UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
______________________________________
FORM 10-Q
☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020.
☐ Transition Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the transition period from: ________ to _________
Commission File Number: 001-32244
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | | 58-1407235 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD, STAMFORD, CT 06902
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 358-8000
NOT APPLICABLE
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $1.00 par value | IHC | NYSE |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer [ ] | Accelerated Filer [X] |
Non-Accelerated Filer [ ] | Smaller Reporting Company ☒ |
Emerging Growth Company ☐ | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No [X]
As of May 8, 2020, the registrant had 14,785,565 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
1
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
INDEX
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION | PAGE |
| | NO. |
| |
| Item 1. Financial Statements | |
| | |
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | 4 |
| |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income | 5 |
| |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 6 |
| |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity | 7 |
| |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 8 |
| |
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 9 |
| |
| Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition | |
| and Results of Operations | 27 |
| |
| Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 38 |
| |
| Item 4. Controls and Procedures | 38 |
| |
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION | |
| |
| Item 1. Legal Proceedings | 38 |
| | |
| Item 1A. Risk Factors | 40 |
| | |
| Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 41 |
| | |
| Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 41 |
| | |
| Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures | 41 |
| | |
| Item 5. Other Information | 41 |
| |
| Item 6. Exhibits | 42 |
| |
| Signatures | 44 |
| | | |
Copies of the Company’s SEC filings can be found on its website at www.ihcgroup.com.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This report on Form 10−Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Our forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated by reference in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as the growth of our business and operations, our business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, plans, future capital expenditures and references to future successes may be considered forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.
Numerous risks and uncertainties may impact the matters addressed by our forward-looking statements, any of which could negatively and materially affect our future financial results and performance. We describe some of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of IHC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with Securities and Exchange Commission. The only significant changes to our risk factors relate to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, see Item 1A of this document for details
Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and, therefore, also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this report, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any forward-looking event discussed in this report may not occur.
3
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share data) |
|
|
| | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 |
| | | (Unaudited) | | | |
ASSETS: | | | | | | |
Investments: | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | | $ | 74,029 | | $ | 50 |
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | | | 18,377 | | | 107,157 |
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | | | 414,004 | | | 384,974 |
Equity securities | | | 2,959 | | | 3,747 |
Other investments | | | 14,743 | | | 15,208 |
Total investments | | | 524,112 | | | 511,136 |
| | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 23,048 | | | 21,094 |
Due and unpaid premiums | | | 32,621 | | | 26,244 |
Due from reinsurers | | | 362,301 | | | 362,969 |
Goodwill | | | 64,827 | | | 60,165 |
Other assets | | | 72,926 | | | 72,695 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 1,079,835 | | $ | 1,054,303 |
| | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES: | | | | | | |
Policy benefits and claims | | $ | 170,836 | | $ | 164,802 |
Future policy benefits | | | 200,986 | | | 201,205 |
Funds on deposit | | | 140,837 | | | 140,951 |
Unearned premiums | | | 27,403 | | | 7,282 |
Other policyholders' funds | | | 11,965 | | | 12,049 |
Due to reinsurers | | | 4,114 | | | 5,016 |
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | | | 61,506 | | | 61,049 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 617,647 | | | 592,354 |
| | | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) | | | | | | |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | | | 2,290 | | | 2,237 |
| | | | | | |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | | | | | | |
Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; | | | | | | |
none issued or outstanding | | | - | | | - |
Common stock $1.00 par value, 23,000,000 shares authorized; | | | | | | |
18,625,458 shares issued; and 14,818,839 and | | | | | | |
14,864,941 shares outstanding | | | 18,625 | | | 18,625 |
Paid-in capital | | | 123,260 | | | 122,717 |
Accumulated other comprehensive gain | | | 1,101 | | | 1,212 |
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,806,619 and 3,760,517 shares | | | (71,196) | | | (69,724) |
Retained earnings | | | 388,102 | | | 386,864 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL IHC STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | 459,892 | | | 459,694 |
NONREDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS | | | 6 | | | 18 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL EQUITY | | | 459,898 | | | 459,712 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | $ | 1,079,835 | | $ | 1,054,303 |
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) |
(In thousands, except per share data) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
REVENUES: | | | | | |
Premiums earned | $ | 96,050 | | $ | 82,789 |
Net investment income | | 3,240 | | | 3,996 |
Fee income | | 3,942 | | | 4,188 |
Other income | | 477 | | | 3,684 |
Net investment gains | | 288 | | | 171 |
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses | | - | | | (646) |
Portion of losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) | | - | | | - |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | - | | | (646) |
| | | | | |
| | 103,997 | | | 94,182 |
| | | | | |
EXPENSES: | | | | | |
Insurance benefits, claims and reserves | | 54,058 | | | 43,119 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | 44,574 | | | 40,529 |
| | | | | |
| | 98,632 | | | 83,648 |
| | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 5,365 | | | 10,534 |
Income taxes | | 1,043 | | | 1,644 |
| | | | | |
Net income | | 4,322 | | | 8,890 |
(Income) loss from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests | | 9 | | | (117) |
(Income) from redeemable noncontrolling interests | | (53) | | | (46) |
| | | | | |
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC | $ | 4,278 | | $ | 8,727 |
| | | | | |
Basic income per common share | $ | 0.29 | | $ | 0.58 |
| | | | | |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING | | 14,856 | | | 14,948 |
| | | | | |
Diluted income per common share | $ | 0.29 | | $ | 0.58 |
| | | | | |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING | | 14,911 | | | 15,066 |
| | | | | |
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) |
(In thousands) |
|
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Net income | $ | 4,322 | $ | 8,890 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | |
Available-for-sale securities: | | | | |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, pre-tax | | (134) | | 7,194 |
Tax expense (benefit) on unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities | | (23) | | 1,525 |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes | | (111) | | 5,669 |
| | | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | | (111) | | 5,669 |
| | | | |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX | | 4,211 | | 14,559 |
| | | | |
Comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests: | | | | |
Income from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries | | (44) | | (163) |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests | | - | | - |
| | | | |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX, | | | | |
ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS | | (44) | | (163) |
| | | | |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX, | | | | |
ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC | $ | 4,167 | $ | 14,396 |
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) (In thousands) |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | ACCUMULATED | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | OTHER | | TREASURY | | | | TOTAL IHC | | NONREDEEMABLE | | |
| | COMMON | | PAID-IN | | COMPREHENSIVE | | STOCK, | | RETAINED | | STOCKHOLDERS' | | NONCONTROLLING | | TOTAL |
| | STOCK | | CAPITAL | | LOSS | | AT COST | | EARNINGS | | EQUITY | | INTERESTS | | EQUITY |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BALANCE AT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DECEMBER 31, 2019 | $ | 18,625 | $ | 122,717 | $ | 1,212 | $ | (69,724) | $ | 386,864 | $ | 459,694 | $ | 18 | $ | 459,712 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | | | | | | | | 4,278 | | 4,278 | | (9) | | 4,269 |
Other comprehensive | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
income, net of tax | | | | | | (111) | | | | | | (111) | | - | | (111) |
Repurchases of common stock | | | | | | | | (1,472) | | | | (1,472) | | - | | (1,472) |
Common stock dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
($0.22 per share) | | | | | | | | | | (3,040) | | (3,040) | | - | | (3,040) |
Distributions to noncontrolling | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
interests | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | (3) | | (3) |
Share-based compensation | | | | 543 | | | | | | | | 543 | | - | | 543 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BALANCE AT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
MARCH 31, 2020 | $ | 18,625 | $ | 123,260 | $ | 1,101 | $ | (71,196) | $ | 388,102 | $ | 459,892 | $ | 6 | $ | 459,898 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BALANCE AT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DECEMBER 31, 2018 | $ | 18,625 | $ | 124,395 | $ | (8,310) | $ | (66,392) | $ | 380,431 | $ | 448,749 | $ | 2,682 | $ | 451,431 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | | | | | | | | 8,727 | | 8,727 | | 117 | | 8,844 |
Other comprehensive | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
income, net of tax | | | | | | 5,669 | | | | | | 5,669 | | - | | 5,669 |
Repurchases of common stock | | | | | | | | (91) | | | | (91) | | - | | (91) |
Common stock dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
($0.20 per share) | | | | | | | | | | (2,994) | | (2,994) | | - | | (2,994) |
Share-based compensation | | | | (2,340) | | | | 557 | | | | (1,783) | | - | | (1,783) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BALANCE AT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
MARCH 31, 2019 | $ | 18,625 | $ | 122,055 | $ | (2,641) | $ | (65,926) | $ | 386,164 | $ | 458,277 | $ | 2,799 | $ | 461,076 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
7
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) |
(In thousands) |
|
| | Three Months Ended March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Net income | $ | 4,322 | | $ | 8,890 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net change in cash from | | | | | |
operating activities: | | | | | |
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs | | 120 | | | 389 |
Net investment (gains) | | (288) | | | (171) |
(Gain) on sale of investment | | - | | | (3,589) |
Other than-temporary-impairment losses, net | | - | | | 646 |
Equity (income) loss from equity method investments | | (328) | | | 371 |
Depreciation and amortization | | 908 | | | 799 |
Other | | 1,593 | | | 3,233 |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Change in insurance liabilities | | 25,009 | | | 13,254 |
Change in amounts due from reinsurers | | 668 | | | 1,660 |
Change in claim fund balances | | 58 | | | 2,004 |
Change in due and unpaid premiums | | (6,377) | | | (2,196) |
Other operating activities | | (7,858) | | | (7,639) |
| | | | | |
Net change in cash from operating activities | | 17,827 | | | 17,651 |
| | | | | |
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Net (purchases) sales and maturities of short-term investments | | (73,952) | | | 1,000 |
Net (purchases) sales of securities under resale agreements | | 88,780 | | | (23,303) |
Sales of fixed maturities | | 33,328 | | | 15,833 |
Maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities | | 11,208 | | | 25,687 |
Purchases of fixed maturities | | (66,621) | | | (36,291) |
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired | | (2,597) | | | (4,434) |
Proceeds from sales, distributions and returns of capital from investments | | - | | | 4,617 |
Payments to acquire other investments | | (1,250) | | | - |
Other investing activities | | (719) | | | (906) |
| | | | | |
Net change in cash from investing activities | | (11,823) | | | (17,797) |
| | | | | |
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Repurchases of common stock | | (1,335) | | | (50) |
Withdrawals of investment-type insurance contracts | | (173) | | | (913) |
Dividends paid | | (2,973) | | | (2,242) |
Proceeds from stock options exercised | | - | | | 44 |
Payments related to tax withholdings for sharebased compensation | | - | | | (2,384) |
Other financing activities | | (3) | | | - |
| | | | | |
Net change in cash from financing activities | | (4,484) | | | (5,545) |
| | | | | |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 1,520 | | | (5,691) |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year | | 24,631 | | | 30,807 |
| | | | | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ | 26,151 | | $ | 25,116 |
| | | | | |
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
8
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1.Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies
(A) Business and Organization
Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“IHC”), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life"), Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"), and Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc., IHC Brokerage Group, Inc., My1HR, Inc. (“My1HR”) and a majority interest in PetPartners, Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”.
Geneve Corporation, a financial holding company, and its affiliated entities, held approximately 62% of IHC's outstanding common stock at March 31, 2020.
(B) Basis of Presentation
The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. IHC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global health pandemic and the United States declared a national health emergency. COVID-19 has led to largescale disruption in the global economy, market instability and widespread unemployment in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak is a fluid situation and as it evolves, the duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain. Regulatory mandates have affected, and we anticipate will continue to impact, the insurance industry. We currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact to our business, results of operations or financial condition in future reporting periods. Consequently, future changes in market conditions may impact estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements associated with evaluations of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, estimates associated with the determination of valuation allowances related to net operating loss carryforwards, and estimates of certain losses under insurance contracts. These estimates may all be subject to substantial adjustments in future periods. In addition, volatile market conditions may result in further declines in the fair value of our investment portfolio and possible impairments of certain securities.
9
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods have been included. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year.
(C) Reclassifications
Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation.
(D) Revenue Recognition
Insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the period insurance protection is provided. For additional information about our policies regarding the recognition of premium revenues, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Fee income includes fees and commissions for various sales, marketing and administrative services provided by our marketing and administrative companies. Revenue is recognized as these services are performed for most products. For these administrative service and other contracts, we have no material contract assets or contract liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2020. Revenue recognized from performance obligations related to prior periods, and revenue expected to be recognized in future periods related to unfulfilled contractual performance obligations and contracts with variable consideration, is not material.
Life Time value – The Company uses expected constrained life time value’s (“LTV”) representing the expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of certain policies sold, primarily Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement products, on behalf of unaffiliated insurance carriers by IHC’s marketing agencies.
Expected future commission revenue over the lifetime of the policies sold is recorded in the period the performance obligation is satisfied. No significant additional performance obligation occurs with renewal of the initial policy. IHC records substantially all anticipated revenue on these policies on the date a completed insurance application is submitted to the unaffiliated insurance carrier; adjusted for certain constraints including policyholder acceptance rates, cancellations and non-renewals. Increased sales of the aforementioned products to unaffiliated insurance carriers began in 2020 as a result of new contracts with those carriers and increased distribution channels.
(E) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance for determining whether a decision making fee is a variable interest and requires reporting entities to consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements regarding fair value measurements. The amendments in this guidance are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating Step 2 in the goodwill impairment test. Instead, under the amendments in this guidance, an entity should
10
perform its annual or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The amendments in this guidance are effective for public business entities for annual, or any interim, goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to changes in ownership of equity method investments and foreign subsidiaries. The guidance also simplifies aspects of accounting for franchise taxes, the requirement to allocate current and deferred tax expense to legal entities not subject to tax in its separate financial statements, enacted changes in tax laws or rates, and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The amendments in this guidance are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve existing measurements, presentation and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by insurance entities. The amendments in this guidance requires an entity to (1) review and update assumptions used to measure cash flows at least annually as well as update the discount rate assumption at each reporting date; (2) measure market risk benefits associated with deposit contracts at fair value; (3) disclose liability rollforwards and information about significant inputs, judgements assumptions, and methods used in measurement. Additionally, it simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other balances on a constant level basis over the expected term of the related contracts. In 2019, the FASB delayed the original effective dates. For smaller reporting companies, the amendments in this guidance are now effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Upon adoption, the amendments in this guidance should be applied to contracts in-force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented with a cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected with changes in the allowance recorded in earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than the currently applied U.S. GAAP method of taking a permanent impairment of the security, which would be limited to the amount by which fair value is below the amortized cost. Certain existing requirements used to evaluate credit losses have been removed. In 2019, the FASB provided transition relief by providing entities with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option on an instrument-by-instrument basis for eligible instruments upon adoption and delayed the original effective dates. For smaller reporting companies, the amendments in this guidance are now effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this guidance should be applied through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
11
Note 2.Income Per Common Share
Diluted income per share was computed using the treasury stock method and includes incremental common shares, primarily from the dilutive effect of share-based payment awards, amounting to 55,000 and 118,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Note 3.Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 23,048 | $ | 20,560 |
Restricted cash included in other assets | | 3,103 | | 4,556 |
| | | | |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 26,151 | $ | 25,116 |
| | | | |
Restricted cash includes insurance premiums collected from insureds that are pending remittance to insurance carriers and/or payment of insurance claims and commissions to third party administrators. These amounts are required to be set aside by contractual agreements with the insurance carriers and are included in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 4.Investment Securities
The cost (amortized cost with respect to certain fixed maturities), gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, 2020 |
| | | | GROSS | | GROSS | | |
| | AMORTIZED | | UNREALIZED | | UNREALIZED | | FAIR |
| | COST | | GAINS | | LOSSES | | VALUE |
| | | | | | | | |
FIXED MATURITIES | | | | | | | | |
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE: | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | 139,487 | $ | 1,476 | $ | (2,993) | $ | 137,970 |
CMOs – residential (1) | | 5,143 | | 223 | | - | | 5,366 |
U.S. Government obligations | | 50,348 | | 1,175 | | - | | 51,523 |
GSEs (2) | | 6,137 | | 1 | | (271) | | 5,867 |
States and political subdivisions | | 204,836 | | 2,252 | | (751) | | 206,337 |
Foreign government obligations | | 6,638 | | 303 | | - | | 6,941 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturities | $ | 412,589 | $ | 5,430 | $ | (4,015) | $ | 414,004 |
| | December 31, 2019 |
| | | | GROSS | | GROSS | | |
| | AMORTIZED | | UNREALIZED | | UNREALIZED | | FAIR |
| | COST | | GAINS | | LOSSES | | VALUE |
| | | | | | | | |
FIXED MATURITIES | | | | | | | | |
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE: | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | 161,369 | $ | 1,832 | $ | (1,178) | $ | 162,023 |
CMOs – residential (1) | | 5,328 | | 54 | | - | | 5,382 |
U.S. Government obligations | | 50,340 | | 257 | | (48) | | 50,549 |
GSEs (2) | | 6,230 | | - | | (107) | | 6,123 |
States and political subdivisions | | 153,439 | | 1,512 | | (943) | | 154,008 |
Foreign government obligations | | 6,719 | | 172 | | (2) | | 6,889 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturities | $ | 383,425 | $ | 3,827 | $ | (2,278) | $ | 384,974 |
(1)Collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).
(2)Government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) are private enterprises established and chartered by the Federal Government or its various insurance and lease programs which carry the full faith and credit obligation of the U.S. Government.
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale at March 31, 2020, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| | | AMORTIZED | | | FAIR |
| | | COST | | | VALUE |
| | | | | | |
Due in one year or less | | $ | 34,214 | | $ | 34,512 |
Due after one year through five years | | | 154,997 | | | 156,861 |
Due after five years through ten years | | | 105,604 | | | 105,585 |
Due after ten years | | | 106,494 | | | 105,814 |
Fixed maturities with no single maturity date | | | 11,280 | | | 11,232 |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 412,589 | | $ | 414,004 |
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The following tables summarize, for all fixed maturities available-for-sale in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities that have continuously been in an unrealized loss position for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, 2020 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Less than 12 Months | | | 12 Months or Longer | | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | Unrealized |
| | Value | | | Losses | | | Value | | | Losses | | | Value | | Losses |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | 45,248 | | $ | 1,981 | | $ | 21,897 | | $ | 1,012 | | $ | 67,145 | $ | 2,993 |
GSEs | | - | | | - | | | 5,861 | | | 271 | | | 5,861 | | 271 |
States and political subdivisions | | 9,318 | | | 31 | | | 23,498 | | | 720 | | | 32,816 | | 751 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities in an | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
unrealized loss position | $ | 54,566 | | $ | 2,012 | | $ | 51,256 | | $ | 2,003 | | $ | 105,822 | $ | 4,015 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of fixed maturities in an | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
unrealized loss position | | 35 | | | | | | 29 | | | | | | 64 | | |
| | December 31, 2019 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Less than 12 Months | | | 12 Months or Longer | | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | | Unrealized | | | Fair | | Unrealized |
| | Value | | | Losses | | | Value | | | Losses | | | Value | | Losses |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | 18,151 | | $ | 455 | | $ | 32,301 | | $ | 723 | | $ | 50,452 | $ | 1,178 |
U.S. Government obligations | | - | | | - | | | 7,167 | | | 48 | | | 7,167 | | 48 |
GSEs | | - | | | - | | | 6,173 | | | 107 | | | 6,173 | | 107 |
States and political subdivisions | | 29,872 | | | 114 | | | 29,462 | | | 829 | | | 59,334 | | 943 |
Foreign government obligations | | - | | | - | | | 1,603 | | | 2 | | | 1,603 | | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities in an | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
unrealized loss position | $ | 48,023 | | $ | 569 | | $ | 76,706 | | $ | 1,709 | | $ | 124,729 | $ | 2,278 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of fixed maturities in an | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
unrealized loss position | | 18 | | | | | | 43 | | | | | | 61 | | |
Substantially all of the unrealized losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 relate to investment grade securities. Management does not intend to sell, and it is likely that management will not be required to sell these securities prior to their anticipated recovery. The unrealized losses on the Company's fixed maturity securities are related to general market changes in interest rates, and/or the levels of credit spreads largely due to current market conditions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic rather than specific concerns with the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal. We have evaluated each corporate security’s credit rating as well as industry risk factors associated with the securities. The fair value of these securities is expected to recover as they approach maturity and therefore the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2020.
14
Net investment gains are as follows for periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Realized gains (losses): | | | | |
Fixed maturities available-for-sale | $ | 1,070 | $ | (22) |
| | | | |
Total realized gains (losses) on debt and equity securities | | 1,070 | | (22) |
Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | | (787) | | 193 |
| | | | |
Gains (losses) on debt and equity securities | | 283 | | 171 |
Gains (losses) on other investments | | 5 | | - |
| | | | |
Net investment gains | $ | 288 | $ | 171 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company realized gross gains of $1,091,000 and $38,000, respectively, and gross losses of $21,000 and $60,000, respectively, from sales, maturities and prepayments of fixed maturities available-for-sale.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Evaluations
We recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses in earnings in the period that we determine: 1) we intend to sell the security; 2) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; or 3) the security has a credit loss. Any non-credit portion of the other-than-temporary impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). See Note 1F(v) to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of the factors considered by management in its regular review to identify and recognize other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturities available-for-sale. The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities in the first three months of 2020. The Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $646,000 on certain fixed maturities available-for-sale in the first three months of 2019. The Company determined that it was more likely than not that we would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis
Note 5.Fair Value Disclosures
For all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company utilizes valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market expectations. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 - Instruments where significant value drivers are unobservable.
The following section describes the valuation methodologies we use to measure different assets at fair value.
15
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
Fixed maturities available-for-sale included in Level 2 are comprised of our portfolio of government securities, agency mortgage-backed securities, corporate fixed income securities, foreign government obligations, collateralized mortgage obligations, municipals and GSEs that were priced with observable market inputs. Level 3 debt securities consist of municipal tax credit strips. The valuation method used to determine the fair value of municipal tax credit strips is the present value of the remaining future tax credits (at the original issue discount rate) as presented in the redemption tables in the Municipal Prospectuses. This original issue discount is accreted into income on a constant yield basis over the term of the debt instrument. Further, we retain independent pricing vendors to assist in valuing certain instruments.
Equity securities:
Equity securities included in Level 1 are equity securities with quoted market prices.
The following tables present our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, 2020 |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | - | | $ | 137,970 | $ | - | $ | 137,970 |
CMOs - residential | | - | | | 5,366 | | - | | 5,366 |
US Government obligations | | - | | | 51,523 | | - | | 51,523 |
GSEs | | - | | | 5,867 | | - | | 5,867 |
States and political subdivisions | | - | | | 204,856 | | 1,481 | | 206,337 |
Foreign government obligations | | - | | | 6,941 | | - | | 6,941 |
Total fixed maturities | | - | | | 412,523 | | 1,481 | | 414,004 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks | | 2,128 | | | - | | - | | 2,128 |
Nonredeemable preferred stocks | | 831 | | | - | | - | | 831 |
Total equity securities | | 2,959 | | | - | | - | | 2,959 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total Financial Assets | $ | 2,959 | | $ | 412,523 | $ | 1,481 | $ | 416,963 |
| | December 31, 2019 |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate securities | $ | - | | $ | 162,023 | $ | - | $ | 162,023 |
CMOs - residential | | - | | | 5,382 | | - | | 5,382 |
US Government obligations | | - | | | 50,549 | | - | | 50,549 |
GSEs | | - | | | 6,123 | | - | | 6,123 |
States and political subdivisions | | - | | | 152,479 | | 1,529 | | 154,008 |
Foreign government obligations | | - | | | 6,889 | | - | | 6,889 |
Total fixed maturities | | - | | | 383,445 | | 1,529 | | 384,974 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Common stocks | | 2,864 | | | - | | - | | 2,864 |
Nonredeemable preferred stocks | | 883 | | | - | | - | | 883 |
Total equity securities | | 3,747 | | | - | | - | | 3,747 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total Financial Assets | $ | 3,747 | | $ | 383,445 | $ | 1,529 | $ | 388,721 |
16
The following table presents the changes in fair value of our Level 3 financial assets for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | States and | | Total | | | States and | | Total |
| | Political | | Level 3 | | | Political | | Level 3 |
| | Subdivisions | | Assets | | | Subdivisions | | Assets |
| | | | | | | | | |
Beginning balance | $ | 1,529 | $ | 1,529 | | $ | 1,709 | $ | 1,709 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Increases (decreases) recognized in earnings: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment gains | | - | | - | | | - | | - |
| | | | | | | | | |
Gains (losses) included in other | | | | | | | | | |
comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | | |
Net unrealized gains (losses) | | (6) | | (6) | | | (8) | | (8) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Repayments and amortization of | | | | | | | | | |
fixed maturities | | (42) | | (42) | | | (37) | | (37) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Balance at end of period | $ | 1,481 | $ | 1,481 | | $ | 1,664 | $ | 1,664 |
Included in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, pre-tax, on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are $(6,000) of unrealized gains(losses) attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to Level 3 securities held at March 31, 2020.
The following table provides carrying values, fair values and classification in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments, that are not carried at fair value but are subject to fair value disclosure requirements, for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | |
| | Fair | | Fair | | Carrying | | Fair | | Fair | | Carrying |
| | Value | | Value | | Value | | Value | | Value | | Value |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term investments | $ | 74,029 | $ | - | $ | 74,029 | $ | 50 | $ | - | $ | 50 |
Securities purchased under | | | | | | | | | | | | |
agreements to resell | | 18,377 | | - | | 18,377 | | 107,157 | | - | | 107,157 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Funds on deposit | $ | - | $ | 140,888 | $ | 140,837 | $ | - | $ | 141,010 | $ | 140,951 |
Other policyholders’ funds | | - | | 11,965 | | 11,965 | | - | | 12,049 | | 12,049 |
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
Securities purchased under agreements to resell are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold, which approximates fair value.
17
Short-term Investments
Investments with original maturities of 91 days to one year are considered short-term investments and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
Funds on Deposit
The Company has two types of funds on deposit. The first type is credited with a current market interest rate, resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount. The second type carries fixed interest rates which are higher than current market interest rates. The fair value of these deposits was estimated by discounting the payments using current market interest rates. The Company's universal life policies are also credited with current market interest rates, resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount. Both types of funds on deposit are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Other Policyholders’ Funds
Other policyholders’ funds are primarily credited with current market interest rates resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount.
Note 6.Other Investments, Including Variable Interest Entities
Equity Method Investments
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company impaired its investment in Ebix Health Exchange, which administers various lines of health insurance for IHC’s insurance subsidiaries. The carrying value of the Company’s equity investment is $0 at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company discontinued applying the equity method with regards to recording any additional equity losses beginning in the first quarter of 2020. The Company recorded $0 and $(542,000), respectively, of equity income (loss) from its investment for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.
In January 2020, the Company acquired the remaining membership units it did not already own in the Abacus Group, LLC., which was previously accounted for under the equity method. See Note 7 for more information.
Equity Investments Carried at Cost Less Impairments
In February 2020, the Company made an additional $1,250,000 equity investment in FIGO Pet Insurance LLC (“FIGO”), a leading insuretech brand company in the pet insurance space focused on referral partners as well as direct-to-consumer and employer benefit channels.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company has a minority interest in certain limited partnerships that we have determined to be Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”). The aforementioned VIEs are not required to be consolidated in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as we are not the primary beneficiary since we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance.
The Company will periodically reassess whether we are the primary beneficiary in any of these investments. The reassessment process will consider whether we have acquired the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIE through changes in governing documents or other circumstances. Our maximum loss exposure is limited to our combined $5,028,000 carrying value in these equity investments which is included in other investments in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2020.
18
Related Party Transactions
At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $0 and $5,000, respectively, of notes and other amounts receivable from Ebix Health Exchange, and include $163,000 and $250,000, respectively, of administrative fees and other expenses payable to Ebix Health Exchange, which are included in other assets and accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, and 2019, the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income include $476,000 and $462,000, respectively, of administrative fee expenses to Ebix Health Exchange, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March31, 2020 includes premiums earned and selling, general and administrative expense of $1,097,000 and $333,000, respectively, related to pet insurance business produced by FIGO. Selling, general and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 includes approximately $1,507,000 and $443,000, respectively, of expense related to the purchase of leads from an affiliated lead generation company. This entity was not an affiliate of the Company in the first quarter of 2019.
Note 7.Acquisition
The Abacus Group, LLC.
On January 1, 2020 (the "Abacus Acquisition Date"), the Company acquired the remaining 56% membership units of The Abacus Group, LLC, (“Abacus”) for a purchase price of $2,599,000, Abacus is an agency group that writes worksite business for Madison National Life and other carriers and receives commissions and other fees. The Company acquired Abacus to further the Company’s position in the worksite marketplace. The Company accounted for its prior ownership interest using the equity method. Immediately preceding the transaction, the Company determined the fair value of its equity interest to be $1,838,000 using a market approach and, as a result, recorded a loss of $163,000, which is included in other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.
Upon the acquisition, the Company consolidated the assets and liabilities of Abacus. The following table presents the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Abacus on the Abacus Acquisition Date based on their respective fair values (in thousands):
Other assets | | | 350 |
| | | |
Total identifiable assets | | | 350 |
| | | |
Other liabilities | | | 575 |
| | | |
Total liabilities | | | 575 |
| | | |
Net identifiable assets (liabilities) acquired | | $ | (225) |
| | | |
19
In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $4,662,000 of goodwill (see Note 8). The amount of goodwill entitled to an amortization deduction for income tax purposes will be determined upon a mutually agreeable asset allocation of the acquisition consideration with the respective acquirees.
Goodwill represents the synergies with our insurance carriers. Abacus has an existing distribution network and offers increased distribution sources for IHC carriers’ existing products and developing products through its enrollment platform designed specifically for producers in the worksite marketplace. Goodwill was calculated as the sum of (i) the acquisition date fair value of total cash consideration transferred of $2,599,000, (ii) the aggregate acquisition-date fair value of equity interests immediately before the acquisition of $1,838,000, and (iii) the net identifiable liabilities of $225,000 that were assumed. The enterprise value of Abacus was determined by a market approach net of any control premium. Acquisition-related costs, primarily legal and consulting fees, were not material and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.
Revenue and net income from Abacus for the period from the Abacus Acquisition Date to March 31, 2020, is not material as most of their agency fee income is derived from Madison National Life and is now eliminated in consolidation. The amount of fee income earned from other carriers in 2020 is not material and will reduce over time as the business either runs-off or is transitioned to Madison National Life.
Pro forma adjustments to present the Company’s consolidated revenues and net income as if the acquisition date was January 1, 2019 are not material and accordingly are omitted.
Note 8.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The carrying amount of goodwill is $64,827,000 and $60,165,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, of which $60,165,000 is attributable to the Specialty Health Segment at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and $4,662,000 and $0, is attributable to the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment for the same periods, respectively.
The Company has net other intangible assets of $13,091,000 and $13,379,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, which are included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These intangible assets consist of: (i) finite-lived intangible assets, principally the fair value of acquired agent and broker relationships, which are subject to amortization; and (ii) indefinite-lived intangible assets which consist of the estimated fair value of insurance licenses that are not subject to amortization.
The gross carrying amounts of these other intangible assets are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | March 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
| | Gross | | | | Gross | | |
| | Carrying | | Accumulated | | Carrying | | Accumulated |
| | Amount | | Amortization | | Amount | | Amortization |
| | | | | | | | |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets: | | | | | | | | |
Agent and broker relationships | $ | 11,753 | $ | 7,704 | $ | 18,753 | $ | 14,474 |
Domain | | 1,000 | | 350 | | 1,000 | | 325 |
Software systems | | 780 | | 365 | | 780 | | 332 |
Total finite-lived | $ | 13,533 | $ | 8,419 | $ | 20,533 | $ | 15,131 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | March 31, | | December 31, |
| | | | | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets: | | | | | | | | |
Insurance licenses | | | | | $ | 7,977 | $ | 7,977 |
Total indefinite-lived | | | | | $ | 7,977 | $ | 7,977 |
As discussed in Note 7, in connection with the acquisition of Abacus in the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded $4,662,000 of goodwill associated with the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment.
Amortization expense is $288,000 and $359,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Note 9.Income Taxes
The provisions for income taxes shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income were computed by applying the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the reporting periods. Differences between the Federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate are principally from the dividends received deduction and tax-exempt interest income, state and local income taxes, and compensation related tax provisions.
At December 31, 2019, AMIC and its subsidiaries had Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $114,531,000, which expire in varying amounts through the year 2034, with a significant portion expiring in 2020, and are limited in their utilization to future taxable income earned on a separate company basis. At December 31, 2019, AMIC’s valuation allowance was $17,212,000 and is related to net operating loss carryforwards that, in the judgment of management, are not considered realizable. No change in the valuation allowance was necessary in the three months ended March 31, 2020.
On March 27, 2020, as part of the business stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act. The CARES Act established new tax provisions including, but not limited to: (1) five-year carryback of net operating losses ("NOLs") generated in 2018, 2019 and 2020; (2) accelerated refund of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards; and (3) retroactive changes to allow accelerated depreciation for certain depreciable property. At this time, the legislation does not have a material impact on the Company due to the lack of taxable losses in the stated carryback eligible tax years and the fact that the Company was already expecting to receive a cash benefit for the remaining AMT credits in the fiscal 2018 tax year return.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has selected the Company’s 2015 and 2016 NYS returns for audit.
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Note 10.Policy Benefits and Claims
Policy benefits and claims is the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. It is comprised of unpaid claims and estimated incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) reserves. Summarized below are the changes in the total liability for policy benefits and claims for the periods indicated (in thousands).
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | | | | |
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 164,802 | | $ | 160,115 |
Less: reinsurance recoverable | | 36,993 | | | 38,122 |
Net balance at beginning of year | | 127,809 | | | 121,993 |
| | | | | |
Amount incurred, related to: | | | | | |
Current year | | 61,159 | | | 46,775 |
Prior years | | (7,123) | | | (3,000) |
| | | | | |
Total incurred | | 54,036 | | | 43,775 |
| | | | | |
Amount paid, related to: | | | | | |
Current year | | 14,168 | | | 12,658 |
Prior years | | 33,681 | | | 26,080 |
| | | | | |
Total paid | | 47,849 | | | 38,738 |
| | | | | |
Net balance at end of period | | 133,996 | | | 127,030 |
Plus: reinsurance recoverable | | 36,840 | | | 37,880 |
Balance at end of period | $ | 170,836 | | $ | 164,910 |
Since unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses are estimates, actual losses incurred may be more or less than the Company’s previously developed estimates and is referred to as either unfavorable or favorable development, respectively. The overall net favorable development of $7,123,000 in 2020 related to prior years consists of favorable developments of $2,057,000 in Specialty Health reserves, $2,681,000 in the group disability reserves, and $2,385,000 in the other individual life, annuities and other reserves. Specialty Health net favorable development occurred primarily in the short term medical (“STM”), group gap, pets, fixed indemnity limited benefit and occupational accident lines of business. Group Disability net favorable development was primarily due to favorable premium refund reserve adjustments in the DBL line of business partially offset by unfavorable development in the STD and LTD lines due to higher claims severity. The overall net favorable development of $3,000,000 in 2019 related to prior years consists of favorable developments of $1,510,000 in Specialty Health reserves, $1,369,000 in the group disability reserves, $121,000 in the other individual life, annuities and other reserves. Specialty Health net favorable development occurred primarily in the group gap, dental, pets, fixed indemnity limited benefit and occupational accident lines of business. Group Disability net favorable development was primarily due to favorable claim experience in the DBL line of business.
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Included in the preceding rollforward of the Company’s liability for policy benefits and claims are the policy benefits and claims activity associated with the Company’s health insurance lines. These are embedded within the Specialty Health segment. The table below summarizes the components of the change in the liability for policy benefits and claims that are specific to health insurance claims for the periods indicated (in thousands).
| | Specialty Health Segment |
| | Health Insurance Claims |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | | | | |
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 31,259 | | $ | 26,068 |
Less: reinsurance recoverable | | 1,113 | | | 851 |
Net balance at beginning of year | | 30,146 | | | 25,217 |
| | | | | |
Amount incurred, related to: | | | | | |
Current year | | 13,316 | | | 13,416 |
Prior years | | (1,597) | | | (930) |
| | | | | |
Total incurred | | 11,719 | | | 12,486 |
| | | | | |
Amount paid, related to: | | | | | |
Current year | | 3,430 | | | 1,695 |
Prior years | | 11,723 | | | 8,398 |
| | | | | |
Total paid | | 15,153 | | | 10,093 |
| | | | | |
Net balance at end of period | | 26,712 | | | 27,610 |
Plus: reinsurance recoverable | | 1,081 | | | 499 |
Balance at end of period | $ | 27,793 | | $ | 28,109 |
The liability for the IBNR plus expected development on reported claims associated with the Company’s health insurance claims is $26,712,000 at March 31, 2020.
Note 11.Stockholders’ Equity
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) includes the after-tax net unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale, including the subsequent increases and decreases in fair value of available-for-sale securities previously impaired and the non-credit related component of other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturities.
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Changes in the balances of accumulated other comprehensive income, shown net of taxes, for the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | | | | |
Beginning balance | $ | 1,212 | | $ | (8,310) |
| | | | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | | 734 | | | 5,142 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI | | (845) | | | 527�� |
Net other comprehensive income | | (111) | | | 5,669 |
| | | | | |
Ending balance | $ | 1,101 | | $ | (2,641) |
Presented below are the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in earnings for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | | | | |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities | | | | | |
reclassified during the period to the following income | | | | | |
statement line items: | | | | | |
Net investment gains (losses) | $ | 1,070 | | $ | (22) |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | - | | | (646) |
| | | | | |
Income (loss) before income tax | | 1,070 | | | (668) |
Income tax expense (benefit) | | 225 | | | (141) |
| | | | | |
Net income (loss) | $ | 845 | | $ | (527) |
Note 12.Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Net cash payments for income taxes were $50,000 and $52,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Note 13.Contingencies
Third Party Administrator
A third party administrator with whom we formerly did business (“Plaintiff” or “TPA”) filed a Complaint dated May 17, 2017 in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, naming IHC, Madison National Life, Standard Security Life, and Independence Brokerage Group, Inc. (formerly IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc.) (collectively referred to as “Defendants”). “Plaintiff” and “Defendants” are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”. The Complaint concerns agreements entered into by Standard Security Life and Madison National Life with Plaintiff, as well as other allegations made by Plaintiff against Defendants. The Complaint seeks injunctive relief and damages in an amount exceeding $50,000,000, payments allegedly owed to Plaintiff under the agreements totaling at least $3,082,000 through 2014, plus additional amounts for 2015 and 2016, and exemplary and punitive damages as allowed by law and fees and costs. Defendants believe these claims to be without merit. Defendants moved to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss or Stay the original Complaint. Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint on August 18, 2017. Defendants filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration or Stay the Amended Complaint. The Parties agreed to enter
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into an Order staying the action filed in Texas. The Parties’ disputed claims moved in part to arbitration.
Standard Security Life and Madison National Life demanded arbitration against this TPA. The Arbitration Panel issued an Order splitting the hearing into two phases. Standard Security Life and Madison National Life successfully presented their claims in Phase I on September 25 through September 28, 2018 and were awarded $5,641,000 (“Arbitration Award”). The TPA’s counterclaims were heard during Phase II held on February 11, 2019 through February 15, 2019. Standard Security Life and Madison National Life successfully opposed the counterclaims asserted by the TPA as the Arbitration Panel denied all claims against Standard Security Life and Madison National Life. Standard Security Life and Madison National Life filed the Petition to Confirm the Arbitration Award. The TPA opposed this Motion. On June 17, 2019, the Court entered its Final Judgment and Order Confirming the Arbitration Award. On July 15, 2019, the TPA filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from the judgment entered on June 17, 2019. The TPA has filed its appeal and Standard Security Life and Madison National Life have submitted a response.
Since the arbitration is complete, the stay in the Texas litigation has been lifted. Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss. On October 16, 2019, the Court granted in part and denied in part our Motion to Dismiss. Count I, which relates to the breach of contract, was denied without prejudice. Counts II-VI were granted in part. The Court found that an arbitration agreement, including an arbitration provision, exists between Plaintiff and Defendants. The arbitration provision incorporates the AAA Rules, evincing clear and unmistakable evidence of the parties’ intent to have the arbitrator decide whether a given claim must be arbitrated. Therefore, Counts II-VI were dismissed, without prejudice. The parties were directed to proceed with arbitration. In light of this holding, the action relating to Count I, breach of Contract, was stayed and administratively closed pending the outcome of another arbitration. On February 2, 2020, we received the TPA’s Demand for Arbitration. We will respond accordingly. It is the Defendants' position that this demand for a new arbitration has no impact on the Arbitration Award discussed above.
Multistate Market Conduct Examination
As previously disclosed, our subsidiaries Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American have been selected for a multistate market conduct exam ("MCE") related to our STM, limited medical and fixed indemnity health insurance products for the period of January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017. The insurance departments of five jurisdictions (Delaware, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Kansas and South Dakota) are serving as leads, and the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking and the Delaware Department of Insurance are serving as the managing lead states of the MCE. In addition to the five lead states, 36 other states are participating in the MCE. Each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American responded to inquiries and document production requests in the MCE and has proactively communicated and cooperated with the applicable regulatory agencies for the MCE. Each of these subsidiaries has also provided a detailed action plan to regulators that summarizes its enhanced compliance and control mechanisms.
On July 18, 2019, each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American received a proposed Regulatory Settlement Agreement ("RSA") to resolve the MCE with respect to such company. The proposed RSAs provide for monetary amounts for compliance with the examination as well as requirements related to such subsidiaries' marketing activities and periodic reporting to regulators. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American have exchanged correspondence regarding the proposed RSAs and are continuing to participate in confidential discussions with the insurance departments of the lead jurisdictions. At this time, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate any settlement amount or range of settlement amounts that may result from such discussions.
Note 14.Segment Reporting
The Insurance Group principally engages in the life and health insurance business. Taxes and general expenses associated with parent company activities are included in Corporate. Identifiable assets by segment
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are those assets that are utilized in each segment and are allocated based upon the mean reserves and liabilities of each such segment. Corporate assets are composed principally of cash equivalents, resale agreements, fixed maturities, equity securities, partnership interests and certain other investments.
Information by business segment is presented below for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
Revenues: | | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 49,006 | $ | 53,439 |
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL | | 53,918 | | 40,129 |
Individual life, annuities and other (A) | | 318 | | 420 |
Corporate | | 467 | | 669 |
| | 103,709 | | 94,657 |
Net investment gains | | 288 | | 171 |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | - | | (646) |
Total revenues | $ | 103,997 | $ | 94,182 |
| | | | |
Income before income taxes | | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 152 | $ | 9,658 |
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL | | 6,530 | | 4,164 |
Individual life, annuities and other (A) (B) | | (143) | | (381) |
Corporate | | (1,462) | | (2,432) |
| | 5,077 | | 11,009 |
Net investment gains | | 288 | | 171 |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | - | | (646) |
Income before income taxes | $ | 5,365 | $ | 10,534 |
(A)Substantially all of the business in the segment is coinsured. Activity in this segment primarily reflects income or expenses related to the coinsurance and the run-off of any remaining blocks that were not coinsured.
(B)For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Individual life, annuities and other segment includes $188,000 and $205,000, respectively, of amortization of deferred charges in connection with the assumptions of certain ceded life and annuity policies.
Note 15.Subsequent Events
In April 2020, the Company acquired the remaining 76.93% interest in Torchlight Technology Group, LLC., a marketing technology (“MarTech”) company through a step acquisition for $11,443,000 of cash consideration.
On April 24, 2020, IHC announced that it commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price per share of $27.00. The tender offer will expire on May 21, 2020, unless extended by IHC. The tender offer is subject to a number of terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase that has been distributed to stockholders.
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ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of Independence Holding Company ("IHC") and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the related Notes thereto appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report.
Overview
Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation, is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life, Madison National Life, and Independence American; and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc., IHC Brokerage Group, Inc., My1HR and a majority interest in PetPartners. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”.
While management considers a wide range of factors in its strategic planning and decision-making, underwriting profit is consistently emphasized as the primary goal in all decisions as to whether or not to increase our retention in a core line, expand into new products, acquire an entity or a block of business, or otherwise change our business model. Management's assessment of trends in healthcare and morbidity, with respect to specialty health, disability, New York short-term disability (“DBL”) and Paid Family Leave (“PFL”), mortality rates with respect to life insurance, and changes in market conditions in general play a significant role in determining the rates charged, deductibles and attachment points quoted, and the percentage of business retained. IHC also seeks transactions that permit it to leverage its vertically integrated organizational structure by generating fee income from production and administrative operating companies as well as risk income for its carriers. Management has always focused on managing the costs of its operations.
COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19, a global health pandemic and the United States declared a national health emergency. Most states have issued stay-at-home orders, requiring non-essential businesses to close their offices. COVID-19 has led to largescale disruption in the global economy, market instability and widespread unemployment in the United States.
The COVID-19 outbreak is a fluid situation. We have implemented business continuity and emergency response plans to continue to provide service to our customers and support our everyday business needs. To help protect the safety and wellbeing of our employees and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we have limited travel and directed our employees to work remotely whenever possible. As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, the duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain. Regulatory mandates have affected, and we anticipate will continue to impact, the insurance industry. We currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact to our business, results of operations or financial condition in future reporting periods of 2020. For more information, see the risk factor under the heading “We face risks related to health epidemics, like the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that could impact our sales, operating results and financial condition” in Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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The following is a summary of key performance information and events:
Results of operations are summarized as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 |
| | | | | |
Revenues | $ | 103,997 | | $ | 94,182 |
Expenses | | 98,632 | | | 83,648 |
| | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 5,365 | | | 10,534 |
Income taxes | | 1,043 | | | 1,644 |
| | | | | |
Net income | | 4,322 | | | 8,890 |
(Income) from noncontrolling interests | | (44) | | | (163) |
| | | | | |
| Net income attributable to IHC | $ | 4,278 | | $ | 8,727 |
| | | | | |
Income from operations of $.29 per share, diluted, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $.58 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2019.
oNet income for the first quarter of 2019 includes $2.6 million of gain, net of tax, related to the sale of an equity investment.
Consolidated investment yields (on an annualized basis) of 2.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 3.1% for the comparable period in 2019;
Book value of $31.03 per common share at March 31, 2020 compared to $30.92 at December 31, 2019.
The first quarter 2020 results were not materially impacted by COVID-19. Evolving regulatory mandates for testing and treatment coverage, the length and severity of the outbreak, increased claims activity, and impacts on payment of premiums have not had a significant impact on first quarter results, as the full effects of the outbreak began to unfold after the end of the first quarter of 2020.
The following is a summary of key performance information by segment:
The Specialty Health segment reported $.2 million of income before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $9.6 million for the comparable period in 2019. The decrease in 2020 when compared to 2019 is primarily due to: (i) lower premium volume in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line, which has lower loss ratios than other lines of business; (ii) increased costs related to overall infrastructure improvements in lead generation capabilities and sales automation platforms at IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc.; and (iii) results for the comparable period in 2019 include a pre-tax gain of $3.6 million on the sale of an equity method investment;
oPremiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased $.7 million as compared to the same period in 2019. Increases in premiums from the pet and STM lines were more than offset by decreases in premiums from fixed indemnity limited benefit and occupational accident business.
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oUnderwriting experience, as indicated by its U.S. GAAP Combined Ratios, for the Specialty Health segment are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Premiums Earned | $ | 44,096 | $ | 44,832 |
Insurance Benefits, Claims & Reserves | | 20,691 | | 18,665 |
Expenses | | 21,552 | | 20,620 |
| | | | |
Loss Ratio (A) | | 46.9% | | 41.6% |
Expense Ratio (B) | | 48.9% | | 46.0% |
Combined Ratio (C) | | 95.8% | | 87.6% |
(A)Loss ratio represents insurance benefits, claims and reserves divided by premiums earned.
(B)Expense ratio represents commissions, administrative fees, premium taxes and other underwriting expenses divided by premiums earned.
(C)The combined ratio is equal to the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.
oThe higher loss ratios in 2020 were as a result of less favorable prior period development than in the same period of 2019. The higher expense ratio in 2020 is primarily due to changes in the mix of products in the Specialty Health segment.
Income before taxes from the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment increased $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The increase in the first-quarter results primarily reflects an increase in PFL profitability due to increased premium rates and favorable premium reserve adjustments in DBL, which were partially offset by higher loss ratios in the STD and LTD lines of business;
The Individual life, annuities and other segment in run-off reported losses before income taxes of $.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with losses of $.4 million in the comparable 2019 period;
The Corporate segment reported losses before taxes of $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with losses of $2.4 million in the comparable 2019 period, primarily due to lower share-based and incentive compensation expenses; and
Premiums by principal product for the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
Gross Direct and Assumed | | | | |
| Earned Premiums: | | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 45,669 | $ | 45,541 |
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL | | 58,242 | | 45,054 |
Individual life, annuities and other | | 4,842 | | 5,341 |
| | | | |
| $ | 108,753 | $ | 95,936 |
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| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
Net Direct and Assumed | | | | |
| Earned Premiums: | | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 44,096 | $ | 44,832 |
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL | | 51,946 | | 37,943 |
Individual life, annuities and other | | 8 | | 14 |
| | | | |
| $ | 96,050 | $ | 82,789 |
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies and practices is provided in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Management has identified the accounting policies related to Insurance Premium Revenue Recognition and Policy Charges, Insurance Liabilities, Investments, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Deferred Income Taxes as those that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and this Management's Discussion and Analysis. A full discussion of these policies is included under the heading, “Critical Accounting Policies” in Item 7 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, there were no additions to or changes in the critical accounting policies disclosed in the 2019 Form 10-K except for the recently adopted accounting standards discussed in Note 1(E) of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Information by business segment for the periods indicated is as follows:
| | | | Benefits, | Selling, | |
| | Net | Fee and | Claims | General | |
March 31, 2020 | Premiums | Investment | Other | and | and | |
(In thousands) | Earned | Income | Income | Reserves | Administrative | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 44,096 | | 743 | | 4,167 | | 20,691 | | 28,163 | $ | 152 |
Group disability, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
life, DBL and PFL | | 51,946 | | 1,822 | | 150 | | 33,230 | | 14,158 | | 6,530 |
Individual life, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
annuities and other | | 8 | | 209 | | 101 | | 137 | | 324 | | (143) |
Corporate | | - | | 466 | | 1 | | - | | 1,929 | | (1,462) |
Sub total | $ | 96,050 | $ | 3,240 | $ | 4,419 | $ | 54,058 | $ | 44,574 | | 5,077 |
| | |
Net investment gains | | 288 |
Income before income taxes | | 5,365 |
Income taxes | | 1,043 |
Net Income | $ | 4,322 |
| | | | Benefits, | Selling, | |
| | Net | Fee and | Claims | General | |
March 31, 2019 | Premiums | Investment | Other | and | and | |
(In thousands) | Earned | Income | Income | Reserves | Administrative | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 44,832 | | 822 | | 7,785 | | 18,665 | | 25,116 | $ | 9,658 |
Group disability, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
life, DBL and PFL | | 37,943 | | 2,019 | | 167 | | 24,242 | | 11,723 | | 4,164 |
Individual life, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
annuities and other | | 14 | | 320 | | 86 | | 212 | | 589 | | (381) |
Corporate | | - | | 835 | | (166) | | - | | 3,101 | | (2,432) |
Sub total | $ | 82,789 | $ | 3,996 | | 7,872 | $ | 43,119 | $ | 40,529 | | 11,009 |
| | |
Net investment gains | | 171 |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | (646) |
Income before income taxes | | 10,534 |
Income taxes | | 1,644 |
Net Income | $ | 8,890 |
Premiums Earned
In the first quarter of 2020, premiums earned increased $13.3 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is primarily due to a $14.0 million increase in earned premiums from the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily as a result of a $10.2 million increase in PFL premiums due to an increase in rates, a $1.0 million increase in group term life business due to increased retentions, and a $1.9 million increase in the STD/LTD lines due to new STD business and increased LTD premium volume. Earned premiums in the Specialty Health segment decreased $.7 million primarily due to decreases of $6.2 million in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line and $.4 million in occupational accident business; partially offset by increases in earned premiums from the pet and STM lines of $4.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
Net Investment Income
Total net investment income decreased $.8 million. The overall annualized investment yields were 2.5% and 3.1% in the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net Investment Gains and Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings
The Company had net investment gains of $.3 million in 2020 compared to $.2 million in 2019. These amounts include gains and losses from sales of fixed maturities available-for-sale, equity securities and other investments. Decisions to sell securities are based on management's ongoing evaluation of investment
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opportunities and economic and market conditions, thus creating fluctuations in gains and losses from period to period.
In 2020, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale. In the first three months of 2019, the Company recognized $.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale as the Company determined that it was more likely than not that we would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.
Fee Income and Other Income
Fee income decreased $.2 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2020. The decrease is primarily due to more fee income being written on IHC carrier paper in 2020.
Other income decreased $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from the comparable period in 2019. This is primarily due to a $3.6 million pretax gain recognized on the sale of an equity investment in 2019 with no comparable amount in 2020.
Insurance Benefits, Claims and Reserves
In the first quarter of 2020, insurance benefits, claims and reserves increased $10.9 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is primarily attributable to: (i) an increase of $9.0 million in benefits, claims and reserves in the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily as a result of a $7.6 million increase in PFL benefits to policyholders (including a $3.3 million increase in the accrual for a potential risk adjustment payment associated with the New York State Department of Financial Services risk adjustment program) and a $3.2 million increase in benefits and claims as a result of new STD business and higher loss ratios in the LTD line, partially offset by a decrease of $2.3 million in DBL business primarily due to premium refund reserve adjustments; (ii) an increase of $2.0 million in the Specialty Health segment primarily due to an increase of $2.9 million in pet claims on higher premium volume, partially offset by a decrease of $.6 million in the STM line due to more favorable prior year loss development and a $.7 million decrease in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line due to lower premium volume offset by less favorable prior year loss development.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Total selling, general and administrative expenses increased $4.1 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is principally due to: (i) an increase of $3.0 million in the Specialty Health line of business primarily due to increases in commissions, administrative fees and other general expenses in the STM and pet lines of business from increased premium volume, as well as increased lead generation expenses, compensation and system development related expenses in our marketing and administrative companies, partially offset by decreases in commission and administrative expenses related to decreased volume in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line; and (ii) an increase of $2.4 million in the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily due to increased commission expenses and other general expenses on PFL, group term life and LTD lines of business on increased premium volume; partially offset by (iii) a decrease of $1.2 million in Corporate segment primarily due to compensation related expenses.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was 19.4% compared to 15.2% for the three months ended 2019. The lower effective tax rate in 2019 was primarily due to tax benefits associated with exercises of certain share based compensation.
AMIC and its subsidiaries have Federal net operating loss carryforwards which expire in varying amounts through the year 2034, with a significant portion expiring in 2020, and are limited in their utilization
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to future taxable income earned on a separate company basis. AMIC has a valuation allowance related to these net operating loss carryforwards that, in the judgment of management, are not considered realizable. No change in the valuation allowance was necessary in the three months ended March 31, 2020.
LIQUIDITY
Insurance Group
The Insurance Group normally provides cash flow from: (i) operations; (ii) the receipt of scheduled principal payments on its portfolio of fixed maturities; and (iii) earnings on investments. Such cash flow is partially used to fund liabilities for insurance policy benefits. These liabilities represent long-term and short-term obligations.
Corporate
Corporate derives its funds principally from: (i) dividends from the Insurance Group; (ii) management fees from its subsidiaries; and (iii) investment income from Corporate liquidity. Regulatory constraints historically have not affected the Company's consolidated liquidity, although state insurance laws have provisions relating to the ability of the parent company to use cash generated by the Insurance Group. No dividends were declared or paid by the Insurance Group during the three months ended March 31, 2020 or 2019.
Cash Flows
The Company had $26.2 million and $24.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, operating activities provided $17.8 million of cash and investment activities utilized $11.8 million of cash, primarily the result of purchases of investment securities. Financing activities utilized $4.5 million of cash, of which $1.3 million was utilized for treasury stock purchases and $3.0 million for dividend payments.
The Company had $371.8 million of liabilities for future policy benefits and policy benefits and claims as of March 31, 2020 that it expects to ultimately pay out of current assets and cash flows from future business. If necessary, the Company could utilize the cash received from maturities and repayments of its fixed maturity investments if the timing of claim payments associated with the Company's insurance resources does not coincide with future cash flows. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, cash received from the maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities was $11.2 million.
The Company believes it has sufficient cash to meet its currently anticipated business requirements over the next twelve months including working capital requirements and capital investments.
There were no material negative impacts on the Company’s cash flows or liquidity with regards to the COVID-19 during the first quarter of 2020. Depending on the length and severity of the outbreak, it is possible that cash flows may be negatively impacted due to increased claim activity as a result of mandated testing and treatment coverage, as well as delayed policy payments or an increase in cancelled policies due to non- payment in future reporting periods of 2020.
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BALANCE SHEET
The Company had receivables due from reinsurers of $362.3 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $363.0 million at December 31, 2019. All of such reinsurance receivables are from highly rated companies or are adequately secured. No allowance for doubtful accounts was necessary at March 31, 2020.
The Company's liability for policy benefits and claims by segment are as follows (in thousands):
| | Policy Benefits and Claims |
| | March 31, | | December 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | | |
Specialty Health | $ | 41,360 | $ | 42,228 |
Group Disability | | 118,992 | | 112,623 |
Individual A&H and Other | | 10,484 | | 9,951 |
| | | | |
| $ | 170,836 | $ | 164,802 |
For the Specialty Health business, incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims liabilities plus expected development on reported claims are calculated using standard actuarial methods and practices. The “primary” assumption in the determination of Specialty Health reserves is that historical Claim Development Patterns are representative of future Claim Development Patterns. Factors that may affect this assumption include changes in claim payment processing times and procedures, changes in time delay in submission of claims, and the incidence of unusually large claims. Liabilities for policy benefits and claims for specialty health medical and disability coverage are computed using completion factors and expected Net Loss Ratios derived from actual historical premium and claim data. The reserving analysis includes a review of claim processing statistical measures and large claim early notifications; the potential impacts of any changes in these factors are not material. The Company has business that is serviced by third-party administrators. From time to time, there are changes in the timing of claims processing due to any number of factors including, but not limited to, system conversions and staffing changes during the year. These changes are monitored by the Company and the effects of these changes are taken into consideration during the claim reserving process. Other than these considerations, there have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year.
While these calculations are based on standard methodologies, they are estimates based on historical patterns. To the extent that actual claim payment patterns differ from historical patterns, such estimated reserves may be redundant or inadequate. The effects of such deviations are evaluated by considering claim backlog statistics and reviewing the reasonableness of projected claim ratios. Other factors which may affect the accuracy of policy benefits and claim estimates include the proportion of large claims which may take longer to adjudicate, changes in billing patterns by providers and changes in claim management practices such as hospital bill audits.
Since our analysis considered a variety of outcomes related to these factors, the Company does not believe that any reasonably likely change in these factors will have a Material Effect.
The Company’s disability business is comprised of group disability and DBL. The two “primary” assumptions on which disability policy benefits and claims are based are: (i) morbidity levels; and (ii) recovery rates. If morbidity levels increase, for example due to an epidemic or a recessionary environment, the Company would increase reserves because there would be more new claims than expected. In regard to the assumed recovery rate, if disabled lives recover more quickly than anticipated then the existing claims reserves would be reduced; if less quickly, the existing claims reserves would be increased. Advancements in medical treatments could affect future recovery, termination, and mortality rates.
The $.2 million increase in IHC’s stockholders' equity in the first three months of 2020 is primarily due to $4.3 million of net income attributable to IHC reduced by $3.0 million of common stock dividends declared and $1.5 million of treasury stock purchases.
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Asset Quality and Investment Impairments |
The nature and quality of insurance company investments must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations, which have been promulgated primarily for the protection of policyholders. The Company has gross unrealized gains of $5.4 million and gross unrealized losses of $4.0 million on its fixed maturities available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2020. All of the Company’s fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA. The Company marks all of its fixed maturities available-for-sale to fair value through accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These investments tend to carry less default risk and, therefore, lower interest rates than other types of fixed maturity investments. The Company did not have any non-performing fixed maturities at March 31, 2020.
The Company reviews its investments regularly and monitors its investments continually for impairments. The Company did not record any other-than-temporary impairment losses in the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company recognized $.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on certain fixed maturities available for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the company would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.
The following table summarizes the carrying value of securities with fair values less than 80% of their amortized cost at March 31, 2020 by the length of time the fair values of those securities were below 80% of their amortized cost (in thousands):
| | | | Greater than | | Greater than | | | | |
| | | | 3 months, | | 6 months, | | | | |
| | Less than | | less than | | less than | | Greater than | | |
| | 3 months | | 6 months | | 12 months | | 12 months | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturities | $ | 1,149 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,149 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The unrealized losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale were evaluated in accordance with the Company's impairment policy and were determined to be temporary in nature at March 31, 2020. From time to time, as warranted, the Company may employ investment strategies to mitigate interest rate and other market exposures. Further deterioration in credit quality of the companies backing the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, imbalances in liquidity that exist in the marketplace, a worsening of the current economic recession, or declines in real estate values may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods which may cause the Company to incur additional write-downs.
Due to its strong capital ratios, broad licensing and excellent asset quality and credit-worthiness, the Insurance Group remains well positioned to increase or diversify its current activities. It is anticipated that future acquisitions or other expansion of operations will be funded internally from existing capital and surplus and parent company liquidity. In the event additional funds are required, it is expected that they would be borrowed or raised in the public or private capital markets to the extent determined to be necessary or desirable.
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OUTLOOK
For 2020, the Company anticipates that it will:
Invest both our capital and efforts in continuing to develop a fully integrated direct-to-consumer (“D2C”) division, which can generate leads, has reporting systems and sales automation platforms, and licensed agents servicing products underwritten both by IHC’s carriers and other nationally recognized insurers.
Expand our in-house capabilities through the “MarTech” acquisition we made in April, which will accelerate proprietary lead generation and direct to consumer growth. We have rapidly expanded our portfolio of consumer touchpoints across all of our distribution channels, including web domains (www.healthinsurance.org, www.medicareresources.org, www.healthedeals.com, www.petplace.com, call centers, field agents, and social media). This should improve our cost of sale by: (i) harnessing an in-house marketing team to drive media efficiency and effectiveness, (ii) deploying data science and AI to improve lead quality and intent; and (iii) leveraging a proprietary lead marketplace to salvage unused leads and recoup costs.
Continue to build on our entry, in the fourth quarter of 2019, into the very large market for senior products by selling Medicare products underwritten by leading national insurance companies with respect to the 2020 Annual Enrollment Period (“AEP”). From this successful launch with a handful of agents, we are now rapidly expanding the hiring, training and licensing of additional agents with a target of having 150 licensed call center agents Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement products by the beginning of the 2021 AEP (October 15, 2020 through December 7, 2020). We also expect to increase our career agents division to 275 agents in seven offices nationally by the end of 2020. These non-salaried agents sell exclusively on the platform that we provide them, which provides a full complement of both in-house and third-party products in both the senior and non-senior markets.
Incur considerable expenses during this ramp up. We expect to be rewarded through substantial sales of Medicare products during the 2021 AEP, which is anticipated to produce the vast majority of our Medicare sales for this year and generate significant profits for our agencies in the fourth quarter. In addition, our carrier, Independence American, launched Medicare Supplements on April 27th of this year. We will complement the sale of Medicare products with an impressive portfolio of supplemental insurance such as Dental, Vision, Hearing, and Hospital Indemnity with Transition Recovery and Home Care riders, designed to meet the unique needs of seniors, leveraging our deep domain knowledge and experience selling similar products to working individuals and families. We hope to increase sales of our Extend Short-Term Medical product (which provides up to 36 months of coverage in many states) to people who are approaching age 65 by bridging the gap until they are eligible for Medicare.
Increasingly emphasize sales by IHC Agencies of policies underwritten by non-affiliated carriers, including small group stop-loss, Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) plans and Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement; for which, they will receive commissions and fees for selling these products and will not bear any of the insurance risk. When they sell products for these other carriers, the IHC Agencies will record revenue based on estimated constrained lifetime values (“LTV”) representing the expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of the policies sold. As these products generally renew for multiple years, and the IHC Agencies do not have any future performance obligations with regards to the renewal process, they will record revenue at the time of sale based on our expected policy duration. Therefore, due to the change in focus to sales of non-IHC products in 2020, particularly during AEP, we expect a significant increase in commission revenues in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Grow individual ACA enrollments on our wholly owned Web Based Entity (WBE), INSX Cloud. When agents utilize the INSX Cloud for enrollments we earn fee income and commission. Additionally, we have specialty health plans on the site that can be sold alongside ACA plans which earn underwriting profit for our carriers.
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Expand the pet insurance division by generating at least $100 million of gross annualized pet insurance premiums by the end of 2020 with accelerating growth beyond. This is based on several developments in 2019. First, we now own a five percent equity interest in FIGO and are its exclusive underwriter. FIGO has entered into a marketing agreement with a nationally recognized health insurer. Through this relationship, FIGO expects to make Independence American’s pet insurance available as a benefit option to such carrier’s business customers and their millions of employees. MetLife, which recently acquired PetFirst, has also announced that it expects to focus on pet insurance as an employee benefit. Since Independence American is also a leading underwriter for PetFirst, we anticipate that Independence American will become a leading issuer of pet insurance in this rapidly expanding space. We are also continuing to invest in our high value domains (www.petplace.com, www.mypetinsurance.com, www.akcpetinsurance.com and www.petpartners.com) as we emphasize online sales and affinity marketing. PetPartners, our subsidiary that markets and administers pet insurance for IAIC, continues to grow through its exclusive relationship with The American Kennel Club and through new partnerships with insurance agents, employers and affinity groups. PetPartners, which anticipates launching Android and IOS apps this year, has entered into agreements with, and is in discussions with several more, national brands to distribute our pet insurance. We are developing Android and IOS apps to purchase pet insurance through www.mypetinsurance.com.
•Continue to increase our DBL/PFL premiums. Effective January 1, 2018, Standard Security Life began selling a new PFL rider as part of our New York DBL policies. This is a result of New York State requiring employers to provide PFL, which would cover job-protected paid leave to care for a new child or sick family member or to assist when someone is called to active military service. The New York State insurance department increased the PFL premium rate by 76% for 2020, which should increase the profitability of PFL for 2020.
Achieve increases in both long-term and short-term disability premiums generated from new distribution relationships.
Accomplish increases in life and disability premium by developing additional strategic functional and distribution partnerships, broaden worksite portfolio, and enhance Business to Business and Business to Consumer website functionality.
Continue to evaluate strategic transactions. We plan to deploy some of our cash to make additional investments and acquisitions that will bolster existing or new lines of business.
Continue to focus on administrative efficiencies.
Continue to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak as it evolves. The duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain, we currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact to our business, results of operations or financial condition in future reporting periods of 2020.
Subject to making additional repurchases, acquisitions and investments, the Company will remain highly liquid as a result of the continuing shorter duration of the investment portfolio. The short duration of our portfolio enables us, if we deem prudent, the flexibility to reinvest in much higher yielding longer-term securities, which would significantly increase investment income in the future. A low duration portfolio such as ours also mitigates the adverse impact of potential inflation. IHC will continue to monitor the financial markets and invest accordingly.
Our results depend on the adequacy of our product pricing, our underwriting, the accuracy of our reserving methodology, returns on our invested assets, and our ability to manage expenses. We will also need to be diligent with increased rate review scrutiny to effect timely rate changes and will need to stay focused on the management of medical cost drivers in the event medical trend levels cause margin pressures. Factors affecting these items, as well as unemployment and global financial markets, may have a material adverse
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effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and procedures
IHC’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) supervised and participated in IHC’s evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in IHC’s periodic reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Based upon that evaluation, IHC’S CEO and CFO concluded that IHC’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management, including the CEO and CFO, identified no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our businesses. We have established reserves that we believe are sufficient given information presently available related to our outstanding legal proceedings and claims. We do not anticipate that the result of any pending legal proceeding or claim will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or cash flows, although there could be such an effect on our results of operations for any particular period.
Third Party Administrator
A third party administrator with whom we formerly did business (“Plaintiff” or “TPA”)) filed a Complaint dated May 17, 2017 in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, naming IHC, Madison National Life, Standard Security Life, and Independence Brokerage Group, Inc. (formerly IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc.) (collectively referred to as “Defendants”). “Plaintiff” and “Defendants” are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”. The Complaint concerned agreements entered into by Standard Security Life and Madison National Life with Plaintiff, as well as other allegations made by Plaintiff against Defendants. The Complaint seeks injunctive relief and damages in an amount exceeding $50,000,000, payments allegedly owed to Plaintiff under the agreements totaling at least $3,082,000 through 2014, plus additional amounts for 2015 and 2016, and exemplary and punitive damages as allowed by law and fees and costs. Defendants believe these claims to be without merit. Defendants moved to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss or Stay the original Complaint. Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint on August 18, 2017. Defendants filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration or Stay the Amended Complaint. The Parties agreed to enter into an Order staying the action filed in Texas. The Parties’ disputed claims moved in part to arbitration.
Standard Security Life and Madison National Life demanded arbitration against this TPA. The Arbitration Panel issued an Order splitting the hearing into two phases. Standard Security Life and Madison
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National Life successfully presented their claims in Phase I on September 25 through September 28, 2018 and were awarded $5,641,000 (“Arbitration Award”). The TPA’s counterclaims were heard during Phase II held on February 11, 2019 through February 15, 2019. Standard Security Life and Madison National Life successfully opposed the counterclaims asserted by the TPA as the Arbitration Panel denied all claims against Standard Security Life and Madison National Life. Standard Security Life and Madison National Life filed the Petition to Confirm the Arbitration Award. The TPA opposed this Motion. On June 17, 2019, the Court entered its Final Judgment and Order Confirming the Arbitration Award. On July 15, 2019, the TPA filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from the judgment entered on June 17, 2019. The TPA has filed its appeal and Standard Security Life and Madison National Life have submitted a response.
Since the arbitration is complete, the stay in the Texas litigation has been lifted. Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss. On October 16, 2019, the Court granted in part and denied in part our Motion to Dismiss. Count I, which relates to the breach of contract, was denied without prejudice. Counts II-VI were granted in part. The Court found that an arbitration agreement, including an arbitration provision, exists between Plaintiff and Defendants. The arbitration provision incorporates the AAA Rules, evincing clear and unmistakable evidence of the parties’ intent to have the arbitrator decide whether a given claim must be arbitrated. Therefore, Counts II-VI were dismissed, without prejudice. The parties were directed to proceed with arbitration. In light of this holding, the action relating to Count I, breach of Contract, was stayed and administratively closed pending the outcome of another arbitration. On February 2, 2020, we received the TPA’s Demand for Arbitration. We will respond accordingly. It is the Defendants' position that this demand for a new arbitration has no impact on the Arbitration Award discussed above.
Multistate Market Conduct Examination
As previously disclosed, our subsidiaries Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American have been selected for a multistate market conduct exam ("MCE") related to our STM, limited medical and fixed indemnity health insurance products for the period of January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017. The insurance departments of five jurisdictions (Delaware, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Kansas and South Dakota) are serving as leads, and the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking and the Delaware Department of Insurance are serving as the managing lead states of the MCE. In addition to the five lead states, 36 other states are participating in the MCE. Each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American responded to inquiries and document production requests in the MCE and has proactively communicated and cooperated with the applicable regulatory agencies for the MCE. Each of these subsidiaries has also provided a detailed action plan to regulators that summarizes its enhanced compliance and control mechanisms.
On July 18, 2019, each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American received a proposed Regulatory Settlement Agreement ("RSA") to resolve the MCE with respect to such company. The proposed RSAs provide for monetary amounts for compliance with the examination as well as requirements related to such subsidiaries' marketing activities and periodic reporting to regulators. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American have exchanged correspondence regarding the proposed RSAs and are continuing to participate in confidential discussions with the insurance departments of the lead jurisdictions. At this time, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate any settlement amount or range of settlement amounts that may result from such discussions.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Material risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 in Item 1A to Part 1 of Form 10-K have not significantly changed except for the following additional risk:
We face risks related to health epidemics, like the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that could impact our sales, operating results and financial condition.
Sales of our healthcare products, results of operations, and the overall financial condition of the Company could be adversely affected to the extent that the COVID-19 or any other epidemic or health care emergency harms the economy, our industry or the Company specifically. The COVID-19 outbreak situation is very fluid and we are closely monitoring its impact on our operations, specifically:
Many regulators have mandated that insurers cover COVID-19 testing costs, and in some cases costs for related treatment and vaccines once they are available, as well as waiving any applicable deductible and coinsurance member payments. These mandates are primarily directed at major medical carriers, but a minority include STM insurance products. Attempts to extend these mandates beyond STM will likely not impact our supplemental products. Additionally, some states are requiring coverage for telehealth services. Mandated extended coverage of COVID-19 claims may negatively impact the Company’s operating results, cash flows and financial condition as such extended coverage was not contemplated in the initial product pricing. IHC’s STM plan is predominately offered in less densely populated states and specifically not sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or California, which have been some of the hardest hit states for the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Widespread unemployment due to the unprecedented state-mandated shutdowns of businesses could mean that policyholders may be unable to meet their obligations to pay premiums on our health, disability and pet policies. Additionally, some regulators have mandated that insurers provide an extended grace period for premium collection and some require payment of claims during the grace period. Some states have limited the impact to major medical insurance, while others have applied it to all policies in their states. These mandates may negatively impact the Company’s operating results and cash flows.
Our marketing companies hiring and licensing of sales agents who sell Medicare advantage and Medicare supplement as well as other products may be delayed, as many state regulators are closed and unable to provide licensing services. This may impact the growth of the Company’s call centers and career agents, and negatively impact expected sales of these products and our financial results. Many states are allowing temporary licensure until testing is reopened and available online, which we anticipate to be in place before the end of May.
Slower growth in STM sales as policyholders focus on acquiring coverage under special enrollments for ACA policies may temporarily negatively impact our sales of such products and our operating results.
Higher unemployment could adversely affect our disability lines of business.
Possible mandated coverages by regulators for other lines of business could adversely increase benefits with no increase in premiums.
We will incur additional expenses to help expand the safety of our employees or incur additional expense to allow employees to work remotely.
COVID-19 or any similar pandemic could increase mortality in our life products.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to significant volatility in financial markets, including declines in equity markets, changes in interest rates and overall reduced liquidity in the investment markets.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Share Repurchase Program
IHC has a program, initiated in 1991, under which it repurchases shares of its common stock. In August 2016, the Board of Directors increased the number of shares that can be repurchased to 3,000,000 shares of IHC common stock. As of March 31, 2020, 1,700,999 shares were still authorized to be repurchased.
Share repurchases during the first quarter of 2020 are summarized as follows:
2020 |
| | | Maximum Number |
| | Average Price | of Shares Which |
Month of | Shares | of Repurchased | Can be |
Repurchase | | Repurchased | | Shares | | Repurchased |
| | | |
January | - | $ | - | 1,747,101 |
February | 5,668 | $ | 37.25 | 1,741,433 |
March | | 40,434 | $ | 31.19 | 1,700,999 |
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3(i) to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.3 By-Laws of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference), as amended by Amendment to By-Laws of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York and Mr. David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Mr. Larry R. Graber (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and between Independence Holding Company and Ms. Teresa A. Herbert (Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.4 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of May 11, 2011, by and between Independence Holding Company and Mr. Roy T.K. Thung (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on May 12, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).
10.5 Retirement Benefit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1991, between Independence Holding Company and Mr. Roy T.K. Thung, as amended. (Filed as an Exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 1 filed as Exhibit 10(iii)(A)(4a) to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 2 filed as Exhibit 10(iii)(4)(b) to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 3 filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.)
10.6 Purchase Agreement, made and entered into on June 15, 2015, by and among Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc., Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York and National Guardian Life Insurance Company (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 16, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference).
10.7 Sale Bonus Agreement, dated November 7, 2016, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.8 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).
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10.8 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of May 25, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life and Mr. Gary J. Balzofiore (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.9Officer Employment Agreement, made as of June 22, 2015, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life and Mr. Vincent Furfaro, as amended by the Assignment and Assumption with Novation and Amendment of Officer Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017 by and among Standard Security Life, AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Mr. Vincent Furfaro (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10Amended and Restated Officer Employment Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2020, by and between AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Vincent Furfaro (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on April 9, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.11Sale Bonus Agreement, dated July 25, 2018, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and Vincent Furfaro (Filed as Exhibit 10.10 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.12Assignment and Assumption with Novation and Amendment of Officer Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017 by and among Standard Security Life, AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Mr. David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.13Sale Bonus Agreement, dated October 15, 2019, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and Gary J. Balzofiore (Filed as Exhibit 10.12 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).
31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
32.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
32.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
101.INS XBRL Instance Document. The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. *
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. *
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. *
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. *
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. *
104Cover page formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.
* Filed herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
(REGISTRANT)
By: /s/Roy T. K. Thung Date:May 8, 2020
Roy T.K. Thung
Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman
of the Board of Directors
By:/s/Teresa A. Herbert Date:May 8, 2020
Teresa A. Herbert
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
44