UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-34680
Primerica, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
27-1204330
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1 Primerica Parkway
Duluth, Georgia
30099
(Address of principal executive offices)
(ZIP Code)
(770) 381-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable.
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
PRI
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
As of April 30, 2024, the registrant had 34,411,172 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
2
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited).
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
26
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
45
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
46
Item 5. Other Information
47
Item 6. Exhibits.
Signatures
48
i
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
Assets:
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $3,012,735 in 2024 and $2,935,212 in 2023)
$
2,782,140
2,719,467
Fixed-maturity security held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $1,299,228 in 2024 and $1,334,892 in 2023)
1,376,400
1,386,980
Short-term investments available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $271 in 2024 and $276 in 2023)
271
276
Equity securities, at fair value (historical cost: $22,775 in 2024 and $27,106 in 2023)
26,647
29,680
Trading securities, at fair value (cost: $3,800 in 2024 and $18,761 in 2023)
3,253
18,383
Policy loans and other invested assets
50,835
51,175
Total investments
4,239,546
4,205,961
Cash and cash equivalents
593,399
613,148
Accrued investment income
24,991
23,958
Reinsurance recoverables
2,920,417
3,015,777
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net
3,503,940
3,447,234
Renewal commissions receivable
176,298
190,258
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables
287,459
273,066
Goodwill
127,707
Intangible assets, net (accumulated amortization: $28,875 in 2024 and $26,250 in 2023)
172,400
175,025
Income taxes
120,126
123,514
Operating lease right-of-use assets
52,135
53,693
Other assets
356,025
382,549
Separate account assets
2,334,911
2,395,842
Total assets
14,909,354
15,027,732
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits
6,548,050
6,742,025
Unearned and advance premiums
15,855
14,876
Policy claims and other benefits payable
517,468
513,803
Other policyholders’ funds
421,027
435,094
Note payable
593,909
593,709
Surplus note
1,376,028
1,386,592
197,714
135,247
Operating lease liabilities
60,494
61,358
Other liabilities
581,342
583,434
Payable under securities lending
76,648
99,785
Separate account liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Commitments and Contingent Liabilities note)
Total liabilities
12,723,446
12,961,765
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares in 2024 and 2023; issued and outstanding 34,609 shares in 2024 and 34,996 shares in 2023)
346
350
Paid-in capital
-
Retained earnings
2,285,937
2,276,946
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:
Effect of change in discount rate assumptions on the liability for future policy benefits
92,853
(39,086
)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
(11,691
(2,235
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
(181,537
(170,008
Total stockholders’ equity
2,185,908
2,065,967
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Unaudited
Three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Revenues:
Direct premiums
841,047
817,872
Ceded premiums
(409,764
(405,347
Net premiums
431,283
412,525
Commissions and fees
255,021
231,547
Investment income net of investment expenses
53,591
47,500
Interest expense on surplus note
(15,785
(16,435
Net investment income
37,806
31,065
Realized investment gains (losses)
(985
Other investment gains (losses)
1,298
(3,623
Investment gains (losses)
1,305
(4,608
Other, net
17,415
19,507
Total revenues
742,830
690,036
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims
166,321
163,265
Future policy benefits remeasurement (gain) loss
55
559
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
72,049
67,923
Sales commissions
131,138
110,874
Insurance expenses
63,149
61,125
Insurance commissions
9,634
8,138
Contract acquisition costs
13,533
14,984
Interest expense
6,771
6,690
Other operating expenses
100,944
89,536
Total benefits and expenses
563,594
523,094
Income before income taxes
179,236
166,942
41,332
38,843
Net income
137,904
128,099
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share
3.94
3.47
Diluted earnings per share
3.93
3.46
Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic
34,883
36,710
Diluted
34,937
36,804
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Unaudited
(In thousands)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
Unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
(14,843
38,549
Reclassification adjustment for investment (gains) losses included in net income
(7
3,137
168,086
(181,281
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
(9,456
1,020
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes
143,780
(138,575
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)
32,826
(29,924
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
110,954
(108,651
Total comprehensive income (loss)
248,858
19,448
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – Unaudited
Equity
Common stock:
Balance, beginning of period
368
Repurchases of common stock
(5
(6
Net issuance of common stock
1
Balance, end of period
364
Paid-in capital:
Share-based compensation
14,813
16,622
(1
(2
(14,812
(16,620
Retained earnings:
2,153,617
Dividends
(26,256
(23,910
(102,657
(80,378
2,177,428
(211,329
(122,731
131,939
(142,382
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period
(11,529
32,711
(100,375
(231,382
1,946,410
Dividends declared per share
0.75
0.65
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Unaudited
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in future policy benefits and other policy liabilities
19,794
(9,799
Deferral of policy acquisition costs
(134,768
(126,640
Change in income taxes
30,335
19,524
Investment (gains) losses
(1,305
4,608
Accretion and amortization of investments
(1,040
(309
Depreciation and amortization
7,165
8,547
Change in reinsurance recoverables
47,987
43,397
Change in agent balances, due premiums and other receivables
(13,444
(5,486
Change in renewal commissions receivable
13,961
5,634
Trading securities sold, matured, or called (acquired), net
15,084
(14,808
12,614
12,129
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net
4,562
43,127
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
210,898
175,946
Cash flows from investing activities:
Available-for-sale investments sold, matured or called:
Fixed-maturity securities — sold
5,179
Fixed-maturity securities — matured or called
86,418
80,251
Equity securities — sold
Equity securities — matured or called
4,324
Available-for-sale investments acquired:
Fixed-maturity securities
(168,644
(108,713
Equity securities — acquired
(47
Purchases of property and equipment and other investing activities, net
(8,386
(7,861
Cash collateral received (returned) on loaned securities, net
(23,136
(26,486
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments using securities lending collateral, net
23,136
26,486
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(86,288
(31,186
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid
Common stock repurchased
(109,109
(85,275
Tax withholdings on share-based compensation
(7,460
(9,739
Finance leases
(65
(68
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(142,890
(118,992
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
(1,469
82
Change in cash and cash equivalents
(19,749
25,850
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
489,240
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
515,090
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — Unaudited
(1) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business. Primerica, Inc. (the “Parent Company”), together with its subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or the “Company”), is a leading provider of financial products and services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada through a network of independent contractor sales representatives (“independent sales representatives” or “independent sales force”). We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. Our primary subsidiaries include the following entities: Primerica Financial Services, LLC, a general agency and marketing company; Primerica Life Insurance Company (“Primerica Life”), our principal life insurance company; Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd., a holding company for our Canadian operations, which includes Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Primerica Life Canada”) and PFSL Investments Canada Ltd.; PFS Investments Inc., an investment products company and broker-dealer; and Primerica Health, Inc, a holding company for our senior health operations, which includes e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, “e-TeleQuote”), which markets Medicare-related insurance products underwritten by third-party health insurance carriers to eligible Medicare beneficiaries through its licensed health insurance agents. Primerica Life, domiciled in Tennessee, owns National Benefit Life Insurance Company, a New York insurance company. Vidalia Re, Inc. (“Vidalia Re”) is a special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life. Vidalia Re has entered into a separate coinsurance agreement with Primerica Life whereby Primerica Life has ceded certain level-premium term life insurance policies to Vidalia Re (the “Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement”).
Basis of Presentation. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, generally consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the balance sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the statements of income, comprehensive income, and stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or of the results to be expected in future periods.
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are sufficient to make the information not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report”).
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), liability for future policy benefits (“LFPB”) and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, renewal commissions receivable, income taxes, and valuation of intangible assets and goodwill. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.
Changes to Accounting Policies. All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2023 Annual Report unless otherwise described.
Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to current period reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net income or total stockholders’ equity.
Correction of Immaterial Errors on Previously Issued Financial Statements. As previously disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company identified immaterial errors in amounts presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (“Previously-reported Financial Statements”) related to the measurement of reinsurance recoverables and DAC in conjunction with the adoption of Accounting Standard Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944)—Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (“LDTI”). The resulting impact to our unaudited condensed
consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was an overstatement of benefits and claims, an understatement of future policy benefits remeasurement loss and an understatement of DAC amortization along with the related income tax impact that netted to cause an understatement of net income.
In accordance with FASB ASC 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, the Company evaluated the materiality of these errors quantitatively and qualitatively and concluded that these prior period errors were immaterial to the Previously-reported Financial Statements. As such, the Company revised the prior period financial information included in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, initially presented in the Previously-reported Financial Statements, to correct these errors. The revisions resulted in an increase to net income of $3.0 million, or 2.4%, and increases to each of basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.08, or 2.4% in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared with the Previously-reported Financial Statements. Prior period information included in the notes herein to the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have also been revised as needed.
These errors were specifically related to the Company’s accounting estimates under LDTI and no financial statements prior to the adoption of LDTI were affected. Management detected and corrected these errors during the second quarter of 2023 as previously disclosed, and the errors do not affect financial information subsequent to the date of the Previously-reported Financial Statements.
New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted.
Accounting standard
Adoption date
Description
Effects on the financial statements
Segment Reporting (Topic 280)— Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
ASU 2023-07
Annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. Retrospective transition for all periods presented.
In November 2023, the FASB issued the ASU to enhance segment disclosures. The amendments (1) require disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss; (2) require disclosure of “other segment items” by reportable segment, which is the difference between segment revenue and significant segment expenses; (3) require annual segment disclosures to be included in interim financial statements; (4) clarify that if the CODM uses more than one measure of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, an entity may report one or more of those additional measures; and (5) require disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources.
We do not believe the adoption of the standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We will revise disclosures in accordance with the new standard in our annual 2024 financial statements and for interim periods thereafter.
Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
ASU 2023-09
Annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. Prospective transition, although retrospective transition is permitted.
In December 2023, the FASB issued the ASU to increase income tax transparency through improvements primarily related to the existing rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures. The amendments require (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation; and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction.
The ASU also removes certain disclosure requirements, such as reasonably possible significant changes in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of the reporting date.
We do not believe the adoption of the standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We will revise disclosures in accordance with the new standard in our annual 2025 financial statements.
8
In addition, in March 2024, the SEC issued final rules that include updates to Regulation S-X for climate-related disclosures (the “Climate-Related Disclosures rule”). The Climate-Related Disclosures rule is currently stayed pending the completion of judicial review. The Climate-Related Disclosures rule requires a registrant to disclose in the notes to the financial statements (1) expenditures and losses, and capitalized costs and charges in each case excluding recoveries, incurred or recognized during a fiscal year as a result of severe weather events and other natural conditions; and (2) where material to a company's plan to achieve disclosed climate-related targets or goals, information regarding carbon offsets and renewable energy credits. The adoption of the Climate-Related Disclosures rule will impact our disclosures and may require changes to certain of our processes, systems, and controls. We are currently evaluating existing processes and data to determine what changes may be necessary. If the stay is lifted, the updates to Regulation S-X included in the Climate-Related Disclosures rule would be effective for the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
Recently issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business.
(2) Segment and Geographical Information
Segments. We have three primary operating segments – Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, and Senior Health. We also have a Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.
Notable information included in profit or loss by segment was as follows:
Term life insurance segment
440,412
421,069
Investment and savings products segment
243,716
210,202
Senior health segment
6,880
18,710
Corporate and other distributed products segment
51,822
40,055
Net investment income:
Total net investment income
Amortization of DAC:
70,491
66,068
1,201
1,493
357
362
Total amortization of DAC
Non-cash share-based compensation expense:
2,142
1,850
1,039
993
99
160
9,334
9,071
Total non-cash share-based compensation expense
12,074
Income (loss) before income taxes:
138,367
130,541
65,562
56,106
(14,153
(3,762
(10,540
(15,943
Total income (loss) before income taxes
9
Total assets by segment were as follows:
6,514,070
6,543,923
Investment and savings products segment (1)
2,484,768
2,537,079
404,888
419,110
5,505,628
5,527,620
Geographical Information. Results of operations by country and long-lived assets – primarily tangible assets reported in other assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets – were as follows:
Revenues by country:
United States
647,342
603,850
Canada
95,488
86,186
Long-lived assets by country:
38,575
35,434
2,490
2,636
Other
188
197
Total long-lived assets
41,253
38,267
(3) Investments
Available-for-sale Securities. The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities were as follows:
Amortized cost
Gross unrealized gains
Gross unrealized losses
Fair value
Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value:
Fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies
10,378
11
(514
9,875
Foreign government
168,671
656
(10,507
158,820
States and political subdivisions
144,543
575
(14,894
130,224
Corporates
1,778,147
10,844
(126,858
1,662,133
Residential mortgage-backed securities
513,935
1,089
(68,039
446,985
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
123,895
120
(12,911
111,104
Other asset-backed securities
273,166
(11,206
262,999
Total fixed-maturity securities
3,012,735
14,334
(244,929
Short-term investments
Total fixed-maturity and short-term investments
3,013,006
2,782,411
10
9,974
18
(476
9,516
170,354
1,616
(8,588
163,382
145,779
891
(14,681
131,989
1,723,023
14,787
(120,286
1,617,524
499,771
1,688
(63,928
437,531
127,454
156
(15,443
112,167
258,857
763
(12,262
247,358
2,935,212
19,919
(235,664
2,935,488
2,719,743
All of our AFS mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent beneficial interests in variable interest entities (“VIEs”). We are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement in these VIEs equals the carrying value of the securities.
The scheduled maturity distribution of the AFS fixed-maturity securities portfolio as of March 31, 2024 was as follows:
Due in one year or less
220,907
218,962
Due after one year through five years
731,699
702,785
Due after five years through 10 years
794,837
718,088
Due after 10 years
354,296
321,217
2,101,739
1,961,052
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
910,996
821,088
Total AFS fixed-maturity securities
Expected maturities may differ from scheduled contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Trading Securities. The costs and fair values of the fixed-maturity securities classified as trading securities were as follows:
Cost
3,800
18,761
Held-to-maturity Security. Concurrent with the execution of the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, Vidalia Re entered into a Surplus Note Purchase Agreement (the “Surplus Note Purchase Agreement”) with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Hannover Re”) and a newly formed limited liability company (the “LLC”) owned by a third- party service provider. Under the Surplus Note Purchase Agreement, Vidalia Re issued a surplus note (the “Surplus Note”) to the LLC in exchange for a credit enhanced note from the LLC with an equal principal amount (the “LLC Note”). The principal amount of both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of reserves contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. The LLC Note is guaranteed by Hannover Re through a credit enhancement feature in exchange for a fee, which is reflected in interest expense on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.
The LLC is a VIE as its owner does not have an equity investment at risk that is sufficient to permit the LLC to finance its activities without Vidalia Re or Hannover Re. The Parent Company, Primerica Life, and Vidalia Re share the power to direct the activities of the LLC with Hannover Re, but they do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive any residual returns related to the LLC’s primary risks or sources of variability. Through the credit enhancement feature, Hannover Re is the ultimate risk taker in this transaction and bears the obligation to absorb the LLC’s losses in the event of a Surplus Note default in exchange for the fee. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the LLC and does not consolidate the LLC within its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 5 (Reinsurance) for Hannover Re’s financial strength rating.
The LLC Note is classified as a held-to-maturity debt security in the Company’s invested asset portfolio as we have the positive intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. As of March 31, 2024, the LLC Note had an estimated unrealized holding loss of $77.2
million based on its amortized cost and estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the LLC Note is expected to be at least equal to the estimated fair value of the offsetting Surplus Note. See Note 15 (Debt) for more information on the Surplus Note.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no credit losses have been recognized on the LLC Note.
Investments on Deposit with Governmental Authorities. As required by law, we have investments on deposit with governmental authorities and banks for the protection of policyholders. The fair value of investments on deposit was $7.7 million and $7.3 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Securities Lending Transactions. We participate in securities lending transactions with broker-dealers and other financial institutions to increase investment income with minimal risk. We require minimum collateral on securities loaned equal to 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. We accept collateral in the form of securities, which we are not able to sell or encumber, and to the extent the collateral declines in value below 100%, we require additional collateral from the borrower. Any securities collateral received is not reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also accept collateral in the form of cash, all of which we reinvest. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability representing our obligation to return the collateral. We continue to carry the loaned securities as invested assets on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets during the terms of the loans, and we do not report them as sales. Cash collateral received and reinvested was $76.6 million and $99.8 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Net Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows:
Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)
29,936
25,806
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)
15,785
16,435
Equity securities
390
380
461
(71
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
6,982
5,128
Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement(1)
2,174
2,049
Gross investment income
55,728
49,727
Investment expenses
(2,137
(2,227
The components of investment gains (losses), as well as details on gross realized investment gains (losses) and other investment gains (losses) were as follows:
Realized investment gains (losses):
Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities
49
Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities
(1,034
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Other investment gains (losses):
Credit losses impairment of available-for-sale securities
(2,160
Market gains (losses) recognized in net income during the period on equity securities
1,296
(1,475
Gains (losses) from equity method investments
Gains (losses) from bifurcated options
Gains (losses) on trading securities
The proceeds from sales or other redemptions of AFS securities were as follows:
Proceeds from sales or other redemptions
85,430
12
Accrued Interest. Accrued interest is recorded in accordance with the contractual interest schedule of the underlying security. In the event of default, the Company’s policy is to no longer accrue interest on these securities and to write off any remaining accrued interest. As a result, the Company has made the policy election to not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest.
Credit Losses for AFS Fixed-maturity Securities. The following tables summarize all AFS securities in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded as of March 31, 2024, aggregated by major security type and by length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position:
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Unrealized losses
1,880
(24
7,674
(490
37,766
(644
101,380
(9,863
7,956
(98
106,771
(14,796
133,934
(1,582
1,196,896
(125,276
32,912
(446
350,716
(67,593
2,010
(8
98,186
(12,903
45,700
(208
130,782
(10,998
262,158
(3,010
1,992,405
(241,919
9,188
17,209
(62
104,827
(8,526
4,883
(46
107,021
(14,635
39,783
(907
1,231,694
(119,379
14,872
(142
360,987
(63,786
4,721
(107
97,417
(15,336
41,417
(159
136,841
(12,103
122,885
(1,423
2,047,975
(234,241
The amortized cost of AFS securities with a cost basis in excess of their fair values were $2,499.5 million and $2,406.5 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
As of March 31, 2024, no allowance for credit losses was recorded for AFS securities. Substantially all of the unrealized losses were the result of change in market interest rates compared to the date the securities were acquired rather than the credit quality of the securities, and we have no present intention to dispose of them.
We did not recognize any credit losses on AFS securities for the three months ended March 31, 2024. We recognized $2.2 million for credit losses on AFS securities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. We recognize credit losses on securities due to: (i) our intent to sell them; (ii) adverse credit events indicating that we will not receive the security’s contractual cash flows when contractually due, such as news of an impending filing for bankruptcy; (iii) analyses of the issuer’s most recent financial statements or other information indicating that significant liquidity deficiencies, significant losses and large declines in capitalization exist; and (iv) analyses of rating agency information for issuances with severe ratings downgrades indicating a significant increase in the possibility of default.
Derivatives. We have a deferred loss related to closed forward contracts, which were settled several years ago, that were used to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates that resulted from the net investment in our Canadian operations. The amount of deferred loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income was $26.4 million as of each of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. These deferred losses will not be recognized until such time as we sell or substantially liquidate our Canadian operations, although we have no such intention.
13
(4) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Invested assets recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We classify and disclose all invested assets carried at fair value in one of the following three levels:
As of each reporting period, all assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input (Level 3 being the lowest in the hierarchy) that is significant to the fair value measurement. Significant levels of estimation and judgment are required to determine the fair value of certain of our investments. The factors influencing these estimations and judgments are subject to change in subsequent reporting periods.
The estimated fair value and hierarchy classifications for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Fair value assets:
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities:
3,946
1,658,187
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities:
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities
2,778,194
Total available-for-sale securities
2,778,465
24,038
978
1,631
Trading securities
Separate accounts
Total fair value assets
621,383
5,117,607
5,740,621
Fair value liabilities:
Total fair value liabilities
14
3,951
1,613,573
Mortgage-and asset-backed securities:
246,858
500
2,715,016
2,715,292
27,062
974
1,644
644,161
5,130,491
2,144
5,776,796
In estimating fair value of our investments, we use a third-party pricing service for approximately all of our securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The remaining securities are primarily thinly-traded securities, such as private placements, and are valued using models based on observable inputs on public corporate spreads having similar characteristics (e.g., sector, average life and quality rating), liquidity and yield based on quality rating, average life and U.S. Treasury yields. All observable data inputs are corroborated by independent third-party data. We also corroborate pricing information provided by our third-party pricing service by performing a review of selected securities. Our review activities include: obtaining detailed information about the assumptions, inputs and methodologies used in pricing the security; documenting this information; and corroborating it by comparison to independently obtained prices and/or independently developed pricing methodologies.
Furthermore, we perform internal reasonableness assessments on fair value determinations within our portfolio throughout the year and as of year-end, including pricing variance analyses and comparisons to alternative pricing sources and benchmark returns. If a fair value appears unusual relative to these assessments, we will re-examine the inputs and may challenge a fair value assessment made by the pricing service. If there is a known pricing error, we will request a reassessment by the pricing service. If the pricing service is unable to perform the reassessment on a timely basis, we will determine the appropriate price by requesting a reassessment from an alternative pricing service or other qualified source as necessary. We do not adjust quotes or prices except in a rare circumstance to resolve a known error.
Because many fixed-maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, third-party pricing services generally determine fair value using industry-standard methodologies, which vary by asset class. For corporates, governments, and agency securities, these methodologies include developing prices by incorporating available market information such as U.S. Treasury curves, benchmarking of similar securities including new issues, sector groupings, quotes from market participants and matrix pricing. Observable information is compiled and integrates relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. Additionally, security prices are periodically back-tested to validate and/or refine models as conditions warrant. Market indicators and industry and economic events are also monitored as triggers to obtain additional data. For certain structured securities (such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities) with limited trading activity, third-party pricing services generally use industry-standard pricing methodologies that incorporate market information, such as index prices or discounting expected future cash flows based on underlying collateral, and quotes from market participants, to estimate fair value. If one or more of these input measures are not deemed observable for a particular security, the security will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Where specific market information is unavailable for certain securities, pricing models produce estimates of fair value primarily using Level 2 inputs along with certain Level 3 inputs. These models include matrix pricing. The pricing matrix uses current U.S. Treasury rates and credit spreads received from third-party sources to estimate fair value. The credit spreads incorporate the issuer’s industry- or issuer-specific credit characteristics and the security’s time to maturity, if warranted. Remaining unpriced securities are valued using an estimate of fair value based on indicative market prices that include significant unobservable inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, market information, including the utilization of non-binding broker quotes.
15
The roll-forward of the Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows:
Level 3 assets, beginning of period
1,710
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings
(13
(17
Purchases
2,316
Sales
Settlements
Transfers into Level 3
Transfers out of Level 3
(504
Level 3 assets, end of period
4,009
We obtain independent pricing quotes based on observable inputs as of the end of the reporting period for all securities in Level 2. Those inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers, quoted prices for similar instruments in markets that are not active, and other relevant data. We monitor these inputs for market indicators, industry and economic events. There were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:
Carrying value
Estimated fair value
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) (1)
1,299,228
1,334,892
Short-term investments (available-for-sale)
Policy loans (1)
39,052
38,975
Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (1)
182,684
187,377
Note payable (2) (3)
498,401
508,832
Surplus note (1) (2)
1,296,276
1,329,159
The fair values of financial instruments presented above are estimates of the fair values at a specific point in time using various sources and methods, including market quotations and a complex matrix system that takes into account issuer sector, quality, and spreads in the current marketplace.
Financial Instruments Recognized at Fair Value in the Balance Sheets. Estimated fair values of investments in AFS securities are principally a function of current spreads and interest rates that are corroborated by independent third-party data. Therefore, the fair values presented are indicative of amounts we could realize or settle at the respective balance sheet date. We do not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. Trading securities and equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Segregated funds in separate accounts are carried at the underlying value of the variable insurance contracts, which is fair value.
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accrued investment income, accounts payable, cash collateral and payables for security transactions approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Consequently, such financial instruments are not included in the above table.
(5) Reinsurance
We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. Reinsurance arrangements do not relieve us of our primary obligation to the policyholder.
16
Details on in-force life insurance were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
Direct life insurance in-force
949,216,091
946,756,416
Amounts ceded to other companies
(811,072,619
(810,145,801
Net life insurance in-force
138,143,472
136,610,615
Percentage of reinsured life insurance in-force
85
%
86
Benefits and claims ceded to reinsurers during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $357.0 million and $338.9 million, respectively.
Reinsurance recoverables include ceded policy benefit reserve balances, ceded claim liabilities, and ceded claims paid that have not been reimbursed. The Company allocated reinsurance recoverables estimated at the cohort level to individual reinsurers for disclosure purposes. Reinsurance recoverables estimated by reinsurer and the financial strength ratings of those reinsurers were as follows:
A.M. Best rating
Swiss Re Life and Health America, Inc. (Novated from Pecan Re Inc.) (1)
2,215,368
A+
2,271,223
Munich Re of Malta (1) (2)
229,847
NR
243,890
SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies (3)
147,608
A
160,381
American Health and Life Insurance Company (1)
136,886
B++
141,771
Munich American Reassurance Company
46,557
50,273
Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (4)
44,090
43,873
RGA Reinsurance Company
43,201
43,188
Korean Reinsurance Company
40,133
41,373
All other reinsurers
17,775
20,925
Allowance for credit losses
(1,048
(1,120
NR – not rated by A.M. Best
We estimate and recognize lifetime expected credit losses for reinsurance recoverables. In estimating the allowance for credit losses for reinsurance recoverables, we factor in the underlying collateral for reinsurance agreements where available. Specifically, for reinsurers with underlying trust assets, we compare the reinsurance recoverables balance to the underlying trust assets that mitigate the potential exposure to credit losses. We also analyze the financial condition of the reinsurers, as determined by third-party rating agencies, to determine the probability of default for the reinsurers. We then utilize a third-party credit default study to calculate an expected credit loss given default rate or recovery rate. The probability of default and loss given default rates are then applied to the reinsurers’ recoverable balance, while also factoring in any third-party letters of credit that support the reinsurance agreement, in order to calculate our allowance for credit losses.
The rollforward of the allowance for credit losses on reinsurance recoverables were as follows:
1,120
2,936
Current period provision for expected credit losses
(72
627
Balance, at the end of period
1,048
3,563
(6) Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The balances and activity in DAC were as follows:
17
Three months ended
Year ended
Term Life
Segregated Funds (Canada)
DAC balance, beginning of period
3,366,281
63,029
3,106,148
62,341
Capitalization
135,959
902
521,718
4,353
Amortization
(70,491
(1,201
(268,803
(5,479
Foreign exchange translation and other
(6,560
(1,651
7,218
1,814
DAC balance, at the end of period
3,425,189
61,079
Reconciliation of DAC by product was as follows:
Term Life Insurance
17,672
17,924
Total DAC, net
There were no changes to the judgments, assumptions and methods used to amortize DAC during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
(7) Separate Accounts
The following table represents the fair value of assets supporting separate accounts by major investment category:
Fixed-income securities
802,655
876,524
1,472,006
1,436,122
73,053
87,530
Due to/from funds
(12,824
(4,357
21
23
Total separate account assets
The following table represents the balances of and changes in separate account liabilities:
Separate account liabilities balance, beginning of period
2,305,717
Premiums and deposits
55,773
186,631
Surrenders and withdrawals
(126,228
(343,473
Investment performance
87,443
245,565
Management fees and other charges
(15,115
(62,159
Foreign exchange translation
(62,804
63,561
Separate account liabilities balance, end of period
Cash surrender value
2,300,124
2,354,813
The cash surrender value represents the amount of the contract holders’ account balance distributable at the balance sheet date less the Company’s estimate of the deferred sales charges that would be assessed if the policyholders redeemed their contracts at the balance sheet date. This estimate requires the Company to make certain assumptions regarding the underlying account balances by contribution year and application of the contractually defined deferred sales charges that would be applicable to each contribution year.
(8) Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable
Changes in policy claims and other benefits payable were as follows:
Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period
538,250
Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable
534,674
542,613
Net balance, beginning of period
(20,871
(4,363
Incurred related to current year
69,021
65,820
Incurred related to prior years (1)
(3,967
(2,732
Total incurred
65,054
63,088
Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received
(126,076
(141,557
Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid
40,499
8,422
Total paid
(85,577
(133,135
Foreign currency translation
(250
38
Net balance, end of period
(41,644
(74,372
Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable
559,112
572,855
498,483
The liability for policy claims and other benefits payable on traditional life insurance products includes estimated unpaid claims that have been reported to us and claims incurred but not yet reported. We estimate claims incurred but not yet reported based on our historical claims activity, adjusted for any current trends and conditions, and reported lag time experience.
(9) Future Policy Benefits
The following tables summarize balances and changes in the present value of expected net premiums and the present value of expected future policy benefits underlying the LFPB:
Present Value of Expected Net Premiums
Balance at then current discount rate, beginning of period
13,977,353
13,053,386
Balance at original discount rate, beginning of period
14,012,553
13,521,221
Effect of changes in cash flow assumptions
(5,364
Effect of actual variances from expected experience
(68,167
(229,884
Adjusted balance, beginning of period
13,944,386
13,285,973
Issuances
495,614
1,836,290
Interest accrual at original discount rate
151,049
544,806
Net premiums collected
(429,268
(1,682,924
(28,030
28,408
Expected net premiums at original discount rate, end of period
14,133,751
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions
(295,046
(35,200
Expected net premiums at then current discount rate, end of period
13,838,705
Present Value of Expected Future Policy Benefits
20,508,435
19,143,253
20,391,694
19,706,818
(7,254
(56,046
(225,539
20,335,648
19,474,025
498,175
1,840,996
228,641
856,727
Benefit payments
(490,713
(1,823,542
(42,811
43,488
Expected future policy benefits at original discount rate, end of period
20,528,940
(346,242
116,741
Expected future policy benefits at then current discount rate, end of period
20,182,698
LFPB
6,343,993
6,531,082
Less: reinsurance recoverables
2,905,537
3,001,074
Net LFPB, after reinsurance recoverables
3,438,456
3,530,008
Weighted-average duration of net LFPB (in years)
7.9
19
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, experience variances in persistency and mortality resulted in remeasurement losses of $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The impact of experience variances in persistency and mortality during each period was largely offset by reinsurance. There were no changes to the inputs, judgments, assumptions, and methods used in measuring the LFPB during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023.
Losses recognized as a result of capping the net premium ratio at 100% were immaterial during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The following table reconciles the LFPB to the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets:
204,057
210,943
The following table reconciles the reinsurance recoverables to the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets:
14,880
14,703
The amount of discounted (using the then current discount rate) and undiscounted expected gross premiums and expected future benefit payments were as follows:
Undiscounted
Discounted
Expected future benefit payments
33,603,218
20,182,699
33,342,272
Expected future gross premiums
38,929,359
26,337,620
38,701,869
26,687,880
The amount of revenue and interest recognized in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income were as follows:
Gross premiums
836,322
812,880
Interest accretion (expense)
(77,593
(76,684
The weighted-average discount rates were as follows:
Original discount rate
4.88
4.93
Current discount rate
5.22
4.91
There were no changes to the methods used to determine the discount rates during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
(10) Stockholders’ Equity
The following table shows changes in our outstanding common stock:
Common stock, beginning of period
34,996
36,824
Shares of common stock issued upon exercise of stock options
43
Shares of common stock issued when sales restrictions on restricted stock units (“RSUs”) lapsed and performance-based stock units (“PSUs”) were earned
110
129
Common stock retired
(497
(589
Common stock, end of period
34,609
36,407
20
The above table excludes RSUs and PSUs, which do not have voting rights. As sales restrictions on RSUs lapse and PSUs are earned, we issue common shares with voting rights. As of March 31, 2024, we had a total of 223,730 RSUs and 58,619 PSUs outstanding. The PSU outstanding balance is based on the number of PSUs granted pursuant to the award agreements; however, the actual number of common shares earned could be higher or lower based on actual versus targeted performance. See Note 12 (Share-Based Transactions) for discussion of the PSU award structure.
On November 16, 2023, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $425.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases from November 16, 2023 through December 31, 2024 (the “Share Repurchase Program”). Under the Share Repurchase Program, we repurchased 465,938 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $109.1 million through March 31, 2024. Approximately $315.9 million remains available for repurchases of our outstanding common stock under the Share Repurchase Program as of March 31, 2024.
(11) Earnings Per Share
The Company has outstanding common stock and equity awards that consist of RSUs and PSUs. All previously remaining outstanding stock options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2023. The RSUs maintain non-forfeitable dividend rights that result in dividend payment obligations on a one-to-one ratio with common shares for any future dividend declarations.
Unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share (“EPS”) as they maintain dividend rights. We calculate EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, we allocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. Earnings attributable to unvested participating securities, along with the corresponding share counts, are excluded from EPS as reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.
In calculating basic EPS, we deduct from net income any dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested RSUs and then divide the result by the weighted-average number of common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period.
We determine the potential dilutive effect of PSUs and stock options outstanding (“contingently-issuable shares”) on EPS using the treasury-stock method. Under this method, we determine the proceeds that would be received from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. The proceeds from the contingently-issuable shares include the remaining unrecognized compensation expense of the awards and the cash received for the exercise price on stock options. We then use the average market price of our common shares during the period the contingently-issuable shares were outstanding to determine how many shares we could repurchase with the proceeds raised from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares. The net incremental share count issued represents the potential dilutive securities. We then reallocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs by incorporating the increased fully-diluted share count to determine diluted EPS.
The calculation of basic and diluted EPS was as follows:
Basic EPS:
Numerator:
Income attributable to unvested participating securities
(572
(579
Net income used in calculating basic EPS
137,332
127,520
Denominator:
Weighted-average vested shares
Basic EPS
Diluted EPS:
(578
Net income used in calculating diluted EPS
127,521
Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for contingently-issuable shares
54
94
Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS
Diluted EPS
(12) Share-Based Transactions
The Company has outstanding equity awards under the Primerica, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “OIP”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders on May 13, 2020. The OIP provides for the issuance of equity awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, RSUs, PSUs, and stock payment awards, as well as cash-based awards. In addition to time-based vesting requirements, awards granted under the OIP may also be subject to specified performance criteria. Under the OIP, the Company issues equity awards to our management (officers and other key employees), non-employees who serve on our Board of Directors, and sales force leaders. For more information on equity awards granted under the OIP, see Note 15 (Share-Based Transactions) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2023 Annual Report.
In connection with our granting of equity awards to management and members of the Board of Directors, we recognize expense over the requisite service period of the equity award. We defer and amortize the fair value of equity awards granted to the sales force in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs for those awards that are an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions of life insurance policies that result directly from and are essential to the policy acquisition(s) and would not have been incurred had the policy acquisition(s) not occurred. All equity awards granted to the sales force that are not directly related to the successful acquisition of life insurance policies are recognized as expense as incurred, which is in the quarter granted and earned.
The impact of equity awards granted under the OIP are as follows:
Equity awards expense recognized
12,125
Equity awards expense deferred
2,199
2,523
On February 16, 2024, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors granted the following equity awards to employees as part of the annual approval of management incentive compensation:
All awards granted to employees on February 16, 2024 vest upon voluntary termination of employment by any employee who is “retirement eligible” as of his or her termination date. In order to be retirement eligible, an employee must be at least 55 years old and his or her age plus years of service with the Company must equal at least 75. The number of PSUs that will ultimately be earned for a retirement eligible employee is equal to the amount calculated using the Company’s actual cumulative three-year ROAE and average EPS growth for the performance period even if that employee retires prior to the completion of such relevant three-year performance period.
(13) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
The Company is involved from time-to-time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. These disputes are subject to uncertainties, including the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. As such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these matters.
(14) Other Comprehensive Income
The components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”), including the income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component, were as follows:
22
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes
Unrealized gain (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period
(3,320
8,316
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during period, net of income taxes
(11,523
30,233
Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities
Income tax (expense) benefit on (gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income
659
Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes
2,478
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment
Effect of change in discount rate assumptions on the LFPB:
Change in effect in discount rate assumptions on the LFPB before income taxes
Income tax (expense) benefit on the effect of change in discount rate
assumptions on the LFPB from accumulated OCI to net income
36,147
(38,899
Change in effect in discount rate assumptions on the LFPB, net of income taxes
(15) Debt
Notes Payable. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had outstanding $600.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes (the “Senior Notes”), with an annual interest rate of 2.80% that are scheduled to mature on November 19, 2031. As of March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes. No events of default occurred on the Senior Notes during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Further discussion on the Company’s Senior Notes is included in Note 11 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2023 Annual Report.
Surplus Note. As of March 31, 2024, the principal amount outstanding on the Surplus Note issued by Vidalia Re was $1.4 billion, which is equal to the principal amount of the LLC Note. The principal amounts of the Surplus Note and the LLC Note have reached their peaks and are expected to decrease over time to coincide with the amount of policy reserves being contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. This financing arrangement is non-recourse to the Parent Company and Primerica Life, meaning that neither of these companies has guaranteed the Surplus Note or is otherwise liable for reimbursement for any payments triggered by the LLC Note’s credit enhancement feature. The Parent Company has agreed to support Vidalia Re’s obligation to pay the credit enhancement fee incurred on the LLC Note.
Further discussion on the Company’s LLC Note is included in Note 3 (Investments).
Revolving Credit Facility. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of commercial banks. The Revolving Credit Facility has a scheduled termination date of June 22, 2026. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility are borrowed, at our discretion, on the basis of either a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate loan, or a base rate loan. SOFR rate loans bear interest at a periodic rate equal to one-, three-, or six-month Adjusted Term SOFR, plus an applicable margin. Base rate loans bear interest at the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) one-month Adjusted Term SOFR plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for SOFR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.000% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.000% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.100% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate amount of the $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility that remains undrawn. During the three months ended March 31, 2024,
no amounts were outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. Furthermore, no events of default occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
(16) Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Our revenues from contracts with customers primarily include:
Premiums from insurance contracts we underwrite, fees received from segregated funds insurance contracts, and income earned on our invested assets are excluded from the definition of revenues from contracts with customers in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Further discussion on the Company’s revenues from contracts with customers and revenue recognition policies are included in Note 19 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2023 Annual Report.
The disaggregation of our revenues from contracts with customers were as follows:
Term Life Insurance segment revenues:
12,649
12,233
Total segment revenues from contracts with customers
Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers
427,763
408,836
Total Term Life Insurance segment revenues
Investment and Savings Products segment revenues:
Sales-based revenues
88,746
72,388
Asset-based revenues
114,699
98,104
Account-based revenues
23,180
22,790
3,258
3,120
229,883
196,402
Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers (segregated funds)
13,833
13,800
Total Investment and Savings Products segment revenues
Senior Health segment revenues:
6,077
15,755
803
2,955
Total Senior Health segment revenues
Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues:
8,486
8,710
705
1,199
9,191
9,909
42,631
30,146
Total Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues
24
Renewal Commissions Receivable. For revenue associated with ongoing renewal commissions in the Senior Health and Corporate and Other Distributed Products segments, we record a renewal commission receivable asset for the amount of ongoing renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in reporting periods subsequent to the satisfaction of the performance obligation, less amounts that are constrained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We update our estimate of variable consideration each period as new facts or circumstances that were not available at the time of the initial estimate will indicate that the expected renewal commissions are higher or lower than our renewal commissions receivable. As such, the expected renewal commissions receivable will be written down or up to its revised expected value by adjustments to revenue, which we refer to as tail revenue adjustments.
Activity in the Renewal commissions receivable account was as follows:
Senior Health segment:
128,886
139,399
Commissions revenue
6,324
9,062
Less: collections
(11,436
(14,262
Tail revenue adjustment from change in estimate
(7,841
115,933
134,199
Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment:
61,372
60,644
5,039
5,370
(6,046
(5,804
60,365
60,210
Incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts, most notably sales commissions to the sales representatives, are not incurred prior to the recognition of the related revenue. Therefore, we have no assets recognized for incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts.
(17) Subsequent Event
In April 2024, the Company executed agreements providing for the payment of certain claims filed by the Company under a Representation and Warranty insurance policy negotiated and purchased in connection with the acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021. The claims made by the Company involved breaches of certain representations and warranties relating to the pre-acquisition financial statements made by the sellers of e-TeleQuote in connection with the acquisition. The Company will recognize a gain in earnings during the three months ended June 30, 2024 of $50.0 million, which is equal to the aggregate proceeds to be received from the third party insurers under the policy, reflecting the full coverage under the policy.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Primerica, Inc. (the “Parent Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or the “Company”) for the period from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with MD&A and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that constitute our plans, estimates and beliefs. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the 2023 Annual Report and in Item 1A of this Report. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
Business Overview
We are a leading provider of financial products and services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada primarily through a network of independent contractor sales representatives (“independent sales representatives” or “independent sales force”). We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments, Medicare-related insurance products and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We have three primary operating segments, Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, and Senior Health, and a fourth segment, Corporate and Other Distributed Products.
Term Life Insurance. We distribute the term life insurance products that we underwrite through our three issuing life insurance company subsidiaries: Primerica Life Insurance Company (“Primerica Life”), National Benefit Life Insurance Company (“NBLIC”), and Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Primerica Life Canada”). Policies remain in-force until the expiration of the coverage period or until the policyholder ceases to make premium payments. Our in-force term life insurance policies have level premiums for the stated term period. As such, the policyholder pays the same amount each year. Initial policy term periods are between 10 and 35 years. While premiums typically remain level during the initial term period, our claim obligations generally increase as our policyholders age. In addition, we incur significant up-front costs in acquiring new insurance business.
Investment and Savings Products. In the United States, we distribute mutual funds, managed investments, variable annuity, and fixed annuity products of several third-party companies. We provide investment advisory and administrative services for client assets invested in our managed investments program. We also perform distinct transfer agent recordkeeping services and non-bank custodial services for investors purchasing certain mutual funds we distribute. In Canada, we offer mutual funds of other companies and segregated funds, which are underwritten by Primerica Life Canada.
Senior Health. In the United States, we distribute Medicare-related insurance products to eligible Medicare beneficiaries and enroll eligible Medicare beneficiaries in coverage utilizing licensed health insurance agents through our subsidiary, e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. (“e-TeleQuote”) (dba easyMed Insurance Services). The health insurance products we distribute are underwritten and administered by third-party health insurance carriers and primarily consist of Medicare Advantage enrollments. Contract acquisition costs are incurred up front when policy applications are approved and include costs associated with generating or acquiring leads, as well as fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives, and compensation, licensing, and training costs incurred for e-TeleQuote’s workforce of licensed health insurance agents. e-TeleQuote’s licensed health insurance agents are employees of the Company. We receive compensation from the third-party health insurance carriers in the form of initial commissions when eligible Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled and renewal commissions upon the anniversary of the effective date, for as long as policies remain in-force.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment consists primarily of revenues and expenses related to other distributed products, including closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, prepaid legal services, mortgage originations, and other financial products. These products, except for closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, are distributed pursuant to distribution arrangements with third-party companies through the independent sales force. Net investment income earned on cash, cash equivalents, and our invested asset portfolio is recorded in the
Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment. Interest expense incurred by the Company is attributed to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.
Business Trends and Conditions
The relative strength and stability of financial markets and economies in the United States and Canada affect our growth and profitability. Our business is, and we expect will continue to be, influenced by a number of industry-wide and product-specific trends and conditions. Economic conditions, including unemployment levels and consumer confidence, influence investment and spending decisions by middle-income consumers, who are generally our primary clients. These conditions and factors also impact prospective recruits’ perceptions of the business opportunity that becoming an independent sales representative offers, which can drive or dampen recruiting. Consumer spending and borrowing levels affect how consumers evaluate their savings and debt management plans. In addition, interest rates and equity market returns impact consumer demand for the savings and investment products we distribute. Our customers’ perception of the strength of the capital markets may also influence their decisions to invest in the investment and savings products we distribute.
The financial and distribution results of our operations in Canada, as reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As a result, changes in the Canadian dollar exchange rate may significantly affect the results of our business for all amounts translated and reported in U.S. dollars.
Significant volatility in capital markets in recent periods has continued to impact our business. Volatility in capital markets has influenced product sales and client asset values that drive revenue in the Investment and Savings Products segment. In addition, the sharp rise in market interest rates during 2022 has largely driven the unrealized losses that have accumulated in our investment portfolio. We have not recognized losses caused by interest rate volatility in the income statement as we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose of them. Increased interest rates have also led to increases in net investment income as we are able to earn higher returns on our new debt securities purchases and cash balances.
Significant inflation that followed the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an elevated cost of living for middle-income families. We believe that the elevated cost of living has adversely impacted persistency for term life insurance policies. While the rate of inflation has been normalizing from its peak in 2022, lapses of term life insurance policies have remained above long-term historical levels. The continuation of the elevated cost of living could adversely impact demand for our products.
The effects of these trends and conditions on our quarterly results are discussed below in the Results of Operations and Financial Condition sections.
Size of the Independent Sales Force.
Our ability to increase the size of the independent sales force (“independent sales representatives” or “independent sales force”) is largely based on the success of the independent sales force’s recruiting efforts as well as training and motivating recruits to get licensed to sell life insurance. We believe that recruitment and licensing levels are important to independent sales force trends, and growth in recruiting and licensing is usually indicative of future growth in the overall size of the independent sales force. Recruiting changes do not always result in commensurate changes in the size of the licensed independent sales force because new recruits may obtain the requisite licenses at rates above or below historical levels.
Details on recruiting and life-licensed independent sales representative activity were as follows:
New recruits
110,710
93,540
New life-licensed independent sales representatives
12,949
11,118
The number of new recruits increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The Company has experienced increased recruiting as the size of the sales force grows. In addition, positive sentiment regarding interest in our business opportunity along with the demand for supplemental income likely contributed to the increase in recruiting.
New life-licensed independent sales representatives increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 as the pipeline of recruits has increased year-over-year.
The size of the life-licensed independent sales force was as follows:
March 31, 2023
Life-licensed independent sales representatives, at period end
142,855
136,430
The number of life-licensed independent sales representatives increased as of March 31, 2024, reflecting the strong recruiting and licensing activity discussed above.
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Term Life Insurance Product Sales and Face Amount In-Force.
The average number of life-licensed independent sales representatives and the number of term life insurance policies issued, as well as the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative (historically between 0.20 and 0.24), were as follows:
Average number of life-licensed independent sales representatives
141,855
135,366
Number of new policies issued
86,587
84,561
Average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative
0.20
0.21
The average number of life-licensed independent sales representatives increased for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from the same period in 2023 as a result of strong recruiting and licensing activity that drove growth in the size of the sales force as discussed above.
New policies issued during the three months ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to year-over-year growth in the number of life-licensed independent sales representatives.
Productivity in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, measured by the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative, was in line with our historical range.
The changes in the face amount of our in-force book of term life insurance policies were as follows:
% of beginning balance
(Dollars in millions)
Face amount in force, beginning of period
944,609
916,808
Net change in face amount:
Issued face amount
28,725
28,124
Terminations
(23,323
)%
(22,211
Foreign currency
(2,911
*
124
Net change in face amount
2,491
6,037
Face amount in force, end of period
947,100
922,845
* Less than 1%.
The face amount of term life insurance policies in-force increased for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as the face amount issued continued to exceed the face amount terminated. Issued face amount during the three months ended March 31, 2024 increased slightly due to the increase in the number of new policies issued as discussed above. Policy terminations increased slightly year-over-year but were consistent when measured as a percentage of beginning face amount in force. Policy terminations were elevated in both periods with the high cost of living a likely key contributing factor.
Investment and Savings Product Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions.
Investment and savings product sales were as follows:
Change
Product sales:
U.S. retail mutual funds
1,162
972
190
Canada retail mutual funds - with up-front sales commissions
180
150
30
Annuities and other
837
637
200
31
Total sales-based revenue generating product sales
2,179
1,759
420
Managed investments
371
306
65
Canada retail mutual funds - no up-front sales commissions
183
Segregated funds
52
(29
(56
Total product sales
2,770
2,300
470
The rollforward of asset values in client accounts was as follows:
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Asset values, beginning of period
96,735
83,949
Net change in asset values:
Inflows
Redemptions
(2,497
(3
(1,658
Net flows
273
642
Change in fair value, net
6,724
3,014
Foreign currency, net
(392
Net change in asset values
6,605
3,672
Asset values, end of period
103,340
87,621
Average client asset values were as follows:
Average client asset values:
49,013
42,097
6,916
Canada retail mutual funds
12,850
11,345
1,505
26,489
23,473
3,016
8,806
7,338
1,468
2,344
2,329
Total average client asset values
99,502
86,582
12,920
Average number of fee-generating positions was as follows:
Positions
(Positions in thousands)
Average number of fee-generating positions (1):
Recordkeeping and custodial
2,359
Recordkeeping only
847
829
Total average number of fee-generating positions
3,206
3,145
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Changes in Investment and Savings Product Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Product sales. Investment and savings product sales increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to increased demand across all product lines except for Canadian segregated funds. The increase in demand by investors is likely driven by strong equity market performance in the period leading up to and including the first quarter of 2024. Marginally offsetting the increase in product sales were lower year-over-year sales of Canadian segregated funds, as the Company discontinued sales of investments in new Canadian segregated funds accounts in 2023 due to new regulations in Canada. Refer to the MD&A section of the 2023 Annual Report for more information on regulations impacting Canadian segregated funds.
Rollforward of client asset values. Ending client asset values increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to the difference in market performance during each respective period.
Average client asset values. Average client asset values increased for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase was driven by the timing and changes in market conditions that affected the balance of client assets during each period combined with the impact of continued positive net flows between the periods.
Average number of fee-generating positions. The average number of fee-generating positions increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to the cumulative effect of retail mutual fund sales in recent periods that led to an increase in the number of retail mutual fund positions serviced on our transfer agent recordkeeping platform.
Senior Health Key Performance Indicators.
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Submitted Policies, Approved Policies and Policies Sourced by Primerica Independent Sales Representatives
Submitted policies. Submitted policies represent the number of completed applications that the applicants have authorized e-TeleQuote to submit to the health insurance carriers. The applicant may need to take additional action, including providing subsequent information, before the application is reviewed by the health insurance carrier.
Approved policies. Approved policies represent an estimate of submitted policies approved by the health insurance carriers for the identified product during the indicated period. Not all approved policies will go in force. In general, the relationship between submitted policies and approved policies has been seasonally consistent. Therefore, factors impacting the number of submitted policies generally impact the number of approved policies.
Policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives. Primerica independent sales representatives become certified to refer eligible Medicare participants to e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents for potential enrollment in policies distributed by e-TeleQuote after completion of a brief certification course offered by Primerica. The number of submitted policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives measures the number of Senior Health policies submitted by e-TeleQuote to its third-party health insurance carriers that originated through the Primerica independent sales force.
The number of Senior Health submitted policies, approved policies, and submitted policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives were as follows:
Number of Senior Health submitted policies
16,068
19,826
Number of Senior Health approved policies
15,023
18,413
Submitted policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives
2,051
2,073
The Senior Health segment experiences notable seasonality with the strongest demand occurring in the fourth quarter due to the Medicare Annual Election Period (“AEP”) from October 15th to December 7th. We also experience seasonally higher demand in the first quarter due to the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (“OEP”) from January 1st to March 31st, which allows individuals to switch Medicare Advantage plans. Meanwhile, the second and third quarters experience seasonally lower demand as the focus for submitted policies is limited to beneficiaries that are dual eligible (Medicare and Medicaid), qualify for a special enrollment period, recently aged into Medicare or are enrolling off of an employer-sponsored plan, and other less common situations.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the number of submitted and approved policies decreased compared with the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to a decline in the number of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents and the effect of an industry-wide service disruption at a thirty-party service provider that impacted the ability of our licensed health insurance agents to verify certain plan eligibility and levels, which negatively impacted productivity. The number of submitted policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives remained relatively consistent during the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Lifetime Value of Commissions and Contract Acquisition Costs
Lifetime value of commissions (“LTV”). LTV represents the cumulative total of commissions and administrative fees estimated to be collected over the expected life of a policy for policies approved during the period. For more information on LTV, refer to Note 19 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) of our consolidated financial statements within our 2023 Annual Report and the Factors Affecting our Results – Senior Health Segment section of MD&A included elsewhere in this report.
Contract acquisition costs (“CAC”). CAC represents the total direct costs incurred to acquire approved policies. CAC are primarily comprised of the costs associated with generating or acquiring leads, including fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives, as well as compensation, licensing, and training costs associated with our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents in addition to per policy technology costs. The number of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents, agent tenure, attrition rate and productivity all impact CAC. Other than costs incurred to assist beneficiaries who are switching plans with the same health insurance carrier, we incur the entire cost of approved policies prior to enrollment and prior to receiving our first commission-related payment.
Per policy metrics for LTV and CAC measure our ability to profitably distribute Senior Health insurance products.
The LTV per approved policy, CAC per approved policy, and ratio of LTV to CAC per approved policy were as follows:
LTV per approved policy during the period
926
856
CAC per approved policy during the period
901
814
LTV/CAC per approved policy
1.03
1.05
LTV per approved policy reflects current estimates for renewal rates, policy retention and chargeback activity taking into consideration the most recent experience through March 31, 2024. LTV per approved policy increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to the inclusion of the majority of marketing development revenue in LTV due to changes in carrier contracts, as well as higher commission rates from annual rate increases. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2023, all marketing development revenue received from carriers was recognized in Other, net revenue. The increases in LTV were partially offset by lower renewal retention rates experienced during the three months ended March 31, 2024 due to an increased number of beneficiaries who changed plans, likely driven by improved plan offerings by certain carriers.
CAC per approved policy increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to the implementation of a third-party plan enrollment provider and additional investments in onboarding and training new agents.
Regulatory Changes.
Fiduciary standards for investment recommendations. In April 2024, the DOL issued a fiduciary rule package that revises the fiduciary definition and amends certain prohibited transaction exemptions relied on by fiduciaries subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 for the receipt of compensation. In response to prior rulemakings and guidance, our business already utilizes the DOL’s prohibited transaction exemption established in 2020 for fiduciary recommendations. While its effective date is not until September 2024, we will not make substantial adjustments to our Investment and Savings Products business operations in response to this rule.
Restrictions on compensation models in Canada. In response to regulatory changes in Canada by the Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA,” the provincial and territorial securities commissions), we developed a set of mutual fund products with two third-party mutual fund companies that are sold exclusively by our independent sales representatives (the “Principal Distributor funds”). The revenue we receive is primarily in the form of asset-based distribution fees from the mutual fund companies and asset-based service fees that are charged to investors. In turn, the primary compensation we offer independent sales representatives is the option of an up-front sales commission or higher asset-based commissions over time. Although we received the requisite approval, the CSA, as they indicated to us at the outset, is closely examining the model, and we expect there will be a public consultation on related sales practices, and may require undertakings or consider future amendments that would require modifications to the model, including with respect to its up-front commission features. At this time, we cannot quantify the financial impact, if any, of future changes to our business that may be necessary if our Principal Distributor funds model is required to be modified or discontinued.
Factors Affecting Our Results
Term Life Insurance Segment. The Term Life Insurance segment results are primarily driven by sales volumes, how closely actual experience matches our pricing assumptions, terms and use of reinsurance, and expenses.
Sales and policies in-force. Sales of term policies and the size and characteristics of our in-force book of policies are vital to our results over the long term. Premium revenue is recognized as it is earned over the term of the policy. However, because we incur significant cash outflows at or about the time policies are issued, including the payment of sales commissions and underwriting costs, changes in life insurance sales volume in a period will have a more immediate impact on our cash flows than on revenue.
Historically, we have found that while sales volume of term life insurance products between fiscal periods may vary based on a variety of factors, the productivity of sales representatives generally remains within a range (i.e., an average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative between 0.20 and 0.24). The volume of term life insurance products sales will fluctuate in the short term, but over the longer term, our sales volume generally correlates to the size of the independent sales force.
Actuarial assumptions. The actuarial assumptions that underlie our reserves are based upon our best estimates of mortality, persistency, and disability. Our results will be affected to the extent there is a variance between our actuarial assumptions and actual experience. These variances will be reflected in our financial results by unlocking assumptions and cash flows underlying the liability for future policy benefits (“LFPB”) and ceded reserves that are part of the reinsurance recoverables. See Note 9 (Future Policy Benefits) for more information on LFPB. The variances are also reflected in the projection of future face amount that is the basis for amortizing deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”).
Reinsurance. We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. We have generally reinsured between 80% and 90% of the mortality risk on term life insurance (excluding coverage under certain riders) on a quota share YRT basis. To the extent actual mortality experience is more or less favorable than the contractual rate, the reinsurer will earn incremental profits or bear the incremental cost, as applicable. In contrast to coinsurance, which is intended to eliminate all risks (other than counterparty risk of the reinsurer) and rewards associated with a specified percentage of the block of policies subject to the reinsurance arrangement, the YRT reinsurance arrangements we enter into are intended only to reduce volatility associated with variances between estimated and actual mortality rates.
In 2010, as part of our corporate reorganization and the initial public offering of our common stock, we entered into significant coinsurance transactions (the “IPO coinsurance transactions”) with entities then affiliated with Citigroup, Inc. (collectively, the “IPO coinsurers”) and ceded between 80% and 90% of the risks and rewards of term life insurance policies that were in-force at year-end 2009. We administer all such policies subject to these coinsurance agreements. Policies reaching the end of their initial level term period are no longer ceded under the IPO coinsurance transactions.
The effect of our reinsurance arrangements on ceded premiums and benefits and expenses on our statements of income follows:
We may alter our reinsurance practices at any time due to the unavailability of YRT reinsurance at attractive rates or the availability of alternatives to reduce our risk exposure. We intend to continue ceding approximately 90% of our U.S. and Canadian mortality risk on new business.
Expenses. Results are also affected by variances in client acquisition, maintenance and administration expense levels.
Investment and Savings Products Segment. The Investment and Savings Products segment results are primarily driven by sales, the value of assets in client accounts for which we earn ongoing management, marketing and support, and distribution fees, and the number of transfer agent recordkeeping positions and non-bank custodial fee-generating accounts we administer.
Sales. We earn commissions and fees, such as dealer re-allowances and marketing and distribution fees, based on sales of mutual fund products and annuities in the United States and sales of certain mutual fund products in Canada. Sales of investment and savings products are influenced by the overall demand for investment products in the United States and Canada, as well as by the size and productivity of the independent sales force. We generally experience seasonality in the Investment and Savings Products segment results due to our high concentration of sales of retirement account products. These accounts are typically funded in February through April, coincident with our clients’ tax return preparation season. While we believe the size of the independent sales force is a factor in driving sales volume in this segment, there are a number of other variables, such as economic and market conditions, which may have a significantly greater effect on sales volume in any given fiscal period.
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Asset values in client accounts. We earn marketing and distribution fees (trail commissions or, with respect to U.S. mutual funds, 12b-1 fees) on mutual fund and annuity assets in the United States and Canada. In the United States, we also earn investment advisory and administrative fees on assets in managed investments. In Canada, we earn marketing, distribution, and shareholder services fees on mutual fund assets for which we serve as the principal distributor and management fees on the segregated funds for which we serve as investment manager. Asset values are influenced by new product sales, ongoing contributions to existing accounts, redemptions and the change in market values in existing accounts. While we offer a wide variety of asset classes and investment styles, our clients’ accounts are primarily invested in equity funds. Volatility in equity markets will impact the value of assets in client accounts and, as a result, the revenue we earn on those assets.
Positions. We earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees for administrative functions we perform on behalf of several of our mutual fund providers. An individual client account may include multiple fund positions for which we earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees. We may also receive fees earned for non-bank custodial services that we provide to clients with retirement plan accounts.
Sales mix. While our investment and savings products all provide similar long-term economic returns to the Company, our results in a given fiscal period will be affected by changes in the overall mix of products within these categories. Examples of changes in the sales mix that influence our results include the following:
Senior Health Segment. The Senior Health segment results are primarily driven by the number of approved policies, LTV per approved policy and tail revenue adjustments, CAC per approved policy, and other revenue.
Approved policies. Approved policies represent an estimate of submitted policies approved by the health insurance carriers for the identified product during the indicated period. Not all approved policies will go in force. In general, the relationship between the number of submitted policies and approved policies has been seasonally consistent. Therefore, factors impacting the number of submitted policies generally impact the number of approved policies. Revenue is primarily generated from approved policies and LTVs are recorded when the enrollment is approved by the applicable health insurance carrier. Medicare Advantage plans make up nearly all of the approved policies we distribute. The number of approved policies is influenced by the following:
LTV per approved policy and tail revenue adjustments. When a policy is approved by the health insurance carrier, commission revenue is recognized based on an estimated LTV per approved policy. LTV per approved policy is the cumulative total of commissions (including administrative and marketing development payments received on a per approved policy basis) estimated to be collected over the expected life of a policy, subject to constraints applied in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Specifically, LTV per approved policy is equal to the sum of the initial commissions and payments, less an estimate of chargebacks for paid policies that are disenrolled during the first policy year, plus forecasted renewal commissions. This estimate is driven by several factors including, but not limited to, commission rates from health insurance carriers, expected policy turnover, emerging chargeback activity and applied constraints. These factors may result in varying values from period to period.
We recognize adjustments to revenue outside of LTV for approved policies from prior periods when our cash collections are, or are expected to be, different from the estimated constrained LTVs, which we refer to as tail revenue adjustments. The recognition of tail revenue adjustments results from a change in the estimate of expected cash collections when actual cash collections or communicated
33
rate increases have indicated a trend that is different from the estimated constrained LTV. Tail revenue adjustments can be positive or negative and we recognize positive adjustments to revenue when we do not believe it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue will occur.
CAC per approved policy. Results are also driven by the costs of acquisition, which is defined as the total direct costs incurred per approved policy. Our costs of acquisition are primarily comprised of the cost to generate and acquire leads, including fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives, and the labor, benefits, bonus compensation, licensing and training costs associated with our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents. Other than costs incurred to assist beneficiaries with switching plans within the same carrier, we incur our entire cost of approved policies prior to enrollment and prior to receiving our first commission related payment. Factors that impact our costs of acquisition per approved policy include:
Other revenue. Other revenue recognized in the Senior Health segment includes other revenue received for providing marketing services and health risk assessment services to certain health insurance carriers. Marketing development revenue is based on agreed-upon objectives with certain health insurance carriers. Marketing development revenue serves to offset contract acquisition costs associated with the distribution of approved policies. Agreements for marketing development revenue are generally short-term in nature and can vary from period to period. Marketing development payments received on a per approved policy basis are recognized in commissions and fees revenue. Health risk assessment services generate revenue from health insurance carriers by collecting information from beneficiaries during the sales process.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment. We earn revenues and pay commissions and referral fees within the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment for mortgage loan originations, prepaid legal services, auto and homeowners’ insurance referrals, and other financial products, all of which are originated by third parties. The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes in-force policies from several discontinued lines of insurance underwritten by NBLIC.
The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment includes net investment income recognized by the Company. Net investment income is impacted by the size and performance of our invested asset portfolio, which can be influenced by interest rates, credit spreads, and the mix of invested assets. Net investment income also is influenced by short-term interest rates and the amount of cash and cash equivalents on hand.
The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes corporate income and expenses not allocated to our other segments, general and administrative expenses (other than expenses that are allocated to the Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, or Senior Health segments), interest expense on notes payable, a redundant reserve financing transaction and our revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”), as well as realized gains and losses on our invested asset portfolio.
Capital Structure. Our financial results are affected by our capital structure, which includes our senior unsecured notes (the “Senior Notes”), a redundant reserve financing transaction, our Revolving Credit Facility, and our common stock. See Note 10 (Stockholders’ Equity), Note 13 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities), and Note 15 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on changes in our capital structure.
Foreign Currency. The Canadian dollar is the functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries and our consolidated financial results, reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As such, the translated amount of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities attributable to our Canadian subsidiaries will be higher or lower in periods where the Canadian dollar appreciates or weakens relative to the U.S. dollar, respectively. See Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Canadian Currency Risk included in our 2023 Annual Report and Note 2 (Segment and Geographical Information) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on our Canadian subsidiaries and the impact of foreign currency on our financial results.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2023 Annual Report. The most significant items on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets are based on fair value determinations, accounting estimates and actuarial determinations, which are susceptible to changes in future periods and could affect our results of operations and financial position.
34
The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of our results of operations and financial position are those related to DAC, future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, income taxes, renewal commissions receivable, goodwill and the valuation of investments. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Accounting Policy Changes.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, there were no changes in accounting methodology for items that we have identified as critical accounting estimates. For additional information regarding our critical accounting estimates, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of MD&A included in our 2023 Annual Report.
Results of Operations
Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results. Our results of operations were as follows:
23,175
4,417
18,758
23,474
6,091
(650
(4
6,741
992
4,921
5,913
(2,092
(11
52,794
3,056
Amortization of DAC
4,126
20,264
2,024
1,496
(1,451
(10
81
11,408
40,500
12,294
2,489
9,805
* Less than 1% or not meaningful.
Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Total revenues. Total revenues increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 due to increases in net premiums earned in our Term Life Insurance segment, commissions and fees earned in our Investment and Savings Products segment, and net investment income and investment gains earned in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment. These movements are further discussed in detail in the Segment Results sections below.
Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 largely due to higher sales commissions in our Investment and Savings Products segment as well as an increase in other operating expenses. Also contributing to the year-over-year increase are higher benefits and claims and DAC amortization in our Term Life Insurance segment. These movements are discussed in further detail in the Segment Results section below.
Income taxes. Our effective income tax rate of 23.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was relatively consistent with the effective income tax rate of 23.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
For additional information, see the Segment Results discussions below.
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Segment Results
Term Life Insurance Segment. Our results for the Term Life Insurance segment were as follows:
23,442
(408,559
(404,044
4,515
18,927
416
19,343
163,847
158,938
4,909
(319
1,036
(1,355
4,423
61,979
59,896
2,083
6,047
4,590
1,457
302,045
290,528
11,517
7,826
Net premiums. Direct premiums increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 largely due to the layering effect of new policy sales that contributed to growth in the in-force book of business. This increase was partially offset by an increase in ceded premiums, which includes $11.9 million in higher non-level YRT reinsurance ceded premiums as business not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions ages, reduced by $7.4 million in lower coinsurance ceded premiums due to the run-off of business subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions.
Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Direct benefits and claims increased with the growth in the business. Year-over-year claims incurred during the three month period in 2024 were higher compared to the three month period in 2023 and in line with the growth in the in-force book of business.
Future policy benefits remeasurement (gain) loss. Future policy benefits remeasurement was a gain during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to a loss during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and represents differences in experience variances that occurred in each respective period. No significant adjustments have been made in either period.
Amortization of DAC. The amortization of DAC increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to continued growth in the in-force book of business.
Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 due to higher growth-related and employee-related costs. These increases were partially offset by lower technology costs for the segment as the 2023 period included technology spending associated with the launch of our new term life insurance products.
Insurance commissions. Insurance commissions increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to higher spending on non-deferrable sales force promotional activities.
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Investment and Savings Products Segment. Investment and Savings Products segment results were as follows:
Commissions and fees:
16,358
128,532
111,904
16,628
138
33,514
Expenses:
(292
(20
3,400
3,308
92
Sales commissions:
Sales-based
62,814
52,452
10,362
Asset-based
64,208
54,276
9,932
46,531
42,567
3,964
Total expenses
178,154
154,096
24,058
9,456
Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 driven by higher sales-based and asset-based revenues. The increase in sales-based revenue was largely the result of higher product sales for variable annuities and U.S. mutual fund product sales. Higher asset-based revenues were driven by an increase in average client assets in the 2024 period versus the prior year period.
Sales commissions. The increase in sales-based commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 was generally in line with the increases in sales-based revenues although modestly lower due to a mix shift towards higher margin variable annuity sales. Asset-based commissions were up for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and were consistent with the movement in asset-based revenues when excluding Canadian segregated funds revenue. Asset-based expenses for our Canadian segregated funds are reflected within insurance commissions and amortization of DAC.
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to higher growth-related and employee-related costs.
Senior Health Segment. Senior Health segment results were as follows:
Commissions and fees (1)
(9,678
(61
(2,152
(73
(11,830
(63
7,500
7,488
21,033
22,472
(1,439
Loss before income taxes
10,391
Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to a $7.8 million negative tail adjustment during the three months ended March 31, 2024 resulting from lower than expected renewals attributable to policy churn at certain health insurance carriers. There was no tail revenue adjustment during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Additionally, approved policy sales volumes were lower in the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, which also contributed to the reduction in
37
commissions and fees revenue. These decreases were partially offset by higher LTVs per approved policy compared to the prior year period. LTVs per approved policy included most marketing development revenue in 2024 while LTVs in 2023 did not include marketing development revenue based on changes made to contracts with carriers.
Other, net. Other, net decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to the change in presentation of approximately $3 million in marketing development revenues in the current period that are now earned on a per policy basis and presented in commissions and fees revenue as part of LTV instead of in Other, net revenue.
Contract acquisition costs. Total CAC decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to lower approved policy sales volumes partially offset by higher per unit CAC as described earlier in the Business Trends and Conditions section.
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses did not change significantly during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment. Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment results were as follows:
4,725
4,992
(267
(1,205
(1,303
3,520
3,689
(169
(224
(494
(41
11,767
2,474
4,327
(1,853
(43
374
(477
851
1,170
1,229
(59
187
240
(53
(22
4,116
4,146
(30
46,913
39,481
7,432
62,362
55,998
6,364
Income (loss) before income taxes
(5,403
(34
Total revenues. Total revenues increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to higher net investment income and investment gains. Net investment income increased $3.7 million from higher yields in the invested asset portfolio, $2.0 million from a larger invested asset portfolio, and a $0.1 million higher total return on the deposit asset backing our 10% coinsurance agreement compared to the same period in the prior year. Investment income net of investment expenses includes interest earned on our held-to-maturity asset, which is offset by interest expense on the surplus note (“Surplus Note”), thereby eliminating any impact on net investment income. Amounts recognized for each line item will remain offsetting and will fluctuate from period to period along with the principal amounts of the held-to-maturity asset and the Surplus Note based on the balance of reserves being contractually supported under a redundant reserve financing transaction used by Vidalia Re, Inc. (“Vidalia Re”). For more information on the Surplus Note, see Note 3 (Investments) and Note 15 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Investment gains increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to investment losses during the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to a $1.3 million positive mark-to-market adjustment on equity securities held within our investment portfolio during the 2024 period compared to a $1.5 million negative mark-to-market adjustment during the 2023 period. In addition, there was a $2.2 million credit loss recognized for debt securities associated with a specific issuer that we had designated as intending to sell during the 2023 period.
Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 due to higher infrastructure technology costs and employee-related costs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in benefits and claims as a result of better year-over-year claims experience in our closed blocks of non-term life insurance.
Financial Condition
Investments. Our insurance business is primarily focused on selling term life insurance, which does not include an investment component for the policyholder. The invested asset portfolio funded by premiums from our term life insurance business does not involve the substantial asset accumulations and spread requirements that exist with other non-term life insurance products. As a result, the profitability of our term life insurance business is not as sensitive to the impact that interest rates have on our invested asset portfolio and investment income as the profitability of other companies that distribute non-term life insurance products.
We follow a conservative investment strategy designed to emphasize the preservation of our invested assets and provide adequate liquidity for the prompt payment of claims. To meet business needs and mitigate risks, our investment guidelines provide restrictions on our portfolio’s composition, including limits on asset type, per issuer limits, credit quality limits, portfolio duration, limits on the amount of investments in approved countries and permissible security types. We also manage and monitor our allocation of investments to limit the accumulation of any disproportionate concentrations of risk among industry sectors or issuer countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. In addition, as of March 31, 2024, we did not hold any country of issuer concentrations outside of the U.S. or Canada that represented more than 5% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio or any industry concentrations of corporate bonds that represented more than 10% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio.
We invest a portion of our portfolio in assets denominated in Canadian dollars to support our Canadian operations. Additionally, to ensure adequate liquidity for payment of claims, we take into account the maturity and duration of our invested asset portfolio and our general liability profile.
We also hold within our invested asset portfolio a credit enhanced note (“LLC Note”) issued by a limited liability company owned by a third-party service provider which is classified as a held-to-maturity security. The LLC Note, which is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030, was obtained in exchange for the Surplus Note of equal principal amount issued by Vidalia Re, a special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life. For more information on the LLC Note, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
We have an investment committee composed of members of our senior management team that is responsible for establishing and maintaining our investment guidelines and supervising our investment activity. Our investment committee regularly monitors our overall investment results and our compliance with our investment objectives and guidelines. We use a third-party investment advisor to assist us in the management of our investing activities. Our investment advisor reports to our investment committee.
Our invested asset portfolio is subject to a variety of risks, including risks related to general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit and default risk. Investment guideline restrictions have been established to minimize the effect of these risks but may not always be effective due to factors beyond our control. Interest rates and credit spreads are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. A significant increase in interest rates or credit spreads could result in significant losses in the value of our invested asset portfolio. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads generally have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments as we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery and we have no present intention to dispose of them.
Details on asset mix (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:
Average rating of our fixed-maturity portfolio
Average duration of our fixed-maturity portfolio
4.7 years
Average book yield of our fixed-maturity portfolio
3.93%
3.83%
The distribution of fixed-maturity securities in our investment portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) by rating, including those classified as trading securities, were as follows:
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Amortized cost (1)
AAA
570,438
556,936
AA
447,746
439,814
727,678
735,647
BBB
1,220,606
40
1,162,279
Below investment grade
49,157
58,221
Not rated
363
698
3,015,988
100
2,953,595
The ten largest holdings within our fixed-maturity securities invested asset portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security and short-term investments) were as follows:
Issuer
Unrealized gain (loss)
Credit rating
Government of Canada
19,014
19,935
(921
Province of Ontario Canada
15,555
16,070
(515
Province of Alberta Canada
14,705
15,803
(1,098
AA-
Province of Quebec Canada
14,653
15,245
(592
ONEOK Inc.
14,080
14,378
(298
Realty Income Corp
14,078
15,046
(968
A-
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
12,904
14,340
(1,436
AA+
Boeing Co
11,753
11,837
(84
BBB-
Manulife Financial Corp
10,906
11,614
(708
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
10,658
10,659
Total – ten largest holdings
138,306
144,927
(6,621
Total – fixed-maturity securities
2,785,393
Percent of total fixed-maturity securities
For additional information on our invested asset portfolio, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Dividends and other payments to the Parent Company from its subsidiaries are our principal sources of cash. The amount of dividends paid by the subsidiaries is dependent on their capital needs to fund future growth and applicable regulatory restrictions. The primary uses of funds by the Parent Company include the payments of stockholder dividends, interest on notes payable, general operating expenses, and income taxes, as well as repurchases of shares of our common stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2024, the Parent Company had cash and invested assets of $281.1 million.
The Parent Company’s subsidiaries generate operating cash flows primarily from term life insurance premiums (net of premiums ceded to reinsurers), income from invested assets, commissions and fees collected from the distribution of investment and savings products, Medicare-related insurance plans as well as other financial products. The subsidiaries’ principal operating cash outflows include the payment of insurance claims and benefits (net of ceded claims recovered from reinsurers), commissions to the sales force, contract acquisition costs, insurance and other operating expenses, interest expense for future policy benefit reserves financing transactions, and income taxes.
The distribution and underwriting of term life insurance requires up-front cash outlays at the time the policy is issued as we pay a substantial majority of the sales commission during the first year following the sale of a policy and incur costs for underwriting activities at the inception of a policy’s term. During the early years of a policy’s term, we generally receive level term premiums in excess of claims paid. We invest the excess cash generated during earlier policy years in fixed-maturity and equity securities held in support of future policy benefit reserves. In later policy years, cash received from the maturity or sale of invested assets is used to pay claims in excess of level term premiums received.
e-TeleQuote is a senior health insurance distributor of Medicare-related insurance plans. e-TeleQuote collects cash receipts over a number of years after selling a plan, while the cash outflow for commission expense and other acquisition costs to sell the plans are generally recognized at the time of enrollment. Therefore, in periods of growth, net cash flows at e-TeleQuote are expected to be negative, which may require the Parent Company to provide working capital to e-TeleQuote. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, e-TeleQuote generated sufficient cash from operations to fund its operating needs.
Historically, cash flows generated by our businesses, primarily from our existing block of term life insurance policies and our investment and savings products, have provided us with sufficient liquidity to meet our operating requirements. We anticipate that cash flows from our businesses will continue to provide sufficient operating liquidity over the next 12 months.
If necessary, we could seek to enhance our liquidity position or capital structure through sales of our available-for-sale investment portfolio, changes in the timing or amount of share repurchases, borrowings against our Revolving Credit Facility, or some combination of these sources. Additionally, we believe that cash flows from our businesses and potential sources of funding will sufficiently support our long-term liquidity needs.
Cash Flows. The components of the changes in cash and cash equivalents were as follows:
34,952
(55,102
(23,898
(1,551
(45,599
Operating Activities. The increase in cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily driven by timing differences of purchases and maturities of trading securities. The impact of differences in the timing of claims payments, income tax remittances, and payments for other expenses during each period largely offset the year-over-year change in cash flows from operating activities between 2024 and 2023.
Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to fluctuations in the timing of maturities and reinvestments of debt securities held in our available-for-sale investment portfolio. In both periods, cash provided by operating activities was used to fund investment purchases that increased the size of our invested asset portfolio.
Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Contributing to the increase in cash flows used in financing activities was the increase in the size of the share repurchase program in 2024 as well as differences in the timing of share repurchases during each period
Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”). The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has established RBC standards for U.S. life insurers, as well as a risk-based capital model act (the “RBC Model Act”) that has been adopted by the insurance regulatory authorities. The RBC Model Act requires that life insurers annually submit a report to state regulators regarding their RBC based upon four categories of risk: asset risk; insurance risk; interest rate risk and business risk. The capital requirement for each is determined by applying factors that vary based upon the degree of risk to various asset, premiums and policy benefit reserve items. The formula is an early warning tool to identify possible weakly capitalized companies for purposes of initiating further regulatory action. As of March 31, 2024, our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries maintained statutory capital and surplus substantially in excess of the applicable regulatory requirements and remain well positioned to support existing operations and fund future growth.
In Canada, an insurer’s minimum capital requirement is overseen by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”) and determined as the sum of the capital requirements for six categories of risk: asset default risk; mortality/morbidity/lapse/expense risks; changes in interest rate environment risk; operational risk; segregated funds risk; and foreign exchange risk. As of March 31, 2024, Primerica Life Canada was in compliance with Canada's minimum capital requirements as defined by OSFI.
Redundant Reserve Financing. The Model Regulation entitled Valuation of Life Insurance Policies, commonly known as Regulation XXX, requires insurers to carry statutory policy benefit reserves for term life insurance policies with long-term premium guarantees which are often significantly in excess of the future policy benefit reserves that insurers deem necessary to satisfy claim obligations (“redundant policy benefit reserves”). Accordingly, many insurance companies have sought ways to reduce their capital needs by financing redundant policy benefit reserves through bank financing, reinsurance arrangements and other financing transactions.
We have established Vidalia Re as special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life. Primerica Life has ceded certain term life insurance policies issued in 2011 through 2017 to Vidalia Re as part of a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction (the “Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction”). This redundant reserve financing transaction allows us to more efficiently manage and deploy our capital.
The NAIC has adopted a model regulation for determining reserves using a principle-based approach (“principle-based reserves” or “PBR”), which is designed to reflect each insurer’s own experience in calculating reserves and move away from a single prescriptive reserving formula. Primerica Life adopted PBR as of January 1, 2018 and NBLIC adopted the New York amended version of PBR effective January 1, 2021. PBR significantly reduced the redundant statutory policy benefit reserve requirements while still ensuring
41
adequate liabilities are held. The regulation only applies for business issued after the effective dates. See Note 4 (Investments), Note 11 (Debt) and Note 17 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2023 Annual Report for more information on the Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction.
Notes Payable. The Company has $600.0 million of publicly-traded Senior Notes outstanding issued at a price of 99.55% with an annual interest rate of 2.80%, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 19 and November 19. The Senior Notes are scheduled to mature on November 19, 2031. We were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes as of March 31, 2024. No events of default occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Rating Agencies. There have been no changes to Primerica, Inc.’s Senior Notes ratings or Primerica Life’s financial strength ratings since December 31, 2023.
Surplus Note. Vidalia Re issued a Surplus Note in exchange for the LLC Note as a part of the Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction. The Surplus Note has a principal amount equal to the LLC Note and is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030. For more information on the Surplus Note, see Note 15 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We have no transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements to which an entity unconsolidated with the Company is a party, under which the Company maintains any off-balance sheet obligations or guarantees as of March 31, 2024.
Credit Facility Agreement. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million Revolving Credit Facility with a syndicate of commercial banks that has a scheduled termination date of June 22, 2026. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a periodic rate equal to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate loan or the base rate, plus in either case an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility contains language that allows for the Company and the lenders to agree on a comparable or successor reference rate in the event SOFR is no longer available. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for SOFR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.000% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.000% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.100% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2024, no amounts were outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. Furthermore, no events of default occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Contractual Obligations Update. There have been no material changes in contractual obligations from those disclosed in the 2023 Annual Report.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this report as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements made by our officials during our presentations are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “will be”, “will continue”, “will likely result”, and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, and “could”. In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve external risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” included herein.
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of our management team. All forward-looking statements in this report and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:
Risks Related to Our Distribution Structure
Risks Related to Our Insurance Business and Reinsurance
Risks Related to Our Investment and Savings Products Business
Risks Related to e-TeleQuote’s Senior Health Insurance Distribution Business
Risks Related to Our Mortgage Distribution Business
Risks Related to Economic Downcycles, Public Health Crises or Catastrophes, and Disasters
Risks Related to Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Financial Risks Affecting Our Business
Risks Related to Legislative and Regulatory Changes
General Risk Factors
44
Developments in any of these areas could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected or cause a significant reduction in the market price of our common stock.
The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties may not contain all of the risks and uncertainties that could affect us. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this report may not in fact occur. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
There have been no material changes in our exposures to market risk since December 31, 2023. For details on the Company’s interest rate, foreign currency exchange, and credit risks, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks” in our 2023 Annual Report.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
We are involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. Additional information regarding certain legal proceedings to which we are a party is described under “Contingent Liabilities” in Note 13 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and such information is incorporated herein by reference. As of the date of this report, we do not believe any pending legal proceeding to which Primerica or any of its subsidiaries is a party is required to be disclosed pursuant to this item.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
The Risk Factors contained in our 2023 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we repurchased shares of our common stock as follows:
Period
Total number of shares purchased (1)
Average price paid per share (1)
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (2)
Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (2)
January 1 - 31, 2024
175,404
217.62
174,646
387,002,949
February 1 - 29, 2024
146,637
239.29
146,136
352,031,236
March 1 - 31, 2024
174,381
248.26
145,156
315,907,472
496,422
234.79
465,938
For information regarding year-to-date share repurchases, refer to Note 10 (Stockholders’ Equity) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
Trading Plans
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, none of our directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any "Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement" or any "non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement," as those terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K, except for the following:
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
The agreements included as exhibits to this report are included to provide you with information regarding the terms of these agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company or its subsidiaries, our business or the other parties to these agreements. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:
Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Exhibit Number
Reference
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer.
Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Quarterly Report.
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Tracy X. Tan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
32.1
Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350), executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer, and Tracy X. Tan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document.
The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
May 7, 2024
/s/ Tracy X. Tan
Tracy X. Tan
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)