | ) | | 44.1 | |
Total | | $ | 362,881 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | 399,733 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | (36,852 | ) | | 100.0 | % |
At March 31, 2006, below investment grade securities with a market value of $23.7 million and $15.8 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including securities in an unrealized loss position greater than five years with a market value of $21.4 million and $15.8 million of unrealized losses. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.
Realized Losses
Realized losses are comprised of both write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments and actual sales of investments. For the first quarter of 2006, the Company recorded pretax other-than-temporary impairments in its investments of $0.0 million compared to $0.2 million for the comparable period of 2005.
As previously discussed, the Company’s management considers several factors when determining other-than-temporary impairments. Although the Company generally intends to hold securities until maturity, the Company may change its positions as a result of a change in circumstances. Any such decision is consistent with the Company’s classification of its investment portfolio as available for sale. During the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company sold securities in an unrealized loss position with a market value of $1,721.1 million resulting in a realized loss of $20.6 million. The securities were sold as a result of normal portfolio rebalancing activity and tax planning. For such securities, the proceeds, realized loss, and total time period that the security had been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.
| | Proceeds | | % Proceeds | | Realized Loss | | % Realized Loss | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
<= 90 days | | $ | 1,022,207 | | | 59.4 | % | $ | (1,760 | ) | | 8.5 | % |
>90 days but <= 180 days | | | 262,394 | | | 15.2 | | | (6,570 | ) | | 31.9 | |
>180 days but <= 270 days | | | 420,879 | | | 24.5 | | | (10,962 | ) | | 53.2 | |
>270 days but <= 1 year | | | 0 | | | 0.0 | | | (0 | ) | | 0.0 | |
> 1 year | | | 15,622 | | | 0.9 | | | (1,317 | ) | | 6.4 | |
Total | | $ | 1,721,102 | | | 100.0 | % | $ | (20,609 | ) | | 100.0 | % |
Mortgage Loans
The Company records mortgage loans net of an allowance for credit losses. This allowance is calculated through analysis of specific loans that are believed to be at a higher risk of becoming impaired in the near future. At March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company's allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $2.5 million and $6.8 million, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2005, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (“Winn-Dixie”), an anchor tenant in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At March 31, 2006, the Company had 20 loans amounting to $55.1 million in loan balances in which Winn-Dixie was considered to be the anchor tenant for the underlying property (including 7 loans with balances of $13.5 million included in mortgage loan securitization trusts in which the Company holds retained beneficial interests). At March 31, 2006, the rents from Winn-Dixie represented approximately 45% of the total rents applicable to the properties underlying these loans (including approximately 69% of rents on loans in mortgage loan securitizations). On June 21, 2005, Winn-Dixie announced a reorganization plan that included selling or closing a number of stores that served as the anchor tenant for properties underlying loans in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio. At March 31, 2006, the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio included 11 properties with rejected leases under this reorganization plan. Within the 11 loans on these properties, the Company has identified 2 potential impairments, and the mortgage loan allowance for credit losses at March 31, 2006 included $0.9 million related to these loans. The Company will continue to actively monitor these loans and assess them for potential impairments as circumstances develop in the future.
For several years the Company has offered a type of commercial mortgage loan under which the Company will permit a slightly higher loan-to-value ratio in exchange for a participating interest in the cash flows from the underlying real estate. As of March 31, 2006, approximately $437.1 million of the Company’s mortgage loans have this participation feature.
At March 31, 2006, delinquent mortgage loans and foreclosed properties were less than 0.1% of invested assets. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.
LIABILITIES
Many of the Company's products contain surrender charges and other features that reward persistency and penalize the early withdrawal of funds. Certain stable value and annuity contracts have market-value adjustments that protect the Company against investment losses if interest rates are higher at the time of surrender than at the time of issue.
At March 31, 2006, the Company had policy liabilities and accruals of $12.2 billion. The Company's interest-sensitive life insurance policies have a weighted average minimum credited interest rate of approximately 3.85%.
MARKET RISK EXPOSURES
The Company’s financial position and earnings are subject to various market risks including changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in spreads between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, changes in foreign currency rates, changes in used vehicle prices, and equity price risks. The Company analyzes and manages the risks arising from market exposures of financial instruments, as well as other risks, through an integrated asset/liability management process. The Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures involve the monitoring of asset and liability durations for various product lines; cash flow testing under various interest rate scenarios; and the continuous rebalancing of assets and liabilities with respect to yield, risk, and cash flow characteristics. These programs also incorporate the use of derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk, inflation risk, currency exchange risk, and equity market risk.
The primary focus of the Company’s asset/liability program is the management of interest rate risk within the insurance operations. This includes monitoring the duration of both investments and insurance liabilities to maintain an appropriate balance between risk and profitability for each product category and for the Company as a whole. It is the Company’s policy to generally maintain asset and liability durations within one-half year of one another, although, from time to time, a broader interval may be allowed.
Combinations of interest rate swap contracts, futures contracts, and option contracts are used to mitigate or eliminate certain financial and market risks, including those related to changes in interest rates for certain investments, primarily outstanding mortgage loan commitments and mortgage-backed securities. Swap contracts are also used to alter the effective durations of assets and liabilities and to mitigate the inflation risk caused by the issuance of inflation adjusted notes through the Stable Value Products segment. The Company uses foreign currency swaps to manage its exposure to currency exchange risk on certain stable value contracts denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the European Euro. The Company also uses S&P 500® options to mitigate its exposure to the value of equity indexed annuity contracts.
Derivative instruments expose the Company to credit and market risk and could result in material changes from quarter-to-quarter. The Company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with highly rated counterparties. The Company manages the market risk associated with interest rate and foreign exchange contracts by establishing and monitoring limits as to the types and degrees of risk that may be undertaken. The Company monitors its use of derivatives in connection with its overall asset/liability management programs and procedures.
In the ordinary course of its commercial mortgage lending operations, the Company will commit to provide a mortgage loan before the property to be mortgaged has been built or acquired. The mortgage loan commitment is a contractual obligation to fund a mortgage loan when called upon by the borrower. The commitment is not recognized in the Company's financial statements until the commitment is actually funded. The mortgage loan commitment contains terms, including the rate of interest, which may be different than prevailing interest rates. At March 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding mortgage loan commitments of $951.9 million at an average rate of 6.02%.
The Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures and certain product features provide protection for the Company against the effects of changes in interest rates under various scenarios. Additionally, the Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures provide sufficient liquidity to enable it to fulfill its obligation to pay benefits under its various insurance and deposit contracts. However, the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures incorporate assumptions about the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates (i.e., the slope of the yield curve), relationships between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, market liquidity and other factors, and the effectiveness of the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures may be negatively affected whenever actual results differ from those assumptions.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
The Company meets its liquidity requirements primarily through positive cash flows from its insurance operations. Primary sources of cash are premiums, deposits for policyholder accounts, investment sales and maturities, and investment income. Primary uses of cash include benefit payments, withdrawals from policyholder accounts, investment purchases, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses.
While the Company generally anticipates that its cash flows will be sufficient to meet its investment commitments and operating cash needs, the Company recognizes that investment commitments scheduled to be funded may, from time to time, exceed the funds then available. Therefore, the Company has established repurchase agreement programs for certain of its insurance subsidiaries to provide liquidity when needed. The Company expects that the rate received on its investments will equal or exceed its borrowing rate. Additionally, the Company may, from time to time, sell short-duration stable value products to complement its cash management practices. The Company has also used securitization transactions involving its commercial mortgage loans to increase liquidity.
The Company’s positive cash flows from operations are used to fund an investment portfolio that provides for future benefit payments. The Company employs a formal asset/liability program to manage the cash flows of its investment portfolio relative to its long-term benefit obligations. See additional discussion of the Company’s asset/liability program in the “Market Risk Exposures” section.
The Company was committed at March 31, 2006, to fund mortgage loans in the amount of $951.9 million. The Company held $836.9 million in cash and short-term investments at March 31, 2006.
The states in which the Company and its insurance subsidiaries are domiciled impose certain restrictions on the ability to pay dividends to PLC. These restrictions are generally based in part on the prior year’s statutory income and surplus. Generally, these restrictions pose no short-term liquidity concerns for PLC. The Company plans to retain substantial portions of its earnings and the earnings of its subsidiaries primarily to support future growth.
Capital Resources
Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate”), a special purpose financial captive insurance company wholly owned by the Company, has $150 million of non-recourse funding obligations outstanding at March 31, 2006, which bear a floating rate of interest and mature in 2037. These non-recourse funding obligations were issued under a surplus notes facility established with certain purchasers through which Golden Gate may issue up to an aggregate of $400 million of non-recourse funding obligations through June 2007. The non-recourse funding obligations are direct financial obligations of Golden Gate and are not guaranteed by the Company or its parent company, PLC. The non-recourse obligations are represented by surplus notes that were issued to fund statutory reserves required by the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Regulation (Regulation XXX). Any payment of principal of, including by redemption, or interest on the Notes may only be made with the prior approval of the Director of Insurance of the State of South Carolina in accordance with the terms of its licensing order and in accordance with applicable law. Under the terms of the notes, the holders of the notes cannot require repayment from PLC, the Company or any of PLC’s other subsidiaries, other than Golden Gate, the direct issuer of the notes, although PLC has agreed to indemnify Golden Gate for certain costs and obligations (which obligations do not include payment of principal and interest on the notes). In addition, PLC has entered into certain support agreements with Golden Gate obligating PLC to make capital contributions to Golden Gate or provide support related to certain of Golden Gate’s expenses and in certain circumstances, to collateralize certain of PLC’s obligations to Golden Gate.
A life insurance company's statutory capital is computed according to rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), as modified by state law. Generally speaking, other states in which a company does business defer to the interpretation of the domiciliary state with respect to NAIC rules, unless inconsistent with other state’s law. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to reflect a more conservative view by, for example, requiring immediate expensing of policy acquisition costs. The NAIC's risk-based capital requirements require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula. The achievement of long-term growth will require growth in the statutory capital of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries. The Company may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as retained statutory earnings or equity contributions by PLC.
Contractual Obligations
The table below sets forth future maturities of stable value products, operating lease obligations, other property lease obligations, mortgage loan commitments, liabilities related to variable interest entities, policyholder obligations, and non-recourse funding obligations.
| | 2006 | | 2007-2008 | | 2009-2010 | | After 2010 | |
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Stable value products(a) | | $ | 911,276 | | $ | 2,818,136 | | $ | 953,826 | | $ | 1,189,855 | |
Operating leases(b) | | | 3,894 | | | 8,658 | | | 6,528 | | | 4,695 | |
Home office lease(c) | | | 2,608 | | | 75,580 | | | | | | | |
Mortgage loan commitments | | | 951,867 | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities related to variable interest entities(d) | | | 760 | | | 35,488 | | | 192 | | | 5,948 | |
Policyholder obligations(e) | | | 860,411 | | | 1,934,997 | | | 1,570,592 | | | 9,693,844 | |
Non-recourse funding obligations(f) | | | | | | | | | | | | 150,000 | |
(a) Anticipated stable value products cash flows, excluding interest not yet accrued. (b) Includes all lease payments required under operating lease agreements. (c) The lease payments shown assume the Company exercises its option to purchase the building at the end of the lease term. (d) Liabilities related to variable interest entities are not the legal obligations of the Company, but will be repaid with cash flows generated by the variable interest entities. The amounts represent scheduled principal payments. (e) Estimated contractual policyholder obligations are based on mortality, morbidity, and lapse assumptions comparable to the Company’s historical experience, modified for recent observed trends. These obligations are based on current balance sheet values and do not incorporate an expectation of future market growth, interest crediting, or future deposits. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results. As separate account obligations are legally insulated from general account obligations, the separate account obligations will be fully funded by cash flows from separate account assets. The Company expects to fully fund the general account obligations from cash flows from general account investments. (f) Non-recourse funding obligations include all principal amounts owed on note agreements and does not include interest payments due over the term of the notes. |
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Note 5 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for information regarding recently issued accounting standards.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
A proposal to amend Actuarial Guideline 38 (promulgated by the NAIC and part of the codification of statutory accounting principles) has been approved by the NAIC, with an effective date of July 1, 2005. Actuarial Guideline 38, also known as AXXX, sets forth the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees (“ULSG”). The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 increase the reserve levels required for many ULSG products, and potentially make those products more expensive and less competitive as compared to other products including term and whole life products. The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 affect only policies with an issue date of July 1, 2005 and later, and reduce the competitiveness and/or profitability of newly written ULSG products compared to traditional whole life or other high cash value insurance products or other products supported by relatively inexpensive capital (such as reinsurance of redundant reserves). To the extent that the additional reserves are generally considered to be economically redundant, capital market or other solutions may emerge to reduce the impact of the amendment. The ability of the Company to access such solutions may depend on factors such as the ratings of the Company, the size of the blocks of business affected, the mortality experience of the Company, and other factors. The Company cannot predict when or if these solutions may become available to the Company or its competitors.
A recent ruling by the Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) of the NAIC indicates that certain securities previously classified as “preferred securities” may be classified as “equity securities” in the future. The Company currently invests in these securities and if the securities are reclassified, the market value of these securities may be negatively affected. Additionally, it may increase the Company’s costs to complete its pending acquisition or otherwise impact PLC’s ability to execute a hybrid securities offering.
The financial services industry has recently become the focus of increased scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities relating to allegations of improper special payments, price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other alleged misconduct, including payments made by insurers and other financial service providers to brokers and the practices surrounding the placement of insurance business and sales of other financial products as well as practices related to finite reinsurance. Such publicity may generate litigation against financial service providers, even those who do not engage in the business lines or practices currently at issue. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these investigations or proceedings, whether they will expand into other areas not yet contemplated, whether they will result in changes in insurance regulation, whether activities currently thought to be lawful will be characterized as unlawful, or the impact, if any, of this increased regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of the financial services industry on the Company. As these inquiries appear to encompass a large segment of our industry, it would not be unusual for large numbers of companies in the financial services industry to receive subpoenas, requests for information from regulatory authorities, or other inquiries relating to these and similar matters. From time to time, the Company receives subpoenas, requests or other inquiries and responds to them in the ordinary course of business.
In the first quarter of 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General of West Virginia for documents and other information relating to funding agreement-backed securities, special purpose vehicles, and related subjects. The Company understands that other U.S. based life insurers that participate in funding agreement backed note programs have received similar subpoenas. The Company has responded to the subpoena. The Company is not aware of any problems relating to its participation in funding agreement-backed note programs that would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.
The California Department of Insurance has promulgated proposed regulations that would characterize some life insurance agents as brokers and impose certain obligations on those agents that may conflict with the interests of insurance carriers or require the agent to, among other things, advise the client with respect to the best available insurer. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this regulatory proposal or whether any other state will propose or adopt similar actions.
In July 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an exposure draft of a proposed interpretation, “Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions - an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109.” The draft contains proposed guidance on the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions. It also addresses the accrual of any interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties and the classification of liabilities resulting from tax uncertainties on the balance sheet. The final interpretation is expected to be issued in the second quarter of 2006, and is expected to be effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this draft interpretation, but does not currently anticipate that its adoption would have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There has been no material change from the disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
| (a) | Disclosure controls and procedures |
Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2006. It should be noted that any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain judgments, including the costs and benefits of controls and the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within the Company have been detected.
(b) | Changes in internal control over financial reporting |
No significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting. Our internal controls exist within a dynamic environment and the Company continually strives to improve its internal controls and procedures to enhance the quality of its financial reporting.
PART II
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The operating results of companies in the insurance industry have historically been subject to significant fluctuations. The factors which could affect the Company’s future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the known trends and uncertainties. In addition to other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors and Cautionary Factors that may Affect Future Results” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition, or future results of operations. In addition, please consider the following:
The Company may not be able to close its pending acquisition, or may not be able to achieve the expected results once it is consummated.
On February 7, the Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire from JPMorgan Chase & Co. the stock of five life insurance companies that manufacture and distribute traditional life insurance and annuities and the stock of four related non-insurance companies. This transaction is currently expected to close during the third quarter of 2006. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval. Completion of and/or integration of the acquisition may be more expensive, more difficult, or take longer than expected. The acquisition may have a different and more expensive financing structure than currently contemplated. In addition, the Company may not achieve the returns projected from its analysis of the acquisition opportunity, and the effects of purchase GAAP accounting on the Company’s financial statements may be different than currently contemplated.
These may not be the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and/or operating results.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit 12 - Consolidated Earnings Ratios.
Exhibit 31(a) - Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31(b) - Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32(a) - Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32(b) - Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 99 - Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Date: May 15, 2006 /s/ Steven G. Walker____________________
Steven G. Walker
Senior Vice President, Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer
(Duly authorized officer)