===============================================================================
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
------ -------
Commission File Number 001-31792
Conseco, Inc.
Delaware 75-3108137
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------
State of Incorporation IRS Employer Identification No.
11825 N. Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032 (317) 817-6100
- -------------------------------------- --------------
Address of principal executive offices Telephone
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes [ X ] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer (see definition of "accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Large
accelerated filer [ X ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes [ ] No [ X ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court: Yes [ X ] No [ ]
Shares of common stock outstanding as of April 26, 2007: 150,845,158
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006................................. 3
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006............... 5
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006..... 6
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006............... 7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................................................ 8
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements............................................. 30
Overview ............................................................................................. 31
Critical Accounting Policies ......................................................................... 32
Results of Operations................................................................................. 35
Premium Collections................................................................................... 52
Liquidity and Capital Resources....................................................................... 58
Investments........................................................................................... 63
Investment in Variable Interest Entity................................................................ 68
New Accounting Standards ............................................................................. 69
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ........................................... 69
Item 4. Controls and Procedures............................................................................... 69
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings .................................................................................... 70
Item 1A. Risk Factors.......................................................................................... 70
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds........................................... 70
Item 5. Other Information..................................................................................... 71
Item 6. Exhibits ............................................................................................. 71
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Dollars in millions)
ASSETS
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
(unaudited)
Investments:
Actively managed fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost:
March 31, 2007 - $23,256.9; December 31, 2006 - $22,946.9)........................... $23,182.8 $22,802.9
Equity securities at fair value (cost: March 31, 2007 - $28.5;
December 31, 2006 - $23.9)........................................................... 29.7 24.8
Mortgage loans......................................................................... 1,665.0 1,642.2
Policy loans........................................................................... 409.3 412.5
Trading securities..................................................................... 823.2 675.2
Other invested assets ................................................................. 174.6 178.8
--------- ---------
Total investments.................................................................. 26,284.6 25,736.4
Cash and cash equivalents:
Unrestricted........................................................................... 271.8 385.9
Restricted............................................................................. 21.5 24.0
Accrued investment income................................................................. 356.4 344.5
Value of policies inforce at the Effective Date........................................... 2,044.3 2,137.2
Cost of policies produced................................................................. 1,182.2 1,106.7
Reinsurance receivables................................................................... 860.5 850.8
Income tax assets, net.................................................................... 1,772.1 1,786.9
Assets held in separate accounts.......................................................... 28.7 28.9
Other assets.............................................................................. 332.1 316.0
--------- ---------
Total assets....................................................................... $33,154.2 $32,717.3
========= =========
(continued on next page)
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
3
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, continued
(Dollars in millions)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
(unaudited)
Liabilities:
Liabilities for insurance products:
Interest-sensitive products............................................................ $13,044.1 $13,018.0
Traditional products................................................................... 12,175.1 12,094.1
Claims payable and other policyholder funds............................................ 848.0 832.3
Liabilities related to separate accounts............................................... 28.7 28.9
Other liabilities........................................................................ 687.3 611.8
Investment borrowings.................................................................... 647.7 418.3
Notes payable - direct corporate obligations............................................. 999.3 1,000.8
--------- ---------
Total liabilities.................................................................. 28,430.2 28,004.2
--------- ---------
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock.......................................................................... 667.8 667.8
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 8,000,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued
and outstanding: March 31, 2007 - 150,845,158; December 31, 2006 - 152,165,108)........ 1.5 1.5
Additional paid-in capital............................................................... 3,455.1 3,473.2
Accumulated other comprehensive loss..................................................... (41.8) (72.6)
Retained earnings....................................................................... 641.4 643.2
--------- ---------
Total shareholders' equity......................................................... 4,724.0 4,713.1
--------- ---------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity......................................... $33,154.2 $32,717.3
========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
4
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Revenues:
Insurance policy income............................................................. $ 762.8 $ 754.7
Net investment income:
General account assets............................................................ 377.9 351.3
Policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios.......... 4.9 14.1
Net realized investment losses...................................................... (34.9) (3.1)
Fee revenue and other income........................................................ 3.8 4.7
-------- --------
Total revenues.................................................................. 1,114.5 1,121.7
-------- --------
Benefits and expenses:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................... 801.3 726.8
Interest expense.................................................................... 23.6 16.4
Amortization........................................................................ 116.2 118.6
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement................................. 13.0 17.7
Other operating costs and expenses.................................................. 144.2 141.1
-------- --------
Total benefits and expenses..................................................... 1,098.3 1,020.6
-------- --------
Income before income taxes...................................................... 16.2 101.1
Income tax expense on period income.................................................... 5.8 36.5
-------- --------
Net income...................................................................... 10.4 64.6
Preferred stock dividends.............................................................. 9.5 9.5
-------- --------
Net income applicable to common stock........................................... $ .9 $ 55.1
======== ========
Earnings per common share:
Basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding............................................... 150,936,000 151,521,000
=========== ===========
Net income........................................................................ $.01 $.36
==== ====
Diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding............................................... 151,067,000 183,541,000
=========== ===========
Net income........................................................................ $.01 $.35
==== ====
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
5
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
Common stock Accumulated other
Preferred and additional comprehensive Retained
Total stock paid-in capital income (loss) earnings
----- ----- --------------- ------------- --------
Balance, January 1, 2007............................. $4,713.1 $667.8 $3,474.7 $(72.6) $643.2
Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income...................................... 10.4 - - - 10.4
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
of investments (net of applicable income tax
expense of $17.3)............................. 30.6 - - 30.6 -
--------
Total comprehensive income.................. 41.0
Cost of shares acquired........................... (29.6) - (29.6) - -
Stock option and restricted stock plans........... 5.5 - 5.5 - -
Change in unrecognized net loss related to
deferred compensation plan (net of applicable
income tax expense of $.1 million).............. .2 - - .2 -
Reduction of tax liabilities related to various
contingencies recognized at the fresh-start
date in conjunction with adoption of FIN 48..... 6.0 - 6.0 - -
Cumulative effect of accounting change............ (2.7) - - - (2.7)
Dividends on preferred stock...................... (9.5) - - - (9.5)
-------- ------ -------- ------- ------
Balance, March 31, 2007.............................. $4,724.0 $667.8 $3,456.6 $ (41.8) $641.4
======== ====== ======== ======= ======
Balance, January 1, 2006............................. $4,519.8 $667.8 $3,195.6 $ 71.7 $584.7
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Net income...................................... 64.6 - - - 64.6
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
of investments (net of applicable income tax
benefit of $165.6)............................ (295.9) - - (295.9) -
--------
Total comprehensive loss.................... (231.3)
Stock option and restricted stock plans........... 4.3 - 4.3 - -
Dividends on preferred stock...................... (9.5) - - - (9.5)
-------- ------ -------- -------- -------
Balance, March 31, 2006.............................. $4,283.3 $667.8 $3,199.9 $(224.2) $639.8
======== ====== ======== ======= ======
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
6
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
Insurance policy income............................................................... $ 674.9 $ 665.1
Net investment income................................................................. 383.5 361.6
Fee revenue and other income.......................................................... 3.8 4.7
Net sales (purchases) of trading securities........................................... (145.7) 4.8
Insurance policy benefits............................................................. (556.1) (541.2)
Interest expense...................................................................... (19.3) (19.0)
Policy acquisition costs.............................................................. (125.9) (114.8)
Other operating costs................................................................. (124.0) (155.2)
Taxes................................................................................. (.9) 1.0
--------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities........................................... 90.3 207.0
--------- --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments.................................................................. 1,813.9 1,880.6
Maturities and redemptions of investments............................................. 338.9 167.3
Purchases of investments.............................................................. (2,512.8) (2,292.4)
Change in restricted cash............................................................. 2.5 13.4
Other................................................................................. (4.0) (7.6)
--------- --------
Net cash used by investing activities .............................................. (361.5) (238.7)
--------- --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock.............................................................. 3.3 .8
Payments to repurchase common stock................................................... (29.6) -
Payments on notes payable............................................................. (1.7) (46.3)
Amounts received for deposit products................................................. 494.2 435.1
Withdrawals from deposit products..................................................... (529.0) (482.9)
Investment borrowings................................................................. 229.4 (.4)
Dividends paid on preferred stock..................................................... (9.5) (9.5)
--------- --------
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities.................................. 157.1 (103.2)
--------- --------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents......................................... (114.1) (134.9)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period........................................... 385.9 237.8
--------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period................................................. $ 271.8 $ 102.9
========= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
7
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
The following notes should be read together with the notes to the
consolidated financial statements included in the 2006 Form 10-K of Conseco,
Inc.
Conseco, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CNO"), is a holding company for a
group of insurance companies operating throughout the United States that
develop, market and administer supplemental health insurance, annuity,
individual life insurance and other insurance products. CNO became the successor
to Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation ("Old Conseco" or our "Predecessor"),
in connection with our bankruptcy reorganization which became effective on
September 10, 2003 (the "Effective Date"). The terms "Conseco", the "Company",
"we", "us", and "our" as used in this report refer to CNO and its subsidiaries
or, when the context requires otherwise, Old Conseco and its subsidiaries. We
focus on serving the senior and middle-income markets, which we believe are
attractive, high growth markets. We sell our products through three distribution
channels: career agents, professional independent producers (some of whom sell
one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Our unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect normal recurring
adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position
and results of operations on a basis consistent with that of our prior audited
consolidated financial statements. As permitted by rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q, we have condensed or omitted certain information and disclosures
normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). We have reclassified certain amounts
from the prior periods to conform to the 2007 presentation. These
reclassifications have no effect on net income or shareholders' equity. Results
for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for a full year.
The balance sheet at December 31, 2006, presented herein, has been derived
from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of
the information and footnotes required by GAAP in the United States for complete
financial statements.
When we prepare financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we are
required to make estimates and assumptions that significantly affect reported
amounts of various assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and
expenses during the reporting periods. For example, we use significant estimates
and assumptions to calculate values for the cost of policies produced, the value
of policies inforce at the Effective Date, certain investments, assets and
liabilities related to income taxes, liabilities for insurance products,
liabilities related to litigation, guaranty fund assessment accruals and amounts
recoverable from loans to certain former directors and former employees. If our
future experience differs from these estimates and assumptions, our financial
statements would be materially affected.
Our consolidated financial statements exclude the results of material
transactions between us and our consolidated affiliates, or among our
consolidated affiliates.
ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS
We classify our fixed maturity securities into one of three categories: (i)
"actively managed" (which we carry at estimated fair value with any unrealized
gain or loss, net of tax and related adjustments, recorded as a component of
shareholders' equity); (ii) "trading" (which we carry at estimated fair value
with changes in such value recognized as trading income); and (iii) "held to
maturity" (which we carry at amortized cost). We had no fixed maturity
securities classified as held to maturity during the periods presented in these
financial statements.
Our trading securities are designed to act as hedges for embedded
derivatives related to our equity-indexed annuity products and certain modified
coinsurance agreements. See the notes entitled "Accounting for Derivatives" and
"Investment Borrowings and Interest Rate Swaps" for further discussion regarding
embedded derivatives and the trading accounts. In addition, the trading account
includes investments backing the market strategies of our multibucket annuity
products. The change in market value of these securities, which is recognized
currently in income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other
special-purpose portfolios (a component of investment income), is substantially
offset by the change in insurance
8
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
policy benefits for these products. Our trading securities totaled $823.2
million and $675.2 million at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006,
respectively.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is primarily comprised of the net
effect of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on our investments. These
amounts, included in shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2007 and December 31,
2006, were as follows (dollars in millions):
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
Net unrealized depreciation on investments............................................ $(65.3) $(136.3)
Adjustment to value of policies inforce at the Effective Date......................... 1.8 20.1
Adjustment to cost of policies produced............................................... 7.6 12.3
Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158 related to the unrecognized net loss
related to deferred compensation plan............................................ - (9.9)
Unrecognized net loss related to deferred compensation plan........................... (9.7) -
Deferred income tax asset............................................................. 23.8 41.2
------ -------
Accumulated other comprehensive loss............................................. $(41.8) $ (72.6)
====== =======
EARNINGS PER SHARE
A reconciliation of net income and shares used to calculate basic and
diluted earnings per share is as follows (dollars in millions and shares in
thousands):
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Net income.............................................................................. $10.4 $64.6
Preferred stock dividends............................................................... (9.5) (9.5)
----- -----
Net income applicable to common stock
for basic earnings per share..................................................... .9 55.1
Effect of dilutive securities:
Preferred stock dividends............................................................ - 9.5
----- -----
Net income applicable to common stock and assumed conversions
for diluted earnings per share................................................... $ .9 $64.6
===== =====
Shares:
Weighted average shares outstanding
for basic earnings per share....................................................... 150,936 151,521
------- -------
Effect of dilutive securities on weighted average shares:
Class B mandatorily convertible preferred stock.................................... - 30,989
Stock option and restricted stock plans............................................ 131 1,031
------- -------
Dilutive potential common shares................................................... 131 32,020
------- -------
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share................... 151,067 183,541
======= =======
9
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
The following summarizes the equivalent common shares for securities that
were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share during the
three months ended March 31, 2007, because doing so would have been antidilutive
in such period (shares in thousands).
Three months
ended
March 31, 2007
--------------
Equivalent common shares that were antidilutive during the period:
Class B mandatorily convertible preferred stock........................ 37,809
======
In the first quarter of 2007, the Company granted 379,900 performance
shares pursuant to its long-term incentive plan to certain officers of the
Company. The criteria for payment related to 227,940 of such awards (which had a
grant date fair value of $1.5 million) is based upon the cumulative return on
the Company's stock with dividends reinvested ("total shareholder return")
compared to the total shareholder return of a group of Conseco's peers
(represented by the companies comprising the Standard & Poor's Life and Health
Index and the Russell 3000 Health and Life Index) over a three year performance
measurement period ending December 31, 2009. If the Company's results are below
the 50th percentile of the comparison group, no portion of the award is earned.
If the Company's results are equal to or greater than the 75th percentile, then
the maximum award is earned. The criteria for payment of the remaining 151,960
performance shares (which had a grant date fair value of $2.7 million) is based
upon the Company's operating return on equity, as defined in the award
agreement, for the year ended December 31, 2009. If the Company's operating
return on equity is less than 10.0 percent, no portion of the award is earned.
If the Company's operating return on equity is equal to or greater than 12
percent, then the maximum award is earned.
None of the performance shares discussed above have been included in the
calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the first quarter
of 2007 as the Company's operating results did not exceed the minimum thresholds
necessary to assume that the performance shares would be issued. If such minimum
thresholds had been exceeded, the diluted weighted average shares outstanding
would have reflected the number of performance shares expected to be issued,
using the treasury stock method.
In August 2005, we completed the private offering of $330.0 million of
3.50% Convertible Debentures due September 30, 2035 (the "Debentures"). In
future periods, our diluted shares outstanding may include incremental shares
issuable upon conversion of all or part of such Debentures. Since the $330.0
million principal amount can only be redeemed for cash, it has no impact on the
diluted earnings per share calculation. In accordance with the conversion
feature of these Debentures, we may be required to pay a stock premium along
with redeeming the accreted principal amount for cash, if our common stock
reaches a certain market price. In accordance with the consensus from EITF No.
04-8, "The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings
per Share", we will include the dilutive effect of our Debentures in the
calculation of diluted earnings per share when the impact is dilutive. During
the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the conversion feature of these
Debentures did not have a dilutive effect because the weighted average market
price of our common stock did not exceed the initial conversion price of $26.66.
Therefore, the Debentures had no effect on our diluted shares outstanding or our
diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income
applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding for the period. Restricted shares are not included in basic earnings
per share until vested. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential
dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options were exercised and
restricted stock was vested. The dilution from options and restricted shares is
calculated using the treasury stock method. Under this method, we assume the
proceeds from the exercise of the options (or the unrecognized compensation
expense with respect to restricted stock) will be used to purchase shares of our
common stock at the average market price during the period, reducing the
dilutive effect of the exercise of the options (or the vesting of the restricted
stock).
10
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
We manage our business through the following: three primary operating
segments, Bankers Life, Conseco Insurance Group and Colonial Penn, which are
defined on the basis of product distribution; a fourth segment comprised of
other business in run-off; and corporate operations, which consists of holding
company activities and certain noninsurance businesses.
Operating information by segment was as follows (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Revenues:
Bankers Life:
Insurance policy income:
Annuities.................................................................... $ 16.7 $ 12.5
Supplemental health.......................................................... 327.2 307.6
Life......................................................................... 41.2 36.1
Other........................................................................ 26.9 26.8
Net investment income (a)......................................................... 140.9 123.5
Fee revenue and other income (a).................................................. 1.2 1.4
Net realized investment losses (a)................................................ (5.2) (1.5)
-------- --------
Total Bankers Life revenues.............................................. 548.9 506.4
-------- --------
Conseco Insurance Group:
Insurance policy income:
Annuities.................................................................... 2.9 3.5
Supplemental health.......................................................... 150.4 158.0
Life......................................................................... 86.3 92.1
Other........................................................................ 2.4 2.8
Net investment income (a)......................................................... 175.4 182.0
Fee revenue and other income (a).................................................. .2 .4
Net realized investment losses (a)................................................ (29.3) (5.1)
-------- --------
Total Conseco Insurance Group revenues................................... 388.3 433.7
-------- --------
Colonial Penn:
Insurance policy income:
Supplemental health.......................................................... 2.5 2.9
Life......................................................................... 26.5 23.2
Other........................................................................ .3 .3
Net investment income (a)......................................................... 9.5 9.7
Fee revenue and other income (a).................................................. .2 .1
Net realized investment gains (losses) (a)........................................ (.2) .5
-------- --------
Total Colonial Penn revenues............................................. 38.8 36.7
-------- --------
Other Business in Run-off:
Insurance policy income - supplemental health..................................... 79.5 88.9
Net investment income (a)......................................................... 47.0 44.7
Fee revenue and other income (a).................................................. .1 .1
Net realized investment gains (losses) (a)........................................ (.2) 3.0
-------- --------
Total Other Business in Run-off revenues................................. 126.4 136.7
-------- --------
Corporate:
Net investment income............................................................. 10.0 5.5
Fee and other income.............................................................. 2.1 2.7
-------- --------
Total corporate revenues................................................. 12.1 8.2
-------- --------
Total revenues........................................................... 1,114.5 1,121.7
-------- --------
(continued on next page)
11
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
(continued from previous page)
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Expenses:
Bankers Life:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ $ 393.0 $ 357.0
Amortization..................................................................... 80.7 56.9
Other operating costs and expenses............................................... 36.9 36.3
-------- --------
Total Bankers Life expenses................................................. 510.6 450.2
-------- --------
Conseco Insurance Group:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ 252.4 262.4
Amortization..................................................................... 25.0 54.0
Interest expense on investment borrowings........................................ 1.1 .2
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement.............................. 6.5 8.8
Other operating costs and expenses............................................... 67.9 70.0
-------- --------
Total Conseco Insurance Group expenses...................................... 352.9 395.4
-------- --------
Colonial Penn:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ 25.9 23.1
Amortization..................................................................... 4.8 4.2
Other operating costs and expenses............................................... 3.7 3.8
-------- --------
Total Colonial Penn expenses................................................ 34.4 31.1
-------- --------
Other Business in Run-off:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ 130.0 84.3
Amortization..................................................................... 5.7 3.5
Other operating costs and expenses............................................... 21.8 21.9
-------- --------
Total Other Business in Run-off expenses.................................... 157.5 109.7
-------- --------
Corporate:
Interest expense on corporate debt............................................... 16.1 12.4
Interest expense on variable interest entity..................................... 6.4 3.8
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement.............................. 6.5 8.9
Other operating costs and expenses............................................... 13.9 9.1
-------- --------
Total corporate expenses.................................................... 42.9 34.2
-------- --------
Total expenses.............................................................. 1,098.3 1,020.6
-------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes:
Bankers Life................................................................ 38.3 56.2
Conseco Insurance Group..................................................... 35.4 38.3
Colonial Penn............................................................... 4.4 5.6
Other Business in Run-off................................................... (31.1) 27.0
Corporate operations........................................................ (30.8) (26.0)
-------- --------
Income before income taxes.............................................. $ 16.2 $ 101.1
======== ========
<FN>
- -------------------
(a) It is not practicable to provide additional components of revenue by
product or services.
</FN>
12
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES
Our equity-indexed annuity products provide a guaranteed base rate of
return and a higher potential return that is based on a percentage (the
"participation rate") of a particular index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500
Index, over a specified period. At the beginning of each policy year, a new
index period begins. We are able to change the participation rate at the
beginning of each index period, subject to contractual minimums. We buy call
options on the applicable indices in an effort to hedge potential increases to
policyholder benefits resulting from increases in the particular index to which
the product's return is linked. Policyholder account balances for these
annuities fluctuate in relation to changes in the values of these options. We
reflect changes in the estimated market value of these options in net investment
income (classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts
and other special-purpose portfolios). Net investment income (loss) related to
equity-indexed products was $(7.3) million and $11.6 million in the three months
ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These amounts were substantially
offset by the corresponding charge to insurance policy benefits. The estimated
fair value of these options was $89.0 million and $93.7 million at March 31,
2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. We classify these instruments as other
invested assets.
The Company accounts for the options attributed to the policyholder for the
estimated life of the annuity contract as embedded derivatives as defined by
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities", as amended by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 137, "Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement
No. 133" and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 138, "Accounting
for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities" (collectively
referred to as "SFAS 138"). We record the changes in the fair values of the
embedded derivatives in current earnings as a component of policyholder
benefits. The fair value of these derivatives, which are classified as
"liabilities for interest-sensitive products", was $286.1 million and $275.3
million at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. We maintain a
specific block of investments which are equal to the balance of these
liabilities in our trading securities account, which we carry at estimated fair
value with changes in such value recognized as investment income (classified as
investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other
special-purpose portfolios). The change in value of these trading securities
should largely offset the portion of the change in the value of the embedded
derivative that is caused by interest rate fluctuations.
If the counterparties for the derivatives we hold fail to meet their
obligations, we may have to recognize a loss. We limit our exposure to such a
loss by diversifying among several counterparties believed to be strong and
creditworthy. At March 31, 2007, all of our counterparties were rated "A" or
higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P").
Certain of our reinsurance payable balances contain embedded derivatives as
defined in SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. B36, "Embedded Derivatives:
Modified Coinsurance Arrangements and Debt Instruments that Incorporate Credit
Risk Exposures that are Unrelated or Only Partially Related to the
Creditworthiness of the Obligor of Those Instruments". Such derivatives had an
estimated fair value of $10.5 million and $9.6 million at March 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006, respectively. We record the change in the fair value of these
derivatives as a component of investment income (classified as investment income
from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios).
We maintain a specific block of investments related to these agreements in our
trading securities account, which we carry at estimated fair value with changes
in such value recognized as investment income (also classified as investment
income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose
portfolios). The change in value of these trading securities should largely
offset the change in value of the embedded derivatives.
REINSURANCE
The cost of reinsurance ceded totaled $53.1 million and $58.0 million in
the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. We deduct this
cost from insurance policy income. In each case, the ceding Conseco subsidiary
is directly liable for claims reinsured even if the assuming company is unable
to pay. Reinsurance recoveries netted against insurance policy benefits totaled
$60.4 million and $59.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and
2006, respectively.
From time-to-time, we assume insurance from other companies. Any costs
associated with the assumption of insurance are amortized consistent with the
method used to amortize the cost of policies produced. Reinsurance premiums
assumed totaled $50.8 million and $38.9 million in the three months ended March
31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
13
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
See the note entitled "Accounting for Derivatives" for a discussion of the
derivative embedded in the payable related to certain modified coinsurance
agreements.
INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Current tax expense...................................................................... $ .5 $ -
Deferred tax provision................................................................... 5.3 36.5
---- -----
Income tax expense on period income............................................. $5.8 $36.5
==== =====
A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate to the effective
rate reflected in the consolidated statement of operations is as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
U.S. statutory corporate rate............................................................ 35.0% 35.0%
Other nondeductible expense (benefit).................................................... (3.4) 1.4
State taxes.............................................................................. (.7) .7
Provision for tax issues, tax credits and other.......................................... 4.9 (1.0)
---- ----
Effective tax rate.............................................................. 35.8% 36.1%
==== ====
14
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
The components of the Company's income tax assets and liabilities were as
follows (dollars in millions):
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards attributable to:
Life insurance subsidiaries.................................................... $ 804.8 $ 800.3
Non-life companies............................................................. 845.1 780.0
Tax credits....................................................................... 14.2 14.2
Capital loss carryforwards........................................................ 401.5 391.7
Deductible temporary differences:
Insurance liabilities.......................................................... 1,231.7 1,320.0
Unrealized depreciation of investments......................................... 23.8 41.2
Reserve for loss on loan guarantees............................................ 70.3 145.8
-------- --------
Gross deferred tax assets.................................................... 3,391.4 3,493.2
-------- --------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Actively managed fixed maturities.............................................. (37.9) (42.2)
Value of policies inforce at the Effective Date and cost of policies produced.. (767.9) (764.8)
Other.......................................................................... (37.5) (117.6)
-------- --------
Gross deferred tax liabilities............................................... (843.3) (924.6)
-------- ---------
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance........................... 2,548.1 2,568.6
Valuation allowance................................................................... (777.8) (777.8)
-------- --------
Net deferred tax assets...................................................... 1,770.3 1,790.8
Current income taxes prepaid (accrued)................................................ 1.8 (3.9)
-------- --------
Income tax assets, net....................................................... $1,772.1 $1,786.9
======== ========
Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from
temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets
and liabilities, capital loss carryforwards and NOLs. We evaluate the
realizability of our deferred income tax assets and assess the need for a
valuation allowance on an ongoing basis. In evaluating our deferred income tax
assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that the deferred income
tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of our deferred income tax
assets depends upon generating sufficient future taxable income during the
periods in which our temporary differences become deductible and before our
capital loss carryforwards and NOLs expire. This assessment requires significant
judgment. However, recovery is dependent on achieving such projections and
failure to do so would result in an increase in the valuation allowance in a
future period. Any future increase in the valuation allowance would result in
additional income tax expense and reduce shareholders' equity, and such an
increase could have a significant impact upon our earnings in the future. In
addition, the use of the Company's NOLs is dependent, in part, on whether the
Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") does not take an adverse position in the
future regarding the tax position we have taken in our tax returns with respect
to the allocation of cancellation of indebtedness income.
Based upon information existing at the time of our emergence from
bankruptcy, we established a valuation allowance against our entire balance of
net deferred income tax assets as we believed that the realization of such net
deferred income tax assets in future periods was uncertain. During 2004, 2005
and 2006, we concluded that it was no longer necessary to hold certain portions
of the previously established valuation allowance. Accordingly, we reduced our
valuation allowance by $947.0 million in 2004, $585.8 million in 2005 and $260.0
million in 2006. However, we are required to continue to record a valuation
allowance of $777.8 million at March 31, 2007 because we have determined that it
is more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be
realized. This determination was made by evaluating each component of the
15
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
deferred tax asset and assessing the effects of limitations or interpretations
on the value of such component to be fully recognized in the future.
The Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") limits the extent to which losses
realized by a non-life entity (or entities) may offset income from a life
insurance company (or companies) to the lesser of: (i) 35 percent of the income
of the life insurance company; or (ii) 35 percent of the total loss of the
non-life entities (including NOLs of the non-life entities). There is no
limitation on the extent to which losses realized by a life insurance entity (or
entities) may offset income from a non-life entity (or entities).
In addition, the timing and manner in which the Company will be able to
utilize some of its NOLs is limited by Section 382 of the Code. Section 382
imposes limitations on a corporation's ability to use its NOLs when the company
undergoes an ownership change. Because the Company underwent an ownership change
pursuant to its reorganization, this limitation applies to the Company. Any
losses that are subject to the Section 382 limitation will only be utilized by
the Company up to approximately $142 million per year with any unused amounts
carried forward to the following year. Our Section 382 limitation for 2007 will
be approximately $424 million (including $282 million of unused amounts carried
forward from prior years).
We have also evaluated the likelihood that we will have sufficient taxable
income to offset the available deferred tax assets. This assessment required
significant judgment. Based upon our current projections of future income that
we completed at December 31, 2006, we believe that we will more likely than not
recover $1.8 billion of our deferred tax assets through reductions of our tax
liabilities in future periods. However, recovery is dependent on achieving such
projections and failure to do so would result in an increase in the valuation
allowance in a future period. Any future increase in the valuation allowance
would result in additional income tax expense and reduce shareholders' equity,
and such an increase could have a significant impact upon our earnings in the
future.
As of March 31, 2007, we had $4.7 billion of NOLs and $1.1 billion of
capital loss carryforwards, which expire as follows (dollars in millions):
Net operating
loss carryforwards(a) Total loss carryforwards
--------------------- Capital loss Total loss ---------------------------------------
Year of expiration Life Non-life carryforwards carryforwards Subject to ss.382 Not subject to ss.382
- ------------------ ---- -------- ------------- ------------- ----------------- ---------------------
2007....... $ - $ .1 $ 449.1 $ 449.2 $ 449.2 $ -
2008 ...... - .1 583.7 583.8 583.8 -
2009....... - .9 86.2 87.1 .9 86.2
2010....... - 2.4 - 2.4 2.4 -
2011....... - .4 - .4 .4 -
2012....... - 1.6 28.1 29.7 1.6 28.1
2016....... 17.0 - - 17.0 17.0 -
2017....... 33.2 - - 33.2 33.2 -
2018....... 2,170.6 (a) .7 - 2,171.3 44.8 2,126.5
2019....... - .7 - .7 .7 -
2021....... 68.5 - - 68.5 - 68.5
2022....... 10.3 - - 10.3 - 10.3
2023....... - 2,066.1 (a) - 2,066.1 57.1 2,009.0
2024....... - 3.2 - 3.2 - 3.2
2025....... - 118.8 - 118.8 - 118.8
2026....... - 29.6 - 29.6 - 29.6
2027....... - 189.9 - 189.9 - 189.9
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total...... $2,299.6 $2,414.5 $1,147.1 $5,861.2 $1,191.1 $4,670.1
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
16
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
- --------------------
(a) The allocation of the NOLs summarized above assumes the IRS does not take
an adverse position in the future regarding the tax position we plan to
take in our tax returns with respect to the allocation of cancellation of
indebtedness income. If the IRS disagrees with the tax position we plan to
take with respect to the allocation of cancellation of indebtedness income,
and their position prevails, approximately $631 million of the NOLs
expiring in 2018 would be characterized as non-life NOLs.
The Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" ("FIN 48") on
January 1, 2007, which resulted in a $6 million increase to additional paid-in
capital. As of January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2007, the amount of unrecognized
tax benefits was not significant. While it is expected that the amount of
unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next twelve months, the Company
does not expect the change to have a significant impact on its results of
operations.
As more fully discussed below, the Company's interpretation of the tax law,
as it relates to the application of the cancellation of indebtedness income to
its NOLs, is an uncertain tax position. Since all other life NOLs must be
utilized prior to this portion of the NOL, it has not yet been utilized nor is
it expected to be utilized within the next twelve months. As a result, an
uncertain tax position has not yet been taken on the Company's tax return.
Although FIN 48 allowed a change in accounting, the Company has chosen to
continue its past accounting policy of classifying interest and penalties as
income tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations. No such amounts
were recognized in the first quarter of 2007. The liability for accrued interest
and penalties was not significant at March 31, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
Tax years 2004 through 2006 are open to examination by the IRS, and tax
year 2002 remains open only for potential adjustments related to certain
partnership investments. The Company does not anticipate any material
adjustments related to these partnership investments. The Company's various
state income tax returns are generally open for tax years 2003 through 2006
based on the individual state statutes of limitation.
The Code provides that any income realized as a result of the cancellation
of indebtedness in bankruptcy (cancellation of debt income or "CODI") must
reduce NOLs. We realized approximately $2.5 billion of CODI when we emerged from
bankruptcy. Pursuant to the Company's interpretation of the tax law, the CODI
reductions were all used to reduce non-life NOLs. However, if the IRS were to
disagree with our interpretation and ultimately prevail, we believe
approximately $631 million of NOLs classified as life company NOLs would be
re-characterized as non-life NOLs and subject to the 35% limitation discussed
above. Such a re-characterization would also extend the year of expiration as
life company NOLs expire after 15 years whereas non-life NOLs expire after 20
years. The Company does not expect the IRS to consider this issue for a number
of years.
The Company adopted SFAS 123R in calendar year 2006. Pursuant to this
accounting rule, the Company is precluded from recognizing the tax benefits of
any tax windfall upon the exercise of a stock option or the vesting of
restricted stock unless such deduction resulted in actual cash savings to the
Company. Because of the Company's NOLs, no cash savings have occurred. NOL
carryforwards of $1.8 million related to deductions for stock options and
restricted stock will be reflected in additional paid-in capital if realized.
NOTES PAYABLE - DIRECT CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS
The following notes payable were direct corporate obligations of the
Company as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in millions):
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
3.50% convertible debentures............................................................ $330.0 $ 330.0
Secured credit agreement................................................................ 671.6 673.3
Unamortized discount on convertible debentures.......................................... (2.3) (2.5)
------ --------
Direct corporate obligations....................................................... $999.3 $1,000.8
====== ========
17
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
On October 10, 2006, we entered into a $675.0 million secured credit
agreement (the "Second Amended Credit Facility"). Under the terms of the Second
Amended Credit Facility, we are required to make minimum quarterly principal
payments of $1.7 million, commencing December 31, 2006. The remaining unpaid
principal balance is due on October 10, 2013. During the first three months of
2007, we made scheduled principal payments totaling $1.7 million on our Second
Amended Credit Facility. There were $6.0 million and $6.2 million of unamortized
issuance costs (classified as other assets) related to our Second Amended Credit
Facility at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
The amounts outstanding under the Second Amended Credit Facility bear
interest, payable at least quarterly, based on either a Eurodollar rate or a
base rate. The Eurodollar rate is equal to LIBOR plus 2 percent. The base rate
is equal to 1 percent plus the greater of: (i) the Federal funds rate plus .50
percent; or (ii) Bank of America's prime rate. Under the terms of the Second
Amended Credit Facility, if the Company's senior secured long-term debt is rated
at least "Ba2" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and "BB" by S&P,
in each case with a stable outlook, the margins on the Eurodollar rate or the
base rate would each be reduced by .25 percent. At March 31, 2007, the interest
rate on our Second Amended Credit Facility was 7.3 percent.
The scheduled repayment of our direct corporate obligations is as follows
(dollars in millions):
Remainder of 2007............................. $ 5.1
2008.......................................... 6.7
2009.......................................... 6.8
2010.......................................... 336.7
2011.......................................... 6.8
Thereafter.................................... 639.5
--------
$1,001.6
========
Pursuant to the Second Amended Credit Facility, as long as the debt to
total capitalization ratio (as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility) is
greater than 20 percent and certain insurance subsidiaries (as defined in the
Second Amended Credit Facility) have financial strength ratings of less than A-
from A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"), the Company is required to make mandatory
prepayments with all or a portion of the proceeds from the following
transactions or events including: (i) the issuance of certain indebtedness; (ii)
equity issuances; (iii) certain asset sales or casualty events; and (iv) excess
cash flows as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility (the first such
payment, if applicable, would not be paid prior to the first quarter of 2008).
The Company may make optional prepayments at any time in minimum amounts of $3.0
million or any multiple of $1.0 million in excess thereof.
The Second Amended Credit Facility requires the Company to maintain various
financial ratios and balances, as defined in the agreement, including: (i) a
debt to total capitalization ratio of not more than 30 percent at all times
(such ratio was 17 percent at March 31, 2007); (ii) an interest coverage ratio
greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1 for each rolling four quarters (such ratio
exceeded the minimum requirement for the four quarters ending March 31, 2007);
(iii) an aggregate risk-based capital ratio, as defined in the Second Amended
Credit Facility, greater than or equal to 250 percent for each quarter (such
ratio exceeded the minimum risk-based capital requirements at March 31, 2007);
and (iv) a combined statutory capital and surplus level of greater than $1,270.0
million (combined statutory capital and surplus at March 31, 2007 exceeded such
requirement).
The Second Amended Credit Facility includes an $80.0 million revolving
credit facility that can be used for general corporate purposes and that would
mature on June 22, 2009. There were no amounts outstanding under the revolving
credit facility at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The Company pays a
commitment fee equal to .50 percent of the unused portion of the revolving
credit facility on an annualized basis. The revolving credit facility bears
interest based on either a Eurodollar rate or a base rate in the same manner as
described above for the Second Amended Credit Facility.
The Second Amended Credit Facility provides for a one time increase in the
facility or the addition of a new facility of up to $330.0 million. Such
increase would be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the
scheduled maturity date.
18
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
The Second Amended Credit Facility prohibits or restricts, among other
things: (i) the payment of cash dividends on our common stock; (ii) the
repurchase of our common stock; (iii) the issuance of additional debt or capital
stock; (iv) liens; (v) certain asset dispositions; (vi) affiliate transactions;
(vii) certain investment activities; (viii) change in business; and (ix)
prepayment of indebtedness (other than the Second Amended Credit Facility). The
obligations under our Second Amended Credit Facility are guaranteed by Conseco's
current and future domestic subsidiaries, other than: (i) its insurance
companies; (ii) subsidiaries of the insurance companies; or (iii) certain
immaterial subsidiaries as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility. This
guarantee was secured by granting liens on substantially all the assets of the
guarantors, including the capital stock of our top tier insurance company,
Conseco Life Insurance Company of Texas. Under the Second Amended Credit
Facility, we may pay cash dividends on our common stock or repurchase our common
stock in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million over the term of the
facility. As further discussed in the note to the consolidated financial
statements entitled "Changes in Common Stock", we repurchased 1.5 million shares
of our common stock for $29.6 million in the first three months of 2007.
INVESTMENT BORROWINGS AND INTEREST RATE SWAPS
In the first quarter of 2007, one of the Company's insurance subsidiaries
(Conseco Life Insurance Company, "Conseco Life") became a member of the Federal
Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis ("FHLBI"). As a member of the FHLBI, Conseco Life
has the ability to borrow on a collateralized basis from FHLBI. Conseco Life
intends to use these advances to earn incremental income and as a source of
liquidity for its operations. Conseco Life is required to hold a certain minimum
amount of FHLBI common stock as a requirement of membership in the FHLBI, and
additional amounts based on the amount of advances. At March 31, 2007, the
carrying value of the FHLBI common stock was $10.0 million. Advances from the
FHLBI (the "Advances") totaled $200.0 million as of March 31, 2007, and the
proceeds were used to purchase primarily investment-grade fixed maturity
securities. The Advances are classified as investment borrowings in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Advances mature in the first
quarter of 2012 and bear interest, payable monthly, based on the three month
LIBOR rate less .01 percent. The weighted average interest rate was 5.35 percent
at March 31, 2007. The Advances are collateralized by investments with an
estimated fair value of $251.2 million at March 31, 2007, which are maintained
in a custodial account for the benefit of the FHLBI. Conseco Life recognized
interest expense of $.9 million in the first three months of 2007 related to the
Advances.
Conseco Life purchased $147.5 million par value of fixed maturity
investments for $147.7 million (which are classified as trading securities) with
a portion of the proceeds from the Advances. Each fixed rate security is matched
with an interest rate swap, which converts the security from a fixed rate to a
floating rate basis. The remaining proceeds were used to purchase $16.8 million
of asset-backed securities classified as actively managed fixed maturities and
short-term investments. The short-term investments were used to purchase
additional floating rate asset-backed securities in April 2007. The trading
securities are carried at estimated fair value with changes in such value
recognized as trading income. Conseco Life also purchased interest rate swaps
with an aggregate notional amount of $147.5 million in an effort to hedge the
change in fair value of the trading securities that were purchased. The change
in the value of the interest rate swaps is recognized in trading income. In the
first three months of 2007, the change in the value of the trading securities
was $.5 million and the change in the value of the interest rate swaps was
$(1.4) million. Pursuant to the interest rate swaps, Conseco Life pays interest,
semi-annually, at a fixed rate and receives interest, quarterly, at a variable
rate from the counterparty on the outstanding notional amount. At March 31,
2007, the weighted average fixed rate being paid was 6.12 percent and the
weighted average variable rate being received was 6.17 percent.
At March 31, 2007, investment borrowings consisted of: (i) Advances of
$200.0 million; (ii) $436.3 million of securities issued to other entities by a
variable interest entity which is consolidated in our financial statements; and
(iii) other borrowings of $11.4 million.
At December 31, 2006, investment borrowings consisted of: (i) $406.8
million of securities issued to other entities by a variable interest entity
which is consolidated in our financial statements; and (ii) other borrowings of
$11.5 million.
19
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK
Changes in the number of shares of common stock outstanding were as follows
(shares in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2006........................................... 152,165
Treasury stock purchased and retired............................... (1,533)
Stock options exercised............................................ 203
Shares issued under employee benefit compensation plans............ 10
-------
Balance at March 31, 2007.............................................. 150,845
=======
In December 2006, the Company's board of directors authorized a common
share repurchase program of up to $150 million. In May 2007, the Company's board
of directors increased the authorized common share repurchase program to a
maximum of $350 million. As further discussed in the note to the consolidated
financial statements entitled "Notes Payable - Direct Corporate Obligations," we
currently may pay cash dividends on our common stock or repurchase our common
stock in an aggregate amount of up to $150 million over the term of our credit
facility. Our share repurchase program may be implemented through purchases made
from time to time in either the open market or through private transactions.
With respect to $25 million of the program, the Company entered into an
accelerated share buy back agreement ("ASB") to repurchase 1.2 million shares.
The initial price paid per share as part of the ASB transaction was $20.12. The
repurchased shares were subject to a settlement price adjustment based upon the
difference between: (i) the volume weighted average price of Conseco common
stock (as defined in the ASB); and (ii) $20.12. The settlement price adjustment
was calculated to be $.3 million and was paid to the Company. The Company
recognized a reduction in common stock and additional paid-in capital of $24.7
million in the first quarter of 2007 related to the ASB transaction.
During the first quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased an additional .3
million shares of its common stock for $4.9 million.
SALES INDUCEMENTS
Certain of our annuity products offer sales inducements to contract holders
in the form of enhanced crediting rates or bonus payments in the initial period
of the contract. Certain of our life insurance products offer persistency
bonuses credited to the contract holders balance after the policy has been
outstanding for a specified period of time. These enhanced rates and persistency
bonuses are considered sales inducements under Statement of Position 03-01
"Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional
Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts". Such amounts are deferred
and amortized in the same manner as the cost of policies produced. Sales
inducements deferred totaled $14.4 million and $10.6 million during the three
months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Amounts amortized totaled
$5.1 million and $4.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and
2006, respectively. The unamortized balance of deferred sales inducements at
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 was $124.3 million and $115.0 million,
respectively. The balance of insurance liabilities for persistency bonus
benefits was $288.9 million and $296.3 million at March 31, 2007 and December
31, 2006, respectively.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Pending Accounting Standards
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157"). SFAS 157 defines fair
value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures
of fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is
currently evaluating the effect SFAS 157 will have on our results of operations
and financial condition.
In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" ("SFAS 159").
SFAS 159
20
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
allows entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value (on an instrument-by-instrument basis) that are not
currently required to be measured at fair value. The objective is to improve
financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate
volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. SFAS 159 is effective for us on January 1, 2008. We are currently
evaluating the effect SFAS 159 will have on our results of operations and
financial condition.
Adopted Accounting Standards
In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48. FIN 48 creates a comprehensive model
which addresses how a company should recognize, measure, present and disclose in
its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or
expects to take on a tax return. This guidance is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a $6.0
million increase to additional paid in capital during the three months ended
March 31, 2007. The Company classifies interest and, if applicable, penalties as
income tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations. No such amounts
were recognized in the first quarter of 2007. The liability for accrued interest
was not significant at March 31, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain
Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140"
("SFAS 155"). SFAS 155 amends SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS 133"), and SFAS 140, "Accounting for
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities"
and resolves issues addressed in SFAS 133 Implementation Issue No. D1,
"Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interest in Securitized Financial
Assets". SFAS 155: (a) permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial
instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require
bifurcation; (b) clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips
are not subject to the requirements of SFAS 133; (c) establishes a requirement
to evaluate beneficial interests in securitized financial assets to identify
interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial
instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation; (d)
clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are
not embedded derivatives; and, (e) eliminates restrictions on a qualifying
special-purpose entity's ability to hold passive derivative financial
instruments that pertain to beneficial interests that are or contain a
derivative financial instrument. The standard also requires presentation within
the financial statements that identifies those hybrid financial instruments for
which the fair value election has been applied and information on the income
statement impact of the changes in fair value of those instruments. SFAS 155 is
effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued in a fiscal year that
begins after September 15, 2006. The initial adoption of SFAS 155 did not have a
material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee issued
Statement of Position 05-1, "Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred
Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance
Contracts" ("SOP 05-1"). This statement provides guidance on accounting for
deferred acquisition costs on an internal replacement which is defined broadly
as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that
occurs by the exchange of an existing contract for a new contract, or by
amendment, endorsement, or rider to an existing contract, or by the election of
a benefit, feature, right, or coverage within an existing contract. An internal
replacement that is determined to result in a replacement contract that is
substantially unchanged from the replaced contract should be accounted for as a
continuation of the replaced contract. Contract modifications resulting in a
replacement contract that is substantially changed from the replaced contract
should be accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract and any
unamortized deferred acquisition costs, unearned revenue liabilities, and
deferred sales inducement assets from the replaced contract should not be
deferred in connection with the replacement contract. The provisions of SOP 05-1
are effective for internal replacements beginning January 1, 2007. The initial
adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have a material impact on our results of operations
or financial position. The adoption of SOP 05-1 resulted in the shortening of
the period over which the value of policies inforce at the Effective Date and
the cost of policies produced related to a small block of our group health
insurance business are amortized. Transition to the shorter amortization period
resulted in a January 1, 2007 cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings
of $2.7 million, net of tax.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, "Employers Accounting for
Defined Benefit and Other Retirement Plans - an amendment of FASB Statements No.
87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" ("SFAS 158"). SFAS 158 requires employers to recognize
the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other
postretirement benefit plans as an asset or liability in its statement of
financial position, measured as the difference between the fair value of plan
assets and the projected benefit obligation as of the end of our fiscal year
end. In addition, SFAS 158 requires employers to
21
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
recognize changes in the funded status of defined benefit pension and other post
retirement plans in the year in which the changes occur through other
accumulated comprehensive income. The Company adopted SFAS 158 effective
December 31, 2006.
The impact of the adoption of SFAS 158 on our consolidated balance sheet at
December 31, 2006, was as follows (dollars in millions):
Balance before Balance after
adoption of adoption of
SFAS 158 Adjustments SFAS 158
-------------- ----------- -------------
Income tax assets, net.................... $1,783.4 $ 3.5 $1,786.9
Other liabilities......................... 601.9 9.9 611.8
Accumulated other comprehensive loss...... (66.2) (6.4) (72.6)
LITIGATION AND OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal actions in
the normal course of business, in which claims for compensatory and punitive
damages are asserted, some for substantial amounts. Some of the pending matters
have been filed as purported class actions and some actions have been filed in
certain jurisdictions that permit punitive damage awards that are
disproportionate to the actual damages incurred. Although there can be no
assurances, at the present time the Company does not anticipate that the
ultimate liability from either pending or threatened legal actions, after
consideration of existing loss provisions, will have a material adverse effect
on the financial condition, operating results or cash flows of the Company. The
amounts sought in certain of these actions are often large or indeterminate and
the ultimate outcome of certain actions is difficult to predict. In the event of
an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters, the ultimate liability may
be in excess of the liabilities we have established and could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
cash flows. In addition, the resolution of pending or future litigation may
involve modifications to the terms of outstanding insurance policies, which
could adversely affect the future profitability of the related insurance
policies.
In the cases described below, we have disclosed any specific dollar amounts
sought in the complaints. In our experience, monetary demands in complaints bear
little relation to the ultimate loss, if any, to the Company. However, for the
reasons stated above, it is not possible to make meaningful estimates of the
amount or range of loss that could result from some of these matters at this
time. The Company reviews these matters on an ongoing basis and follows the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, "Accounting for
Contingencies", when making accrual and disclosure decisions. When assessing
reasonably possible and probable outcomes, the Company bases its decisions on
its assessment of the ultimate outcome following all appeals.
Securities Litigation
After our Predecessor announced its intention to restructure on August 9,
2002, eight purported securities fraud class action lawsuits were filed in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The
complaints named us as a defendant, along with certain of our former officers.
These lawsuits were filed on behalf of persons or entities who purchased our
Predecessor's common stock on various dates between October 24, 2001 and August
9, 2002. The plaintiffs allege claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and allege material omissions and
dissemination of materially misleading statements regarding, among other things,
the liquidity of Old Conseco and alleged problems in Conseco Finance Corp.'s
manufactured housing division, allegedly resulting in the artificial inflation
of our Predecessor's stock price. These cases were consolidated into one case in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, captioned
Franz Schleicher, et al. v. Conseco, Inc., Gary Wendt, William Shea, Charles
Chokel and James Adams, et al., Case No. 02-CV-1332 DFH-TAB. The complaint seeks
an unspecified amount of damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated
class action complaint with respect to the individual defendants on December 8,
2003. Our liability with respect to this lawsuit was discharged in our
Predecessor's plan of reorganization and our obligation to indemnify individual
defendants who were not serving as an officer or director on the Effective Date
is limited to $3
22
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
million in the aggregate under such plan. Our liability to indemnify individual
defendants who were serving as an officer or director on the Effective Date, of
which there is one such defendant, is not limited by such plan. A motion to
dismiss was filed on behalf of defendants Shea, Wendt and Chokel and on July 14,
2005, this matter was dismissed. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on
August 24, 2005. We filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint on
November 7, 2005. The court has not yet ruled on this motion. James S. Adams
filed for bankruptcy on July 29, 2005, Case No. 1:02-cv-1332-DFH-TAB (Southern
District, Indiana). We believe this lawsuit is without merit and intend to
defend it vigorously; however, the ultimate outcome cannot be predicted with
certainty. Our current estimate of the maximum loss that we could reasonably
incur on this case is approximately $1.5 million. We do not believe that the
potential loss related to the individual defendant who served as an officer on
the Effective Date is material.
Cost of Insurance Litigation
The Company and certain subsidiaries, including principally Conseco Life
Insurance Company, have been named in numerous purported class action and
individual lawsuits alleging, among other things, breach of contract, fraud and
misrepresentation with regard to a change made in 2003 and 2004 in the way cost
of insurance charges are calculated for life insurance policies sold primarily
under the names "Lifestyle" and "Lifetime". Approximately 86,500 of these
policies were subject to the change, which resulted in increased monthly charges
to the policyholders' accounts. Many of the purported class action lawsuits were
filed in Federal courts across the United States. In June 2004, the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated these lawsuits into the action
now referred to as In Re Conseco Life Insurance Co. Cost of Insurance
Litigation, Cause No. MDL 1610 (Central District, California). In September
2004, plaintiffs in the multi-district action filed an amended consolidated
complaint and, at that time, added Conseco, Inc. as a defendant. The amended
complaint alleges, among other things, that the change enabled Conseco, Inc. to
add $360 million to its balance sheet. The amended complaint seeks unspecified
compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages as well as an injunction that would
require the Company to reinstate the prior method of calculating cost of
insurance charges and refund any increased charges that resulted from the
change. On April 26, 2005, the Judge in the multi-district action certified a
nationwide class on the claims for breach of contract and injunctive relief. On
April 27, 2005, the Judge issued an order certifying a statewide California
class for injunctive and restitutionary relief pursuant to California Business
and Professions Code Section 17200 and breach of the duty of good faith and fair
dealing, but denied certification on the claims for fraud and intentional
misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment. The Company announced on August 1,
2006, that it has reached a proposed settlement of this case. Under the proposed
settlement, inforce policyholders will have an option to choose a form of policy
benefit enhancement and certain former policyholders will share in a settlement
fund by either receiving cash or electing to reinstate their policies with
enhanced benefits. Finalizing the settlement will require court review and
approval, a fairness hearing, notice to all class members, election of options
by the class members, implementation of the settlement and is subject to other
conditions. We expect to implement the settlement with the inforce and certain
former policyholders in the third quarter of 2007. On February 12, 2007 the
court granted preliminary approval of the settlement. The fairness hearing is
scheduled to occur on May 21, 2007 where the court will consider final approval
of the settlement as well as any related objections.
As a result of the settlement, we recorded $157.0 million of costs (before
income taxes) related to the proposed settlement in the second quarter of 2006.
In the first quarter of 2007, we refined our estimates related to certain
provisions of the proposed settlement and recognized additional expenses of
$13.0 million. In addition, we had previously recognized costs related to this
litigation of $17.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2006, and $18.3
million and $9.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
The liability we have established related to the proposed settlement at
March 31, 2007, includes our best estimate of: (i) the cost of the benefits to
be provided to inforce policyholders; (ii) the value of the settlement fund for
former policyholders; (iii) plaintiff attorney fees; (iv) the cost to settle
other cases pending with respect to the cost of insurance litigation; and (v)
other costs and professional fees required to implement the settlement. While we
believe the liabilities we have established are adequate to cover these costs,
our estimates are subject to significant judgment (including the form of policy
benefit enhancement chosen by the inforce policyholders) and it is possible that
our estimates will prove to be insufficient to cover our actual costs. In
addition, the actual cost we incur is dependent on: (i) the release of no less
than 1,000,000 shares of our common stock which were reserved for distribution
pursuant to the bankruptcy plan of our Predecessor to satisfy the prepetition
claims of the plaintiffs; and (ii) the value of such shares realized by the
plaintiffs. On November 7, 2006 the Bankruptcy Court authorized such release by
approving applicable claims filed by plaintiffs. In determining our current
estimate of the net costs related to the proposed settlement, these shares were
valued based on the March 31, 2007 closing price of a share of our common stock.
The implementation of the proposed settlement includes
23
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
enhanced benefits to the inforce insurance policies, which eliminates the future
estimated profits from these policies in periods subsequent to the proposed
settlement date, if the experience of the policies is consistent with our
expectations. We recognized income before income taxes on these policies of
approximately $6.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Other cases that remain pending with respect to life insurance policies
sold primarily under the names "Lifestyle" and "Lifetime" include purported
nationwide class actions in Indiana and California state courts. Those cases
filed in Indiana state courts have been consolidated into the case now referred
to as Arlene P. Mangelson, et al. v. Conseco Life Insurance Company, Cause No.
29D01-0403-PL-211 (Superior Court, Hamilton County, Indiana). Four putative
nationwide and/or statewide class-action lawsuits filed in California state
courts have been consolidated and are being coordinated in the Superior Court of
San Francisco County under the new caption Cost of Insurance Cases, Judicial
Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4384 (Judicial Council of California). On
January 25, 2005 an Amended Complaint making similar allegations was filed in
the case captioned William Schwartz v. Jeffrey Landerman, Diann P. Urbanek,
Metro Insurance, Inc., Samuels Jacky Insurance Agency, Conseco Life Insurance
Company, Successor to Philadelphia Life Insurance Company, Case No. GD 00-011432
(Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania). Additionally, on
February 11, 2005 Mr. Schwartz filed a purported nationwide class action
captioned William Schwartz and Rebeca R. Frankel, Trustee of the Robert M.
Frankel Irrevocable Insurance Trust v. Conseco Life Ins. Co. et al., Case No. GD
05-3742 (Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania). On May 12, 2006
these two Schwartz cases were consolidated under both original case numbers. On
May 24, 2005 a purported class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois on behalf of
a putative statewide class captioned William J. Harte, individually and on
behalf of all others similarly situated v. Conseco Life Insurance Company, Case
No. 05CH08925 (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division), which
has been removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District
of Illinois, transferred to California and consolidated and coordinated with MDL
1610.
Other non-class action cases regarding these policies include a lawsuit
filed on September 14, 2005 in Hawaii captioned AE Ventures for Archie Murakami,
et al. v. Conseco, Inc., Conseco Life Insurance Company; And Doe Defendants
1-100, Case No. CV05-00594 (United States District Court, District of Hawaii).
This suit involves approximately 800 plaintiffs all of whom purport to have
opted out of the In Re Conseco Life Insurance Co. Cost of Insurance Litigation
multi-district action. The complaint alleges nondisclosure, breach of fiduciary
duty, violations of HRS 480 (unfair and/or deceptive business practices),
declaratory and injunctive relief, insurance bad faith, punitive damages, and
seeks to impose alter ego liability. Additionally, a lawsuit was filed on
December 22, 2005 in Pennsylvania captioned Lisa M. Jordan v. Allen R. Shank and
Conseco Life Insurance Company, Case No. 05-10204 (Court of Common Pleas,
Chester County, Pennsylvania). The Jordan case has been settled and will be
dismissed.
The ultimate outcome of these cost of insurance lawsuits cannot be
predicted with certainty and an adverse outcome could exceed the amount we have
accrued and could have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial
condition, cash flows or results of operations.
Agent Litigation
In October 1997, an action was filed against Conseco Variable Insurance
Company ("CVIC"), a former subsidiary of the Company, and general agent Glenn H.
Guffey by nine South Carolina agents, who alleged that they had suffered losses
as a result of defendants' breach of contract, fraud and misleading conduct
relating to the sale of Flex II annuities. In the action, Molly Allen et al v.
Great American Reserve Insurance Company, Glenn H. Guffey and American Home
Assurance Company, Case Number 29C01-9709-CP751 in the Circuit Court of Hamilton
County, Indiana, plaintiffs claim that Mr. Guffey told them that the annuities
would have no initial administrative fees charged to the owner of the annuity
(when in fact they did) and that as a result, they had been selling the
annuities on that basis. Plaintiffs demanded unspecified compensatory and
punitive damages, and allege that they have lost commissions and renewals and
that their business reputations have been damaged as a result of Mr. Guffey's
misrepresentations. They further contend that CVIC should be held liable as it
negligently supervised Mr. Guffey and knew about his fraudulent conduct. Mr.
Guffey has settled with plaintiffs. Plaintiffs filed a motion to add an
additional count to the complaint against CVIC and a motion for summary judgment
on that new count. The court denied plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, and
plaintiffs are appealing that denial. We retained liability for CVIC's
involvement in this litigation in connection with the sale of CVIC. We believe
this action is without merit, and intend to defend it vigorously. The ultimate
outcome of the action cannot be predicted with certainty.
24
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
On November 6, 2003, a Complaint was filed in State Court in Fulton County,
Georgia, Reginald Martin Agency, Inc.; Comprehensive Insurance Marketing, Inc.;
Design Benefits Inc.; Jim Jasnoski d/b/a Design Benefits, Inc.; Kenny Froug
d/b/a Atlanta Brokerage Office; Brokerage One Agency, Inc.; Tri-State Brokerage,
Inc.; Don Sepulveda d/b/a Sepulveda Insurance Group; Dean Vandersnick d/b/a
Professional Insurance Brokerage and Whitewater Brokerage, Inc. v. Conseco
Medical Insurance Company, Conseco Marketing LLC, Timothy F. O'Keefe and Edward
M. Berube, Cause No. 03VC0587 B4Y. Plaintiffs are former CMIC Field Marketing
Organizations that allege in the complaint that they were damaged by CMIC's exit
from the individual medical insurance market claiming damages in an unnamed
amount for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of
partnership agreements and fiduciary duty, breach of implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, tortuous interference with business and contractual
relationships, damage to goodwill and business reputation and bad faith. At
CMIC's request, the case was removed to federal court and transferred to the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis
Division (Cause No. 1:04-CV-1587-TAB/RLY). CMIC filed a motion to dismiss, and
all of the causes of action have been dismissed except the fraud count and the
action for breach of fiduciary duty. In April 2007, a settlement was reached
with seven of the ten plaintiffs. We are scheduled to go to trial with the
remaining three plaintiffs commencing on May 9, 2007. We believe the action is
without merit, and intend to defend it vigorously. The ultimate outcome of the
action cannot be predicted with certainty.
Other Litigation
On July 9, 1999, a complaint was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of
New York, County of New York, PRG Planning & Development, LLC v. LateNite Magic,
Inc., Daurio & Russo & Sons Construction Co., Inc., Specialized Audio Visual,
Inc., Farmore Realty, Inc. f/k/a Sweetheart Theatres, Inc., The City of New York
and the State of New York Cause No: 114077/99. The complaint seeks damages in
the amount of $3.9 million with interest thereon from January 20, 1998. This is
a lien foreclosure suit that is the result of an April 1996 lease agreement
entered into by LateNite Magic and Farmore Realty, Inc. to develop a theme
restaurant based on the magic of David Copperfield. CVIC and our subsidiary
Conseco Annuity Assurance Company (now known as Conseco Insurance Company)
purchased preferred stock of LateNite and acquired the right to an assignment of
the April 1996 lease. An amended complaint was filed on December 2, 1999 naming
CVIC and Conseco Annuity Assurance Company as co-defendants. On August 25, 2006
the court awarded the plaintiff judgment in the sum of $3.8 million plus
interest from December 16, 1997. On April 2, 2007, the Company paid
approximately $4.3 million of the $6.8 million judgment, leaving an unpaid
balance of approximately $2.5 million. The Company is appealing the judgment.
A civil complaint dated December 5, 2005 was filed with the Piraeus Court
in Greece on December 22, 2005 by Blue Wave Maritime S.A., Adriatic Spirit S.A.,
Aegean Spirit S.A., and Ocean Challenger S.A., all companies which are part of
the Adriatic Holding Corporation Ltd. group of companies ("Adriatic") which each
owned one vessel, against United States Trust Company of New York, Teachers
Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Nightingale & Associates, Fairwind
Shipping Limited, Aegon USA Investment Management, CIGNA Investments Inc.,
Kemper Financial Services Inc., Conseco Capital Management Co., Northwestern
Mutual Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, New
England Mutual Life Insurance Company, Combined States Holding Corporation,
Douglas Hopkins, executive of the company Nightingale & Associates, and Brad
Scher, executive of the company Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of
America (collectively "Noteholders") alleging various tort claims arising out of
the foreclosure and/or repossession in 1996 by the Noteholders of four vessels
allegedly owned by the plaintiffs and seeking damages in the approximate amount
of $32 million. Conseco Capital Management (now known as 40|86 Advisors, Inc.)
was served on or about August 30, 2006. We await service of another summons and
complaint. The suit concerns various Notes issued by Adriatic in April 1994
which were purchased by the Noteholders and secured in part by preferred ship
mortgages on various vessels owned by Adriatic. In 1996, Adriatic defaulted on
the Notes and the Noteholders exercised their rights pursuant to the applicable
loan documentation to foreclose and/or take possession of the four vessels that
secured Adriatic's obligations to the Noteholders. We believe the action is
without merit and intend to defend it vigorously. The ultimate outcome of the
action cannot be predicted with certainty.
On November 17, 2005, a complaint was filed in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of California, Robert H. Hansen, an individual,
and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Conseco Insurance Company, an
Illinois corporation f/k/a Conseco Annuity Assurance Company, Cause No.
C0504726. Plaintiff in this putative class action purchased an annuity in 2000
and is claiming relief on behalf of the proposed national class for alleged
violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO);
elder abuse; unlawful, deceptive and unfair business practices; unlawful,
deceptive and misleading advertising; breach of fiduciary duty; aiding and
abetting of breach of fiduciary
25
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
duty; and unjust enrichment and imposition of constructive trust. On January 27,
2006, a similar complaint was filed in the same court entitled Friou P. Jones,
on Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Conseco Insurance
Company, an Illinois company f/k/a Conseco Annuity Assurance Company, Cause No.
C06-00537. Mr. Jones had purchased an annuity in 2003. Each case alleged that
the annuity sold was inappropriate and that the annuity products in question are
inherently unsuitable for seniors age 65 and older. On March 3, 2006 a first
amended complaint was filed in the Hansen case adding causes of action for
fraudulent concealment and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. In
an order dated April 14, 2006, the court consolidated the two cases under the
original Hansen cause number and retitled the consolidated action: In re Conseco
Insurance Co. Annuity Marketing & Sales Practices Litig. A motion to dismiss the
amended complaint was granted in part and denied in part, and the plaintiffs
filed a second amended complaint. The second amended complaint includes the same
causes of action as the prior complaint, but adds as defendants Conseco, Inc.,
Conseco Services, LLC, Conseco Marketing, LLC and 40|86 Advisors, Inc. We intend
to file a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. The case is set for
trial commencing February 12, 2008. The court has not yet made a determination
whether the case should go forward as a class action, and we intend to oppose
any form of class action treatment of these claims. We believe the action is
without merit, and intend to defend it vigorously. The ultimate outcome of the
action cannot be predicted with certainty.
On September 24, 2004, a purported statewide class action was filed in the
18th Judicial District Court, Parish of Iberville, Louisiana, Diana Doiron,
Individually And On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Conseco Health
Insurance Company, Case No. 61,534. In her complaint, plaintiff claims that she
was damaged due to Conseco Health Insurance Company's failure to pay claims made
under her cancer policy, and seeks compensatory and statutory damages along with
declaratory and injunctive relief. Conseco caused the case to be removed to the
United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on November 3,
2004, and it was assigned case number 04-784-D-M2. An order was issued on
February 15, 2007 granting plaintiff's motion for class certification. The order
specifically certifies two sub-classes identifying them as the radiation
treatment sub-class and the chemotherapy treatment sub-class. We have appealed
the certification order and on April 23, 2007, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
accepted jurisdiction over our appeal. We believe the action is without merit,
and we intend to defend the case vigorously. The ultimate outcome of the action
cannot be predicted with certainty.
On March 22, 2006, the Company's subsidiary, CDOC, Inc. ("CDOC"), as the
successor in interest to Statesman Insurance Company ("Statesman"), brought a
complaint for declaratory judgment against Himco Waste-Away Services, Inc.
("Himco"). CDOC seeks a court declaration to determine the rights and
obligations of CDOC and Himco under certain general liability contracts Himco
allegedly procured from Statesman during the period 1969 through 1975. The
coverage dispute arises out of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA")
claim against Himco, for which Himco sought reimbursement of investigation and
defense costs and indemnification of its settlement with the EPA pursuant to the
Statesman policies in the sum of $1.6 million. CDOC's complaint alleges that
Himco failed to comply with conditions precedent to coverage under the Statesman
policies because, among other things, Himco's late notice to CDOC of the EPA's
claim was not immediate, as required by the policies, but rather was
unreasonably late, and Himco failed and refused to cooperate in good faith with
CDOC. The complaint also alleges that Himco's failure to provide immediate
notice and cooperate precludes Himco from seeking and receiving any insurance
coverage under the Statesman policies. On May 3, 2006, Himco answered the
complaint and filed a counterclaim seeking unspecified damages and alleging
breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, as well
as seeking declaratory relief. In addition they sought a change of venue to
Elkhart County, Indiana. The matter is now pending in Elkhart Circuit Court,
CDOC, Inc. v. Himco Waste-Away Services, Inc., Case No. 20CO1-2606-PL-46. The
ultimate outcome of this action cannot be predicted with certainty.
Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company, a predecessor company to
Conseco Insurance Company, filed suit for declaratory judgment against J.C.
Penney Life Insurance Company a/k/a Stonebridge Life Insurance Company
("Stonebridge") in a case captioned, Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company
v. J.C. Penney Life Insurance Company and J.C. Penney Company, Inc., United
States District Court for the Central District of California, Case no.
CV-98-02792-SVW. This litigation arises from the 1967 sale of Beneficial Fire &
Casualty ("BF&C") by Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company to J.C. Penney
Company, Inc. The subject of the case is whether Conseco Insurance Company must
indemnify Stonebridge for losses and expenses incurred as a result of claims
arising under presale BF&C insurance policies. Conseco Insurance Company filed
suit in April 1998 seeking a judicial declaration that: (1) it is not generally
obligated to indemnify Stonebridge under the terms of the agreement governing
the 1967 sale; and (2) that it is not obligated to indemnify Stonebridge for
losses or expenses incurred in connection with specific known claims. Penney
counterclaimed for breach of contract and declaratory relief. The counterclaim
did not specify the damages sought by Penney on the breach of contract claims.
After a bench trial in 2002, certain rulings of the trial court were appealed to
the United States Court of Appeals for
26
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
the Ninth Circuit. In June 2005, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion upholding a
trial-court determination that the terms of the 1967 sale generally require
Conseco Insurance Company to indemnify Stonebridge for net losses arising from
pre-sale BF&C policies, but only after Stonebridge pursues and exhausts
available reinsurance. The Ninth Circuit remanded the case to the trial court
for further proceedings. The trial court had previously found against
Stonebridge on its breach of contract claims, ruling that Stonebridge could not
assert such claims until it pursued and exhausted available reinsurance.
Stonebridge did not appeal that specific ruling. The remaining issue before the
trial court is whether Conseco Insurance Company's indemnification obligation
with respect to certain environmental claims asserted by the Port of Oakland is
excused by Stonebridge's conduct in handling the claims. On July 25, 2006, a
second action was filed in the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, Indiana,
captioned Conseco Insurance Company v. Stonebridge Life Insurance Company and
J.C. Penney Life Insurance Company. Penney removed the case to federal court on
August 16, 2006, Case No. 1:06-CV-1229 SEB-VSS (Southern District, Indiana) and
filed a motion to dismiss. The court has not yet ruled on this motion. The
subject of this second action is whether Conseco Insurance Company's
indemnification obligation with respect to specific known claims is excused by
Stonebridge's failure to pursue available reinsurance. Conseco Insurance Company
alternatively seeks equitable relief requiring Stonebridge to take affirmative
steps to preserve the availability of reinsurance on such claims. The ultimate
outcomes of the actions cannot be predicted with certainty.
On February 13, 2004, a declaratory judgment action, RLI Insurance Company
v. Conseco, Inc., et al l:04-cv-00310-UM-WTL, was filed in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Indiana by RLI Insurance Company
("RLI"), Conseco's fiduciary insurance carrier. RLI is asking the court to find
that is has no liability under its policy for the claims made against Conseco in
Roderick Russell, et al. v. Conseco, Inc., et al, Case No. 1:02-CV-1639 LJM. In
this 2004 Declaratory Judgment action, RLI claims that releases provided to them
pursuant to RLI's agreement to settle a prior case involving our Predecessor,
RLI Insurance Company v. Conseco, Inc., Stephen Hilbert, et al, Case No.
1:04-CV-0310DFH-TAB (Southern District, Indiana), absolved it of any further
liability for claims by Conseco. The Company is pursuing recovery from RLI of
the $10 million paid to settle the Russell matter, and has filed counterclaims
for declaratory judgment and breach of contract. The court stayed this case
until the Russell matter was resolved; however, the stay was lifted as of
November 15, 2005. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment directed to
RLI's duty to defend and indemnify under the policy. RLI also has moved for
summary judgment as to its claims that the Company is obligated to indemnify it
against previous defense costs paid out by RLI and reimburse RLI its litigation
costs in the pending action. On March 29, 2007, the District Court entered a
partial summary judgment order declaring that RLI has no duty to the Company
under the policy and dismissing all claims against RLI asserted by the Company.
RLI's claims for indemnity and reimbursement remain scheduled for trial on
August 6, 2007. On April 12, 2007, the Company moved for leave to appeal the
March 29, 2007 partial summary judgment ruling and to stay further proceedings
including the trial of the indemnity and reimbursement claims. By entry dated
April 16, 2007, the District Court denied that Motion. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against RLI's claims for indemnity and reimbursement. As soon
as the indemnity and reimbursement claims are decided, the Company intends to
pursue an appeal of the March 29, 2007 ruling. The ultimate outcome of the
action cannot be predicted with certainty.
In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved on an ongoing
basis in other arbitrations and lawsuits, including purported class actions,
related to their operations. The ultimate outcome of all of these other legal
matters pending against the Company or its subsidiaries cannot be predicted,
and, although such lawsuits are not expected individually to have a material
adverse effect on the Company, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, cash
flows or results of operations.
Director and Officer Loan Program Litigation
Collection efforts by the Company and Conseco Services related to the
1996-1999 director and officer loan programs are ongoing against two past board
members with outstanding loan balances, James D. Massey and Dennis E. Murray,
Sr. In addition, these directors have sued the companies for declaratory relief
concerning their liability for the loans. The specific lawsuits now pending
include: Murray and Massey v. Conseco, Case No. 1:03-CV-1701-LJM-VSS (Southern
District, Indiana); Conseco Services v. Murray, Case No. 29D02-0404-CC-381
(Superior Court, Hamilton County, Indiana); Conseco Services v. Massey, Case No.
29D01-0406-CC-477 (Superior Court, Hamilton County, Indiana); Conseco, Inc. v.
Massey, Case No. 2005-L-011316 (Circuit Court, Cook County, Illinois) and
Conseco and Conseco Services v. J. David Massey et al., Case No.
29D02-0611-PL-1169 (Superior Court, Hamilton County, Indiana). On June 21, 2006,
in the Hamilton County case, the Company obtained a partial summary judgment
against Mr. Massey in the sum of $4.4 million plus interest at 11.5 percent from
June 30, 2002. The trial court stayed execution of the judgment pending appeal.
Trial of the remaining counts is currently set for July 23, 2007. The Murray
U.S. District Court case is currently set for trial on April 28, 2008.
27
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
The Company and Conseco Services believe that all amounts due under the
director and officer loan programs, including all applicable interest, are valid
obligations owed to the companies. As part of our Predecessor's plan of
reorganization, we have agreed to pay 45 percent of any net proceeds recovered
in connection with these lawsuits, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30
million, to former holders of our Predecessor's trust preferred securities that
did not opt out of a settlement reached with the committee representing holders
of these securities. As of March 31, 2007, we have paid $13.7 million to the
former holders of trust preferred securities under this arrangement. We intend
to prosecute these claims to obtain the maximum recovery possible. Further, with
regard to the various claims brought against the Company and Conseco Services by
certain former directors and officers, we believe that these claims are without
merit and intend to defend them vigorously. The ultimate outcome of the lawsuits
cannot be predicted with certainty. At March 31, 2007, we estimated that
approximately $18.8 million, net of collection costs, of the remaining amounts
due under the loan program will be collected (including amounts that remain to
be collected from borrowers with whom we have settled) and that $10.3 million
will be paid to the former holders of our Predecessor's trust preferred
securities.
Regulatory Examinations and Fines
Insurance companies face significant risks related to regulatory
investigations and actions. Regulatory investigations generally result from
matters related to sales or underwriting practices, payment of contingent or
other sales commissions, claim payments and procedures, product design, product
disclosure, additional premium charges for premiums paid on a periodic basis,
denial or delay of benefits, charging excessive or impermissible fees on
products, changing the way cost of insurance charges are calculated for certain
life insurance products or recommending unsuitable products to customers. We
are, in the ordinary course of our business, subject to various examinations,
inquiries and information requests from state and other authorities. The
ultimate outcome of these regulatory actions cannot be predicted with certainty.
In the event of an unfavorable outcome in one or more of these matters, the
ultimate liability may be in excess of liabilities we have established and we
could suffer significant reputational harm as a result of these matters, which
could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows.
In 2006, certain insurance subsidiaries (Conseco Insurance Company, Conseco
Life Insurance Company, Washington National Insurance Company, Conseco Health
Insurance Company and Conseco Senior Health Insurance Company) agreed to settle
matters resulting from a market conduct examination by the Minnesota Commerce
Department. A fine of $2.5 million was paid in April 2006.
The terms of the settlement could result in additional benefits or options
being offered to certain policyholders. Minnesota owners of equity-indexed
annuities issued by Conseco Insurance Company purchased on or after January 1,
1998, may initiate a Conseco internal review and arbitration process to
determine whether they adequately understood the renewal participation rate
feature of their policy at the time the policy was originally sold.
Policyholders who can prove they did not understand renewal participation rates
at the time the policy was originally sold based on representations or omissions
made by the Company or its agents may be provided relief in the form of adjusted
participation rates. We have sent a notice to the approximately 2,000 affected
policyholders and advised them of their options. To date, policyholders have not
asserted claims with significant exposure to the Company related to the
potential issues addressed in the settlement. However, management considers it
probable that additional claims will be asserted and there is a reasonable
possibility that the outcome will be unfavorable. Although the outcome of the
procedures required by the settlement cannot be predicted with certainty,
management currently believes the cost of resolving these matters will not
result in a loss which exceeds the amount accrued by more than $1.0 million.
Certain state insurance regulators have previously requested information
with respect to actions of the Company related to the cost of insurance charges
for life insurance policies sold primarily under the names "Lifestyle" and
"Lifetime". Such policies are subject to the proposed litigation settlement
described in the section of this note entitled "Cost of Insurance Litigation".
The ultimate outcome of insurance regulator inquiries and the effect any
regulator actions could have on the proposed litigation settlement cannot be
predicted with certainty.
28
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
The following disclosures supplement our consolidated statement of cash
flows (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income........................................................................... $ 10.4 $ 64.6
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Amortization and depreciation.................................................... 123.4 128.8
Income taxes..................................................................... 4.9 37.5
Insurance liabilities............................................................ 157.3 96.0
Accrual and amortization of investment income.................................... .7 (3.8)
Deferral of policy acquisition costs............................................. (125.9) (114.8)
Net realized investment losses................................................... 34.9 3.1
Net sales (purchases) of trading securities...................................... (145.7) 4.8
Other............................................................................ 30.3 (9.2)
------- -------
Net cash provided by operating activities...................................... $ 90.3 $ 207.0
======= =======
Non-cash items not reflected in the investing and financing activities sections
of the consolidated statement of cash flows:
Stock option and restricted stock plans............................................ $2.2 $3.5
Reduction of tax liabilities related to various contingencies recognized
at the fresh-start date in conjunction with adoption of FIN 48................... 6.0 -
At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, restricted cash and cash
equivalents consisted of: (i) $11.4 million and $15.7 million, respectively,
held by a variable interest entity; (ii) $1.9 million and $.1 million,
respectively, of segregated cash held for the benefit of the former holders of
TOPrS; and (iii) $8.2 million and $8.2 million, respectively, held in an escrow
account pursuant to a litigation settlement.
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On May 8, 2007, we announced that three of our insurance subsidiaries will
coinsure most of their older inforce equity-indexed annuity and fixed annuity
business with Reassure America Life Insurance Company ("REALIC"), a subsidiary
of Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. In the transaction, REALIC will: (i) pay
a ceding commission of approximately $76.5 million; (ii) assume the investment
and persistency risk and administration of these policies; and (iii) recognize
policy profits as they emerge over time. Our insurance subsidiaries will
transfer to REALIC approximately $3.1 billion of policy and other reserves, as
well as the assets backing these policies. Our insurance subsidiaries remain
primarily liable to the policyholders in the event REALIC does not fulfill its
obligations under the agreements. The transaction is subject to insurance
regulatory approval in several states and is expected to close before the end of
2007.
As a result of the transaction, we no longer plan to hold investments with
an aggregate amortized cost of $1,778.6 million and an estimated fair value of
$1,754.4 million at March 31, 2007, until maturity or until the market value of
each investment recovers to its cost basis. Accordingly, we recognized net
after-tax realized losses of $8.7 million (net of related amortization expense
of $10.8 million and taxes of $4.7 million) in the first quarter of 2007.
Upon closing the transaction, Conseco expects to record additional charges
(resulting principally from the extinguishment of the insurance intangibles
associated with this business) totaling approximately $56 million (after
consideration of the realized losses described above) plus the after tax
earnings on this block of business from January 1, 2007 through the close of the
transaction. The after tax earnings on this block of business for the first
quarter of 2007 were approximately $10 million.
29
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS.
In this section, we review the consolidated financial condition of Conseco
at March 31, 2007, and the consolidated results of operations for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, and, where appropriate, factors that may
affect future financial performance. Please read this discussion in conjunction
with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Our statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this
report and elsewhere (such as in filings by Conseco with the SEC, press
releases, presentations by Conseco or its management or oral statements)
relative to markets for Conseco's products and trends in Conseco's operations or
financial results, as well as other statements, contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements typically
are identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan,"
"estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "may," "will," "would,"
"contemplate," "possible," "attempt," "seek," "should," "could," "goal,"
"target," "on track," "comfortable with," "optimistic" and similar words,
although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should
consider statements that contain these words carefully because they describe our
expectations, plans, strategies and goals and our beliefs concerning future
business conditions, our results of operations, financial position, and our
business outlook or they state other "forward-looking" information based on
currently available information. The "Risk Factors" section of our 2006 Annual
Report on Form 10-K provides examples of risks, uncertainties and events that
could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations
expressed in our forward-looking statements. Assumptions and other important
factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated in our forward-looking statements include, among other things:
o our ability to obtain adequate and timely rate increases on our
supplemental health products including our long-term care business;
o mortality, morbidity, usage of health care services, persistency, the
adequacy of our previous reserve estimates and other factors which may
affect the profitability of our insurance products;
o changes in our assumptions related to the cost of policies produced or
the value of policies inforce at the Effective Date;
o our ability to achieve anticipated expense reductions and levels of
operational efficiencies including improvements in claims adjudication
and continued automation and rationalization of operating systems;
o performance of our investments;
o our ability to identify products and markets in which we can compete
effectively against competitors with greater market share, higher
ratings, greater financial resources and stronger brand recognition;
o the ultimate outcome of lawsuits filed against us and other legal and
regulatory proceedings to which we are subject;
o our ability to remediate the material weakness in internal controls
over the actuarial reporting process that we identified at year-end
2006 and to maintain effective controls over financial reporting;
o our ability to continue to recruit and retain productive agents and
distribution partners and customer response to new products,
distribution channels and marketing initiatives;
o our ability to achieve an upgrade of the financial strength ratings of
our insurance company subsidiaries as well as the potential impact of
rating downgrades on our business;
o the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our
filings with the SEC;
30
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
o regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation
of the financial affairs of our insurance companies, such as the
payment of dividends to us, regulation of financial services affecting
(among other things) bank sales and underwriting of insurance
products, regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of
products, and health care regulation affecting health insurance
products;
o general economic conditions and other factors, including prevailing
interest rate levels, stock and credit market performance and health
care inflation, which may affect (among other things) our ability to
sell products and access capital on acceptable terms, the returns on
and the market value of our investments, and the lapse rate and
profitability of policies; and
o changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations which may
affect or eliminate the relative tax advantages of some of our
products.
Other factors and assumptions not identified above are also relevant to the
forward-looking statements, and if they prove incorrect, could also cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected.
All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statement. Our
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We assume no
obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any
of the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, future events or
developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the
forward-looking statements.
OVERVIEW
We are a holding company for a group of insurance companies operating
throughout the United States that develop, market and administer supplemental
health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance
products. We focus on serving the senior and middle-income markets, which we
believe are attractive, high growth markets. We sell our products through three
distribution channels: career agents, professional independent producers (some
of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing.
We manage our business through the following: three primary operating
segments, Bankers Life, Conseco Insurance Group and Colonial Penn, which are
defined on the basis of product distribution; a fourth segment comprised of
other business in run-off; and corporate operations. These segments reflect the
addition of Colonial Penn as a separate segment resulting from a change in how
management disaggregates the Company's operations for making internal operating
decisions beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006. Colonial Penn's operations
were previously aggregated with the Bankers Life segment. We have restated all
prior period segment disclosures to conform to management's current view of the
Company's operating segments. Our segments are described below:
o Bankers Life, which consists of the business of Bankers Life and
Casualty Company ("Bankers Life and Casualty"), markets and
distributes Medicare supplement insurance, life insurance, long-term
care insurance, Medicare Part D prescription drug program and certain
annuity products to the senior market through exclusive career agents
and sales managers. Bankers Life and Casualty markets its products
under its own brand name and Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage
products primarily through marketing agreements with Coventry Health
Care ("Coventry").
o Conseco Insurance Group, which markets and distributes specified
disease insurance, Medicare supplement insurance, and certain life and
annuity products to the senior and middle-income markets through
independent marketing organizations that represent independent agents.
This segment markets its products under the "Conseco" and "Washington
National" (a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of Conseco) brand
names.
o Colonial Penn, which consists of the business of Colonial Penn Life
Insurance Company ("Colonial Penn"), markets graded benefit and
simplified issue life insurance directly to customers through
television advertising, direct mail, the internet and telemarketing.
Colonial Penn markets its products under its own brand name.
o Other Business in Run-off, which includes blocks of business that we
no longer market or underwrite and are managed separately from our
other businesses. This segment consists of long-term care insurance
sold in prior years
31
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
through independent agents and major medical insurance.
o Corporate operations, which consists of holding company activities and
certain noninsurance company businesses that are not related to our
operating segments.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We have updated our critical accounting policy related to our accounting
for marketing and quota-share agreements with Coventry as we entered into a
national distribution agreement under which our career agents began distributing
Coventry's Private-Fee-For-Service plan, Advantra Freedom ("PFFS"), beginning
January 1, 2007.
Refer to "Critical Accounting Policies" in Conseco's 2006 Annual Report on
Form 10-K for information on our other accounting policies that we consider
critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements.
Accounting for marketing and quota-share agreements with Coventry
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
(the "Modernization Act") provided for the introduction of a prescription drug
benefit ("PDP"). In order to offer this product to our current and potential
future policyholders without investing in management and infrastructure, we
entered into a national distribution agreement with Coventry to use our career
and independent agents to distribute Coventry's prescription drug plan, Advantra
Rx. We receive a fee based on the premiums collected on plans sold through our
distribution channels. In addition, Conseco has a quota-share reinsurance
agreement with Coventry for Conseco enrollees that provides Conseco with 50
percent of net premiums and related policy benefits subject to a risk corridor.
The Part D program was effective January 1, 2006.
The following describes how we account for and report our PDP business:
Our accounting for the national distribution agreement
o We recognize distribution and licensing fee income from Coventry based
upon negotiated percentages of collected premiums on the underlying
Medicare Part D contracts.
o We also pay commissions to our agents who sell the plans on behalf of
Coventry. These payments are deferred and amortized over the remaining
term of the initial enrollment period (the one-year life of the
initial policy).
Our accounting for the quota-share agreement
o We recognize premium revenue evenly over the period of the underlying
Medicare Part D contracts.
o We recognize policyholder benefits and ceding commission expense as
incurred.
o We recognize risk-share premium adjustments consistent with Coventry's
risk-share agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services.
32
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
The following summarizes the pre-tax loss of the PDP business in the first
three months of 2007 and 2006 (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Insurance policy income.......................................................... $24.4 $24.2
Fee revenue and other............................................................ .4 1.2
----- -----
Total revenues................................................................. 24.8 25.4
----- -----
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ 23.5 24.2
Commission expense............................................................... 1.4 1.3
Other operating expenses......................................................... .1 1.9
----- -----
Total expense.................................................................. 25.0 27.4
----- -----
Pre-tax loss................................................................... $ (.2) $(2.0)
===== =====
Conseco expanded its strategic alliance with Coventry by entering into a
national distribution agreement under which our career agents began distributing
Coventry's PFFS plan, beginning January 1, 2007. The Advantra Freedom product is
a Medicare Advantage plan designed to provide seniors with more choices and
better coverage at lower cost than original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
plans offered through HMOs. Under the agreement, we will receive a fee based on
the number of PFFS plans sold through our distribution channels. In addition,
Conseco has a quota-share reinsurance agreement with Coventry for Conseco
enrollees that provides Conseco in 2007 with 53 percent of the net premiums and
related profits. To date, our career channel has enrolled in excess of 17,000
members for coverage effective in 2007.
We receive distribution fees from Coventry and we pay sales commissions to
our agents for these enrollments. In addition, we participate at a 53 percent
level in the income (loss) related to this business pursuant to a quota-share
agreement with Coventry.
The following summarizes our accounting and reporting practices for the
PFFS business.
Our accounting for the distribution agreement
o We receive distribution income from Coventry and other parties based
on a fixed fee per PFFS contract. This income is deferred and
recognized over the remaining calendar year term of the initial
enrollment period.
o We also pay commissions to our agents who sell the plans on behalf of
Coventry and other parties. These payments are deferred and amortized
over the remaining term of the initial enrollment period (the one-year
life of the initial policy).
Our accounting for the quota-share agreement
o We recognize revenue evenly over the period of the underlying PFFS
contracts.
o We recognize policyholder benefits and ceding commission expense as
incurred.
33
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
The following summarizes the pre-tax income of the PFFS business in the
first three months of 2007 (dollars in millions):
Insurance policy income.................................. $13.2
Fee revenue and other.................................... .4
-----
Total revenues....................................... 13.6
-----
Insurance policy benefits................................ 11.7
Commission expense....................................... .5
Other operating expenses................................. .8
-----
Total expense........................................ 13.0
-----
Pre-tax income........................................... $ .6
=====
34
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following tables and narratives summarize the operating results of our
segments for the periods presented (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Income (loss) before net realized investment gains (losses), net of related
amortization and income taxes (a non-GAAP measure) (a):
Bankers Life........................................................................ $ 42.8 $ 57.2
Conseco Insurance Group............................................................. 51.5 41.9
Colonial Penn....................................................................... 4.6 5.1
Other Business in Run-off........................................................... (30.9) 24.0
Corporate operations................................................................ (30.8) (26.0)
------ ------
37.2 102.2
------ ------
Net realized investment gains (losses), net of related amortization:
Bankers Life........................................................................ (4.5) (1.0)
Conseco Insurance Group............................................................. (16.1) (3.6)
Colonial Penn....................................................................... (.2) .5
Other Business in Run-off........................................................... (.2) 3.0
------ ------
(21.0) (1.1)
------ ------
Income (loss) before income taxes:
Bankers Life........................................................................ 38.3 56.2
Conseco Insurance Group............................................................. 35.4 38.3
Colonial Penn....................................................................... 4.4 5.6
Other Business in Run-off........................................................... (31.1) 27.0
Corporate operations................................................................ (30.8) (26.0)
------ ------
Income before income taxes....................................................... $ 16.2 $101.1
====== ======
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) We believe that an analysis of income (loss) before net realized investment
gains (losses), net of related amortization, and income taxes (a non-GAAP
measure) is important to evaluate the financial performance of our
business, and is a measure commonly used in the life insurance industry.
Management uses this measure to evaluate performance because realized gains
or losses can be affected by events that are unrelated to a company's
underlying fundamentals. However, the non-GAAP measure does not replace the
corresponding GAAP measure. The table above reconciles the non-GAAP measure
to the corresponding GAAP measure.
</FN>
General: Conseco is the top tier holding company for a group of insurance
companies operating throughout the United States that develop, market and
administer supplemental health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and
other insurance products. We distribute these products through our Bankers Life
segment, which utilizes a career agency force, through our Conseco Insurance
Group segment, which utilizes professional independent producers, and through
our Colonial Penn segment, which utilizes direct response marketing. Our Other
Business in Run-off segment consists of: (i) long-term care products sold in
prior years through independent agents; (ii) small group and individual major
medical business which we stopped renewing in 2001; and (iii) other group major
medical business which we no longer market. Most of the long-term care business
in run-off relates to business written by certain subsidiaries prior to their
acquisitions by Conseco in 1996 and 1997.
35
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Bankers Life (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premium collections:
Annuities............................................................................ $ 212.2 $ 233.4
Supplemental health.................................................................. 373.4 322.9
Life................................................................................. 48.1 43.2
-------- ---------
Total collections.................................................................. $ 633.7 $ 599.5
======== =========
Average liabilities for insurance products:
Annuities:
Mortality based.................................................................. $ 280.9 $ 274.8
Equity-indexed................................................................... 657.4 413.2
Deposit based.................................................................... 4,551.3 4,344.3
Health............................................................................. 3,473.1 3,209.5
Life:
Interest sensitive............................................................... 364.0 338.5
Non-interest sensitive........................................................... 276.3 227.6
-------- --------
Total average liabilities for insurance
products, net of reinsurance ceded............................................. $9,603.0 $8,807.9
======== ========
Revenues:
Insurance policy income.............................................................. $ 412.0 $ 383.0
Net investment income:
General account invested assets.................................................... 140.7 121.1
Equity-indexed products based on the change in value of options.................... (3.0) 2.4
Other special-purpose portfolios................................................... 3.2 -
Fee revenue and other income......................................................... 1.2 1.4
-------- --------
Total revenues................................................................... 554.1 507.9
-------- --------
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits............................................................ 345.9 312.7
Amounts added to policyholder account balances:
Annuity products and interest-sensitive life products
other than equity-indexed products............................................... 44.7 41.8
Equity-indexed products............................................................ 2.4 2.5
Amortization related to operations................................................... 81.4 57.4
Other operating costs and expenses................................................... 36.9 36.3
-------- --------
Total expenses................................................................... 511.3 450.7
-------- --------
Income before net realized investment losses, net of related amortization
and income taxes....................................................................... 42.8 57.2
-------- --------
Net realized investment losses....................................................... (5.2) (1.5)
Amortization related to net realized investment losses............................... .7 .5
-------- --------
Net realized investment losses, net of related amortization ..................... (4.5) (1.0)
-------- --------
Income before income taxes................................................................ $ 38.3 $ 56.2
======== ========
(continued)
36
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
(continued from previous page)
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Health benefit ratios:
All health lines:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ $300.5 $275.3
Benefit ratio (a)................................................................ 84.9% 82.3%
Medicare supplement:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ $115.7 $112.0
Benefit ratio (a)................................................................ 66.6% 68.1%
Long-term care:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ $160.0 $138.0
Benefit ratio (a)................................................................ 104.3% 96.5%
Interest-adjusted benefit ratio (b).............................................. 73.8% 66.9%
Other:
Insurance policy benefits........................................................ $24.8 $25.3
Benefit ratio (a)................................................................ 92.0% 94.4%
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) We calculate benefit ratios by dividing the related product's insurance
policy benefits by insurance policy income.
(b) We calculate the interest-adjusted benefit ratio (a non-GAAP measure) for
Bankers Life's long-term care products by dividing such product's insurance
policy benefits less interest income on the accumulated assets backing the
insurance liabilities by insurance policy income. Interest income is an
important factor in measuring the performance of this product. The net cash
flows from long-term care products generally cause an accumulation of
amounts in the early years of a policy (accounted for as reserve increases)
which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years (accounted for as
reserve decreases). Accordingly, as the policies age, the benefit ratio
will typically increase, but the increase in benefits will be partially
offset by interest income earned on the accumulated assets. The
interest-adjusted benefit ratio reflects the effects of the interest income
offset. Since interest income is an important factor in measuring the
performance of this product, management believes a benefit ratio which
includes the effect of interest income is useful in analyzing product
performance. The investment income earned on the accumulated assets backing
Bankers Life's long-term care reserves was $46.8 million and $42.4 million
in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
</FN>
Total premium collections were $633.7 million in the first quarter of 2007,
up 5.7 percent from 2006. Premium collections include $45.7 million and $6.0
million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, of premiums
collected pursuant to the PDP and PFFS quota-share agreements with Coventry
described in Critical Accounting Policies under the caption "Accounting for
marketing and quota-share agreements with Coventry". See "Premium Collections"
for further analysis of Bankers Life's premium collections.
Average liabilities for insurance products, net of reinsurance ceded were
$9.6 billion in the first quarter of 2007, up 9.0 percent from 2006. The
increase in such liabilities was primarily due to increases in annuity reserves
resulting from new sales of these products.
Insurance policy income is comprised of premiums earned on policies which
provide mortality or morbidity coverage and fees and other charges assessed on
other policies. Insurance policy income includes $37.6 million and $24.2 million
in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, of premium income from the
quota-share agreements with Coventry described in Critical Accounting Policies
under the caption "Accounting for marketing and quota-share agreements with
Coventry".
Net investment income on general account invested assets (which excludes
income on policyholder accounts) was $140.7 million in the first quarter of
2007, up 16 percent from 2006. The average balance of general account invested
assets
37
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
was $9.7 billion and $8.8 billion in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The average yield on these assets was 5.78 percent and 5.48
percent in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in
general account invested assets is primarily due to sales of our annuity
products in recent periods. The increase in yield is primarily due to the
purchase of higher yielding fixed maturity investments in recent periods.
Net investment income related to equity-indexed products based on the
change in value of options represents the change in the estimated fair value of
options which are purchased in an effort to hedge certain potential benefits
accruing to the policyholders of our equity-indexed products. Our equity-indexed
products are designed so that the investment income spread earned on the related
insurance liabilities is more than adequate to cover the cost of the options and
other costs related to these policies. Investment gains (losses) related to
equity-indexed products were $(3.0) million and $2.4 million in the first
quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Such amounts are generally offset by
the corresponding charge (credit) to amounts added to policyholder account
balances for equity-indexed products based on the change in value of the
indices. Such income and related charges fluctuate based on the value of options
embedded in the segment's equity-indexed annuity policyholder account balances
subject to this benefit and to the performance of the index to which the returns
on such products are linked.
Net investment income on other special-purpose portfolios includes the
income related to Company-owned life insurance ("COLI") which was purchased in
the fourth quarter of 2006 as an investment vehicle to fund the agent deferred
compensation plan. The COLI assets are not assets of the agent deferred
compensation plan, and as a result, are accounted for outside the plan and are
recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as other invested assets. We account
for the COLI assets in accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4,
"Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance". Changes in the cash surrender
value (which approximates net realizable value) of the COLI assets are recorded
as net investment income and totaled $.5 million in the first quarter of 2007.
Also during the first quarter of 2007, we recognized a death benefit of $2.7
million under the COLI.
Insurance policy benefits fluctuated as a result of the factors summarized
below for benefit ratios. Benefit ratios are calculated by dividing the related
insurance product's insurance policy benefits by insurance policy income.
The Medicare supplement business consists of both individual and group
policies. Governmental regulations generally require us to attain and maintain a
ratio of total benefits incurred to total premiums earned (excluding changes in
policy benefit reserves), after three years from the original issuance of the
policy and over the lifetime of the policy, of not less than 65 percent on
individual products and not less than 75 percent on group products, as
determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. Since the
insurance product liabilities we establish for Medicare supplement business are
subject to significant estimates, the ultimate claim liability we incur for a
particular period is likely to be different than our initial estimate. The
insurance policy benefits in the Medicare supplement business include claims
incurred on the PFFS business we began assuming through our quota-share
agreement with Coventry effective January 1, 2007. This agreement is described
in Critical Accounting Policies under the caption "Accounting for marketing and
quota-share agreements with Coventry". During the three months ended March 31,
2007, we recognized insurance policy income of $13.2 million and insurance
policy benefits of $11.7 million. The benefit ratio on this business was 88.4
percent in the first three months of 2007. Our insurance policy benefits
reflected reserve redundancies from prior years of $2.9 million and $2.2 million
in the first three months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Excluding the effects
of prior period claim reserve redundancies and the PFFS business, our benefit
ratios would have been 66.6 percent and 69.4 percent in the first three months
of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Such ratios are consistent with our expectations
considering premium rate increases implemented in recent periods resulting from
the ultimate development of our prior period reserve estimates.
The net cash flows from our long-term care products generally cause an
accumulation of amounts in the early years of a policy (accounted for as reserve
increases) which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years (accounted
for as reserve decreases). Accordingly, as the policies age, the benefit ratio
typically increases, but the increase in reserves is partially offset by
investment income earned on the accumulated assets. The benefit ratio on this
business has increased over the last year, consistent with the aging of this
block. In addition, the older policies have not lapsed at the rate we assumed in
our pricing. In the first quarter of 2005, we began introducing several new
long-term care products to replace our previous lower-priced products. These new
products have been approved by the regulatory authorities in 49 states and the
District of Columbia. The benefit ratio on our entire block of long-term care
business in the Bankers Life segment was 104.3 percent and 96.5 percent in the
first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The interest-adjusted benefit
ratio on this business was 73.8 percent and 66.9 percent in the first quarters
of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in the long-term care benefit ratio
is due to an increase in the number of new claims.
38
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
As a result of higher persistency in our long-term care block in the
Bankers Life segment than assumed in the original pricing, our premium rates
were too low. Accordingly, we began a program to seek approval from regulatory
authorities for rate increases on approximately 65 percent of this block. As an
alternative to the rate increase, policyholders were offered the option: (i) to
reduce their benefits to maintain their previous premium rates; or (ii) to
choose a nonforfeiture benefit equal to the sum of accumulated premiums paid
less claims received. This rate increase process is proceeding according to plan
and, to date, we have received approval for approximately 84 percent of the
total dollar amount of our requested rate increases. The rate increases had
become effective for approximately 90 percent of the impacted inforce block as
of March 31, 2007. We expect the execution of our premium rate increases will
continue for the next two quarters given the timing of the implementation as a
result of the regulatory approvals.
The insurance policy benefits in the other health products line include
claims incurred on the Medicare Part D business we began assuming through our
quota-share agreement with Coventry on January 1, 2006. This agreement is
described in Critical Accounting Policies under the caption "Accounting for
marketing and quota-share agreements with Coventry". During the three months
ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, we recognized insurance policy income of $24.4
million and $24.2 million, respectively, and insurance policy benefits of $23.5
million and $24.2 million, respectively, related to the Part D program. The
benefit ratio on this business, which is expected to decline throughout the
year, was 96.0 percent and 100.1 percent in the three months ended March 31,
2007 and 2006, respectively.
Amounts added to policyholder account balances for annuity products and
interest-sensitive life products were $44.7 million in the first quarter of
2007, up 6.9 percent from 2006. The increase is primarily due to increases in
annuity reserves (resulting from higher sales of these products). The weighted
average crediting rate for these products was 3.6 percent in both the first
quarters of 2007 and 2006.
Amounts added to equity-indexed products based on change in value of the
indices fluctuated with the corresponding related investment income accounts
described above.
Amortization related to operations includes amortization of the value of
policies inforce at the Effective Date and the cost of policies produced
(collectively referred to as "amortization of insurance acquisition costs").
Insurance acquisition costs are generally amortized either: (i) in relation to
the estimated gross profits for universal life and investment-type products; or
(ii) in relation to actual and expected premium revenue for other products. In
addition, for universal life and investment-type products, we are required to
adjust the total amortization recorded to date through the statement of
operations if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier
estimates of future gross profits should be revised. Accordingly, amortization
for universal life and investment-type products is dependent on the profits
realized during the period and on our expectation of future profits. For other
products, we amortize insurance acquisition costs in relation to actual and
expected premium revenue, and amortization is only adjusted if expected premium
revenue changes or if we determine the balance of these costs is not recoverable
from future profits. Bankers Life's amortization expense was $81.4 million in
the first quarter of 2007 compared to $57.4 million in the first quarter of
2006. During the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, we experienced higher lapses
than we anticipated on our Medicare supplement products. These lapses reduced
our estimates of future expected premium income and, accordingly, we recognized
additional amortization expense of $18.9 million and $3.4 million in the first
three months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The lapses of our Medicare
supplement products in the first three months of 2007 were higher than our
historical lapse experience. We believe such increases were partially related to
the premium rate increases we implemented in recent periods and competition from
companies offering Medicare Advantage products. Also, during the first quarter
of 2007, amortization of insurance intangibles related to long-term care
policies increased by $4.1 million primarily as a result of changes to our
previous assumptions related to future premium rate increases on certain
long-term care policies due to either: (i) a delay in processing rate increases;
or (ii) the disapproval by certain states of rate increases.
39
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Other operating costs and expenses in our Bankers Life segment were $36.9
million in the first quarter of 2007, up 1.7 percent from 2006. Other operating
costs and expenses include the following (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Expenses related to the marketing and quota-share
agreements with Coventry........................................................... $ 2.8 $ 3.2
Commission expense.................................................................... 5.2 4.7
Other operating expenses.............................................................. 28.9 28.4
----- -----
Total.............................................................................. $36.9 $36.3
===== =====
Net realized investment losses fluctuate each period. During the first
three months of 2007 we recognized net realized investment losses in this
segment of $5.2 million from the sales of investments (primarily fixed
maturities). During the first three months of 2006, net realized investment
losses in this segment included $1.4 million of net losses from the sales of
investments (primarily fixed maturities), and $.1 million of writedowns of
investments resulting from declines in fair values that we concluded were other
than temporary. There were no such writedowns in the first quarter of 2007.
Amortization related to net realized investment losses is the increase or
decrease in the amortization of insurance acquisition costs which results from
realized investment gains or losses. When we sell securities which back our
universal life and investment-type products at a gain (loss) and reinvest the
proceeds at a different yield, we increase (reduce) the amortization of
insurance acquisition costs in order to reflect the change in estimated gross
profits due to the gains (losses) realized and the resulting effect on estimated
future yields. Sales of fixed maturity investments resulted in a decrease in the
amortization of insurance acquisition costs of $.7 million and $.5 million in
the first three months of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
40
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Conseco Insurance Group (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premium collections:
Annuities............................................................................ $ 120.1 $ 36.2
Supplemental health.................................................................. 154.2 159.6
Life................................................................................. 77.2 84.1
--------- ---------
Total collections.................................................................. $ 351.5 $ 279.9
========= =========
Average liabilities for insurance products:
Annuities:
Mortality based.................................................................... $ 234.0 $ 245.1
Equity-indexed..................................................................... 1,561.0 1,310.0
Deposit based...................................................................... 2,941.0 3,292.0
Separate accounts and investment trust liabilities................................. 28.8 29.9
Health............................................................................... 2,397.1 2,380.9
Life:
Interest sensitive................................................................. 3,051.6 3,071.9
Non-interest sensitive............................................................. 1,358.1 1,452.0
--------- ---------
Total average liabilities for insurance products, net of reinsurance ceded....... $11,571.6 $11,781.8
========= =========
Revenues:
Insurance policy income................................................................ $ 242.0 $ 256.4
Net investment income:
General account invested assets...................................................... 179.6 174.8
Equity-indexed products.............................................................. (3.8) 5.4
Trading account income related to policyholder and
reinsurer accounts................................................................. .8 (.5)
Change in value of embedded derivatives related to modified
coinsurance agreements............................................................. (.3) 2.3
Other special-purpose portfolios..................................................... (.9) -
Fee revenue and other income........................................................... .2 .4
--------- ---------
Total revenues..................................................................... 417.6 438.8
--------- ---------
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits.............................................................. 185.4 195.9
Amounts added to policyholder account balances:
Annuity products and interest-sensitive life products
other than equity-indexed products................................................. 58.5 61.2
Equity-indexed products.............................................................. 8.5 5.3
Amortization related to operations..................................................... 38.2 55.5
Interest expense on investment borrowings.............................................. 1.1 .2
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement.................................... 6.5 8.8
Other operating costs and expenses..................................................... 67.9 70.0
--------- ---------
Total expenses..................................................................... 366.1 396.9
--------- ---------
Income before net realized investment losses, net of related amortization,
and income taxes....................................................................... 51.5 41.9
--------- ---------
Net realized investment losses......................................................... (29.3) (5.1)
Amortization related to net realized investment losses................................. 13.2 1.5
--------- ---------
Net realized investment losses, net of related amortization........................ (16.1) (3.6)
--------- ---------
Income before income taxes................................................................ $ 35.4 $ 38.3
========= =========
(continued)
41
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
(continued from previous page)
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Health benefit ratios:
All health lines:
Insurance policy benefits.......................................................... $ 90.7 $113.7
Benefit ratio (a).................................................................. 59.3% 70.7%
Medicare supplement:
Insurance policy benefits.......................................................... $40.4 $41.3
Benefit ratio (a).................................................................. 66.9% 60.3%
Specified disease:
Insurance policy benefits.......................................................... $47.9 $69.4
Benefit ratio (a).................................................................. 53.2% 77.5%
Interest-adjusted benefit ratio (b)................................................ 20.4% 45.9%
Other:
Insurance policy benefits.......................................................... $2.4 $3.0
Benefit ratio(a)................................................................... 101.3% 104.9%
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) We calculate benefit ratios by dividing the related product's insurance
policy benefits by insurance policy income.
(b) We calculate the interest-adjusted benefit ratio (a non-GAAP measure) for
Conseco Insurance Group's specified disease products by dividing such
product's insurance policy benefits less interest income on the accumulated
assets backing the insurance liabilities by insurance policy income.
Interest income is an important factor in measuring the performance of this
product. The net cash flows from specified disease products generally cause
an accumulation of amounts in the early years of a policy (accounted for as
reserve increases) which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years
(accounted for as reserve decreases). Accordingly, as the policies age, the
benefit ratio will typically increase, but the increase in benefits will be
partially offset by interest income earned on the accumulated assets. The
interest-adjusted benefit ratio reflects the effects of the interest income
offset. Since interest income is an important factor in measuring the
performance of this product, management believes a benefit ratio which
includes the effect of interest income is useful in analyzing product
performance. The investment income earned on the accumulated assets backing
the specified disease reserves was $29.5 million and $28.3 million in the
three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
</FN>
Total premium collections were $351.5 million in the first quarter of 2007,
up 26 percent from the first quarter of 2006. The increase was primarily due to
the introduction of several new equity-indexed annuity products in recent
periods distributed through our new national partners. See "Premium Collections"
for further analysis.
Average liabilities for insurance products, net of reinsurance ceded were
$11.6 billion in the first quarter of 2007, down 1.8 percent from 2006. The
decrease in such liabilities was due primarily to policyholder redemptions and
lapses exceeding new sales.
Insurance policy income is comprised of premiums earned on traditional
insurance policies which provide mortality or morbidity coverage and fees and
other charges assessed on other policies. The decrease in insurance policy
income is primarily due to lower income from Medicare supplement products due to
higher lapses exceeding new sales. See "Premium Collections" for further
analysis.
Net investment income on general account invested assets (which excludes
income on policyholder and reinsurer accounts) was $179.6 million in the first
quarter of 2007, up 2.7 percent from 2006. The average balance of general
account invested assets was $12.3 billion in both the first quarters of 2007 and
2006. The average yield on these assets was 5.84 percent and 5.70 percent in the
first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The yield was impacted by income
related to
42
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
prepayments of securities (including prepayment penalties on mortgages, call
premiums on fixed maturities and acceleration of discount amortization, net of
premium amortization) of $2.9 million and $1.5 million in the first quarters of
2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net investment income related to equity-indexed products represents the
change in the estimated fair value of options which are purchased in an effort
to hedge certain potential benefits accruing to the policyholders of our
equity-indexed products. Our equity-indexed products are designed so that the
investment income spread earned on the related insurance liabilities is more
than adequate to cover the cost of the options and other costs related to these
policies. Net investment gains (losses) related to equity-indexed products were
$(4.3) million and $9.2 million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006,
respectively. Such amounts also include income on trading securities which are
designed to act as hedges for embedded derivatives related to equity-indexed
products. Such trading account gains (losses) were $.5 million and $(3.8)
million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Such amounts were
partially offset by the corresponding charge (credit) to amounts added to
policyholder account balances for equity-indexed products. Such income and
related charges fluctuate based on the value of options embedded in the
segment's equity-indexed annuity policyholder account balances subject to this
benefit and to the performance of the indices to which the returns on such
products are linked.
Trading account income related to policyholder and reinsurer accounts
represents the income on trading securities which are designed to act as hedges
for embedded derivatives related to certain modified coinsurance agreements. In
addition, such income includes the income on investments backing the market
strategies of certain annuity products which provide for different rates of cash
value growth based on the experience of a particular market strategy. The income
on our trading account securities is designed to substantially offset: (i) the
change in value of embedded derivatives related to modified coinsurance
agreements described below; and (ii) certain amounts included in insurance
policy benefits related to the aforementioned annuity products.
Change in value of embedded derivatives related to modified coinsurance
agreements is described in the note to our consolidated financial statements
entitled "Accounting for Derivatives." We have transferred the specific block of
investments related to these agreements to our trading securities account, which
we carry at estimated fair value with changes in such value recognized as
trading account income. The change in the value of the embedded derivatives has
largely been offset by the change in value of the trading securities.
Net investment income on other special-purpose portfolios includes: (i) the
change in the fair value of the trading securities purchased with a portion of
the proceeds from the Advances; and (ii) the change in fair value of interest
rate swaps which were purchased. Each fixed rate trading security was matched
with an interest rate swap that converts the security from a fixed rate to a
floating rate basis. In the first three months of 2007, the change in the value
of the trading securities was $.5 million and the change in the value of the
interest rate swaps was $(1.4) million. These transactions are further discussed
in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Investment
Borrowings and Interest Rate Swaps".
Insurance policy benefits fluctuated as a result of the factors summarized
below for benefit ratios. Benefit ratios are calculated by dividing the related
insurance product's insurance policy benefits by insurance policy income. In
addition, insurance policy benefits in the first quarter of 2006 were reduced
for the following items. We reduced insurance policy benefits by $3.0 million
for a change in an actuarial assumption related to a block of interest-sensitive
life insurance policies based on a change in management's intent on the
administration of such policies. Such decreases were more than offset by a $4.7
million increase in amortization of insurance acquisition costs related to the
assumption changes. Also during the first quarter of 2006, we reduced insurance
policy benefits by $4.7 million for deceased policyholders to reflect the
release of insurance liabilities for annuity policies which pay benefits only
during the policyholders' lifetime. We have improved our procedures to confirm
the reporting of the death of these policyholders to us in a more timely manner,
resulting in this additional release that would have otherwise been recognized
in future periods.
Margins on life insurance policies declined $10 million in the first three
months of 2007, as compared to the same period in 2006, due to increased death
claims.
The benefit ratio in the first quarter of 2006 on Conseco Insurance Group's
Medicare supplement products reflected higher policyholder lapses, following our
premium rate increase actions. We establish active life reserves for these
policies, which are in addition to amounts required for incurred claims. When
policies lapse, active life reserves for such lapsed policies are released,
resulting in decreased insurance policy benefits (although such decrease is
substantially offset by additional amortization expense). In addition, the
insurance product liabilities we establish for our Medicare supplement
43
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
business are subject to significant estimates and the ultimate claim liability
we incur for a particular period is likely to be different than our initial
estimate. Our insurance policy benefits in the first three months of 2007 and
2006 reflected claim reserve redundancies from prior years of $.7 million and
$2.6 million, respectively. Excluding the effects of prior year claim reserve
redundancies, our benefit ratios in the first three months of 2007 and 2006 for
the Medicare supplement block would have been 68.0 percent and 64.1 percent,
respectively. Governmental regulations generally require us to attain and
maintain a ratio of total benefits incurred to total premiums earned (excluding
changes in policy benefit reserves), after three years from the original
issuance of the policy and over the lifetime of the policy, of not less than 65
percent on these products, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting
principles.
Conseco Insurance Group's specified disease products generally provide
fixed or limited benefits. For example, payments under cancer insurance policies
are generally made directly to, or at the direction of, the policyholder
following diagnosis of, or treatment for, a covered type of cancer.
Approximately three-fourths of our specified disease policies inforce (based on
policy count) are sold with return of premium or cash value riders. The return
of premium rider generally provides that after a policy has been inforce for a
specified number of years or upon the policyholder reaching a specified age, we
will pay to the policyholder, or a beneficiary under the policy, the aggregate
amount of all premiums paid under the policy, without interest, less the
aggregate amount of all claims incurred under the policy. The cash value rider
is similar to the return of premium rider, but also provides for payment of a
graded portion of the return of premium benefit if the policy terminates before
the return of premium benefit is earned. Accordingly, the net cash flows from
these products generally result in the accumulation of amounts in the early
years of a policy (accounted for as reserve increases) which will be paid out as
benefits in later policy years (accounted for as reserve decreases). As the
policies age, the benefit ratio will typically increase, but the increase in
benefits will be partially offset by investment income earned on the accumulated
assets.
The benefit ratio in the first quarter of 2007 reflects a release of
reserves totaling $19.3 million related to the return of premium benefit on
specified disease policies. During the first quarter of 2007, we determined that
the coding in our administrative system related to policies with the return of
premium rider was inaccurate resulting in an overstatement of reserves. The
benefit ratio excluding this release of reserves was 74.6 percent in the first
quarter of 2007. The benefit ratio for the first quarter of 2006 was unfavorably
affected by higher persistency of older policies which have higher benefit
ratios than newer policies. The interest-adjusted benefit ratio for specified
disease products is calculated by dividing the insurance product's insurance
policy benefits less interest income on the accumulated assets backing the
insurance liabilities by insurance policy income.
The benefit ratios on Conseco Insurance Group's other health products are
subject to fluctuations due to the smaller size of these blocks of business. We
no longer actively market these products.
Amounts added to policyholder account balances for annuity products and
interest-sensitive life products were $58.5 million in the first quarter of
2007, down 4.4 percent from 2006. The decrease was primarily due to a smaller
block of annuity business inforce, partially offset by higher crediting rates.
The weighted average crediting rate for these products was 4.0 percent and 3.9
percent in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Amounts added to equity-indexed products generally fluctuate with the
corresponding related investment income accounts described above. In addition,
in the first quarter of 2006, we reduced such amounts by $8.5 million to reflect
a change in the assumptions for the cost of options underlying our
equity-indexed products as described below under amortization related to
operations. Such decreases were partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in
amortization of insurance acquisition costs related to the assumption changes.
Amortization related to operations includes amortization of insurance
acquisition costs. Insurance acquisition costs are generally amortized either:
(i) in relation to the estimated gross profits for universal life and
investment-type products; or (ii) in relation to actual and expected premium
revenue for other products. In addition, for universal life and investment-type
products, we are required to adjust the total amortization recorded to date
through the statement of operations if actual experience or other evidence
suggests that earlier estimates of future gross profits should be revised.
Accordingly, amortization for universal life and investment-type products is
dependent on the profits realized during the period and on our expectation of
future profits. For other products, we amortize insurance acquisition costs in
relation to actual and expected premium revenue, and amortization is only
adjusted if expected premium revenue changes or if we determine the balance of
these costs is not recoverable from future profits. Higher lapses on our
Medicare supplement products have reduced our estimates of future expected
premium income and, accordingly, we recognized additional amortization expense
of $1.0 million and $2.3 million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The assumptions we use to estimate our future
44
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
gross profits and premiums involve significant judgment. A revision to our
current assumptions could result in increases or decreases to amortization
expense in future periods.
During the first quarter of 2006, we made certain adjustments to our
assumptions of expected future profits for the annuity and universal life blocks
of business in this segment related to investment returns, lapse rates, the cost
of options underlying our equity-indexed products and other refinements. We
recognized additional amortization expense of $12.4 million in the first quarter
of 2006 due to these changes. This increase to amortization expense was offset
by a reduction to insurance policy benefit expense of $11.5 million, to reflect
the effect of the changes in these assumptions on the calculation of certain
insurance liabilities, such as the liability to purchase future options
underlying our equity-indexed products.
Interest expense on investment borrowings includes $.9 million of interest
expense on the Advances in the first quarter of 2007, as further described in
the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Investment
Borrowings and Interest Rate Swaps".
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement include legal fees and
estimated amounts related to the proposed settlement in the class action case
referred to as In Re Conseco Life Insurance Company Cost of Insurance
Litigation. The settlement is subject to a court fairness hearing and other
conditions. For further information related to this case, refer to the caption
entitled "Cost of Insurance Litigation" included in the note to our consolidated
financial statements entitled "Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings". A
portion of the legal and other costs related to this litigation were incurred by
the Corporate Operations segment to defend the non-insurance company allegations
made in such lawsuits.
Other operating costs and expenses were $67.9 million in the first quarter
of 2007, down 3.0 percent from 2006. Other operating costs and expenses include
commission expense of $20.3 million and $22.7 million in the three months ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net realized investment losses fluctuate each period. During the first
three months of 2007, net realized investment losses in this segment included:
$5.1 million of net losses from the sales of investments (primarily fixed
maturities), and $24.2 million of writedowns of investments as a result of our
intent not to hold investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any
anticipated recovery. The writedown of such investments was the result of
entering into a coinsurance agreement as further discussed in the note to the
consolidated financial statements entitled "Subsequent Event". During the first
three months of 2006, net realized investment losses included $1.8 million of
net losses from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities), and $3.3
million of writedowns of investments resulting from declines in fair values that
we concluded were other than temporary.
Amortization related to net realized investment losses is the increase or
decrease in the amortization of insurance acquisition costs which results from
realized investment gains or losses. When we sell securities which back our
universal life and investment-type products at a gain (loss) and reinvest the
proceeds at a different yield (or when we no longer have the intent to hold
impaired investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any
anticipated recovery), we increase (reduce) the amortization of insurance
acquisition costs in order to reflect the change in estimated gross profits due
to the gains (losses) realized and the resulting effect on estimated future
yields. Sales of fixed maturity investments resulted in a decrease in the
amortization of insurance acquisition costs of $13.2 million and $1.5 million in
the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
45
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Colonial Penn (dollars in millions)
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premium collections:
Life................................................................................. $ 26.7 $ 23.4
Supplemental health.................................................................. 2.6 3.0
------ ------
Total collections.................................................................. $ 29.3 $ 26.4
====== ======
Average liabilities for insurance products:
Annuities:
Mortality based.................................................................. $ 85.9 $ 87.6
Deposit based.................................................................... 3.6 4.0
Health............................................................................... 23.5 27.1
Life:
Interest sensitive............................................................... 26.8 28.2
Non-interest sensitive........................................................... 558.7 554.8
------ ------
Total average liabilities for insurance
products, net of reinsurance ceded.......................................... $698.5 $701.7
====== ======
Revenues:
Insurance policy income.............................................................. $ 29.3 $ 26.4
Net investment income:
General account invested assets.................................................... 9.5 9.7
Trading account income related to reinsurer accounts............................... .9 (7.8)
Change in value of embedded derivatives related
to modified coinsurance agreements............................................... (.9) 7.8
Fee revenue and other income......................................................... .2 .1
------ ------
Total revenues................................................................... 39.0 36.2
------ ------
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits............................................................ 25.6 22.8
Amounts added to annuity and interest-sensitive life product
account balances................................................................. .3 .3
Amortization related to operations................................................... 4.8 4.2
Other operating costs and expenses................................................... 3.7 3.8
------ ------
Total expenses................................................................... 34.4 31.1
------ ------
Income before net realized investment gains (losses) and
income taxes......................................................................... 4.6 5.1
Net realized investment gains (losses)............................................. (.2) .5
------ ------
Income before income taxes................................................................ $ 4.4 $ 5.6
====== ======
Total premium collections were $29.3 million in the first quarter of
2007, up 11 percent from 2006. See "Premium Collections" for further analysis of
Colonial Penn's premium collections.
46
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Average liabilities for insurance products, net of reinsurance ceded, were
$.7 billion in both the first quarters of 2007 and 2006.
Insurance policy income is comprised of premiums earned on policies which
provide mortality or morbidity coverage and fees and other charges assessed on
other policies. See "Premium Collections" for further analysis.
Net investment income on general account invested assets (which excludes
income on policyholder and reinsurer accounts) was $9.5 million in the first
quarter of 2007, down 2.1 percent from 2006. The average balance of general
account invested assets was $684.1 million and $696.7 million in the first
quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The average yield on these assets was
5.58 percent and 5.57 percent in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Trading account income related to reinsurer accounts represents the income
on trading securities, which are designed to act as hedges for embedded
derivatives related to certain modified coinsurance agreements. The income on
our trading account securities is designed to be substantially offset by the
change in value of embedded derivatives related to modified coinsurance
agreements described below.
Change in value of embedded derivatives related to modified coinsurance
agreements is described in the note to our consolidated financial statements
entitled "Accounting for Derivatives." We have transferred the specific block of
investments related to these agreements to our trading account, which we carry
at estimated fair value with changes in such value recognized as trading account
income. We expect the change in the value of the embedded derivatives to be
largely offset by the change in value of the trading securities.
Insurance policy benefits fluctuated as a result of the growth in this
segment in recent periods.
Amortization related to operations includes amortization of insurance
acquisition costs. Insurance acquisition costs in the Colonial Penn segment are
amortized in relation to actual and expected premium revenue, and amortization
is only adjusted if expected premium revenue changes or if we determine the
balance of these costs is not recoverable from future profits. Such amounts were
generally consistent with the related premium revenue and gross profits for such
periods and the assumptions we made when we established the value of policies
inforce as of the Effective Date. A revision to our current assumptions could
result in increases or decreases to amortization expense in future periods.
Other operating costs and expenses in our Colonial Penn segment in the
first quarter of 2007 were comparable to the same period in 2006.
Net realized investment gains (losses) fluctuate each period. We recognized
net realized investment gains (losses) in this segment of $(.2) million and $.5
million from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities) in the first
quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
47
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Other Business in Run-off (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premium collections:
Long-term care....................................................................... $ 80.6 $ 87.3
Major medical........................................................................ .6 1.1
-------- --------
Total collections............................................................... $ 81.2 $ 88.4
======== ========
Average liabilities for insurance products:
Long-term care....................................................................... $3,280.0 $3,243.2
Major medical........................................................................ 25.9 29.8
-------- --------
Total average liabilities for insurance products,
net of reinsurance ceded.................................................... $3,305.9 $3,273.0
======== ========
Revenues:
Insurance policy income.............................................................. $ 79.5 $ 88.9
Net investment income on general account invested assets............................. 47.0 44.7
Fee revenue and other income......................................................... .1 .1
-------- --------
Total revenues................................................................... 126.6 133.7
-------- --------
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits............................................................ 130.0 84.3
Amortization related to operations................................................... 5.7 3.5
Other operating costs and expenses................................................... 21.8 21.9
-------- --------
Total expenses................................................................... 157.5 109.7
-------- --------
Income (loss) before net realized investment gains (losses) and income taxes..... (30.9) 24.0
Net realized investment gains (losses)............................................... (.2) 3.0
-------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes................................................ $ (31.1) $ 27.0
======== ========
Health benefit ratios:
Insurance policy benefits.......................................................... $ 130.0 $ 84.3
Benefit ratio (a).................................................................. 163.5% 94.8%
Interest-adjusted benefit ratio (b)................................................ 105.3% 45.1%
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) We calculate benefit ratios by dividing the related product's insurance
policy benefits by insurance policy income.
(b) We calculate the interest-adjusted benefit ratio (a non-GAAP measure) for
long-term care products by dividing such product's insurance policy
benefits less interest income on the accumulated assets backing such
insurance liabilities by insurance policy income. Interest income is an
important factor in measuring the performance of this product. The net cash
flows from long-term care products generally cause an accumulation of
amounts in the early years of a policy (accounted for as reserve increases)
which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years (accounted for as
reserve decreases). Accordingly, as the policies age, the benefit ratio
will typically increase, but the increase in benefits will be partially
offset by investment income earned on the accumulated assets. The
interest-adjusted benefit ratio reflects the effects of the interest income
offset. Since interest income is an important factor in measuring the
performance of this product, management believes a benefit ratio which
includes the effect of interest income is useful in analyzing product
performance.
</FN>
48
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
The investment income earned on the accumulated assets backing long-term
care reserves in our Other Business in Run-off segment was $46.2 million
and $44.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Total premium collections were $81.2 million in the first quarter of 2007,
down 8.1 percent from 2006. We have ceased marketing the long-term care business
and major medical business of this segment. Accordingly, collected premiums will
decrease over time as policies lapse, partially offset by premium rate
increases. See "Premium Collections" for further analysis.
Insurance policy income is comprised of premiums earned on the segment's
long-term care and major medical policies. See "Premium Collections" for further
analysis.
Net investment income on general account invested assets was $47.0 million
in the first quarter of 2007, up 5.1 percent from 2006. The average balance of
general account invested assets was $3.1 billion in both the first quarters of
2007 and 2006. The average yield on these assets was 5.98 percent and 5.85
percent in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in
yield is primarily due to the purchase of higher yielding fixed maturity
investments in recent periods.
Insurance policy benefits fluctuated primarily as a result of the factors
summarized below.
The benefit ratio on our Other Business in Run-off segment was 163.5
percent and 94.8 percent in the first three months of 2007 and 2006,
respectively. Benefit ratios are calculated by dividing the product's insurance
policy benefits by insurance policy income. Since the insurance product
liabilities we establish for long-term care business are subject to significant
estimates, the ultimate claim liability we incur for a particular period is
likely to be different than our initial estimate. Our insurance policy benefits
in the first three months of 2007 and 2006, reflected reserve deficiencies from
prior years of $33.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively. Excluding the
effects of prior year claim reserve deficiencies, our benefit ratios would have
been 120.9 percent and 84.9 percent in the first three months of 2007 and 2006,
respectively. These ratios reflect the higher level of incurred claims
experienced in these periods resulting in increases in reserves for future
benefits as discussed below, adverse development on claims incurred in prior
periods as discussed below, and decreases in policy income. The prior period
deficiencies have resulted from the impact of paid claim experience being
different than prior estimates, changes in actuarial assumptions and refinements
to claimant data used to determine claim reserves.
The net cash flows from long-term care products generally cause an
accumulation of amounts in the early years of a policy (accounted for as reserve
increases) which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years (accounted
for as reserve decreases). Accordingly, as the policies age, the benefit ratio
will typically increase, but the increase in benefits will be partially offset
by investment income earned on the assets which have accumulated. The
interest-adjusted benefit ratio for long-term care products is calculated by
dividing the insurance product's insurance policy benefits less interest income
on the accumulated assets backing the insurance liabilities by insurance policy
income. The interest-adjusted benefit ratio on this business was 105.3 percent
and 45.1 percent in the first three months of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
This segment includes long-term care insurance inforce, which was primarily
issued through independent agents by certain subsidiaries prior to their
acquisitions by Conseco in 1996 and 1997. The loss experience on these products
has been worse than we originally expected. Although we anticipated a higher
level of benefits to be paid on these products as the policies aged, the paid
claims have exceeded our expectations. In particular, we have experienced
adverse developments on home health care policies issued in certain areas of
Florida and other states. In addition, there has been an increase in the
incidence and duration of claims in recent periods. This adverse experience is
reflected in the higher insurance policy benefits experienced in 2006 and 2007.
In addition, we experienced increases in our reserves for future benefits
due primarily to higher than expected persistency in this block of business. A
small variance in persistency can have a significant impact on our earnings as
reserves accumulated over the life of a policy are released when coverage
terminates. The effect of changes in persistency will vary based on the mix of
business that persists. For example, if policies with higher reserves are
persisting and policies with lower reserves are lapsing, our earnings could be
adversely affected. We estimate that our income before income taxes would be
adversely affected by approximately $10 million in any period that persistency
is 40 basis points higher than our original assumptions and such variance is
spread evenly over the mix of business in this block. We also estimate that
persistency, which is 40 basis points lower than our assumptions, would
favorably affect earnings by a similar amount. The average persistency rate,
excluding policies subject to the Florida Order, was 93.0 percent and 91.6
percent in the first three
49
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, our assumed persistency rate
in the first quarter of 2007 was lower than the assumed persistency rate in the
first quarter of 2006 by approximately .3 to .5 percent due to aging of the
inforce. If actual persistency rates continue to be higher than our assumed
rates, this will have an adverse effect on income in this segment.
During the first quarter of 2007, we recorded a pre-tax adjustment that
increased insurance policy benefits for a long-term care block of business
written by Transport Life Insurance Company and acquired by our Predecessor by
approximately $22 million. We estimate the claim reserves for this block of
business using an aggregate loss development method, which uses historical
payment patterns to project ultimate losses for all the claims in a given
incurral period. This method is used to estimate approximately $290 million, or
35 percent, of the claim reserves for the long-term care business in this
segment. The remaining 65 percent of claim reserves in this segment are
calculated using a seriatim methodology, which uses individual claim
characteristics to calculate a reserve for each open claim.
The dollar amount of claims paid in the first quarter of 2007 that related
to earlier incurral periods was greater than expected based on claim reserves
established at December 31, 2006. In addition, our previous claim estimates were
deficient for this block of business. We conducted a study in an effort to
determine the cause of the deficiency and to improve our estimates of claim
reserves. We found that claims on policies with inflation and lifetime benefits
had increased significantly in recent periods. Since the average claim payout
period associated with policies with these benefits will be higher than similar
policies without such benefits, a shift in the mix of claimants can have a
significant impact on incurred claims that will not be immediately reflected
using a completion factor methodology. We improved our methodologies to address
this and other limitations of using an aggregate loss development methodology,
which resulted in the pre-tax adjustment described above.
During the first quarter of 2006, we upgraded the prior version of the
valuation system used to determine reserves for the long-term care block of
business in run-off. The new version includes enhancements to more precisely
estimate insurance liabilities for policies with return of premium benefits. The
effect of this refinement and certain other reserve adjustments resulted in
decreases to our insurance liabilities of approximately $14 million in the first
quarter of 2006.
We have been aggressively seeking rate increases and pursuing other actions
on such long-term care policies. We have filed, or plan to file, approximately
350 requests for rate increases on various long-term care products in this
segment as we believe the existing rates are too low. In many instances, we are
requesting three years of consecutive rate increases. We estimate that our
revenue could ultimately increase by approximately $35 million per year as a
result of the first round of rate increases, if the rate increases are approved
and the policyholders accept the increases as we expect (some policyholders will
choose to reduce benefits (and therefore their premiums) and others will choose
to allow their policies to lapse). The impact of the second and third year rate
increases will be somewhat smaller as the block continues to run off. To date,
we have received approvals and implemented rate increases equivalent to
approximately 59 percent of our $35 million estimate. The effects of the
approved rate increases are expected to be realized over the next year, as we
are only able to increase rates on a policy's anniversary date. The remaining
first round rate increase filings are expected to be filed and approved over the
next 12 months, and the full effect of the first year of rate increases will
take approximately two years to be fully realized. The full effect of all three
years of rate increases will take as long as five years to be fully realized. It
is possible that it will take more time than we expect to prepare rate increase
filings and obtain approval from the state insurance regulators. In addition, it
is likely that we will not be able to obtain approval for rate increases
currently pending or for the additional rate increases we plan to file. Most of
our long-term care business is guaranteed renewable, and, if necessary rate
increases are not approved, we may be required to establish a premium deficiency
reserve. If, however, we are successful in obtaining regulatory approval to
raise premium rates, the increased premium rates may cause existing
policyholders to allow their policies to lapse. This could result in a
significantly higher ratio of claim costs to premiums if healthier policyholders
who get coverage elsewhere allow their policies to lapse, while policies of less
healthy policyholders continue inforce. We believe that the series of smaller
rate increases we are seeking could mitigate these effects.
On April 20, 2004, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued an
Order to our subsidiary, Conseco Senior Health Insurance Company ("Conseco
Senior"), that affected approximately 12,600 home health care policies issued in
Florida by Conseco Senior and its predecessor companies. On July 1, 2004, the
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued a similar Order impacting
approximately 4,800 home health care policies issued in Florida by our
subsidiary, Washington National Insurance Company ("Washington National") and
its predecessor companies. Pursuant to the Orders, Conseco Senior and Washington
National offered the following three alternatives to holders of these policies:
50
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
o retention of their current policy with a rate increase of 50 percent
in the first year and actuarially justified increases in subsequent
years (which is also the default election for policyholders who fail
to make an election by the deadline) ("option one");
o receipt of a replacement policy with reduced benefits and a rate
increase in the first year of 25 percent and no more than 15 percent
in subsequent years ("option two"); or
o receipt of a paid-up policy, allowing the holder to file future claims
up to 100 percent of the amount of premiums paid since the inception
of the policy ("option three").
Policyholders selecting option one or option two are entitled to receive a
contingent non-forfeiture benefit if their policy subsequently lapses. In
addition, policyholders may change their initial election any time up to 30 days
prior to the anniversary date of their policies. We began to implement premium
adjustments with respect to policyholder elections in the fourth quarter of
2005. The implementation of these premium adjustments was substantially complete
at December 31, 2006. We did not make any adjustments to the insurance
liabilities when these elections were made. The changes in reserves due to the
structural changes arising from such elections are being recognized
prospectively over the expected remaining life of the policies pursuant to the
lock-in concept of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 60,
"Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises" and related interpretive
accounting and actuarial guidance.
The orders also require Conseco Senior and Washington National to pursue a
similar course of action with respect to approximately 24,000 home health care
policies in other states, subject to such action being justified based on the
experience of the business and approval by the other state insurance
departments. If we are unsuccessful in obtaining rate increases or other forms
of relief in those states, or if the policy changes approved by the Florida
Office of Insurance Regulation prove inadequate, our future results of
operations could be adversely affected.
Amortization related to operations includes amortization of insurance
acquisition costs.
Other operating costs and expenses were $21.8 million in the first quarter
of 2007, comparable with the same period in 2006. Other operating costs and
expenses include commission expense of $8.3 million and $9.8 million in the
first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net realized investment gains (losses) fluctuate each period. During the
first three months of 2007 we recognized net realized investment losses of $.2
million from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities). During the
first three months of 2006, net realized investment gains included $3.1 million
of net gains from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities), net of
$.1 million of writedowns of investments resulting from declines in fair values
that we concluded were other than temporary. There were no such writedowns in
the first quarter of 2007.
51
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Corporate Operations (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
----------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Corporate operations:
Interest expense on corporate debt.................................................. $(16.1) $(12.4)
Net investment income .............................................................. 1.1 1.0
Fee revenue and other income........................................................ 2.1 2.7
Net operating results of variable interest entity................................... 2.4 .7
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement................................. (6.5) (8.9)
Other operating costs and expenses.................................................. (13.8) (9.1)
------ ------
Loss before income taxes.......................................................... $(30.8) $(26.0)
====== ======
Interest expense on corporate debt was impacted by the amendment of the
Company's credit facility in October 2006. Our average corporate debt
outstanding was $1,003.3 million and $854.1 million during the first quarters of
2007 and 2006, respectively. The average interest rate on our debt was 6.1
percent and 5.3 percent during the first quarters of 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Net investment income primarily included income earned on short-term
investments held by the Corporate segment and miscellaneous other income and
fluctuated along with the change in the amount of invested assets in this
segment.
Fee revenue and other income includes: (i) revenues we receive for managing
investments for other companies; and (ii) fees received for marketing insurance
products of other companies. Fee revenue and other income decreased primarily as
a result of a decrease in the market value of investments managed for others,
upon which these fees are based.
Net operating results of variable interest entity represent the operating
results of a variable interest entity ("VIE"). The VIE is consolidated in
accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46
"Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities", revised December 2003 ("FIN
46R"). Although we do not control this entity, we consolidate it because we are
the primary beneficiary. This entity was established to issue securities and use
the proceeds to invest in loans and other permitted assets. Such consolidation
requirements did not have a material impact on our financial condition or
results of operations.
Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement include legal and other
costs incurred by the Corporate Operations segment to defend the non-insurance
company allegations made in the class action case referred to as In Re Conseco
Life Insurance Company Cost of Insurance Litigation. The Company announced on
August 1, 2006, that it has reached a proposed settlement of this case. Refer to
the captions entitled: (i) "Costs related to the proposed litigation settlement"
included in the results of operations section for the Conseco Insurance Group
segment; and (ii) "Cost of Insurance Litigation" included in the note to our
consolidated financial statements entitled "Litigation and Other Legal
Proceedings" for further information related to this case.
Other operating costs and expenses include general corporate expenses, net
of amounts charged to subsidiaries for services provided by the corporate
operations. These amounts fluctuate as a result of expenses such as consulting,
legal and severance costs which often vary from period to period.
PREMIUM COLLECTIONS
In accordance with GAAP, insurance policy income in our consolidated
statement of operations consists of premiums earned for traditional insurance
policies that have life contingencies or morbidity features. For annuity and
universal life contracts, premiums collected are not reported as revenues, but
as deposits to insurance liabilities. We recognize revenues for these products
over time in the form of investment income and surrender or other charges.
Our insurance segments sell products through three primary distribution
channels -- career agents (our Bankers Life segment), independent producers (our
Conseco Insurance Group segment) and direct marketing (our Colonial Penn
segment).
52
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Our career agency force in the Bankers Life segment sells primarily Medicare
supplement and long-term care insurance policies, Medicare Part D contracts,
life insurance and annuities. These agents visit the customer's home, which
permits one-on-one contact with potential policyholders and promotes strong
personal relationships with existing policyholders. Our independent producer
distribution channel in the Conseco Insurance Group segment consists of a
general agency and insurance brokerage distribution system comprised of
independent licensed agents doing business in all fifty states, the District of
Columbia, and certain protectorates of the United States. Independent producers
are a diverse network of independent agents, insurance brokers and marketing
organizations. Our independent producer distribution channel sells primarily
specified disease and Medicare supplement insurance policies, universal life
insurance and annuities. Our direct marketing distribution channel in the
Colonial Penn segment is engaged primarily in the sale of "graded benefit life"
and simplified issue life insurance policies which are sold directly to the
policyholder.
Agents, insurance brokers and marketing companies who market our products
and prospective purchasers of our products use the financial strength ratings of
our insurance subsidiaries as an important factor in determining whether to
market or purchase. Ratings have the most impact on our annuity,
interest-sensitive life insurance and long-term care products. The current
financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries (except Conseco
Senior) from A.M. Best, S&P and Moody's are "B++ (Very Good)", "BB+" and "Baa3",
respectively. The current financial strength ratings of Conseco Senior from A.M.
Best, S&P and Moody's are "B- (Fair)", "CCC" and "Caa1", respectively. On April
13, 2007, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength ratings of our primary
insurance subsidiaries (except Conseco Senior which was downgraded to "B-" from
"B") and changed their outlook on our primary insurance subsidiaries to stable
from positive. For a description of these ratings and additional information on
our ratings, see "Liquidity for Insurance Operations."
We set premium rates on our health insurance policies based on facts and
circumstances known at the time we issue the policies using assumptions about
numerous variables, including the actuarial probability of a policyholder
incurring a claim, the probable size of the claim, and the interest rate earned
on our investment of premiums. We also consider historical claims information,
industry statistics, the rates of our competitors and other factors. If our
actual claims experience is less favorable than we anticipated and we are unable
to raise our premium rates, our financial results may be adversely affected. We
generally cannot raise our health insurance premiums in any state until we
obtain the approval of the state insurance regulator. We review the adequacy of
our premium rates regularly and file rate increases on our products when we
believe such rates are too low. It is likely that we will not be able to obtain
approval for all requested premium rate increases. If such requests are denied
in one or more states, our net income may decrease. If such requests are
approved, increased premium rates may reduce the volume of our new sales and may
cause existing policyholders to lapse their policies. If the healthier
policyholders allow their policies to lapse, this would reduce our premium
income and profitability in the future.
53
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Total premium collections by segment were as follows:
Bankers Life (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
--------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premiums collected by product:
Annuities:
Equity-indexed (first-year)............................................................. $ 85.4 $ 62.9
------ ------
Other fixed (first-year)................................................................ 126.0 169.6
Other fixed (renewal)................................................................... .8 .9
------ ------
Subtotal - other fixed annuities...................................................... 126.8 170.5
------ ------
Total annuities....................................................................... 212.2 233.4
------ ------
Supplemental health:
Medicare supplement (first-year)........................................................ 33.7 24.8
Medicare supplement (renewal)........................................................... 144.8 143.7
------ ------
Subtotal - Medicare supplement........................................................ 178.5 168.5
------ ------
Long-term care (first-year)............................................................. 11.6 14.2
Long-term care (renewal)................................................................ 146.6 131.5
------ ------
Subtotal - long-term care............................................................. 158.2 145.7
------ ------
Other health (first-year)............................................................... 11.8 6.3
Other health (renewal).................................................................. 24.9 2.4
------ ------
Subtotal - other health............................................................... 36.7 8.7
------ ------
Total supplemental health............................................................. 373.4 322.9
------ ------
Life insurance:
First-year.............................................................................. 21.4 20.7
Renewal................................................................................. 26.7 22.5
------ ------
Total life insurance.................................................................. 48.1 43.2
------ ------
Collections on insurance products:
Total first-year premium collections on insurance products.............................. 289.9 298.5
Total renewal premium collections on insurance products................................. 343.8 301.0
------ ------
Total collections on insurance products............................................... $633.7 $599.5
====== ======
Annuities in this segment include equity-indexed and other fixed annuities
sold to the senior market through our career agents. Annuity collections in this
segment decreased 9.1 percent, to $212.2 million, in the first quarter of 2007
as compared to the same period in 2006. Premium collections from our
equity-indexed products were favorably impacted in 2007 by the general stock
market performance in recent periods which has made these products attractive to
certain customers. The increase in short-term interest rates in recent periods
resulted in lower first-year fixed annuity sales as certain other competing
products, such as certificates of deposits, have become attractive.
Supplemental health products include Medicare supplement, long-term care
and other insurance products distributed through our career agents. Our profits
on supplemental health policies depend on the overall level of sales, the length
of time the business remains inforce, investment yields, claims experience and
expense management.
54
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Collected premiums on Medicare supplement policies in the Bankers Life
segment increased 5.9 percent, to $178.5 million, in the first quarter of 2007
as compared to the same period in 2006. First year premiums collected in the
first quarter of 2007 include $11.5 million related to the PFFS quota-share
reinsurance agreement with Coventry.
Premiums collected on Bankers Life's long-term care policies increased 8.6
percent, to $158.2 million, in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same
period in 2006 primarily due to higher premiums associated with the policies
that were impacted by the rate increases which became effective in 2006.
Other health products in the first three months of 2007 include $11.6
million and $22.6 million of first-year premiums and renewal premiums collected,
respectively, pursuant to the PDP quota-share reinsurance agreement with
Coventry. Other health products in the first three months of 2006 include $6.0
million of first-year premiums collected pursuant to the PDP quota-share
reinsurance agreement with Coventry. These agreements are described in Critical
Accounting Policies under the caption "Accounting for marketing and quota-share
agreements with Coventry". The remaining collected premiums relate to other
health products which we no longer actively market.
Life products in this segment are sold primarily to the senior market
through our career agents. Life premiums collected in this segment increased 11
percent, to $48.1 million, in the first quarter of 2007, compared to the same
period in 2006, due to an increased focus on life products.
55
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Conseco Insurance Group (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
--------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premiums collected by product:
Annuities:
Equity-indexed (first-year)........................................................ $106.9 $ 20.7
Equity-indexed (renewal)........................................................... 2.1 2.4
------ ------
Subtotal - equity-indexed annuities.............................................. 109.0 23.1
------ ------
Other fixed (first-year)........................................................... 9.4 10.9
Other fixed (renewal).............................................................. 1.7 2.2
------ ------
Subtotal - other fixed annuities................................................. 11.1 13.1
------ ------
Total annuities.................................................................. 120.1 36.2
------ ------
Supplemental health:
Medicare supplement (first-year)................................................... 6.6 8.3
Medicare supplement (renewal)...................................................... 53.2 57.6
------ ------
Subtotal - Medicare supplement................................................... 59.8 65.9
------ ------
Specified disease (first-year)..................................................... 7.3 7.2
Specified disease (renewal)........................................................ 84.8 84.2
------ ------
Subtotal - specified disease..................................................... 92.1 91.4
------ ------
Other health (renewal)............................................................. 2.3 2.3
------ ------
Total supplemental health........................................................ 154.2 159.6
------ ------
Life insurance:
First-year......................................................................... 1.2 1.7
Renewal............................................................................ 76.0 82.4
------ ------
Total life insurance............................................................. 77.2 84.1
------ ------
Collections on insurance products:
Total first-year premium collections on insurance products......................... 131.4 48.8
Total renewal premium collections on insurance products............................ 220.1 231.1
------ ------
Total collections on insurance products.......................................... $351.5 $279.9
====== ======
Annuities in this segment include equity-indexed and other fixed annuities
sold through professional independent producers. Total annuity premiums
collected in this segment increased 232 percent, to $120.1 million, in the first
quarter of 2007, compared to the same period in 2006, due to an increase in
sales of equity-indexed annuities.
Our equity-indexed annuities have guaranteed minimum cash surrender values,
but have potentially higher returns based on a percentage of the change in one
of several equity market indices during each year of their term. We purchase
options in an effort to hedge increases to policyholder benefits resulting from
increases in the indices. Total collected premiums for this product increased
372 percent, to $109.0 million, in the first quarter of 2007 over the same
period in 2006 due to the recent introduction of several new products
distributed through our new national partners. In addition, these products have
become relatively attractive due to general stock market conditions in recent
periods.
Other fixed rate annuity products include SPDAs, FPDAs and SPIAs, which are
credited with a declared rate. SPDA and FPDA policies typically have an interest
rate that is guaranteed for the first policy year, after which we have the
discretionary ability to change the crediting rate to any rate not below a
guaranteed minimum rate. The interest rate credited on SPIAs is based on market
conditions existing when a policy is issued and remains unchanged over the life
of the SPIA.
56
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Annuity premiums on these products decreased 15 percent, to $11.1 million, in
the first quarter of 2007, compared to the same period in 2006, primarily due to
a decrease in new sales.
Supplemental health products in the Conseco Insurance Group segment include
Medicare supplement, specified disease and other insurance products distributed
through professional independent producers.
Collected premiums on Medicare supplement policies in the Conseco Insurance
Group segment decreased 9.3 percent, to $59.8 million, in the first quarter of
2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. We have experienced higher lapses
of these products due to premium rate increases implemented in recent periods
and competition from companies offering Medicare Advantage products.
Premiums collected on specified disease products in the first quarter of
2007 were comparable to the same period in 2006.
Life products in the Conseco Insurance Group segment are sold through
professional independent producers. Life premiums collected decreased 8.2
percent, to $77.2 million, in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same
period in 2006.
Colonial Penn (dollars in millions)
Three months ended
March 31,
--------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premiums collected by product:
Life insurance:
First-year........................................................................... $ 6.7 $ 5.5
Renewal.............................................................................. 20.0 17.9
----- -----
Total life insurance............................................................... 26.7 23.4
----- -----
Supplemental health:
Medicare supplement (renewal)........................................................ 2.3 2.7
Other health (renewal)............................................................... .3 .3
----- -----
Total supplemental health.......................................................... 2.6 3.0
----- -----
Collections on insurance products:
Total first-year premium collections on insurance
products........................................................................... 6.7 5.5
Total renewal premium collections on insurance
products........................................................................... 22.6 20.9
----- -----
Total collections on insurance products............................................ $29.3 $26.4
===== =====
Life products in this segment are sold primarily to the senior market. Life
premiums collected in this segment increased by 14 percent, to $26.7 million, in
the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Collected
premiums have been impacted by increased advertising. Graded benefit life
products sold through our direct response marketing channel accounted for $25.4
million of our total collected premiums in the first quarter of 2007, compared
to $22.1 million in the first quarter of 2006.
Supplemental health products include Medicare supplement and other
insurance products. Our profits on supplemental health policies depend on the
overall level of sales, the length of time the business remains inforce,
investment yields, claims experience and expense management. Premiums collected
on these products have decreased as we no longer actively market these products
through this segment.
57
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Other Business in Run-off (dollars in millions):
Three months ended
March 31,
--------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Premiums collected by product:
Long-term care (renewal).............................................................. $80.6 $87.3
Major medical (renewal)............................................................... .6 1.1
----- -----
Total renewal premium collections on insurance products............................. $81.2 $88.4
===== =====
The Other Business in Run-off segment includes: (i) long-term care products
written in prior years through independent agents; and (ii) group and individual
major medical business in run-off.
Long-term care premiums collected in this segment decreased 7.7 percent, to
$80.6 million, in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.
Most of the long-term care premiums in this segment relate to business written
by certain subsidiaries prior to their acquisitions by Conseco in 1996 and 1997.
We ceased selling new long-term care policies through professional independent
producers in 2003. We expect this segment's long-term care premiums to reflect
additional policy lapses in the future, partially offset by premium rate
increases. See "Results of Operations - Other Business in Run-off" for
additional discussion related to orders issued by the Florida Office of
Insurance Regulation regarding certain blocks of our long-term care business.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Changes in our consolidated balance sheet between March 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006, primarily reflect: (i) our net income for the three months
ended March 31, 2007; and (ii) changes in the fair value of actively managed
fixed maturity securities.
In accordance with GAAP, we record our actively managed fixed maturity
investments, equity securities and certain other invested assets at estimated
fair value with any unrealized gain or loss (excluding impairment losses, which
are recognized through earnings), net of tax and related adjustments, recorded
as a component of shareholders' equity. At March 31, 2007, we decreased the
carrying value of such investments by $65.3 million as a result of this fair
value adjustment.
58
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Our capital structure as of March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006, was as
follows (dollars in millions):
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
Total capital:
Corporate notes payable................................................ $ 999.3 $1,000.8
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock..................................................... 667.8 667.8
Common stock........................................................ 1.5 1.5
Additional paid-in capital.......................................... 3,455.1 3,473.2
Accumulated other comprehensive loss................................ (41.8) (72.6)
Retained earnings................................................... 641.4 643.2
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity....................................... 4,724.0 4,713.1
-------- --------
Total capital.................................................... $5,723.3 $5,713.9
======== ========
The following table summarizes certain financial ratios as of and for the
three months ended March 31, 2007, and as of and for the year ended December 31,
2006:
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
Book value per common share................................................................... $26.89 $26.58
Book value per common share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) (a).......................................................................... 27.17 27.06
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges............................................................ 1.12x 1.30x
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends.................................... 1.01x 1.16x
Debt to total capital ratios:
Corporate debt to total capital............................................................ 17% 18%
Corporate debt to total capital, excluding accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) (a)........................................................................ 17% 17%
Corporate debt and preferred stock to total capital........................................ 29% 29%
Corporate debt and preferred stock to total capital, excluding accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) (a).......................................................... 29% 29%
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) This non-GAAP measure differs from the corresponding GAAP measure presented
immediately above, because accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
has been excluded from the value of capital used to determine this measure.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful because it removes the
volatility that arises from changes in accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss). Such volatility is often caused by changes in the estimated
fair value of our investment portfolio resulting from changes in general
market interest rates rather than the business decisions made by
management. However, this measure does not replace the corresponding GAAP
measure.
</FN>
59
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Liquidity for insurance operations
Our insurance operating companies generally receive adequate cash flows
from premium collections and investment income to meet their obligations. Life
insurance and annuity liabilities are generally long-term in nature.
Policyholders may, however, withdraw funds or surrender their policies, subject
to any applicable penalty provisions. We seek to balance the duration of our
invested assets with the estimated duration of benefit payments arising from
contract liabilities.
The Company announced on August 1, 2006, that it has reached a proposed
settlement in the class action case referred to as In Re Conseco Life Insurance
Company Cost of Insurance Litigation. The settlement is subject to a court
fairness hearing and other conditions. Based on our estimates of the ultimate
cash payments required to implement the proposed settlement, we believe there
are adequate sources of liquidity to satisfy such requirements. Such estimates
are subject to significant judgment, including the form of policy benefit
enhancement chosen by the inforce policyholders. For further information related
to this case, refer to the caption entitled "Cost of Insurance Litigation"
included in the note to our consolidated financial statements entitled
"Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings".
In the first quarter of 2007, Conseco Life became a member of the FHLBI. As
a member of the FHLBI, Conseco Life has the ability to borrow on a
collateralized basis from FHLBI. Conseco Life intends to use these advances to
earn incremental income and as a source of liquidity for its operations. Conseco
Life is required to hold a certain minimum amount of FHLBI common stock as a
requirement of membership in the FHLBI, and additional amounts based on the
amount of advances. At March 31, 2007, the carrying value of the FHLBI common
stock was $10.0 million. Advances totaled $200.0 million in the first quarter of
2007 and the proceeds were used to purchase primarily investment-grade fixed
maturity securities. Each fixed rate security is matched with an interest rate
swap, which converts the security from a fixed rate to a floating rate basis.
The Advances are classified as investment borrowings in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet. The Advances mature in the first quarter of 2012 and
bear interest, payable monthly, based on the three month LIBOR rate less .01
percent. The weighted average interest rate was 5.35 percent at March 31, 2007.
The Advances are collateralized by investments with an estimated fair value of
$251.2 million at March 31, 2007, which are maintained in a custodial account
for the benefit of the FHLBI.
On April 13, 2007, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength rating of "B++
(Very Good)" of our primary insurance subsidiaries, except Conseco Senior, whose
"B (Fair)" rating was downgraded to "B- (Fair)". A.M. Best also revised the
outlook for the ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries to stable from
positive, except for Conseco Senior, whose outlook of stable was affirmed. A.M.
Best stated that the revised outlook reflects that the Company's recently
reported results failed to satisfy the metrics previously outlined by A.M. Best
and the rating assigned to Conseco Senior reflects the volatile operating
results experienced by Conseco Senior.
The "B++" rating is assigned to companies that have a good ability, in A.M.
Best's opinion, to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. The "B-"
rating is assigned to companies which have a fair ability in A.M. Best's opinion
to meet their current obligations to policyholders, but are financially
vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions. A.M. Best
ratings for the industry currently range from "A++ (Superior)" to "F (In
Liquidation)" and some companies are not rated. An "A++" rating indicates a
superior ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. The "B++" rating
and the "B-" rating from A.M. Best are the fifth and eighth highest,
respectively, of sixteen possible ratings.
The current financial strength ratings of our primary insurance
subsidiaries (except Conseco Senior) from S&P are "BB+" and Conseco Senior's
rating is "CCC". On February 23, 2007, S&P affirmed the financial strength
ratings of our core insurance subsidiaries and Conseco Senior and revised its
outlook on our primary insurance subsidiaries to stable from positive, except
Conseco Senior, for which the outlook was revised to negative from stable. S&P
financial strength ratings range from "AAA" to "R" and some companies are not
rated. Rating categories from "BB" to "CCC" are classified as "vulnerable", and
pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. In S&P's view,
an insurer rated "BB" has marginal financial security characteristics and
although positive attributes exist, adverse business conditions could lead to an
insufficient ability to meet financial commitments. In S&P's view, an insurer
rated "CCC" has very weak financial security characteristics and is dependent on
favorable business conditions to meet financial commitments. The "BB+" rating
and the "CCC" rating from S&P are the eleventh and eighteenth highest,
respectively, of twenty-one possible ratings.
The current financial strength ratings of our primary insurance
subsidiaries (except Conseco Senior) from Moody's are "Baa3" and Conseco
Senior's rating is "Caal". On April 3, 2007, Moody's affirmed the financial
strength ratings of our core
60
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
insurance subsidiaries and Conseco Senior and revised its outlook on all our
insurance subsidiaries to stable from positive. Moody's financial strength
ratings range from "Aaa" to "C". Rating categories from "Aaa" to "Baa" are
classified as "Secure" by Moody's and rating categories from "Ba" to "C" are
considered "vulnerable" and these ratings may be supplemented with numbers "1",
"2", or "3" to show relative standing within a category. In Moody's view, an
insurer rated "Baa3" offers adequate financial security, however, certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over
any great length of time. In Moody's view, an insurer rated "Caa" offers very
poor financial security and may default on its policyholder obligations or there
may be elements of danger with respect to punctual payment of policyholder
obligations and claims. The "Baa3" rating and the "Caa1" rating from Moody's are
the tenth and seventeenth highest, respectively, of twenty-one possible ratings.
We have adopted several initiatives designed to reduce the expense levels
that exceed product pricing in our Conseco Insurance Group segment. We expect to
spend over $26 million on capital expenditures in 2007 (including amounts
related to these initiatives). We believe we have adequate cash flows from
operations to fund these initiatives.
State laws generally give state insurance regulatory agencies broad
authority to protect policyholders in their jurisdictions. Regulators have used
this authority in the past to restrict the ability of our insurance subsidiaries
to pay any dividends or other amounts to any non-insurance company parent
without prior approval. We cannot be assured that the regulators will not seek
to assert greater supervision and control over our insurance subsidiaries'
businesses and financial affairs.
In connection with monitoring the financial condition of insurers, certain
state insurance departments have requested additional information from two of
the Company's insurance subsidiaries, Conseco Senior and Conseco Life, as such
insurance subsidiaries have incurred statutory losses in a 12 month period in
excess of 50 percent of its capital and surplus. The statutory losses of Conseco
Life are primarily attributable to a proposed litigation settlement. For further
information related to this case, refer to the caption entitled "Cost of
Insurance Litigation" included in the note to our consolidated financial
statements entitled "Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings". The statutory
losses of Conseco Senior are primarily attributable to the adverse development
of prior period claim reserves and an increase in initial claims during 2006
related to long-term care policies. Based on our discussions with state
insurance departments, we do not expect the regulators to take any actions
against Conseco Senior or Conseco Life due to the causes of our statutory losses
and the actions being undertaken by the Company.
Conseco Senior has been aggressively seeking rate increases and pursuing
other actions on such long-term care policies. We have filed, or plan to file,
approximately 350 requests for rate increases on various long-term care products
in this segment as we believe the existing rates are too low. In many instances,
we are requesting three years of consecutive rate increases. The full effect of
all three years of rate increases will take as long as five years to be fully
realized. It is possible that it will take more time than we expect to prepare
rate increase filings and obtain approval from the state insurance regulators.
In addition, it is possible that we will not be able to obtain approval for rate
increases currently pending or for the additional rate increases we plan to
file. Most of our long-term care business is guaranteed renewable, and, if
necessary rate increases are not approved, we may be required to establish a
premium deficiency reserve. If, however, we are successful in obtaining
regulatory approval to raise premium rates, the increased premium rates may
cause existing policyholders to allow their policies to lapse. This could result
in a significantly higher ratio of claim costs to premiums if healthier
policyholders who get coverage elsewhere allow their policies to lapse, while
policies of less healthy policyholders continue inforce. We believe that the
series of smaller rate increases we are seeking could mitigate these effects.
Liquidity of the Holding Companies
At March 31, 2007, Conseco Inc. and CDOC held unrestricted cash of $32.4
million. Conseco Inc. and CDOC are holding companies with no business operations
of their own; they depend on their operating subsidiaries for cash to make
principal and interest payments on debt, and to pay administrative expenses and
income taxes. Conseco and CDOC receive cash from insurance subsidiaries,
consisting of dividends and distributions, principal and interest payments on
surplus debentures and tax-sharing payments, as well as cash from non-insurance
subsidiaries consisting of dividends, distributions, loans and advances. The
principal non-insurance subsidiaries that provide cash to Conseco and CDOC are
40|86 Advisors, Inc., which receives fees from the insurance subsidiaries for
investment services, and Conseco Services, LLC which receives fees from the
insurance subsidiaries for providing administrative services. A deterioration in
the financial condition, earnings
61
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
or cash flow of the material subsidiaries of Conseco or CDOC for any reason
could hinder such subsidiaries' ability to pay cash dividends or other
disbursements to Conseco and/or CDOC, which, in turn, would limit Conseco's
and/or CDOC's ability to meet debt service requirements and satisfy other
financial obligations. In addition, we may need to contribute additional capital
to certain insurance subsidiaries to strengthen their surplus and this could
affect the ability of our top tier insurance subsidiary to pay dividends. We
made capital contributions totaling $50.0 million to our top tier insurance
subsidiary in the first quarter of 2007.
The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to
state insurance department regulations and is based on the financial statements
of our insurance subsidiaries prepared in accordance with statutory accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities, which differ from
GAAP. These regulations generally permit dividends to be paid from statutory
earned surplus of the insurance company for any 12-month period in amounts equal
to the greater of (or in a few states, the lesser of): (i) statutory net gain
from operations or net income for the prior year; or (ii) 10 percent of
statutory capital and surplus as of the end of the preceding year. Any dividends
in excess of these levels require the approval of the director or commissioner
of the applicable state insurance department.
Our cash flow may be affected by a variety of factors, many of which are
outside of our control, including insurance and banking regulatory issues,
competition, financial markets and other general business conditions. We cannot
provide assurance that we will possess sufficient income and liquidity to meet
all of our liquidity requirements and other obligations.
If an insurance company subsidiary were to be liquidated, that liquidation
would be conducted following the insurance law of its state of domicile with
such state's insurance regulator as the receiver for such insurer's property and
business. In the event of a default on our debt or our insolvency, liquidation
or other reorganization, our creditors and stockholders would have no right to
proceed against the assets of our insurance subsidiaries or to cause their
liquidation under federal and state bankruptcy laws.
During the first three months of 2007, we made scheduled principal payments
totaling $1.7 million on our Second Amended Credit Facility. The scheduled
repayment of our Second Amended Credit Facility is as follows (dollars in
millions):
Remainder of 2007............................. $ 5.1
2008.......................................... 6.7
2009.......................................... 6.8
2010.......................................... 6.7
2011.......................................... 6.8
2012.......................................... 6.7
2013.......................................... 632.8
------
$671.6
======
The Second Amended Credit Facility includes an $80.0 million revolving
credit facility that can be used for general corporate purposes and that would
mature on June 22, 2009. There were no amounts outstanding under the revolving
credit facility at March 31, 2007. The Company pays a commitment fee equal to
..50 percent of the unused portion of the revolving credit facility on an
annualized basis.
Pursuant to the Second Amended Credit Facility, as long as the debt to
total capitalization ratio (as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility) is
greater than 20 percent and certain insurance subsidiaries (as defined in the
Second Amended Credit Facility) have financial strength ratings of less than A-
from A.M. Best, the Company is required to make mandatory prepayments with all
or a portion of the proceeds from the following transactions or events
including: (i) the issuance of certain indebtedness; (ii) equity issuances;
(iii) certain asset sales or casualty events; and (iv) excess cash flows as
defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility (the first such payment, if
applicable, would not be paid prior to the first quarter of 2008). The Company
may make optional prepayments at any time in minimum amounts of $3.0 million or
any multiple of $1.0 million in excess thereof.
Under the Second Amended Credit Facility, we may pay cash dividends on our
common stock or repurchase our common stock in an aggregate amount of up to
$150.0 million over the term of the facility (compared to a limitation of $50.0
million under our previous amended credit facility). As further discussed in the
note to the consolidated financial statements
62
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
entitled "Changes in Common Stock", we repurchased 1.5 million shares of our
common stock for $29.6 million in the first three months of 2007.
Under our Second Amended Credit Facility, we have agreed to a number of
covenants and other provisions that restrict our ability to engage in various
financing transactions and pursue certain operating activities without the prior
consent of the lenders. We have also agreed to meet or maintain various
financial ratios. These requirements represent significant restrictions on the
manner in which we may operate our business and our ability to meet these
financial covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. If we default
under any of these requirements (subject to certain remedies), the lenders could
declare all outstanding borrowings, accrued interest and fees to be immediately
due and payable. If that were to occur, we cannot provide assurance that we
would have sufficient liquidity to repay or refinance this indebtedness.
INVESTMENTS
At March 31, 2007, the amortized cost and estimated fair value of actively
managed fixed maturities and equity securities were as follows (dollars in
millions):
Gross Gross Estimated
Amortized unrealized unrealized fair
cost gains losses value
---- ----- ------ -----
Investment grade:
Corporate securities................................................ $13,516.2 $137.0 $(177.1) $13,476.1
United States Treasury securities and obligations of
United States government corporations and agencies................ 1,363.0 17.0 (12.3) 1,367.7
States and political subdivisions................................... 639.1 4.9 (9.8) 634.2
Debt securities issued by foreign governments....................... 114.5 3.9 - 118.4
Structured securities .............................................. 5,918.8 14.1 (48.6) 5,884.3
Below-investment grade (primarily corporate securities)................ 1,705.3 22.3 (25.5) 1,702.1
--------- ------ ------- ---------
Total actively managed fixed maturities............................. $23,256.9 $199.2 $(273.3) $23,182.8
========= ====== ======= =========
Equity securities...................................................... $28.5 $1.3 $(.1) $29.7
===== ==== ==== =====
63
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
Concentration of Actively Managed Fixed Maturity Securities
The following table summarizes the carrying values of our actively managed
fixed maturity securities by category as of March 31, 2007 (dollars in
millions):
Percent of
Carrying value fixed maturities
-------------- ----------------
Structured securities................................................................ $ 5,902.7 25.5%
Manufacturing........................................................................ 3,206.9 13.8
Bank and finance..................................................................... 2,149.2 9.3
Services............................................................................. 1,765.9 7.6
Utilities............................................................................ 1,710.7 7.4
U.S. Government...................................................................... 1,367.7 5.9
Communications....................................................................... 1,101.7 4.8
Holding and other investment offices................................................. 1,067.7 4.6
Agriculture, forestry and mining..................................................... 907.9 3.9
Retail and wholesale................................................................. 778.3 3.4
Transportation....................................................................... 698.1 3.0
States and political subdivisions.................................................... 634.2 2.7
Asset-backed securities.............................................................. 606.5 2.6
Other................................................................................ 1,285.3 5.5
--------- -----
Total actively managed fixed maturities........................................... $23,182.8 100.0%
========= =====
Below-Investment Grade Securities
At March 31, 2007, the amortized cost of the Company's below-investment
grade fixed maturity securities was $1,705.3 million, or 7.3 percent of the
Company's fixed maturity portfolio. The estimated fair value of the
below-investment grade portfolio was $1,702.1 million, or 100 percent of the
amortized cost.
Below-investment grade fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of
$476.9 million and an estimated fair value of $477.6 million are held by a VIE
that we are required to consolidate. These fixed maturity securities are legally
isolated and are not available to the Company. The liabilities of such VIE will
be satisfied from the cash flows generated by these securities and are not
obligations of the Company. At March 31, 2007, our total investment in the VIE
was $48.8 million, and $47.0 million of such investment was rated BBB.
Below-investment grade securities have different characteristics than
investment grade corporate debt securities. Risk of default by the borrower is
significantly greater for below-investment grade securities and in many cases,
severity of loss is relatively greater as such securities are generally
unsecured and often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Also, issuers
of below-investment grade securities usually have higher levels of debt and may
be more sensitive to adverse economic conditions, such as recession or
increasing interest rates. The Company attempts to reduce the overall risk
related to its investment in below-investment grade securities, as in all
investments, through careful credit analysis, strict investment policy
guidelines, and diversification by issuer and/or guarantor and by industry.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
During the first three months of 2007, we recognized net realized
investment losses of $10.7 million from the sales of investments (primarily
fixed maturities) with proceeds of $1.8 billion, and $24.2 million of writedowns
of investments as a result of our intent not to hold impaired investments for a
period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery. The writedown
of such investments was the result of entering into a coinsurance agreement as
further discussed in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled
"Subsequent Event". During the first three months of 2006, we recognized net
realized investment losses of $3.1 million, which were comprised of $.4 million
of net gains from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities) with
proceeds of $1.9 billion, net of $3.5 million of writedowns of investments for
other than
64
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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temporary declines in fair value. At March 31, 2007, investments in default as
to the payment of principal or interest had both an aggregate amortized cost and
carrying value of $1.8 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2007, we sold $1.0 billion of fixed
maturity investments which resulted in gross investment losses (before income
taxes) of $25.8 million. We sell securities at a loss for a number of reasons
including, but not limited to: (i) changes in the investment environment; (ii)
expectation that the market value could deteriorate further; (iii) desire to
reduce our exposure to an issuer or an industry; (iv) changes in credit quality;
or (v) changes in expected liability cash flows.
We regularly evaluate our investments for possible impairment. When we
conclude that a decline in a security's net realizable value is other than
temporary, the decline is recognized as a realized loss and the cost basis of
the security is reduced to its estimated fair value.
Our assessment of whether unrealized losses are "other than temporary"
requires significant judgment. Factors considered include: (i) the extent to
which market value is less than the cost basis; (ii) the length of time that the
market value has been less than cost; (iii) whether the unrealized loss is event
driven, credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates; (iv) the
near-term prospects for improvement in the issuer and/or its industry; (v) our
view of the investment's rating and whether the investment is investment-grade
and/or has been downgraded since its purchase; (vi) whether the issuer is
current on all payments in accordance with the contractual terms of the
investment and is expected to meet all of its obligations under the terms of the
investment; (vii) our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of
time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery; and (viii) the underlying
current and prospective asset and enterprise values of the issuer and the extent
to which our investment may be affected by changes in such values.
Future events may occur, or additional information may become available,
which may necessitate future realized losses of securities in our portfolio.
Significant losses in the carrying values of our investments could have a
material adverse effect on our earnings in future periods.
The following table sets forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value
of those actively managed fixed maturities with unrealized losses at March 31,
2007, by contractual maturity. Actual maturities will differ from contractual
maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations
with or without call or prepayment penalties. Most of the structured securities
shown below provide for periodic payments throughout their lives (dollars in
millions).
Estimated
Amortized fair
cost value
--------- ---------
Due in one year or less................................................................. $ 117.6 $ 116.9
Due after one year through five years................................................... 885.9 876.0
Due after five years through ten years.................................................. 3,164.7 3,111.1
Due after ten years..................................................................... 4,898.4 4,737.9
--------- ---------
Subtotal............................................................................. 9,066.6 8,841.9
Structured securities................................................................... 3,726.9 3,678.3
--------- ---------
Total................................................................................ $12,793.5 $12,520.2
========= =========
At March 31, 2007, we held no investments in our fixed maturity portfolio
which were rated below-investment grade and had unrealized loss positions
exceeding 20 percent of their cost basis.
Our investment strategy is to maximize, over a sustained period and within
acceptable parameters of risk, investment income and total investment return
through active investment management. Accordingly, we may sell securities at a
gain or a loss to enhance the total return of the portfolio as market
opportunities change or to better match certain characteristics of our
investment portfolio with the corresponding characteristics of our insurance
liabilities. While we have both the ability and intent to hold securities with
unrealized losses until they mature or recover in value, we may sell securities
at a loss in the
65
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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future because of actual or expected changes in our view of the particular
investment, its industry, its type or the general investment environment.
The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair values
of our investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be
other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of
time that such securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at
March 31, 2007 (dollars in millions):
Less than 12 months 12 months or greater Total
----------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Estimated Estimated Estimated
fair Unrealized fair Unrealized fair Unrealized
Description of securities value losses value losses value losses
------------------------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------
United States Treasury securities
and obligations of United
States government
corporations and agencies...... $ 80.7 $ (.6) $ 972.8 $ (11.7) $ 1,053.5 $ (12.3)
States and political subdivisions. 153.7 (1.8) 219.1 (8.0) 372.8 (9.8)
Debt securities issued by
foreign governments............ 11.1 (.1) 3.7 (.1) 14.8 (.2)
Corporate securities.............. 3,854.7 (71.8) 3,546.1 (130.6) 7,400.8 (202.4)
Structured securities............. 1,259.2 (7.4) 2,419.1 (41.2) 3,678.3 (48.6)
-------- ------ -------- ------- --------- -------
Total actively managed
fixed maturities............... $5,359.4 $(81.7) $7,160.8 $(191.6) $12,520.2 $(273.3)
======== ====== ======== ======= ========= =======
Equity securities................. $.4 $(.1) $ - $ - $.4 $(.1)
=== ==== ===== ===== === ====
Based on management's current assessment of investments with unrealized
losses at March 31, 2007, the Company believes the issuers of the securities
will continue to meet their obligations (or with respect to equity-type
securities, the investment value will recover to its cost basis). The Company
has no current plans to sell these securities and has the ability to hold them
to maturity. If the Company concludes in future periods that the unrealized loss
is other than temporary, a charge to earnings would be recognized.
Structured Securities
At March 31, 2007, fixed maturity investments included $5.9 billion of
structured securities (or 25 percent of all fixed maturity securities).
Structured securities include mortgage-backed securities, collateralized
mortgage obligations and commercial mortgage-backed securities. The yield
characteristics of structured securities differ in some respects from those of
traditional fixed-income securities. For example, interest and principal
payments on mortgage-backed securities may occur more frequently, often monthly.
In many instances, we are subject to the risk that the timing of principal
payments may vary from expectations. For example, prepayment rates are
influenced by a number of factors that cannot be predicted with certainty,
including: the relative sensitivity of the underlying mortgages backing the
assets to changes in interest rates; a variety of economic, geographic and other
factors; and various security-specific structural considerations (for example,
the repayment priority of a given security in a securitization structure).
In general, the rate of prepayments on structured securities increases when
prevailing interest rates decline significantly in absolute terms and also
relative to the interest rates on the underlying loans. The yields recognized on
structured securities purchased at a discount to par will increase (relative to
the stated rate) when the underlying mortgages prepay faster than expected. The
yields recognized on structured securities purchased at a premium will decrease
(relative to the stated rate) when the underlying mortgages prepay faster than
expected. When interest rates decline, the proceeds from prepayments may be
reinvested at lower rates than we were earning on the prepaid securities. When
interest rates increase, prepayments may decrease as fewer underlying mortgages
are refinanced. When this occurs, the average maturity and duration of the
structured
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-------------------
securities increase, which decreases the yield on structured
securities purchased at a discount because the discount is realized as income at
a slower rate, and it increases the yield on those purchased at a premium
because of a decrease in the annual amortization of the premium.
The following table sets forth the par value, amortized cost and estimated
fair value of structured securities, summarized by interest rates on the
underlying collateral, at March 31, 2007 (dollars in millions):
Par Amortized Estimated
value cost fair value
----- ---- ----------
Below 4 percent..................................................................... $ 171.1 $ 171.0 $ 169.5
4 percent - 5 percent............................................................... 878.9 847.5 842.1
5 percent - 6 percent............................................................... 4,000.6 3,944.5 3,913.9
6 percent - 7 percent............................................................... 833.4 837.1 839.1
7 percent - 8 percent............................................................... 108.1 110.9 111.2
8 percent and above................................................................. 25.4 26.0 26.9
-------- -------- --------
Total structured securities (a).............................................. $6,017.5 $5,937.0 $5,902.7
======== ======== ========
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) Includes below-investment grade structured securities with an amortized
cost and estimated fair value of $18.2 million and $18.4 million,
respectively.
</FN>
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of structured securities at
March 31, 2007, summarized by type of security, were as follows (dollars in
millions):
Estimated fair value
----------------------
Percent
Amortized of fixed
Type cost Amount maturities
- ---- ---- ------ ----------
Pass-throughs and sequential and targeted amortization classes............ $3,741.3 $3,717.5 16%
Planned amortization class and accretion-directed bonds................... 936.0 930.3 4
Commercial mortgage-backed securities..................................... 1,219.5 1,214.5 5
Other..................................................................... 40.2 40.4 -
-------- -------- --
Total structured securities (a).................................... $5,937.0 $5,902.7 25%
======== ======== ==
<FN>
- --------------------
(a) Includes below-investment grade structured securities with an amortized
cost and estimated fair value of $18.2 million and $18.4 million,
respectively.
</FN>
Pass-through securities and sequential and targeted amortization class
securities typically have different prepayment variability characteristics.
Pass-through securities typically return principal to the holders based on cash
payments from the underlying mortgage obligations. Sequential classes return
principal to tranche holders in a detailed hierarchy. Targeted amortization
classes, planned amortization classes and accretion-directed bonds adhere to
fixed schedules of principal payments as long as the underlying mortgage loans
experience prepayments within certain estimated ranges. Changes in prepayment
rates are first absorbed by support or companion classes. This insulates the
timing of receipt of cash flows from the consequences of both faster prepayments
(average life shortening) and slower prepayments (average life extension).
Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") are secured by commercial
real estate mortgages, generally income producing properties that are managed
for profit. Property types include multi-family dwellings including apartments,
retail centers, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, warehouses, and
office buildings. CMBS generally offer higher yields than corporate bonds with
similar credit ratings. Most CMBS have call protection features whereby
underlying borrowers may not prepay their mortgages for stated periods of time
without incurring prepayment penalties.
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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INVESTMENTS IN VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY
Fall Creek CLO Ltd. ("Fall Creek") is a collateralized loan trust that was
established to issue securities and use the proceeds to invest in loans and
other permitted investments. The assets held by the trust are legally isolated
and are not available to the Company. The liabilities of Fall Creek will be
satisfied from the cash flows generated by the underlying loans, not from the
assets of the Company, which has no legal obligation to satisfy those
liabilities. Repayment of the principal balance of the investment borrowings of
Fall Creek begin in 2012 based on available cash flows from the assets and such
borrowings mature in 2017. At both March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, our
total investment in Fall Creek was $48.8 million. The following tables provide
supplemental information about the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of
Fall Creek which have been consolidated in accordance with FIN 46R, after giving
effect to the elimination of our investment in Fall Creek and investment
management fees earned by a subsidiary of the Company (dollars in millions):
March 31, December 31,
2007 2006
---- ----
Assets:
Actively managed fixed maturities.................................................. $483.7 $454.5
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted............................................. 11.4 15.7
Accrued investment income.......................................................... 4.0 3.9
Other assets....................................................................... 7.4 7.5
------ ------
Total assets................................................................... $506.5 $481.6
====== ======
Liabilities:
Other liabilities.................................................................. $ 18.0 $ 26.8
Investment borrowings due to others................................................ 431.2 401.7
Investment borrowings due to the Company........................................... 47.0 47.0
------ ------
Total liabilities.............................................................. 496.2 475.5
------ ------
Equity:
Capital provided by the Company.................................................... 1.8 1.8
Capital provided by others......................................................... 4.5 4.7
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)...................................... .8 (2.1)
Retained earnings.................................................................. 3.2 1.7
------ ------
Total equity................................................................... 10.3 6.1
------ ------
Total liabilities and equity................................................... $506.5 $481.6
====== ======
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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Three months ended
March 31,
--------------------
2007 2006
---- ----
Revenues:
Net investment income - deposit accounts........................................... $8.9 $4.5
Fee revenue and other income....................................................... - -
---- ----
Total revenues................................................................. 8.9 4.5
---- ----
Expenses:
Interest expense................................................................... 6.4 3.8
Other operating expenses........................................................... .1 -
---- ----
Total expenses................................................................. 6.5 3.8
---- ----
Income before income taxes..................................................... $2.4 $ .7
==== ====
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See "Recently Issued Accounting Standards" in the notes to consolidated
financial statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Our market risks, and the ways we manage them, are summarized in
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations", included in Conseco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006. There have been no material changes in the first three months
of 2007 to such risks or our management of such risks.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Conseco's management,
under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer
and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of Conseco's
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on its evaluation,
and in light of the material weakness in internal control over financial
reporting identified as existing as of December 31, 2006, which is described in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 9A, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2007, Conseco's disclosure
controls and procedures were not effective.
As disclosed in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we did not maintain
effective controls over the accounting and disclosure of insurance policy
benefits and the liabilities for insurance products. We identified a material
weakness in internal control over the actuarial reporting process related to the
design of controls to ensure the completeness and accuracy of certain inforce
policies in our Bankers Life segment, Conseco Insurance Group segment, and Other
Business in Run-off segment. This material weakness resulted in adjustments to
insurance policy benefits and the liabilities for insurance products in the
consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the
quarter ended March 31, 2007.
A material weakness is a control deficiency or combination of control
deficiencies that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material
misstatement of the Company's interim or annual financial statements will not be
prevented or detected.
The Company is actively engaged in the implementation of remediation
efforts to address the material weakness in internal control over financial
reporting. These remediation efforts are outlined in our 2006 Annual Report on
Form 10-K and further remediation developments will be described in future
filings with the SEC. The material weakness will not be fully remediated until,
in the opinion of the Company's management, the revised control processes have
been operating for a sufficient period of time to provide reasonable assurance
as to their effectiveness.
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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Changes to Internal Controls and Procedures for Financial Reporting. We
have implemented several initiatives to streamline our administrative procedures
and improve our actuarial valuation systems at our insurance subsidiaries. Our
efforts include improvements to our policy administrative procedures and
significant system conversions. Although we did not implement any significant
new systems in the first three months of 2007, we expect to implement additional
system conversions in the future that we believe will provide better information
and will enhance our operational efficiencies. As part of the new system
implementations, we expect to make further adjustments to our operating
procedures in an effort to gain additional efficiencies and effectiveness. We
believe the changes will also result in improvements to our internal controls
over financial reporting.
There were no other changes in the Company's internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) during the quarter ended March 31, 2007, that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Conseco's internal
controls over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Information required for Part II, Item 1 is incorporated by reference to
the discussion under the heading "Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings" in the
footnotes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of
this Form 10-Q.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Conseco and its businesses are subject to a number of risks including
general business and financial risk factors. Any or all of such factors could
have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results
of operations of Conseco. Refer to "Risk Factors" in Conseco's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for further discussion of such
risk factors. There have been no material changes in the first three months of
2007 to such risks.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Total number of Maximum number (or
shares (or units) approximate dollar value)
Total Average price purchased as part of shares (or units) that
number of shares paid per share of publicly announced may yet be purchased
Period (or units) (or unit) plans or programs under the plans or programs(a)
------ ---------- --------- ----------------- ---------------------------
(dollars in millions)
January 1 through
January 31........ 1,242,544 $19.87 1,242,544 $325.3
February 1 through
February 28....... - - - 325.3
March 1 through
March 31.......... 290,000 17.03 1,532,544 320.4
---------
Total................. 1,532,544 19.33 1,532,544 320.4
=========
<FN>
- ---------------
(a) On December 21, 2006, the Company announced a common share repurchase
program of up to $150 million. On May 8, 2007, the Company announced that
the maximum amount that was authorized under the common share repurchase
program had been increased to $350 million.
</FN>
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
On May 9, 2007, Eugene M. Bullis, the Company's retiring Chief Financial
Officer, agreed to remain with the Company through June 30, 2007 to provide
transition assistance and such other related services as the Company requests.
He will continue to receive his current salary, insurance and other benefits
during that period. The Company's Human Resources and Compensation Committee
also agreed to pay Mr. Bullis a bonus of $300,000 on June 30, 2007 for his
services to the Company during 2007.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Preferred Dividends.
31.1 Certification Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Certification Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as Adopted 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.
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CONSECO, INC.
Dated: May 9, 2007 By: /s/ Eugene M. Bullis
--------------------
Eugene M. Bullis
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(authorized officer and
principal financial officer)
72