-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, EB9jkeMqNBi4hT0t8I7Z2hzJ7lr5Twi5QVbROvWCfDbT+rWpQ4bF1FJMUyZfiqVv Vm79ycnw19YjeS1O28twcQ== 0000355429-05-000363.txt : 20051114 0000355429-05-000363.hdr.sgml : 20051111 20051114134234 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000355429-05-000363 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20051114 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000310826 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: LIFE INSURANCE [6311] IRS NUMBER: 630169720 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31901 FILM NUMBER: 051199524 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35223 BUSINESS PHONE: 2058799230 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 2606 CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35202 10-Q 1 form10q.htm PLICO FORM 10Q 9-30-05 PLICO Form 10Q 9-30-05

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE
QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
 
September 30, 2005
 
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR
THE TRANSITION PERIOD
 
FROM__ TO __
 
Commission File Number 001-31901
 
Protective Life Insurance Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Tennessee
(State of Incorporation)
 
63-0169720
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
2801 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, Alabama 35223
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
(205) 268-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
____________________
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [ X ] No [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ]
 
Number of shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, outstanding as of November 14, 2005: 5,000,000 shares.



PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For Quarter Ended September 30, 2005
 
INDEX
 
 
 
Part I. Financial Information:
 
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the
 
Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2005
 
and December 31, 2004
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the
 
Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
 
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
 
 and Results of Operations
 
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
   
Part II. Other Information:
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
   
Signature 
 
   










REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Directors and Share Owner
Protective Life Insurance Company


We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet of Protective Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2005, and the related consolidated condensed statements of income for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated condensed interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, share-owner’s equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated March 30, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
November 14, 2005

 
 
 



PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                       0;                        Three Months Ended
 
                             Nine Months Ended
 
                                                                                                                                                       0;                            September 30
 
                            September 30
 
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 

REVENUES
                 
Premiums and policy fees
 
$
458,031
 
$
456,973
 
$
1,400,239
 
$
1,347,532
 
Reinsurance ceded
   
(251,423
)
 
(273,074
)
 
(835,246
)
 
(798,664
)
Net of reinsurance ceded
   
206,608
   
183,899
   
564,993
   
548,868
 
Net investment income
   
293,524
   
259,945
   
838,381
   
767,709
 
Realized investment gains (losses):
Derivative financial instruments
   
12,633
   
(4,218
)
 
(27,891
)
 
6,814
 
All other investments
   
(3,634
)
 
9,647
   
35,351
   
26,351
 
Other income
   
18,462
   
14,766
   
51,471
   
41,087
 
Total revenues
   
527,593
   
464,039
   
1,462,305
   
1,390,829
 
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of
reinsurance ceded:
(three months: 2005 - $216,695; 2004 - $304,134
nine months: 2005 - $754,352; 2004 - $791,122)
   
333,364
   
280,302
   
925,435
   
844,278
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
57,952
   
52,375
   
184,070
   
157,222
 
Other operating expenses, net of reinsurance ceded:
(three months: 2005 - $26,758; 2004 - $40,660
nine months: 2005 - $117,712; 2004 - $121,774)
   
37,135
   
40,739
   
98,172
   
100,196
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
428,451
   
373,416
   
1,207,677
   
1,101,696
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX AND CUMULATIVE
EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
   
99,142
   
90,623
   
254,628
   
289,133
 
Income tax expense
   
33,465
   
34,979
   
86,548
   
101,023
 
NET INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE
EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
   
65,677
   
55,644
   
168,080
   
188,110
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
net of income tax
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(15,801
)
NET INCOME
 
$
65,677
 
$
55,644
 
$
168,080
 
$
172,309
 



 
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

 
 
 

PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                                                                                                                                       0;                                                                                                 September 30
 
             December 31
 
                                                            2005
   
                2004
 

ASSETS
Investments:
Fixed maturities, at market (amortized cost: 2005 - $14,950,745; 2004 - $13,289,967)
 
$
15,396,304
 
$
13,987,174
 
Equity securities, at market (cost: 2005 - $79,474; 2004 - $26,158)
   
86,163
   
29,050
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
   
3,101,823
   
3,005,418
 
Investment in real estate, net
   
68,556
   
81,397
 
Policy loans
   
463,514
   
482,780
 
Other long-term investments
   
283,539
   
256,635
 
Short-term investments
   
595,000
   
1,046,043
 
Total investments
   
19,994,899
   
18,888,497
 
Cash
   
30,128
   
110,456
 
Accrued investment income
   
196,087
   
192,482
 
Accounts and premiums receivable, net
   
46,588
   
35,547
 
Reinsurance receivables
   
2,805,463
   
2,705,095
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
2,087,469
   
1,825,104
 
Goodwill
   
38,986
   
36,182
 
Property and equipment, net
   
41,805
   
43,549
 
Other assets
   
85,524
   
208,345
 
Income taxes receivable
   
52,353
   
0
 
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,352,287
   
2,308,858
 
Variable universal life
   
240,944
   
217,095
 
   
$
27,972,533
 
$
26,571,210
 
LIABILITIES
Policy liabilities and accruals
 
$
11,439,968
 
$
10,638,734
 
Stable value product account balances
   
5,900,740
   
5,562,997
 
Annuity account balances
   
3,430,038
   
3,463,477
 
Other policyholders' funds
   
148,800
   
151,213
 
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
   
142,850
   
0
 
Other liabilities
   
965,540
   
980,241
 
Accrued income taxes
   
0
   
15,738
 
Deferred income taxes
   
264,115
   
285,001
 
Non-recourse funding obligations
   
100,000
   
0
 
Notes payable
   
2,176
   
2,202
 
Liabilities related to variable interest entities
   
43,043
   
60,590
 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,352,287
   
2,308,858
 
Variable universal life
   
240,944
   
217,095
 
     
25,030,501
   
23,686,146
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES - NOTE 2
SHARE-OWNER'S EQUITY
Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized and issued: 2,000,
liquidation preference $2,000
   
2
   
2
 
Common Stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized and issued: 5,000,000
   
5,000
   
5,000
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
932,805
   
932,805
 
Note receivable from PLC Employee Stock Ownership Plan
   
(2,507
)
 
(2,983
)
Retained earnings
   
1,822,046
   
1,653,954
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized gains on investments, net of income tax:
(2005 - $93,830; 2004 - $156,308)
   
174,255
   
287,670
 
Accumulated gain - hedging, net of income tax: (2005 - $5,617; 2004 - $2,024)
   
10,431
   
8,616
 
     
2,942,032
   
2,885,064
 
   
$
27,972,533
 
$
26,571,210
 


See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements
 
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                       0;                                                                                                                          Nine Months Ended
 
                                                                                                                                                       0;                                                                                                                        September 30
 
2005
   
2004
 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
 
$
168,080
 
$
172,309
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment (gains) losses
   
(35,351
)
 
(17,155
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
184,070
   
157,222
 
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
(377,248
)
 
(271,352
)
Depreciation expense
   
11,128
   
12,692
 
Deferred income tax
   
39,765
   
21,659
 
Accrued income tax
   
(68,091
)
 
(40,394
)
Interest credited to universal life and investment products
   
532,337
   
480,789
 
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products
   
(308,330
)
 
(261,058
)
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables
   
(114,819
)
 
(281,665
)
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds of traditional
life and health products
   
589,235
   
572,829
 
Change in other liabilities
   
17,624
   
(72,146
)
Other, net
   
107,479
   
(26,325
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
745,879
   
447,405
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments available for sale, net of short-term investments:
Maturities and principal reductions of investments
   
1,314,486
   
1,493,142
 
Sale of investments
   
3,468,686
   
2,905,106
 
Cost of investments acquired
   
(6,546,103
)
 
(4,691,103
)
Mortgage loans:
             
New borrowings
   
(447,717
)
 
(498,178
)
Repayments
   
346,056
   
326,526
 
Change in investment in real estate, net
   
4,032
   
123
 
Change in policy loans, net
   
19,266
   
17,466
 
Change in other long-term investments, net
   
(106,602
)
 
3,098
 
Change in short-term investments, net
   
434,684
   
(282,214
)
Purchase of property and equipment
   
(7,429
)
 
(13,093
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,520,641
)
 
(739,127
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and debt
   
(26
)
 
(1,699
)
Net proceeds from securities sold under repurchase agreements
   
142,850
   
0
 
Issuance of non-recourse funding obligations
   
100,000
   
0
 
Investment product deposits and change in universal life deposits
   
2,318,325
   
2,109,203
 
Investment product withdrawals
   
(1,952,911
)
 
(1,845,728
)
Other financing activities, net
   
86,196
   
0
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
694,434
   
261,776
 
CHANGE IN CASH
   
(80,328
)
 
(29,946
)
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
110,456
   
111,059
 
CASH AT END OF PERIOD
 
$
30,128
 
$
81,113
 

 
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements


 
 
 


PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands)


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Protective Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the “Company") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2005. The year-end consolidated condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation ("PLC").

Certain reclassifications have been made in the previously reported financial statements and accompanying notes to make the prior year amounts comparable to those of the current year. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or share-owner’s equity.

With respect to the unaudited consolidated condensed financial information of the Company for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PricewaterhouseCoopers") reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated November 14, 2005, appearing herein, stated that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited consolidated condensed financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited consolidated condensed financial information because that report is not a "report" or a "part" of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers into which this Form 10-Q may be incorporated by reference within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

NOTE 2 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Under insurance guaranty fund laws, in most states insurance companies doing business therein can be assessed up to prescribed limits for policyholder losses incurred by insolvent companies. The Company does not believe such assessments will be materially different from amounts already provided for in the financial statements. Most of these laws do provide, however, that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would threaten an insurer's own financial strength.

A number of civil jury verdicts have been returned against insurers, broker-dealers, and other providers of financial services involving sales practices, alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise representatives, relationships with agents or persons with whom the insurer does business, and other matters. Often these lawsuits have resulted in the award of substantial judgments that are disproportionate to the actual damages, including material amounts of punitive and non-economic compensatory damages. In some states, juries, judges, and arbitrators have substantial discretion in awarding punitive and non-economic compensatory damages, which creates the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments or awards in any given lawsuit or arbitration. Arbitration awards are subject to very limited appellate review. In addition, in some class action and other lawsuits, companies have made material settlement payments. The Company, like other financial services companies, in the ordinary course of business is involved in such litigation and arbitration. Although the outcome of any such litigation or arbitration cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe that any such outcome will have a material impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

NOTE 3 - OPERATING SEGMENTS

The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. A brief description of each segment follows:

·  
The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance, universal life, variable universal life and “bank owned life insurance” (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and in the BOLI market.

·  
The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals.

·  
The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent insurance agents and brokers.

·  
The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts “GICs” to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans.

·  
The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product and a guaranteed asset protection (GAP) product.

The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities), various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several small subsidiaries.

The Company uses the same accounting policies and procedures to measure segment operating income and assets as it uses to measure its consolidated net income and assets. Segment operating income is generally income before income tax, adjusted to exclude net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and participating income from real estate ventures) and the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Periodic settlements of interest rate swaps associated with certain investments are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of operating income because the swaps are used to mitigate risk in items affecting segment operating income. Segment operating income represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is assessed by management. Premiums and policy fees, other income, benefits and settlement expenses, and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs are attributed directly to each operating segment. Net investment income is allocated based on directly related assets required for transacting the business of that segment. Realized investment gains (losses) and other operating expenses are allocated to the segments in a manner that most appropriately reflects the operations of that segment. Investments and other assets are allocated based on statutory policy liabilities, while deferred policy acquisition costs and goodwill are shown in the segments to which they are attributable.

There are no significant intersegment transactions.

 
The following tables summarize financial information for the Company’s segments. Asset adjustments represent the inclusion of assets related to discontinued operations.

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues
                 
Life Marketing
 
$
159,296
 
$
122,639
 
$
411,512
 
$
352,486
 
Acquisitions
   
102,214
   
108,760
   
310,159
   
331,491
 
Annuities
   
64,068
   
65,041
   
223,201
   
192,487
 
Stable Value Products
   
80,418
   
73,464
   
233,078
   
210,064
 
Asset Protection
   
70,094
   
68,849
   
206,198
   
209,953
 
Corporate and Other
   
51,503
   
25,286
   
78,157
   
94,348
 
Total revenues
 
$
527,593
 
$
464,039
 
$
1,462,305
 
$
1,390,829
 


   
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Segment Operating Income
                         
Life Marketing
 
$
37,072
 
$
37,933
 
$
112,699
 
$
121,898
 
Acquisitions
   
19,531
   
21,275
   
62,128
   
65,875
 
Annuities
   
4,660
   
3,753
   
16,364
   
10,848
 
Stable Value Products
   
13,743
   
13,313
   
41,626
   
38,938
 
Asset Protection
   
5,539
   
5,073
   
18,618
   
13,527
 
Corporate and Other
   
10,439
   
7,961
   
27,796
   
16,888
 
Total segment operating income
   
90,984
   
89,308
   
279,231
   
267,974
 
                           
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1)
   
(3,796
)
 
6,978
   
5,614
   
19,471
 
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2)
   
11,954
   
(5,663
)
 
(30,217
)
 
1,688
 
Income tax expense
   
(33,465
)
 
(34,979
)
 
(86,548
)
 
(101,023
)
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
   
65,677
   
55,644
   
168,080
   
188,110
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(15,801
)
Net income
 
$
65,677
 
$
55,644
 
$
168,080
 
$
172,309
 
                           
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments
 
$
(3,634
)
$
9,647
 
$
35,351
 
$
26,351
 
Less participating income from real estate ventures
   
0
   
0
   
(5,883
)
 
0
 
Less related amortization of DAC
   
(162
)
 
(2,669
)
 
(23,854
)
 
(6,880
)
   
$
(3,796
)
$
6,978
 
$
5,614
 
$
19,471
 
                           
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
12,633
 
$
(4,218
)
$
27,891
)
$
6,814
 
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps
   
(679
)
 
(1,445
)
 
(2,326
)
 
(5,126
)
   
$
11,954
 
$
(5,663
)
$
(30,217
)
$
1,688
 


 
 
 

                                                                       Operating Segment Assets
                                                                     September 30, 2005
   
Life
Marketing
 
Acquisitions
 
Annuities
 
Stable Value
Products
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
6,794,911
 
$
3,952,568
 
$
6,047,151
 
$
5,791,190
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,466,573
   
327,427
   
103,094
   
19,578
 
Goodwill
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
8,261,484
 
$
4,279,995
 
$
6,150,245
 
$
5,810,768
 



   
Asset
Protection
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Adjustments
 
Total
Consolidated
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
703,633
 
$
2,517,416
 
$
39,209
 
$
25,846,078
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
162,815
   
7,982
   
0
   
2,087,469
 
Goodwill
   
38,986
   
0
   
0
   
38,986
 
Total assets
 
$
905,434
 
$
2,525,398
 
$
39,209
 
$
27,972,533
 



                                                                     Operating Segment Assets
                                                                    December 31, 2004
   
Life
Marketing
 
Acquisitions
 
Annuities
 
Stable Value
Products
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
5,961,091
 
$
4,063,711
 
$
5,977,030
 
$
5,377,917
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,262,637
   
337,372
   
81,250
   
18,301
 
Goodwill
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
7,223,728
 
$
4,401,083
 
$
6,058,280
 
$
5,396,218
 



   
Asset
Protection
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Adjustments
 
Total
Consolidated
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
817,114
 
$
2,469,953
 
$
43,108
 
$
24,709,924
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
116,636
   
8,908
   
0
   
1,825,104
 
Goodwill
   
36,182
   
0
   
0
   
36,182
 
Total assets
 
$
969,932
 
$
2,478,861
 
$
43,108
 
$
26,571,210
 


NOTE 4 - STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES

Financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP differ in some respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. In accordance with statutory reporting practices, at September 30, 2005, and for the nine months then ended, the Company and its insurance subsidiaries had combined capital and surplus of $1.4 billion and net income of $6.6 million. At September 30, 2005, the combined asset valuation reserve held by the Company and its insurance subsidiaries was $176.2 million.

NOTE 5 - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS 123(R)”). FAS 123(R) is a revision of FAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which was originally issued by the FASB in 1995. FAS 123(R) will become effective for the Company January 1, 2006. As originally issued, FAS 123 provided companies with the option to either record expense for share-based payments under a fair value model, or to simply disclose the impact of the expense. FAS 123(R) requires companies to measure the cost of share-based payments to employees using a fair value model, and to recognize that cost over the relevant service period. In addition, FAS 123(R) requires that an estimate of future award forfeitures be made at the grant date, while FAS 123 permitted recognition of forfeitures on an as incurred basis. When FAS 123 was originally issued, the Company elected to recognize the cost of its share-based compensation plans in its financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of FAS 123(R), but does not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“FAS 154”). FAS 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes” and FASB Statement No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” FAS 154 requires that a voluntary change in accounting principle be applied retrospectively with all prior period financial statements presented on the new accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to do so. FAS 154 also provides that a correction of errors in previously issued financial statements should be termed a “restatement.” The new standard is effective for accounting changes and correction of errors beginning January 1, 2006.

In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AcSEC”) issued SOP 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts.” This SOP provides guidance on accounting by insurance enterprises for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in FAS 97. The SOP defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SOP 05-1, which is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

NOTE 6 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table sets forth the Company's comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented below:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
Net income
 
$
65,677
 
$
55,644
 
$
168,080
 
$
172,309
 
Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments,
net of income tax:
(three months: 2005 - $(87,513); 2004 - $98,174
nine months: 2005 - $(48,697); 2004 - $(12,111))
   
(162,524
)
 
182,323
   
(90,437
)
 
(22,492
)
Change in accumulated gain-hedging, net of income tax:
(three months: 2005 - $2,837; 2004 - $(1,623)
nine months: 2005 - $977: 2004 - $582)
   
5,269
   
(3,014
)
 
1,815
   
1,080
 
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included
in net income, net of income tax:
(three months: 2005 - $1,272; 2004 - $(3,376)
nine months: 2005 - $(12,373); 2004 - $(9,223))
   
2,362
   
(6,270
)
 
(22,978
)
 
(17,128
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(89,216
)
$
228,683
 
$
56,480
 
$
133,769
 
 




 
NOTE 7 - RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for PLC’s defined benefit pension plan and unfunded excess benefits plan are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
Service cost
 
$
1,557
 
$
1,368
 
$
5,352
 
$
4,581
 
Interest cost
   
1,700
   
1,566
   
5,844
   
5,243
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(1,986
)
 
(1,578
)
 
(6,828
)
 
(5,285
)
Amortization of prior service cost
   
54
   
53
   
187
   
177
 
Amortization of net loss
   
714
   
512
   
2,453
   
1,716
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
2,039
 
$
1,921
 
$
7,008
 
$
6,432
 


The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, that it expected to contribute $6.6 million to its pension plan in 2005. The Company now estimates that it will contribute $9.9 million to its pension plan in 2005. As of September 30, 2005, $4.0 million had been contributed, and as of November 14, 2005, $6.0 million had been contributed to the pension plan. PLC’s defined benefit pension plan covers substantially all of its employees, including the Company employees. The plan is not separable by affiliates participating in the plan.

In addition to pension benefits, PLC provides limited healthcare benefits and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees. The cost of these plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 was not material.

NOTE 8 - NON-RECOURSE FUNDING OBLIGATIONS

On August 26, 2005 Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate”), a special purpose financial captive insurance company wholly owned by the Company, issued $100 million of non-recourse funding obligations, which bear a floating rate of interest and mature in 2037. These non-recourse funding obligations were issued under a surplus notes facility established with certain purchasers through which Golden Gate may issue up to an aggregate of $400 million of non-recourse funding obligations. The non-recourse funding obligations are direct financial obligations of Golden Gate and are not guaranteed by the Company or its parent company, PLC.

The non-recourse obligations are represented by surplus notes that were issued to fund statutory reserves required by the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Regulation (Regulation XXX). Under the terms of the notes, the holders of the notes cannot require repayment from the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than Golden Gate, the direct issuer of the notes, although the Company has agreed to indemnify Golden Gate for certain costs and obligations (which obligations do not include payment of principal and interest on the notes). In addition, PLC has entered into certain support agreements with Golden Gate obligating PLC to make capital contributions to Golden Gate or provide support related to certain of Golden Gate’s expenses and in certain circumstances, to collateralize certain of the Company’s obligations to Golden Gate.

Interest on the principal amount of the notes accrues at a floating rate of interest and is payable on the 26th of each month. Any payment of principal, including by redemption, or interest on the notes may only be made with the prior approval of the Director of Insurance of the State of South Carolina (Golden Gate’s state of domicile) in accordance with the terms of its licensing orders and in accordance with applicable law. If an event of default occurs, the holders of the notes have the right to declare the entire principal and any accrued interest due and payable immediately, subject to regulatory approval. Golden Gate reserves the right to repay the notes that it has issued at any time, subject to prior regulatory approval.

As of September 30, 2005, $100 million of non-recourse funding obligations have been issued and are outstanding. The weighted average interest rate as of September 30, 2005 is 5.08%.

NOTE 9 - CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

In January 2004, the Company adopted Statement of Position 03-1 “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” (“SOP 03-1”). SOP 03-1 provides guidance related to the establishment of reserves for benefit guarantees provided under certain long-duration contracts, as well as the accounting for mortality benefits provided in certain universal life products. In addition, it addresses the capitalization and amortization of sales inducements to contract holders. The SOP was effective January 1, 2004 and was adopted through an adjustment for the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle originally amounting to $10.1 million (net of $5.5 million income tax). During the third quarter of 2004, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants “AcSEC” issued a Technical Practice Aid (“TPA”), which provided additional interpretive guidance on applying certain provisions of the SOP. As a result of this additional guidance, in the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company restated its cumulative effect charge as of January 1, 2004 to record an additional expense of $5.7 million (net of $3.1 million income tax) for a total cumulative charge to net income of $15.8 million, net of income tax of $8.5 million.

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands)


INTRODUCTION

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in its entirety, since it contains detailed information that is important to understanding the Company’s results and financial condition. The Overview below is qualified in its entirety by the full Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation ("PLC"), an insurance holding company whose common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PL". Founded in 1907, the Company provides financial services through the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products. Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company" refers to the consolidated group of Protective Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.

The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. The Company's operating segments are Life Marketing, Acquisitions, Annuities, Stable Value Products, and Asset Protection. The Company also has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other which consists of net investment income on unallocated capital, earnings from various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several non-strategic lines of business. The Company periodically evaluates its operating segments in light of the segment reporting requirements prescribed by FAS 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” and makes adjustments to its segment reporting as needed.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE

This report reviews the Company’s financial condition and results of operations including its liquidity and capital resources. Historical information is presented and discussed. Where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance are also identified and discussed. Certain statements made in this report include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical facts and may contain words like "believe,"  "expect,”“estimate,”“project,”“budget,”“forecast,”“anticipate,”“plan,”“will,”“shall,”“may,” and other words, phrases, or expressions with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements, and the Company cannot give assurances that such statements will prove to be correct. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.


For a more complete understanding of the Company’s business and its current period results, please read the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in conjunction with the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC.

KNOWN TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The factors which could affect the Company's future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the following known trends and uncertainties: we are exposed to the risks of natural disasters, pandemics, malicious and terrorist acts that could adversely affect our operations; we operate in a mature, highly competitive industry, which could limit our ability to gain or maintain our position in the industry; a ratings downgrade could adversely affect our ability to compete; our policy claims fluctuate from period to period, and actual results could differ from our expectations; our results may be negatively affected should actual experience differ from management's assumptions and estimates; the use of reinsurance introduces variability in our statements of income; we could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder withdrawals; interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect our spread income or otherwise impact our business; equity market volatility could negatively impact our business; a deficiency in our systems could result in over or underpayments of amounts owed to or by the Company and/or errors in our critical assumptions or reported financial results; insurance companies are highly regulated and subject to numerous legal restrictions and regulations; the Company is exposed to potential risks from recent legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting; changes to tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could adversely affect the Company and its ability to compete with non-insurance products or reduce the demand for certain insurance products; financial services companies are frequently the targets of litigation, including class action litigation, which could result in substantial judgments; the financial services industry is sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations and the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny; our ability to maintain low unit costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency of existing business; our investments are subject to market and credit risks; we may not realize our anticipated financial results from our acquisitions strategy; we are dependent on the performance of others; our reinsurers could fail to meet assumed obligations, increase rates or be subject to adverse developments that could affect us; computer viruses or network security breaches could affect our data processing systems or those of our business partners; our ability to grow depends in large part upon the continued availability of capital; and new accounting rules or changes to existing accounting rules could negatively impact us. Please refer to Exhibit 99, incorporated by reference herein, about these factors that could affect future results.

The Company’s results may fluctuate from period to period due to fluctuations in mortality, persistency, claims, expenses, interest rates, and other factors. Therefore, it is management's opinion that quarterly operating results for an insurance company are not necessarily indicative of results to be achieved in future periods, and that a review of operating results over a longer period is necessary to assess an insurance company's performance.

OVERVIEW RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In the following discussion, segment operating income is defined as income before income tax, adjusted to exclude net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and participating income from real estate ventures) and the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Periodic settlements of interest rate swaps associated with certain investments are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of segment operating income because the swaps are used to mitigate risk in items affecting segment operating income. Management believes that segment operating income provides relevant and useful information to investors, as it represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is internally assessed. Although the items excluded from segment operating income may be significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s overall financial performance, management believes that segment operating income enhances an investor’s understanding of the Company’s results of operations. Note that the Company’s segment operating income measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

 
The following table sets forth a summary of results and reconciles segment operating income to consolidated net income:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Segment Operating Income
                         
Life Marketing
 
$
37,072
 
$
37,933
   
(2.3
)%
$
112,699
 
$
121,898
   
(7.5
)%
Acquisitions
   
19,531
   
21,275
   
(8.2
)
 
62,128
   
65,875
   
(5.7
)
Annuities
   
4,660
   
3,753
   
24.2
   
16,364
   
10,848
   
50.8
 
Stable Value Products
   
13,743
   
13,313
   
3.2
   
41,626
   
38,938
   
6.9
 
Asset Protection
   
5,539
   
5,073
   
9.2
   
18,618
   
13,527
   
37.6
 
Corporate & Other
   
10,439
   
7,961
   
31.1
   
27,796
   
16,888
   
64.6
 
Total segment operating income
   
90,984
   
89,308
         
279,231
   
267,974
       
                                       
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1)
   
(3,796
)
 
6,978
         
5,614
   
19,471
       
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2)
   
11,954
   
(5,663
)
       
(30,217
)
 
1,688
       
Income tax expense
   
(33,465
)
 
(34,979
)
       
(86,548
)
 
(101,023
)
     
Net income before cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle
   
65,677
   
55,644
   
18.0
   
168,080
   
188,110
   
(10.6
)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
net of income tax
   
0
   
0
         
0
   
(15,801
)
     
Net income
 
$
65,677
 
$
55,644
   
18.0
 
$
168,080
 
$
172,309
   
(2.5
)
                                       
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments
 
$
(3,634
)
$
9,647
       
$
35,351
 
$
26,351
       
Less participating income from real estate ventures
   
0
   
0
         
(5,883
)
 
0
       
Less related amortization of DAC
   
(162
)
 
(2,669
)
       
(23,854
)
 
(6,880
)
     
   
$
(3,796
)
$
6,978
       
$
5,614
 
$
19,471
       
                                       
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
12,633
 
$
(4,218
)
     
$
(27,891
)
$
6,814
       
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps
   
(679
)
 
(1,445
)
       
(2,326
)
 
(5,126
)
     
   
$
11,954
 
$
(5,663
)
     
$
(30,217
)
$
1,688
       


Net income for the first nine months of 2005 reflects moderate growth in segment operating income, offset by net realized investment losses. Net realized investment losses were $24.6 million for the first nine months of 2005, compared to net realized investment gains of $21.2 million for the same period of 2004, a change of $45.8 million. Partially offsetting the change in realized investment gains and losses is the cumulative effect charge of $15.8 million recorded in the first nine months of 2004, with no such adjustment in 2005. (See Note 9 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for additional information related to the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.) Life Marketing’s operating income decreased slightly from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, reflecting higher overall benefits and expenses offset by continued growth in life insurance in-force through new sales. The quarterly and year-to-date declines in the Acquisitions segment’s operating income are due to the normal runoff of the segment’s previously acquired blocks of business. Improvement in the equity markets and higher sales of variable annuities contributed to the quarterly and year-to-date increases of 24.2% and 50.8%, respectively, in the Annuities segment’s earnings. The Annuities segment’s year-to-date earnings were also favorably impacted by a $5.0 million reduction of DAC amortization in the second quarter of 2005 due to favorable unlocking. Increases in average account values, partially offset by spread compression, resulted in higher year-to-date operating income in the Stable Value Products segment. The Asset Protection segment’s operating income increased 9.2% and 37.6% over the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, primarily due to improvements in the segment’s service contract and other product lines.



 
RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

In the following segment discussions, various statistics and other key data the Company uses to evaluate its segments are presented. Sales statistics are used by the Company to measure the relative progress in its marketing efforts, but may or may not have an immediate impact on reported segment operating income. Sales data for traditional life insurance are based on annualized premiums, while universal life sales are based on annualized planned premiums plus 6% of excess over target premiums. Sales of annuities are measured based on the amount of deposits received. Stable value contract sales are measured at the time that the funding commitment is made, based on the amount of deposit to be received. Sales within the Asset Protection segment are generally based on the amount of single premium and fees received.

Sales and life insurance in-force amounts are derived from the Company’s various sales tracking and administrative systems, and are not derived from the Company’s financial reporting systems or financial statements. Mortality variances are derived from actual claims compared to expected claims. These variances do not represent the net impact to earnings due to the interplay of reserves and DAC amortization.

Life Marketing
 
The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance, universal life (“UL”), variable universal life and "bank owned life insurance" (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and in the BOLI market. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
297,098
 
$
253,951
   
17.0
%
$
861,200
 
$
740,868
   
16.2
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(204,572
)
 
(191,228
)
 
7.0
   
(640,286
)
 
(565,086
)
 
13.3
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
92,526
   
62,723
   
47.5
   
220,914
   
175,782
   
25.7
 
Net investment income
   
66,574
   
59,710
   
11.5
   
189,913
   
176,117
   
7.8
 
Other income
   
196
   
206
   
(4.9
)
 
685
   
587
   
16.7
 
Total operating revenues
   
159,296
   
122,639
   
29.9
   
411,512
   
352,486
   
16.7
 
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
112,119
   
78,361
   
43.1
   
274,896
   
217,079
   
26.6
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
23,831
   
14,823
   
60.8
   
63,071
   
46,830
   
34.7
 
Other operating expenses
   
(13,726
)
 
(8,478
)
 
61.9
   
(39,154
)
 
(33,321
)
 
17.5
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
122,224
   
84,706
   
44.3
   
298,813
   
230,588
   
29.6
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
37,072
   
37,933
   
(2.3
)
 
112,699
   
121,898
   
(7.5
)
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
37,072
 
$
37,933
   
(2.3
)
$
112,699
 
$
121,898
   
(7.5
)



 
The following table summarizes key data for the Life Marketing segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Sales By Product
                         
Traditional
 
$
27,975
 
$
41,046
   
(31.8
)%
$
89,344
 
$
130,089
   
(31.3
)%
Universal life
   
50,308
   
16,364
   
207.4
   
124,694
   
53,327
   
133.8
 
Variable universal life
   
1,698
   
1,491
   
13.9
   
4,033
   
4,090
   
(1.4
)
   
$
79,981
 
$
58,901
   
35.8
 
$
218,071
 
$
187,506
   
16.3
 
                                       
Sales By Distribution Channel
                                     
Brokerage general agents
 
$
36,072
 
$
37,843
   
(4.7
)
$
101,739
 
$
120,170
   
(15.3
)
Independent agents
   
21,788
   
12,615
   
72.7
   
57,912
   
37,925
   
52.7
 
Stockbrokers/banks
   
19,741
   
7,016
   
181.4
   
50,304
   
19,857
   
153.3
 
BOLI/other
   
2,380
   
1,427
   
66.8
   
8,116
   
9,554
   
(15.1
)
   
$
79,981
 
$
58,901
   
35.8
 
$
218,071
 
$
187,506
   
16.3
 
                                       
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1)
                                     
Traditional
 
$
344,313,461
 
$
303,556,718
   
13.4
 
$
336,609,496
 
$
289,615,677
   
16.2
 
Universal life
   
46,057,904
   
40,756,564
   
13.0
   
44,581,587
   
39,910,123
   
11.7
 
   
$
390,371,365
 
$
344,313,282
   
13.4
 
$
381,191,083
 
$
329,525,800
   
15.7
 
                                       
Average Account Values
                                     
Universal life
 
$
4,235,895
 
$
3,666,987
   
15.5
 
$
4,056,168
 
$
3,565,474
   
13.8
 
Variable universal life
   
233,236
   
190,721
   
22.3
   
225,183
   
183,879
   
22.5
 
   
$
4,469,131
 
$
3,857,708
   
15.8
 
$
4,281,351
 
$
3,749,353
   
14.2
 
                                       
Interest Spread - Universal Life(2)
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
6.08
%
 
6.39
%
       
6.07
%
 
6.44
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
4.73
   
4.89
         
4.74
   
4.92
       
Interest spread
   
1.35
%
 
1.50
%
       
1.33
%
 
1.52
%
     
                                       
Mortality Experience (3)
 
$
503
 
$
(669
)
     
$
5,574
 
$
1,322
       
                                       

(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(2) Interest spread on average general account values.
(3) Represents a favorable (unfavorable) variance as compared to pricing assumptions.

 
              Operating income decreased 2.3% and 7.5%, respectively, from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004. This decrease is the result of higher overall benefits and expenses, partially offset by increases in total revenues of 29.9% and 16.7% for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, primarily due to moderate increases in sales and growth of life insurance in-force and average account values.

Net premiums and policy fees grew by 47.5% in the current quarter and 25.7% year-to-date due in part to the growth in life insurance in-force achieved over the last several quarters. Net premiums and policy fees are also higher than the prior year due to an increase in retention levels on certain newly written products. Beginning in the second quarter of 2005, the Company increased its retained amounts on certain of its newly written traditional life products from $500,000 to $1,000,000. In addition to increasing net premiums, this change will result in higher benefits and settlement expenses, and will cause greater variability in financial results due to fluctuations in mortality results.

Net investment income increased 11.5% for the quarter and 7.8% for the first nine months of 2005, reflecting the growth of the segment’s assets, offset by lower investment yields. Interest spreads on UL products for the first nine months have declined 19 basis points from the prior year.

Benefits and settlement expenses were 43.1% and 26.6% higher than the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, due to growth in life insurance in-force, the increase in retention levels on certain newly written traditional life products, and higher credited interest on UL products resulting from increases in account values, partially offset by favorable fluctuations in mortality experience. Mortality for the current quarter was $1.2 million more favorable than the prior year, while year-to-date mortality was $4.3 million more favorable than the same period of 2004. Amortization of DAC was 60.8% and 34.7% higher for the quarter and first nine months, respectively, than 2004 primarily due to growth of life insurance in-force, unfavorable effects of unlocking on UL amortization in 2005 compared to the prior year, increased amortization resulting from the capitalization of premium taxes on excess premiums in the UL line, and reductions to amortization in 2004 resulting from the SOP implementation.

Other operating expenses for the segment were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
First year commissions
 
$
87,001
 
$
67,776
   
28.4
%
$
247,930
 
$
209,552
   
18.3
%
Renewal commissions
   
8,039
   
8,223
   
(2.2
)
 
24,020
   
23,400
   
2.7
 
First year ceding allowances
   
(21,238
)
 
(41,541
)
 
(48.9
)
 
(94,821
)
 
(125,165
)
 
(24.2
)
Renewal ceding allowances
   
(43,759
)
 
(37,899
)
 
15.5
   
(129,549
)
 
(108,185
)
 
19.7
 
General & administrative
   
40,775
   
43,893
   
(7.1
)
 
131,992
   
137,465
   
(4.0
)
Taxes, licenses and fees
   
8,977
   
5,952
   
50.8
   
23,344
   
16,386
   
42.5
 
Other operating expenses incurred
   
79,795
   
46,404
   
72.0
   
202,916
   
153,453
   
32.2
 
                                       
Less commissions, allowances & expenses capitalized
   
(93,521
)
 
(54,882
)
 
70.4
   
(242,070
)
 
(186,774
)
 
29.6
 
                                       
Other operating expenses
 
$
(13,726
)
$
(8,478
)
 
61.9
 
$
(39,154
)
$
(33,321
)
 
17.5
 


Currently, the segment reinsures significant amounts of its life insurance in-force. Pursuant to the underlying reinsurance contracts, reinsurers pay allowances to the segment as a percentage of both first year and renewal premiums. A portion of these allowances is deferred as part of DAC while the remainder is recognized immediately as a reduction of other operating expenses. While the recognition of reinsurance allowances is consistent with GAAP, non-deferred allowances often exceed the segment’s non-deferred direct costs, causing net other operating expenses to be negative. Consideration of all components of the segment’s income statement, including amortization of DAC, is required to assess the impact of reinsurance on segment operating income.

Other operating expenses for the segment have decreased from the prior year as a result of lower expenses incurred per policy issued, combined with higher DAC capitalization driven by the significant growth in UL sales. Amounts capitalized as DAC generally include first year commissions and allowances, and other deferrable acquisition expenses. The change in these amounts generally reflects the trend in sales for the quarter.

Sales for the segment increased 35.8% and 16.3% versus the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 primarily due to the significant increase in UL sales. The upward trend in UL sales is the result of a favorable competitive position combined with growth of our distribution footprint. The strong UL sales were partially offset by lower traditional life sales. Sales of BOLI business also declined year-to-date from 2004. BOLI sales will vary widely between periods as the segment responds to opportunities for these products only when required returns can be achieved.

 
Acquisitions

The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
64,265
 
$
66,985
   
(4.1
)%
$
195,869
 
$
206,113
   
(5.0
)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(17,668
)
 
(16,562
)
 
6.7
   
(54,954
)
 
(51,503
)
 
6.7
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
46,597
   
50,423
   
(7.6
)
 
140,915
   
154,610
   
(8.9
)
Net investment income
   
55,366
   
57,682
   
(4.0
)
 
168,179
   
175,041
   
(3.9
)
Other income
   
251
   
655
   
(61.7
)
 
1,065
   
1,840
   
(42.1
)
Total operating revenues
   
102,214
   
108,760
   
(6.0
)
 
310,159
   
331,491
   
(6.4
)
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
69,312
   
71,571
   
(3.2
)
 
204,495
   
215,931
   
(5.3
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
6,197
   
7,056
   
(12.2
)
 
20,453
   
22,381
   
(8.6
)
Other operating expenses
   
7,174
   
8,858
   
(19.0
)
 
23,083
   
27,304
   
(15.5
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
82,683
   
87,485
   
(5.5
)
 
248,031
   
265,616
   
(6.6
)
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
19,531
   
21,275
   
(8.2
)
 
62,128
   
65,875
   
(5.7
)
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
19,531
 
$
21,275
   
(8.2
)
$
62,128
 
$
65,875
   
(5.7
)


The following table summarizes key data for the Acquisitions segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1)
                         
Traditional
 
$
10,641,093
 
$
11,876,806
   
(10.4
)%
$
10,915,764
 
$
12,058,599
   
(9.5
)%
Universal life
   
17,017,720
   
18,215,608
   
(6.6
)
 
17,325,813
   
18,387,091
   
(5.8
)
   
$
27,658,813
 
$
30,092,414
   
(8.1
)
$
28,241,577
 
$
30,445,690
   
(7.2
)
                                       
Average Account Values
                                     
Universal life
 
$
1,703,219
 
$
1,725,139
   
(1.3
)
$
1,709,402
 
$
1,729,421
   
(1.2
)
Fixed annuity(2)
   
212,967
   
218,668
   
(2.6
)
 
214,337
   
219,160
   
(2.2
)
Variable annuity
   
72,826
   
90,121
   
(19.2
)
 
78,376
   
93,632
   
(16.3
)
   
$
1,989,012
 
$
2,033,928
   
(2.2
)
$
2,002,115
 
$
2,042,213
   
(2.0
)
                                       
Interest Spread - UL & Fixed Annuities
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
6.96
%
 
7.18
%
       
7.03
%
 
7.23
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.15
   
5.19
         
5.15
   
5.20
       
Interest spread
   
1.81
%
 
1.99
%
       
1.88
%
 
2.03
%
     
                                       
Mortality Experience(3)
 
$
772
 
$
1,071
       
$
3,937
 
$
3,947
       
                                       

(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(2) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.
(3) Represents a favorable variance as compared to pricing assumptions.

              Net premiums and policy fees declined 7.6% and 8.9% from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively. These decreases are the result of the runoff of the acquired blocks of business. Year-to-date net premiums were additionally decreased by payment during the first quarter of 2005 of amounts due under two reinsurance treaties. While this had no net income impact, the payments decreased net premiums and policy fees by $3.9 million, benefits and settlement expenses by $3.5 million, and other operating expenses by $0.3 million.

Net investment income was also lower for the current quarter and year-to-date due to the runoff of business and lower overall earned rates. The segment continues to review credited rates on UL and annuity business to minimize the impact of lower earned rates on interest spreads. The year-to-date interest spread declined 18 basis points and 15 basis points, respectively, from the third quarter and first nine months of the prior year.

Benefits and settlement expenses for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 are 3.2% and 5.3% lower, respectively, than the comparable periods of the prior year due to the decline in in-force business. The year-to-date decrease also includes the impact of the reinsurance payments mentioned above. Amortization of DAC decreased during the current quarter and the first nine months of 2005 due to the overall decline in business. Other operating expenses decreased 19.0% and 15.5% from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, due to lower commissions resulting from lower net premiums, reductions in other general expenses, and the reinsurance payments discussed above.

The segment’s life insurance in-force and UL and annuity account values have declined from 2004 levels as no new acquisitions have been made since 2002. In the ordinary course of business, the segment regularly considers acquisitions of blocks of policies or smaller insurance companies. However, the level of the segment’s acquisition activity is predicated upon many factors, including available capital, operating capacity, and market dynamics. The Company will continue to pursue suitable acquisitions as they become available.

Annuities

The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent agents and brokers. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
8,057
 
$
7,370
   
9.3
%
$
23,763
 
$
22,592
   
5.2
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
0
   
0
         
0
   
0
       
Net premiums and policy fees
   
8,057
   
7,370
   
9.3
   
23,763
   
22,592
   
5.2
 
Net investment income
   
54,003
   
52,854
   
2.2
   
164,930
   
155,965
   
5.7
 
Other income
   
1,775
   
1,293
   
37.3
   
5,339
   
4,112
   
29.8
 
Total operating revenues
   
63,835
   
61,517
   
3.8
   
194,032
   
182,669
   
6.2
 
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
44,596
   
46,526
   
(4.1
)
 
141,363
   
137,028
   
3.2
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
7,501
   
5,790
   
29.6
   
16,900
   
17,755
   
(4.8
)
Other operating expenses
   
7,078
   
5,448
   
29.9
   
19,405
   
17,038
   
13.9
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
59,175
   
57,764
   
2.4
   
177,668
   
171,821
   
3.4
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
4,660
   
3,753
   
24.2
   
16,364
   
10,848
   
50.8
 
                                       
Realized gains and losses - investments
   
70
   
3,524
         
29,168
   
9,818
       
Realized gains and losses - derivatives
   
163
   
0
         
1
   
0
       
Related amortization of DAC
   
(162
)
 
(2,669
)
       
(23,854
)
 
(6,880
)
     
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
4,731
 
$
4,608
   
2.7
 
$
21,679
 
$
13,786
   
57.3
 




 
The following table summarizes key data for the Annuities segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Sales
                         
Fixed annuity
 
$
69,826
 
$
106,391
   
(34.4
)%
$
190,235
 
$
230,790
   
(17.6
)%
Variable annuity
   
74,659
   
74,231
   
0.6
   
241,991
   
199,272
   
21.4
 
   
$
144,485
 
$
180,622
   
(20.0
)
$
432,226
 
$
430,062
   
0.5
 
                                       
Average Account Values
                                     
Fixed annuity(1)
 
$
3,452,363
 
$
3,227,028
   
7.0
 
$
3,451,683
 
$
3,189,657
   
8.2
 
Variable annuity
   
2,261,110
   
1,992,107
   
13.5
   
2,210,062
   
1,993,651
   
10.9
 
   
$
5,713,473
 
$
5,219,135
   
9.5
 
$
5,661,745
 
$
5,183,308
   
9.2
 
                                       
Interest Spread - Fixed Annuities(2)
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
6.32
%
 
6.63
%
       
6.33
%
 
6.49
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.55
   
5.74
         
5.50
   
5.66
       
Interest spread
   
0.77
%
 
0.89
%
       
0.83
%
 
0.83
%
     
                                       

               
   
As of
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
     
               
GMDB - Net amount at risk(3)
 
$
155,640
 
$
258,516
   
(39.8
)
GMDB - Reserves
   
2,070
   
5,606
   
(63.1
)
S&P 500 Index
   
1,229
   
1,115
   
10.2
 
                     

(1) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.
(2) Interest spread on average general account values.
(3) Guaranteed death benefit in excess of contract holder account balance.
 
Segment operating revenues increased 3.8% and 6.2% compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, primarily as a result of higher net investment income. Average account balances have grown approximately 9% from the prior year, resulting in higher investment income. The additional income resulting from the larger account balances was reduced in the third quarter of 2005 by lower interest spreads. Interest spreads on fixed annuities declined 12 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2004, primarily due to the rebalancing of the investment portfolio discussed below. The increase in other income is primarily due to an increase in asset-based fees.

During the first quarter of 2005, the investment portfolio was rebalanced to improve the duration match between the segment’s assets and liabilities. Approximately $300 million in securities were sold, causing the large increase in realized investment gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. These gains were partially offset by an increase of $22.4 million in DAC amortization associated with those gains. The resulting funds from this transaction were reinvested in assets with lower rates than the investments that were sold, causing a decline in the investment income yield for the segment’s portfolio. The segment continually monitors and adjusts credited rates as appropriate in an effort to maintain the interest spread. The year-to-date interest spread is unchanged from the prior year.

Total benefits and expenses increased 2.4% and 3.4% for the quarter and year-to-date, compared to the same periods of 2004. Benefits and settlement expenses for the first nine months of 2005 are $4.3 million higher than the same period of the prior year due to higher credited interest on the increasing average account balances. These expenses for the current quarter are lower than the prior year due to favorable reserve adjustments of $1.7 million. The increase in DAC amortization for the quarter is primarily the result of higher gross profits in the variable deferred annuity line. DAC is amortized in proportion to gross profits, so increased gross profits results in more DAC amortization. The year-to-date DAC amortization is lower than the prior year due to favorable unlocking that occurred in the second quarter. See additional discussion of this event below. The increases in operating expenses for the quarter and year-to-date are primarily the result of expenses incurred related to the development of a new product.
As mentioned above, the year-to-date DAC amortization was substantially reduced by a $5.0 million reduction in the second quarter due to favorable unlocking. While the investment income yield obtained on the reinvested assets resulting from the portfolio rebalancing discussed above was lower than the yield obtained prior to the rebalancing, the actual yield on the reinvested assets exceeded previously projected spread income. The higher investment yield resulted in higher future estimated gross profits in the segment’s market value adjusted annuity line, causing the favorable unlocking of DAC.

Sales of fixed annuities declined 34.4% and 17.6%, while sales of variable annuities increased 0.6% and 21.4% from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively. Fixed annuity sales are down due to lower interest rates. While variable annuity sales for the current quarter are relatively flat, year-to-date sales have benefited from the improvement in the equity markets. Total year-to-date sales are slightly higher than the prior year. In addition to improving variable annuity sales, the improved equity markets also reduced the net amount at risk with respect to guaranteed minimum death benefits by 39.8%.

Stable Value Products

The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
REVENUES
                         
Net investment income
 
$
79,118
 
$
66,472
   
19.0
%
$
229,074
 
$
197,171
   
16.2
%
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
62,747
   
50,301
   
24.7
   
180,000
   
150,790
   
19.4
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,240
   
894
   
38.7
   
3,445
   
2,458
   
40.2
 
Other operating expenses
   
1,388
   
1,964
   
(29.3
)
 
4,003
   
4,985
   
(19.7
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
65,375
   
53,159
   
23.0
   
187,448
   
158,233
   
18.5
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
13,743
   
13,313
   
3.2
   
41,626
   
38,938
   
6.9
 
                                       
Realized investment gains
   
1,300
   
6,992
         
4,004
   
12,893
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
15,043
 
$
20,305
   
(25.9
)
$
45,630
 
$
51,831
   
(12.0
)


The following table summarizes key data for the Stable Value Products segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Sales
                         
GIC
 
$
20,500
 
$
15,000
   
36.7
%
$
49,550
 
$
54,000
   
(8.2
)%
GFA - Direct Institutional
   
0
   
0
   
0.0
   
0
   
960
   
(100.0
)
GFA - Registered Notes - Institutional
   
300,000
   
625,000
   
(52.0
)
 
1,000,000
   
925,000
   
8.1
 
GFA - Registered Notes - Retail
   
20,790
   
135,520
   
(84.7
)
 
149,430
   
425,270
   
(64.9
)
   
$
341,290
 
$
775,520
   
(56.0
)
$
1,198,980
 
$
1,405,230
   
(14.7
)
                                       
Average Account Values
 
$
5,973,325
 
$
5,112,019
   
16.8
 
$
5,834,429
 
$
5,009,546
   
16.5
 
                                       
Operating Spread
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
5.41
%
 
5.34
%
       
5.37
%
 
5.39
%
     
Interest credited
   
4.29
   
4.04
         
4.22
   
4.12
       
Operating expenses
   
0.18
   
0.23
         
0.17
   
0.20
       
Operating spread
   
0.94
%
 
1.07
%
       
0.98
%
 
1.07
%
     

Operating income increased 3.2% and 6.9% from the third quarter and first nine months of the prior year, respectively. These increases are due to growth in average account balances of approximately 17%, partially offset by spread compression of 13 basis points for the quarter and 9 basis points year-to-date. The growth in average account balances was primarily driven by sales of the Company’s registered funding agreement-backed notes program as discussed below. The primary driver of the spread compression has been increasing LIBOR rates, resulting in higher interest credited rates. Operating spreads are expected to continue to decline during the remainder of 2005.

Total sales were 56.0% and 14.7% lower than the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively. Institutional sales continue to be strong, increasing 8.1% year-to-date from the prior year. Retail note sales continue to decline from prior year results due to general market conditions including interest rate volatility. The Company currently anticipates total annual sales for 2005 of approximately $1.4 billion.

Asset Protection

The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product and a guaranteed asset protection (GAP) product. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
78,057
 
$
112,157
   
(30.4
)%
$
287,328
 
$
324,673
   
(11.5
)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(29,165
)
 
(61,203
)
 
(52.3
)
 
(139,860
)
 
(167,586
)
 
(16.5
)
Net premiums and policy fees
   
48,892
   
50,954
   
(4.0
)
 
147,468
   
157,087
   
(6.1
)
Net investment income
   
7,772
   
7,892
   
(1.5
)
 
23,485
   
22,943
   
2.4
 
Other income
   
13,430
   
10,003
   
34.3
   
35,245
   
29,923
   
17.8
 
Total operating revenues
   
70,094
   
68,849
   
1.8
   
206,198
   
209,953
   
(1.8
)
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
27,560
   
29,074
   
(5.2
)
 
83,940
   
94,636
   
(11.3
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
18,054
   
20,043
   
(9.9
)
 
53,269
   
57,520
   
(7.4
)
Other operating expenses
   
18,941
   
14,659
   
29.2
   
50,371
   
44,270
   
13.8
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
64,555
   
63,776
   
1.2
   
187,580
   
196,426
   
(4.5
)
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
5,539
   
5,073
   
9.2
   
18,618
   
13,527
   
37.6
 
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
5,539
 
$
5,073
   
9.2
 
$
18,618
 
$
13,527
   
37.6
 



 
The following table summarizes key data for the Asset Protection segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Sales
                         
Credit insurance
 
$
56,749
 
$
59,543
   
(4.7
)%
$
158,276
 
$
169,824
   
(6.8
)%
Service contracts
   
65,301
   
56,627
   
15.3
   
174,876
   
155,763
   
12.3
 
Other products
   
14,812
   
8,883
   
66.7
   
37,454
   
25,975
   
44.2
 
   
$
136,862
 
$
125,053
   
9.4
 
$
370,606
 
$
351,562
   
5.4
 
                                       
Loss Ratios (1)
                                     
Credit insurance
   
37.2
%
 
35.7
%
       
35.3
%
 
37.9
%
     
Service contracts
   
77.6
   
78.3
         
74.3
   
80.8
       
Other products
   
67.5
   
66.4
         
68.1
   
73.8
       
 
(1) Incurred claims as a percentage of earned premiums.

Operating income increased 9.2% and 37.6% from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively. Earnings from core product lines are up $0.7 million and $5.5 million for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, while results from lines the segment is no longer marketing are relatively unchanged both for the quarter and year-to-date.

Within the segment’s core product lines, service contract earnings were unchanged for the quarter but improved $3.9 million year-to-date, while credit insurance earnings declined $0.5 million for the quarter and increased $1.4 million year-to-date. Earnings from other products were $1.2 million and $0.2 million higher for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, compared to the prior year. The overall improvement in earnings from core operations was partially offset by the lack of income from charter sales in 2005, compared to charter sales of $1.2 million for the first nine months of 2004.

The decline in net premiums was primarily related to decreases of $3.5 million and $12.8 million for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, in the credit insurance lines due to the runoff of business produced through a third party administrator relationship and higher levels of reinsurance year-to-date. Additionally, as expected, net premiums in the lines the segment is no longer marketing continue to decrease, resulting in net premiums for these lines that were $2.5 million and $7.0 million lower for the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Partially offsetting these declines were increases in net premiums in the vehicle service contract and other lines of business totaling $2.4 million for the quarter and $8.9 million for the first nine months, reflecting the continued steady growth of these core lines.

Other income increased from the prior year 34.3% and 17.8% for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, due to increases in administrative fees on service contracts primarily resulting from the increased volume of contracts sold in this product line.

Benefits and settlement expenses decreased 5.2% and 11.3% from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, primarily due to the overall improvement in loss ratios, most notably in the service contract line. Loss ratios in both the service contract and credit insurance lines are favorable year-to-date compared to the prior year as a result of segment initiatives to increase pricing and tighten the underwriting and claims processes. The increase in loss ratio for other products during the third quarter of 2005 is the result of $1.3 million of claims incurred with the inventory protection product related to recent hurricane damages. Amortization of DAC for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 was lower than the comparable period in 2004 due to the decline in the segment’s credit business. Other operating expenses have increased in 2005 compared to the prior periods primarily due to higher commissions on service contracts due to increased volume.

Total segment sales increased 9.4% and 5.4% for the third quarter and the first nine months, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2004. Sales of credit insurance through financial institutions leveled off during the current quarter resulting in year-to-date sales that are 1.4% lower than the prior year-to-date sales. The bulk of these sales are derived from a third party administrator relationship, which is in runoff. We therefore expect these sales to continue to decline over the next year. Additionally, credit insurance sold through automobile dealers has declined from the prior year, resulting in an overall decline in credit insurance sales of 4.7% for the quarter and 6.8% for the first nine months. Service contract sales continued to improve in the third quarter, exceeding the prior year amounts by 15.3% for the current quarter and 12.3% year-to-date. The year-to-date improvement in service contract sales is comprised of increases of $16.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively, in the vehicle and marine lines.

Corporate and Other

The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities).

The following table summarizes results for this segment:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Operating income (1)
 
$
10,439
 
$
7,961
 
$
2,478
 
$
27,796
 
$
16,888
 
$
10,908
 
                                       
Realized gains and losses - investments
   
(4,588
)
 
(169
)
 
(4,419
)
 
2,577
   
4,746
   
(2,169
)
Realized gains and losses - derivatives
   
11,375
   
(6,363
)
 
17,738
   
(30,616
)
 
582
   
(31,198
)
Income before income tax
 
$
17,226
 
$
1,429
 
$
15,797
 
$
(243
)
$
22,216
 
$
(22,459
)

(1) Includes settlements on interest rate swaps of $679 and $1,445 for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $2,326 and $5,126 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Also includes participating income from real estate ventures of $4,412, net of minority interest, for the current year-to-date period.

 
Operating income increased $2.5 million and $10.9 million from the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively, primarily due to increased investment income and lower operating expenses. Net investment income increased $15.3 million and $22.3 million for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, while income from interest rate swaps decreased $2.8 million and $4.8 million for these same periods. The increased net investment income is primarily the result of higher amounts of unallocated capital and increased participating income and prepayment fees from mortgage and real estate, partially offset by lower income on trading securities.

Results for the runoff insurance lines remain comparable to the prior year, with operating losses of $12.9 million for the first nine months of 2005, compared to $12.3 million for the same period of 2004. Included in the current period loss is a $5.0 million reserve strengthening taken in the residual value line of business as a result of negative trends in used vehicle prices.

 
Realized Gains and Losses

The following table sets forth realized investment gains and losses for the periods shown:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
     
   
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
                           
Fixed maturity gains
 
$
2,593
 
$
20,713
 
$
(18,120
)
$
45,907
 
$
46,565
 
$
(658
)
Fixed maturity losses
   
(25
)
 
(861
)
 
836
   
(6,880
)
 
(6,237
)
 
(643
)
Equity gains
   
27
   
1,302
   
(1,275
)
 
580
   
2,692
   
(2,112
)
Equity losses
   
(16
)
 
0
   
(16
)
 
(851
)
 
(22
)
 
(829
)
Impairments on fixed maturity securities
   
(4,194
)
 
(12,052
)
 
7,858
   
(4,490
)
 
(14,775
)
 
10,285
 
Impairments on equity securities
   
(29
)
 
0
   
(29
)
 
(53
)
 
(1,125
)
 
1,072
 
Other
   
(1,990
)
 
545
   
(2,535
)
 
1,138
   
(747
)
 
1,885
 
Total realized gains (losses) - investments
 
$
(3,634
)
$
9,647
 
$
(13,281
)
$
35,351
 
$
26,351
 
$
9,000
 
                                       
Foreign currency swaps
 
$
(14,522
)
$
1,231
 
$
(15,753
)
$
(27,982
)
$
(10,286
)
$
(17,696
)
Foreign currency adjustments on stable value contracts
   
14,761
   
(1,013
)
 
15,774
   
28,292
   
10,911
   
17,381
 
Derivatives related to mortgage loan commitments
   
17,200
   
(5,564
)
 
22,764
   
(10,732
)
 
(256
)
 
(10,476
)
Derivatives related to various investments
   
(4,806
)
 
1,128
   
(5,934
)
 
(17,469
)
 
6,445
   
(23,914
)
Total realized gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
12,633
 
$
(4,218
)
$
16,851
 
$
(27,891
)
$
6,814
 
$
(34,705
)


Realized gains and losses on investments reflect portfolio management activities designed to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities and to enhance long-term investment portfolio performance. The change in net realized investment gains for the current quarter, excluding impairments, reflects the normal operation of the Company’s asset/liability program within the context of the changing interest rate environment. The reduction of investment impairments for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 reflects a significant reduction in default rates. Additional details on the Company’s investment performance and evaluation is provided in the “Liquidity” and “Capital Resources” sections included herein.

Realized investment gains (losses) related to derivatives represent changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and gains (losses) on derivative contracts closed during the period. The Company has entered into foreign currency swaps to mitigate the risk of changes in the value of principal and interest payments to be made on certain of its foreign currency denominated stable value contracts. The net change in the realized gains (losses) resulting from these securities in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 was an immaterial gain and $(0.3) million, respectively. These changes were the result of differences in the related foreign currency spot and forward rates used to value the stable value contracts and foreign currency swaps. The Company has taken short positions in U.S. Treasury futures to mitigate interest rate risk related to the Company’s mortgage loan commitments. The gains from these securities in the third quarter were the result of increasing interest rates in the current quarter and the net losses from these securities during the first nine months of 2005 were due to declining interest rates in the second quarter of 2005.

The Company also uses various swaps and options to mitigate risk related to certain other investments held by the Company. For the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, a portion of the change, a $6.0 million decrease and $11.7 million decrease, respectively, in realized gains (losses) resulted from higher interest rates in 2005, which impacted the fair value of certain interest rate swaps and options. An increase of $0.3 million and a decrease of $4.4 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, related to gains (losses) from embedded derivatives within certain bonds that matured during the respective periods. For the first nine months of 2005, realized gains (losses) increased by $0.7 million due to the impact of embedded derivatives within certain asset swaps that were called in the first quarter of 2005. For the third quarter and the first nine months of 2005, a $0.1 million decrease and a $1.0 million decrease, respectively, in realized gains (losses) was due to embedded derivatives within annuity contracts and reinsurance agreements.

Additionally, in the first quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a $7.1 million realized investment loss (derivative financial instruments) related to accrued investment income, which arose in periods prior to 2003. The impact had no effect on previously reported segment operating income and no material effect on previously reported net income.

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

Portfolio Description

The Company's investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) and commercial mortgage loans. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity by purchasing investments that match future cash flow needs. However, the Company may sell any of its investments to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has classified its fixed maturities and certain other securities as “available for sale.”

The Company's investments in debt and equity securities are reported at market value, and investments in mortgage loans are reported at amortized cost. At September 30, 2005, the Company's fixed maturity investments (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) had a market value of $15.4 billion, which is 3.0% above amortized cost of $15.0 billion. The Company had $3.1 billion in mortgage loans at September 30, 2005. While the Company's mortgage loans do not have quoted market values, at September 30, 2005, the Company estimates the market value of its mortgage loans to be $3.2 billion (using discounted cash flows from the next call date), which is 4.7% above amortized cost. Most of the Company's mortgage loans have significant prepayment fees. These assets are invested for terms approximately corresponding to anticipated future benefit payments. Thus, market fluctuations are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.

The following table shows the reported values of the Company's invested assets.

   
September 30, 2005
 
December 31, 2004
 
       
                   
Publicly-issued bonds
 
$
13,504,939
   
67.5
%
$
12,094,118
   
64.0
%
Privately-issued bonds
   
1,888,734
   
9.5
   
1,889,463
   
10.0
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
2,631
   
0.0
   
3,593
   
0.0
 
 
Fixed maturities
   
15,396,304
   
77.0
   
13,987,174
   
74.0
 
Equity securities
   
86,163
   
0.4
   
29,050
   
0.2
 
Mortgage loans
   
3,101,823
   
15.5
   
3,005,418
   
15.9
 
Investment real estate
   
68,556
   
0.4
   
81,397
   
0.4
 
Policy loans
   
463,514
   
2.3
   
482,780
   
2.6
 
Other long-term investments
   
283,539
   
1.4
   
256,635
   
1.4
 
Short-term investments
   
595,000
   
3.0
   
1,046,043
   
5.5
 
Total investments
 
$
19,994,899
   
100.0
%
$
18,888,497
   
100.0
%


Market values for private, non-traded securities are determined as follows: 1) the Company obtains estimates from independent pricing services or 2) the Company estimates market value based upon a comparison to quoted issues of the same issuer or issues of other issuers with similar terms and risk characteristics. The market value of private, non-traded securities was $1.9 billion at September 30, 2005, representing 9.5% of the Company's total invested assets.

The Company participates in securities lending, primarily as an investment yield enhancement, whereby securities that are held as investments are loaned to third parties for short periods of time. The Company requires collateral of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities to be separately maintained. The loaned securities’ market value is monitored, on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained as necessary. At September 30, 2005, securities with a market value of $415.9 million were loaned under these agreements. As collateral for the loaned securities, the Company receives short-term investments, which are recorded in “short-term investments” with a corresponding liability recorded in “other liabilities” to account for the Company’s obligation to return the collateral.

 
Risk Management and Impairment Review

The Company monitors the overall credit quality of its portfolio within general guidelines. The following table shows the Company's fixed maturities by credit rating at September 30, 2005.

S&P or Equivalent
Designation
 
Market Value
 
Percent of
Market Value
 
           
           
AAA
 
$
6,277,922
   
40.8
%
AA
   
663,952
   
4.3
 
A
   
2,602,204
   
16.9
 
BBB
   
4,734,474
   
30.8
 
Investment grade
   
14,278,552
   
92.8
 
BB
   
723,568
   
4.7
 
B
   
318,877
   
2.1
 
CCC or lower
   
63,057
   
0.4
 
In or near default
   
9,619
   
0.0
 
Below investment grade
   
1,115,121
   
7.2
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
2,631
   
0.0
 
Total
 
$
15,396,304
   
100.0
%


Limiting bond exposure to any creditor group is another way the Company manages credit risk. The following table summarizes the Company's ten largest fixed maturity exposures to an individual creditor group as of September 30, 2005.

Creditor
 
Market Value
 
       
Dominion Resources
 
$
87.6
 
American Electric Power
   
78.7
 
Kinder Morgan
   
78.6
 
FPL Group
   
76.2
 
Union Pacific
   
75.4
 
Wachovia
   
75.2
 
Entergy
   
72.1
 
Progress Energy
   
71.6
 
Exelon
   
70.7
 
Bank of America
   
69.1
 


The Company's management considers a number of factors when determining the impairment status of individual securities. These include the economic condition of various industry segments and geographic locations and other areas of identified risks. Although it is possible for the impairment of one investment to affect other investments, the Company engages in ongoing risk management to safeguard against and limit any further risk to its investment portfolio. Special attention is given to correlated risks within specific industries, related parties and business markets.

The Company generally considers a number of factors in determining whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. These include, but are not limited to: 1) actions taken by rating agencies, 2) default by the issuer, 3) the significance of the decline, 4) the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment until recovery, 5) the time period during which the decline has occurred, 6) an economic analysis of the issuer’s industry, and 7) the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of the issuer. Management performs a security by security review each quarter in evaluating the need for any other-than-temporary impairments. Although no set formula is used in this process, the investment performance, collateral position and continued viability of the issuer are significant measures considered.

 
The Company generally considers a number of factors relating to the issuer in determining the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of an issuer. These include but are not limited to: available collateral, assets that might be available to repay debt, operating cash flows, financial ratios, access to capital markets, quality of management, market position, exposure to litigation or product warranties, and the effect of general economic conditions on the issuer. Once management has determined that a particular investment has suffered an other-than-temporary impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.

There are certain risks and uncertainties associated with determining whether declines in market values are other-than-temporary. These include significant changes in general economic conditions and business markets, trends in certain industry segments, interest rate fluctuations, rating agency actions, changes in significant accounting estimates and assumptions, commission of fraud and legislative actions. The Company continuously monitors these factors as they relate to the investment portfolio in determining the status of each investment. Provided below are additional facts concerning the potential effect upon the Company's earnings should circumstances lead management to conclude that some of the current declines in market value are other-than-temporary.

Unrealized Gains and Losses

The information presented below relates to investments at a certain point in time and is not necessarily indicative of the status of the portfolio at any time after September 30, 2005, the balance sheet date. Information about unrealized gains and losses is subject to rapidly changing conditions, including volatility of financial markets and changes in interest rates. As indicated above, the Company’s management considers a number of factors in determining if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, including its ability and intent to hold the security until recovery. Furthermore, since the timing of recognizing realized gains and losses is largely based on management’s decisions as to the timing and selection of investments to be sold, the tables and information provided below should be considered within the context of the overall unrealized gain (loss) position of the portfolio. At September 30, 2005, the Company had an overall pretax net unrealized gain of $452.5 million.

For traded and private fixed maturity and equity securities held by the Company that are in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2005, the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
<= 90 days
 
$
4,438,626
   
78.1
%
$
4,487,178
   
77.3
%
$
(48,552
)
 
41.6
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
358,760
   
6.3
   
365,546
   
6.3
   
(6,786
)
 
5.8
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
268,233
   
4.7
   
280,296
   
4.8
   
(12,063
)
 
10.3
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
275,768
   
4.8
   
284,336
   
4.9
   
(8,568
)
 
7.3
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
199,965
   
3.5
   
219,287
   
3.8
   
(19,322
)
 
16.5
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
116,187
   
2.1
   
122,586
   
2.2
   
(6,399
)
 
5.6
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
507
   
0.0
   
609
   
0.0
   
(102
)
 
0.1
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
173
   
0.0
   
197
   
0.0
   
(24
)
 
0.0
 
>5 years
   
28,080
   
0.5
   
43,109
   
0.7
   
(15,029
)
 
12.8
 
Total
 
$
5,686,299
   
100.0
%
$
5,803,144
   
100.0
%
$
(116,845
)
 
100.0
%


At September 30, 2005, securities with a market value of $26.1 million and $17.5 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including $14.5 million of unrealized losses greater than five years. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.

 
The Company has no material concentrations of issuers or guarantors of fixed maturity securities. The industry segment composition of all securities in an unrealized loss position held by the Company at September 30, 2005, is presented in the following table.



   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Agency Mortgages
 
$
1,392,327
   
24.5
%
$
1,407,209
   
24.2
%
$
(14,882
)
 
12.7
%
Banking
   
289,550
   
5.1
   
293,189
   
5.1
   
(3,639
)
 
3.1
 
Basic Industrial
   
147,840
   
2.6
   
153,662
   
2.6
   
(5,822
)
 
5.0
 
Brokerage
   
117,878
   
2.1
   
119,672
   
2.1
   
(1,794
)
 
1.5
 
Communications
   
177,899
   
3.1
   
183,284
   
3.2
   
(5,385
)
 
4.7
 
Consumer Cyclical
   
151,567
   
2.7
   
159,252
   
2.7
   
(7,685
)
 
6.6
 
Consumer Noncyclical
   
49,903
   
0.9
   
51,564
   
0.9
   
(1,661
)
 
1.4
 
Electric
   
478,077
   
8.4
   
495,420
   
8.5
   
(17,343
)
 
14.9
 
Energy
   
124,019
   
2.2
   
125,718
   
2.2
   
(1,699
)
 
1.5
 
Finance Companies
   
613,504
   
10.8
   
625,789
   
10.8
   
(12,285
)
 
10.5
 
Insurance
   
103,418
   
1.8
   
106,151
   
1.9
   
(2,733
)
 
2.4
 
Municipal Agencies
   
2,642
   
0.0
   
2,672
   
0.0
   
(30
)
 
0.0
 
Natural Gas
   
236,906
   
4.1
   
242,205
   
4.2
   
(5,299
)
 
4.5
 
Non-Agency Mortgages
   
1,432,352
   
25.2
   
1,457,369
   
25.1
   
(25,017
)
 
21.4
 
Other Finance
   
169,253
   
3.0
   
175,264
   
3.0
   
(6,011
)
 
5.1
 
Other Industrial
   
47,898
   
0.8
   
48,731
   
0.8
   
(833
)
 
0.7
 
Other Utility
   
40
   
0.0
   
44
   
0.0
   
(4
)
 
0.0
 
Technology
   
17,895
   
0.3
   
19,390
   
0.3
   
(1,495
)
 
1.3
 
Transportation
   
83,067
   
1.5
   
85,306
   
1.5
   
(2,239
)
 
1.9
 
U.S. Government
   
46,109
   
0.8
   
47,076
   
0.8
   
(967
)
 
0.8
 
U.S. Govt Agencies
   
4,155
   
0.1
   
4,177
   
0.1
   
(22
)
 
0.0
 
Total
 
$
5,686,299
   
100.0
%
$
5,803,144
   
100.0
%
$
(116,845
)
 
100.0
%


The range of maturity dates for securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2005 varies, with 8.4% maturing in less than 5 years, 19.3% maturing between 5 and 10 years, and 72.3% maturing after 10 years. The following table shows the credit rating of securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2005.

S&P or Equivalent
Designation
 
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
AAA/AA/A
 
$
4,050,499
   
71.3
%
$
4,096,964
   
70.6
%
$
(46,465
)
 
39.8
%
BBB
   
1,326,429
   
23.3
   
1,360,235
   
23.5
   
(33,806
)
 
28.9
 
Investment grade
   
5,376,928
   
94.6
   
5,457,199
   
94.1
   
(80,271
)
 
68.7
 
BB
   
193,399
   
3.4
   
205,461
   
3.5
   
(12,062
)
 
10.3
 
B
   
59,605
   
1.0
   
69,528
   
1.2
   
(9,923
)
 
8.5
 
CCC or lower
   
56,367
   
1.0
   
70,956
   
1.2
   
(14,589
)
 
12.5
 
Below investment grade
   
309,371
   
5.4
   
345,945
   
5.9
   
(36,574
)
 
31.3
 
Total
 
$
5,686,299
   
100.0
%
$
5,803,144
   
100.0
%
$
(116,845
)
 
100.0
%


At September 30, 2005, securities in an unrealized loss position that were rated as below investment grade represented 5.4% of the total market value and 31.3% of the total unrealized loss. Unrealized losses related to below investment grade securities that had been in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months were $24.5 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position rated less than investment grade were 1.5% of invested assets. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.

 

The following table shows the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position for all below investment grade securities.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
($ in thousands)
 
<= 90 days
 
$
121,794
   
39.4
%
$
125,225
   
36.2
%
$
(3,431
)
 
9.4
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
21,143
   
6.8
   
21,676
   
6.3
   
(533
)
 
1.4
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
74,865
   
24.2
   
82,450
   
23.8
   
(7,585
)
 
20.7
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
1,807
   
0.6
   
2,355
   
0.7
   
(548
)
 
1.5
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
64,351
   
20.8
   
74,487
   
21.5
   
(10,136
)
 
27.7
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
514
   
0.2
   
646
   
0.2
   
(132
)
 
0.4
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
140
   
0.0
   
162
   
0.1
   
(22
)
 
0.1
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
47
   
0.0
   
54
   
0.0
   
(7
)
 
0.0
 
>5 years
   
24,710
   
8.0
   
38,890
   
11.2
   
(14,180
)
 
38.8
 
Total
 
$
309,371
   
100.0
%
$
345,945
   
100.0
%
$
(36,574
)
 
100.0
%


At September 30, 2005, below investment grade securities with a market value of $22.9 million and $13.7 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including $13.7 million of unrealized losses greater than five years. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.

Realized Losses

Realized losses are comprised of both write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments and actual sales of investments. For the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, the Company recorded pretax other-than-temporary impairments in its investments of $4.2 million and $4.5 million, respectively, compared to $12.1 million and $15.9 million for the comparable periods of 2004.

As previously discussed, the Company’s management considers several factors when determining other-than-temporary impairments. Although the Company generally intends to hold securities until maturity, the Company may change its positions as a result of a change in circumstances. Any such decision is consistent with the Company’s classification of all but a specific portion of its investment portfolio as available for sale. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company sold securities in an unrealized loss position with a market value of $902.8 million resulting in a realized loss of $7.7 million. The securities were sold as a result of normal portfolio rebalancing activity and tax planning. For such securities, the proceeds, realized loss and total time period that the security had been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Proceeds
 
% Proceeds
 
Realized Loss
 
% Realized Loss
 
 
 
($ in thousands) 
 
<= 90 days
 
$
799,027
   
88.5
%
$
(4,163
)
 
53.8
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
0
   
0.0
   
0
   
0.0
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
9,019
   
1.0
   
(223
)
 
2.9
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
14,749
   
1.6
   
(224
)
 
2.9
 
> 1 year
   
80,011
   
8.9
   
(3,121
)
 
40.4
 
Total
 
$
902,806
   
100.0
%
$
(7,731
)
 
100.0
%


Mortgage Loans

The Company records mortgage loans net of an allowance for credit losses. This allowance is calculated through analysis of specific loans that are believed to be at a higher risk of becoming impaired in the near future. At September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company's allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $6.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
 
During the first quarter of 2005, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (Winn-Dixie), an anchor tenant in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At September 30, 2005, the Company had 38 loans amounting to $101.8 million in loan balances in which Winn-Dixie was considered to be the anchor tenant for the underlying property (including 11 loans with balances of $20.4 million included in mortgage loan securitization trusts in which the Company holds retained beneficial interests). At September 30, 2005, the rents from Winn-Dixie represented approximately 47% of the total rents applicable to the properties underlying these loans (including approximately 67% of rents on loans in mortgage loan securitizations). On June 21, 2005, Winn-Dixie announced a reorganization plan that included selling or closing 27 stores that served as the anchor tenant for properties underlying loans in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio. At September 30, 2005, five of these stores have been sold and Winn-Dixie has rejected the leases on the remaining 22 properties. Within these 22 loans, the Company has identified five potential impairments and the mortgage loan reserve included $4.4 million related to these loans at September 30, 2005. The Company will continue to actively monitor these loans and assess them for potential impairments as circumstances develop in the future.

During the third quarter of 2005, two major hurricanes caused a significant amount of property damage in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. The Company’s mortgage loan portfolio includes 23 loans totaling $62.0 million in the areas impacted by these hurricanes. Of the underlying properties securing these 23 loans, 16 sustained little or no damage from these events. The Company has reviewed each of the loans on the remaining 7 properties and currently believes that none of these loans are impaired. The Company will continue to actively monitor these loans and assess them for potential impairments as circumstances develop in the future.

For several years the Company has offered a type of commercial mortgage loan under which the Company will permit a slightly higher loan-to-value ratio in exchange for a participating interest in the cash flows from the underlying real estate. As of September 30, 2005, approximately $425.3 million of the Company’s mortgage loans have this participation feature.

At September 30, 2005, delinquent mortgage loans and foreclosed properties were less than 0.1% of invested assets. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.

LIABILITIES

Many of the Company's products contain surrender charges and other features that reward persistency and penalize the early withdrawal of funds. Certain stable value and annuity contracts have market-value adjustments that protect the Company against investment losses if interest rates are higher at the time of surrender than at the time of issue.

At September 30, 2005, the Company had policy liabilities and accruals of $11.4 billion. The Company's interest-sensitive life insurance policies have a weighted average minimum credited interest rate of approximately 3.85%.

MARKET RISK EXPOSURES

The Company’s financial position and earnings are subject to various market risks including changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in spreads between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, changes in foreign currency rates, changes in used vehicle prices, and equity price risks. The Company analyzes and manages the risks arising from market exposures of financial instruments, as well as other risks, through an integrated asset/liability management process. The Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures involve the monitoring of asset and liability durations for various product lines; cash flow testing under various interest rate scenarios; and the continuous rebalancing of assets and liabilities with respect to yield, risk, and cash flow characteristics.

The primary focus of the Company’s asset/liability program is the management of interest rate risk within the insurance operations. This includes monitoring the duration of both investments and insurance liabilities to maintain an appropriate balance between risk and profitability for each product category, and for the Company as a whole. It is the Company’s policy to generally maintain asset and liability durations within one-half year of one another, although, from time to time, a broader interval may be allowed.

These programs also incorporate the use of derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce its exposure to interest rate risk, inflation risk, and currency exchange risk. Combinations of interest rate swap contracts, futures contracts, and option contracts are used to mitigate or eliminate certain financial and market risks, including those related to changes in interest rates for certain investments, primarily outstanding mortgage loan commitments and mortgage-backed securities, and the Company’s outstanding debt. Swap contracts are also used to alter the effective durations of assets and liabilities and to mitigate the inflation risk caused by the issuance of inflation adjusted notes through the Stable Value Products segment. The Company uses foreign currency swaps to manage its exposure to currency exchange risk on certain stable value contracts denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the European euro and the British pound.

Derivative instruments expose the Company to credit and market risk and could result in material changes from quarter-to-quarter. The Company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with highly rated counterparties. The Company manages the market risk associated with interest rate and foreign exchange contracts by establishing and monitoring limits as to the types and degrees of risk that may be undertaken. The Company monitors its use of derivatives in connection with its overall asset/liability management programs and procedures.

In the ordinary course of its commercial mortgage lending operations, the Company will commit to provide a mortgage loan before the property to be mortgaged has been built or acquired. The mortgage loan commitment is a contractual obligation to fund a mortgage loan when called upon by the borrower. The commitment is not recognized in the Company's financial statements until the commitment is actually funded. The mortgage loan commitment contains terms, including the rate of interest, which may be different than prevailing interest rates. At September 30, 2005, the Company had outstanding mortgage loan commitments of $1,044.2 million at an average rate of 5.93%.

The Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures and certain product features provide protection for the Company against the effects of changes in interest rates under various scenarios. Additionally, the Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures provide sufficient liquidity to enable it to fulfill its obligation to pay benefits under its various insurance and deposit contracts. However, the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures incorporate assumptions about the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates (i.e., the slope of the yield curve), relationships between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, market liquidity and other factors, and the effectiveness of the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures may be negatively affected whenever actual results differ from those assumptions.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

The Company meets its liquidity requirements primarily through positive cash flows from its insurance operations. Primary sources of cash are premiums, deposits for policyholder accounts, investment sales and maturities, and investment income. Primary uses of cash include benefit payments, withdrawals from policyholder accounts, investment purchases, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses.

While the Company generally anticipates that cash flows will be sufficient to meet its investment commitments and operating cash needs, the Company recognizes that investment commitments scheduled to be funded may, from time to time, exceed the funds then available. Therefore, the Company has established repurchase agreement programs for certain of its insurance subsidiaries to provide liquidity when needed. The Company expects that the rate received on its investments will equal or exceed its borrowing rate. Additionally, the Company may, from time to time, sell short-duration stable value products to complement its cash management practices. The Company has also used securitization transactions involving its commercial mortgage loans to increase liquidity.

The Company’s positive cash flows from operations are used to fund an investment portfolio that provides for future benefit payments. The Company employs a formal asset/liability program to manage the cash flows of its investment portfolio relative to its long-term benefit obligations. See additional discussion of the Company’s asset/liability program in the “Market Risk Exposures” section.

The Company was committed at September 30, 2005 to fund mortgage loans in the amount of $1,044.2 million. The Company held $625.1 million in cash and short-term investments at September 30, 2005.

The states in which the Company and its insurance subsidiaries are domiciled impose certain restrictions on the ability to pay dividends to PLC. These restrictions are generally based in part on the prior year’s statutory income and surplus. Generally, these restrictions pose no short-term liquidity concerns for PLC. The Company plans to retain substantial portions of its earnings and the earnings of its subsidiaries primarily to support future growth.

Capital Resources

On August 26, 2005 Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate”), a special purpose financial captive insurance company wholly owned by the Company, issued $100 million of non-recourse funding obligations, which bear a floating rate of interest and mature in 2037. These non-recourse funding obligations were issued under a surplus notes facility established with certain purchasers through which Golden Gate may issue up to an aggregate of $400 million of non-recourse funding obligations through June 2007. The non-recourse funding obligations are direct financial obligations of Golden Gate and are not guaranteed by the Companyor its parent company, PLC. The non-recourse obligations are represented by surplus notes that were issued to fund statutory reserves required by the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Regulation (Regulation XXX). Under the terms of the notes, the holders of the notes cannot require repayment from the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than Golden Gate, the direct issuer of the notes, although the Company has agreed to indemnify Golden Gate for certain costs and obligations (which obligations do not include payment of principal and interest on the notes). In addition, PLC has entered into certain support agreements with Golden Gate obligating PLC to make capital contributions to Golden Gate or provide support related to certain of Golden Gate’s expenses and in certain circumstances, to collateralize certain of the Company’s obligations to Golden Gate.

A life insurance company's statutory capital is computed according to rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), as modified by state law. Generally speaking, other states in which a company does business defer to the interpretation of the domiciliary state with respect to NAIC rules, unless inconsistent with other state’s law. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to reflect a more conservative view by, for example, requiring immediate expensing of policy acquisition costs. The NAIC's risk-based capital requirements require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula. The achievement of long-term growth will require growth in the statutory capital of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries. The Company may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as retained statutory earnings or equity contributions by PLC.


Contractual Obligations

The table below sets forth future maturities of stable value products, notes payable, non-recourse funding obligations, operating lease obligations, mortgage loan commitments, liabilities related to variable interest entities, and policyholder obligations.

   
2005
 
2006-2007
 
2008-2009
 
After 2009
 
   
Stable value products(a)
 
$
203,638
 
$
2,466,104
 
$
1,686,342
 
$
1,544,656
 
Note payable
   
9
   
2,167
             
Non-recourse funding obligations(b)
                     
100,000
 
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
   
142,850
                   
Operating leases(c)
   
1,415
   
8,389
   
3,788
   
2,982
 
Mortgage loan commitments
   
1,044,186
                   
Liabilities related to variable interest entities(d)
   
216
   
1,940
   
35,246
   
5,641
 
Policyholder obligations(e)
   
262,565
   
1,817,485
   
1,667,212
   
9,805,662
 
(a) Anticipated stable value products cash flows, excluding interest not yet accrued.
(b) Non-recourse funding obligations include all principal amounts owed on note agreements, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the notes.
(c) Includes all base lease payments required under operating lease agreements.
(d) Liabilities related to variable interest entities are not the legal obligations of the Company, but will be repaid with cash flows generated by the variable interest entities. The amounts represent scheduled principal payments.
(e) Estimated contractual policyholder obligations are based on mortality, morbidity, and lapse assumptions comparable to the Company’s historical experience, modified for recent observed trends. These obligations are based on current balance sheet values and do not incorporate an expectation of future market growth, interest crediting, or future deposits. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results. As separate account obligations are legally insulated from general account obligations, the separate account obligations will be fully funded by cash flows from separate account assets. The Company expects to fully fund the general account obligations from cash flows from general account investments.


RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In July 2005, the FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed interpretation, “Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions - an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109.” The draft contains proposed guidance on the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions. It also addresses the accrual of any interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties and the classification of liabilities resulting from tax uncertainties on the balance sheet. The draft includes a proposed effective date of December 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this draft interpretation, but does not currently anticipate that its adoption would have a material impact on its financial position or results of operation.

See Note 5 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for information regarding recently issued accounting standards.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

A proposal to amend Actuarial Guideline 38 (promulgated by the NAIC and part of the codification of statutory accounting principles) has been approved by the NAIC, with an effective date of July 1, 2005. Actuarial Guideline 38, also known as AXXX, sets forth the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees (“ULSG”). The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 will increase the reserve levels required for many ULSG products, and potentially make those products more expensive and less competitive as compared to other products including term and whole life products. The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 affect only policies with an issue date of July 1, 2005 and later, and reduce the competitiveness and/or profitability of newly written ULSG products compared to traditional whole life or other high cash value insurance products or other products supported by relatively inexpensive capital (such as reinsurance of redundant reserves). To the extent that the additional reserves are generally considered to be economically redundant, capital market or other solutions may emerge to reduce the impact of the amendment. The ability of the Company to access such solutions may depend on factors such as the ratings of the Company, the size of the blocks of business affected, the mortality experience of the Company and other factors. The Company cannot predict when or if these solutions may become available to the Company or its competitors

The financial services industry has recently become the focus of increased scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities relating to allegations of improper special payments, price-fixing, bid-rigging and other alleged misconduct, including payments made by insurers and other financial service providers to brokers and the practices surrounding the placement of insurance business and sales of other financial products as well as practices related to finite reinsurance. Such publicity may generate litigation against financial service providers, even those who do not engage in the business lines or practices currently at issue. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these investigations or proceedings, whether they will expand into other areas not yet contemplated, whether they will result in changes in insurance regulation, whether activities currently thought to be lawful will be characterized as unlawful, or the impact, if any, of this increased regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of the financial services industry on the Company. As these inquiries appear to encompass a large segment of our industry, it would not be unusual for large numbers of companies in the financial services industry to receive subpoenas, requests for information from regulatory authorities or other inquiries relating to these and similar matters. From time to time, the Company receives subpoenas, requests or other inquires and responds to them in the ordinary course of business.

In the first quarter of 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General of West Virginia for documents and other information relating to funding agreement-backed securities, special purpose vehicles, and related subjects. The Company understands that other U.S. based life insurers that participate in funding agreement backed note programs have received similar subpoenas. The Company has responded to the subpoena. The Company is not aware of any problems relating to its participation in funding agreement-backed note programs that would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

The California Department of Insurance has promulgated proposed regulations that would characterize some life insurance agents as brokers and impose certain obligations on those agents that may conflict with the interests of insurance carriers or require the agent to, among other things, advise the client with respect to the best available insurer. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this regulatory proposal or whether any other state will propose or adopt similar actions.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There has been no material change from the disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 
(a)
Disclosure controls and procedures

Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2005. It should be noted that any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain judgments, including the costs and benefits of controls and the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within the Company have been detected.

(b)  
Changes in internal control over financial reporting

No significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2005 that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting. Our internal controls exist within a dynamic environment and the Company continually strives to improve its internal controls and procedures to enhance the quality of its financial reporting.


PART II

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit 12 - Consolidated Earnings Ratios.

Exhibit 15 - Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.

Exhibit 31(a) - Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 31(b) - Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 32(a) - Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 32(b) - Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 99 - Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements.

 
 
 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


Date: November 14, 2005                                                                   /s/ Steven G. Walker                                                  
Steven G. Walker
Senior Vice President, Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer
(Duly authorized officer)

 
 
 


EX-12 2 ex12.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 12 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 12 9-30-05                                                                                                                                                          &# 160;                                                                                                                                                     Exhibit 12

CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS RATIOS

The following table sets forth, for the years and periods indicated, Protective Life Insurance Company’s (the “Company”) ratios of:

·  
Consolidated earnings to fixed charges.
·  
Consolidated earnings to fixed charges before interest credited on investment products.

   
9 Months Ended
September 30
 
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
                               
Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)
   
1.5
   
1.6
   
1.6
   
1.5
   
1.3
   
1.2
   
1.2
 
Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges
Before Interest Credited on Investment Products(2)
   
30.7
   
49.1
   
46.4
   
83.4
   
49.1
   
47.2
   
28.3
 
(1) The Company calculates the ratio of “Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges” by dividing the sum of income from continuing operations before income tax (BT), interest expense (which includes an estimate of the interest component of operating lease expense) (I) and interest credited on investment products (IP) by the sum of interest expense (I) and interest credited on investment products (IP). The formula for this ratio is: (BT+I+IP)/(I+IP). The Company continues to sell investment products that credit interest to the contractholder. Investment products include products such as guaranteed investment contracts, annuities, and variable universal life insurance policies. The inclusion of interest credited on investment products results in a negative impact on the ratio of earnings to fixed charges because the effect of increases in interest credited to contractholders more than offsets the effect of the increases in earnings.
(2) The Company calculates the ratio of “Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges Before Interest Credited on Investment Products” by dividing the sum of income from continuing operations before income tax (BT) and interest expense (I) by interest expense (I). The formula for this calculation, therefore, would be: (BT+I)/I.


COMPUTATION OF CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS RATIOS
(Dollars in thousands)

   
9 Months Ended
September 30
 
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
 
Computation of Ratio of Consolidated
Earnings to Fixed Charges
                                           
                                             
Income from Continuing Operations
before Income Tax
 
$
254,628
 
$
289,133
 
$
371,163
 
$
349,972
 
$
241,623
 
$
213,958
 
$
174,622
 
                                             
Add Interest Expense
   
8,578
   
6,015
   
8,167
   
4,249
   
5,019
   
4,633
   
6,400
 
                                             
Add Interest Credited on Investment
Products
   
532,337
   
480,789
   
649,216
   
647,695
   
900,930
   
944,098
   
766,004
 
                                             
Earnings before Interest, Interest
Credited on Investment Products
and Taxes
 
$
795,543
 
$
775,937
 
$
1,028,546
 
$
1,001,916
 
$
1,147,572
 
$
1,162,689
 
$
947,026
 
                                             
Earnings before Interest, Interest
Credited on Investment Products
and Taxes Divided by Interest
expense and Interest Credited on
Investment Products
   
1.5
   
1.6
   
1.6
   
1.5
   
1.3
   
1.2
   
1.2
 
                                             
Computation of Ratio of Consolidated
Earnings to Fixed Charges Before
Interest Credited on Investment
Products
                                           
                                             
Income from Continuing Operations
before Income Tax
 
$
254,628
 
$
289,133
 
$
371,163
 
$
349,972
 
$
241,623
 
$
213,958
 
$
174,622
 
                                             
Add Interest Expense
   
8,578
   
6,015
   
8,167
   
4,249
   
5,019
   
4,633
   
6,400
 
Earnings before Interest and Taxes
 
$
263,206
 
$
295,148
 
$
379,330
 
$
354,221
 
$
246,642
 
$
218,591
 
$
181,022
 
                                             
Earnings before Interest and Taxes
Divided by Interest Expense
 
   
30.7
   
49.1
   
46.4
   
83.4
   
49.1
   
47.2
   
28.3

 
 
 


 
 


EX-15 3 ex15.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 15 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 15 9-30-05
Exhibit 15









Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549



Commissioners:

We are aware that our report dated November 14, 2005 on our review of interim financial information of Protective Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, is incorporated by reference in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-100944).





/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Birmingham, Alabama
November 14, 2005

 
 
 


EX-31.A 4 ex31_a.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 31A 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 31a 9-30-05
Exhibit 31(a)


Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, John D. Johns, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Protective Life Insurance Company for the period ended September 30, 2005;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: November 14, 2005


/s/ John D. Johns                               
John D. Johns
Chairman of the Board and President

 
 
 


EX-31.B 5 ex31_b.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 31B 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 31b 9-30-05
EXHIBIT 31(b)


Certification Pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, Allen W. Ritchie, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Protective Life Insurance Company for the period ended September 30, 2005;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: November 14, 2005

/s/ Allen W. Ritchie                                                        
Allen W. Ritchie
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
EX-32.A 6 ex32_a.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 32A 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 32a 9-30-05
[PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LETTERHEAD]




EXHIBIT 32(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) for the period ending September 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, John D. Johns, Chairman of the Board and President of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of §13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


/s/ John D. Johns                                        
John D. Johns
Chairman of the Board and President
November 14, 2005


This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of §18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EX-32.B 7 ex32_b.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 32B 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 32b 9-30-05
[PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LETTERHEAD]




EXHIBIT 32(b)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10 Q of Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) for the period ended September 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Allen W. Ritchie, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of §13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


/s/ Allen W. Ritchie                                                        
Allen W. Ritchie
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 14, 2005


This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of §18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EX-99 8 ex99.htm PLICO EXHIBIT 99 9-30-05 PLICO Exhibit 99 9-30-05
Exhibit 99
to
Form 10-Q
of
Protective Life Insurance Company
for the nine months
ended September 30, 2005

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements


The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) encourages companies to make “forward-looking statements” by creating a safe harbor to protect the companies from securities law liability in connection with forward-looking statements. All statements are based on future expectations rather than on historical facts and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as “expect,”“estimate,”“project,”“budget,”“forecast,”“anticipate,”“plan,” and similar expressions. Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) intends to qualify both its written and oral forward-looking statements for protection under the Act.

To qualify oral forward-looking statements for protection under the Act, a readily available written document must identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company provides the following information to qualify forward-looking statements for the safe harbor protection of the Act.

The operating results of companies in the insurance industry have historically been subject to significant fluctuations. The factors which could affect the Company’s future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the known trends and uncertainties which are discussed more fully below.

The Company is exposed to the risks of natural disasters, pandemics, malicious and terrorist acts that could adversely affect the Company’s operations.

While the Company has obtained insurance, implemented risk management and contingency plans, and taken preventive measures and other precautions, no predictions of specific scenarios can be made nor can assurance be given that there are not scenarios that could have an adverse effect on the Company. A natural disaster, pandemic, or an outbreak of an easily communicable disease could adversely affect the mortality or morbidity experience of the Company or its reinsurers. In addition, a pandemic could result in large areas being subject to a quarantine, with the result that economic activity slows or ceases, adversely affecting the marketing or administration of the Company’s business within such area and/or the general economic climate, which in turn could have an adverse affect on the Company.

The Company operates in a mature, highly competitive industry, which could limit its ability to gain or maintain its position in the industry.

Life and health insurance is a mature industry. In recent years, the industry has experienced little growth in life insurance sales, though the aging population has increased the demand for retirement savings products. Life and health insurance is a highly competitive industry. The Company encounters significant competition in all lines of business from other insurance companies, many of which have greater financial resources than the Company, as well as competition from other providers of financial services. Competition could result in, among other things, lower sales or higher lapses of existing products.

The insurance industry is consolidating, with larger, potentially more efficient organizations emerging from consolidation. Participants in certain of the Company’s independent distribution channels are also consolidating into larger organizations. Some mutual insurance companies are converting to stock ownership, which will give them greater access to capital markets. Additionally, commercial banks, insurance companies, and investment banks may now combine, provided certain requirements are satisfied. The ability of banks to increase their securities-related business or to affiliate with insurance companies may materially and adversely affect sales of all of the Company’s products by substantially increasing the number and financial strength of potential competitors.

The Company’s ability to compete is dependent upon, among other things, its ability to attract and retain distribution channels to market its insurance and investment products, its ability to develop competitive and profitable products, its ability to maintain low unit costs, and its maintenance of strong ratings from rating agencies.

A ratings downgrade could adversely affect the Company’s ability to compete.

Rating organizations periodically review the financial performance and condition of insurers, including the Company’s subsidiaries. In recent years, downgrades of insurance companies have occurred with increasing frequency. A downgrade in the rating of the Company’s subsidiaries could adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell its products, retain existing business, and compete for attractive acquisition opportunities. Specifically, a ratings downgrade would materially harm the Company’s ability to sell certain products, including guaranteed investment products and funding agreements.

Rating organizations assign ratings based upon several factors. While most of the factors relate to the rated company, some of the factors relate to the views of the rating organization, general economic conditions and circumstances outside the rated company’s control. In addition, rating organizations use various models and formulas to assess the strength of a rated company, and from time to time rating organizations have, in their discretion, altered the models. Changes to the models could impact the rating organizations’ judgment of the rating to be assigned to the rated company. The Company cannot predict what actions the rating organizations may take, or what actions the Company may be required to take in response to the actions of the rating organizations, which could adversely affect the Company.

The Company’s policy claims fluctuate from period to period, and actual results could differ from its expectations.

The Company’s results may fluctuate from period to period due to fluctuations in policy claims received by the Company. Certain of the Company’s businesses may experience higher claims if the economy is growing slowly or in recession, or equity markets decline. Additionally, beginning in the second quarter of 2005, the Company increased its retained amounts on newly written traditional life products. This change will cause greater variability in financial results due to fluctuations in mortality results.

Mortality, morbidity, and casualty expectations incorporate assumptions about many factors, including for example, how a product is distributed, persistency and lapses, future progress in the fields of health and medicine, and the projected level of used vehicle values. Actual mortality, morbidity, the projected level of used vehicle values, and casualty claims could differ from expectations if actual results differ from those assumptions. In addition, continued activity in the life settlement industry could have an adverse impact on the Company’s level of persistency and lapses.

The Company’s results may be negatively affected should actual experience differ from management’s assumptions and estimates.

In the conduct of business, the Company makes certain assumptions regarding the mortality, persistency, expenses and interest rates, or other factors appropriate to the type of business it expects to experience in future periods. These assumptions are also used to estimate the amounts of deferred policy acquisition costs, policy liabilities and accruals, future earnings, and various components of the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s actual experience, as well as changes in estimates, are used to prepare the Company’s statements of income.

The calculations the Company uses to estimate various components of its balance sheet and statements of income are necessarily complex and involve analyzing and interpreting large quantities of data. The Company currently employs various techniques for such calculations and it from time to time will develop and implement more sophisticated administrative systems and procedures capable of facilitating the calculation of more precise estimates.

Assumptions and estimates involve judgment, and by their nature are imprecise and subject to changes and revision over time. Accordingly, the Company’s results may be affected, positively or negatively, from time to time, by actual results differing from assumptions, by changes in estimates, and by changes resulting from implementing more sophisticated administrative systems and procedures that facilitate the calculation of more precise estimates.

The use of reinsurance introduces variability in the Company’s statements of income.

The timing of premium payments to, and receipt of expense allowances from, reinsurers may differ from the Company’s receipt of customer premium payments and incurrence of expenses. These timing differences introduce variability in certain components of the Company’s statements of income, and may also introduce variability in the Company’s quarterly results.

The Company could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder withdrawals.

Many of the products offered by the Company and its insurance subsidiaries allow policyholders and contract holders to withdraw their funds under defined circumstances. The Company and its insurance subsidiaries manage their liabilities and configure their investment portfolios so as to provide and maintain sufficient liquidity to support anticipated withdrawal demands and contract benefits and maturities. While the Company and its life insurance subsidiaries own a significant amount of liquid assets, a certain portion of their assets are relatively illiquid. If the Company or its subsidiaries experience unanticipated withdrawal or surrender activity, the Company or its subsidiaries could exhaust their liquid assets and be forced to liquidate other assets, perhaps on unfavorable terms. If the Company or its subsidiaries are forced to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms, it could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

Interest-rate fluctuations could negatively affect the Company’s spread income or otherwise impact its business.

Significant changes in interest rates expose insurance companies to the risk of not earning anticipated spreads between the interest rate earned on investments and the credited interest rates paid on outstanding policies and contracts. Both rising and declining interest rates can negatively affect the Company’s spread income. While the Company develops and maintains asset/liability management programs and procedures designed to preserve spread income in rising or falling interest rate environments, no assurance can be given that changes in interest rates will not affect such spreads.

From time to time, the Company has participated in securities repurchase transactions that have contributed to the Company’s investment income. Such transactions involve some degree of risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations to pay amounts owed and the collateral has insufficient value to satisfy the obligation. No assurance can be given that such transactions will continue to be entered into and contribute to the Company’s investment income in the future.

Changes in interest rates may also impact its business in other ways. Lower interest rates may result in lower sales of certain of the Company’s insurance and investment products. In addition, certain of the Company’s insurance and investment products guarantee a minimum credited interest rate, and the Company could become unable to earn its spread income should interest rates decrease significantly.

Higher interest rates may create a less favorable environment for the origination of mortgage loans and decrease the investment income the Company receives in the form of prepayment fees, make-whole payments, and mortgage participation income. Higher interest rates may also increase the cost of debt and other obligations having floating rate or rate reset provisions and may result in lower sales of variable products.

Additionally, the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures incorporate assumptions about the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates (i.e., the slope of the yield curve) and relationships between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, market liquidity, and other factors. The effectiveness of the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures may be negatively affected whenever actual results differ from these assumptions.

In general terms, the Company’s results are improved when the yield curve is positively sloped (i.e., when long-term interest rates are higher than short-term interest rates), and will be adversely affected by a flat or negatively sloped curve.

Equity market volatility could negatively impact the Company’s business.

The amount of policy fees received from variable products is affected by the performance of the equity markets, increasing or decreasing as markets rise or fall. Equity market volatility can also affect the profitability of variable products in other ways.

The amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs relating to variable products and the estimated cost of providing guaranteed minimum death benefits incorporate various assumptions about the overall performance of equity markets over certain time periods. The rate of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and the estimated cost of providing guaranteed minimum death benefits could increase if equity market performance is worse than assumed.

A deficiency in the Company’s systems could result in over or underpayments of amounts owed to or by the Company and/or errors in the Company’s critical assumptions or reported financial results.

The business of insurance necessarily involves the collection and dissemination of large amounts of data using systems operated by the Company. Examples of data collected and analyzed include policy information, policy rates, expenses, mortality and morbidity experience. To the extent that data input errors, systems errors, or systems failures are not identified and corrected by the Company’s internal controls, the information generated by the systems and used by the Company and/or supplied to business partners, policyholders, and others may be incorrect and may result in an overpayment or underpayment of amounts owed to or by the Company and/or the Company using incorrect assumptions in its business decisions or financial reporting.

In the third quarter of 2002, the Company discovered that the rates payable on certain life insurance policies were incorrectly entered into its reinsurance administrative system in 1991. As a result, the Company overpaid to several reinsurance companies the reinsurance premiums related to such policies of approximately $94.5 million over a period of 10 years beginning in 1992. The Company has received payment from substantially all of the affected reinsurance companies.

Insurance companies are highly regulated and subject to numerous legal restrictions and regulations.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to government regulation in each of the states in which they conduct business. Such regulation is vested in state agencies having broad administrative power dealing with many aspects of the Company’s business, which may include, among other things, premium rates, reserve requirements, marketing practices, advertising, privacy, policy forms, reinsurance reserve requirements, and capital adequacy, and is concerned primarily with the protection of policyholders and other customers rather than share owners. At any given time, a number of financial and/or market conduct examinations of the Company’s subsidiaries is ongoing. The Company is required to obtain state regulatory approval for rate increases for certain health insurance products, and the Company’s profits may be adversely affected if the requested rate increases are not approved in full by regulators in a timely fashion. From time to time, regulators raise issues during examinations or audits of the Company’s subsidiaries that could, if determined adversely, have a material impact on the Company.

The Company cannot predict whether or when regulatory actions may be taken that could adversely affect the Company or its operations. Interpretations of regulations by regulators may change and statutes may be enacted with retroactive impact, particularly in areas such as health insurance and accounting or reserve requirements. In addition, regulatory actions with prospective impact can potentially have a significant impact on currently sold products. In particular, the NAIC recently approved an amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38, which interprets the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees. This amendment increases the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantee products issued after July 1, 2005. Moreover, although in general with respect to regulations and guidelines, states defer to the interpretation of the insurance department of the state of domicile, a state could choose to follow a different interpretation.

The Company and its insurance subsidiaries may be subject to regulation by the United States Department of Labor when providing a variety of products and services to employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Severe penalties are imposed for breach of duties under ERISA.

Certain policies, contracts, and annuities offered by the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to regulation under the federal securities laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The federal securities laws contain regulatory restrictions and criminal, administrative, and private remedial provisions.

Other types of regulation that could affect the Company and its subsidiaries include insurance company investment laws and regulations, state statutory accounting practices, anti-trust laws, minimum solvency requirements, state securities laws, federal privacy laws, federal money laundering and anti-terrorism laws, and because the Company owns and operates real property state, federal, and local environmental laws. The Company cannot predict what form any future changes in these or other areas of regulation affecting the insurance industry might take or what effect, if any, such proposals might have on the Company if enacted into law.

The Company is exposed to potential risks from recent legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting.

Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, management is required to assess the effectiveness of PLC’s internal control over financial reporting. PLC’s auditors are required to attest to and report on management’s assessment. Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 will be effective for the Company at year-end 2006. Implementation guidance has been issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Company has limited experience with this process. The Company believes that its control environment is effective; however, it is possible that adverse attestations with respect to the Company, other companies in the industry, or in business in general could result in a loss of investor confidence and/or impact the Company or the environment in which it operates.

Changes to tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could adversely affect the Company and its ability to compete with non-insurance products or reduce the demand for certain insurance products.

Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), income tax payable by policyholders on investment earnings is deferred during the accumulation period of certain life insurance and annuity products. This favorable tax treatment may give certain of the Company’s products a competitive advantage over other non-insurance products. To the extent that the Code is revised to reduce the tax-deferred status of life insurance and annuity products, or to increase the tax-deferred status of competing products, all life insurance companies, including the Company and its subsidiaries, would be adversely affected with respect to their ability to sell such products, and, depending upon grandfathering provisions, would be affected by the surrenders of existing annuity contracts and life insurance policies. For example, changes in laws or regulations could restrict or eliminate the advantages of certain corporate or bank-owned life insurance products. Changes in tax law, which have reduced the federal income tax rates on corporate dividends in certain circumstances, could make the tax advantages of investing in certain life insurance or annuity products less attractive. Additionally, changes in tax law based on proposals to establish new tax advantaged retirement and life savings plans, if enacted, could reduce the tax advantage of investing in certain life insurance or annuity products. For example, President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2006 Budget proposal includes changes that would create new and expanded vehicles for tax-exempt savings, including expanded “Retirement Savings Accounts” and “Lifetime Savings Accounts” which would permit higher contributions and tax-free build-up. In addition, life insurance products are often used to fund estate tax obligations. Legislation has been enacted that would, over time, reduce and eventually eliminate the federal estate tax. Under the legislation that has been enacted, the estate tax will be reinstated, in its entirety, in 2011 and thereafter. President Bush and members of Congress have expressed a desire to modify the existing legislation, which modification could result in faster or more complete reduction or repeal of the estate tax. If the estate tax is significantly reduced or eliminated, the demand for certain life insurance products could be adversely affected. Additionally, the Company is subject to the federal corporation income tax. President Bush has also formed a President’s Advisory Panel, which has been instructed to develop proposals for fundamental reform of the federal tax system. Such proposals could include substantial changes to the federal income tax laws currently in effect, or the adoption of a “flat tax” or federal sales tax in lieu of the current income tax structure. The Company cannot predict what changes to tax law or interpretations of existing tax law may ultimately be enacted or adopted or whether such changes could adversely affect the Company.

Financial services companies are frequently the targets of litigation, including class action litigation, which could result in substantial judgments.

A number of civil jury verdicts have been returned against insurers, broker-dealers, and other providers of financial services involving sales practices, alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise representatives, relationships with agents or other persons with whom the insurer does business, and other matters. Often these lawsuits have resulted in the award of substantial judgments that are disproportionate to the actual damages, including material amounts of punitive non-economic compensatory damages. In some states, juries, judges, and arbitrators have substantial discretion in awarding punitive and non-economic compensatory damages, which creates the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments or awards in any given lawsuit or arbitration. Arbitration awards are subject to very limited appellate review. In addition, in some class action and other lawsuits, companies have made material settlement payments.

Group health coverage issued through associations has received some negative coverage in the media as well as increased regulatory consideration and review. The Company has a small closed block of group health insurance coverage that was issued to members of an association; a lawsuit is currently pending against the Company in connection with this business.

The Company, like other financial services companies, in the ordinary course of business is involved in litigation and arbitration. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of any litigation or arbitration, the Company does not believe that any such outcome will have a material impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

The financial services industry is sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations and the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny.

The financial services industry is sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations relating to the numerous laws that govern the financial services and insurance business. The Company cannot predict the impact of any such investigations on the Company or the industry.

The financial services industry has recently become the focus of increased scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities relating to allegations of improper special payments, price-fixing, bid-rigging and other alleged misconduct, including payments made by insurers and other financial services providers to brokers and the practices surrounding the placement of insurance business and sales of other financial products as well as practices related to finite reinsurance. Such publicity may generate litigation against financial service providers, even those who do not engage in the business lines or practices currently at issue. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these investigations or proceedings, whether they will expand into other areas not yet contemplated, whether they will result in changes in insurance regulation, whether activities currently thought to be lawful will be characterized as unlawful, or the impact, if any, of this increased regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of the financial services industry on the Company. As these inquiries appear to encompass a large segment of our industry, it would not be unusual for large numbers of companies in the financial services industry to receive subpoenas, requests for information from regulatory authorities or other inquiries relating to these and similar matters. From time to time, the Company receives subpoenas, requests or other inquires and responds to them in the ordinary course of business.

The Company’s ability to maintain low unit costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency of existing business.

The Company’s ability to maintain low unit costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency (continuation or renewal) of existing business. A decrease in sales or persistency without a corresponding reduction in expenses may result in higher unit costs.

Additionally, a decrease in persistency may result in higher or more rapid amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and thus higher unit costs, and lower reported earnings. Although many of the Company’s products contain surrender charges, the charges decrease over time and may not be sufficient to cover the unamortized deferred policy acquisition costs with respect to the insurance policy or annuity contract being surrendered. Some of the Company’s products do not contain surrender charge features and such products can be surrendered or exchanged without penalty. A decrease in persistency may also result in higher claims.

The Company’s investments are subject to market and credit risks.

The Company’s invested assets and derivative financial instruments are subject to customary risks of credit defaults and changes in market values. The value of the Company’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio depends in part on the financial condition of the tenants occupying the properties which the Company has financed. Factors that may affect the overall default rate on, and market value of, the Company’s invested assets, derivative financial instruments, and mortgage loans include interest rate levels, financial market performance, and general economic conditions as well as particular circumstances affecting the businesses of individual borrowers and tenants.

The Company may not realize its anticipated financial results from its acquisitions strategy.

The Company’s acquisitions have increased its earnings in part by allowing the Company to enter new markets and to position itself to realize certain operating efficiencies. There can be no assurance, however, that suitable acquisitions, presenting opportunities for continued growth and operating efficiencies, or capital to fund acquisitions will continue to be available to the Company, or that the Company will realize the anticipated financial results from its acquisitions.

Additionally, in connection with its acquisitions, the Company assumes or otherwise becomes responsible for the obligations of policies and other liabilities of other insurers. Any regulatory, legal, financial, or other adverse development affecting the other insurer could also have an adverse effect on the Company.

The Company is dependent on the performance of others.

The Company’s results may be affected by the performance of others because the Company has entered into various arrangements involving other parties. For example, most of the Company’s products are sold through independent distribution channels, and variable annuity deposits are invested in funds managed by third parties. Additionally, the Company’s operations are dependent on various technologies, some of which are provided and/or maintained by other parties.

Certain of these other parties may act on behalf of the Company or represent the Company in various capacities. Consequently, the Company may be held responsible for obligations that arise from the acts or omissions of these other parties.

As with all financial services companies, its ability to conduct business is dependent upon consumer confidence in the industry and its products. Actions of competitors and financial difficulties of other companies in the industry could undermine consumer confidence and adversely affect retention of existing business and future sales of the Company’s insurance and investment products.

The Company’s reinsurers could fail to meet assumed obligations, increase rates or be subject to adverse developments that could affect the Company.

The Company and its insurance subsidiaries cede material amounts of insurance and transfer related assets to other insurance companies through reinsurance. The Company may enter into third-party reinsurance arrangements under which the Company will rely on the third party to collect premiums, pay claims, and/or perform customer service functions. However, notwithstanding the transfer of related assets or other issues, the Company remains liable with respect to ceded insurance should any reinsurer fail to meet the obligations assumed by it.

The Company’s ability to compete is dependent on the availability of reinsurance or other substitute capital market solutions. Premium rates charged by the Company are based, in part, on the assumption that reinsurance will be available at a certain cost. Under certain reinsurance agreements, the reinsurer may increase the rate it charges the Company for the reinsurance. Therefore, if the cost of reinsurance were to increase or if reinsurance were to become unavailable or if alternatives to reinsurance were not available to the Company, or if a reinsurer should fail to meet its obligations, the Company could be adversely affected.

Recently, access to reinsurance has become more costly for the Company as well as the insurance industry in general. This could have a negative effect on the Company’s ability to compete. In recent years, the number of life reinsurers has decreased as the reinsurance industry has consolidated. The decreased number of participants in the life reinsurance market results in increased concentration risk for insurers, including the Company. In addition, going forward reinsurers are unwilling to continue to reinsure new sales of long-term guarantee products. If the reinsurance market further contracts, the Company’s ability to continue to offer its products on terms favorable to the Company would be adversely impacted.

Computer viruses or network security breaches could affect the data processing systems of the Company or its business partners.

A computer virus could affect the data processing systems of the Company or its business partners, destroying valuable data or making it difficult to conduct business. In addition, despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers could be subject to physical and electronic break-ins, and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems.

The Company’s ability to grow depends in large part upon the continued availability of capital.

The Company has recently deployed significant amounts of capital to support its sales and acquisitions efforts. A recent amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38 increased the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees for products issued after July 1, 2005, causing the sale of these products to consume additional capital. Capital has also been consumed as the Company increased its reserves on the residual value product. Although positive performance in the equity markets has recently allowed the Company to decrease its guaranteed minimum death benefit related policy liabilities and accruals, deterioration in these markets could lead to further capital consumption. Although the Company believes it has sufficient capital to fund its immediate growth and capital needs, the amount of capital available can vary significantly from period to period due to a variety of circumstances, some of which are neither predictable nor foreseeable, nor within the Company’s control. A lack of sufficient capital could impair the Company’s ability to grow.

New accounting rules or changes to existing accounting rules could negatively impact the Company.

The Company is required to comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). A number of organizations are instrumental in the development and interpretation of GAAP such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). GAAP is subject to constant review by these organizations and others in an effort to address emerging issues and otherwise improve financial reporting. In this regard, these organizations adopt new accounting rules and issue interpretive accounting guidance on a continual basis. The Company can give no assurance that future changes to GAAP will not have a negative impact on the Company.

In addition, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to comply with statutory accounting principles (SAP). SAP is subject to constant review by the NAIC and its committees as well as state insurance departments in an effort to address emerging issues and otherwise improve financial reporting. The Company can give no assurance that future changes to SAP will not have a negative impact on the Company.

Forward-looking statements express expectations of future events and/or results. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected. Due to these inherent uncertainties, investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes to projections over time.
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