UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014
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)
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. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes x No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
As of October 31, 2014
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
53,139,572 shares
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited).
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
20
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
34
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
35
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Signatures
37
i
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2014
December 31, 2013
(In thousands)
Assets
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,685,305 in 2014
and $1,663,022 in 2013)
$
1,787,926
1,755,712
Fixed-maturity securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $191,274 in 2014 and
$0 in 2013)
189,830
-
Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost: $40,824 in 2014 and $32,592 in 2013)
50,133
39,894
Trading securities, at fair value (cost: $9,126 in 2014 and $13,025 in 2013)
9,135
12,991
Policy loans
27,566
26,806
Total investments
2,064,590
1,835,403
Cash and cash equivalents
164,999
149,189
Accrued investment income
18,930
18,127
Due from reinsurers
4,130,637
4,055,054
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net
1,321,415
1,208,466
Premiums and other receivables
183,179
175,785
Intangible assets, net (accumulated amortization: $68,645 in 2014 and $65,131 in 2013)
65,350
68,863
Income taxes
40,827
32,450
Other assets
283,609
282,784
Separate account assets
2,469,118
2,503,829
Total assets
10,742,654
10,329,950
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits
5,214,878
5,063,103
Unearned premiums
1,012
1,802
Policy claims and other benefits payable
285,939
253,304
Other policyholders’ funds
343,298
337,977
Notes payable
374,519
374,481
Surplus note
136,064
105,885
Other liabilities
365,900
377,690
Payable under securities lending
67,614
89,852
Separate account liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Commitments and Contingent Liabilities note)
Total liabilities
9,448,172
9,107,923
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 in 2014 and 2013; and issued 53,682
shares in 2014 and 54,834 shares in 2013)
537
548
Paid-in capital
429,257
472,633
Retained earnings
756,738
640,840
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
30,281
41,974
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Net unrealized investment gains not other-than-temporarily impaired
78,131
67,379
Net unrealized investment losses other-than-temporarily impaired
(462
)
(1,347
Total stockholders’ equity
1,294,482
1,222,027
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Unaudited
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2014
2013
(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
Revenues:
Direct premiums
577,482
567,047
1,722,427
1,696,342
Ceded premiums
(402,198
(407,488
(1,215,459
(1,235,543
Net premiums
175,284
159,559
506,968
460,799
Commissions and fees
132,928
118,440
391,898
347,895
Net investment income
20,465
22,103
63,745
66,345
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than-temporary
impairment losses
(281
(407
813
5,347
Other, net
10,791
10,714
31,221
31,962
Total revenues
339,187
310,409
994,645
912,348
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims
81,235
76,549
228,839
209,685
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
36,944
32,192
104,834
93,556
Sales commissions
67,500
58,388
199,985
171,074
Insurance expenses
31,495
26,576
88,190
78,602
Insurance commissions
4,045
3,933
12,009
12,286
Interest expense
8,712
8,726
25,870
26,314
Other operating expenses
45,236
41,273
128,325
131,968
Total benefits and expenses
275,167
247,637
788,052
723,485
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
64,020
62,772
206,593
188,863
22,407
22,040
72,224
66,828
Income from continuing operations
41,613
40,732
134,369
122,035
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
(18
2,458
1,578
3,490
Net income
41,595
43,190
135,947
125,525
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations
0.75
0.74
2.42
2.14
Discontinued operations
0.04
0.03
0.06
Basic earnings per share
0.78
2.45
2.20
Diluted earnings per share:
2.41
2.10
Diluted earnings per share
2.44
2.16
Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic
54,713
54,957
54,953
56,019
Diluted
54,744
54,958
54,978
57,069
Supplemental disclosures:
Total impairment losses
(515
(347
(885
(438
Impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income
before income taxes
19
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
(419
Other net realized investment gains (losses)
234
(60
1,698
5,766
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than-
temporary impairment losses
Dividends declared per share
0.12
0.11
0.36
0.33
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Unaudited
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
Unrealized investment gains (losses):
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities
(20,132
(3,004
18,590
(60,502
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment (gains) losses
included in net income
80
(184
(686
(4,416
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
(11,600
5,586
(11,832
(6,907
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes
(31,652
2,398
6,072
(71,825
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive
income (loss)
(7,150
(1,044
6,128
(22,812
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
(24,502
3,442
(56
(49,013
Total comprehensive income (loss)
17,093
46,632
135,891
76,512
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – Unaudited
Common stock:
Balance, beginning of period
564
Repurchases of common stock
(15
(29
Net issuance of common stock
12
Balance, end of period
547
Paid-in capital:
602,269
Share-based compensation
29,459
31,161
(4
(12
(71,838
(101,044
Repurchases of warrants
(68,399
Adjustments to paid-in capital, other
(993
808
464,783
Retained earnings:
503,173
Dividends
(20,049
(18,920
609,778
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
108,006
169,410
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $(139)
in 2014 and $(91) in 2013
(11,693
(6,816
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period, net of income taxes:
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other-than temporarily impaired, net of
income tax expense (benefit) of $5,790 in 2014 and $(22,713) in 2013
10,752
(42,185
Change in net unrealized investment losses other-than-temporarily impaired, net of income tax
expense (benefit) of $477 in 2014 and $(8) in 2013
885
107,950
120,397
1,195,505
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
217,208
166,936
Deferral of policy acquisition costs
(217,027
(200,082
Change in income taxes
17,772
1,351
Realized investment (gains) losses, including other-than-temporary impairments
(813
(5,347
Gain from sale of business, net
(1,578
Accretion and amortization of investments
(2,035
(2,924
Depreciation and amortization
8,611
8,146
Change in due from reinsurers
(93,109
(39,379
Change in premiums and other receivables
(16,775
(18,095
Trading securities sold, matured, or called (acquired), net
3,818
(3,448
14,333
10,689
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net
(38,390
(46,371
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
132,796
90,557
Cash flows from investing activities:
Available-for sale investments sold, matured or called:
Fixed-maturity securities — sold
63,996
88,332
Fixed-maturity securities — matured or called
237,335
207,445
Equity securities
188
4,694
Available-for-sale investments acquired:
Fixed-maturity securities
(318,987
(156,360
(6,470
(461
Purchases of property and equipment and other investing activities, net
(6,029
(18,473
Proceeds from sale of business
3,000
Cash collateral received (returned) on loaned securities, net
(22,238
(64,075
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments using securities lending collateral, net
22,238
64,075
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(26,967
125,177
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid
Common stock repurchased
(71,853
(101,073
Warrants repurchased
Excess tax benefits on share-based compensation
4,651
8,440
Payments of deferred financing costs
(864
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(88,115
(179,952
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
(1,904
(530
Change in cash and cash equivalents
15,810
35,252
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
112,216
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
147,468
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 distributor of financial products to middle income households in the United States and Canada. We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. Our primary subsidiaries include the following entities: Primerica Financial Services, Inc. ("PFS"), 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. ("PFSL Investments Canada"); and PFS Investments, Inc. ("PFS Investments"), an investment products company and broker-dealer. Primerica Life, domiciled in Massachusetts, owns National Benefit Life Insurance Company ("NBLIC"), a New York insurance company.
We capitalized Peach Re, Inc. ("Peach Re"), a special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life, and Primerica Life ceded to Peach Re certain level premium term life insurance policies pursuant to a coinsurance agreement (the "Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement") effective March 31, 2012.
In June 2014, we established Vidalia Re, Inc. ("Vidalia Re") as a special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life. Vidalia Re and Primerica Life entered into a coinsurance agreement whereby Primerica Life ceded to Vidalia Re certain level premium term life insurance policies (the "Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement") effective July 31, 2014.
Basis of Presentation. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). 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 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 September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the statements of income and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the statements of stockholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. 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 adequate 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, 2013 ("2013 Annual Report").
Use of Estimates. 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"), liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. 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 applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.
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 and were primarily related to discontinued operations. See Note 2 (Discontinued Operations) for more information.
Subsequent Events. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for recognition and disclosure for occurrences and transactions after the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements dated as of September 30, 2014.
Significant Accounting Policies. All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2013 Annual Report.
New Accounting Principles. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue by establishing the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which
the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Insurance contracts are specifically excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09 and therefore revenue from our insurance product lines will not be affected by the new standard. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective retrospectively for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. While we are still in the process of evaluating the guidance in ASU 2014-09, we do not expect it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Future Application of Accounting Standards. Recent accounting guidance not discussed is not applicable, is immaterial to our financial statements, or did not or will not have an impact on our business.
(2) Discontinued Operations
In January 2014, NBLIC sold the assets and liabilities of its short-term statutory disability benefit insurance business ("DBL") to AmTrust North America, Inc. and its affiliates (the "buyer"). As part of the sale agreement, the buyer assumed all liabilities for DBL insurance policies. In addition, NBLIC transferred the assets held in support of DBL's insurance liabilities and all other premium-related assets and liabilities to the buyer as of January 1, 2014. The results of DBL's operations from January 1, 2014 forward were also transferred to the buyer. NBLIC received cash proceeds from the sale of $3.0 million and recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $2.4 million, which comprised income from discontinued operations before income taxes in our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
We no longer have significant continuing involvement in the operations of DBL, and its direct cash flows have been eliminated from our ongoing operations. As a result, beginning in the first quarter of 2014, the results of operations for DBL have been reported in discontinued operations for all periods presented in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. The results of operations and the carrying values of the assets and liabilities related to DBL were as follows:
Total revenues from discontinued operations
9,048
27,860
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income
taxes
(28
3,782
2,427
5,369
Provision for income taxes
(10
1,324
849
1,879
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of
income taxes
6,439
5,047
1,197
(3) Segment and Geographical Information
Segments. We have two primary operating segments — Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products. We also have a Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment. The results of operations for DBL were previously reported in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment and have been reclassified into discontinued operations as discussed in Note 2 (Discontinued Operations).
7
Results of continuing operations by segment were as follows:
Term life insurance segment
193,577
177,811
560,924
514,828
Investment and savings products segment
129,273
114,723
380,690
336,805
Corporate and other distributed products segment
16,337
17,875
53,031
60,715
Income (loss) from continuing operations before
income taxes:
45,932
50,136
148,207
147,159
36,904
31,498
106,978
85,339
(18,816
(18,862
(48,592
(43,635
Total income from continuing operations
Total assets by segment were as follows:
Assets:
7,089,373
6,783,194
2,687,974
2,699,000
965,307
847,756
The Investment and Savings Products segment includes assets held in separate accounts. Excluding separate accounts, the Investment and Savings Products segment assets were approximately $219.4 million and $195.8 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
See “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this report for more information regarding our operating segments.
Geographical Information. Results of continuing 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
278,101
253,877
811,228
739,899
Canada
61,086
56,532
183,417
172,449
Income from continuing operations before income
taxes by country:
47,296
47,169
152,828
139,774
16,724
15,603
53,765
49,089
Total income from continuing operations before
Long-lived assets by country:
26,896
24,413
582
637
Total long-lived assets
27,478
25,050
8
(4) Investments
Available-for-sale Securities. The period-end cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity and equity securities follow:
Cost or 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
9,701
507
(79
10,129
Foreign government
116,972
6,582
(2,745
120,809
States and political subdivisions
35,011
2,496
(229
37,278
Corporates
1,240,960
89,253
(6,177
1,324,036
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
282,661
13,462
(449
295,674
Total fixed-maturity securities(1)
1,685,305
112,300
(9,679
40,824
9,879
(570
Total fixed-maturity and equity securities
1,726,129
122,179
(10,249
1,838,059
(1)
Includes approximately $0.7 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.
As of December 31, 2013
8,696
485
(127
9,054
111,610
7,512
(2,766
116,356
32,308
1,860
(468
33,700
1,240,100
84,545
(11,931
1,312,714
270,308
14,610
(1,030
283,888
1,663,022
109,012
(16,322
32,592
7,935
(633
1,695,614
116,947
(16,955
1,795,606
Includes approximately $2.1 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.
All of our available-for-sale mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent variable 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 contractual maturity distribution of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio at September 30, 2014 follows:
Amortized cost
Market value
Due in one year or less
92,778
95,084
Due after one year through five years
568,331
619,711
Due after five years through 10 years
693,097
723,932
Due after 10 years
48,438
53,525
1,402,644
1,492,252
Total 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.
9
Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments. The net effect on stockholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses on investments was as follows:
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) including foreign currency
translation adjustment and other-than-temporary impairments:
Fixed-maturity and equity securities
111,930
99,992
Currency swaps
31
72
Foreign currency translation adjustment
7,530
1,523
Other-than-temporary impairments
710
2,072
Net unrealized investment gains excluding foreign currency translation
adjustment and other-than-temporary impairments
120,201
103,659
Deferred income taxes
(42,070
(36,280
adjustment and other-than-temporary impairments, net of tax
Trading Securities. We maintain a portfolio of fixed-maturity securities that are classified as trading securities. The carrying values of the fixed-maturity securities classified as trading securities were approximately $9.1 million and $13.0 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
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 being supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2029 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.
The LLC is a variable interest entity 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 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 consolidated financial statements.
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. The LLC Note, which was rated AA- by Fitch Ratings, had an estimated unrealized holding gain of $1.4 million based on its amortized cost and estimated fair value as of September 30, 2014.
See Note 7 (Debt) for more information on the Surplus 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 values of investments on deposit were approximately $19.5 million and $18.4 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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 balance sheet. 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 balance sheet during the terms of the loans, and we do not report them as sales. Cash collateral received and reinvested was approximately $67.6 million and $89.9 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
10
Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows:
Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)
20,933
21,785
62,419
67,643
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)
1,299
450
277
1,306
841
Policy loans and other invested assets
1,666
325
2,452
972
70
54
191
215
Market return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement
829
2,316
331
Gross investment income
24,291
23,270
69,983
70,002
Investment expenses
(2,527
(1,167
(4,939
(3,657
Interest expense on Surplus Note
(1,299
The components of net realized investment gains (losses) as well as details on gross realized investment gains and losses and proceeds from sales or other redemptions were as follows:
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Gross gains from sales
550
1,234
1,731
5,989
Gross losses from sales
(115
(703
(160
(1,154
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
Gains (losses) from bifurcated options
(201
(591
127
931
Net realized investment gains (losses)
Supplemental information:
Gross realized investment gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated
other comprehensive income into earnings
(80
184
686
4,416
Tax expense (benefit) associated with realized investment gains (losses)
reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into
earnings
64
240
1,546
Proceeds from sales or other redemptions
92,130
79,864
301,519
300,471
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. We conduct a review each quarter to identify and evaluate impaired investments that have indications of possible other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"). An investment in a debt or equity security is impaired if its fair value falls below its cost. Factors considered in determining whether an unrealized loss is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects for the issue, and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery, which may be maturity for fixed-maturity securities or within a reasonable period of time for equity securities. For additional information, see Note 3 (Investments) to the consolidated financial statements in our 2013 Annual Report.
Investments in available-for-sale fixed-maturity and equity securities with a cost basis in excess of their fair values were approximately $291.6 million and $454.2 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
The following tables summarize, for all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and the gross unrealized loss by length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position:
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Unrealized losses
Number of securities
(Dollars in thousands)
2,813
(16
888
(63
22,852
32
23,402
(2,042
39
2,142
(8
3,687
(221
102,914
(1,701
114
50,961
(4,476
88
Mortgage-and asset-backed securities
52,063
(131
36
15,051
(318
15
182,784
(2,559
93,989
(7,120
1,907
(69
2,629
(501
Total fixed-maturity and equity
securities
184,691
(2,628
96,618
(7,621
11
3,817
(36
859
(91
34,869
(2,190
47
5,999
(576
13
8,520
152
296,192
(9,510
295
19,022
(2,421
54,215
(536
46
10,523
(494
397,613
(12,740
36,555
(3,582
3,081
400,694
(13,373
Less than one thousand.
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default were as follows:
Fixed-maturity securities in default
128
267
Impairment charges recognized in earnings on available-for-sale securities were as follows:
Impairments on fixed-maturity securities not in default
515
347
419
The securities noted above were considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired due to our intent to sell them; adverse credit events, such as news of an impending filing for bankruptcy; analyses of the issuer’s most recent financial statements or other information in which liquidity deficiencies, significant losses and large declines in capitalization were evident; or analyses of rating agency information for issuances with severe ratings downgrades that indicated a significant increase in the possibility of default.
As of September 30, 2014, the unrealized losses on our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio were largely caused by interest rate sensitivity and, to a lesser extent, changes in credit spreads. We believe that fluctuations caused by interest rate movement have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments. Because we have the ability to hold these investments until a market price recovery or maturity and we have no present intention to dispose of them, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings for available-for-sale securities were as follows:
Impairment losses related to securities which the Company
does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be
required to sell:
Total OTTI losses recognized
345
365
Less portion of OTTI loss recognized in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss)
(19
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings for securities which
the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will
not be required to sell before recovery:
346
OTTI losses recognized in earnings for securities which the
Company intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be
required to sell before recovery
73
The rollforward of the credit-related losses recognized in income for all available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities still held follows:
Cumulative OTTI credit losses recognized for securities still held,
beginning of period
14,348
14,243
14,516
14,171
Additions for OTTI securities where no credit losses were
recognized prior to the beginning of the period
412
753
416
Additions for OTTI securities where credit losses have been
103
132
Reductions due to sales, maturities or calls of credit impaired
(1,019
(264
(1,557
Cumulative OTTI credit losses recognized for securities still
held, end of period
13,844
14,326
As of September 30, 2014, no impairment losses have been recognized on the LLC Note held-to-maturity security.
Derivatives. Embedded conversion options associated with fixed-maturity securities are bifurcated from the fixed-maturity security host contracts and separately recognized as equity securities. The change in fair value of these bifurcated conversion options is reflected in realized investment gains (losses), including OTTI losses. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the fair value of these bifurcated options was approximately $6.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
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 approximately $26.4 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. While we have no current intention to do so, these deferred losses will not be recognized until such time as we sell or substantially liquidate our Canadian operations.
(5) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon 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 categories:
·
Level 1. Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices in active markets, such as exchange-traded common stocks and actively traded mutual fund investments;
Level 2. Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using industry-standard pricing methodologies, models or other valuation methodologies. Various inputs are considered in deriving the fair value of the underlying financial instrument, including interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rates. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include: certain public and private corporate fixed-maturity and equity securities; government or agency securities; certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities and certain non-exchange-traded derivatives, such as currency swaps and forwards; and
Level 3. Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Level 3 consists of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on industry-standard pricing methodologies and models using significant inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, readily available market information. Valuations for this category primarily consist of non-binding broker quotes. Financial instruments in this category primarily include less liquid fixed-maturity corporate securities.
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) 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:
1,830
1,321,966
294,272
1,402
1,784,454
1,642
43,264
6,821
48
Trading securities
Separate accounts
Total fair value assets
45,094
4,269,528
1,690
4,316,312
Fair value liabilities:
104
Total fair value liabilities
2,469,222
1,282
1,310,739
693
282,341
1,547
1,752,190
2,240
34,868
4,978
36,150
4,273,988
2,288
4,312,426
2,503,917
In assessing fair value of our investments, we use a third-party pricing service for approximately 95% of our securities. The remaining securities are primarily thinly traded securities valued using models based on observable inputs on public corporate spreads having similar tenors (e.g., sector, average life and quality rating) and liquidity and yield based on quality rating, average life and treasury yields. All observable data inputs are corroborated by independent third-party data. In the absence of sufficient observable inputs, we utilize non-binding broker quotes, which are reflected in our Level 3 classification as we are unable to evaluate the valuation technique(s) or significant inputs used to develop the quotes. Therefore, we do not internally develop the quantitative unobservable inputs used in measuring the fair value of Level 3 investments. However, we do corroborate pricing information provided by our third-party pricing servicing 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 quarter and at quarter-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, fair value is determined using industry-standard methodologies by applying available market information through processes such as U.S. Treasury curves, benchmarking of similar securities, sector
14
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 with limited trading activity, industry-standard pricing methodologies use adjusted market information, such as index prices or discounting expected future cash flows, to estimate fair value. If these 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 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.
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
1,752
8,433
5,221
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
(13
(122
(288
Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in
earnings, including OTTI
171
301
Purchases
4,383
Sales
(25
Settlements
(54
(1,163
(899
(1,862
Transfers into Level 3
371
1,357
Transfers out of Level 3
(3,499
(4,906
Level 3 assets, end of period
4,181
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. We recognize transfers into new levels and out of previous levels as of the end of the reporting period, including interim reporting periods, as applicable. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. In addition, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
Invested assets included in the transfer from Level 3 to Level 2 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily were fixed-maturity investments for which we were able to obtain independent pricing quotes based on observable inputs. Invested assets included in the transfer from Level 2 to Level 3 during the three the nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily were fixed-maturity investments for which we were unable to corroborate independent broker quotes with observable market data.
The table below is a summary of the estimated fair value for financial instruments.
Carrying value
Estimated fair value
191,274
Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement
149,143
124,413
407,269
385,161
189,436
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.
Recurring fair value measurements. Estimated fair values of investments in available-for-sale fixed-maturity 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, which primarily consist of fixed-maturity securities, are carried at fair value. Equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Currency swaps are stated at fair value. Segregated funds in separate accounts are carried at the underlying value of the variable insurance contracts, which is fair value.
Nonrecurring fair value measurements. The estimated fair value of the held-to-maturity fixed-maturity security, which is classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement, is derived using the credit spread on similarly rated debt securities and the hypothetical spread of the security’s credit enhancement feature. Policy loans, which are categorized as Level 3 fair value measurements, are carried at the unpaid principal balances. The fair value of policy loans approximate the unpaid principal balances as the timing of repayment is uncertain and the loans are collateralized by the amount of the policy. The deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement with Prime Reinsurance Company, Inc. ("Prime Re"), an affiliate of Citigroup Inc. ("Citigroup"), represents the value of the assets necessary to back the economic reserves held in support of the reinsurance agreement. The carrying value of this deposit asset approximates fair value, which is categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Notes payable represent our publicly-traded senior notes and are valued as a Level 2 fair value measurement using the quoted market price for our notes. The estimated fair value of the Surplus Note is derived by using an assumed credit spread we would expect if Vidalia Re was a credit-rated entity and the hypothetical spread of the Surplus Note’s subordinated structure. The Surplus Note is classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement.
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, 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.
(6) 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. We monitor the concentration of credit risk we have with any reinsurer, as well as the financial condition of the reinsurers.
Details on in-force life insurance follow:
Direct life insurance in force
685,399,115
679,337,825
Amounts ceded to other companies
(606,602,219
(601,309,340
Net life insurance in force
78,796,896
78,028,485
Percentage of reinsured life insurance in force
89
%
Due from reinsurers includes ceded reserve balances and ceded claim liabilities. Reinsurance receivable and financial strength ratings by reinsurer were as follows:
Reinsurance receivable
A.M. Best rating
Prime Reinsurance Company(1)
2,631,802
NR
2,572,800
SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies
379,377
A
372,479
Financial Reassurance Company 2010, Ltd.(1)
330,451
343,144
Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.(2)
265,697
A+
260,775
American Health and Life Insurance Company(1)
176,670
A-
174,722
Munich American Reassurance Company
103,621
100,856
Korean Reinsurance Company
89,020
89,405
RGA Reinsurance Company
80,452
75,629
Toa Reinsurance Company
22,124
18,824
Hannover Life Reassurance Company
19,796
16,862
All other reinsurers
31,627
29,558
NR – not rated
Reinsurers are affiliates of Citigroup. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance receivable from other reinsurers.
(2)
Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and 100% retroceded to Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.
16
(7) Debt
Notes Payable. At September 30, 2014, the Company had $375.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes with an annual interest rate of 4.75% that are scheduled to mature on July 15, 2022 (the "Senior Notes"). As of September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes. No events of default occurred on the Senior Notes during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Further discussion on the Company’s notes payable is included in Note 9 (Notes Payable) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2013 Annual Report.
Surplus Note. At September 30, 2014, the principal amount outstanding on the Surplus Note issued by Vidalia Re was approximately $189.8 million, equal to the principal amount of the LLC Note invested asset. The Surplus Note was issued in exchange for the LLC Note, which supports certain obligations of Vidalia Re for a portion of the statutory accounting-based reserves (commonly referred to as Regulation XXX reserves) related to the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. The principal amount of the Surplus Note will match the LLC Note and fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of reserves being supported. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2029 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. Based on the estimated reserves for ceded policies issued in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the maximum principal amounts of the Surplus Note and the LLC Note are expected to be approximately $680.0 million each. 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 credit enhancement feature underlying the LLC Note. The Parent Company has agreed to support Vidalia Re's obligation to pay the credit enhancement fee incurred on the LLC Note. See Note 4 (Investments) for more information on the LLC Note.
(8) Stockholders’ Equity
A reconciliation of the number of shares of our common stock follows.
Common stock, beginning of period
54,834
56,374
Shares of restricted common stock issued
289
Shares issued for stock options exercised
Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of restricted stock units ("RSUs")
381
975
Common stock retired
(1,537
(2,951
Common stock, end of period
53,682
54,687
The above reconciliation excludes RSUs, which do not have voting rights. As the RSUs lapse, we issue common shares with voting rights. As of September 30, 2014, we had a total of approximately 1.2 million RSUs outstanding.
Our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $150.0 million of our outstanding common stock (the "share repurchase program"). Under the share repurchase program, we repurchased 1,383,902 shares of our common stock in open market transactions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $65.5 million during the first nine months of 2014. As of September 30, 2014, there is approximately $84.4 million remaining for repurchases of our outstanding common stock under the share repurchase program.
(9) Earnings Per Share
The Company has outstanding common stock and equity awards that consist of restricted stock, RSUs and stock options. In addition, warrants to purchase additional shares of our common stock were outstanding until we repurchased and retired these warrants in 2013. The restricted stock and 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 restricted stock and unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share ("EPS") as they maintain dividend rights.
As a result of issuing restricted stock and RSUs that are deemed participating securities, we calculate EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, we allocate earnings to common shares (excluding unvested restricted stock) 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 any dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock and unvested RSUs from net income 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 warrants and stock options outstanding on EPS using the treasury-stock method. Under this method, we determine the proceeds that would be received from the exercise of the warrants and stock options outstanding, which
17
includes cash received for the exercise price, the remaining unrecognized stock option compensation expense and the resulting effect on the income tax deduction from the exercise of stock options. We then use the average market price of our common shares during the period the warrants and stock options were outstanding to determine how many shares we could repurchase with the proceeds raised from the exercise of the warrants and stock options outstanding. 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 follows.
Basic EPS
Numerator (continuing operations):
Income attributable to unvested participating securities
(447
(525
(1,546
(2,113
Income from continuing operations used in calculating basic EPS
41,166
40,207
132,823
119,922
Numerator (discontinued operations):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
(32
Income from discontinued operations used in calculating basic EPS
2,426
1,560
3,430
Denominator:
Weighted-average vested shares
Basic EPS from continuing operations
Basic EPS from discontinued operations
Diluted EPS
(2,081
Income from continuing operations used in calculating diluted
EPS
119,954
(59
Income from discontinued operations used in calculating diluted
3,431
Dilutive effect of incremental shares if issued for warrants
outstanding
1,050
Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for equity awards
25
Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS
Diluted EPS from continuing operations
Diluted EPS from discontinued operations
Loss per share from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 is less than $0.01.
Loss attributable to unvested participating securities from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 is less than $1.
(10) Share-Based Transactions
The Company has outstanding equity awards under its Omnibus Incentive Plan ("OIP"). The OIP provides for the issuance of equity awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, RSUs, unrestricted stock, as well as cash-based awards. In addition to time-based vesting requirements, awards granted under the OIP also may be subject to specified performance criteria. Since 2010, the Company has issued equity awards to our management (officers and other key employees), non-employee directors, and sales force leaders under the OIP. For more information on equity awards granted under the OIP, see Note 13 (Share-Based Compensation) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2013 Annual Report.
In connection with our granting of equity awards to our management and members of the Board of Directors, we recognize expense over the service period of the equity award. Additionally, to the extent that equity awards to members of our sales force are an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions or renewals 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, we defer and amortize the fair value of these awards in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs.
18
The impacts of equity awards granted are as follows:
Total equity awards expense recognized
8,497
2,737
Quarterly incentive awards expense deferred
3,041
3,893
10,371
12,034
During the third quarter of 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors amended the equity awards granted to management in February 2014 (the “modified awards”) to provide for such awards to vest upon the 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. All unrecognized equity compensation expense for the modified awards granted to retirement eligible employees as of the date of the modification was recognized immediately during the third quarter of 2014 as there is no remaining substantive future requisite service period for these awards. The modification affects the timing of expense recognition for the modified awards and not the total amount of expense to be recognized given that the amount of awards expected to vest under the original service condition is not significantly different from the amount of awards now expected to vest after the modification. As a result of this modification, approximately $5.1 million of equity compensation expense for the modified awards was accelerated into the third quarter of 2014 rather than being recognized over the three-year vesting period of the award. This expense acceleration in the third quarter of 2014 will reduce the originally scheduled equity compensation expense for the modified awards in each subsequent period through the final vesting date in 2017. The retirement eligibility provision is expected to be included in equity awards granted to employees in future periods.
(11) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Letter of Credit. Peach Re maintains a credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank (the "Credit Facility Agreement") to support certain obligations for a portion of the Regulation XXX reserves related to the Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement. Under the Credit Facility Agreement, Deutsche Bank issued a letter of credit for the benefit of Primerica Life. As of September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement.
Further discussion on the Company’s letter of credit is included in Note 15 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2013 Annual Report.
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.
Beginning in late 2011, numerous FINRA ("Financial Industry Regulatory Association") arbitration claims were filed, along with lawsuits in Florida state courts, against our subsidiary, PFS Investments, and certain of its registered representatives seeking damages arising from the allegation that the representatives improperly recommended that the claimants transfer their retirement benefits from the Florida Retirement System's defined benefit plan to its defined contribution plan.
In January 2014, PFS Investments entered into a memorandum of understanding to resolve this pending litigation. As of December 31, 2013, we had established a contingent liability for $9.3 million for the fair value of estimated benefits to be paid to the settling claimants through deferred payments that would begin in 2024 (the "deferred annuity settlement") and approximately $6.4 million for estimated related costs, including awards relating to prior arbitrations, other potential settlements, and the payment of claimants’ attorneys' fees and expenses. The memorandum of understanding required that a certain percentage of claimants agree to the settlement. By April 2014, a required percentage of claimants had signed settlement agreements and releases. In June 2014, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding and claimant settlement agreements and releases, we reached an agreement with an independent third party to assume the liability for the deferred annuity settlement and paid cash consideration approximately equal to the contingent liability that had been recorded to fund the benefits. With this agreement, the Company is no longer obligated to manage or make payments related to the deferred annuity settlement and has not guaranteed the liability assumed by the third party. As of September 30, 2014, the contingent liability remaining was approximately $0.6 million for deferred benefit payments to be made in subsequent periods and estimated related costs.
The Company is currently undergoing targeted multi-state treasurer audits by 30 jurisdictions with respect to unclaimed property laws, and Primerica Life and NBLIC are engaged in a targeted multi-state market conduct examination by six jurisdictions with respect to their claims-paying practices. The Treasurer of the State of West Virginia brought a suit against Primerica Life and other insurance companies alleging violations of the West Virginia unclaimed property act. The suit was dismissed, and the Treasurer has appealed. Other jurisdictions may pursue similar audits, examinations and litigation. The audits, examinations and litigation are expected to take significant time to complete, and it is unclear whether the Company will be required to compare the Death Master File to its records for periods prior to 2011, including with respect to policies which have lapsed, to determine whether benefits are owed in instances where an insured appears to have died but no claim for death benefits has been made. The potential outcome of such actions is difficult to predict but could subject the Company to adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, settlement payments,
additional payments to beneficiaries and additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likelihood or the impact of additional costs or liabilities that could result from the resolution of these matters. These actions may also result in changes to the Company's procedures for the identification and escheatment of abandoned property and other financial liability.
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, 2013 to September 30, 2014. 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, 2013 ("2013 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 2013 Annual 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
Critical Accounting Estimates
Factors Affecting Our Results
Results of Operations
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We are a leading distributor of financial products to middle income households in the United States and Canada. We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We have two primary operating segments, Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products, and a third segment, Corporate and Other Distributed Products.
Term Life Insurance. We distribute the term life insurance products that we originate 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”). Our in force term 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 are guaranteed to remain level during the initial term period (up to a maximum of 20 years in the United States), our claim obligations generally increase as our policyholders age. In addition, we incur significant upfront costs in acquiring new insurance business. Our deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs and reserving methodology are designed to match the recognition of premium revenues with the timing of policy lapses and the payment of expected claims obligations.
Our Term Life Insurance segment results are primarily driven by sales and policies in force, accuracy of our pricing assumptions, terms and use of reinsurance, investment income, and expenses.
Investment and Savings Products. In the United States, we distribute mutual fund and managed accounts products and variable and fixed annuity products of several third-party companies. In Canada, we offer our own Primerica-branded mutual funds, as well as mutual funds of other companies, and segregated funds, which are underwritten by Primerica Life Canada.
Results in our Investment and Savings Products segment are driven by sales of mutual funds and annuities, the value of assets in client accounts for which we earn ongoing service, distribution and advisory fees and the number of fee generating accounts for which we provide administration functions or retirement plan custodial services. While our investment and savings products all have similar long-term earnings characteristics, our results in a given fiscal period are affected by changes in the overall mix of products within these broad categories.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment consists primarily of revenues and expenses related to other distributed products, including various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, automobile and homeowners' insurance referrals, prepaid legal services, as well as credit information and debt referral services. These products, except for various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, are distributed pursuant to distribution arrangements with third parties through our independent agent sales force. In addition, our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment includes corporate
income (including net investment income) and expenses not allocated to other segments, interest expense on our notes payable and realized gains and losses on our invested asset portfolio.
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). 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 2013 Annual Report. The most significant items on the balance sheet 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.
The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of our results of operations and financial position are those related to deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts due from reinsurers, income taxes, the valuation of investments, and litigation. 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 Change. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, there have been no changes in the accounting methodology for items that we have identified as critical accounting estimates. For additional information regarding critical accounting estimates, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of MD&A included in our 2013 Annual Report.
Economic Environment. 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 a Primerica 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. The effects of these trends and conditions are discussed in the Results of Operations section below.
Independent Sales Force. Our ability to increase the size of our sales force is largely based on the success of our recruiting efforts and our ability to train and motivate recruits to get licensed to sell life insurance. We believe that recruitment and licensing levels are important to sales force trends and growth in recruiting and licensing is usually indicative of future growth in the overall size of the sales force. Recruiting results do not always result in commensurate changes in the size of our licensed sales force because new recruits may obtain the requisite licenses at rates above or below historical levels.
Regulatory changes can also impact the size of our independent sales force. The insurance regulators in the Canadian provinces and territories entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and related agreements to implement a new life insurance licensing examination program across Canada in early 2016. If this new licensing program is implemented under the terms set forth in the agreements, we believe it would significantly decrease the ability of applicants to obtain their life insurance licenses in Canada. At this time, we cannot quantify the impact of the new licensing program on us. However, we believe the program could result in a significant decline in the number of our new life-licensed representatives in Canada and ultimately the size of our life-licensed sales force. This could lower new life insurance sales and, over time, lower the size of our in-force life insurance premium and materially adversely affect our Canadian Term Life insurance business. See "Part II — Other Information — Item 1. Legal Proceedings." for more information.
Details on new recruits and life-licensed sales representative activity were as follows:
New recruits
49,055
51,523
147,385
148,229
New life-licensed sales representatives
8,793
9,630
25,322
25,670
21
New recruits and new life-licensed representatives decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the prior year period primarily due to the positive impact of post-convention initiatives in the third quarter of 2013.
The size of our life-licensed insurance sales force was as follows:
June 30, 2014
March 31, 2014
Life-licensed insurance sales representatives
97,966
96,596
95,382
95,566
The life-licensed sales force at September 30, 2014 increased compared with the second quarter of 2014 partly due to improved retention of our life-licensed representatives through a lower percentage of non-renewals and terminations in relation to the size of the sales force.
Term Life Insurance Segment. Our Term Life Insurance segment results are primarily driven by sales volumes, the accuracy of our pricing assumptions, terms and use of reinsurance, investment income 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 and eligible acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized ratably with the level premiums of the underlying policies. 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 will have a more immediate effect on our cash flows.
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 our sales representatives generally remains within a relatively narrow range (between 0.18x and 0.22x), and, consequently, our sales volume over the longer term generally correlates to the size of our sales force.
The average number of life-licensed 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 sales representative, were as follows:
Average number of life-licensed sales representatives
97,302
93,507
96,281
92,339
Number of new policies issued
55,146
53,997
164,035
161,975
Average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-
licensed sales representative
0.19x
The average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed sales representative for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was consistent with the prior year periods and was in line with historical experience.
Pricing assumptions. Our pricing methodology is intended to provide us with appropriate profit margins for the risks we assume. We determine pricing classifications based on the coverage sought, such as the size and term of the policy, and certain policyholder attributes, such as age and health. In addition, we generally utilize unisex rates for our term life insurance policies. The pricing assumptions that underlie our rates are based upon our best estimates of mortality, persistency and investment yields at the time of issuance, sales force commission rates, issue and underwriting expenses, operating expenses and the characteristics of the insureds, including sex, age, underwriting class, product and amount of coverage. Our results will be affected to the extent there is a variance between our pricing assumptions and actual experience.
Persistency. Persistency is a measure of how long our insurance policies stay in force. As a general matter, persistency that is lower than our pricing assumptions adversely affects our results over the long term because we lose the recurring revenue stream associated with the policies that lapse. Determining the near-term effects of changes in persistency is more complicated. When persistency is lower than our pricing assumptions, we must accelerate the amortization of DAC. The resultant increase in amortization expense is offset by a corresponding release of reserves associated with lapsed policies, which causes a reduction in benefits and claims expense. The future policy benefit reserves associated with any given policy will change over the term of such policy. As a general matter, future policy benefit reserves are lowest at the inception of a policy term and rise steadily to a peak before declining to zero at the expiration of the policy term. Accordingly, depending on when the lapse occurs in relation to the overall policy term, the reduction in benefits and claims expense may be greater or less than the increase in amortization expense, and, consequently, the effects on earnings for a given period could be positive or negative. Persistency levels will impact results to the extent actual experience deviates from the persistency assumptions used to price our products.
Mortality. Our profitability will fluctuate to the extent actual mortality rates differ from those used in our pricing assumptions. We mitigate a significant portion of our mortality exposure through reinsurance.
Investment Yields. We use investment yield rates based on yields available at the time a policy is issued. For policies issued in 2010 and after, we have been using an increasing interest rate assumption to reflect the historically low interest rate environment. Both DAC and the future policy benefit reserve liability increase with the assumed investment yield rate. Since DAC is higher than the future policy benefit reserve liability in the early years of a policy, a lower assumed investment yield generally will result in lower profits. In the later years, when the future policy benefit reserve liability is higher than DAC, a lower assumed investment yield generally will result in higher profits. These assumed investment
22
yields, which like other pricing assumptions are locked in at issue, impact the timing but not the aggregate amount of DAC and future policy benefit reserve changes. Actual investment yields will impact net investment income allocated to the Term Life Insurance segment, but will not impact DAC or the reserve liability.
Reinsurance. We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. Since the mid-1990s, we have reinsured between 60% and 90% of the mortality risk on our U.S. term life insurance policies on a quota share yearly renewable term ("YRT") basis. In Canada, we previously utilized reinsurance arrangements similar to the U.S. in certain years and reinsured only face amounts above $500,000 in other years. However, in the first quarter of 2012, we entered into a YRT reinsurance arrangement in Canada similar to our U.S. program that reinsures 80% of the face amount for every policy sold. YRT reinsurance permits us to set future mortality at contractual rates by policy class. 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, we entered into significant coinsurance transactions (the "coinsurance transactions") with three affiliates (collectively, the "Citigroup reinsurers") of Citigroup Inc. ("Citigroup") and ceded between 80% and 90% of the risks and rewards of our term life insurance policies that were in force at year-end 2009. We continue to administer all policies subject to these coinsurance agreements. With each successive period, we expect revenue and earnings growth to continue to decelerate as the size of our in-force book grows and incremental sales have a reduced marginal effect on the size of the then-existing in force book.
The effect of our reinsurance arrangements on ceded premiums and benefits and expenses on our statement of income follows:
Ceded premiums. Ceded premiums are the premiums we pay to reinsurers. These amounts are deducted from the direct premiums we earn to calculate our net premium revenues. Similar to direct premium revenues, ceded coinsurance premiums remain level over the initial term of the insurance policy. Ceded YRT premiums increase over the period that the policy has been in force. Accordingly, ceded YRT premiums generally constitute an increasing percentage of direct premiums over the policy term.
Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims include incurred claim amounts and changes in future policy benefit reserves. Reinsurance reduces incurred claims in direct proportion to the percentage ceded. Coinsurance also reduces the change in future policy benefit reserves in direct proportion to the percentage ceded, while YRT reinsurance does not significantly impact the change in these reserves.
Amortization of DAC. DAC, and therefore amortization of DAC, is reduced on a pro-rata basis for the coinsured business, including the business reinsured with Citigroup. There is no impact on amortization of DAC associated with our YRT contracts.
Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses are reduced by the allowances received from coinsurance, including the business reinsured with Citigroup. There is no impact on insurance expenses associated with our YRT contracts.
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 presently intend to continue ceding approximately 90% of our U.S. mortality risk on new business and approximately 80% of our Canadian mortality risk on new business.
Net investment income. Net investment income is allocated to the Term Life Insurance segment based on the book value of the invested assets necessary to meet statutory reserve requirements and our targeted capital objectives. Net investment income is impacted by the performance of our invested asset portfolio, which can be affected by interest rates, credit spreads and the mix of invested assets.
Expenses. Results are also affected by variances in client acquisition, maintenance and administration expense levels.
Investment and Savings Products Segment. Our Investment and Savings Products segment results are primarily driven by sales, the value of assets in client accounts for which we earn ongoing management, service and distribution fees and the number of fee generating accounts we administer.
Sales. We earn commissions and fees, such as dealer re-allowances, and marketing and support fees, based on sales of mutual fund products and annuities. 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 our sales force. We generally experience seasonality in our 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 our 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.
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 fees on assets in the managed accounts program. In Canada, we earn management fees on certain mutual fund assets and on the segregated
23
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.
Accounts. We earn recordkeeping fees for administrative functions we perform on behalf of several of our retail and managed mutual fund providers and custodial fees for services as a non-bank custodian for certain of our clients’ retirement plan accounts.
Sales mix. While our investment and savings products all have similar long-term earnings characteristics, 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:
sales of annuity products in the United States will generate higher revenues in the period such sales occur than sales of other investment products that either generate lower upfront revenues or, in the case of managed accounts and segregated funds, no upfront revenues;
sales of a higher proportion of managed accounts and segregated funds products will generally extend the time over which revenues can be earned because we are entitled to higher revenues based on assets under management for these accounts in lieu of upfront revenues; and
sales of a higher proportion of mutual fund products and the composition of the fund families sold will impact the timing and amount of revenue we earn given the marketing, support, recordkeeping and custodial services we perform for the various mutual fund products we distribute.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment. We earn revenues and pay commissions and referral fees for various other insurance products, prepaid legal services and other financial products, all of which are originated by third parties. NBLIC also has in-force policies from several discontinued lines of insurance. During the first quarter of 2014, NBLIC sold its short-term statutory disability benefit insurance business ("DBL") to AmTrust North America, Inc., and the operating results have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. During the second quarter of 2014, NBLIC ceased the marketing and underwriting of new student life insurance policies but will continue to administer the existing block of student life business. Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment net investment income is composed of two elements: the remainder of net investment income not allocated to our Term Life Insurance segment and the market return associated with the deposit asset underlying a 10% coinsurance agreement with the Citigroup reinsurers ("10% Coinsurance Agreement").
The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment is affected by corporate income and expenses not allocated to our other segments, net investment income (other than net investment income allocated to our Term Life Insurance segment), general and administrative expenses (other than expenses that are allocated to our Term Life Insurance or Investment and Savings Products segments), equity awards granted to management and our sales force leaders at the time of our April 2010 initial public offering ("IPO"), interest expense on notes payable and realized gains and losses on our invested asset portfolio.
Capital Structure. Our financial results have also been affected by changes in our capital structure, including the issuance of our senior unsecured notes, as well as repurchases of shares and warrants of our common stock. For additional information regarding factors affecting our results, see Factors Affecting Our Results in our 2013 Annual Report.
24
Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results. Our results of operations were as follows:
Change
10,435
26,085
(5,290
(1
)%
(20,084
(2
15,725
46,169
14,488
44,003
(1,638
(7
(2,600
Realized investment gains (losses),
including other-than-temporary
126
(31
(4,534
(85
77
(741
28,778
82,297
4,686
19,154
Amortization of DAC
4,752
11,278
9,112
28,911
4,919
9,588
112
(277
(14
*
(444
3,963
(3,643
(3
27,530
64,567
1,248
17,730
367
5,396
Income from continuing
operations
881
12,334
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations, net of income taxes
(2,476
(1,912
(55
(1,595
10,422
Less than 1% or not meaningful.
Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
Total revenues. Total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, increased primarily due to incremental premiums on term life insurance policies not subject to the Citigroup reinsurance transactions, increased sales of investment and savings products, and higher client asset values. Net investment income decreased in both the three- and nine-month periods largely due to lower average yield on our invested assets. Realized investment gains declined during the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the prior year period due to large gains on tendered securities and gains on certain sales of fixed maturity securities in 2013.
Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 increased primarily as a result of the growth in revenue-related costs, which include sales commissions, benefits and claims, amortization of DAC, and certain insurance expenses. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, insurance and other operating expenses were impacted by amendments to our 2014 management equity award agreements, which resulted in the accelerated recognition of expense on certain previously-granted employee equity awards. Lower legal fees largely contributed to the decline in other operating expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
See Note 10 (Share-Based Transactions) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on the acceleration of stock compensation expense of certain employee equity awards.
Income taxes. Our effective income tax rate of 35.0% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, were consistent with our effective income tax rates during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 of 35.1% and 35.4%, respectively.
For additional information, see the Segment Results discussions below.
Segment Results
Term Life Insurance Segment Results. Our results for the Term Life Insurance segment were as follows:
568,592
557,486
11,106
1,696,104
1,668,555
27,549
(399,587
(404,459
(4,872
(1,207,487
(1,226,535
(19,048
169,005
153,027
15,978
488,617
442,020
46,597
Allocated net investment income
17,235
17,385
(150
50,787
50,989
(202
7,337
7,399
(62
21,520
21,819
(299
15,766
46,096
77,722
67,788
9,934
217,272
195,023
22,249
34,171
29,679
4,492
96,670
83,320
13,350
30,514
25,125
5,389
83,221
73,479
9,742
1,070
901
169
3,314
3,162
4,168
4,182
12,240
12,685
(445
147,645
127,675
19,970
412,717
367,669
45,048
operations before income taxes
(4,204
1,048
Less than 1%.
Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
Net premiums. Direct premiums grew largely due to new term life insurance policies issued, which are not subject to the Citigroup reinsurance transactions. Ceded premiums declined primarily due to the run-off of business subject to the Citigroup reinsurance transactions. Ceded premiums supporting YRT reinsurance programs for new business sales are still a relatively low portion of overall ceded premiums, which causes net premiums to grow faster than direct premiums.
Allocated net investment income. Allocated net investment income remained relatively flat year-over-year, as the higher allocation related to the growth in assets required to support the Term Life segment was entirely offset by lower yield on invested assets.
Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased faster than the growth in net premiums due to incurred claims that were above historical trends. The higher than normal claims experience was larger due to the average face amount of reported claims in the third quarter of 2014.
Amortization of DAC. The increase in amortization of DAC was primarily attributable to an increased portion of commissions deferred in recent periods, resulting in a rate of DAC amortization in excess of the growth in net premiums, partially offset by improved year-over-year persistency in the third quarter of 2014.
Insurance expenses. The increase in insurance expenses was mainly due to accelerated expense recognition resulting from changes in retirement provisions on employee equity awards issued in February 2014. Additionally, growth in the business and the run-off of Citigroup expense allowances contributed to the increase in insurance expenses.
Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
Net premiums. Net premium growth was primarily driven by the factors impacting net premiums as discussed above in the three-month comparison.
Allocated net investment income. Allocated net investment income was consistent year-over-year due to the items discussed in the three-month comparison.
Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased primarily due to the growth in net premiums.
Amortization of DAC. The increase in amortization of DAC was primarily attributable to the factors discussed in the three-month comparison.
Insurance expenses. The increase in insurance expenses is mainly due to the factors discussed in the three-month comparison.
Product Sales and Face Amount In Force. We issued 55,146 new policies during the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 53,997 new policies for the same period in 2013. We issued 164,035 and 161,975 new policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Sales of our term life insurance products increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the growth of our life-licensed sales force.
26
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
681,978
674,355
674,868
670,412
Net change in face amount:
Issued face amount
17,337
17,056
51,578
50,563
Terminations
(13,866
(14,346
(40,785
(6
(42,402
Foreign currency
(4,271
(705
(4,483
(2,213
Net change in face amount
(800
2,005
6,310
5,948
Face amount in force, end of
681,178
676,360
Issued face amount increased modestly during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the higher number of new policies issued. However, foreign currency exchange rates unfavorably impacted the face amount of in-force policies for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, which partially offset the increase in issued face amount. As a percentage of beginning face amount in force, issued face amount remained relatively flat during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the prior year period, while terminations improved modestly for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 as a result of improved year-over-year persistency.
Investment and Savings Product Segment Results. Investment and Savings Products segment results were as follows:
Commissions and fees:
Sales-based revenues
58,394
51,934
6,460
176,554
153,699
22,855
Asset-based revenues
58,744
51,037
7,707
168,665
148,018
20,647
Account-based revenues
10,251
9,810
441
29,928
28,852
1,076
1,884
1,942
(58
5,543
6,236
(693
(11
14,550
43,885
Expenses:
2,484
2,542
6,991
9,310
(2,319
2,290
2,249
41
6,614
6,853
(239
Sales commissions:
Sales-based
41,193
36,266
4,927
125,458
108,341
17,117
Asset-based
23,378
18,805
4,573
65,962
53,280
12,682
23,024
23,363
(339
68,687
73,682
(4,995
Total expenses
92,369
83,225
9,144
273,712
251,466
22,246
5,406
21,639
27
Supplemental information on the underlying metrics that drove results follows.
Product sales:
Retail mutual funds
763
648
115
2,405
2,083
322
Annuities and other
496
493
1,448
1,447
Total sales-based revenue
generating product sales
1,259
1,141
118
3,853
3,530
323
Managed accounts
67
57
195
Segregated funds and other
51
—
179
231
(52
(23
Total product sales
1,377
1,249
4,227
3,932
Average client asset values:
30,457
26,478
3,979
29,709
25,896
3,813
13,534
11,336
2,198
13,095
10,847
2,248
1,287
882
405
1,195
774
421
Segregated funds
2,547
2,529
2,501
2,585
(84
Total average client asset
values
47,825
41,225
6,600
46,500
40,102
6,398
(Accounts in thousands)
Average number of fee-generating
accounts:
Recordkeeping accounts
2,636
2,537
99
2,612
2,532
Custodial accounts
2,026
1,955
71
2,009
1,947
62
Total revenues. The increase in commissions and fees was driven by the rise in sales-based revenues from strong sales of mutual funds and variable annuities and higher asset-based revenues attributable to the rise in average client asset values, indicative of favorable market performance. Additionally, the higher number of client managed accounts added during the third quarter of 2014 contributed to the year-over-year growth in account-based revenues.
Sales commissions. Higher sales-based commissions in the three months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily the result of the increase in product sales discussed above. The increase in asset-based commissions during the three months ended September 30, 2014 was mostly consistent with the increase in asset-based revenues when excluding segregated funds. The relevant costs associated with asset-based revenue from segregated funds are recorded within insurance commissions and amortization of DAC. In addition, changes in product mix slightly contributed to the increase in asset-based commissions.
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses slightly decreased due to lower legal fees and expenses, partially offset by higher employee-related expenses, including accelerated expense recognition due to changes in retirement provisions on employee equity awards issued in February 2014, and growth in the business. Legal fees and expenses attributable to defending claims alleged by certain participants in the Florida Retirement System's benefit plan ("FRS") for the third quarter of 2013 were approximately $2.1 million, while expenses were negligible in the current year period. A settlement was reached in January 2014, which reduced the amount of legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with this matter compared to the prior year period. See Note 11 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information.
Total revenues. The increase in commissions and fees during the first nine months of 2014 was driven partly by higher sales of mutual funds and variable annuities. The growth in sales-based revenues exceeded the increase in sales-based revenue generating product sales mainly due to the change in mix of annuity and other products sold from variable annuity internal exchanges and sales of group retirement accounts to product offerings with higher sales commission rates. Also contributing to the increase was the rise in average client asset values and fee-generating accounts as discussed above in the three-month comparison.
Amortization of DAC. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, our Canadian segregated funds benefited from favorable market performance, which resulted in lower DAC amortization. Whereas, underperformance in Canadian markets in relation to our return expectations on client asset values resulted in higher DAC amortization in the prior year period.
Sales commissions. Higher sales commissions in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 resulted primarily from the items discussed in the three-month comparison.
28
Other operating expenses. The decline in other operating expenses was due to lower legal fees and expenses attributable to FRS, which were approximately $1.0 million and $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Accelerated expense recognition due to changes in retirement provisions on employee equity awards issued in February 2014, as well as growth-related and other miscellaneous costs partially offset the favorable impact of the lower FRS-related costs in the first nine months of 2014.
Asset Values in Client Accounts
Changes in asset values in client accounts were as follows:
Asset values, beginning of period
48,008
40,166
44,990
37,386
Net change in asset values:
Inflows
Redemptions
(1,206
(1,140
(3,663
(3,587
Change in market value, net and
other
(780
1,902
1,845
4,446
Net change in asset values
(609
2,011
2,409
4,791
Asset values, end of period
47,399
42,177
The decrease in asset values for three months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily attributable to the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the market values of client accounts in Canada, which exceeded overall net inflows. As a percentage of beginning asset values, the growth in inflows and the rate of redemptions relative to average client asset values for the three months ended September 30, 2014 remained consistent with the prior year period. The increase in asset values for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily attributable to market performance combined with continued net inflows.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Results. Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment results were as follows:
8,890
9,561
(671
26,323
27,787
(1,464
(5
(2,611
(3,029
(418
(7,972
(9,008
(1,036
6,279
6,532
(253
18,351
18,779
(428
5,539
5,659
(120
16,751
17,326
(575
3,230
4,718
(1,488
12,958
15,356
(2,398
1,570
1,373
197
4,158
3,907
251
(1,538
(9
(7,684
3,513
8,761
(5,248
11,567
14,662
(3,095
(21
318
1,173
926
247
981
1,451
(470
4,969
5,123
(154
685
783
(98
2,081
2,271
(190
2,929
3,317
(388
8,565
9,453
(888
4,544
13,630
13,629
22,212
17,910
4,302
59,638
58,286
1,352
35,153
36,737
(1,584
101,623
104,350
(2,727
Loss from continuing operations
(46
4,957
Total revenues. Total revenues decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2014 mostly due to lower net investment income. The decrease in net investment income was attributable primarily to lower average yield on invested assets and the decrease in market
29
value of the deposit asset underlying our 10% Coinsurance Agreement consistent with decreases in fixed income asset prices during the quarter.
Total benefits and expenses. Decreases in benefits and claims were primarily attributable to prior year increases in policy reserves for the non-term life insurance block of business underwritten by our New York subsidiary, which did not reoccur during the three months ended September 30, 2014. An increase in other operating expenses mainly related to accelerated expense recognition on employee equity awards partially offset the decrease in total benefits and expenses for the third quarter of 2014.
Total revenues. Total revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to lower realized investment gains and lower net investment income. Realized investment gains decreased year-over-year mostly due to higher income received from certain fixed income securities that were tendered during the prior year period. In addition, the decline in net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was attributable to lower assets allocated to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment and lower average yield on invested assets. While down for the third quarter of 2014, the market value of the deposit asset underlying our 10% Coinsurance Agreement increased consistent with increases in fixed income asset prices during the first nine months of 2014, which partially offset the decline in net investment income.
Total benefits and expenses. The decrease in benefits and expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily due to the factors discussed in the three-month comparison. Additionally, the increase in other operating expenses, which was due mainly to the factors discussed in the three-month comparison, was partially offset by the impact on stock compensation costs related to the full vesting in the prior year period of restricted stock which was granted in connection with our IPO.
Investments. 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. 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, sector limits, credit quality limits, portfolio duration, limits on the amount of investments in approved countries and permissible security types. 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.
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 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 could result in significant losses, realized or unrealized, in the value of our invested asset portfolio.
The composition and duration of our portfolio will vary depending on several factors, including the yield curve and our opinion of the relative value among various asset classes. The average rating and average approximate duration of our fixed-maturity portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:
Average rating of our fixed-maturity portfolio
Average duration of our fixed-maturity portfolio
4.2 years
4.0 years
Average book yield of our fixed-maturity portfolio
4.62%
4.93%
The distribution of our investments in fixed-maturity securities (excluding our held-to-maturity security) by rating follows:
AAA
291,813
296,717
AA
114,712
133,406
389,616
386,460
BBB
814,245
777,111
Below investment grade
83,547
80,835
Not rated
1,484
1,694,440
100
1,676,013
30
The ten largest holdings within our invested asset portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:
Issuer
Unrealized gain (loss)
Credit rating
Government of Canada
27,938
28,372
(434
General Electric Co
19,639
16,864
2,775
AA-
Province of Ontario Canada
11,086
10,386
700
Washington Real Estate Investment
10,986
10,521
464
Wells Fargo & Co
10,592
10,391
201
National Rural Utilities Cooperative
9,708
7,472
2,236
Iberdrola SA
9,480
8,471
1,009
BBB+
Enel SpA
7,752
6,983
769
National Fuel Gas Co
7,669
6,558
1,111
Vale SA
7,642
7,096
545
Total – ten largest holdings
122,490
113,113
9,377
Total – fixed-maturity and equity securities
1,847,194
1,735,264
Percent of total fixed-maturity and equity securities
For additional information on our invested asset portfolio, see Note 4 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Dividends and other payments to the Parent Company from its subsidiaries are its 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 general operating expenses, income taxes, stockholder dividends, and interest on outstanding debt, as well as repurchases of shares outstanding. At September 30, 2014, the Parent Company had cash and invested assets of approximately $93.8 million.
Our 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 as well as other financial products. Our subsidiaries' principal operating cash outflows include the payment of insurance claims and benefits (net of ceded claims recovered from reinsurers), commissions to our sales force, 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 upfront 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.
Historically, cash flows generated by our businesses, primarily from our existing block of term life policies and our investment and savings products, have provided our consolidated entities with sufficient liquidity to meet their operating requirements. We anticipate that cash flows from our businesses will continue to provide sufficient operating liquidity over the next 12 months.
We may seek to enhance our liquidity position or capital structure through borrowings from third-party sources, sales of debt or equity securities, reserve financings or some combination of these sources. Additionally, we believe that cash flows from our businesses and potential sources of funding, as described above, will sufficiently support the long-term liquidity needs of the Parent Company and our subsidiaries.
Significant Transactions. In the third quarter of 2014, Primerica Life declared and paid an ordinary dividend of $68.0 million to the Parent Company. Following the dividend payment and redundant reserve financing transaction completed during the third quarter, Primerica Life had an estimated ordinary dividend capacity of approximately $165.0 million as of September 30, 2014.
Cash Flows. The components of the change in cash and cash equivalents were as follows:
42,239
(152,144
91,837
(1,374
(19,442
Operating Activities. The increase in operating cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was driven by factors including lower cash payments of income taxes, net proceeds from sales and maturities of trading securities, and the timing of payments to a Citigroup reinsurer under the 10% Coinsurance Agreement.
Investing Activities. Cash flows from investing activities changed to a use in cash in 2014 from a source of cash in 2013 primarily due to lower purchases of fixed-maturity securities, as we used the cash provided by maturities, calls, and sales of available-for-sale securities to fund the $154.7 million repurchase of common stock and outstanding warrants in June 2013 from certain private equity funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC. The decrease was partially offset by lower purchases of property and equipment in the first nine months of 2014 mostly from assets purchased in connection with the move of our corporate headquarters in the prior year period.
Financing Activities. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities during 2014 as compared to the prior year period was primarily due to lower repurchases of our common stock and outstanding warrants. Share repurchases in 2014 under our current share repurchase program were approximately $65.5 million and made in the open market , while the share and warrant repurchases made in 2013 consisted mainly of the $154.7 million repurchase in June 2013.
Risk-Based Capital. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has established risk-based capital (“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 September 30, 2014, our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries had statutory capital substantially in excess of the applicable statutory requirements to support existing operations and to fund future growth.
In Canada, an insurer’s minimum capital requirement is overseen by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (“OSFI”) and determined as the sum of the capital requirements for five categories of risk: asset default risk; mortality/morbidity/lapse risks; changes in interest rate environment risk; segregated funds risk; and foreign exchange risk. Primerica Life Canada is in compliance with Canada’s minimum capital requirements as of September 30, 2014, as determined by OSFI.
Redundant Reserve Financings. 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.
In March 2012, Peach Re, Inc. ("Peach Re"), a special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life, and Primerica Life entered into a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction to more efficiently manage and deploy our capital. For information on this transaction, see Note 11 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
In July 2014, Vidalia Re, Inc. ("Vidalia Re"), a newly formed special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Primerica Life, and Primerica Life entered into a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction to more efficiently manage and deploy our capital. For more information on this redundant reserve financing transaction, see Note 4 (Investments) and Note 7 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Notes Payable. The Company has $375.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes outstanding at a price of 99.843% and an annual rate of 4.75%, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15. The Senior Notes mature July 15, 2022.
We were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes at September 30, 2014. No events of default occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Rating Agencies. There have been no changes to Primerica, Inc.'s senior debt ratings or Primerica Life's financial strength ratings since December 31, 2013.
Short-term Borrowings. We had no short-term borrowings as of or during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. Our off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2014 consisted of the letter of credit issued under the credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank as described in Note 11 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Contractual Obligations Update. There have been no material changes in contractual obligations from those disclosed in the 2013 Annual Report.
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:
our failure to continue to attract and license new recruits, retain sales representatives, or license or maintain the licensing of our sales representatives;
changes to the independent contractor status of our sales representatives;
our or our sales representatives' violation of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations;
our or our sales representatives' failure to protect the confidentiality of client information;
differences between our actual experience and our expectations regarding mortality, persistency, expenses and investment yields as reflected in the pricing for our insurance policies;
the occurrence of a catastrophic event that causes a large number of premature deaths of our insureds;
changes in federal and state legislation and regulation, including other legislation or regulation that affects our insurance and investment product businesses;
our failure to meet risk-based capital standards or other minimum capital or surplus requirements;
a downgrade or potential downgrade in our insurance subsidiaries' financial strength ratings or in the investment grade credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt;
the effects of credit deterioration and interest rate fluctuations on our invested asset portfolio;
incorrectly valuing our investments;
inadequate or unaffordable reinsurance or the failure of our reinsurers to perform their obligations;
the failure of, or legal challenges to, the support tools we provide to our sales force;
heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements for our sales representatives;
inadequate policies and procedures regarding suitability review of client transactions;
the inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions;
our ability to generate and maintain a sufficient amount of working capital;
our non-compliance with the covenants of our senior unsecured debt;
legal and regulatory investigations and actions concerning us or our sales representatives;
the loss of key personnel;
the failure of our information technology systems, breach of our information security or failure of our business continuity plan; and
fluctuations in Canadian currency exchange rates.
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 and debt securities.
33
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 document 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, 2013. 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 2013 Annual Report.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers 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 quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers 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 third quarter of 2014 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 in Note 11 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and such information is incorporated herein by reference. As of the date of this report, other than as discussed in the paragraph below, 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.
In the third quarter of 2014, we issued Applications in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice naming as the Respondents the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and the government of Ontario. We also issued an Application in the Court of Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan naming as Respondents the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan and Life Insurance Council of Saskatchewan. The Applications seek a declaration that a Memorandum of Understanding and related agreements entered into by the insurance regulators of the Canadian provinces and territories to implement a new life insurance licensing examination program across Canada in early 2016 are null and void and of no force and effect. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors." for more information.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
The Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as updated by our quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, 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
Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
July 1-31, 2014
1,948
48.52
114,989,205
August 1-31, 2014
138,313
48.83
137,500
108,276,455
September 1-30, 2014
482,756
49.39
482,500
84,445,780
623,017
49.26
620,000
Consists of (a) repurchases of 3,017 shares at an average price of $49.19 arising from share-based compensation tax withholdings and stock option exercises and (b) open market repurchases of shares under the share repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors.
For information regarding year-to-date share repurchases, refer to Note 8 (Stockholders' Equity) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
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:
should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;
have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the application agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;
may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to our investors; and
were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.
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
Description
Reference
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Primerica's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 2013 (Commission File No. 001-34680).
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Primerica's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 2013 (Commission File No. 001-34680).
4.1
Indenture, dated July 16, 2012, among the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Primerica's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 11, 2012 (Commission File No. 001-34680).
4.2
First Supplemental Indenture, dated July 16, 2012, among the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Primerica's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 11, 2012 (Commission File No. 001-34680).
4.3
Form of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2022.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 (included in Exhibit 4.2 filed herewith) to Primerica's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 11, 2012 (Commission File No. 001-34680).
10.1*
Form of U.S. Employee Restricted Stock Unit Restated Award Agreement under the Primerica, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Quarterly Report.
10.2*
Form of Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement under the Primerica, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by D. Richard Williams, Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer.
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by John A. Addison, Chairman of Primerica Distribution and Co-Chief Executive Officer.
31.3
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Alison S. Rand, 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 D. Richard Williams, Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer, John A. Addison, Chairman of Primerica Distribution and Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Alison S. Rand, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document(1)
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Identifies a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Includes the following materials contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2014, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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.
November 5, 2014
/s/ Alison S. Rand
Alison S. Rand
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)