10-Q 1 cia-2014331x10q.htm 10-Q CIA-2014.3.31-10Q

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-Q
___________________________

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 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:  000-16509
CITIZENS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado
84-0755371
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
400 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX
78752
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(512) 837-7100
 
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
N/A
 
(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 o 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.  (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨
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

As of May 1, 2014, the Registrant had 49,080,114 shares of Class A common stock, no par value, outstanding and 1,001,714 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.
 






























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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
Page Number
Part I.
Financial Information
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
Part II.
Other Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6.


1


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Assets
(Unaudited)
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost:  $621,480 and $595,944 in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
$
644,759

 
605,256

Fixed maturities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value:  $225,087 and $223,533 in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
223,586

 
227,696

Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost:  $48,133 and $45,883 in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
49,845

 
47,259

Mortgage loans on real estate
659

 
671

Policy loans
50,288

 
48,868

Real estate held for investment (less $1,465 and $1,429 accumulated depreciation in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
8,403

 
8,440

Other long-term investments
44

 
45

Total investments
977,584

 
938,235

Cash and cash equivalents
52,307

 
54,593

Accrued investment income
12,803

 
12,251

Receivable for securities
1,707

 

Reinsurance recoverable
4,614

 
4,394

Deferred policy acquisition costs
148,443

 
146,691

Cost of customer relationships acquired
25,488

 
23,374

Goodwill
17,160

 
17,160

Other intangible assets
976

 
851

Property and equipment, net
6,688

 
6,662

Due premiums, net (less $1,312 and $1,429 allowance for doubtful accounts in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
10,387

 
11,209

Prepaid expenses
1,311

 
95

Other assets
741

 
765

Total assets
$
1,260,209

 
1,216,280


(Continued)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(In thousands, except share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Policy liabilities:
 
 
 
Future policy benefit reserves:
 
 
 
Life insurance
$
856,915

 
834,269

Annuities
55,833

 
55,485

Accident and health
1,221

 
1,250

Dividend accumulations
14,129

 
13,662

Premiums paid in advance
34,037

 
32,560

Policy claims payable
10,120

 
9,488

Other policyholders' funds
7,498

 
7,982

Total policy liabilities
979,753

 
954,696

Commissions payable
2,238

 
2,562

Federal income tax payable
2,107

 
590

Deferred federal income tax
6,621

 
1,704

Payable for securities in process of settlement
2,977

 

Other liabilities
10,333

 
10,919

Total liabilities
1,004,029

 
970,471

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)


 


Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

Class A, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 52,215,852 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, including shares in treasury of 3,135,738 in 2014 and 2013
259,383

 
259,383

Class B, no par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, 1,001,714 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013
3,184

 
3,184

Accumulated deficit
(11,345
)
 
(12,542
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
 

 
 

Unrealized gains on securities, net of tax
15,969

 
6,795

Treasury stock, at cost
(11,011
)
 
(11,011
)
Total stockholders' equity
256,180

 
245,809

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
1,260,209

 
1,216,280



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


3


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIE
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life insurance
 
 
$
41,397

 
 
 
39,414

Accident and health insurance
 
 
351

 
 
 
349

Property insurance
 
 
1,265

 
 
 
1,177

Net investment income
 
 
9,906

 
 
 
8,389

Realized investment gains (losses), net
 
 
(56
)
 
 
 
31

Other income
 
 
169

 
 
 
186

Total revenues
 
 
53,032

 
 
 
49,546

Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Claims and surrenders
 
 
16,457

 
 
 
14,806

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
 
 
17,698

 
 
 
16,959

Policyholders' dividends
 
 
2,102

 
 
 
2,074

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
 
 
36,257

 
 
 
33,839

Commissions
 
 
9,910

 
 
 
9,058

Other general expenses
 
 
6,502

 
 
 
6,699

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
 
(7,068
)
 
 
 
(6,362
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
 
5,209

 
 
 
4,626

Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
 
 
531

 
 
 
578

Total benefits and expenses
 
 
51,341

 
 
 
48,438

Income before federal income tax
 
 
1,691

 
 
 
1,108

Federal income tax expense
 
 
494

 
 
 
252

Net income
 
 
1,197

 
 
 
856

Per Share Amounts:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic earnings per share of Class A common stock
$
0.02

 
 

 
0.02

 
 

Basic earnings per share of Class B common stock
0.01

 
 

 
0.01

 
 

Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock
0.02

 
 

 
0.02

 
 

Diluted earnings per share of Class B common stock
0.01

 
 

 
0.01

 
 

Other comprehensive income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Unrealized holding gains arising during period
 

 
14,096

 
 

 
96

Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income
 

 
32

 
 

 
(31
)
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net
 

 
14,128

 
 

 
65

Income tax expense on unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities
 

 
4,954

 
 

 
27

Other comprehensive income
 

 
9,174

 
 

 
38

Comprehensive income
 

 
$
10,371

 
 

 
894

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
1,197

 
856

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Realized gains (losses) on sale of investments and other assets
56

 
(31
)
Net deferred policy acquisition costs
(1,859
)
 
(1,736
)
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
531

 
578

Depreciation
323

 
320

Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments
2,230

 
2,297

Deferred federal income tax benefit
(1,023
)
 
(1,148
)
Change in:
 

 
 

Accrued investment income
(471
)
 
(608
)
Reinsurance recoverable
(220
)
 
2,822

Due premiums
822

 
296

Future policy benefit reserves
17,697

 
14,504

Other policyholders' liabilities
2,053

 
1,345

Federal income tax receivable
1,496

 
1,400

Commissions payable and other liabilities
(1,030
)
 
(1,408
)
Other, net
(1,293
)
 
(1,410
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
20,509

 
18,077

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Sale of fixed maturities, available-for-sale

 
58

Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, available-for-sale
16,900

 
15,851

Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
9,292

 
18,465

Purchase of fixed maturities, available-for-sale
(36,161
)
 
(64,046
)
Purchase of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
(6,347
)
 

Calls of equity securities, available-for-sale
100

 
200

Principal payments on mortgage loans
12

 
133

Increase in policy loans, net
(1,420
)
 
(1,879
)
Sale of other long-term investments
1

 
1

Purchase of other long-term investments

 
(42
)
Purchase of property and equipment
(283
)
 
(181
)
Purchase of short-term investments

 
(531
)
Net cash used in acquisition
(4,810
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(22,716
)
 
(31,971
)

5


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Continued
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Annuity deposits
1,489

 
1,242

Annuity withdrawals
(1,568
)
 
(1,039
)
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities
(79
)
 
203

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(2,286
)
 
(13,691
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
54,593

 
56,299

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
52,307

 
42,608

Supplemental disclosures of operating activities:
 

 
 

Cash paid (received) during the period for income taxes, net
$

 


Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing Activities:
None.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


6

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)


(1) Financial Statements

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Citizens, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP").

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Citizens, Inc. ("Citizens"), a Colorado corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CICA Life Insurance Company of America ("CICA"), Security Plan Life Insurance Company ("SPLIC"), Security Plan Fire Insurance Company ("SPFIC"), Citizens National Life Insurance Company ("CNLIC"), Magnolia Guaranty Life Insurance Company ("MGLIC"), Computing Technology, Inc. ("CTI") and Insurance Investors, Inc. ("III").  Citizens and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "the Company," "we," "us" or "our."

The consolidated statements of financial position for March 31, 2014, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, have been prepared by the Company without audit.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and changes in cash flows at March 31, 2014 and for comparative periods have been made.  The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, for the year ended December 31, 2013.  Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

We provide primarily life insurance and a small amount of health insurance policies through our insurance subsidiaries:  CICA, SPLIC, MGLIC and CNLIC.  CICA and CNLIC issue ordinary whole-life policies, credit life and disability, burial insurance, pre-need policies, and accident and health related policies, throughout the Midwest and southern United States.  CICA also issues ordinary whole-life policies to non-U.S. residents.  SPLIC offers final expense and home service life insurance in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi and SPFIC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SPLIC, writes a limited amount of property insurance in Louisiana. MGLIC provides industrial life policies through independent funeral homes in Mississippi.

CTI provides data processing systems and services, as well as furniture and equipment, to the Company.  III provides aviation transportation to the Company.

In accordance with our purchase agreement dated October 7, 2013, we finalized the MGLIC stock acquisition on March 7, 2014 for approximately $5.2 million in cash consideration. The assets recorded as of March 31, 2014 were $11.9 million, liabilities of $6.6 million and stockholders equity of $5.3 million. We believe the goodwill will be minimal relative to this company purchase. We are continuing to finalize the actuarial estimates and intangibles which may result in changes from the amounts reported in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. This entity will be reported as part of our home service segment business and is a wholly owned subsidiary of SPLIC.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The most significant estimates include those used in the evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities and valuation allowances on investments, actuarially determined assets and liabilities and assumptions, goodwill impairment, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and contingencies relating to litigation and regulatory matters.  Certain

7

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reclassification

Reclassifications have been made in the current year related to certain prior year reported amounts to provide consistent presentation. No individual amounts were material.

Significant Accounting Policies

For a description of significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2013 Form 10-K Annual Report, which should be read in conjunction with these accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2) Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

On January 1, 2014, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” to eliminate diversity in practice. This ASU requires that companies net their unrecognized tax benefits against all same-jurisdiction net operating losses or tax credit carryforwards that would be used to settle the position with a tax authority. The adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.

8

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)


(3) Segment Information

The Company has three reportable segments:  Life Insurance, Home Service Insurance, and Other Non-Insurance Enterprises.  The accounting policies of the segments are in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are the same as those used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.  The Company evaluates profit and loss performance based on U.S. GAAP income before federal income taxes for its three reportable segments.

The Company has no reportable differences between segments and consolidated operations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2014
 
Life
Insurance
 
Home
Service
Insurance
 
Other
Non-Insurance
Enterprises
 
Consolidated
 
(In thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums
$
31,811

 
11,202

 

 
43,013

Net investment income
6,283

 
3,287

 
336

 
9,906

Realized investment gains (losses), net
(64
)
 
8

 

 
(56
)
Other income
143

 
1

 
25

 
169

Total revenue
38,173

 
14,498

 
361

 
53,032

Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Claims and surrenders
10,815

 
5,642

 

 
16,457

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
16,976

 
722

 

 
17,698

Policyholders' dividends
2,086

 
16

 

 
2,102

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
29,877

 
6,380

 

 
36,257

Commissions
6,238

 
3,672

 

 
9,910

Other general expenses
2,840

 
3,169

 
493

 
6,502

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
(5,659
)
 
(1,409
)
 

 
(7,068
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
4,407

 
802

 

 
5,209

Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
171

 
360

 

 
531

Total benefits and expenses
37,874

 
12,974

 
493

 
51,341

Income (loss) before income tax expense
$
299

 
1,524

 
(132
)
 
1,691


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



9

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2013
 
Life
Insurance
 
Home
Service
Insurance
 
Other
Non-Insurance
Enterprises
 
Consolidated
 
(In thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums
$
30,117

 
10,823

 

 
40,940

Net investment income
4,904

 
3,180

 
305

 
8,389

Realized investment gains, net

 
30

 
1

 
31

Other income
63

 
90

 
33

 
186

Total revenue
35,084

 
14,123

 
339

 
49,546

Benefits and expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Claims and surrenders
9,338

 
5,468

 

 
14,806

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
16,042

 
917

 

 
16,959

Policyholders' dividends
2,059

 
15

 

 
2,074

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
27,439

 
6,400

 

 
33,839

Commissions
5,579

 
3,479

 

 
9,058

Other general expenses
2,852

 
3,266

 
581

 
6,699

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
(5,086
)
 
(1,276
)
 

 
(6,362
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
3,985

 
641

 

 
4,626

Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
167

 
411

 

 
578

Total benefits and expenses
34,936

 
12,921

 
581

 
48,438

Income (loss) before income tax expense
$
148

 
1,202

 
(242
)
 
1,108


10

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)



(4) Earnings Per Share

The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2014
 
March 31, 2013
 
(In thousands,
except per share amounts)
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income
$
1,197

 
856

Net income allocated to Class A common stock
$
1,185

 
848

Net income allocated to Class B common stock
12

 
8

Net income
$
1,197

 
856

Denominator:
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of Class A outstanding - basic
49,080

 
49,080

Weighted average shares of Class A outstanding - diluted
49,080

 
49,080

Weighted average shares of Class B outstanding - basic and diluted
1,002

 
1,002

Basic earnings per share of Class A common stock
$
0.02

 
0.02

Basic earnings per share of Class B common stock
0.01

 
0.01

Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock
0.02

 
0.02

Diluted earnings per share of Class B common stock
0.01

 
0.01


(5) Investments

The Company invests primarily in fixed maturity securities, which totaled 84.3% of total investments and cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2014.
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Fixed maturity securities
$
868,345

 
84.3
%
 
$
832,952

 
83.9
%
Equity securities
49,845

 
4.8
%
 
47,259

 
4.8
%
Mortgage loans
659

 
0.1
%
 
671

 
0.1
%
Policy loans
50,288

 
4.9
%
 
48,868

 
4.8
%
Real estate and other long-term investments
8,447

 
0.8
%
 
8,485

 
0.9
%
Cash and cash equivalents
52,307

 
5.1
%
 
54,593

 
5.5
%
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments
$
1,029,891

 
100.0
%
 
$
992,828

 
100.0
%


11

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)


The following tables represent the cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for fixed maturities and equity securities as of the periods indicated.
 
March 31, 2014
 
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
(In thousands)
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities
$
10,101

 
2,539

 

 
12,640

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
43,076

 
1,718

 
30

 
44,764

States and political subdivisions
355,633

 
10,529

 
6,242

 
359,920

Foreign governments
104

 
27

 

 
131

Corporate
208,740

 
14,883

 
440

 
223,183

Commercial mortgage-backed
432

 
10

 

 
442

Residential mortgage-backed
3,394

 
287

 
2

 
3,679

Total available-for-sale securities
621,480

 
29,993

 
6,714

 
644,759

Held-to-maturity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
5,846

 
249

 

 
6,095

States and political subdivisions
183,868

 
3,975

 
3,400

 
184,443

Corporate
33,872

 
853

 
176

 
34,549

Total held-to-maturity securities
223,586

 
5,077

 
3,576

 
225,087

Total fixed maturities
$
845,066

 
35,070

 
10,290

 
869,846

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock mutual funds
$
10,463

 
1,737

 

 
12,200

Bond mutual funds
35,080

 
29

 
318

 
34,791

Common stock
810

 
10

 
7

 
813

Preferred stock
1,780

 
269

 
8

 
2,041

Total equity securities
$
48,133

 
2,045

 
333

 
49,845



12

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

 
December 31, 2013
 
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
(In thousands)
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities
$
10,115

 
2,348

 

 
12,463

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
53,587

 
1,209

 
228

 
54,568

States and political subdivisions
341,673

 
6,242

 
11,449

 
336,466

Foreign governments
104

 
23

 

 
127

Corporate
186,671

 
12,289

 
1,399

 
197,561

Commercial mortgage-backed
300

 
9

 

 
309

Residential mortgage-backed
3,494

 
270

 
2

 
3,762

Total available-for-sale securities
595,944

 
22,390

 
13,078

 
605,256

Held-to-maturity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
8,877

 
197

 
3

 
9,071

States and political subdivisions
181,246

 
1,633

 
6,412

 
176,467

Corporate
37,573

 
771

 
349

 
37,995

Total held-to-maturity securities
227,696

 
2,601

 
6,764

 
223,533

Total fixed maturity securities
$
823,640

 
24,991

 
19,842

 
828,789

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock mutual funds
$
10,463

 
1,506

 

 
11,969

Bond mutual funds
35,080

 

 
417

 
34,663

Common stock
17

 

 
5

 
12

Preferred stock
323

 
292

 

 
615

Total equity securities
$
45,883

 
1,798

 
422

 
47,259

 
At March 31, 2014, the Company had $3.8 million of mortgage-backed security holdings based on amortized cost, of which $3.4 million, or 89.5%, were residential U.S. Government-sponsored issues.  Mortgage-backed securities are also referred to as securities not due at a single maturity date throughout this report.  The majority of the Company's equity securities are diversified stock and bond mutual funds.
 
Valuation of Investments in Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

Held-to-maturity securities are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost and available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value.

The Company monitors all debt and equity securities on an on-going basis relative to changes in credit ratings, market prices, earnings trends and financial performance, in addition to specific region or industry reviews.  The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on a case-by-case evaluation of underlying reasons for the decline in fair value.  The Company determines other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing relevant evidence related to the specific security issuer as well as the Company's intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost.

When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.  If the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the

13

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

entire difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date.  If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into the following: (a) the amount representing the credit loss; and (b) the amount related to all other factors.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  The previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment.  The new amortized cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company evaluates whether a credit impairment exists for debt securities by considering primarily the following factors: (a) changes in the financial condition of the security's underlying collateral; (b) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments; (c) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer; (d) the length of time to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost of the security; and (e) the payment structure of the security.  The Company's best estimate of expected future cash flows used to determine the credit loss amount is a quantitative and qualitative process.  Quantitative review includes information received from third party sources such as financial statements, pricing and rating changes, liquidity and other statistical information.  Qualitative factors include judgments related to business strategies, economic impacts on the issuer and overall judgment related to estimates and industry factors.  The Company's best estimate of future cash flows involves assumptions including, but not limited to, various performance indicators, such as historical and projected default and recovery rates, credit ratings, and current delinquency rates.  These assumptions require the use of significant management judgment and include the probability of issuer default and estimates regarding timing and amount of expected recoveries, which may include estimating the underlying collateral value.  In addition, projections of expected future debt security cash flows may change based upon new information regarding the performance of the issuer.

The primary factors considered in evaluating whether an impairment exists for an equity security include, but are not limited to: (a) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost of the security; (b) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer; (c) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated payments; and (d) the intent and ability of the Company to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery.

The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI") during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.


14

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

The following tables present the fair values and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturities and equity securities that have remained in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated.
 
March 31, 2014
 
Less than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
(In thousands, except for # of securities)
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
1,285

 
9

 
6

 
830

 
21

 
1

 
2,115

 
30

 
7

States and political subdivisions
128,340

 
5,149

 
137

 
21,095

 
1,093

 
23

 
149,435

 
6,242

 
160

Corporate
38,641

 
286

 
34

 
2,623

 
154

 
2

 
41,264

 
440

 
36

Residential mortgage-backed
61

 
1

 
5

 
40

 
1

 
1

 
101

 
2

 
6

Total available-for-sale securities
168,327

 
5,445

 
182

 
24,588

 
1,269

 
27

 
192,915

 
6,714

 
209

Held-to-maturity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

States and political subdivisions
74,114

 
3,031

 
87

 
11,710

 
369

 
18

 
85,824

 
3,400

 
105

Corporate
5,395

 
176

 
4

 

 

 

 
5,395

 
176

 
4

Total held-to-maturity securities
79,509

 
3,207

 
91

 
11,710

 
369

 
18

 
91,219

 
3,576

 
109

Total fixed maturities
$
247,836

 
8,652

 
273

 
36,298

 
1,638

 
45

 
284,134

 
10,290

 
318

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Bond mutual funds
$
27,682

 
318

 
3

 

 

 

 
27,682

 
318

 
3

Common stocks
136

 
3

 
1

 
13

 
4

 
1

 
149

 
7

 
2

  Preferred stocks
338

 
8

 
8

 

 

 

 
338

 
8

 
8

Total equities
$
28,156

 
329

 
12

 
13

 
4

 
1

 
28,169

 
333

 
13


As of March 31, 2014, the Company had 27 available-for-sale securities and 18 held-to-maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months. We reported 1 common stock holding in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2014.


15

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

 
December 31, 2013
 
Less than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of
Securities
 
(In thousands, except for # of securities)
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
14,032

 
228

 
12

 

 

 

 
14,032

 
228

 
12

States and political subdivisions
183,280

 
9,872

 
203

 
15,673

 
1,577

 
16

 
198,953

 
11,449

 
219

Corporate
35,789

 
1,048

 
25

 
2,426

 
351

 
2

 
38,215

 
1,399

 
27

Residential mortgage-backed
57

 
1

 
3

 
42

 
1

 
1

 
99

 
2

 
4

Total available-for-sale securities
233,158

 
11,149

 
243

 
18,141

 
1,929

 
19

 
251,299

 
13,078

 
262

Held-to-maturity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
2,997

 
3

 
1

 

 

 

 
2,997

 
3

 
1

States and political subdivisions
100,153

 
5,236

 
118

 
14,797

 
1,176

 
17

 
114,950

 
6,412

 
135

Corporate
5,225

 
349

 
4

 

 

 

 
5,225

 
349

 
4

Total held-to-maturity securities
108,375

 
5,588

 
123

 
14,797

 
1,176

 
17

 
123,172

 
6,764

 
140

Total fixed maturities
$
341,533

 
16,737

 
366

 
32,938

 
3,105

 
36

 
374,471

 
19,842

 
402

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Bond mutual funds
$
34,663

 
417

 
7

 

 

 

 
34,663

 
417

 
7

Common stock
12

 
5

 
1

 

 

 

 
12

 
5

 
1

Total equities
$
34,675

 
422

 
8

 

 

 

 
34,675

 
422

 
8

 
We have reviewed these securities for the periods ended March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and determined that no other-than-temporary impairment exists based on our evaluation of the credit worthiness of the issuers and the fact that we do not intend to sell the investments nor is it likely that we will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases which may be maturity.  We continue to monitor all securities on an on-going basis, and future information may become available which could result in impairments being recorded.


16

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2014 by contractual maturity are shown in the table below.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date have been reflected based upon final stated maturity.
 
March 31, 2014
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
$
15,507

 
15,818

Due after one year through five years
117,719

 
125,050

Due after five years through ten years
104,920

 
108,876

Due after ten years
383,334

 
395,015

Total available-for-sale securities
621,480

 
644,759

Held-to-maturity securities:
 

 
 

Due in one year or less
10,453

 
10,515

Due after one year through five years
31,897

 
32,581

Due after five years through ten years
43,214

 
44,633

Due after ten years
138,022

 
137,358

Total held-to-maturity securities
223,586

 
225,087

Total fixed maturities
$
845,066

 
869,846


The Company uses the specific identification method of the individual security to determine the cost basis used in the calculation of realized gains and losses related to security sales.  Proceeds and gross realized gains from sales of securities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized as follows.
 
 
Fixed Maturities, Available-for-sale
 
 
Equity Securities
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Proceeds
 
$

 
58

 
 

 

Gross realized gains
 
$

 
1

 
 

 

Gross realized losses
 
$

 

 
 

 

 
There were no securities sold at a loss during the three month period ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. There were no securities sold from the held-to-maturity portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.

(6) Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  We hold available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, which are carried at fair value.

Fair value measurements are generally 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 utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of

17

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

unobservable inputs.  All assets and liabilities carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as U.S. Treasury securities and actively traded mutual fund and stock investments.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes.  These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs, such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates for the underlying financial instruments.  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 corporate securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities and certain mortgage and asset-backed securities.

Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices utilizing significant inputs not based on or corroborated by readily available market information.  This category consists of two private placement mortgage-backed securities.

The following tables set forth our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated.
 
March 31, 2014
Available-for-sale investments
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Fair Value
 
(In thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
12,640

 
44,764

 

 
57,404

States and political subdivisions

 
359,920

 

 
359,920

Corporate

 
223,183

 

 
223,183

Commercial mortgage-backed

 
152

 
290

 
442

Residential mortgage-backed

 
3,679

 

 
3,679

Foreign governments

 
131

 

 
131

Total fixed maturities
12,640

 
631,829

 
290

 
644,759

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock mutual funds
12,200

 

 

 
12,200

Bond mutual funds
34,791

 

 

 
34,791

Common stock
813

 

 

 
813

Preferred stock
2,041

 

 

 
2,041

Total equity securities
49,845

 

 

 
49,845

Total financial assets
$
62,485

 
631,829

 
290

 
694,604



18

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

 
December 31, 2013
Available-for-sale investments
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Fair Value
 
(In thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
12,463

 
54,568

 

 
67,031

States and political subdivisions

 
336,466

 

 
336,466

Corporate

 
197,561

 

 
197,561

Commercial mortgage-backed

 

 
309

 
309

Residential mortgage-backed

 
3,762

 

 
3,762

Foreign governments

 
127

 

 
127

Total fixed maturities
12,463

 
592,484

 
309

 
605,256

Equity securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock mutual funds
11,969

 

 

 
11,969

Bond mutual funds
34,663

 

 

 
34,663

Common stock
12

 

 

 
12

Preferred stock
615

 

 

 
615

Total equity securities
47,259

 

 

 
47,259

Total financial assets
$
59,722

 
592,484

 
309

 
652,515

 
Financial Instruments Valuation

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale.  At March 31, 2014, our fixed maturity securities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $631.8 million for Level 2 assets and comprised 91.0% of total reported fair value of our financial assets.  The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and updated quarterly through random testing by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third-party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades.  In addition, we obtain information relative to the third-party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness.  Fair values for Level 3 assets are based upon unadjusted broker quotes that are non-binding, and consist of two private placement mortgage-backed securities with a total value of $0.3 million.  Our Level 3 assets are current relative to principal and interest payments and are considered immaterial to our financial statements.  For the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third party prices were changed from the values received.

Equity securities, available-for-sale.  Our available-for-sale equity securities are classified as Level 1 assets as their fair values are based upon quoted market prices.


19

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

The following table presents additional information about fixed maturity securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that are classified as Level 3 assets and for which we have utilized significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value.

March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
309

 
387

Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)


 
 

Included in net income

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 
(7
)
Principal paydowns
(19
)
 
(71
)
Transfer in and (out) of Level 3

 

Balance at end of period
$
290

 
309


We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets.  Such reclassifications are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or 2.

Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value

Estimates of fair values are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market prices and information about the financial instruments.  The estimated fair values of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might realize in actual market transactions.

The carrying amount and fair value for the financial assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets not otherwise disclosed for the periods indicated are as follows:
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
(In thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
$
223,586

 
225,087

 
227,696

 
223,533

Mortgage loans
659

 
684

 
671

 
695

Policy loans
50,288

 
50,288

 
48,868

 
48,868

Cash and cash equivalents
52,307

 
52,307

 
54,593

 
54,593

Financial liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Annuity - investment contracts
39,650

 
43,086

 
39,469

 
44,960


Fair values for fixed income securities, which are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.  In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other assumptions, including a discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.

Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential and commercial properties.  Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.4% as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, with maturities ranging from 1 to 30 years.  Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at March 31, 2014.  Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

20

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)


Policy loans had a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and no specified maturity dates.  The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheets.  These loans typically carry an interest rate that is tied to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves.  Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies we have in force, cannot be valued separately and are not marketable.  Therefore, the fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of short-term investments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature.  Our short-term investments are considered Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 assets, was estimated at March 31, 2014 using discounted cash flows based upon a swap rate curve with interest rates ranging from 0.24% to 4.03% based upon swap rates adjusted for various risk adjustments. The fair value of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.

(7) Commitments and Contingencies

We are a defendant in a lawsuit filed on August 6, 1999, in the Texas District Court, Austin, Texas, now styled Delia Bolanos Andrade, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Citizens Insurance Company of America, et al., Defendants in which a class was originally certified by the trial court and reversed by the Texas Supreme Court in 2007 with an order to the trial court to conduct further proceedings consistent with its ruling.  The underlying lawsuit alleged that certain life insurance policies CICA made available to non-U.S. residents, when combined with a policy feature that allowed certain cash benefits to be assigned to two non-U.S. trusts for the purpose of accumulating ownership of our Class A common stock, along with allowing the policyholders to make additional contributions to the trusts, were actually offers and sales of securities that occurred in Texas by unregistered dealers in violation of the Texas securities laws.  The remedy sought was rescission and return of the insurance premium payments.  On December 9, 2009, the trial court denied the recertification of the class after conducting additional proceedings in accordance with the Texas Supreme Court's ruling.  The remaining plaintiffs must now proceed individually, and not as a class, if they intend to pursue their claims against us.  Since the December 9, 2009 trial court ruling, no individual cases have been further pursued by the plaintiffs.  The probability of the plaintiffs further pursuing their cases individually remains unknown.  An estimate of any possible loss or range of losses cannot be made at this time in regard to individuals pursuing claims.  However, should the plaintiffs further pursue their claims individually, we intend to vigorously defend any proceedings.

The Company is currently performing an internal audit related to unclaimed property for all legal reporting entities. Based upon internal findings to date our exposure appears to be primarily in the state of Louisiana, related to conversion processes surrounding the SPLIC acquisition. The Company had been informed by the Louisiana Department of Treasury, Arkansas Auditor of State and the Texas State Comptroller, that they authorized an audit of Citizens, Inc. and its affiliates for compliance with unclaimed property laws. This audit is being conducted by Verus Financial LLC on behalf of the states.

These internal and external audits may result in additional payments to beneficiaries, additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws, administrative penalties, interest, and changes to the Company's procedures for the identification and escheatment of abandoned property.  At this time, the Company is not able to estimate any of these possible amounts, but such costs could be substantial for a company our size.

We defend all claims vigorously.  However, in doing so, we could incur significant defense costs, including attorneys' fees, other direct litigation costs and the expenditure of substantial amounts of management time that otherwise would be devoted to our business.  If we suffer an adverse judgment as a result of litigation claims, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.


21

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

(8) Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 29.2% and 22.7% for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.   In periods where our effective tax rate is lower than the statutory tax rate of 35%, the difference is primarily due to tax-exempt state and local bonds. The effective tax rate is higher in the current year compared to 2013 primarily due to higher book income in the current period compared to the prior period but approximately the same amount of tax-exempt income in both periods.

(9) Related Party Transactions

The Company has various routine related party transactions in conjunction with our holding company structure, such as a management service agreement related to costs incurred, a tax sharing agreement between entities, and inter-company dividends and capital contributions.  There were no changes related to these relationships during the three months ended March 31, 2014.  See our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2013 for a comprehensive discussion of related party transactions.


22

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (the "Act"), including, without limitation, statements specifically identified as forward-looking statements within this document.  Many of these statements contain risk factors as well.  In addition, certain statements in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by us or with the approval of the Company, which are not statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:  (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure, and other financial items, (ii) statements of our plans and objectives by our management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services, (iii) statements of future economic performance and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements.  Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "assumes," "estimates," "plans," "projects," "could," "expects," "intends," "targeted," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from expected results include, but are not limited to:

Changes in foreign and U.S. general economic, market, and political conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates;
Changes in consumer behavior, which may affect the Company's ability to sell its products and retain business;
The timely development of and acceptance of new products of the Company and perceived overall value of these products and services by existing and potential customers;
Fluctuations in experience regarding current mortality, morbidity, persistency and interest rates relative to expected amounts used in pricing and actuarial valuation of the Company's products;
The performance of our investment portfolio, which may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, adverse developments and ratings of issuers whose debt securities we may hold, and other adverse macroeconomic events;
Results of litigation we may be involved in;
Changes in assumptions related to deferred acquisition costs and the value of any businesses we may acquire;
Regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or the demand for, the Company's products or services;
Our concentration of business from persons residing in Latin America and the Pacific Rim;
Changes in tax laws;
Effects of acquisitions and restructuring, including possible difficulties in integrating and realizing the projected results of acquisitions;
Changes in statutory or U.S. GAAP accounting principles, policies or practices; and
Our success at managing risks involved in the foregoing;
The risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 under the heading "Part II. - Item 1A - Risk Factors."

Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

We make available, free of charge, through our Internet website (http://www.citizensinc.com), our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 Reports filed by officers and directors, news

23

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



releases, and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such reports to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We are not including any of the information contained on our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

Citizens is an insurance holding company serving the life insurance needs of individuals in the United States since 1969 and internationally since 1975.  Through our insurance subsidiaries, we pursue a strategy of offering traditional insurance products in niche markets where we believe we are able to achieve competitive advantages.  As of March 31, 2014, we had approximately $1.3 billion of total assets and approximately $5.0 billion of insurance in force.  Our core insurance operations include issuing and servicing:

U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies predominantly to high net worth, high income foreign residents, principally in Latin America and the Pacific Rim through independent marketing consultants;
ordinary whole life insurance policies to middle income households concentrated in the Midwest and southern United States through independent marketing consultants; and
final expense and limited liability property policies to middle and lower income households in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi through employee and independent agents in our home service distribution channel.

We were formed in 1969 by our Chairman, Harold E. Riley.  Prior to our formation, Mr. Riley had many years of experience in the international and domestic life insurance business.  Our Company has experienced significant growth through acquisitions in the domestic market and through market expansion in the international market.  We seek to capitalize on the experience of our management team in marketing and operations as we strive to generate bottom line return using knowledge of our niche markets and our well-established distribution channels.  We believe our underwriting processes, policy terms, pricing practices and proprietary administrative systems enable us to be competitive in our current markets, while protecting our shareholders and servicing our policyholders.

Current Financial Highlights

Financial highlights for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013 were:

Insurance premiums rose for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 to $43.0 million in 2014 from $40.9 million for the corresponding period in 2013, an increase of 5.1% driven primarily from first year and renewal premiums in our life insurance segment.
Net investment income increased 18.1% for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 compared to the corresponding period in 2013.  The average yield on the consolidated portfolio increased to an annualized rate of 4.22% up from 3.86% for the same period in 2013.  
Claims and surrenders expense increased 11.2% for the three months ended 2014 compared to 2013 as surrenders reported in the life segment were higher in the current year compared to 2013 levels.
Changes in reserves resulted in liability increases due to the increased sales of endowment products that build up reserves at a faster pace than whole life longer-term mortality based products.
We completed the acquisition of MGLIC in the current quarter and the related results have been included in our financial results for March 31, 2014. MGLIC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of SPLIC and is reported with the home service segment.

24

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014




Our Operating Segments

Our business is comprised of three operating business segments, as detailed below.

Life Insurance
Home Service Insurance
Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

Our insurance operations are the primary focus of the Company, as those operations generate the majority of our income.  See the discussion under Segment Operations for detailed analysis.  The amount of insurance, number of policies, and average face amounts of ordinary life policies issued during the periods indicated are shown below.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount of
Insurance
Issued
 
Number of
Policies
Issued
 
Average Policy
Face Amount
Issued
 
Amount of
Insurance
Issued
 
Number of
Policies
Issued
 
Average Policy
Face Amount
Issued
Life
$
80,526,319

 
1,238

 
$
65,045

 
$
74,826,174

 
1,283

 
$
58,321

Home Service
52,167,918

 
7,705

 
6,771

 
51,827,325

 
7,234

 
7,040



25

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Note:  All discussions below compare or state results for the three -month period ended March 31, 2014 compared to the three -month period ended March 31, 2013.

Consolidated Results of Operations

A discussion of consolidated results is presented below, followed by a discussion of segment operations and financial results by segment.

Revenues

Revenues are generated primarily by insurance premiums and investment income on invested assets.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
Life insurance
$
41,397

 
39,414

Accident and health insurance
 
351

 
349

Property insurance
 
1,265

 
1,177

Net investment income
 
9,906

 
8,389

Realized investment gains (losses), net
 
(56
)
 
31

Other income
 
169

 
186

Total revenues
$
53,032

 
49,546


Premium Income.  Premium income derived from life, accident and health, and property insurance sales increased 5.1% for the three months March 31, 2014 compared to the same period ending March 31, 2013. The increase is generated primarily from an increase in the life segment first year and renewal business and premium income of $0.2 million recorded due to the acquisition of MGLIC.

Net investment income performance is summarized as follows.
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except for %)
Net investment income, annualized
$
39,625

 
36,597

 
33,555

Average invested assets, at amortized cost
940,069

 
891,215

 
868,375

Annualized yield on average invested assets
4.22
%
 
4.11
%
 
3.86
%

Yields have been slowly rising as we reinvest calls and new premium money into higher yielding bonds compared to the historically low rates experienced over the past several years.   


26

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Investment income from debt securities accounted for approximately 85.6% of total investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2014.  
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Gross investment income:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities
$
8,911

 
7,456

Equity securities
 
394

 
444

Mortgage loans
 
11

 
20

Policy loans
 
1,002

 
822

Long-term investments
 
74

 
57

Other investment income
 
15

 
19

Total investment income
 
10,407

 
8,818

Investment expenses
 
(501
)
 
(429
)
Net investment income
$
9,906

 
8,389


The average consolidated invested asset portfolio has increased approximately 5.5% from year end 2013 to March 31, 2014 with primarily investments in the fixed maturity securities portfolio accounting for the most significant increase in the investment income. The purchase of bond mutual funds has resulted in dividend income in the equity securities holdings. In addition, the increase in policy loans, which represents policyholders utilizing their accumulated policy cash value, contributed to the increase to investment income.

Realized Investment Gains (losses), Net.  Gain and losses for both 2014 and 2013 were due to issuer calls. Losses recorded in the current period are related to sinking par calls on bonds purchased at a premium which resulted in a loss.

Benefits and Expenses
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 
 
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 
 
 
 
Claims and surrenders
$
16,457

 
14,806

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
 
17,698

 
16,959

Policyholders' dividends
 
2,102

 
2,074

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
 
36,257

 
33,839

Commissions
 
9,910

 
9,058

Other general expenses
 
6,502

 
6,699

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
(7,068
)
 
(6,362
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
5,209

 
4,626

Amortization of cost of customer relationships  acquired
 
531

 
578

Total benefits and expenses
$
51,341

 
48,438

 

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CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Claims and Surrenders.  A detail of claims and surrender benefits is provided below.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Death claims
$
5,532

 
5,534

Surrender benefits
 
5,830

 
4,556

Endowments
 
3,805

 
3,589

Property claims
 
371

 
551

Accident and health benefits
 
138

 
48

Other policy benefits
 
781

 
528

Total claims and surrenders
$
16,457

 
14,806


Surrenders increased in the current period by 28.0% primarily due to activity in the life segment as discussed below.

Increase in Future Policy Benefit Reserves.  The increase in future policy benefit reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2014, is due to continued growth in new sales of endowment products, which require higher initial reserve levels than whole life products. Endowments have been our top selling products for the last several years as policyholders favor the guaranteed values of this product.

Policyholder Dividends. The majority of our international policies are participating, and the dividends are factored into the premium rates charged.  As policy provisioned dividend rates generally increase each year that a policy is in force, dividend expense is expected to increase as this block of insurance becomes more seasoned.

Commissions.  Commission expense is directly related to new and renewal insurance premium fluctuations and production levels by agents and associates. Commission expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased primarily due to higher first year and renewal premiums in the life segment compared to premium levels for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  

Capitalized and Amortized Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Costs capitalized under current accounting guidance include certain commissions, policy issuance costs, and underwriting and agency expenses that relate to successful sales efforts for insurance contracts.  The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013 was the result of an increase in first year premium production in the current year, which increased capitalized amounts.  Though premium revenue increased for the three months ended in 2014, it was primarily related to an increase in renewal premiums compared to the prior year.  Commissions paid on renewal premiums are significantly lower than that paid on first year business.

Amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2014, increased compared to the same period in 2013. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs is impacted by persistency and may fluctuate from year to year.

Federal Income Tax.  The effective tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, was 29.2% versus 22.7% in 2013.  Differences between our effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate result from income and expense items that are treated differently for financial reporting and tax purposes.  See Note 8 - Income Taxes in the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.


28

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Segment Operations

The Company has three reportable segments:  Life Insurance, Home Service Insurance and Other Non-Insurance Enterprises.  These segments are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The Company evaluates profit and loss performance of its segments based on net income or loss before income taxes.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Life Insurance
$
299

 
148

Home Service Insurance
 
1,524

 
1,202

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises
 
(132
)
 
(242
)
Total
$
1,691

 
1,108


Life Insurance

Our Life Insurance segment issues ordinary whole life insurance domestically and U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole-life policies to foreign residents.  These contracts are designed to provide a fixed amount of insurance coverage over the life of the insured.  Additionally, the Company issues endowment contracts, which are principally accumulation contracts that incorporate an element of life insurance protection.  For the majority of our business, we retain only the first $100,000 of risk on any one life.  We operate this segment through CICA and CNLIC insurance subsidiaries.

International Sales

We focus our sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies to high net worth, high income residents in Latin America and the Pacific Rim.  We have successfully participated in the foreign marketplace since 1975, and we continue to seek opportunities for expansion of our foreign operations.  We believe positive attributes of our international insurance business include:

larger face amount policies typically issued when compared to our U.S. operations, which results in lower underwriting and administrative costs per unit of coverage;
premiums typically paid annually rather than monthly or quarterly, which reduces our administrative expenses, accelerates cash flow and results in lower policy lapse rates than premiums with more frequently scheduled payments; and
comparable persistency levels and mortality rates as experienced with U.S. policies.


29

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



International Products

We offer several ordinary whole life insurance and endowment products designed to meet the needs of our non-U.S. policyowners.  These policies have been structured to provide:

U.S. Dollar-denominated cash values that accumulate, beginning in the first policy year, to a policyholder during his or her lifetime;
premium rates that are competitive with or better than most foreign local companies;
a hedge against local currency inflation;
protection against devaluation of foreign currency;
capital investment in the United States’ more secure economic environment; and
lifetime income guarantees for an insured or for surviving beneficiaries.

Our international products have living benefit features.  Every policy contains guaranteed cash values and most are participating (i.e., provides for cash dividends as apportioned by the board of directors).  Once a policyowner pays the annual premium and the policy is issued, we immediately pay the owner a cash dividend as well as an annual guaranteed endowment, if elected.  The policyowner has several options with regard to the dividend and annual guaranteed endowments, including the right to assign policy values to our stock investment plan, registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and administered in the United States by our unaffiliated transfer agent.

The following table sets forth, by country, our direct premiums from our international life insurance business for the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Country
 
 
 
 
Venezuela
$
6,677

 
6,399

Colombia
 
6,310

 
5,983

Taiwan
 
4,145

 
3,874

Ecuador
 
3,280

 
3,382

Argentina
 
1,777

 
1,831

Other Non-U.S.
 
7,931

 
7,304

Total
$
30,120

 
28,773

 
We continue to report increased sales from our top producing countries as noted above. Our international business and premium collections could be impacted by future changes relative to laws, regulations or economic events in the countries from which we accept applications.

Domestic Sales

In the Midwest and the southern United States, we seek to serve middle income households through the sale of cash accumulation ordinary whole life insurance products.  The majority of our inforce business results from blocks of business of insurance companies we have acquired over the past fifteen years.


30

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Domestic Products

Our domestic life insurance products focus primarily on living needs and provide benefits focused toward accumulating money for living benefits while providing a modest death benefit for the policyowner.  The features of our domestic life insurance products include:

cash accumulation/living benefits;
tax-deferred annuity interest earnings;
guaranteed lifetime income or monthly income options for the policyowner or surviving family members;
accidental death benefit coverage options; and
an option to waive premium payments in the event of disability.

Our life insurance products are principally designed to address the insured's concern about outliving his or her monthly income, while at the same time providing death benefits.  The primary purpose of our product portfolio is to help the insured create capital for needs such as retirement income, children's higher education funds, business opportunities, emergencies and extraordinary health care needs.

The following table sets forth our direct premiums by state for the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
State
 
 
 
 
Texas
$
559

 
597

Indiana
 
371

 
366

Kentucky
 
133

 
132

Florida
 
128

 
122

Missouri
 
124

 
141

Other States
 
485

 
479

Total
$
1,800

 
1,837


A number of domestic life insurance companies we acquired had blocks of accident and health insurance policies, which we did not consider to be a core part of our business.  We have ceded the majority of our accident and health insurance business to Puritan Life Insurance Company ("Puritan"), an unaffiliated insurance company under a coinsurance agreement.


31

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



The results of operations for the life insurance segment for the periods indicated are as follows.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
Premiums
$
31,811

 
30,117

Net investment income
 
6,283

 
4,904

Realized investment losses, net
 
(64
)
 

Other income
 
143

 
63

Total revenue
 
38,173

 
35,084

Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 
 
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 
 
 
 
Claims and surrenders
 
10,815

 
9,338

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
 
16,976

 
16,042

Policyholders' dividends
 
2,086

 
2,059

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
 
29,877

 
27,439

Commissions
 
6,238

 
5,579

Other general expenses
 
2,840

 
2,852

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
(5,659
)
 
(5,086
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
4,407

 
3,985

Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
 
171

 
167

Total benefits and expenses
 
37,874

 
34,936

Income before income tax expense
$
299

 
148


Premiums.  Premium revenues increased for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to international renewal business, which experienced strong persistency as this block of insurance ages. First year premium revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, reflected sales internationally with endowment to age sixty-five and the twenty-year endowment products being the top performers.

Life insurance premium breakout is detailed below.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
First year
$
4,559

 
3,938

Renewal
 
27,252

 
26,179

Total premiums
$
31,811

 
30,117



32

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Net Investment Income.  Net investment income increased as the impact of the sustained low interest rate environment has leveled and yields are beginning to rise modestly.
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except for %)
Net investment income, annualized
$
25,131

 
22,237

 
19,617

Average invested assets, at amortized cost
$
592,493

 
549,578

 
523,647

Annualized yield on average invested assets
4.24
%
 
4.05
%
 
3.75
%

Realized Investment Losses, Net.  Losses recorded in the current period related to sinking par calls on bonds purchased at a premium which resulted in a loss.
 
Claims and Surrenders.  These amounts fluctuate from period to period but were within anticipated ranges based upon management's expectations.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Death claims
$
1,299

 
1,229

Surrender benefits
 
4,980

 
4,050

Endowment benefits
 
3,802

 
3,585

Accident and health benefits
 
50

 
46

Other policy benefits
 
684

 
428

Total claims and surrenders
$
10,815

 
9,338


Death claims expense was slightly higher for the three months ended March 31, 2014 based upon reported claims. Mortality experience is closely monitored by the Company as a key performance indicator and these amounts were within expected levels.
Surrenders increased in the current period by 23.0% due to the fact that 2013 reported amounts were unusually low. The majority of policy surrender benefits paid is attributable to our international business and was related to policies that have been in force nearly twenty years, where surrender charges are no longer applicable.
Endowment benefit expense primarily results from the election by policyholders of a product feature providing an annual guaranteed benefit.  This is a fixed benefit over the life of the contract, thus this expense will increase with new sales and improved persistency.
Other policy benefits resulted primarily from interest paid on premium deposits and policy benefit accumulations and increased as these policy liabilities also increased.

Increase in Future Policy Benefit Reserves.   Policy benefit reserves increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, primarily from growth in new sales of endowment products, which require higher initial reserve levels than whole life products. Endowment sales have become more popular with our international clients in the past few years, representing approximately 82% and 81% of total new first year premium in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Commissions.  Commission expense increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.  This expense fluctuates directly with new premium revenues, which were higher for the period in 2014 compared to 2013.  Commission rates paid to associates are higher on first year premium sales, which were up 15.8% for the three months

33

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



ended March 31, 2014, compared to 2013.  Renewal premiums for the three months, for which we pay commissions at lower rates, were up $1.1 million, or 4.1%, from the prior year.

Other General Expenses.  The expenses are allocated by segment, based upon an annual expense study performed by the Company, and were down for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.

Capitalization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ("DAC").  Capitalized costs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, due to higher first year premiums and an increase in renewal commissions paid compared to 2013.  DAC capitalization is directly correlated to fluctuations in first year commissions.

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Amortization for 2014 increased and was impacted by overall lower persistency related to this segment. As previously noted, persistency is monitored closely by the Company and was within expectations.

Home Service Insurance

We operate in the Home Service market through our subsidiaries Security Plan Life Insurance Company ("SPLIC") and Security Plan Fire Insurance Company ("SPFIC"), and focus on the life insurance needs of the middle and lower income markets, primarily in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  Our policies are sold and serviced through a home service marketing distribution system of employee-agents who work full time on a route system and through funeral homes that sell policies, collect premiums and service policyholders.

In March of the current year we completed the acquisition of Magnolia Guaranty Life Insurance Company ("MGLIC") which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of SPLIC. MGLIC is licensed in Mississippi and customarily sells policies through independent funeral homes while SPLIC customarily sells through the route system. Together, we anticipate Mississippi clients will experience enhanced support from the affiliated companies.

The following table sets forth our direct premiums by state for the periods indicated.

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
State
 
 
 
 
Louisiana
$
10,506

 
10,374

Arkansas
 
406

 
436

Mississippi
 
341

 
118

Other States
 
205

 
208

Total
$
11,458

 
11,136


We recorded approximately $0.2 million of additional premium in Mississippi for the three months ended March 31, 2014 due to the purchase of MGLIC.

Home Service Insurance Products

Our home service insurance products consist primarily of small face amount ordinary whole life and pre-need policies, which are designed to fund final expenses for the insured, primarily consisting of funeral and burial costs.  To a much lesser extent, our home service insurance segment sells limited-liability, named-peril property policies covering dwellings and contents.  We provide

34

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



$30,000 maximum coverage on any one dwelling and contents, while content only coverage and dwelling only coverage is limited to $20,000, respectively.

We provide final expense ordinary life insurance and annuity products primarily to middle and lower income individuals in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  

The results of operations for the home service insurance segment for the periods indicated are as follows.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
Premiums
$
11,202

 
10,823

Net investment income
 
3,287

 
3,180

Realized investment gains, net
 
8

 
30

Other income
 
1

 
90

Total revenue
 
14,498

 
14,123

Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 
 
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
 
 
 
 
Claims and surrenders
 
5,642

 
5,468

Increase in future policy benefit reserves
 
722

 
917

Policyholders' dividends
 
16

 
15

Total insurance benefits paid or provided
 
6,380

 
6,400

Commissions
 
3,672

 
3,479

Other general expenses
 
3,169

 
3,266

Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
(1,409
)
 
(1,276
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
802

 
641

Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
 
360

 
411

Total benefits and expenses
 
12,974

 
12,921

Income before income tax expense
$
1,524

 
1,202


Premiums.  Premiums increased slightly for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to 2013. In addition we recorded $0.2 million of premiums in the current period as part of the MGLIC acquisition.

Net Investment Income.  Net investment income for our home service insurance segment was as follows.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except for %)
Net investment income, annualized
$
13,148

 
13,075

 
12,718

Average invested assets, at amortized cost
295,260

 
290,340

 
293,712

Annualized yield on average invested assets
4.45
%
 
4.50
%
 
4.33
%
 

35

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Realized Investment Gains, Net.  Net realized gains for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, were due to calls of debt securities.

Claims and Surrenders.  Claims and surrenders increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013, as reported claims increased compared to the prior year, but were within expected ranges.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Death claims
$
4,233

 
4,305

Surrender benefits
 
850

 
506

Endowment benefits
 
3

 
4

Property claims
 
371

 
551

Accident and health benefits
 
88

 
2

Other policy benefits
 
97

 
100

Total claims and surrenders
$
5,642

 
5,468


Death claims expense decreased for the three months in 2014, due to lower reported claims compared to the three months ended March 31, 2013. Mortality experience is closely monitored by the Company as a key performance indicator and amounts were within expected levels.
Surrender benefits increased 68% from the three months ended in 2013 compared to 2014 as policyholders elected to cash in their policy values.
Property claims decreased 32.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as we had experienced weather related claims in 2013.

Increase in Future Policy Benefit Reserves.  The Company recorded a decrease in future policy benefit reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the corresponding period in 2013 due to higher lapses.
 
Commissions.  Commission expense increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013 as we recorded increased premiums. Commission expense related to MGLIC totaled $53,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Other General Expenses.  Expenses are allocated by segment based upon an annual expense study performed by the Company and decreased between 2014 and 2013.

Capitalization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ("DAC").  Capitalized costs increased slightly for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as commission expense also increased during the period.  DAC capitalization is directly correlated to fluctuations in new business and commissions.

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased compared to the corresponding period in 2013 as this segment experienced lower persistency compared to the prior year, which results in higher amortization.

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

36

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014




This segment represents the administrative support entities to the insurance operations whose revenues are primarily intercompany and have been eliminated in consolidation under GAAP. The segment loss reported for the first three months of 2014 and 2013 is typical since the elimination of intercompany revenue is it's primarily source of revenue.

Investments

The administration of our investment portfolios is handled by our management, pursuant to board-approved investment guidelines, with all trading activity approved by a committee of each entity's respective boards of directors.  The guidelines used require that fixed maturities, both government and corporate, are investment grade and comprise a majority of the investment portfolio.  State insurance statutes prescribe the quality and percentage of the various types of investments that may be made by insurance companies and generally permit investment in qualified state, municipal, federal and foreign government obligations, high quality corporate bonds, preferred and common stock, mortgage loans and real estate within certain specified percentages.  The assets are intended to mature in accordance with the average maturity of the insurance products and to provide the cash flow for our insurance company subsidiaries to meet their respective policyholder obligations.

The following table shows the carrying value of our investments by investment category and cash and cash equivalents, and the percentage of each to total invested cash, cash equivalents and investments.
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Marketable securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
63,250

 
6.1
 
$
75,908

 
7.7
States and political subdivisions
543,788

 
52.8
 
517,712

 
52.1
Corporate
257,055

 
25.0
 
235,134

 
23.7
Mortgage-backed (1)
4,121

 
0.4
 
4,071

 
0.4
Foreign governments
131

 
 
127

 
Total marketable securities
868,345

 
84.3
 
832,952

 
83.9
Cash and cash equivalents
52,307

 
5.1
 
54,593

 
5.5
Other investments:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Policy loans
50,288

 
4.9
 
48,868

 
4.8
Equity securities
49,845

 
4.8
 
47,259

 
4.8
Mortgage loans
659

 
0.1
 
671

 
0.1
Real estate
8,403

 
0.8
 
8,440

 
0.9
Other long-term investments
44

 
 
45

 
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments
$
1,029,891

 
100.0
 
$
992,828

 
100.0
(1) Includes $3.7 million and $3.8 million of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises at March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased as of March 31, 2014 due to timing of cash inflows and investment into marketable securities.

The held-to-maturity portfolio as of March 31, 2014 represented 25.7% of the total fixed maturity securities owned based upon carrying values, with the remaining 74.3% classified as available-for-sale.  Held-to-maturity securities are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost and available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value.


37

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



The following table sets forth the distribution of the credit ratings of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities by carrying value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
AAA
$
51,270

 
5.9
 
$
55,093

 
6.6
AA
410,202

 
47.2
 
391,054

 
46.9
A
230,274

 
26.5
 
231,004

 
27.7
BBB
145,284

 
16.7
 
125,597

 
15.1
BB and other
31,315

 
3.7
 
30,204

 
3.7
Totals
$
868,345

 
100.0
 
$
832,952

 
100.0

Credit ratings reported for the periods indicated are assigned by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) such as Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch Ratings.  A credit rating assigned by an NRSRO is a quality based rating, with AAA representing the highest quality and D the lowest, with BBB and above being considered investment grade.  In addition, the Company may use credit ratings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) as assigned, if there is no NRSRO rating.  Securities rated by the SVO are grouped in the equivalent NRSRO category as stated by the SVO and securities that are not rated by an NRSRO are included in the “other” category.

The Company has no direct sovereign European debt exposure as of March 31, 2014.  We do have indirect exposure in one bond mutual fund holding, but the amount is deemed immaterial to the current investment holdings and consolidated financials.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company held municipal securities that include third party guarantees.  Detailed below is a presentation by NRSRO rating of our municipal holdings by funding type.

Municipals shown including third party guarantees
 
March 31, 2014
 
General Obligation
 
Special Revenue
 
Other
 
Total
 
% Based on
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Amortized
Cost
 
(In thousands)
 
 
AAA
$
33,784

 
32,535

 
15,356

 
14,898

 

 

 
49,140

 
47,433

 
8.8
AA
115,398

 
114,278

 
189,042

 
184,645

 
15,183

 
14,840

 
319,623

 
313,763

 
58.1
A
35,804

 
36,970

 
101,177

 
101,596

 
8,918

 
9,042

 
145,899

 
147,608

 
27.4
BBB
2,730

 
2,823

 
17,474

 
17,426

 

 

 
20,204

 
20,249

 
3.8
BB and other
542

 
495

 
8,426

 
9,371

 
529

 
582

 
9,497

 
10,448

 
1.9
Total
$
188,258

 
187,101

 
331,475

 
327,936

 
24,630

 
24,464

 
544,363

 
539,501

 
100.0
 

38

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Municipals shown excluding third party guarantees
 
March 31, 2014
 
General Obligation
 
Special Revenue
 
Other
 
Total
 
% Based on
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Amortized
Cost
 
(In thousands)
 
 
AAA
$
33,550

 
32,302

 
15,356

 
14,898

 

 

 
48,906

 
47,200

 
8.7
AA
98,864

 
97,927

 
141,497

 
138,101

 
12,448

 
12,068

 
252,809

 
248,096

 
46.0
A
52,572

 
53,554

 
140,544

 
140,010

 
11,654

 
11,814

 
204,770

 
205,378

 
38.1
BBB
2,730

 
2,823

 
25,652

 
25,556

 

 

 
28,382

 
28,379

 
5.3
BB and other
542

 
495

 
8,426

 
9,371

 
528

 
582

 
9,496

 
10,448

 
1.9
Total
$
188,258

 
187,101

 
331,475

 
327,936

 
24,630

 
24,464

 
544,363

 
539,501

 
100.0

The Company held investments in special revenue bonds that had a greater than 10% exposure based upon activity as noted in the table below.


Fair Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% of Total
Fair Value
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Utilities
$
114,839

 
114,309

 
21.1


39

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



The tables below represent the Company's exposure of municipal holdings in Louisiana and Texas, which exceed 10% of the total municipal portfolio as of March 31, 2014.
 
March 31, 2014
 
General Obligation
 
Special Revenue
 
Other
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
(In thousands)
Louisiana securities including third party guarantees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AA
$
6,685

 
6,379

 
29,085

 
28,314

 

 

 
35,770

 
34,693

A
6,049

 
6,198

 
10,351

 
10,240

 

 

 
16,400

 
16,438

BBB
1,695

 
1,728

 

 

 
1,020

 
1,016

 
2,715

 
2,744

BB and other

 

 
4,688

 
5,074

 

 

 
4,688

 
5,074

Total
$
14,429

 
14,305

 
44,124

 
43,628

 
1,020

 
1,016

 
59,573

 
58,949

Louisiana securities excluding third party guarantees
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

AA
$
6,685

 
6,379

 
18,681

 
18,153

 

 

 
25,366

 
24,532

A
6,049

 
6,198

 
15,729

 
15,390

 

 

 
21,778

 
21,588

BBB
1,695

 
1,728

 
5,026

 
5,011

 
1,020

 
1,016

 
7,741

 
7,755

BB and other

 

 
4,688

 
5,074

 

 

 
4,688

 
5,074

Total
$
14,429

 
14,305

 
44,124

 
43,628

 
1,020

 
1,016

 
59,573

 
58,949

Texas securities including third party guarantees
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

AAA
$
32,700

 
31,481

 
8,621

 
8,354

 

 

 
41,321

 
39,835

AA
30,294

 
30,602

 
19,696

 
19,395

 

 

 
49,990

 
49,997

A
2,022

 
2,038

 
14,553

 
14,208

 

 

 
16,575

 
16,246

BBB

 

 
10,144

 
9,961

 

 

 
10,144

 
9,961

BB and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
65,016

 
64,121

 
53,014

 
51,918

 

 

 
118,030

 
116,039

Texas securities excluding third party guarantees
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

AAA
$
32,465

 
31,248

 
8,622

 
8,355

 

 

 
41,087

 
39,603

AA
24,839

 
25,048

 
15,833

 
15,526

 

 

 
40,672

 
40,574

A
7,712

 
7,825

 
18,415

 
18,076

 

 

 
26,127

 
25,901

BBB

 

 
10,144

 
9,961

 

 

 
10,144

 
9,961

BB and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
65,016

 
64,121

 
53,014

 
51,918

 

 

 
118,030

 
116,039


The Company invests in municipal securities of issuers in the state of Louisiana and receives a credit that reduces its premium tax liability in that state.  At March 31, 2014, total holdings of municipal securities in Louisiana represented 10.9% of all municipal holdings based upon fair value.  The Company also holds 21.7% of its municipal holdings in Texas issuers.  There were no other states or individual issuer holdings that represented or exceeded 10% of the total municipal portfolio as of March 31, 2014.


40

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Valuation of Investments

We evaluate the carrying value of our fixed maturity and equity securities at least quarterly.  The Company monitors all debt and equity securities on an on-going basis relative to changes in credit ratings, market prices, earnings trends and financial performance, in addition to specific region or industry reviews.  The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on a case-by-case evaluation of underlying reasons for the decline in fair value.  The Company determines other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing all relevant evidence related to the specific security issuer as well as the Company's intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost.

When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.  If the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date.  If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into the following:  a) the amount representing the credit loss; and b) the amount related to all other factors.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  The previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment.  The new amortized cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity refers to a company's ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the needs of its operations.  Liquidity is managed on insurance operations and seeks to ensure stable and reliable sources of cash flows to meet obligations provided by a variety of sources.

Liquidity requirements of the Company are met primarily by funds provided from operations.  Premium deposits and revenues, investment income and investment maturities are the primary sources of funds, while investment purchases, policy benefits, and operating expenses are the primary uses of funds.  We historically have not had to liquidate investments relative to our insurance operations to provide cash flow and did not do so during the first three months of 2014.  Our investments as of March 31, 2014, consist of 66.0% of marketable debt securities classified as available-for-sale that could be readily converted to cash for liquidity needs.

A primary liquidity concern is the risk of an extraordinary level of early policyholder withdrawals.  We include provisions within our insurance policies, such as surrender charges, that help limit and discourage early withdrawals.  Since these contractual withdrawals, as well as the level of surrenders experienced, were largely consistent with our assumptions in asset liability management, our associated cash outflows have, to date, not had an adverse impact on our overall liquidity.  Individual life insurance policies are less susceptible to withdrawal than annuity reserves and deposit liabilities because policyholders may incur surrender charges and undergo a new underwriting process in order to obtain a new insurance policy.  Cash flow projections and cash flow tests under various market interest rate scenarios are also performed annually to assist in evaluating liquidity needs and adequacy.  We currently anticipate that available liquidity sources and future cash flows will be adequate to meet our needs for funds.

Cash flows from our insurance operations have been sufficient to meet current needs.  Cash flows from operating activities were $20.5 million and $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  We have traditionally also had significant cash flows from both scheduled and unscheduled investment security maturities, redemptions, and prepayments.  These cash flows, for the most part, are reinvested in fixed income securities.  Net cash outflows from investing activities totaled $22.7 million and $32.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The investing

41

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



activities fluctuate from period to period due to timing of securities activities such as calls and maturities and reinvestment of those funds. 
 
The NAIC has established minimum capital requirements in the form of Risk-Based Capital ("RBC").  RBC factors the type of business written by an insurance company, the quality of its assets, and various other aspects of an insurance company's business to develop a minimum level of capital called "authorized control level risk-based capital" and compares this level to adjusted statutory capital that includes capital and surplus as reported under statutory accounting principles, plus certain investment reserves.  Should the ratio of adjusted statutory capital to control level RBC fall below 200%, a series of remedial actions by the affected company would be required.

All insurance subsidiaries were above the RBC minimums at December 31, 2013.  The ratios of adjusted statutory capital to control level RBC are shown below.

 
December 31,
 
2013
 
 
CICA
635
%
CNLIC
2,363
%
SPFIC
421
%
SPLIC
1,306
%
MGLIC
1,210
%
 
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes in contractual obligations from those reported in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The Company does not have off-balance sheet arrangements at March 31, 2014, and does not expect any future effects on the Company's financial condition related to any such arrangements.  We do not utilize special purpose entities as investment vehicles, nor are there any such entities in which we have an investment that engage in speculative activities of any nature, and we do not use such investments to hedge our investment positions.

Parent Company Liquidity and Capital Resources

Citizens is a holding company and has had minimal operations of its own.  Its assets consist primarily of the capital stock of its subsidiaries, cash, fixed income securities, mutual funds and investment real estate.  Accordingly, Citizens' cash flows depend upon the availability of statutorily permissible payments, primarily payments under management agreements from its two primary life insurance subsidiaries, CICA and SPLIC.  The ability to make payments is limited by applicable laws and regulations of Colorado, CICA's state of domicile, and Louisiana, SPLIC's state of domicile, which subject insurance operations to significant regulatory restriction.  These laws and regulations require, among other things, that these insurance subsidiaries maintain minimum solvency requirements and limit the amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the holding company.  Citizens historically has not relied upon dividends from subsidiaries for its cash flow needs.  However, CICA and SPLIC do dividend available funds from time to time in relation to new acquisition target strategies.


42

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Critical Accounting Policies

We have prepared a current assessment of our critical accounting policies and estimates in connection with preparing our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. We believe that the accounting policies set forth in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 continue to describe the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

General

The nature of our business exposes us to market risk relative to our invested assets and policy liabilities.  Market risk is the risk of loss that may occur when changes in interest rates and public equity prices adversely affect the value of our invested assets.  Interest rate risk is our primary market risk exposure.  Substantial and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can affect the fair value of our investments.  The fair value of our fixed maturity portfolio generally increases when interest rates decrease and decreases when interest rates increase. For additional information regarding market risks to which we are subject, see "Item 1 Financial Statements - Note 5. Investments - Valuation of Investments in Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities" above.

The following table summarizes net unrealized gains and losses for the periods indicated.

 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Net
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Net
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
 
(In thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
$
621,480

 
644,759

 
23,279

 
595,944

 
605,256

 
9,312

Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
223,586

 
225,087

 
1,501

 
227,696

 
223,533

 
(4,163
)
Total fixed maturities
$
845,066

 
869,846

 
24,780

 
823,640


828,789

 
5,149

Total equity securities
$
48,133

 
49,845

 
1,712

 
45,883

 
47,259

 
1,376


Market Risk Related to Interest Rates

Our exposure to interest rate changes results from our significant holdings of fixed maturity investments, which comprised 88.8% of our investment portfolio based on carrying value as of March 31, 2014.  These investments are mainly exposed to changes in U.S. Treasury rates.  Our fixed maturity investments include U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, U.S. Government bonds, securities issued by government agencies, municipal bonds and corporate bonds.  

To manage interest rate risk, we perform periodic projections of asset and liability cash flows to evaluate the potential sensitivity of our investments and liabilities.  We assess interest rate sensitivity annually with respect to our available-for-sale fixed maturities investments using hypothetical test scenarios that assume either upward or downward shifts in the prevailing interest rates.  The changes in fair values of our debt and equity securities as of March 31, 2014 were within the expected range of this analysis.

Changes in interest rates typically have a sizable effect on the fair values of our debt and equity securities.  The interest rate of the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond decreased to 2.7% during the quarter ended March 31, 2014, from 3.0% at December 31, 2013.  Net

43

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities totaled $24.8 million at March 31, 2014, compared to $5.1 million at December 31, 2013.

The fixed maturity portfolio is exposed to call risk, as a significant portion of the current bond holdings are callable.  A decreasing interest rate environment can result in increased call activity as experienced over the past several years, and an increasing rate environment will likely result in securities being paid at their stated maturity.

There are no fixed maturities or other investments classified as trading instruments.  Approximately 74.1% of fixed maturities were held in available-for-sale and 25.9% in held-to-maturity based upon fair value at March 31, 2014.  At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no investments in derivative instruments, nor did we have any subprime or collateralized debt obligation risk.

Market Risk Related to Equity Prices

Changes in the level or volatility of equity prices affect the value of equity securities we hold as investments.  Our equity investments portfolio represented 5.1% of our total investments at March 31, 2014, with 94.3% invested in diversified equity and bond mutual funds.  We believe that significant decreases in the equity markets would not have a material adverse impact on our total investment portfolio.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure, among other things, that material information relating to our Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to our officers who certify our financial reports and to the other members of our senior management and the Board of Directors.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")).  Based upon an evaluation at the end of the period covered by this report, the Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

44

CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014




PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a defendant in a lawsuit filed on August 6, 1999, in the Texas District Court, Austin, Texas, now styled Delia Bolanos Andrade, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Citizens Insurance Company of America, et al., Defendants in which a class was originally certified by the trial court and reversed by the Texas Supreme Court in 2007 with an order to the trial court to conduct further proceedings consistent with its ruling.  The underlying lawsuit alleged that certain life insurance policies CICA made available to non-U.S. residents, when combined with a policy feature that allowed certain cash benefits to be assigned to two non-U.S. trusts for the purpose of accumulating ownership of our Class A common stock, along with allowing the policyholders to make additional contributions to the trusts, were actually offers and sales of securities that occurred in Texas by unregistered dealers in violation of the Texas securities laws.  The remedy sought was rescission and return of the insurance premium payments.  On December 9, 2009, the trial court denied the recertification of the class after conducting additional proceedings in accordance with the Texas Supreme Court's ruling.  The remaining plaintiffs must now proceed individually, and not as a class, if they intend to pursue their claims against us.  Since the December 9, 2009 trial court ruling, no individual cases have been further pursued by the plaintiffs.  The probability of the plaintiffs further pursuing their cases individually remains unknown.  An estimate of any possible loss or range of losses cannot be made at this time in regard to individuals pursuing claims.  However, should the plaintiffs further pursue their claims individually, we intend to vigorously defend any proceedings.

The Company is vigorously defending a number of matters in various stages of development and a number of individual lawsuits, which are immaterial to the Company's financial statements.


Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There are no updates to our risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

On May 6, 2014, the Company issued a news release (the "Release") reporting, among things, results of operations for its first quarter of 2014.  A copy of the Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Citizens also announced that it would hold a conference call to discuss its financial results at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Wednesday, May 7, 2014.


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CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2014



Item 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number
 
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
 
 
 
11
 
Statement re:  Computation of per share earnings (see financial statements)
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
 
 
 
99.1
 
News Release reporting first quarter results issued on May 6, 2014 (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase (furnished herewith)
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase (furnished herewith)
 
 
__________________

* Filed herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
CITIZENS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Harold E. Riley
 
 
 
Harold E. Riley
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Rick D. Riley
 
 
 
Rick D. Riley
 
 
 
Vice Chairman and President
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Kay E. Osbourn
 
 
 
Kay E. Osbourn
 
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 6, 2014
 
 

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