Annual Statements Open main menu

Primerica, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 001-34680

 

Primerica, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

27-1204330

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1 Primerica Parkway

Duluth, Georgia

 

30099

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(ZIP Code)

(770) 381-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable.

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

 

PRI

 

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes     No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).     Yes     No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

  

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.            

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes     No

As of April 30, 2022, the registrant had 38,480,663 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

2

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021

 

2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

 

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

 

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

 

5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

 

6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

26

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

47

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

47

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

47

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

47

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

47

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

48

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

48

 

Signatures

 

49

 

 

 

 

i


 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $2,789,517 in 2022

   and $2,621,388 in 2021)

 

$

2,705,131

 

 

$

2,702,567

 

Fixed-maturity security held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $1,445,074 in 2022 and

   $1,551,113 in 2021)

 

 

1,390,310

 

 

 

1,379,100

 

Short-term investments available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $43,733 in 2022

   and $85,246 in 2021)

 

 

43,700

 

 

 

85,243

 

Equity securities, at fair value (historical cost: $31,084 in 2022 and $34,255 in 2021)

 

 

39,531

 

 

 

42,551

 

Trading securities, at fair value (cost: $13,210 in 2022 and $24,769 in 2021)

 

 

12,717

 

 

 

24,355

 

Policy loans

 

 

30,295

 

 

 

30,612

 

Total investments

 

 

4,221,684

 

 

 

4,264,428

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

359,779

 

 

 

392,501

 

Accrued investment income

 

 

19,541

 

 

 

18,702

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

 

4,240,481

 

 

 

4,268,419

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

 

 

2,994,367

 

 

 

2,943,782

 

Renewal commissions receivable

 

 

213,175

 

 

 

231,751

 

Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables

 

 

251,477

 

 

 

257,675

 

Goodwill

 

 

179,154

 

 

 

179,154

 

Intangible assets

 

 

193,400

 

 

 

195,825

 

Income taxes

 

 

89,373

 

 

 

81,799

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

46,129

 

 

 

47,942

 

Other assets

 

 

429,362

 

 

 

441,253

 

Separate account assets

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

Total assets

 

$

15,934,813

 

 

$

16,123,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future policy benefits

 

$

7,216,597

 

 

$

7,138,649

 

Unearned and advance premiums

 

 

17,368

 

 

 

16,437

 

Policy claims and other benefits payable

 

 

574,850

 

 

 

585,382

 

Other policyholders’ funds

 

 

515,830

 

 

 

501,823

 

Note payable - Short term

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

15,000

 

Note payable - Long term

 

 

592,303

 

 

 

592,102

 

Surplus note

 

 

1,389,811

 

 

 

1,378,585

 

Income taxes

 

 

217,327

 

 

 

241,311

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

52,078

 

 

 

53,920

 

Other liabilities

 

 

631,786

 

 

 

615,710

 

Payable under securities lending

 

 

93,171

 

 

 

94,529

 

Separate account liabilities

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Commitments and Contingent Liabilities note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

14,004,012

 

 

 

14,033,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities

 

 

4,616

 

 

 

7,271

 

Permanent Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity attributable to Primerica, Inc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares in 2022 and 2021; issued and

   outstanding 38,752 shares in 2022 and 39,368 shares in 2021)

 

 

388

 

 

 

394

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

-

 

 

 

5,224

 

Retained earnings

 

 

1,980,467

 

 

 

2,004,506

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)

 

 

11,769

 

 

 

8,611

 

Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

 

 

(66,439

)

 

 

63,777

 

Total permanent stockholders’ equity

 

 

1,926,185

 

 

 

2,082,512

 

Total liabilities and temporary and permanent stockholders’ equity

 

$

15,934,813

 

 

$

16,123,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

2


 

 

 

 

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Unaudited

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums

 

$

798,666

 

 

$

762,227

 

 

Ceded premiums

 

 

(399,885

)

 

 

(395,973

)

 

Net premiums

 

 

398,781

 

 

 

366,254

 

 

Commissions and fees

 

 

251,800

 

 

 

234,044

 

 

Investment income net of investment expenses

 

 

34,420

 

 

 

35,198

 

 

Interest expense on surplus note

 

 

(15,515

)

 

 

(15,146

)

 

Net investment income

 

 

18,905

 

 

 

20,052

 

 

Realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

577

 

 

 

622

 

 

Other investment gains (losses)

 

 

174

 

 

 

1,144

 

 

Investment gains (losses)

 

 

751

 

 

 

1,766

 

 

Other, net

 

 

20,989

 

 

 

15,595

 

 

Total revenues

 

 

691,226

 

 

 

637,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and claims

 

 

187,069

 

 

 

183,789

 

 

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

86,063

 

 

 

66,105

 

 

Sales commissions

 

 

133,924

 

 

 

121,894

 

 

Insurance expenses

 

 

59,509

 

 

 

48,766

 

 

Insurance commissions

 

 

7,721

 

 

 

8,740

 

 

Contract acquisition costs

 

 

20,649

 

 

 

-

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

6,853

 

 

 

7,145

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

86,435

 

 

 

72,963

 

 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

588,223

 

 

 

509,402

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

103,003

 

 

 

128,309

 

 

Income taxes

 

 

24,239

 

 

 

30,437

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

78,764

 

 

 

97,872

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

-

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

$

81,419

 

 

$

97,872

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

2.07

 

 

$

2.47

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.06

 

 

$

2.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings

   per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

39,221

 

 

 

39,456

 

 

Diluted

 

 

39,332

 

 

 

39,581

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


 

3


 

 

 

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Unaudited

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

78,764

 

 

$

97,872

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

 

 

(164,937

)

 

 

(64,890

)

Reclassification adjustment for investment (gains) losses included in net income

 

 

(658

)

 

 

(468

)

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)

 

 

3,158

 

 

 

4,992

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(162,437

)

 

 

(60,366

)

Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(35,379

)

 

 

(14,283

)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes

 

 

(127,058

)

 

 

(46,083

)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(48,294

)

 

 

51,789

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

-

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

$

(45,639

)

 

$

51,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

4


 

 

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity– Unaudited

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Equity attributable to Primerica, Inc./Permanent stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

394

 

 

$

393

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

(7

)

 

 

-

 

Net issuance of common stock

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

388

 

 

 

394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

-

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

14,820

 

 

 

14,105

 

Net issuance of common stock

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

(20,043

)

 

 

(5,966

)

Balance, end of period

 

 

-

 

 

 

8,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

2,004,506

 

 

 

1,705,786

 

Cumulative effect from the adoption of new accounting standards, net

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Net income attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

 

81,419

 

 

 

97,872

 

Dividends

 

 

(21,645

)

 

 

(18,620

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

(83,813

)

 

 

-

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

1,980,467

 

 

 

1,785,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

72,388

 

 

 

129,706

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income taxes

 

 

3,158

 

 

 

4,992

 

Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period, net of income taxes

 

 

(130,216

)

 

 

(51,075

)

Balance, end of period

 

 

(54,670

)

 

 

83,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total permanent stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,926,185

 

 

$

1,877,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities/Temporary stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

7,271

 

 

$

-

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

-

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

4,616

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

0.55

 

 

$

0.47

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

5


 

 

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Unaudited

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

78,764

 

 

$

97,872

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in future policy benefits and other policy liabilities

 

 

75,770

 

 

 

122,881

 

Deferral of policy acquisition costs

 

 

(130,881

)

 

 

(142,297

)

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

86,063

 

 

 

66,105

 

Change in income taxes

 

 

4,725

 

 

 

25,497

 

Investment (gains) losses

 

 

(751

)

 

 

(1,766

)

Accretion and amortization of investments

 

 

1,356

 

 

 

1,112

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

8,688

 

 

 

5,408

 

Change in reinsurance recoverables

 

 

31,582

 

 

 

(67,301

)

Change in agent balances, due premiums and other receivables

 

 

2,245

 

 

 

(3,725

)

Change in renewal commissions receivable

 

 

18,576

 

 

 

(859

)

Trading securities sold, matured, or called (acquired), net

 

 

11,273

 

 

 

(18,923

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

12,437

 

 

 

11,653

 

Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net

 

 

14,452

 

 

 

23,801

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

214,299

 

 

 

119,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale investments sold, matured or called:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities — sold

 

 

1,227

 

 

 

10,810

 

Fixed-maturity securities — matured or called

 

 

96,336

 

 

 

94,576

 

Short-term investments — matured or called

 

 

41,550

 

 

 

-

 

Equity securities —  matured or called

 

 

3,000

 

 

 

-

 

Available-for-sale investments acquired:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities

 

 

(250,932

)

 

 

(247,253

)

Short-term investments

 

 

-

 

 

 

(50,902

)

Equity securities — acquired

 

 

(44

)

 

 

(291

)

Purchases of property and equipment and other investing activities, net

 

 

(7,676

)

 

 

(10,182

)

Cash collateral received (returned) on loaned securities, net

 

 

(1,358

)

 

 

15,036

 

Sales (purchases) of short-term investments using securities lending collateral, net

 

 

1,358

 

 

 

(15,036

)

Purchase of business, net of cash acquired

 

 

3,867

 

 

 

-

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

(112,672

)

 

 

(203,242

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(21,645

)

 

 

(18,620

)

Common stock repurchased

 

 

(99,010

)

 

 

-

 

Payment on note issued to seller of business

 

 

(9,000

)

 

 

-

 

Tax withholdings on share-based compensation

 

 

(4,852

)

 

 

(5,966

)

Finance leases

 

 

(64

)

 

 

(66

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(134,571

)

 

 

(24,652

)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

222

 

 

 

811

 

   Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(32,722

)

 

 

(107,625

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

392,501

 

 

 

547,569

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

359,779

 

 

$

439,944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

6


 

 

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — Unaudited

(1) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business. Primerica, Inc. (the “Parent Company”), together with its subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or the “Company”), is a leading provider of financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada through a network of independent contractor sales representatives (“independent sales representatives” or “independent sales force”). We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. On July 1, 2021, we acquired 80% of e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, “e-TeleQuote”) through our subsidiary, Primerica Health, Inc. (“Primerica Health”). e-TeleQuote markets Medicare-related insurance products underwritten by third-party health insurance carriers to eligible Medicare participants through its licensed health insurance agents. Refer to Note 14 (Acquisition) for more information regarding the acquisition of e-TeleQuote. Our other primary subsidiaries include the following entities: Primerica Financial Services, LLC (“PFS”), a general agency and marketing company; Primerica Life Insurance Company (“Primerica Life”), our principal life insurance company; Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd., a holding company for our Canadian operations, which includes Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Primerica Life Canada”) and PFSL Investments Canada Ltd. (“PFSL Investments Canada”); and PFS Investments Inc. (“PFS Investments”), an investment products company and broker-dealer. Primerica Life, domiciled in Tennessee, owns National Benefit Life Insurance Company (“NBLIC”), a New York insurance company. Peach Re, Inc. (“Peach Re”) and Vidalia Re, Inc. (“Vidalia Re”) are special purpose financial captive insurance companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of Primerica Life. Peach Re and Vidalia Re have each entered into separate coinsurance agreements with Primerica Life whereby Primerica Life has ceded certain level-premium term life insurance policies to Peach Re and Vidalia Re (respectively, the “Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement” and the “Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement”).

Basis of Presentation. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, generally consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the balance sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the statements of income, comprehensive income, and stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or of the results to be expected in future periods.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are sufficient to make the information not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Annual Report”).

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, renewal commissions receivable, income taxes, and valuation of intangible assets and goodwill. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-period amounts to conform to current-period reporting classifications.  These reclassifications had no impact on net income or total stockholders’ equity.

Changes to Accounting Policies. All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2021 Annual Report unless otherwise described.

Future Application of Accounting Standards. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944) — Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (“ASU 2018-12”). The amendments in this update change accounting guidance for insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts, including term life insurance. ASU 2018-12 requires companies that issue long-duration insurance contracts to update assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits, including mortality, disability, and persistency, at least annually instead of locking those

 

7


 

assumptions at contract inception and reflecting differences in assumptions and actual performance as the experience occurs. ASU 2018-12 also changes how insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts amortize DAC and determine and update the discount rate assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits reserves while increasing the level of financial statement disclosures required. The guidance in ASU 2018-12 will be applied to the earliest period presented in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the effective date of January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require changes to certain of our processes, systems, and controls. We are currently working on processes that will allow us to obtain the requisite data, modify our valuation system, and develop key assumptions that will be necessary to evaluate and implement this standard. Accordingly, we are unable to determine the magnitude of the impact ASU 2018-12 will have on our consolidated financial statements at this time. We anticipate that we will recognize a significant decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income on the adoption date to reflect the impact of current interest rates in future policy benefits presented in accordance with ASU 2018-12.

Recently-issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is not material to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business.

 

(2) Segment and Geographical Information

Segments. We have three primary operating segments — Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, and (as of July 1, 2021) Senior Health. We also have a Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Notable information included in profit or loss by segment was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

418,428

 

 

$

382,027

 

 

Investment and savings products segment

 

 

241,039

 

 

 

223,422

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

5,831

 

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

25,928

 

 

 

32,262

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

691,226

 

 

$

637,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

11,445

 

 

$

8,253

 

 

Investment and savings products segment

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

-

 

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

7,460

 

 

 

11,799

 

 

Total net investment income

 

$

18,905

 

 

$

20,052

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of DAC:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

81,883

 

 

$

62,584

 

 

Investment and savings products segment

 

 

3,925

 

 

 

3,275

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

-

 

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

255

 

 

 

246

 

 

Total amortization of DAC

 

$

86,063

 

 

$

66,105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash share-based compensation expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

2,125

 

 

$

1,988

 

 

Investment and savings products segment

 

 

1,204

 

 

 

1,208

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

-

 

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

9,108

 

 

 

8,457

 

 

Total non-cash share-based compensation expense

 

$

12,437

 

 

$

11,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

91,577

 

 

$

88,236

 

 

Investment and savings products segment

 

 

64,560

 

 

 

63,363

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

(23,085

)

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

(30,049

)

 

 

(23,290

)

 

Total income before income taxes

 

$

103,003

 

 

$

128,309

 

 

 

 

8


 

 

Total assets by segment were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term life insurance segment

 

$

7,298,577

 

 

$

7,274,820

 

 

Investment and savings products segment (1)

 

 

2,818,660

 

 

 

2,920,271

 

 

Senior health segment

 

 

511,010

 

 

 

528,974

 

 

Corporate and other distributed products segment

 

 

5,306,566

 

 

 

5,399,158

 

 

Total assets

 

$

15,934,813

 

 

$

16,123,223

 

 

(1) The Investment and Savings Products segment includes assets held in separate accounts. Excluding separate accounts, the Investment and Savings Products segment assets were $121.8 million and $120.3 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Geographical Information. Results of operations by country and long-lived assets, primarily tangible assets reported in other assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and condensed consolidated statements of income, were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Revenues by country:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

586,153

 

 

$

538,944

 

 

Canada

 

 

105,073

 

 

 

98,767

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

691,226

 

 

$

637,711

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Long-lived assets by country:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

58,038

 

 

$

62,921

 

 

Canada

 

 

3,743

 

 

 

3,871

 

 

Other

 

 

210

 

 

 

230

 

 

Total long-lived assets

 

$

61,991

 

 

$

67,022

 

 

 

(3) Investments

Available-for-sale Securities. The period-end amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

Gross unrealized gains

 

 

Gross unrealized losses

 

 

Fair value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

32,347

 

 

$

91

 

 

$

(527

)

 

$

31,911

 

Foreign government

 

 

151,735

 

 

 

1,824

 

 

 

(4,568

)

 

 

148,991

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

147,757

 

 

 

883

 

 

 

(6,925

)

 

 

141,715

 

Corporates

 

 

1,688,749

 

 

 

17,658

 

 

 

(59,696

)

 

 

1,646,711

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

470,130

 

 

 

1,427

 

 

 

(24,433

)

 

 

447,124

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

147,425

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

(4,922

)

 

 

142,865

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

151,374

 

 

 

447

 

 

 

(6,007

)

 

 

145,814

 

Total fixed-maturity securities

 

 

2,789,517

 

 

 

22,692

 

 

 

(107,078

)

 

 

2,705,131

 

Short-term investments

 

 

43,733

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(33

)

 

 

43,700

 

Total fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments

 

$

2,833,250

 

 

$

22,692

 

 

$

(107,111

)

 

$

2,748,831

 

 

 

9


 

 

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

Gross unrealized gains

 

 

Gross unrealized losses

 

 

Fair value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

32,292

 

 

$

187

 

 

$

(79

)

 

$

32,400

 

Foreign government

 

 

147,288

 

 

 

6,283

 

 

 

(595

)

 

 

152,976

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

147,455

 

 

 

6,326

 

 

 

(254

)

 

 

153,527

 

Corporates

 

 

1,649,334

 

 

 

72,418

 

 

 

(8,068

)

 

 

1,713,684

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

373,753

 

 

 

5,108

 

 

 

(3,230

)

 

 

375,631

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

142,631

 

 

 

3,314

 

 

 

(420

)

 

 

145,525

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

128,635

 

 

 

1,409

 

 

 

(1,220

)

 

 

128,824

 

Total fixed-maturity securities

 

 

2,621,388

 

 

 

95,045

 

 

 

(13,866

)

 

 

2,702,567

 

Short-term investments

 

 

85,246

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

85,243

 

Total fixed-maturity and short-term investments

 

$

2,706,634

 

 

$

95,046

 

 

$

(13,870

)

 

$

2,787,810

 

 

All of our available-for-sale mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent variable interests in variable interest entities (“VIEs”). We are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement in these VIEs equals the carrying value of the securities.

The scheduled maturity distribution of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio as of March 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

Fair value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

249,324

 

 

$

251,212

 

Due after one year through five years

 

 

773,970

 

 

 

772,599

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

 

727,467

 

 

 

690,427

 

Due after 10 years

 

 

269,827

 

 

 

255,090

 

 

 

 

2,020,588

 

 

 

1,969,328

 

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

 

 

768,929

 

 

 

735,803

 

  Total AFS fixed-maturity securities

 

$

2,789,517

 

 

$

2,705,131

 

 

Expected maturities may differ from scheduled contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Trading Securities. The cost and fair value of the securities classified as trading securities were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

Fair value

 

 

Cost

 

 

Fair value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Fixed-maturity securities

 

$

13,210

 

 

$

12,717

 

 

$

24,769

 

 

$

24,355

 

 

Held-to-maturity Security. Concurrent with the execution of the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, Vidalia Re entered into a Surplus Note Purchase Agreement (the “Surplus Note Purchase Agreement”) with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Hannover Re”) and a newly formed limited liability company (the “LLC”) owned by a third- party service provider. Under the Surplus Note Purchase Agreement, Vidalia Re issued a surplus note (the “Surplus Note”) to the LLC in exchange for a credit enhanced note from the LLC with an equal principal amount (the “LLC Note”). The principal amount of both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of reserves contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. The LLC Note is guaranteed by Hannover Re through a credit enhancement feature in exchange for a fee, which is reflected in interest expense on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

The LLC is a VIE as its owner does not have an equity investment at risk that is sufficient to permit the LLC to finance its activities without Vidalia Re or Hannover Re. The Parent Company, Primerica Life, and Vidalia Re share the power to direct the activities of the LLC with Hannover Re, but do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive any residual returns related to the LLC’s primary risks or sources of variability. Through the credit enhancement feature, Hannover Re is the ultimate risk taker in this transaction and bears the obligation to absorb the LLC’s losses in the event of a Surplus Note default in exchange for the fee. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the LLC and does not consolidate the LLC within its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 5 (Reinsurance) for Hannover Re’s financial strength rating.

The LLC Note is classified as a fixed-maturity held-to-maturity security in the Company’s invested asset portfolio as we have the positive intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. As of March 31, 2022, the LLC Note had an estimated unrealized holding

 

10


 

gain of $54.8 million based on its amortized cost and estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the LLC Note is expected to be at least equal to the estimated fair value of the offsetting Surplus Note. See Note 12 (Debt) for more information on the Surplus Note.

As of March 31, 2022, no credit losses have been recognized on the LLC Note.

Investments on Deposit with Governmental Authorities. As required by law, we have investments on deposit with governmental authorities and banks for the protection of policyholders. The fair values of investments on deposit were $7.3 million and $7.6 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Securities Lending Transactions. We participate in securities lending transactions with broker-dealers and other financial institutions to increase investment income with minimal risk. We require minimum collateral on securities loaned equal to 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. We accept collateral in the form of securities, which we are not able to sell or encumber, and to the extent the collateral declines in value below 100%, we require additional collateral from the borrower. Any securities collateral received is not reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also accept collateral in the form of cash, all of which we reinvest. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability representing our obligation to return the collateral. We continue to carry the loaned securities as invested assets on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets during the terms of the loans, and we do not report them as sales. Cash collateral received and reinvested was $93.2 million and $94.5 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)

 

$

20,889

 

 

$

20,020

 

Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)

 

 

15,515

 

 

 

15,146

 

Equity securities

 

 

387

 

 

 

391

 

Policy loans and other invested assets

 

 

102

 

 

 

231

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

125

 

 

 

119

 

Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement(1)

 

 

(1,510

)

 

 

575

 

  Gross investment income

 

 

35,508

 

 

 

36,482

 

Investment expenses

 

 

(1,088

)

 

 

(1,284

)

   Investment income net of investment expenses

 

 

34,420

 

 

 

35,198

 

Interest expense on surplus note

 

 

(15,515

)

 

 

(15,146

)

    Net investment income

 

$

18,905

 

 

$

20,052

 

(1)

Included $(2.1) million and $(0.8) million of net gains (losses) recognized for the change in fair value of the deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The components of investment gains (losses), as well as details on gross realized investment gains (losses) and other investment gains (losses) were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Realized investment gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale securities fixed maturity securities

 

$

602

 

 

$

765

 

Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities

 

 

(25

)

 

 

(143

)

Net realized investment gains (losses):

 

 

577

 

 

 

622

 

Other investment gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit losses impairment of available-for-sale securities

 

 

81

 

 

 

(154

)

Market gains (losses) recognized in net income during the period on equity securities

 

 

115

 

 

 

1,424

 

Gains (losses) from bifurcated options

 

 

-

 

 

 

(17

)

Gains (losses) on trading securities

 

 

(22

)

 

 

(109

)

Other investment gains (losses):

 

 

174

 

 

 

1,144

 

Investment gains (losses)

 

$

751

 

 

$

1,766

 

 

 

The proceeds from sales or other redemptions of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Proceeds from sales or other redemptions

 

$

139,113

 

 

$

105,386

 

 

11


 

 

 

Accrued Interest.  Accrued interest is recorded in accordance with the original interest schedule of the underlying security.  In the event of default, the Company’s policy is to no longer accrue interest on these securities and any remaining accrued interest will be written off. As a result, the Company has made the policy election to not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest.  

Credit Losses for Available-for-sale Securities. The following table summarizes all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded as of March 31, 2022, aggregated by major security type and length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

 

12 months or longer

 

 

 

Fair value

 

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

Fair value

 

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

25,427

 

 

$

(433

)

 

$

1,489

 

 

$

(94

)

Foreign government

 

 

69,053

 

 

 

(3,178

)

 

 

7,638

 

 

 

(1,390

)

States and political subdivisions

 

 

106,659

 

 

 

(6,862

)

 

 

977

 

 

 

(63

)

Corporates

 

 

805,228

 

 

 

(48,221

)

 

 

83,518

 

 

 

(11,475

)

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

374,688

 

 

 

(23,033

)

 

 

14,561

 

 

 

(1,400

)

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

112,306

 

 

 

(4,644

)

 

 

3,175

 

 

 

(278

)

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

118,960

 

 

 

(5,612

)

 

 

3,696

 

 

 

(395

)

Total fixed-maturity securities

 

 

1,612,321

 

 

 

(91,983

)

 

 

115,054

 

 

 

(15,095

)

Short-term investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

 

34,955

 

 

 

(28

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Foreign government

 

 

4,996

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Corporates

 

 

2,350

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total short-term investments

 

 

43,700

 

 

 

(33

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments

 

$

1,656,021

 

 

$

(92,016

)

 

$

115,054

 

 

$

(15,095

)

 

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

 

12 months or longer

 

 

 

Fair value

 

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

Fair value

 

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

24,928

 

 

$

(45

)

 

$

1,557

 

 

$

(34

)

Foreign government

 

 

18,894

 

 

 

(384

)

 

 

3,335

 

 

 

(211

)

States and political subdivisions

 

 

15,909

 

 

 

(254

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Corporates

 

 

341,963

 

 

 

(5,035

)

 

 

59,414

 

 

 

(3,033

)

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

234,911

 

 

 

(3,131

)

 

 

2,707

 

 

 

(99

)

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

47,220

 

 

 

(419

)

 

 

117

 

 

 

(1

)

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

80,509

 

 

 

(1,037

)

 

 

3,779

 

 

 

(183

)

Total fixed-maturity securities

 

 

764,334

 

 

 

(10,305

)

 

 

70,909

 

 

 

(3,561

)

Short-term investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

 

34,967

 

 

*

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Foreign government

 

 

4,995

 

 

*

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

11,394

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Corporates

 

 

23,891

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total short-term investments

 

 

75,247

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments

 

$

839,581

 

 

$

(10,309

)

 

$

70,909

 

 

$

(3,561

)

*  Less than $1 thousand.

The amortized cost of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities with a cost basis in excess of their fair values were $1,878.2 million and $924.4 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

 

As of March 31, 2022, we did not recognize credit losses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income on available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses that were due to interest rate sensitivity and changes in credit spreads. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads generally have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments. For those that remain in an unrealized loss position we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose them. The sharp increase in interest rates during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was the primary driver of the increase in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities.

 

12


 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, and 2021, we recorded a total of $(0.1) million and $0.2 million, respectively, for credit (gains) losses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income on available-for-sale securities. We recognized credit losses on securities due to: (i) our intent to sell them; (ii) adverse credit events indicating that we will not receive the security’s contractual cash flows when contractually due, such as news of an impending filing for bankruptcy; (iii) analyses of the issuer’s most recent financial statements or other information indicating that significant liquidity deficiencies, significant losses and large declines in capitalization exist; and (iv) analyses of rating agency information for issuances with severe ratings downgrades indicating a significant increase in the possibility of default.

 

 

The rollforward of the allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale securities were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period

 

$

816

 

 

$

-

 

Additions to the allowance for credit losses on securities for which credit losses were not previously recorded

 

 

-

 

 

 

154

 

Additional increases or (decreases) to the allowance for credit losses on securities that had an allowance recorded in a previous period

 

 

(81

)

 

 

-

 

Write-offs charged against the allowance, if any

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Allowance for credit losses, end of period

 

$

735

 

 

$

154

 

Derivatives. We carry a deferred loss related to closed forward contracts, which were settled several years ago, that were used to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates that resulted from the net investment in our Canadian operations. The amount of deferred loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income was $26.4 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. These deferred losses will not be recognized until such time as we sell or substantially liquidate our Canadian operations; we have no such intention.

(4) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Invested assets recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We classify and disclose all invested assets carried at fair value in one of the following three levels:

 

Level 1. Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices in active markets, such as cash, cash equivalents in money market funds, exchange-traded common stocks and actively traded mutual fund investments;

 

Level 2. Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using industry-standard pricing methodologies, models or other valuation methodologies. Various inputs are considered in deriving the fair value of the underlying financial instrument, including interest rate and yield curves, credit spread, and foreign exchange rates. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include: cash equivalents and short-term investments in U.S. treasury securities, certain public and private corporate fixed-maturity and equity securities; government or agency securities; and certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities; and

 

Level 3. Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. Level 3 consists of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on industry-standard pricing methodologies and models using significant inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, readily available market information. Valuations for this category primarily consist of non-binding broker quotes. Financial instruments in this category primarily include less liquid mortgage- and asset-backed securities and equity securities.

As of each reporting period, all assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input (Level 3 being the lowest in the hierarchy) that is significant to the fair value measurement. Significant levels of estimation and judgment are required to determine the fair value of certain of our investments. The factors influencing these estimations and judgments are subject to change in subsequent reporting periods.

 

13


 

The estimated fair value and hierarchy classifications for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Fair value assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

-

 

 

$

31,911

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

31,911

 

Foreign government

 

 

-

 

 

 

148,991

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

148,991

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

-

 

 

 

141,715

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

141,715

 

Corporates

 

 

5,518

 

 

 

1,641,193

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,646,711

 

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

447,124

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

447,124

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

142,865

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

142,865

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

139,911

 

 

 

5,903

 

 

 

145,814

 

Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities

 

 

5,518

 

 

 

2,693,710

 

 

 

5,903

 

 

 

2,705,131

 

Short-term investments

 

 

-

 

 

 

42,301

 

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

43,700

 

Total available-for-sale securities

 

 

5,518

 

 

 

2,736,011

 

 

 

7,302

 

 

 

2,748,831

 

Equity securities

 

 

35,118

 

 

 

1,026

 

 

 

3,387

 

 

 

39,531

 

Trading securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

12,717

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

12,717

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

359,779

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

359,779

 

Separate accounts

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,696,891

 

Total fair value assets

 

$

400,415

 

 

$

5,446,645

 

 

$

10,689

 

 

$

5,857,749

 

Fair value liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Separate accounts

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,696,891

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,696,891

 

Total fair value liabilities

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,696,891

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,696,891

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Fair value assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

-

 

 

$

32,400

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

32,400

 

Foreign government

 

 

-

 

 

 

152,976

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

152,976

 

States and political subdivisions

 

 

-

 

 

 

153,527

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

153,527

 

Corporates

 

 

5,898

 

 

 

1,707,786

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,713,684

 

Mortgage-and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

375,604

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

375,631

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

145,525

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

145,525

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

128,824

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

128,824

 

Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities

 

 

5,898

 

 

 

2,696,642

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

2,702,567

 

Short-term investments

 

 

-

 

 

 

85,243

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

85,243

 

Total available-for-sale securities

 

 

5,898

 

 

 

2,781,885

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

2,787,810

 

Equity securities

 

 

37,912

 

 

 

1,070

 

 

 

3,569

 

 

 

42,551

 

Trading securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

24,355

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

24,355

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

351,508

 

 

 

40,993

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

392,501

 

Separate accounts

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

Total fair value assets

 

$

395,318

 

 

$

5,648,295

 

 

$

3,596

 

 

$

6,047,209

 

Fair value liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Separate accounts

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,799,992

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,799,992

 

Total fair value liabilities

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,799,992

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,799,992

 

 

In estimating fair value of our investments, we use a third-party pricing service for approximately 99% of our securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The remaining securities are primarily thinly-traded securities, such as private placements, and are valued using models based on observable inputs on public corporate spreads having similar characteristics (e.g., sector, average life and quality rating), liquidity and yield based on quality rating, average life and U.S. Treasury yields. All observable data inputs are corroborated by independent third-party data. We also corroborate pricing information provided by our third-party pricing service by performing a review of selected securities. Our review activities include: obtaining detailed information about the assumptions, inputs and methodologies used in pricing the security; documenting this information; and corroborating it by comparison to independently obtained prices and/or independently developed pricing methodologies.

 

14


 

Furthermore, we perform internal reasonableness assessments on fair value determinations within our portfolio throughout the year and as of year-end, including pricing variance analyses and comparisons to alternative pricing sources and benchmark returns. If a fair value appears unusual relative to these assessments, we will re-examine the inputs and may challenge a fair value assessment made by the pricing service. If there is a known pricing error, we will request a reassessment by the pricing service. If the pricing service is unable to perform the reassessment on a timely basis, we will determine the appropriate price by requesting a reassessment from an alternative pricing service or other qualified source as necessary. We do not adjust quotes or prices except in a rare circumstance to resolve a known error.

Because many fixed-maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, third-party pricing services generally determine fair value using industry-standard methodologies, which vary by asset class. For corporates, governments, and agency securities, these methodologies include developing prices by incorporating available market information such as U.S. Treasury curves, benchmarking of similar securities including new issues, sector groupings, quotes from market participants and matrix pricing. Observable information is compiled and integrates relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. Additionally, security prices are periodically back-tested to validate and/or refine models as conditions warrant. Market indicators and industry and economic events are also monitored as triggers to obtain additional data. For certain structured securities (such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities) with limited trading activity, third-party pricing services generally use industry-standard pricing methodologies that incorporate market information, such as index prices or discounting expected future cash flows based on underlying collateral, and quotes from market participants, to estimate fair value. If one or more of these input measures are not deemed observable for a particular security, the security will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Where specific market information is unavailable for certain securities, pricing models produce estimates of fair value primarily using Level 2 inputs along with certain Level 3 inputs. These models include matrix pricing. The pricing matrix uses current U.S. Treasury rates and credit spreads received from third-party sources to estimate fair value. The credit spreads incorporate the issuer’s industry- or issuer-specific credit characteristics and the security’s time to maturity, if warranted. Remaining unpriced securities are valued using an estimate of fair value based on indicative market prices that include significant unobservable inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, market information, including the utilization of non-binding broker quotes.

The roll-forward of the Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 3 assets, beginning of period

 

$

3,596

 

 

$

2,047

 

Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income

 

 

(2

)

 

 

-

 

Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings

 

 

(207

)

 

 

(84

)

Purchases

 

 

5,903

 

 

 

-

 

Sales

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Settlements

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

2,214

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Level 3 assets, end of period

 

$

10,689

 

 

$

4,177

 

 

15


 

 

 

We obtain independent pricing quotes based on observable inputs as of the end of the reporting period for all securities in Level 2. Those inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers, quoted prices for similar instruments in markets that are not active, and other relevant data. We monitor these inputs for market indicators, industry and economic events. There were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Carrying value

 

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

Carrying value

 

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)

 

$

2,705,131

 

 

$

2,705,131

 

 

$

2,702,567

 

 

$

2,702,567

 

Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) (3)

 

 

1,390,310

 

 

 

1,445,074

 

 

 

1,379,100

 

 

 

1,551,113

 

Short-term investments (available-for-sale)

 

 

43,700

 

 

 

43,700

 

 

 

85,243

 

 

 

85,243

 

Equity securities

 

 

39,531

 

 

 

39,531

 

 

 

42,551

 

 

 

42,551

 

Trading securities

 

 

12,717

 

 

 

12,717

 

 

 

24,355

 

 

 

24,355

 

Policy loans (3)

 

 

30,295

 

 

 

30,295

 

 

 

30,612

 

 

 

30,612

 

Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (3)

 

 

229,193

 

 

 

229,193

 

 

 

231,368

 

 

 

231,368

 

Separate accounts

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable - Long term (1)  (2)

 

$

592,303

 

 

$

553,037

 

 

$

592,102

 

 

$

605,667

 

Surplus note (1)  (3)

 

 

1,389,811

 

 

 

1,438,524

 

 

 

1,378,585

 

 

 

1,545,854

 

Separate accounts

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,696,891

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

 

 

2,799,992

 

(1)

Carrying value amounts shown are net of issuance costs.

(2)

Classified as a Level 2 fair value measurement.

(3)

Classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

 

The fair values of financial instruments presented above are estimates of the fair values at a specific point in time using various sources and methods, including market quotations and a complex matrix system that takes into account issuer sector, quality, and spreads in the current marketplace.

 

Financial Instruments Recognized at Fair Value in the Balance Sheet. Estimated fair values of investments in AFS securities are principally a function of current spreads and interest rates that are corroborated by independent third-party data. Therefore, the fair values presented are indicative of amounts we could realize or settle at the respective balance sheet date. We do not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. Trading securities and equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Segregated funds in separate accounts are carried at the underlying value of the variable insurance contracts, which is fair value.

 

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accrued investment income, accounts payable, notes payable – short term, cash collateral and payables for security transactions approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Consequently, such financial instruments are not included in the above table.

 

(5) Reinsurance

We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. Reinsurance arrangements do not relieve us of our primary obligation to the policyholder.

Details on in-force life insurance were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Direct life insurance in-force

 

$

912,012,550

 

 

$

905,819,671

 

Amounts ceded to other companies

 

 

(781,736,828

)

 

 

(777,826,233

)

Net life insurance in-force

 

$

130,275,722

 

 

$

127,993,438

 

Percentage of reinsured life insurance in-force

 

 

86

%

 

 

86

%

 

16


 

 

Benefits and claims ceded to reinsurers during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were $503.8 million and $552.6 million, respectively.

Reinsurance recoverables as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 include ceded reserve balances, ceded claim liabilities, and ceded claims paid. Reinsurance recoverables and financial strength ratings by reinsurer were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

 

A.M. Best rating

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

 

A.M. Best rating

 

 

(In thousands)

Pecan Re Inc. (1) (2)

 

$

2,569,758

 

 

NR

 

$

2,567,602

 

 

NR

SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies (3)

 

 

411,409

 

 

A+

 

 

426,634

 

 

A+

Munich Re of Malta (2) (5)

 

 

289,991

 

 

NR

 

 

278,591

 

 

NR

Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (4)

 

 

249,425

 

 

A+

 

 

259,239

 

 

A+

American Health and Life Insurance Company (2)

 

 

155,347

 

 

B++

 

 

157,837

 

 

B++

Munich American Reassurance Company

 

 

138,833

 

 

A+

 

 

142,705

 

 

A+

RGA Reinsurance

 

 

137,039

 

 

A+

 

 

140,953

 

 

A+

Korean Reinsurance Company

 

 

127,931

 

 

A

 

 

134,048

 

 

A

Hannover Re

 

 

51,237

 

 

A+

 

 

49,749

 

 

A+

TOA Reinsurance Company

 

 

38,877

 

 

A

 

 

38,909

 

 

A

All other reinsurers

 

 

73,717

 

 

-

 

 

75,094

 

 

-

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(3,083

)

 

 

 

 

(2,942

)

 

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

$

4,240,481

 

 

 

 

$

4,268,419

 

 

 

 

NR – not rated

(1)

Pecan Re Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.

(2)

Reinsurance recoverables includes balances ceded under coinsurance transactions of term life insurance policies that were in-force as of December 31, 2009. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance recoverables from other reinsurers.  Arrangements with these reinsurers include collateral trust agreements held in support of reinsurance recoverables.

(3)

Includes amounts ceded to Transamerica Reinsurance Companies and fully retroceded to SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies.

(4)

Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and fully retroceded to Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.

(5)

Entity is rated AA- by S&P.

We estimate and recognize lifetime expected credit losses for reinsurance recoverables. In estimating the allowance for expected credit losses for reinsurance recoverables, we factor in the underlying collateral for reinsurance agreements where available. Specifically, for reinsurers with underlying trust assets, we compare the reinsurance recoverables balance to the underlying trust assets that mitigate the potential exposure to credit losses. We also analyze the financial condition of the reinsurers, as determined by third-party rating agencies, to determine the probability of default for the reinsurers. We then utilize a third-party credit default study to calculate an expected credit loss given default rate or recovery rate. The probability of default and loss given default rates are then applied to the reinsurers’ recoverable balance, while also factoring in any third-party letters of credit that support the reinsurance agreement, in order to calculate our current expected credit loss allowance.

The rollforward of the allowance for credit losses on reinsurance recoverables were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

2,942

 

 

$

7,144

 

Current period provision for expected credit losses

 

 

141

 

 

 

219

 

   Balance, at the end of period

 

$

3,083

 

 

$

7,363

 

 

 


 

17


 

 

(6) Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

 

Changes in policy claims incurred and other benefits payable were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period

 

$

585,382

 

 

$

519,711

 

Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable

 

 

638,007

 

 

 

545,857

 

Net balance, beginning of period

 

 

(52,625

)

 

 

(26,146

)

Incurred related to current year

 

 

77,232

 

 

 

73,626

 

Incurred related to prior years (1)

 

 

(4,547

)

 

 

(1,534

)

Total incurred

 

 

72,685

 

 

 

72,092

 

Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received

 

 

(161,818

)

 

 

(194,270

)

Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid

 

 

64,532

 

 

 

36,508

 

Total paid

 

 

(97,286

)

 

 

(157,762

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

(12

)

 

 

87

 

Net balance, end of period

 

 

(77,238

)

 

 

(111,729

)

Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable

 

 

652,088

 

 

 

638,383

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

574,850

 

 

$

526,654

 

(1)

Includes the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported as of period-end and the actual incurred claims reported after period-end.

 

The liability for policy claims and other benefits payable on traditional life insurance products includes estimated unpaid claims that have been reported to us and claims incurred but not yet reported. We estimate claims incurred but not yet reported based on our historical claims activity, adjusted for any current new trends and conditions, and reported lag time experience.

 

(7) Stockholders’ Equity

A reconciliation of the number of shares of our outstanding common stock follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Common stock, beginning of period

 

$

39,368

 

 

$

39,306

 

Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of sales restrictions on

   restricted stock units (“RSUs”)

 

 

132

 

 

 

150

 

Common stock retired

 

 

(748

)

 

 

(42

)

Common stock, end of period

 

$

38,752

 

 

$

39,414

 

 

The above reconciliation excludes RSUs and performance-based stock units (“PSUs”), which do not have voting rights. As sales restrictions on RSUs lapse and PSUs are earned, we issue common shares with voting rights. As of March 31, 2022, we had a total of 283,258 RSUs and 74,054 PSUs outstanding. The PSU outstanding balance is based on the number of PSUs granted pursuant to the award agreements; however, the actual number of common shares issued could be higher or lower based on actual versus targeted performance. See Note 9 (Share-Based Transactions) for discussion of the PSU award structure.

On November 17, 2021 our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $275.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases through December 31, 2022 (the “Share Repurchase Program”). On February 14, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of $50.0 million to the Share Repurchase Program authorized on November 17, 2021. As revised, the program authorizes share repurchases for up to $325.0 million of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2022. Under the Share Repurchase Program, we repurchased 835,058 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $117.8 million through March 31, 2022. Approximately $207.2 million remains available for repurchases of our outstanding common stock under the Share Repurchase Program as of March 31, 2022.

(8) Earnings Per Share

The Company has outstanding common stock and equity awards that consist of RSUs, PSUs and stock options. The RSUs maintain non-forfeitable dividend rights that result in dividend payment obligations on a one-to-one ratio with common shares for any future dividend declarations.

Unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share (“EPS”) as they maintain dividend rights. We calculate EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, we allocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. Earnings attributable to unvested participating securities, along with the corresponding share counts, are excluded from EPS as reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

18


 

In calculating basic EPS, we deduct from net income any dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested RSUs and then divide the result by the weighted-average number of common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. We also deduct from the numerator any periodic adjustments recognized when the redemption value of Redeemable NCI exceeds its carrying value as discussed in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report.

We determine the potential dilutive effect of PSUs and stock options outstanding (“contingently-issuable shares”) on EPS using the treasury-stock method. Under this method, we determine the proceeds that would be received from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. The proceeds from the contingently-issuable shares include the remaining unrecognized compensation expense of the awards and the cash received for the exercise price on stock options. We then use the average market price of our common shares during the period the contingently-issuable shares were outstanding to determine how many shares we could repurchase with the proceeds raised from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares. The net incremental share count issued represents the potential dilutive securities. We then reallocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs by incorporating the increased fully-diluted share count to determine diluted EPS.

The calculation of basic and diluted EPS was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

$

81,419

 

 

$

97,872

 

 

Income attributable to unvested participating securities

 

 

(337

)

 

 

(417

)

 

Net income used in calculating basic EPS

 

$

81,082

 

 

$

97,455

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average vested shares

 

 

39,221

 

 

 

39,456

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

2.07

 

 

$

2.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

$

81,419

 

 

$

97,872

 

 

Income attributable to unvested participating securities

 

 

(337

)

 

 

(416

)

 

Net income used in calculating diluted EPS

 

$

81,082

 

 

$

97,456

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average vested shares

 

 

39,221

 

 

 

39,456

 

 

Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for

   contingently-issuable shares

 

 

111

 

 

 

125

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS

 

 

39,332

 

 

 

39,581

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

2.06

 

 

$

2.46

 

 

 

(9) Share-Based Transactions

The Company has outstanding equity awards under the Primerica, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“2010 OIP”), which expired in 2020 in accordance with its terms and under which no future awards will be made, and the Primerica, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020 OIP”, and together with the 2010 OIP, the “OIP”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders on May 13, 2020. The OIP provides for the issuance of equity awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, RSUs, PSUs, and stock payment awards, as well as cash-based awards. In addition to time-based vesting requirements, awards granted under the OIP may also be subject to specified performance criteria. Under the OIP, the Company issues equity awards to our management (officers and other key employees), non-employees who serve on our Board of Directors, and sales force leaders.  For more information on equity awards granted under the OIP, see Note 14 (Share-Based Transactions) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report.  

In connection with our granting of equity awards to management and members of the Board of Directors, we recognize expense over the requisite service period of the equity award. We defer and amortize the fair value of equity awards granted to the sales force in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs for those awards that are an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions of life insurance policies that result directly from and are essential to the policy acquisition(s) and would not have been incurred had the policy acquisition(s) not occurred. All equity awards granted to the sales force that are not directly related to the successful acquisition of life insurance policies are recognized as expense as incurred, which is in the quarter granted and earned.

 

19


 

The impact of equity awards granted under the OIP are as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Equity awards expense recognized

 

$

12,181

 

 

$

11,653

 

Equity awards expense deferred

 

 

2,377

 

 

 

2,449

 

 

On February 24, 2022, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors granted the following equity awards to employees as part of the annual approval of management incentive compensation:

 

85,844 RSUs awarded to management with a measurement-date fair value of $130.30 per unit that have time-based vesting requirements with equal and annual graded vesting over approximately three years subsequent to the grant date.

 

26,475 PSUs awarded to our four top executives with a measurement-date fair value of $130.30 per unit. The PSUs will be earned on March 1, 2025 contingent upon the Company achieving a targeted annual average three-year return on adjusted equity (“ROAE”) and average EPS growth for the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. The actual number of common shares that will be issued will vary based on the actual ROAE and average EPS growth relative to the targeted ROAE and average EPS growth and can range from zero to 39,713 shares.  

 

All awards granted to employees on February 24, 2022 vest upon voluntary termination of employment by any employee who is “retirement eligible” as of his or her termination date. In order to be retirement eligible, an employee must be at least 55 years old and his or her age plus years of service with the Company must equal at least 75. The number of PSUs that will ultimately be issued for a retirement eligible employee is equal to the amount calculated using the Company’s actual cumulative three-year ROAE and average EPS growth for the performance period ending on December 31, 2024, even if that employee retires prior to the completion of the three-year performance period.

 

(10) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Letter of Credit (“LOC”). Peach Re maintains a credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank (the “Credit Facility Agreement”) to support certain obligations for a portion of the Regulation XXX reserves related to the Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement. Under the Credit Facility Agreement, Deutsche Bank issued a letter of credit for the benefit of Primerica Life with a term expiring on December 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2022, the amount of the LOC outstanding was $145.1 million. This amount will decline over the remaining term of the LOC to correspond with declines in the Regulation XXX reserves. As of March 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement.

Further discussion on the Company’s letter of credit is included in Note 16 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report.

Contingent Liabilities. The Company is involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. These disputes are subject to uncertainties, including the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. As such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these matters unless otherwise indicated.


 

20


 

 

(11) Other Comprehensive Income

 

The components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”), including the income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component, were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)

   before income taxes

 

$

3,158

 

 

$

4,992

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency

   translation gains (losses)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains

   (losses), net of income taxes

 

$

3,158

 

 

$

4,992

 

 

Unrealized gain (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period

   before income taxes

 

$

(164,937

)

 

$

(64,890

)

 

Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized holding gains

   (losses) arising during period

 

 

(35,241

)

 

 

(14,185

)

 

Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale

   securities arising during period, net of income taxes

 

 

(129,696

)

 

 

(50,705

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains)

   losses realized on available-for-sale securities

 

 

(658

)

 

 

(468

)

 

Income tax (expense) benefit on (gains) losses reclassified

   from accumulated OCI to net income

 

 

(138

)

 

 

(98

)

 

Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains)

   losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes

 

 

(520

)

 

 

(370

)

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale

   securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment

 

$

(130,216

)

 

$

(51,075

)

 

 

(12) Debt

Notes Payable – Long Term. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $600.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes (the “Senior Notes”), with an annual interest rate of 2.80% that are scheduled to mature on November 19, 2031. As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes. No events of default occurred on the Senior Notes during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Further discussion on the Company’s Senior Notes is included in Note 10 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report.

Notes Payable – Short Term. On July 1, 2021, as part of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote, Primerica Health issued a $15.0 million unsecured, subordinated note, guaranteed by the Parent Company, to Etelequote Limited’s (“Etelequote Bermuda”) majority shareholder (the “Majority Shareholder Note”). The rate of interest payable is 1.5% per annum. Due to the short maturity of the Majority Shareholder Note, its fair value approximates its carrying value. The Company repaid $9.0 million and $3.4 million on the Majority Shareholder Note on January 27, 2022 and April 1, 2022, respectively. The remaining principal of this note is $2.6 million, which matures on July 1, 2022.

Surplus Note. As of March 31, 2022, the principal amount outstanding on the Surplus Note issued by Vidalia Re was $1.4 billion, which is equal to the principal amount of the LLC Note. The principal amount of both the Surplus Note and the LLC Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of policy reserves being contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. Based on the estimated reserves for policies issued in 2011 through 2017 that have been ceded under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, the principal amounts of the Surplus Note and the LLC Note are expected to reach $1.5 billion each. This financing arrangement is non-recourse to the Parent Company and Primerica Life, meaning that neither of these companies has guaranteed the Surplus Note or is otherwise liable for reimbursement for any payments triggered by the LLC Note’s credit enhancement feature. The Parent Company has agreed to support Vidalia Re’s obligation to pay the credit enhancement fee incurred on the LLC Note.

Further discussion on the Company’s LLC Note is included in Note 3 (Investments).

Revolving Credit Facility. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of commercial banks. The Revolving Credit Facility has a scheduled termination date of June 22, 2026. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility are borrowed, at our discretion, on the basis of either a LIBOR rate loan, or a base rate loan. LIBOR rate loans bear interest at a periodic rate equal to one-, three-, six-, or 12-month LIBOR, plus an applicable margin. Base

 

21


 

rate loans bear interest at the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility contains language providing for a benchmark replacement in the event that LIBOR is no longer available. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit.  The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for LIBOR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.00% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.00% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.10% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate amount of the $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility that remains undrawn. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, no amounts have been drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with the covenants. Furthermore, no events of default occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

(13) Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Our revenues from contracts with customers primarily include:

 

Commissions and fees earned for the marketing and distribution of investment and savings products underwritten by mutual fund companies and annuity providers. For purposes of revenue recognition, mutual fund companies and annuity providers are considered the customers in marketing and distribution arrangements;

 

Fees earned for investment advisory and administrative services within our managed investments program;

 

Account-based fees for transfer agent recordkeeping functions and non-bank custodial services;

 

Commissions and fees earned from the distribution of Medicare-related insurance products on behalf of health insurance carriers, including tail revenue adjustments;

 

Marketing development revenues earned for selling Medicare-related insurance products on behalf of health insurance carriers, which is recorded in Other, net revenue;

 

Fees associated with mortgage distribution and the distribution of other third-party financial products; and

 

Other revenue from the sale of miscellaneous products and services including monthly subscription fees from the sales representatives for access to Primerica Online (“POL”), our primary sales force support tool.

Premiums from insurance contracts we underwrite, fees received from segregated funds insurance contracts, and income earned on our invested assets are excluded from the definition of revenues from contracts with customers in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Further discussion on the Company’s revenues from contracts with customers and revenue recognition policies are included in Note 18 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report.

The disaggregation of our revenues from contracts with customers were as follows:

 

22


 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Term Life Insurance segment revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Other, net

 

$

12,175

 

 

$

11,810

 

 

    Total segment revenues from contracts with customers

 

 

12,175

 

 

 

11,810

 

 

  Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers

 

 

406,253

 

 

 

370,217

 

 

      Total Term Life Insurance segment revenues

 

$

418,428

 

 

$

382,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment and Savings Products segment revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Commissions and fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Sales-based revenues

 

$

103,242

 

 

$

98,112

 

 

    Asset-based revenues

 

 

97,355

 

 

 

85,613

 

 

    Account-based revenues

 

 

21,541

 

 

 

21,120

 

 

  Other, net

 

 

3,144

 

 

 

2,949

 

 

      Total segment revenues from contracts with customers

 

 

225,282

 

 

 

207,794

 

 

  Revenues from sources other than contracts

    with customers (segregated funds)

 

 

15,757

 

 

 

15,628

 

 

        Total Investment and Savings Products segment revenues

 

$

241,039

 

 

$

223,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Health segment revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Commissions and fees

 

$

1,278

 

 

N/A

 

 

  Other, net

 

 

4,553

 

 

N/A

 

 

      Total Senior Health segment revenues

 

$

5,831

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Commissions and fees

 

$

12,627

 

 

$

13,571

 

 

  Other, net

 

 

1,117

 

 

 

836

 

 

    Total segment revenues from contracts with customers

 

 

13,744

 

 

 

14,407

 

 

  Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers

 

 

12,184

 

 

 

17,855

 

 

      Total Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues

 

$

25,928

 

 

$

32,262

 

 

 

Renewal Commissions Receivable. For revenue associated with ongoing renewal commissions in the Senior Health and Corporate and Other Distributed Products segments, we record a renewal commission receivable asset for the amount of ongoing renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in reporting periods subsequent to the satisfaction of the performance obligation, less amounts that are constrained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. From time to time, new facts or circumstances that were not available at the time of the initial estimate may indicate that the expected renewal commissions are higher or lower than our renewal commissions receivable. In those situations, the expected renewal commissions receivable will be written down or up to its revised expected value by adjustments to revenue, which we refer to as tail revenue adjustments. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we recognized a tail revenue adjustment to reduce the balance of the renewal commissions receivable in the Senior Health business as retention for policies scheduled to renew during the period was lower than expectations.

Activity in the Renewal commissions receivable account was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Senior Health segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

172,308

 

 

N/A

 

 

Commissions revenue

 

 

12,849

 

 

N/A

 

 

Less: collections

 

 

(12,314

)

 

N/A

 

 

Tail revenue adjustments from change in estimate

 

 

(19,060

)

 

N/A

 

 

Balance, at the end of period

 

$

153,783

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and Other Distributed Products segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

59,443

 

 

$

54,845

 

 

Commissions revenue

 

 

5,643

 

 

 

6,262

 

 

Less: collections

 

 

(5,694

)

 

 

(5,402

)

 

Balance, at the end of period

 

$

59,392

 

 

$

55,705

 

 

Incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts, most notably sales commissions to the sales representatives, are not incurred prior to the recognition of the related revenue. Therefore, we have no assets recognized for incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts.

 

23


 

 

(14) Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2021, the Company acquired an 80% interest, as described in the next paragraph, in the operating subsidiaries of Etelequote  Bermuda, including e-TeleQuote, a Florida corporation that is a senior health insurance distributor of Medicare-related insurance policies in all 50 states and Puerto Rico (the “Acquisition”).

 

The Company’s subsidiary, Primerica Health, purchased from the shareholders of Etelequote Bermuda (the “selling shareholders”) 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of e-TeleQuote and its subsidiaries for consideration of (i) approximately $350 million in cash, (ii) replacement of e-TeleQuote’s debt as of the closing date of $146 million with intercompany funding provided by the Parent Company, (iii) a $15 million Majority Shareholder Note and (iv) common shares of Primerica Health constituting 20% of the total issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Primerica Health that were issued to Etelequote Bermuda’s minority shareholders, most of which include or are beneficially owned by e-TeleQuote’s management (“Noncontrolling Equity Holders”). The cash consideration provided was subsequently reduced by $3.9 million as a result of the final purchase price agreed upon with the sellers following finalization of the closing statement. Under the terms of the e-TeleQuote Shareholders’ Agreement, the Parent Company will purchase the remaining 20% stake over a period of up to four years through a series of call and put rights. 

 

The following table presents the preliminary purchase price allocation recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of the acquisition date, adjustments made during the measurement period, and the updated preliminary purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date. There were no measurement period adjustments recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The updated preliminary purchase price allocation is still subject to finalization for estimates of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date, including but not limited to the renewal commissions receivable, other tangible assets, intangible assets and tax-related items, and the related tax effects of any changes made:

 

 

 

Acquisition Date Purchase Price Allocation at December 31, 2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalent

 

$

1,080

 

Accounts receivables

 

 

303

 

Renewal commissions receivable

 

 

153,447

 

Other assets

 

 

15,705

 

Intangible assets

 

 

156,000

 

Goodwill

 

 

255,153

 

Total assets

 

 

581,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

4,590

 

Deferred tax liability

 

 

51,943

 

Other liabilities

 

 

10,046

 

Total liabilities

 

 

66,579

 

Net assets acquired

 

$

515,109

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary Stockholders' Equity:

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

$

8,437

 

Total temporary stockholders' equity

 

$

8,437

 

 

Renewal commissions receivable from the acquired business was recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) as the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2021-08”). ASU 2021-08 requires contract assets arising from revenue contracts with customers to be accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 instead of at fair value.

 

Intangible assets identified in the acquisition of the business are capitalized separately from goodwill if the fair value can be measured reliably on initial recognition (transaction date). The primary intangible assets identified were customer relationships with health insurance carriers of $153.0 million with an estimated useful life of 15 years. The Company will amortize the intangible assets acquired on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

 

 

24


 

 

Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the acquisition date fair value of the total consideration transferred and the aggregate values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The amount of goodwill calculated as of the acquisition date determined by the preliminary purchase price allocation as of December 31, 2021 was $255.2 million. As discussed in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $76.0 million at December 31, 2021. The goodwill created in the acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes and there was no impact to income taxes from the goodwill impairment charge recorded. As of March 31, 2022, goodwill recognized by the Company from the acquisition was $179.2 million.

 

Transaction costs related to the e-TeleQuote acquisition included within Other operating expenses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income were $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

The following unaudited summary represents e-TeleQuote’s actual statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenue

 

$

5,831

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

(19,182

)

 

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information combines the unaudited results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the unaudited results of e-TeleQuote for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and assumes that the e-TeleQuote acquisition, which closed on July 1, 2021, was completed on January 1, 2021 (the first day of fiscal 2021). The pro forma consolidated financial information has been calculated after applying adjustments for amortization expense of acquired intangible assets and the consequential tax effect. These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purpose only and do not purport to be indicative of the operating results of the Company that would have been achieved had the e-TeleQuote acquisition actually taken place on January 1, 2021. In addition, these results are not intended to project future results and do not reflect events that may occur including, but not limited to, revenue enhancements, cost savings or operating synergies that the Company may achieve as a result of the Acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenue

 

$

675,468

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

96,361

 

 

 


 

25


 

 

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

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Primerica, Inc. (the “Parent Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or the “Company”) for the period from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with MD&A and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Annual Report”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that constitute our plans, estimates and beliefs. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the 2021 Annual Report and in Item 1A of this Report. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

This MD&A is divided into the following sections:

 

Business Overview

 

Business Trends and Conditions

 

Factors Affecting Our Results

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Results of Operations

 

Financial Condition

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Business Overview

We are a leading provider of financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada primarily through a network of independent contractor sales representatives (“independent sales representatives” or “independent sales force”). We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We historically have had two primary operating segments, Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products, and a third segment, Corporate and Other Distributed Products.  On July 1, 2021, we acquired 80% of e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, “e-TeleQuote”) through our subsidiary, Primerica Health, Inc. (“Primerica Health”). e-TeleQuote markets Medicare-related insurance products underwritten by third-party health insurance carriers to eligible Medicare participants through its licensed health insurance agents.  Beginning July 1, 2021, the Company has reported the operations of e-TeleQuote as its own operating segment called Senior Health. e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents are employees of e-TeleQuote.  

Term Life Insurance. We distribute the term life insurance products that we underwrite through our three issuing life insurance company subsidiaries: Primerica Life Insurance Company (“Primerica Life”), National Benefit Life Insurance Company (“NBLIC”), and Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Primerica Life Canada”). Policies remain in-force until the expiration of the coverage period or until the policyholder ceases to make premium payments. Our in-force term life insurance policies have level premiums for the stated term period. As such, the policyholder pays the same amount each year. Initial policy term periods are between 10 and 35 years. While premiums typically remain level during the initial term period, our claim obligations generally increase as our policyholders age. In addition, we incur significant upfront costs in acquiring new insurance business. Our deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs and reserving methodology are designed to match the recognition of premium revenues with the timing of policy lapses and the payment of expected claims obligations.

Investment and Savings Products. In the United States, we distribute mutual funds, managed investments, variable annuity, and fixed annuity products of several third-party companies. We provide investment advisory and administrative services for client assets invested in our managed investments program. We also perform distinct transfer agent recordkeeping services and non-bank custodial services for investors purchasing certain mutual funds we distribute. In Canada, we offer our own Primerica-branded mutual funds, as well as mutual funds of other companies, and segregated funds, which are underwritten by Primerica Life Canada.

Senior Health. In the United States, we distribute Medicare-related insurance products nationwide to eligible Medicare participants and enroll them in coverage utilizing e-TeleQuote’s team of licensed health insurance agents. The health insurance products we distribute are underwritten and administered by third-party health insurance carriers and primarily consist of Medicare Advantage enrollments. Contract acquisition costs are incurred upfront when policy applications are approved and include costs associated with generating or acquiring leads as well as fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives and compensation, licensing, and training costs incurred for e-TeleQuote’s workforce of licensed health insurance agents. We receive compensation from the health insurance carriers in the form of initial commissions when eligible Medicare participants are enrolled and renewal commissions, upon the anniversary of the effective date, for as long as policies remain in-force.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment consists primarily of revenues and expenses related to other distributed products, including closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, prepaid legal services, mortgage originations, and other financial products. These products, except for closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, are distributed pursuant to distribution arrangements with third-party companies through the

 

26


 

independent sales force. Net investment income earned on our invested asset portfolio is recorded in the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment, with the exception of the assumed net interest accreted to the Term Life Insurance segment’s future policy benefit reserve liability less deferred acquisition costs.  Interest expense incurred by the Company is attributed solely to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Business Trends and Conditions

The relative strength and stability of financial markets and economies in the United States and Canada affect our growth and profitability. Our business is, and we expect will continue to be, influenced by a number of industry-wide and product-specific trends and conditions. Economic conditions, including unemployment levels, consumer confidence and inflation, influence investment and spending decisions by middle-income consumers, who are generally our primary clients. These conditions and factors also impact prospective recruits’ perceptions of the business opportunity that becoming an independent sales representative offers, which can drive or dampen recruiting. Similarly, these conditions also affect e-TeleQuote’s ability to recruit and retain licensed health insurance agents. Consumer spending and borrowing levels affect how consumers evaluate their savings and debt management plans. In addition, interest rates and equity market returns impact consumer demand for the savings and investment products we distribute. Our customers’ perception of the strength of the capital markets may influence their decisions to invest in the investment and savings products we distribute.

The financial and distribution results of our operations in Canada, as reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As a result, changes in the Canadian dollar exchange rate may significantly affect the result of our business for all amounts translated and reported in U.S. dollars.

The COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) pandemic has continued to impact our business in 2022, but to a lesser extent than in 2021, as discussed in more detail later in this section, the Results of Operations section, and the Financial Condition section. We are unsure as to the extent COVID-19 will continue to impact our business as described below:

 

We have experienced an increase in mortality expense due to premature deaths of our insureds caused by COVID-19 infections. We expect that vaccinations, anti-viral treatments, and higher levels of immunity will eventually cause our elevated mortality experience to normalize to historical levels. During March 2022, we began to experience fewer COVID-19 related claims. However, it remains difficult to predict the ultimate impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our mortality expense in future periods.

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to high levels of persistency and increased policy sales as a result of strong client sentiment towards owning life insurance products. However, throughout the second half of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, policy sales began to trend back to pre-COVID-19 levels. Overall persistency levels remain elevated from pre-COVID-19 levels but are lower than we experienced at the peak of the pandemic. Refer to the Factors Affecting Our Results section for more information about how persistency impacts our financial results.

 

The effects of business trends and conditions on our quarterly results are discussed below, in the Results of Operations section, and in the Financial Condition section.

Size of the Independent Sales Force.

Our ability to increase the size of the independent sales force is largely based on the success of the independent sales force’s recruiting efforts as well as training and motivating recruits to get licensed to sell life insurance. We believe that recruitment and licensing levels are important to independent sales force trends, and growth in recruiting and licensing is usually indicative of future growth in the overall size of the independent sales force. Changes in the number of new recruits do not always result in commensurate changes in the size of the licensed independent sales force because new recruits may obtain the requisite licenses at rates above or below historical levels.

Details on new recruits and life-licensed independent sales representative activity were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

New recruits

 

 

84,707

 

 

 

94,633

 

 

New life-licensed independent sales representatives

 

 

9,983

 

 

 

10,833

 

 

Life-licensed independent sales representatives, at period end

 

 

130,206

 

 

 

132,030

 

 

 

The number of new recruits decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to COVID-19 related recruiting incentives offered during the three months ended March 31, 2021, which led to elevated recruiting results. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recruited approximately 85,000 individuals, which is strong and demonstrates the attractiveness of the Primerica business opportunity.

 

New life-licensed sales representatives decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to the availability of COVID-19 related temporary licenses offered by certain states in the prior year period. During the

 

27


 

three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company began to see improved attendance at in-person licensing classes, which led to the number of new life licenses increasing each month during the period.

 

The Company had 130,206 independent life-licensed representatives as of March 31, 2022 compared to 132,030 as of March 31, 2021.

The number of life-licensed independent representatives as of March 31, 2021 included approximately 2,400 individuals with temporary licenses or renewal extensions offered by states as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusting for these COVID-related temporary licenses and extensions, the number of life-licensed independent sales representatives remained largely unchanged from March 31, 2021 compared to March 31, 2022. In addition, the Company saw the effect of recent licensing efforts as the number of life-licensed representatives increased on a sequential quarter basis.

Term Life Insurance Product Sales and Face Amount In-Force.

The average number of life-licensed independent sales representatives and the number of term life insurance policies issued, as well as the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative (historically between 0.18 and 0.22), were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Average number of life-licensed independent sales representatives

 

 

129,494

 

 

 

132,875

 

 

Number of new policies issued

 

 

71,324

 

 

 

82,667

 

 

Average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed

   independent sales representative

 

 

0.18

 

 

 

0.21

 

 

New policies issued during the three months ended March 31, 2022 normalized toward pre-pandemic levels compared to more elevated levels experienced during the comparable period in 2021. New policies issued during the three months ended March 31, 2021 reflected elevated demand for protection products as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for protection products. Productivity during the three months ending March 31, 2022, measured by the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative, was in line with our historical range.

The changes in the face amount of our in-force book of term life insurance policies were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

% of beginning balance

 

 

2021

 

 

% of beginning balance

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

Face amount in force, beginning of period

 

$

903,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

858,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in face amount:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued face amount

 

 

24,773

 

 

 

3

%

 

 

26,643

 

 

 

3

%

 

Terminations

 

 

(19,787

)

 

 

(2

)%

 

 

(17,240

)

 

 

(2

)%

 

Foreign currency

 

 

1,242

 

 

*

 

 

 

1,422

 

 

*

 

 

Net change in face amount

 

 

6,228

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

10,825

 

 

 

1

%

 

Face amount in force, end of period

 

$

909,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

869,643

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Less than 1%.

The face amount of term life policies in-force increased 1% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as the level of face amount issued continued to exceed the face amount terminated. As a percentage of the beginning face amount in-force, issued face amount as well as terminated face amount during the three months ended March 31, 2022 remained consistent with the comparable 2021 period. In dollar terms, issued face amount during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was lower than the comparable 2021 period while terminations were higher during the three months ended March 31, 2022 than the comparable 2021 period. The trend illustrates that the demand for both buying and maintaining protection products are returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Investment and Savings Products Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions.

Investment and savings products sales and average client asset values were as follows:

 

28


 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

Product sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail mutual funds

 

$

1,736

 

 

$

1,686

 

 

$

50

 

 

 

3

%

 

Annuities and other

 

 

726

 

 

 

683

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

6

%

 

Total sales-based revenue generating product sales

 

 

2,462

 

 

 

2,369

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

4

%

 

Managed investments

 

 

454

 

 

 

330

 

 

 

124

 

 

 

37

%

 

Segregated funds and other

 

 

150

 

 

 

155

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(4

)%

 

Total product sales

 

$

3,066

 

 

$

2,854

 

 

$

212

 

 

 

7

%

 

Average client asset values:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail mutual funds

 

$

58,548

 

 

$

51,429

 

 

$

7,119

 

 

 

14

%

 

Annuities and other

 

 

25,868

 

 

 

23,785

 

 

 

2,083

 

 

 

9

%

 

Managed investments

 

 

7,077

 

 

 

5,295

 

 

 

1,782

 

 

 

34

%

 

Segregated funds

 

 

2,710

 

 

 

2,622

 

 

 

88

 

 

 

3

%

 

Total average client asset values

 

$

94,203

 

 

$

83,131

 

 

$

11,072

 

 

 

13

%

 

 

The rollforward of asset values in client accounts was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2022

 

 

% of beginning balance

 

2021

 

 

% of beginning balance

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

Asset values, beginning of period

 

$

97,312

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

81,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in asset values:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inflows

 

 

3,066

 

 

 

3

%

 

 

 

2,854

 

 

 

4

%

 

Redemptions

 

 

(1,900

)

 

 

(2

)%

 

 

 

(1,759

)

 

 

(2

)%

 

Net flows

 

 

1,166

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

 

1,095

 

 

 

1

%

 

Change in fair value, net

 

 

(4,941

)

 

 

(5

)%

 

 

 

3,088

 

 

 

4

%

 

Foreign currency, net

 

 

171

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

172

 

 

*

 

 

Net change in asset values

 

 

(3,604

)

 

 

(4

)%

 

 

 

4,355

 

 

 

5

%

 

Asset values, end of period

 

$

93,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

85,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Less than 1%.

Average number of fee-generating positions was as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Positions

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

(Positions in thousands)

Average number of fee-generating

   positions (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recordkeeping and custodial

 

 

2,243

 

 

 

2,115

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

6

%

 

Recordkeeping only

 

 

797

 

 

 

714

 

 

 

83

 

 

 

12

%

 

Total average number of fee-

   generating positions

 

 

3,040

 

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

7

%

 

(1) 

We receive recordkeeping fees by mutual fund positions. An individual client account may include multiple mutual fund positions. We may also receive fees, which are earned on a per account basis, for custodial services that we provide to clients with retirement plan accounts that hold positions in these mutual funds.

Changes in Investment and Savings Products Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Product sales. Investment and savings products sales increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 led by higher sales of variable annuities, retail mutual funds and managed accounts. This increase is mainly due to investor demand created by the prolonged strength in equity market conditions leading into the quarter. However, as the quarter progressed, market volatility caused investor demand to moderate.

Average client asset values. Average client asset values increased for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to continued market appreciation between the periods and continued positive net flows.

Rollforward of client asset values. Ending client asset values decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to an increase in the three months ended March 31, 2021. Negative performance driven by market volatility led to the decrease during the 2022 period compared to strong market performance leading to an increase during the comparable 2021 period. Continued inflows from product sales, which outpaced redemptions, reflected strong sales demand in both the 2022 and 2021 periods. Net flows as a percentage of beginning assets remained consistent between the periods. Market performance was down during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to strong market performance in the comparable 2021 period.

 

29


 

Average number of fee-generating positions. The average number of fee-generating positions increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to the cumulative effect of retail mutual fund sales in recent periods that led to an increase in the number of retail mutual fund positions serviced on our transfer agent recordkeeping platform.

Senior Health Key Performance Indicators.

Submitted Policies and Approved Policies

Submitted policies. Submitted policies represents the number of completed applications that, with respect to each such application, the applicant has authorized e-TeleQuote to submit to the health insurance carrier. The applicant may need to take additional actions, including providing subsequent information, before the application is reviewed by the health insurance carrier.

Approved policies. Approved policies represent an estimate of submitted policies approved by the health insurance carriers for the identified product during the indicated period. Not all approved policies will go in force. In general, the relationship between submitted policies and approved policies has been seasonally consistent over time. Therefore, factors impacting the number of submitted policies generally impact the number of approved policies.

The number of Senior Health submitted policies and approved policies were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2022

 

 

2021 (1)

Number of Senior Health submitted policies

 

 

26,231

 

 

N/A

Number of Senior Health approved policies

 

 

23,594

 

 

N/A

(1) 

No comparable period metrics are available due to our acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

The Senior Health segment experiences notable seasonality with the strongest demand occurring in the fourth quarter due to the Medicare Annual Election Period (“AEP”) from October 15th to December 7th. The business typically experiences strong demand in the first quarter due to the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (“OEP”) from January 1st to March 31st, which allows individuals to switch Medicare Advantage plans.  Meanwhile, the second and third quarters experience seasonally lower demand as the focus for submitted policies is limited to participants that are dual eligible (Medicare and Medicaid), qualify for a special enrollment period, recently aged into Medicare or are transitioning to Medicare from an employer-sponsored plan, and other less common situations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the volume of submitted and approved policies reflects the Company’s efforts to scale back growth in favor of developing more efficient lead procurement and conversion. Approved policies as a percentage of submitted policies remained relatively consistent with e-TeleQuote’s prior year OEP experience.

Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives

Primerica independent sales representatives refer eligible Medicare participants to e-TeleQuote licensed agents for potential enrollment in policies distributed by e-TeleQuote. The number of Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives represents the number of Primerica independent sales representatives who have completed the required certification and are eligible to refer participants to e-TeleQuote’s licensed agents for enrollment in policies distributed by e-TeleQuote. The number of submitted policies to e-TeleQuote sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives measures the number of Senior Health policies submitted by e-TeleQuote to its third-party health insurance carriers that originated through the Primerica independent sales force.

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

March 31, 2021 (1)

Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives

 

 

42,147

 

 

N/A

Submitted policies to e-TeleQuote sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives

 

 

988

 

 

N/A

(1) 

No comparable period metrics are available due to our acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

 

The number of Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives reflects the continued rollout of the certification program. The number of submitted policies sourced by Primerica independent sales representatives illustrates slowed momentum for referrals subsequent to the AEP as the Company looks to build awareness of the referral program during non-AEP periods.  

 

Lifetime value of commissions and Contract acquisition costs

Lifetime value of commissions (“LTV”). LTV represents the cumulative total of commissions and administrative fees estimated to be collected over the expected life of a policy for policies approved during the period. For more information on LTV, refer to Note 13 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) of our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report and the Factors Affecting our Results – Senior Health Segment section of MD&A included elsewhere in this report.

Contract acquisition costs (“CAC”). CAC represents the total direct costs incurred to acquire approved policies. CAC are primarily comprised of the costs associated with acquiring leads from third parties and internally generated leads including fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives as well as compensation, licensing, and training costs associated with our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents. The number of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents, agent

 

30


 

tenure, attrition rate and productivity all impact CAC. We incur the entire cost of approved policies prior to enrollment and prior to receiving our first commission-related payment.

Per policy metrics for the LTV and CAC measure our ability to profitably distribute Senior Health insurance products.

The LTV per approved policy, CAC per approved policy, and ratio of LTV to CAC per approved policy were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2022

 

 

2021 (1)

LTV per policy approved during the period

 

$

862

 

 

N/A

CAC per policy approved during the period

 

$

875

 

 

N/A

LTV/CAC per approved policy

 

 

0.98

 

 

N/A

(1) 

No comparable period metrics are available due to our acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

LTV per approved policy reflects current estimates for renewal rates, policy retention and chargeback activity taking into consideration the most recent experience through March 31, 2022. The Company saw lower renewal retention rates during the first quarter of 2022 compared to historical experience due to an increased propensity of consumers to compare plans across carriers and increased plan offerings by carriers. This experience led to lower LTV per approved policy during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

CAC per approved policy reflects selective procurement of high quality leads and a deliberate approach in limiting agent recruitment during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Other business trends and conditions.

Standards of care. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”), which establishes a “best interest” standard of conduct and imposes certain disclosure requirements, went into effect on June 30, 2020.  Its higher standards of care and enhanced obligations increase regulatory and litigation risk. On December 15, 2020, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) published an interpretation of, and class exemption regarding, the rules governing fiduciary investment advice with respect to Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) and other retirement accounts (the “DOL Rule”). The effective date of the DOL Rule was February 16, 2021 and the DOL extended its non-enforcement policy through January 31, 2022 with the enforcement of specific requirements extended through June 30, 2022. The DOL Rule imposes a higher standard of care and enhanced obligations that require sales process changes and increase regulatory and litigation risk to our business. The interpretation and enforcement of Reg BI and the DOL Rule by the SEC and the DOL, respectively, remain uncertain and could have the potential to disrupt the investment and savings products business in the United States.

In addition to federal regulators, certain states have proposed or passed laws or proposed or issued regulations requiring investment advisers, broker-dealers, and/or insurance agents to meet fiduciary standards or standards of care that their advice be in the customer’s best interest, and to mitigate and disclose conflicts of interest to consumers of investment and insurance products. The severity of the impact that such state laws or regulations could have on our business varies from state to state depending on the content of the legislation or regulation and how it would be applied by state regulators and interpreted by the courts, but such laws or regulations could disrupt our brokerage or advisory businesses in the relevant state. We cannot quantify the financial impact, if any, of any changes to our business that may be necessary in order to comply with such laws or regulations at this time.

Worker classification standards. There has been a trend toward administrative and legislative activity around worker classification. In 2019, for example, California enacted Assembly Bill 5 (“AB 5”), which imposes a stricter test for the classification of workers as  independent contractors. Our business lines are exempted from AB 5. In 2020, the DOL commenced a rulemaking to clarify the classification standard under the Fair Labor Standards Act. That process resulted in a final rule under the prior administration which subsequently was withdrawn by the current administration. The prior administration’s final rule now has been reinstated by a federal court. Other federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals regarding worker classification also are under consideration. While none of these proposals have advanced into law, they demonstrate increased legislative and administrative activity around worker classification. It is difficult to predict what the ultimate outcome of this activity may be. Changes to worker classification laws could impact our business as sales representatives (other than those hired by e-TeleQuote) are independent contractors.

Restrictions on compensation models in Canada. The organization of provincial and territorial securities regulators (collectively referred to as the “Canadian Securities Administrators” or “CSA”) has published final rule amendments to prohibit upfront sales commissions by fund companies for the sale of mutual funds offered under a prospectus in Canada (“DSC Ban”). The final amendments have an effective date of June 1, 2022 and the deferred sales charge compensation model is permitted to be used until then. The CSA indicated that the prohibition of upfront sales commissions by fund companies will require firms to discontinue the use of the mutual fund deferred sales charge compensation model, which is the primary model for the mutual funds we distribute in Canada. These rules will result in changes in compensation arrangements with both the fund companies that offer the mutual fund products we distribute and sales representatives. We are finalizing the changes we intend to make in response to the DSC Ban. These changes, which are under review by the Ontario Securities Commission and the CSA, include entering into agreements with a small number of third-party mutual fund companies to develop a broad range of funds to be sold exclusively by our independent sales representatives. These agreements provide for the payment to us of asset-based revenue by the mutual fund companies. We would also earn revenue through an asset-based fee charged to clients. Our new model, if approved, would enable us to fund an advance of

 

31


 

compensation at the time of sale to our independent sales representatives, taken at their option, which would partially replace upfront sales commission cash flow from fund companies paid under the deferred sales charge compensation model. If approved as described, we expect these changes to our mutual fund model would have the impact of initially decreasing our pre-tax operating income in the short term due to the elimination of upfront commissions. Over the long term, we would expect pre-tax operating income to recover through the collection of asset-based commissions over time. At this time we cannot quantify the financial impact, if any, of any changes to our business that may be necessary in order to comply if our proposal is required to be modified or is not approved. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, Canadian mutual funds represented approximately 14% of our total investment and savings product sales.

In an announcement February 10, 2022, and in line with the DSC Ban for the sale of mutual funds, the organization of provincial and territorial insurance regulators (collectively referred to as the “Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators”) urged insurers to refrain from new deferred sale charge sales in segregated fund contracts beginning June 1, 2022, and expect a transition to a cessation of such sales by June 1, 2023. In addition, the insurance regulators announced their intention to issue a joint consultation later this year to consider other changes to upfront compensation. Currently, our Canadian segregated fund products are primarily sold on a deferred sales charge basis and we pay upfront commissions to the independent agents for the sale of these products. At this time, we are unable to assess the impact of any such reforms to our operations and income. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, Canadian segregated funds represented approximately 5% of our total investment and savings product sales.

 

Factors Affecting Our Results

Refer to the Business Trends and Conditions section for discussion of the potential impact on our business from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Term Life Insurance Segment. The Term Life Insurance segment results are primarily driven by sales volumes, how closely actual experience matches our pricing assumptions, terms and use of reinsurance, and expenses.

Sales and policies in-force. Sales of term policies and the size and characteristics of our in-force book of policies are vital to our results over the long term. Premium revenue is recognized as it is earned over the term of the policy, and eligible acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized ratably with the level premiums of the underlying policies. However, because we incur significant cash outflows at or about the time policies are issued, including the payment of sales commissions and underwriting costs, changes in life insurance sales volume in a period will have a more immediate impact on our cash flows than on revenue and expense recognition in that period.

Historically, we have found that while sales volume of term life insurance products between fiscal periods may vary based on a variety of factors, the productivity of sales representatives generally remains within a range (i.e., an average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed independent sales representative between 0.18 and 0.22). The volume of term life insurance products sales will fluctuate in the short term, but over the longer term, our sales volume generally correlates to the size of the independent sales force.

Pricing assumptions. Our pricing methodology is intended to provide us with appropriate profit margins for the risks we assume. We determine pricing classifications based on the coverage sought, such as the size and term of the policy, and certain policyholder attributes, such as age and health. In addition, we generally utilize unisex rates for term life insurance policies. The pricing assumptions that underlie our rates are based upon our best estimates of mortality, persistency, disability, and interest rates at the time of issuance, sales force commission rates, issue and underwriting expenses, operating expenses and the characteristics of the insureds, including the distribution of sex, age, underwriting class, product and amount of coverage. Our results will be affected to the extent there is a variance between our pricing assumptions and actual experience.

 

Persistency. Persistency is a measure of how long our insurance policies stay in-force. As a general matter, persistency that is lower than our pricing assumptions adversely affects our results over the long term because we lose the recurring revenue stream associated with the policies that lapse. Determining the near-term effects of changes in persistency is more complicated. When actual persistency is lower than our pricing assumptions, we must accelerate the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”). The resultant increase in amortization expense is offset by a corresponding release of reserves associated with lapsed policies, which causes a reduction in benefits and claims expense. The future policy benefit reserves associated with any given policy will change over the term of such policy. As a general matter, future policy benefit reserves are lowest at the inception of a policy term and rise steadily to a peak before declining to zero at the expiration of the policy term. Accordingly, depending on when the lapse occurs in relation to the overall policy term, the reduction in benefits and claims expense may be greater or less than the increase in amortization expense, and, consequently, the effects on earnings for a given period could be positive or negative. Persistency levels will impact results to the extent actual experience deviates from the persistency assumptions that are locked-in at time of issue.

 

Mortality. Our profitability will fluctuate to the extent actual mortality rates differ from the assumptions that are locked-in at time of issue. We mitigate a significant portion of our mortality exposure through reinsurance.

 

Disability. Our profitability will fluctuate to the extent actual disability rates, including recovery rates for individuals currently disabled, differ from the assumptions that are locked-in at the time of issue or time of disability.

 

Interest Rates. We use an assumption for future interest rates that initially reflects the portfolio’s current reinvestment rate gradually increasing over seven years to a level consistent with our expectation of future yield growth. Both DAC and the

 

32


 

 

future policy benefit reserve liability increase with the assumed interest rate. Since DAC is higher than the future policy benefit reserve liability in the early years of a policy, a lower assumed interest rate generally will result in lower profits. In the later years, when the future policy benefit reserve liability is higher than DAC, a lower assumed interest rate generally will result in higher profits. These assumed interest rates, which like other pricing assumptions are locked-in at issue, impact the timing but not the aggregate amount of DAC and future policy benefit reserve changes. We allocate net investment income generated by the investment portfolio to the Term Life Insurance segment in an amount equal to the assumed net interest accreted to the segment’s U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP)-measured future policy benefit reserve liability less DAC. All remaining net investment income, and therefore the impact of actual interest rates, is attributed to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Reinsurance. We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. We have generally reinsured between 80% and 90% of the mortality risk on term life insurance (excluding coverage under certain riders) on a quota share yearly renewable term (“YRT”) basis. To the extent actual mortality experience is more or less favorable than the contractual rate, the reinsurer will earn incremental profits or bear the incremental cost, as applicable. In contrast to coinsurance, which is intended to eliminate all risks (other than counterparty risk of the reinsurer) and rewards associated with a specified percentage of the block of policies subject to the reinsurance arrangement, the YRT reinsurance arrangements we enter into are intended only to reduce volatility associated with variances between estimated and actual mortality rates.

In 2010, as part of our corporate reorganization and the initial public offering of our common stock, we entered into significant coinsurance transactions (the “IPO coinsurance transactions”) with entities then affiliated with Citigroup, Inc. (collectively, the “IPO coinsurers”) and ceded between 80% and 90% of the risks and rewards of term life insurance policies that were in-force at year-end 2009. We administer all such policies subject to these coinsurance agreements.  Policies reaching the end of their initial level term period are no longer ceded under the IPO coinsurance transactions.

The effect of our reinsurance arrangements on ceded premiums and benefits and expenses on our statements of income follows:

 

Ceded premiums. Ceded premiums are the premiums we pay to reinsurers. These amounts are deducted from the direct premiums we earn to calculate our net premium revenues. Similar to direct premium revenues, ceded coinsurance premiums remain level over the initial term of the insurance policy. Ceded YRT premiums increase over the period that the policy has been in-force. Accordingly, ceded YRT premiums generally constitute an increasing percentage of direct premiums over the policy term.

 

Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims include incurred claim amounts and changes in future policy benefit reserves. Reinsurance reduces incurred claims in direct proportion to the percentage ceded. Coinsurance also reduces the change in future policy benefit reserves in direct proportion to the percentage ceded, while YRT reinsurance does not significantly impact the change in these reserves.

 

Amortization of DAC. DAC, and therefore amortization of DAC, is reduced on a pro-rata basis for the coinsured business, including the business reinsured with the IPO coinsurers. There is no impact on amortization of DAC associated with our YRT contracts.

 

Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses are reduced by the allowances received from coinsurance. There is no impact on insurance expenses associated with our YRT contracts.

We may alter our reinsurance practices at any time due to the unavailability of YRT reinsurance at attractive rates or the availability of alternatives to reduce our risk exposure. We presently intend to continue ceding approximately 90% of our U.S. and Canadian mortality risk on new business.

Expenses. Results are also affected by variances in client acquisition, maintenance and administration expense levels.

Investment and Savings Products Segment. The Investment and Savings Products segment results are primarily driven by sales, the value of assets in client accounts for which we earn ongoing management, marketing and support, and distribution fees, and the number of transfer agent recordkeeping positions and non-bank custodial fee-generating accounts we administer.

Sales. We earn commissions and fees, such as dealer re-allowances and marketing and distribution fees, based on sales of mutual fund products and annuities. Sales of investment and savings products are influenced by the overall demand for investment products in the United States and Canada, as well as by the size and productivity of the independent sales force. We generally experience seasonality in the Investment and Savings Products segment results due to our high concentration of sales of retirement account products. These accounts are typically funded in February through April, coincident with our clients’ tax return preparation season. While we believe the size of the independent sales force is a factor in driving sales volume in this segment, there are a number of other variables, such as economic and market conditions, which may have a significantly greater effect on sales volume in any given fiscal period.

Asset values in client accounts. We earn marketing and distribution fees (trail commissions or, with respect to U.S. mutual funds, 12b-1 fees) on mutual fund and annuity assets in the United States and Canada. In the United States, we also earn investment advisory and administrative fees on assets in managed investments. In Canada, we earn management fees on certain mutual fund assets and on the segregated funds for which we serve as investment manager.  Asset values are influenced by new product sales, ongoing contributions

 

33


 

to existing accounts, redemptions and the change in market values in existing accounts. While we offer a wide variety of asset classes and investment styles, our clients accounts are primarily invested in equity funds.

Positions. We earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees for administrative functions we perform on behalf of several of our mutual fund providers. An individual client account may include multiple fund positions for which we earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees. We may also receive fees earned for non-bank custodial services that we provide to clients with retirement plan accounts.

Sales mix. While investment and savings products all provide similar long-term economic returns to the Company, our results in a given fiscal period will be affected by changes in the overall mix of products within these categories. Examples of changes in the sales mix that influence our results include the following:

 

sales of annuity products in the United States will generate higher revenues in the period such sales occur than sales of other investment products that either generate lower upfront revenues or, in the case of managed investments and segregated funds, no upfront revenues;

 

sales of a higher proportion of managed investments and segregated funds products will spread the revenues generated over time because we earn higher revenues based on assets under management for these accounts each period as opposed to earning upfront revenues based on product sales; and

 

sales of a higher proportion of mutual fund products sold will impact the timing and amount of revenue we earn given the distinct transfer agent recordkeeping and non-bank custodial services we provide for certain mutual fund products we distribute.

Senior Health Segment. The Senior Health segment results are primarily driven by approved policies, LTV per approved policy and tail revenue adjustments, CAC per approved policy, and other revenue.

Approved policies. Approved policies represent submitted policies approved by health insurance carriers for the identified product during the indicated period. Not all approved policies will go in force.  In general, the relationship between submitted policies and approved policies has been consistent over time.  Therefore, factors impacting the number of submitted policies generally impact the number of approved policies. Revenue is primarily generated from approved policies and LTVs are recorded when the enrollment is approved by the applicable health insurance carrier. Medicare Advantage plans make up the substantial portion of the approved policies we distribute. The number of approved policies are influenced by the following:

 

the size and growth of the population of senior citizens in the United States;

 

the appeal of government-funded Medicare Advantage plans that provide privately administered healthcare coverage with enhanced benefits relative to original Medicare;

 

our ability to generate and obtain leads for our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents;

 

our ability to staff and train our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents to manage leads and help eligible Medicare participants through the enrollment process;

 

our ability to retain Medicare participants in a competitive environment in which participants are actively comparing plans and carriers; and

 

our health insurance carrier relationships that allow us to offer plans that most appropriately meet eligible Medicare participants’ needs.

 

LTV per approved policy and tail revenue adjustments. When a policy is approved by the health insurance carrier, commission revenue is recognized based on an estimated LTV per approved policy. LTV per approved policy is the cumulative total of commissions estimated to be collected over the expected life of a policy, subject to constraints applied in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Specifically, LTV per approved policy is equal to the sum of the initial commissions, less an estimate of chargebacks for paid policies that are disenrolled in the first policy year, plus forecasted renewal commissions. This estimate is driven by a number of factors including, but not limited to, contracted commission rates from carriers, expected policy turnover, emerging chargeback activity and applied constraints. These factors may result in varying values from period to period.

 

We recognize adjustments to revenue outside of LTV for approved policies from prior periods when our cash collections are different from the estimated constrained LTV’s, which we refer to as tail revenue adjustments. The recognition of tail revenue adjustments results from a change in the estimate of expected cash collections when actual cash collections have indicated a trend that is different from the estimated constrained LTV. Tail revenue adjustments can be positive or negative and we recognize positive adjustments to revenue when we do not believe it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue will occur.

 

CAC per approved policy. Results are also driven by the costs of acquisition, which is defined as the total direct costs incurred per approved policy. Our costs of acquisition are primarily comprised of the cost to generate and acquire leads and the labor, benefits, bonus compensation and training costs associated with our team of e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents. We incur our entire cost of approved policies prior to enrollment and prior to receiving our first commission related payment. Factors that impact our costs of acquisition per approved policy include:

 

the market price of externally-generated leads;

 

34


 

 

 

our ability to efficiently procure internally-generated leads; and

 

the productivity of our e-TeleQuote licensed health insurance agents in converting procured leads into approved policies.

 

Other revenue. Other revenue recognized in the Senior Health segment includes marketing development revenues received for providing marketing services to certain health insurance carriers. Marketing development revenue provides additional revenue to deliver approved policies and are based on meeting agreed-upon objectives with certain health insurance carriers. Marketing development revenue serves to offset contract acquisition costs associated with distribution of approved policies. Agreements for marketing development revenue are generally short-term in nature and can vary from period to period.

 

Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment. We earn revenues and pay commissions and referral fees within the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment for mortgage loan originations, prepaid legal services, auto and homeowners’ insurance referrals, and other financial products, all of which are originated by third parties. The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes in-force policies from several discontinued lines of insurance underwritten by National Benefit Life Insurance Company (“NBLIC”).  

Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment net investment income reflects actual net investment income recognized by the Company less the amount allocated to the Term Life Insurance segment based on the assumed net interest accreted to the segment’s U.S. GAAP-measured future policy benefit reserve liability less DAC. Actual net investment income reflected in the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment is impacted by the size and performance of our invested asset portfolio, which can be influenced by interest rates, credit spreads, and the mix of invested assets.

The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes corporate income and expenses not allocated to our other segments, general and administrative expenses (other than expenses that are allocated to the Term Life Insurance or Investment and Savings Products segments), interest expense on notes payable, redundant reserve financing transactions and our Revolving Credit Facility, as well as realized gains and losses on our invested asset portfolio.

Capital Structure. Our financial results are affected by our capital structure, which includes our senior unsecured notes (the “Senior Notes”), redundant reserve financing transactions, our Revolving Credit Facility, and our common stock. See Note 7 (Stockholders’ Equity), Note 10 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities), and Note 12 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on changes in our capital structure.

Foreign Currency. The Canadian dollar is the functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries and our consolidated financial results, reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As such, the translated amount of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities attributable to our Canadian subsidiaries will be higher or lower in periods where the Canadian dollar appreciates or weakens relative to the U.S. dollar, respectively. See Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Canadian Currency Risk included in our 2021 Annual Report and Note 2 (Segment and Geographical Information) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on our Canadian subsidiaries and the impact of foreign currency on our financial results.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2021 Annual Report. The most significant items on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets are based on fair value determinations, accounting estimates and actuarial determinations, which are susceptible to changes in future periods and could affect our results of operations and financial position.

The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of our results of operations and financial position are those related to DAC, future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, income taxes, renewal commissions receivable, goodwill and the valuation of investments. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.

 

Accounting Policy Changes.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, there were no changes in the accounting methodology for items that we have identified as critical accounting estimates. For additional information regarding our critical accounting estimates, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of MD&A included in our 2021 Annual Report.

 

35


 

Results of Operations

 

Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results. Our results of operations were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2022(1)

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums

 

$

798,666

 

 

$

762,227

 

 

$

36,439

 

 

 

5

%

Ceded premiums

 

 

(399,885

)

 

 

(395,973

)

 

 

3,912

 

 

 

1

%

Net premiums

 

 

398,781

 

 

 

366,254

 

 

 

32,527

 

 

 

9

%

Commissions and fees

 

 

251,800

 

 

 

234,044

 

 

 

17,756

 

 

 

8

%

Investment income net of investment expenses

 

 

34,420

 

 

 

35,198

 

 

 

(778

)

 

 

(2

)%

Interest expense on surplus note

 

 

(15,515

)

 

 

(15,146

)

 

 

369

 

 

 

2

%

Net investment income

 

 

18,905

 

 

 

20,052

 

 

 

(1,147

)

 

 

(6

)%

Realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

577

 

 

 

622

 

 

 

(45

)

 

*

 

Other investment gains (losses)

 

 

174

 

 

 

1,144

 

 

 

(970

)

 

*

 

Investment gains (loses)

 

 

751

 

 

 

1,766

 

 

 

(1,015

)

 

*

 

Other, net

 

 

20,989

 

 

 

15,595

 

 

 

5,394

 

 

 

35

%

Total revenues

 

 

691,226

 

 

 

637,711

 

 

 

53,515

 

 

 

8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and claims

 

 

187,069

 

 

 

183,789

 

 

 

3,280

 

 

 

2

%

Amortization of DAC

 

 

86,063

 

 

 

66,105

 

 

 

19,958

 

 

 

30

%

Sales commissions

 

 

133,924

 

 

 

121,894

 

 

 

12,030

 

 

 

10

%

Insurance expenses

 

 

59,509

 

 

 

48,766

 

 

 

10,743

 

 

 

22

%

Insurance commissions

 

 

7,721

 

 

 

8,740

 

 

 

(1,019

)

 

 

(12

)%

Contract acquisition costs

 

 

20,649

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

20,649

 

 

*

 

Interest expense

 

 

6,853

 

 

 

7,145

 

 

 

(292

)

 

 

(4

)%

Other operating expenses

 

 

86,435

 

 

 

72,963

 

 

 

13,472

 

 

 

18

%

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

588,223

 

 

 

509,402

 

 

 

78,821

 

 

 

15

%

Income before income taxes

 

 

103,003

 

 

 

128,309

 

 

 

(25,306

)

 

 

(20

)%

Income taxes

 

 

24,239

 

 

 

30,437

 

 

 

(6,198

)

 

 

(20

)%

Net income

 

 

78,764

 

 

 

97,872

 

 

 

(19,108

)

 

 

(20

)%

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(2,655

)

 

*

 

Net income attributable to Primerica, Inc.

 

$

81,419

 

 

$

97,872

 

 

$

(16,453

)

 

 

(17

)%

 

(1)   Three months ended March 31, 2022 includes Senior Health segment results of operations.

*   Less than 1% or not meaningful.

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

Total revenues. Total revenues increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 driven by growth in net premiums in the Term Life segment and higher commissions and fees earned in the Investment and Savings Products segment. The increase in Term Life net premiums was driven by incremental premiums on term life insurance policies that are not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions as well as the layering effect of sales of life insurance and continued elevated persistency trends as a result of favorable client sentiment for protection products. Commissions and fees earned during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 increased in part due to higher asset-based revenues driven by higher average client asset values on mutual funds, annuities and managed accounts. Also contributing to the increase were higher sales-based revenues driven by demand for variable annuity and mutual funds investment products. The increase in commissions and fees was also impacted by the acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

 

Net investment income decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 due to a negative impact from a lower total return on the deposit asset backing 10% coinsurance agreement that is subject to deposit method accounting. The $2.1 million year-over-year lower total return on this deposit asset was due to a negative mark-to-market adjustment and lower book earnings on the deposit asset during the current year period compared to the prior year period. Also contributing to the decrease was $0.5 million from lower yields in the invested asset portfolio. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.7 million positive impact from a larger invested asset portfolio compared to the prior year period. Investment income net of investment expenses includes interest earned on our held-to-maturity asset, which is completely offset by interest expense on surplus note, thereby eliminating any impact on net investment income. Amounts recognized for each line item will remain offsetting and will fluctuate from period to period along with the principal amounts of the held-to-maturity asset and the surplus note based on the balance of reserves being contractually supported under a redundant reserve financing transaction used by Vidalia Re, Inc. (“Vidalia Re Financing Transaction”). For more information on the Vidalia Re Financing Transaction, see Note 3 (Investments) and Note 12 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

36


 

Other, net revenues increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to marketing development revenue recognized in the Senior Health segment as a result of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.  

Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 largely due to higher sales commissions in the Investment and Savings Products segment as a result of the increases in asset-based and sales-based revenues discussed above. Also contributing to the increase were the growth in benefits and claims and amortization of DAC due to growth in the Term Life Insurance segment’s in-force book of business. Contract acquisition costs also increased total benefits and expenses as a result of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021. Insurance and other operating expenses were higher in the three months ended March 31, 2022 due to growth in the business and sales force meeting-related expenses and the upcoming biennial convention, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled to June 2022.

Income taxes. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 23.5%, consistent with 23.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021

For additional information, see the Segment Results discussions below.

Segment Results

Term Life Insurance Segment Results. Our results for the Term Life Insurance segment were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums

 

$

793,254

 

 

$

756,514

 

 

$

36,740

 

 

 

5

%

Ceded premiums

 

 

(398,446

)

 

 

(394,550

)

 

 

3,896

 

 

 

1

%

Net premiums

 

 

394,808

 

 

 

361,964

 

 

 

32,844

 

 

 

9

%

Allocated investment income

 

 

11,445

 

 

 

8,253

 

 

 

3,192

 

 

 

39

%

Other, net

 

 

12,175

 

 

 

11,810

 

 

 

365

 

 

 

3

%

Total revenues

 

 

418,428

 

 

 

382,027

 

 

 

36,401

 

 

 

10

%

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and claims

 

 

182,903

 

 

 

178,963

 

 

 

3,940

 

 

 

2

%

Amortization of DAC

 

 

81,883

 

 

 

62,584

 

 

 

19,299

 

 

 

31

%

Insurance expenses

 

 

58,272

 

 

 

47,375

 

 

 

10,897

 

 

 

23

%

Insurance commissions

 

 

3,793

 

 

 

4,869

 

 

 

(1,076

)

 

 

(22

)%

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

326,851

 

 

 

293,791

 

 

 

33,060

 

 

 

11

%

Income before income taxes

 

$

91,577

 

 

$

88,236

 

 

$

3,341

 

 

 

4

%

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Net premiums. Direct premiums increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 largely due to sales of new policies that contributed to growth in the in-force book of business. Also contributing to the increase in direct premiums are continued elevated levels of persistency experienced as a result of favorable client sentiment for protection products since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is partially offset by an increase in ceded premiums, which includes $14.2 million in higher non-level YRT reinsurance ceded premiums as business not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions ages, reduced by $10.3 million in lower coinsurance ceded premiums due to the run-off of business subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions.

Allocated investment income. Allocated investment income increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to an increase in the assumed net interest accreted to the Term Life Insurance segment’s future policy benefit reserve liability less deferred acquisition costs as the Term Life Insurance segment’s in-force business continues to grow.

Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to growth in net premiums, partially offset by lower claims and the impact of lower persistency. Total benefits and claims during the three months ended March 31, 2022 includes approximately $16 million in excess death claims driven by COVID-19, net of reinsurance. This compares with approximately $21 million of COVID-19 related claims in the first quarter of 2021, net of reinsurance. The Company also experienced reductions in monthly COVID-19 related claims throughout the three months ended March 31, 2022. Lower year-over-year persistency resulted in benefit reserves increasing at a slower rate in 2022 as compared to 2021.  

Amortization of DAC. The amortization of DAC increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to lower year-over-year persistency, though both periods experienced higher persistency than prior to the pandemic. Additionally, policy persistency has started to deteriorate on policies that were issued at the onset of the COVID-19

 

37


 

pandemic. Higher persistency in relation to pre-pandemic trends reduced DAC amortization by approximately $6 million and approximately $12 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 in part due to meeting-related expenses associated with sales force leadership trips and the upcoming biennial convention, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled to June 2022. Also contributing to the increase was an increase in expenses to support growth in the business and higher employee compensation costs from annual merit increases.

Insurance commissions. Insurance commissions decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 as a result of higher non-deferrable sales force promotional activities offered in the 2021 period to incentivize the sales force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Investment and Savings Products Segment Results. Investment and Savings Products segment results were as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions and fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales-based revenues

 

$

103,242

 

 

$

98,112

 

 

$

5,130

 

 

 

5

%

Asset-based revenues

 

 

113,112

 

 

 

101,241

 

 

 

11,871

 

 

 

12

%

Account-based revenues

 

 

21,541

 

 

 

21,120

 

 

 

421

 

 

 

2

%

Other, net

 

 

3,144

 

 

 

2,949

 

 

 

195

 

 

 

7

%

Total revenues

 

 

241,039

 

 

 

223,422

 

 

 

17,617

 

 

 

8

%

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of DAC

 

 

3,925

 

 

 

3,275

 

 

 

650

 

 

 

20

%

Insurance commissions

 

 

3,646

 

 

 

3,572

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

2

%

Sales commissions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales-based

 

 

74,606

 

 

 

68,594

 

 

 

6,012

 

 

 

9

%

Asset-based

 

 

53,366

 

 

 

46,866

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

 

14

%

Other operating expenses

 

 

40,936

 

 

 

37,752

 

 

 

3,184

 

 

 

8

%

Total expenses

 

 

176,479

 

 

 

160,059

 

 

 

16,420

 

 

 

10

%

Income before income taxes

 

$

64,560

 

 

$

63,363

 

 

$

1,197

 

 

 

2

%

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 in part due to higher asset-based revenues reflecting higher average client asset values on mutual funds, annuities and managed accounts. Also contributing to the increase were higher sales-based revenues driven by demand for variable annuity and mutual funds investment products.

Amortization of DAC. Amortization of DAC increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to the difference in the market performance of the funds underlying our Canadian segregated funds product in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Sales commissions. The increase in asset-based commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was consistent with the increase in asset-based revenues excluding the Canadian segregated funds. Asset-based expenses for our Canadian segregated funds were reflected within insurance commissions and amortization of DAC. The increase in sales-based commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was in part due to the increase in sales-based revenue and in part due to increased sales force bonuses implemented in the second half of 2021.

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to a combination of growth in the business and meeting-related expenses associated with field leadership trips and the upcoming biennial convention, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled to June 2022.

Senior Health Segment Results. Senior Health segment results were as follows:

 

 

38


 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2022

 

 

2021 (1)

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions and fees (2)

 

$

1,278

 

 

N/A

Other, net

 

 

4,553

 

 

N/A

Total revenues

 

 

5,831

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract acquisition costs

 

 

20,649

 

 

N/A

Other operating expenses

 

 

8,267

 

 

N/A

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

28,916

 

 

N/A

Loss before income taxes

 

$

(23,085

)

 

N/A

(1)  

No comparable period results of operations are available due to our acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

(2)

Net of tail revenue adjustments of ($19.1) million.

 

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees reflect the lifetime value of commissions expected to be received for approved Medicare insurance policies distributed on behalf of health insurance carriers as well as tail revenue adjustments recognized to the expected value of commissions for policies distributed in previous periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we recognized a $19.1 million negative tail revenue adjustment as a result of lower than expected renewals for policies approved in prior periods. The negative tail adjustment offset commissions and fees revenue of $20.3 million recognized for the lifetime value of commissions for policies approved during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The lifetime value of commissions for policies approved during the period reflect reduced LTV’s recognizing recent renewal experience.

Other, net. Marketing development revenue was received for providing marketing services on behalf of certain health insurance carriers for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Agreements for marketing development revenue are generally short-term in nature and can vary from period to period

Contract acquisition costs. Contract acquisition costs are primarily comprised of costs associated with acquiring leads from third parties and internally generated leads including fees paid to Primerica Senior Health certified independent sales representatives as well as compensation, training and licensing costs associated with e-TeleQuote’s licensed health insurance agents. Contract acquisition cost during the three months ended March 31, 2022 reflect selective procurement of high quality leads and a deliberate approach in limiting agent recruiting.

Other operating expenses. Represents other operating expenses incurred during the period. These expenses are not directly tied to the distribution of Medicare insurance products and consist of intangible amortization, depreciation, technology and communications, and other administrative fees. Other operating expenses includes $2.6 million of amortization expense for intangible assets and internally developed software identified as part of the e-TeleQuote acquisition.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Results. Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment results were as follows:

 

39


 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums

 

$

5,412

 

 

$

5,713

 

 

$

(301

)

 

 

(5

)%

Ceded premiums

 

 

(1,439

)

 

 

(1,423

)

 

 

16

 

 

 

1

%

Net premiums

 

 

3,973

 

 

 

4,290

 

 

 

(317

)

 

 

(7

)%

Commissions and fees

 

 

12,627

 

 

 

13,571

 

 

 

(944

)

 

 

(7

)%

Investment income net of investment expenses

 

 

22,975

 

 

 

26,945

 

 

 

(3,970

)

 

 

(15

)%

Interest expense on surplus note

 

 

(15,515

)

 

 

(15,146

)

 

 

369

 

 

 

2

%

Net investment income

 

 

7,460

 

 

 

11,799

 

 

 

(4,339

)

 

 

(37

)%

Realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

577

 

 

 

622

 

 

 

(45

)

 

*

 

Other investment gains (losses)

 

 

174

 

 

 

1,144

 

 

 

(970

)

 

*

 

Investment gains (losses)

 

 

751

 

 

 

1,766

 

 

 

(1,015

)

 

*

 

Other, net

 

 

1,117

 

 

 

836

 

 

 

281

 

 

 

34

%

Total revenues

 

 

25,928

 

 

 

32,262

 

 

 

(6,334

)

 

 

(20

)%

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits and claims

 

 

4,166

 

 

 

4,826

 

 

 

(660

)

 

 

(14

)%

Amortization of DAC

 

 

255

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

4

%

Insurance expenses

 

 

1,237

 

 

 

1,391

 

 

 

(154

)

 

 

(11

)%

Insurance commissions

 

 

282

 

 

 

299

 

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(6

)%

Sales commissions

 

 

5,952

 

 

 

6,434

 

 

 

(482

)

 

 

(7

)%

Interest expense

 

 

6,853

 

 

 

7,145

 

 

 

(292

)

 

 

(4

)%

Other operating expenses

 

 

37,232

 

 

 

35,211

 

 

 

2,021

 

 

 

6

%

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

55,977

 

 

 

55,552

 

 

 

425

 

 

 

1

%

Loss before income taxes

 

$

(30,049

)

 

$

(23,290

)

 

$

6,759

 

 

 

29

%

*

Less than 1% or not meaningful.

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Total revenues. Total revenues decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to lower net investment income, which was attributed to the items discussed in the Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results of Operations section above as well as the impact of more net investment income being allocated to the Term Life Insurance segment.

Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased slightly during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 as a result of higher other operating expenses primarily due to growth and employee related expenses.

Financial Condition

Investments. Our insurance business is primarily focused on selling term life insurance, which does not include an investment component for the policyholder. The invested asset portfolio funded by premiums from the term life insurance business does not involve the substantial asset accumulations and spread requirements that exist with other non-term life insurance products. As a result, the profitability of the term life insurance business is not as sensitive to the impact that interest rates have on our invested asset portfolio and investment income as the profitability of other companies that distribute non-term life insurance products.

We follow a conservative investment strategy designed to emphasize the preservation of our invested assets and provide adequate liquidity for the prompt payment of claims. To meet business needs and mitigate risks, our investment guidelines provide restrictions on our portfolio’s composition, including limits on asset type, per issuer limits, credit quality limits, portfolio duration, limits on the amount of investments in approved countries and permissible security types. We also manage and monitor our allocation of investments to limit the accumulation of any disproportionate concentrations of risk among industry sectors or issuer countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. In addition, as of March 31, 2022, we did not hold any country of issuer concentrations outside of the U.S. or Canada that represented more than 5% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio or any industry concentrations of corporate bonds that represented more than 10% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio.

We invest a portion of our portfolio in assets denominated in Canadian dollars to support our Canadian operations. Additionally, to ensure adequate liquidity for payment of claims, we take into account the maturity and duration of our invested asset portfolio and our general liability profile.

We also hold within our invested asset portfolio a credit enhanced note (“LLC Note”) issued by a limited liability company owned by a third-party service provider which is classified as a held-to-maturity security. The LLC Note, which is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030, was obtained in exchange for the Surplus Note of equal principal amount issued by Vidalia Re. For more

 

40


 

information on the LLC Note, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

We have an investment committee composed of members of our senior management team that is responsible for establishing and maintaining our investment guidelines and supervising our investment activity. Our investment committee regularly monitors our overall investment results and our compliance with our investment objectives and guidelines. We use a third-party investment advisor to assist us in the management of our investing activities. Our investment advisor reports to our investment committee.

Our invested asset portfolio is subject to a variety of risks, including risks related to general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit and default risk. Investment guideline restrictions have been established to minimize the effect of these risks but may not always be effective due to factors beyond our control. Interest rates and credit spreads are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. A significant increase in interest rates or credit spreads could result in significant losses in the value of our invested asset portfolio. For example, the significant increase in interest rates during the three months ended March 31, 2022 resulted in the invested asset portfolio having an unrealized loss of $84.4 million as of March 31, 2022 compared to an unrealized gain of $81.2 million as of December 31, 2021. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads generally have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments as we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose them.

Details on asset mix (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

Average rating of our fixed-maturity portfolio

 

A

 

 

A

 

Average duration of our fixed-maturity portfolio

 

4.9 years

 

 

4.8 years

 

Average book yield of our fixed-maturity portfolio

 

3.18%

 

 

3.12%

 

The distribution of fixed-maturity securities in our investment portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) by rating, including those classified as trading securities, were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Amortized cost (1)

 

 

%

 

 

Amortized cost (1)

 

 

%

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

AAA

 

$

590,961

 

 

 

21

%

 

$

495,055

 

 

 

19

%

AA

 

 

313,238

 

 

 

11

%

 

 

312,418

 

 

 

12

%

A

 

 

663,470

 

 

 

24

%

 

 

644,775

 

 

 

24

%

BBB

 

 

1,114,465

 

 

 

40

%

 

 

1,079,123

 

 

 

41

%

Below investment grade

 

 

85,535

 

 

 

3

%

 

 

93,294

 

 

 

4

%

Not rated

 

 

34,565

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

21,078

 

 

*

 

Total

 

$

2,802,234

 

 

 

100

%

 

$

2,645,743

 

 

 

100

%

(1)

Includes trading securities at fair value and available-for-sale securities at amortized cost.

*

Less than 1%.

The ten largest holdings within our fixed-maturity invested asset portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2022

Issuer

 

Fair value

 

 

Amortized cost (1)

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

Credit rating

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Government of Canada

 

$

17,054

 

 

$

17,505

 

 

$

(451

)

 

AAA

Province of Ontario Canada

 

 

13,940

 

 

 

14,140

 

 

 

(200

)

 

A+

Province of Quebec Canada

 

 

13,283

 

 

 

13,234

 

 

 

49

 

 

AA-

Morgan Stanley

 

 

13,072

 

 

 

13,079

 

 

 

(7

)

 

BBB+

TC Energy Corp

 

 

11,993

 

 

 

12,583

 

 

 

(590

)

 

BBB+

Province of Alberta Canada

 

 

11,919

 

 

 

12,319

 

 

 

(400

)

 

A

ConocoPhillips

 

 

11,507

 

 

 

11,060

 

 

 

447

 

 

A-

Enbridge Inc

 

 

11,340

 

 

 

11,708

 

 

 

(368

)

 

BBB+

Manulife Financial Corp

 

 

10,418

 

 

 

10,434

 

 

 

(16

)

 

A

Oracle Corp

 

 

10,285

 

 

 

10,274

 

 

 

11

 

 

BBB+

Total – ten largest holdings

 

$

124,811

 

 

$

126,336

 

 

$

(1,525

)

 

 

Total – fixed-maturity securities

 

$

2,717,848

 

 

$

2,802,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of total fixed-maturity securities

 

 

5

%

 

 

5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes trading securities at fair value and available-for-sale securities at amortized cost.

For additional information on our invested asset portfolio, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

41


 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Dividends and other payments to the Parent Company from its subsidiaries are our principal sources of cash. The amount of dividends paid by the subsidiaries is dependent on their capital needs to fund future growth and applicable regulatory restrictions. The primary uses of funds by the Parent Company include the payments of stockholder dividends, interest on notes payable, general operating expenses, and income taxes, as well as repurchases of shares of our common stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2022, the Parent Company had cash and invested assets of $260.3 million.

The Parent Company’s subsidiaries generate operating cash flows primarily from term life insurance premiums (net of premiums ceded to reinsurers), income from invested assets, commissions and fees collected from the distribution of investment and savings products, Medicare-related insurance plans as well as other financial products. The subsidiaries’ principal operating cash outflows include the payment of insurance claims and benefits (net of ceded claims recovered from reinsurers), commissions to the sales force, contract acquisition costs, insurance and other operating expenses, interest expense for future policy benefit reserves financing transactions, and income taxes.

The distribution and underwriting of term life insurance requires upfront cash outlays at the time the policy is issued as we pay a substantial majority of the sales commission during the first year following the sale of a policy and incur costs for underwriting activities at the inception of a policy’s term. During the early years of a policy’s term, we generally receive level term premiums in excess of claims paid. We invest the excess cash generated during earlier policy years in fixed-maturity and equity securities held in support of future policy benefit reserves. In later policy years, cash received from the maturity or sale of invested assets is used to pay claims in excess of level term premiums received.

e-TeleQuote is a senior health insurance distributor of Medicare-related insurance plans. e-Tele-Quote collects cash receipts over a number of years after selling a plan, while the cash outflow for commission expense and other acquisition costs to sell the plans are generally recognized at the time of enrollment. Therefore, as a growing business, net cash flows at e-TeleQuote are expected to be negative for several years, with the Parent Company providing working capital to e-TeleQuote. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Parent Company provided no funding to e-TeleQuote. During the first quarter, e-TeleQuote typically generates sufficient cash to fund its operations as it receives commission payments for policies approved during the busy AEP sales period.

Historically, cash flows generated by our businesses, primarily from the existing block of term life policies and investment and savings products, have provided us with sufficient liquidity to meet our operating requirements. We have maintained strong cash flows despite the COVID-19 pandemic due to strong persistency and reinsurance on ceded mortality claims. We anticipate that cash flows from our businesses will continue to provide sufficient operating liquidity over the next 12 months.

If necessary, we could seek to enhance our liquidity position or capital structure through sales of our available-for-sale investment portfolio, changes in the timing or amount of share repurchases, borrowings against our revolving credit facility, sales of common stock or debt instruments in the capital markets or some combination of these sources. Additionally, we believe that cash flows from our businesses and potential sources of funding will sufficiently support our long-term liquidity needs.

Cash Flows. The components of the changes in cash and cash equivalents were as follows:

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

Change

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

$

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

214,299

 

 

$

119,458

 

 

$

94,841

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

(112,672

)

 

 

(203,242

)

 

 

90,570

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(134,571

)

 

 

(24,652

)

 

 

(109,919

)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

222

 

 

 

811

 

 

 

(589

)

Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(32,722

)

 

$

(107,625

)

 

$

74,903

 

Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to the timing of cash payments received from reinsurers for ceded claims. During 2021, the Company paid elevated claims due to the pandemic throughout the quarter and a large portion of reimbursements for claims ceded to reinsurers were outstanding at period end. During 2022, the Company paid lower claims and did not have as large of an increase of ceded claims outstanding  from reinsurers at period end.  Also contributing to the year-over-year increase in cash provided by operating activities was the timing of purchases and maturities of trading securities.

Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 decreased compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to short-term fixed maturity securities investing activities. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, short-term investments acquired in 2021 matured, which allowed these funds to be deployed for share repurchases. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paused share repurchases in order to accumulate cash to fund the acquisition of e-TeleQuote. This accumulated cash was used to purchase short-term investments with maturity dates aligned with the timing of the acquisition on July 1, 2021.

 

42


 

Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to repurchases of shares during the 2022 period. The Company paused share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2021 in order to accumulate cash to fund the acquisition of e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021.

Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”). The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has established RBC standards for U.S. life insurers, as well as a risk-based capital model act (the “RBC Model Act”) that has been adopted by the insurance regulatory authorities. The RBC Model Act requires that life insurers annually submit a report to state regulators regarding their RBC based upon four categories of risk: asset risk; insurance risk; interest rate risk and business risk. The capital requirement for each is determined by applying factors that vary based upon the degree of risk to various asset, premiums and policy benefit reserve items. The formula is an early warning tool to identify possible weakly capitalized companies for purposes of initiating further regulatory action.

As of March 31, 2022, our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries maintained statutory capital and surplus substantially in excess of the applicable regulatory requirements and remain well positioned to support existing operations and fund future growth.

In Canada, an insurer’s minimum capital requirement is overseen by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”) and determined as the sum of the capital requirements for five categories of risk: asset default risk; mortality/morbidity/lapse risks; changes in interest rate environment risk; segregated funds risk; and foreign exchange risk. As of March 31, 2022, Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada was in compliance with Canada’s minimum capital requirements as determined by OSFI.

Redundant Reserve Financings. The Model Regulation entitled Valuation of Life Insurance Policies, commonly known as Regulation XXX, requires insurers to carry statutory policy benefit reserves for term life insurance policies with long-term premium guarantees which are often significantly in excess of the future policy benefit reserves that insurers deem necessary to satisfy claim obligations (“redundant policy benefit reserves”). Accordingly, many insurance companies have sought ways to reduce their capital needs by financing redundant policy benefit reserves through bank financing, reinsurance arrangements and other financing transactions.

We have established Peach Re, Inc. (“Peach Re”) and Vidalia Re as special purpose financial captive insurance companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of Primerica Life. Primerica Life has ceded certain term life policies issued prior to 2011 to Peach Re as part of a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction (the “Peach Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction”) and has ceded certain term life policies issued in 2011 through 2017 to Vidalia Re as part of a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction (the “Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction”). These redundant reserve financing transactions allow us to more efficiently manage and deploy our capital.

The NAIC has adopted a model regulation for determining reserves using a principle-based approach (“principle-based reserves” or “PBR”), which is designed to reflect each insurer’s own experience in calculating reserves and move away from a single prescriptive reserving formula. Primerica Life adopted PBR as of January 1, 2018 and National Benefit Life Insurance Company adopted the New York amended version of PBR effective January 1, 2021. PBR significantly reduced the redundant statutory policy benefit reserve requirements while still ensuring adequate liabilities are held.  The regulation only applies for business issued after the effective date. See Note 4 (Investments), Note 10 (Debt) and Note 16 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2021 Annual Report for more information on these redundant reserve financing transactions.

Notes Payable – Long term. The Company has $600.0 million of publicly-traded, Senior Notes outstanding issued at a price of 99.550% with an annual interest rate of 2.80%, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 19 and November 19. The Senior Notes mature November 19, 2031. We were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes as of March 31, 2022. No events of default occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Notes Payable – Short term. On July 1, 2021, as part of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote, Primerica Health issued the $15.0 million Majority Shareholder Note. The rate of interest payable is 1.5% per annum. The Company repaid $9.0 million and $3.4 million on the Majority Shareholder Note on January 27, 2022 and April 1, 2022, respectively. The remaining principal of this note is $2.6 million, which matures on July 1, 2022.

Rating Agencies. There have been no changes to Primerica, Inc.’s Senior Notes ratings or Primerica Life’s financial strength ratings since December 31, 2021.

Surplus Note. Vidalia Re issued the Surplus Note in exchange for the LLC Note as a part of the Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction. The Surplus Note has a principal amount equal to the LLC Note and is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030. For more information on the Surplus Note, see Note 12 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We have no transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements to which an entity unconsolidated with the Company is a party, under which the Company maintains any off-balance sheet obligations or guarantees as of March 31, 2022.

Credit Facility Agreement. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million Revolving Credit Facility with a syndicate of commercial banks that has a scheduled termination date of June 22, 2026. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a

 

43


 

periodic rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the base rate, plus in either case an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility contains language that allows for the Company and the lenders to agree on a comparable or successor reference rate in the event LIBOR is no longer available.  The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit.  The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for LIBOR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.000% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.000% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.100% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, no amounts were drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with the covenants. Furthermore, no events of default occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Contractual Obligations Update. There have been no material changes in contractual obligations from those disclosed in the 2021 Annual Report.

 

 

 

44


 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this report as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements made by our officials during our presentations are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “will be”, “will continue”, “will likely result”, and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, and “could”. In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve external risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” included herein.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of our management team. All forward-looking statements in this report and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:

Risks Related to Our Distribution Structure

Our failure to continue to attract new recruits, retain independent sales representatives or license or maintain the licensing of independent sales representatives would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There are a number of laws and regulations that could apply to our independent contractor distribution model, which could require us to modify our distribution structure.

There may be adverse tax, legal or financial consequences if the independent contractor status of independent sales representatives is overturned.

The Company’s, the independent sales representatives’, or the licensed health insurance agents’ violation of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations and related claims and proceedings could expose us to material liabilities.  

Any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information could adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Insurance Business and Reinsurance

Our life insurance business may face significant losses if our actual experience differs from our expectations regarding mortality or persistency.

Our life insurance business is highly regulated, and statutory and regulatory changes may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

A decline in the regulatory capital ratios of our insurance subsidiaries could result in increased scrutiny by insurance regulators and ratings agencies and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A significant ratings downgrade by a ratings organization could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The failure by any of our reinsurers or reserve financing counterparties to perform its obligations to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

Risks Related to Our Investments and Savings Products Business

Our Investment and Savings Products segment is heavily dependent on mutual fund and annuity products offered by a relatively small number of companies, and, if these products fail to remain competitive with other investment options or we lose our relationship with one or more of these companies, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

The Company’s or the securities-licensed independent sales representatives’ violations of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations could expose us to material liabilities.

If heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements, such as those adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and those proposed or adopted by the Department of Labor (“DOL”), state legislatures or regulators or Canadian securities regulators, are imposed on us or the independent sales representatives, or selling compensation is reduced as a result of new legislation or regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

If our suitability policies and procedures, or our policies and procedures for compliance with federal, state or provincial regulations governing standards of care, were deemed inadequate, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Non-compliance with applicable regulations could lead to revocation of our subsidiary's status as a non-bank custodian.  

Risks Related to Our Mortgage Distribution Business

Licensing requirements will impact the size of the mortgage loan sales force.  

 

45


 

 

Our mortgage distribution business is highly regulated and subject to various federal, state and provincial laws and regulations in the U.S. and Canada. Changes in, non-compliance with, or violations of, such laws and regulations could affect the cost or our ability to distribute our products and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

Risks Related to e-TeleQuote’s Senior Health Insurance Distribution Business

Due to our very limited history with e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. (“e-TeleQuote”), we cannot be certain that its business strategy will be successful or that we will successfully address the risks below or any other risks not now known to us that may become material.

e-TeleQuote is highly regulated and subject to compliance requirements of the United States government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and those of its carrier partners. Non-compliance with, or violations of, such requirements may harm its business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

e-TeleQuote receives leads that are externally acquired from third-party vendors and internally generated from marketing initiatives and receives referrals from Primerica independent sales representatives. e-TeleQuote’s business may be harmed if it cannot continue to acquire or generate leads on commercially viable terms, if it is unable to convert leads to sales at acceptable rates, if Primerica independent sales representatives do not introduce consumers to e-TeleQuote, or if policyholder retention is lower than assumed, any of which could adversely impact our business.

If e-TeleQuote’s ability to enroll individuals during the Medicare annual election period is impeded, its business may be harmed which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

e-TeleQuote’s business is dependent on key carrier partners. The loss of a key carrier partner, or the modification of commission rates or underwriting practices with a key carrier partner, could harm its business which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

Risks Related to Economic Downcycles, Public Health Crises or Catastrophes, and Disaster

The effects of economic down cycles, issues affecting the national and/or global economy or global geopolitical event(s) could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Major public health pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks, such as, the COVID-19 pandemic, or other catastrophic events, could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In the event of a disaster, our business continuity plan may not be sufficient, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Information Technology and Cybersecurity

If one of our, or a third-party partner’s, significant information technology systems fails, if its security is compromised, or if the Internet becomes disabled or unavailable, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

The current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to privacy and cybersecurity may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

e-TeleQuote’s security measures designed to protect against breaches of security and other interference with its systems and networks are not fully mature. If e-TeleQuote is subject to cyber-attacks or security breaches or is otherwise unable to safeguard the security and privacy of confidential data, including personal health information, e-TeleQuote’s business may be harmed, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Financial Risks Affecting Our Business

Credit deterioration in, and the effects of interest rate fluctuations on our invested asset portfolio and other assets that are subject to changes in credit quality and interest rates could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Valuation of our investments and the determination of expected credit losses when the fair value of our available-for-sale invested assets is below amortized cost are both based on estimates that may prove to be incorrect.

Changes in accounting standards can be difficult to predict and could adversely impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.  

The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or other payments to us in sufficient amounts would impede our ability to meet our obligations and return capital to our stockholders.

Risks Related to Legislative and Regulatory Changes

We are subject to various federal, state and provincial laws and regulations in the United States and Canada, changes in which may require us to alter our business practices and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

The current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to financial services may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Medicare Advantage is a product legislated and regulated by the United States government. If the enabling legislation and regulation or implementing guidance issued by CMS change, e-TeleQuote’s business may be harmed, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

 

46


 

General Risk Factors

Litigation and regulatory investigations and actions may result in financial losses and harm our reputation.

A significant change in the competitive environment in which we operate could negatively affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share and profitability.

The loss of key employees could negatively affect our financial results and impair our ability to implement our business strategy.

Prohibitions on our ability to establish our own COVID-19 protocols or government imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

We may be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations in the United States dollar versus the Canadian dollar.  

Any acquisition of or investment in businesses that we may undertake that does not perform as we expect or that is difficult for us to integrate could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate.

 

Developments in any of these areas could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected or cause a significant reduction in the market price of our common stock.

The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties may not contain all of the risks and uncertainties that could affect us. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this report may not in fact occur. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

There have been no material changes in our exposures to market risk since December 31, 2021. For details on the Company’s interest rate, foreign currency exchange, and credit risks, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks” in our 2021 Annual Report.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Consistent with guidance issued by the SEC that an assessment of internal controls over financial reporting of a recently acquired business may be omitted from management’s evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures, management is excluding an assessment of the internal controls for the acquired processes of e-TeleQuote from its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

We are involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. Additional information regarding certain legal proceedings to which we are a party is described under “Contingent Liabilities” in Note 10 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and such information is incorporated herein by reference. As of the date of this report, we do not believe any pending legal proceeding to which Primerica or any of its subsidiaries is a party is required to be disclosed pursuant to this item.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

The Risk Factors contained in our 2021 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

47


 

 

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

During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, we repurchased shares of our common stock as follows:

Period

 

Total number of shares purchased (1)

 

 

Average price paid per share (1)

 

 

Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs

 

 

Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (2)

 

January 1 - 31, 2022

 

 

162,834

 

 

$

153.52

 

 

 

162,834

 

 

$

231,252,511

 

February 1 - 28, 2022

 

 

193,852

 

 

 

144.44

 

 

 

193,852

 

 

 

253,252,967

 

March 1 - 31, 2022

 

 

391,495

 

 

 

129.89

 

 

 

354,139

 

 

 

207,255,399

 

     Total

 

 

748,181

 

 

$

138.80

 

 

 

710,825

 

 

$

207,255,399

 

 

(1)

Consists of repurchases of 37,356 shares at an average price of $129.89 arising from share-based compensation tax withholdings and (b) open market repurchases of share under the share repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors.

(2)      

On November 17, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchasing program, which was announced on November 18, 2021, for up to $275.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases through December 31, 2022. On February 14, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of $50.0 million to the share repurchase program authorized on November 17, 2021. The revised program authorizes share repurchases for up to $325.0 million of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2022.

For information regarding year-to-date share repurchases, refer to Note 7 (Stockholders’ Equity) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS.

The agreements included as exhibits to this report are included to provide you with information regarding the terms of these agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company or its subsidiaries, our business or the other parties to these agreements. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:

 

should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;

 

have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;

 

may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to our investors; and

 

were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.

Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

Reference

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer.

 

Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Quarterly Report.

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Alison S. Rand, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

 

Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Quarterly Report.

32.1

 

Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350), executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer, and Alison S. Rand, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

 

Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Quarterly Report.

101.INS

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document.

 

The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.

 

 

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

 

 

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

 

 

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

 

 

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).

 

 

 

 

 

 

48


 

 

SIGNATURES

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

 

Primerica, Inc.

 

 

May 6, 2022

/s/ Alison S. Rand

 

Alison S. Rand

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

49