Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For Quarter Ended June 30, 2007

Commission File Number 1-8052

 


TORCHMARK CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   63-0780404
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3700 South Stonebridge Drive, McKinney, Texas   75070
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (972) 569-4000

NONE

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated file” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  x                     Accelerated filer  ¨                    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding for each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date.

 

CLASS

 

OUTSTANDING AT July 30, 2007

Common Stock,
$1.00 Par Value
  92,750,588

Index of Exhibits (Page 51).

Total number of pages included are 52.

 



Table of Contents

TORCHMARK CORPORATION

INDEX

 

          Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.     Financial Statements

  
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   1
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

   3
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   4
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   5

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   15

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   44

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   45

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   46

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   48

Item 2.

  

Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   49

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   50

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   51


Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

TORCHMARK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

 

     June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Investments:

    

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value

    

(amortized cost: 2007—$9,179,468 ; 2006—$8,897,401)

   $ 9,152,398     $ 9,126,784  

Equity securities, at fair value

    

(cost: 2007—$28,600 ; 2006—$40,105)

     30,634       41,245  

Policy loans

     333,519       328,891  

Other long-term investments

     71,183       49,681  

Short-term investments

     104,473       156,671  
                

Total investments

     9,692,207       9,703,272  

Cash

     14,095       16,716  

Accrued investment income

     169,309       168,118  

Other receivables

     97,972       78,809  

Deferred acquisition costs and value of insurance purchased

     3,071,121       2,955,842  

Goodwill

     423,519       378,436  

Other assets

     172,748       180,540  

Separate account assets

     1,456,897       1,498,622  
                

Total assets

   $ 15,097,868     $ 14,980,355  
                

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Liabilities:

    

Future policy benefits

   $ 7,733,870     $ 7,456,423  

Unearned and advance premiums

     90,194       88,039  

Policy claims and other benefits payable

     259,645       243,346  

Other policyholders’ funds

     90,271       90,671  
                

Total policy liabilities

     8,173,980       7,878,479  

Deferred and accrued income taxes

     970,304       1,010,618  

Other liabilities

     263,257       241,749  

Short-term debt

     263,453       169,736  

Long-term debt (fair value: 2007—$658,069 ; 2006—$676,281)

     597,772       597,537  

Due to affiliates

     124,421       124,421  

Separate account liabilities

     1,456,897       1,498,622  
                

Total liabilities

     11,850,084       11,521,162  

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, par value $1 per share—Authorized 5,000,000 shares; outstanding: -0- in 2007 and in 2006

     0       0  

Common stock, par value $1 per share—Authorized 320,000,000 shares; outstanding: (2007—99,874,748 issued, less 6,076,590 held in treasury and 2006—99,874,748 issued, less 1,760,121 held in treasury)

     99,875       99,875  

Additional paid-in capital

     501,814       492,333  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (17,188 )     140,097  

Retained earnings

     3,055,989       2,827,287  

Treasury stock, at cost

     (392,706 )     (100,399 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     3,247,784       3,459,193  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 15,097,868     $ 14,980,355  
                

* Derived from audited financial statements

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited and in thousands except per share data)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Revenue:

        

Life premium

   $ 392,290     $ 380,514     $ 783,758     $ 761,383  

Health premium

     317,754       319,329       653,032       635,409  

Other premium

     5,353       5,953       10,419       11,681  
                                

Total premium

     715,397       705,796       1,447,209       1,408,473  

Net investment income

     160,729       154,925       323,309       308,314  

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (2,828 )     7,681       7,221       1,485  

Other income

     3,271       733       4,805       7,871  
                                

Total revenue

     876,569       869,135       1,782,544       1,726,143  

Benefits and expenses:

        

Life policyholder benefits

     262,114       252,220       522,503       502,766  

Health policyholder benefits

     219,657       222,310       457,004       445,649  

Other policyholder benefits

     7,505       6,226       14,245       12,495  
                                

Total policyholder benefits

     489,276       480,756       993,752       960,910  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     97,354       91,172       194,580       183,241  

Commissions and premium taxes

     39,155       42,018       78,995       82,578  

Other operating expense

     42,206       43,544       85,087       87,808  

Interest expense

     16,541       17,638       33,798       33,628  
                                

Total benefits and expenses

     684,532       675,128       1,386,212       1,348,165  

Income before income taxes

     192,037       194,007       396,332       377,978  

Income taxes

     (64,920 )     (66,632 )     (134,024 )     (130,329 )
                                

Net income

   $ 127,117     $ 127,375     $ 262,308     $ 247,649  
                                

Basic net income per share

   $ 1.34     $ 1.28     $ 2.73     $ 2.45  
                                

Diluted net income per share

   $ 1.32     $ 1.26     $ 2.68     $ 2.42  
                                

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.13     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.24  
                                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 127,117     $ 127,375     $ 262,308     $ 247,649  
        

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

        

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period

     (225,585 )     (188,441 )     (237,321 )     (443,129 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) on securities included in net income

     2,828       (4,257 )     (6,818 )     (173 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for amortization of discount and premium

     (1,284 )     2,095       (2,210 )     3,994  

Less: foreign exchange adjustment on securities marked to market

     (8,732 )     (4,022 )     (9,210 )     (3,114 )
                                

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities

     (232,773 )     (194,625 )     (255,559 )     (442,422 )

Unrealized gains (losses) on other investments

     0       (1 )     0       (2 )

Unrealized gains (losses) adjustment to deferred acquisition costs

     13,898       12,258       14,270       28,420  
                                

Total unrealized investment gains (losses)

     (218,875 )     (182,368 )     (241,289 )     (414,004 )

Less applicable taxes

     76,606       63,826       84,451       144,900  
                                

Unrealized gains (losses), net of tax

     (142,269 )     (118,542 )     (156,838 )     (269,104 )

Foreign exchange translation adjustments

     12,886       4,668       13,533       3,193  

Less applicable taxes

     (4,511 )     (1,620 )     (4,737 )     (1,120 )
                                

Foreign exchange translation adjustments, net of tax

     8,375       3,048       8,796       2,073  

Pension adjustments:

        

Adoption of new supplemental executive retirement plan

     0       0       (15,419 )     0  

Amortization of pension costs

     616       0       1,199       0  
                                

Pension adjustments

     616       0       (14,220 )     0  

Less applicable taxes

     (216 )     0       4,977       0  
                                

Pension adjustments, net of tax

     400       0       (9,243 )     0  
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (133,494 )     (115,494 )     (157,285 )     (267,031 )
                                

Comprehensive income (loss)

   ($ 6,377 )   $ 11,881     $ 105,023     ($ 19,382 )
                                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash provided from operations

   $ 433,307     $ 432,120  
    

Cash provided from (used for) investment activities:

    

Investments sold or matured:

    

Fixed maturities available for sale—sold

     303,980       115,944  

Fixed maturities available for sale—matured, called, and repaid

     921,790       160,728  

Other long-term investments

     16,039       18,107  
                

Total investments sold or matured

     1,241,809       294,779  
    

Investments acquired:

    

Fixed maturities

     (1,489,762 )     (680,382 )

Other long-term investments

     (10,224 )     (4,517 )
                

Total investments acquired

     (1,499,986 )     (684,899 )
    

Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments

     52,198       48,327  

Net effect of change in payable or receivable for securities

     894       (28,978 )

Disposition of properties

     3,866       837  

Additions to properties

     (8,623 )     (5,302 )

Acquisitions of low-income housing tax credit interests

     (13,833 )     (22,622 )

Acquisition of DMAD

     (47,122 )     0  
                

Cash used for investment activities

     (270,797 )     (397,858 )
    

Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:

    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     39,014       14,096  

Issuance of 7.1% Junior Subordinated Debentures

     0       119,458  

Issuance of 6 3/8% Senior Notes

     0       245,961  

Net borrowings (repayments) of commercial paper

     93,717       (90,415 )

Tax benefit from stock option exercises

     5,818       1,633  

Acquisition of treasury stock

     (343,252 )     (283,241 )

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

     (25,197 )     (22,459 )

Net receipts (withdrawals) from deposit product operations

     60,566       (25,962 )
                

Cash used for financing activities

     (169,334 )     (40,929 )
    

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     4,203       65  

Net increase (decrease) in cash

     (2,621 )     (6,602 )

Cash at beginning of year

     16,716       19,297  
                

Cash at end of period

   $ 14,095     $ 12,695  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note A—Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Therefore, they do not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). However, in the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position at June 30, 2007, and the consolidated results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

Note B—Earnings Per Share

A reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding is as follows:

 

     For the three months
ended June 30,
   For the six months ended
June 30,
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

   94,964,817    99,665,151    96,218,079    101,145,685

Weighted average dilutive options outstanding

   1,686,768    1,317,300    1,639,164    1,105,029
                   

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

   96,651,585    100,982,451    97,857,243    102,250,714
                   

Antidilutive shares*

   75,429    6,000    37,923    6,000
                   

* Antidilutive shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

Unless otherwise specified, earnings per share data is assumed to be on a diluted basis.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note C—Postretirement Benefit Plans

Components of Post-Retirement Benefit Costs

 

     Three Months ended June 30,  
     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Service cost

   $ 2,338     $ 2,901     $ 165     $ 184  

Interest cost

     3,383       4,231       237       235  

Expected return on assets

     (4,635 )     (5,353 )     0       0  

Prior service cost

     529       9       0       0  

Net actuarial (gain)/loss

     174       438       (88 )     (64 )
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1,789     $ 2,226     $ 314     $ 355  
                                
     Six Months ended June 30,  
     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Service cost

   $ 4,666     $ 4,981     $ 335     $ 378  

Interest cost

     6,771       7,294       476       471  

Expected return on assets

     (9,270 )     (9,164 )     0       0  

Prior service cost

     1,046       18       0       0  

Net actuarial (gain)/loss

     339       755       (177 )     (71 )
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3,552     $ 3,884     $ 634     $ 778  
                                

As of June 30, 2007, Torchmark plans to contribute an amount not to exceed $20 million to its qualified funded pension plan in 2007. As of June 30, 2007, contributions of $6 million have been made.

In January, 2007, Torchmark adopted the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), a non-qualified defined-benefit pension plan. The initial unfunded obligation under this plan was $15 million ($10 million after tax), which increased Torchmark’s pension benefit liability and decreased other comprehensive income upon adoption. Later in 2007, the Company intends to fund the plan’s obligations in a “Rabbi” trust.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments

Torchmark is comprised of life insurance companies which market primarily individual life and supplemental health insurance products through niche distribution systems to middle income Americans. To a limited extent, the Company also markets annuities. Torchmark’s core operations are insurance marketing and underwriting, and management of its investments. Insurance marketing and underwriting is segmented by the types of insurance products offered: life, health and annuity. Management’s measure of profitability for each insurance segment is insurance underwriting margin, which is underwriting income before other income and insurance administrative expenses. It represents the profit margin on insurance products before administrative expenses, and is calculated by deducting net policy obligations, commissions and other acquisition expenses from premium revenue. Torchmark further views the profitability of each insurance product segment by the marketing groups that distribute the products of that segment: direct response, independent, or captive/career agencies.

Investment management operations is the segment that includes the management of the investment portfolio, debt, and cash flow. Management’s measure of profitability for this segment is excess investment income, which is the income earned on the investment portfolio less the interest credited on net policy liabilities and financing costs. Financing costs include the interest on Torchmark’s debt and, for the 2006 period, net cash settlements on Torchmark’s swap instruments. Other income and insurance administrative expense are classified in a separate “Other” segment.

As noted, Torchmark’s “core operations” are insurance and investment management. The insurance segments issue policies for which premiums are collected for the eventual payment of policy benefits. In addition to policy benefits, operating expenses are incurred including acquisition costs, administrative expenses, and taxes. Because life and health contracts can be long term, premium receipts in excess of current expenses are invested. Investment activities, conducted by the Investment segment, focus on seeking quality investments with a yield and term appropriate to support the insurance product obligations. These investments generally consist of fixed maturities, and, over the long term, the expected yields are taken into account when setting insurance premium rates and product profitability expectations. As a result, fixed maturities are generally held for long periods to support the liabilities, and Torchmark generally expects to hold investments until maturity. Dispositions of investments occur from time to time, generally as a result of credit deterioration, calls by issuers, or other factors usually beyond the control of management. Dispositions are also sometimes required in order to maintain the Company’s investment policies and objectives. Torchmark does not actively trade investments for profit. As a result, realized gains and losses from the disposition of investments are incidental to

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments (continued)

operations and are not considered in insurance pricing or product profitability. While from time to time these realized gains and losses could be material to net income in the period in which they occur, they have an immaterial effect on the yield of the total investment portfolio. Further, because the proceeds of the disposals are reinvested in the portfolio, the disposals have little effect on the size of the portfolio and the income from the reinvestments is included in net investment income. Therefore, management removes realized investment gains and losses from results of core operations when evaluating the performance of the Company. For this reason, these gains and losses are excluded from Torchmark’s operating segments.

Torchmark previously entered into several interest-rate swap agreements in connection with its debt issues exchanging its fixed-rate obligations for variable rates. The cash inflows (outflows) from settlements of these swaps were considered to be reductions (additions) to Torchmark’s financing costs by management in the evaluation of the performance of its Investment segment, and were reported as such in this segment analysis. However, because of accounting guidance requiring that all income components of non-hedged derivatives be recorded in the same line item as the derivative’s periodic adjustment to fair value, Torchmark has reported cash settlements on all of its swaps as realized investment gains or losses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of June 30, 2006, Torchmark had sold all its swap agreements and has not subsequently entered into any further swap agreements.

Torchmark accounts for its stock options and restricted stock under current accounting guidance requiring stock options and stock grants to be expensed based on fair value at the time of grant. Management considers stock compensation expense to be an expense of the Parent Company. Therefore, stock compensation expense is treated as a Corporate expense in Torchmark’s segment analysis.

Torchmark provides coverage under the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for Medicare beneficiaries. In accordance with GAAP, Part D premiums are recognized evenly throughout the year when they become due but benefit costs are recognized when the costs are incurred. Due to the design of the Part D product, premiums are evenly distributed throughout the year, but benefit costs are much higher earlier in the year. As a result, under GAAP, benefit costs can exceed premiums in the first part of the year, but be less than premiums during the remainder of the year. For segment reporting purposes, Torchmark has elected to defer $26.6 million excess benefits incurred in the first six months of 2007 to the remainder of the year in order to more closely match the benefit cost

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments (continued)

with the associated revenue. In the 2006 period, $35.8 million in excess benefits were deferred. For the full year of 2006, the total premiums and benefits were the same under this alternative method as they were under GAAP and are expected to be so in 2007. The Company’s presentation results in the underwriting margin percentage of each interim period reflecting the expected margin percentage for the full year. In addition, GAAP recognizes in each quarter a risk-sharing premium adjustment consistent with the contract as if the quarter represented an entire contract period. Torchmark did not include this $19.4 million GAAP adjustment in the first six months of 2007 or the comparable $29.7 million adjustment in the first six months of 2006 for segment reporting purposes. These adjustments were removed because these contract payments are based upon the experience of the full contract year, not the experience of interim periods.

In the first six months of 2006, Torchmark received a pre-tax litigation settlement, net of expenses, of $6.3 million ($4.1 million after tax) from litigation regarding a previously-owned subsidiary. Also relating to litigation issues arising in prior periods were net legal costs of $505 thousand expensed in 2007 ($328 thousand after tax). Management removes issues related to prior periods such as these when analyzing its ongoing core results. Additionally, a Torchmark subsidiary began a program in the latter half of 2006 to dispose of its agency office buildings, replacing them with rental facilities. Because of the scale of this nonoperating program, $2.8 million of gain from the sales ($1.8 million after tax) did not apply to 2007 core results and were removed for segment purposes. There were no sales in the first half of 2006. This gain is included in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

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The following tables total the components of Torchmark’s operating segments and reconcile these operating results to its pretax income and each significant line item in its Consolidated Statements of Operations.

TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments (continued)

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Information to the Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

     For the six months ended June 30, 2007  
     Life     Health     Annuity     Investment     Other &
Corporate
    Adjustments     Consolidated  

Revenue:

              

Premium

   $ 783,758     $ 633,660     $ 10,419         $ 19,372  (1)   $ 1,447,209  

Net investment income

         $ 323,177         132 (2)     323,309  

Other income

           $ 2,266       2,539  (3,4,6)     4,805  
                                                        

Total revenue

     783,758       633,660       10,419       323,177       2,266       22,043       1,775,323  

Expenses:

              

Policy benefits

     522,503       430,357       14,245           26,647  (1)     993,752  

Required interest on net reserves

     (190,995 )     (13,826 )     (15,456 )     220,277           0  

Amortization of acquisition costs

     212,813       69,419       6,219       (93,871 )         194,580  

Commissions and premium tax

     36,213       43,277       76           (571 ) (3)     78,995  

Insurance administrative expense(5)

             75,594       849  (4)     76,443  

Parent expense

             4,354         4,354  

Stock compensation expense

             4,290         4,290  

Financing costs:

              

Debt

           33,666         132  (2)     33,798  
                                                        

Total expenses

     580,534       529,227       5,084       160,072       84,238       27,057       1,386,212  
                                                        

Subtotal

     203,224       104,433       5,335       163,105       (81,972 )     (5,014 )     389,111  

Non-operating items

               5,014  (1,4,6)     5,014  
                                                        

Measure of segment profitability (pretax)

   $ 203,224     $ 104,433     $ 5,335     $ 163,105     $ (81,972 )   $ 0       394,125  
                                                  

Deduct applicable income taxes

 

    (133,953 )
                    

Segment profits after tax

 

    260,172  

Add back income taxes applicable to segment profitability

 

    133,953  

Add (deduct) realized investment gains (losses)

 

    7,221  

Deduct net costs from legal settlements (4)

 

    (505 )

Deduct Part D adjustment (1)

 

    (7,275 )

Add gain from sale of agency buildings (6)

 

    2,766  
                    

Pretax income per Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

  $ 396,332  
                    

(1) Medicare Part D items adjusted to GAAP from the segment analysis, which matches expected benefits with policy premium.
(2) Reclassification of interest amount due to adoption of FIN46R (accounting rule requiring deconsolidaton of Trust Preferred Securities).
(3) Elimination of intersegment commission.
(4) Legal settlements.
(5) Administrative expenses are not allocated to insurance segments.
(6) Gain from sale of agency buildings.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments (continued)

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Information to the Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

     For the six months ended June 30, 2006  
     Life     Health     Annuity     Investment     Other &
Corporate
    Adjustments     Consolidated  

Revenue:

              

Premium

   $ 761,383     $ 605,682     $ 11,681         $ 29,727  (1)   $ 1,408,473  

Net investment income

         $ 308,118         196 (2)     308,314  

Other income

           $ 2,197       5,674  (3,4)     7,871  
                                                        

Total revenue

     761,383       605,682       11,681       308,118       2,197       35,597       1,724,658  

Expenses:

              

Policy benefits

     502,766       409,884       12,495           35,765  (1)     960,910  

Required interest on net reserves

     (179,373 )     (11,720 )     (14,098 )     205,191           0  

Amortization of acquisition costs

     201,257       63,158       7,361       (88,535 )         183,241  

Commissions and premium tax

     38,770       44,448       20           (660 ) (3)     82,578  

Insurance administrative expense(5)

             79,665         79,665  

Parent expense

             4,658         4,658  

Stock compensation expense

             3,485         3,485  

Financing costs:

              

Debt

           33,432         196  (2)     33,628  

Benefit from interest rate swaps

           (491 )         (491 )
                                                        

Total expenses

     563,420       505,770       5,778       149,597       87,808       35,301       1,347,674  
                                                        

Subtotal

     197,963       99,912       5,903       158,521       (85,611 )     296       376,984  

Non-operating items

               (296 ) (1,4)     (296 )
                                                        

Measure of segment profitability (pretax)

   $ 197,963     $ 99,912     $ 5,903     $ 158,521     $ (85,611 )   $ 0       376,688  
                                                  

Deduct applicable income taxes

 

    (129,339 )
                    

Segment profits after tax

 

    247,349  

Add back income taxes applicable to segment profitability

 

    129,339  

Remove benefit from interest rate swaps (included in “Realized investment gains (losses)”)

 

    (491 )

Add (deduct) realized investment gains (losses)

 

    1,485  

Add net proceeds from legal settlements (4)

 

    6,334  

Deduct Part D adjustment (1)

 

    (6,038 )
                    

Pretax income per Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

  $ 377,978  
                    

(1) Medicare Part D items adjusted to GAAP from the segment analysis, which matches expected benefits with policy premium.
(2) Reclassification of interest amount due to adoption of FIN46R (accounting rule requiring deconsolidaton of Trust Preferred Securities).
(3) Elimination of intersegment commission.
(4) Legal settlements related to disposed subsidiary.
(5) Administrative expenses is not allocated to insurance segments.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note D—Business Segments (continued)

The following table summarizes the measures of segment profitability for comparison. It also reconciles segment profits to net income.

Analysis of Profitability by Segment

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

    

Six months

ended June 30,

   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007     2006     Amount     %  

Life insurance

   $ 203,224     $ 197,963     $ 5,261     3  

Health insurance

     104,433       99,912       4,521     5  

Annuity

     5,335       5,903       (568 )   (10 )

Other:

        

Other income

     2,266       2,197       69     3  

Administrative expense

     (75,594 )     (79,665 )     4,071     (5 )

Investment

     163,105       158,521       4,584     3  

Corporate and adjustments

     (8,644 )     (8,143 )     (501 )   6  
                          

Pretax total

     394,125       376,688       17,437     5  

Applicable taxes

     (133,953 )     (129,339 )     (4,614 )   4  
                          

After-tax total

     260,172       247,349       12,823     5  

Reconciling items:

        

Remove benefit from interest rate swaps

        

(after tax) from Investment Segment *

     0       (319 )     319    

Realized gains (losses) (after tax)

     4,694       965       3,729    

Part D adjustment (after tax)

     (4,729 )     (3,925 )     (804 )  

Tax settlements from issues related to prior years

     701       (538 )     1,239    

Net proceeds (costs) of legal settlements (after tax)

     (328 )     4,117       (4,445 )  

Gain on sale of agency buildings (after tax)

     1,798       0       1,798    
                          

Net income

   $ 262,308     $ 247,649     $ 14,659     6  
                              

* This item is included in Realized gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, but in the Segment analysis is included in the Investment segment.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note E – Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Tax Uncertainties: Torchmark adopted and implemented Financial Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48) on January 1, 2007. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for income taxes by providing methodology for the financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. As a result of the implementation, Torchmark recognized a $2.3 million decrease to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits. This decrease was accounted for as an adjustment to the January 1, 2007 balance of Retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Including the cumulative effect decrease at January 1, 2007, Torchmark had approximately $18.3 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest expense net of Federal tax benefits. If recognized in future periods, $7.2 million would reduce the effective tax rate. The remaining $11.1 million relate to timing differences which, if recognized, have no effect on the Company’s effective tax rate.

Torchmark and its subsidiaries’ income tax returns have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through the 2004 tax year. The Appeals division of the IRS and the Company have agreed to settle all issues with respect to the Company’s 1998, 2001, and 2002 tax years and are awaiting final approval of such settlement by the Joint Committee of Taxation. The outcome of this settlement was substantially reflected in prior periods. The IRS has also completed its examination of Torchmark’s 2003 and 2004 tax years and has proposed various insignificant adjustments which are currently being evaluated. The IRS is not currently examining the 2005-2006 tax years but such tax years remain subject to examination.

Canadian income tax authorities have completed their examination of Torchmark and its subsidiaries’ tax returns through 2001 and have proposed certain adjustments which are currently being litigated by the Company. Torchmark believes that it is reasonably possible that the judicial process surrounding its case against Canadian tax authorities will be concluded within the next 12 months. Should the Company be wholly successful in defending their position, the Company would recognize additional tax benefits of approximately $5 million. The tax years subsequent to 2001 remain subject to examination by Canadian income tax authorities.

Torchmark’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in Income tax expense. The Company had $6 million accrued for interest and $0 accrued for penalties as of January 1, 2007.

 

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TORCHMARK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS–CONTINUED

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Note E—Newly Adopted Accounting Standards (continued)

Internal Replacements: As of January 1, 2007, Torchmark adopted Statement of Position 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts (SOP 05-1). SOP 05-1 provides accounting guidance for deferred policy acquisition costs associated with internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those already described in SFAS No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments. The adoption of SOP 05-1 had no material impact on Torchmark’s financial position or results of operations.

Hybrid Financial Instruments: Statement No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, (SFAS 155), was adopted by Torchmark effective January 1, 2007. It extended the scope of Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to include certain securitized financial assets. Because Torchmark has negligible investments in affected securities, the impact of adoption was immaterial.

Note F—Acquisition

In January, 2007, a subsidiary of Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company (Globe), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torchmark, acquired the assets of Direct Marketing and Advertising Distributors, Inc. (DMAD) for $47 million in a cash transaction. For the past fifteen years, Globe was DMAD’s only insurance client. During this period of time, DMAD provided advertising and targeted marketing for the part of Globe’s direct response insurance business that is distributed through mailed coupon packets and publication inserts. The purchase added $45 million of goodwill and $2 million of other assets to Torchmark’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of the date of purchase.

 

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

Results of Operations

Summary of Operations. Torchmark’s operations are segmented into its insurance underwriting and investment operations as described in Note D—Business Segments. The measures of profitability described in Note D are useful in evaluating the performance of the segments and the marketing groups within each insurance segment, because each of our distribution units operates in a niche market. These measures enable management to view period-to-period trends, and to make informed decisions regarding future courses of action.

The tables in Note D—Business Segments demonstrate how the measures of profitability are determined. Those tables also reconcile our revenues and expenses by segment to major income statement line items for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Additionally, this note provides a summary of the profitability measures that demonstrates year-to-year comparability and which reconciles those measures to our net income. That summary is reproduced below from the Consolidated Financial Statements to present our overall operations in the manner that management views the business.

 

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Analysis of Profitability by Segment

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended
June 30,
    Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     Amount     %  

Life insurance

   $ 203,224     $ 197,963     $ 5,261     3  

Health insurance

     104,433       99,912       4,521     5  

Annuity

     5,335       5,903       (568 )   (10 )

Other:

        

Other income

     2,266       2,197       69     3  

Administrative expense

     (75,594 )     (79,665 )     4,071     (5 )

Investment

     163,105       158,521       4,584     3  

Corporate and adjustments

     (8,644 )     (8,143 )     (501 )   6  
                          

Pretax total

     394,125       376,688       17,437     5  

Applicable taxes

     (133,953 )     (129,339 )     (4,614 )   4  
                          

After-tax total

     260,172       247,349       12,823     5  

Reconciling items:

        

Remove benefit from interest rate swaps

        

(after tax) from Investment Segment *

     0       (319 )     319    

Realized gains (losses) (after tax)

     4,694       965       3,729    

Part D adjustment (after tax)

     (4,729 )     (3,925 )     (804 )  

Tax settlements from issues related to prior years

     701       (538 )     1,239    

Net proceeds (costs) from legal settlements (after tax)

     (328 )     4,117       (4,445 )  

Gain on sale of agency buildings (after tax)

     1,798       0       1,798    
                          

Net income

   $ 262,308     $ 247,649     $ 14,659     6  
                              

* This item is included in Realized gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, but in the Segment analysis is included in the Investment segment.

A discussion of operations by each segment follows later in this report. These discussions compare the first six months of 2007 with the same period of 2006, unless otherwise noted.

Highlights, comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. Net income per diluted share increased 11% to $2.68. Included in net income are after-tax realized investment gains of $.05 per share in 2007 compared with net gains of $.01 per share in 2006. One component of investment losses in 2006 was the valuation adjustment on interest-rate swaps, which reduced 2006 investment gains by $.03 per share, but had no impact on 2007 earnings per share as all swaps were disposed of in 2006.

We use two statistical measures as indicators of product sales: “net sales” and “first-year collected premium.” Net sales is defined as annualized premium issued, net of cancellations in the first thirty days after issue, except for Direct Response, where net sales is annualized premium issued at the time the first full premium is paid after any introductory

 

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offer has expired. Annualized premium issued is the gross premium expected to be received during the policies’ first year in force, assuming no lapses or terminations during the year. We believe that net sales is a useful indicator of the rate of acceleration of premium growth. First-year collected premium is the premium collected during the reporting period for all policies in their first policy year. First-year collected premium takes lapses into account in the first policy year when lapses are more likely to occur, and thus is a useful indicator of how much new premium is expected to be added to premium income in the future.

Total premium income rose 3% to $1.4 billion. Total net sales, excluding Medicare Part D net sales, declined 2% to $253 million. Also excluding Part D, first-year collected premium rose 2% to $198 million for the six months. Because net sales and first-year collected premium refer only to new product sales, these statistical measures for Medicare Part D are somewhat skewed, because the program commenced in 2006. All enrollees in 2006 were considered sales whereas only new enrollees were counted in 2007. We do not expect a large amount of growth in enrollees going forward after the first year.

Life insurance premium income grew 3% to $784 million. Life net sales declined 6% to $130 million and first-year collected life premium declined 7% to $100 million. Life underwriting margins increased 3% to $203 million, in line with the 3% premium growth. In early 2007 we completed our purchase of the assets of Direct Marketing and Advertising Distributors, Inc. (DMAD) for $47 million, which we believe will result in increased distribution opportunities and reduced per unit acquisition costs for the insert media component of the Direct Response group.

Health insurance premium income, excluding Medicare Part D premium, rose 2% to $524 million. Health net sales, excluding Part D, rose 3% to $123 million, reflective of increased supplemental limited-benefit product sales but partially offset by weaker Medicare Supplement sales. First-year collected health premium, excluding Part D, rose 15% to $98 million.

Our Medicare Part D prescription drug business is a component of the health insurance segment. A reconciliation between how management views Medicare Part D business and GAAP is found under the caption Medicare Part D in this report. In the manner we view our Medicare Part D business, policyholder premium was $110 million in 2007, an increase of 19%. Underwriting income rose 29% to $11 million in the 2007 six months. In the 2006 plan year, enrollees had until May 15, 2006 to enter the program. However, in the 2007 plan year, all enrollees had to sign up by December 31, 2006, the primary cause of the increased premium and underwriting income in 2007.

Excess investment income per diluted share increased 8% to $1.67 as excess investment income increased 3% or $5 million to $163 million in the period. Net investment income increased 5% or $15 million, but was partially offset by a $10 million increase in interest cost on net insurance policy liabilities and a $1 million increase in financing costs as a result of higher short-term rates. (For more information, refer to the discussion under the caption Investments (excess investment income)).

 

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Excess investment income continues to be restricted as short-term financing costs remain high while long-term yields available for investment have not increased significantly, resulting in a limited spread between long and short-term rates. Even though long-term rates rose slightly late in the second quarter of 2007, a low interest-rate environment has prevailed during recent periods causing us to make new investment acquisitions at average yields lower than our average portfolio yield during the same period. For the 2007 six months, the effective annual yield on new investments was 6.71%, compared with an average portfolio yield of 6.97% (at June 30, 2007). The fixed-maturity portfolio at market value accounted for 94% of total investments at June 30, 2007.

We acquired 5.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market at a cost of $343 million ($65.94 average price per share) during the 2007 six months. Of the $343 million, $298 million was from excess operating cash flow, which was used to repurchase 4.5 million shares, and $45 million was from the cash received from stock option exercises by current and former employees. Proceeds from these option exercises were used to repurchase 699 thousand shares in order to reduce dilution from the exercises. We have an on-going share repurchase program which began in 1986 and was reaffirmed at the July 26, 2007 Board of Directors’ meeting. With no specified authorization amount, we determine the amount of repurchases based on the amount of our excess cash flow, general market conditions, and other alternative uses.

A detailed discussion of our operations by component segment follows.

Life insurance, comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. Life insurance is our predominant segment, representing 54% of premium income and 65% of insurance underwriting margin in the first six months of 2007. In addition, investments supporting the reserves for life business generate the majority of excess investment income attributable to the Investment segment. Life insurance premium income increased 3% to $784 million. The following table presents Torchmark’s life insurance premium by distribution method.

Life Insurance

Premium by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

Direct Response

   $ 243,363    31    $ 229,689    30    $ 13,674     6  

American Income Exclusive Agency

     215,405    27      200,957    26      14,448     7  

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     148,662    19      151,658    20      (2,996 )   (2 )

Other Agencies

     176,328    23      179,079    24      (2,751 )   (2 )
                                  

Total Life Premium

   $ 783,758    100    $ 761,383    100    $ 22,375     3  
                                      

 

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We view net sales as an indicator of new business production as defined earlier in this report. Our net sales of life insurance declined 6% from the same period of the prior year. An analysis of life net sales by distribution group is presented below.

Life Insurance

Net Sales by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

Direct Response

   $ 57,644    44    $ 60,905    44    $ (3,261 )   (5 )

American Income Exclusive Agency

     43,661    34      43,235    31      426     1  

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     17,806    14      22,467    16      (4,661 )   (21 )

Other Agencies

     10,693    8      12,139    9      (1,446 )   (12 )
                                  

Total Life Net Sales

   $ 129,804    100    $ 138,746    100    $ (8,942 )   (6 )
                                      

First-year collected life premium, defined earlier in this report, was $100 million in the 2007 period, decreasing 7% from the prior-year period. First-year collected life premium by distribution group is presented in the table below.

Life Insurance

First-Year Collected Premium by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

Direct Response

   $ 38,429    39    $ 39,722    37    $ (1,293 )   (3 )

American Income Exclusive Agency

     36,417    36      35,813    33      604     2  

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     15,195    15      18,112    17      (2,917 )   (16 )

Other Agencies

     9,737    10      14,007    13      (4,270 )   (30 )
                                  

Total

   $ 99,778    100    $ 107,654    100    $ (7,876 )   (7 )
                                      

 

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The Direct Response operation is conducted primarily through direct mail and insert media solicitations. Direct Response consists of two primary components, the direct mail component and the insert media component. The direct mail component targets primarily young middle-income households with children. The juvenile life insurance policy is a key product. Not only is the juvenile market an important source of sales, but it also is a vehicle to reach the parents and grandparents of the juvenile policyholders. Parents and grandparents of these juvenile policyholders are more likely to respond favorably to a Direct Response solicitation for life coverage on themselves than is the general adult population. Also, both the juvenile policyholders and their parents are low acquisition-cost targets for sales of additional coverage over time. We expect that sales to this demographic group will continue as one of this group’s premier markets.

The insert media component, which targets primarily the adult market, involves placing our insurance solicitations as advertising inserts into a variety of media, such as coupon packets, newspapers, bank statements, and billings. This media was historically placed by DMAD, previously an unrelated entity with which we have had a relationship for fifteen years. Over this period, the insert media component of this operation has grown to the point that it now represents over half of Direct Response net sales. However, in the last half of 2006, DMAD substantially reduced insert media solicitations resulting in declines in reported net sales in the first half of 2007. Net sales from insert media are reported four to seven months following the initial sales solicitation. As noted in Note F – Acquisitions, we acquired DMAD in January, 2007 for $47 million. We expect the additional control that this acquisition provides us will expand marketing opportunities while improving margins in the insert media component.

Direct Response’s life premium income rose 6% to $243 million, representing 31% of Torchmark’s total life premium, the largest contribution of any distribution system. Net sales of $58 million declined 5% and first-year collected premium of $38 million declined 3% over the prior year period due to the aforementioned decline in insert solicitations in 2006. However, net sales have increased each quarter sequentially since the fourth quarter of 2006.

The American Income Exclusive Agency markets primarily to members of labor unions, but also to credit unions and other associations. This agency produced premium income of $215 million, an increase of 7%. Net sales increased 1% to $44 million while first-year collected premium rose 2% to $36 million. Growth in sales in our captive agencies is highly dependent on growing the size of the agency force. The American Income agent count was 2,403 at June 30, 2007, 2% higher than at 2006 year end (2,353) and 4% above the count a year earlier (2,312). This agency continues to emphasize the recruiting of new agents, focusing on a systematic, centralized internet recruiting program, and an incentive program to reward growth in both recruiting and production.

The Liberty National Exclusive Agency markets life insurance to middle-income customers primarily in the Southeast. Life premium income was $149 million, compared with $152 million in the 2006 period, a 2% decline. First-year collected premium declined 16% from the prior period, while net sales declined 21%. However, second quarter 2007

 

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net sales rose 3% over first quarter 2007 net sales, as the agent count has begun to rise since year end 2006. The Liberty Agency had 1,596 producing agents at June 30, 2007, compared with 1,606 at June 30, 2006, a 1% decline. But the count rose 16% over the December 31, 2006 count of 1,381. This fluctuation in agent count was expected due to organizational changes implemented in this agency in 2006. During the second quarter of 2006, this agency began reorganizing its marketing leadership and restructured its agent compensation system to provide greater sales incentives and to establish production minimums for agents. These changes led to terminations and resignations during 2006 of agents not meeting these production minimums. While these changes led to a decline in agent count and sales in 2006, the changes have resulted in improved margins and lowered insurance administrative expenses which we expect to continue. Also, because the new system better rewards production, we believe that we will be better able to attract and retain productive agents and that these changes will result in a more productive agency over the long term.

The Other Agencies distribution systems offering life insurance include the Military Agency, the United American Independent and Branch Office Agencies (both of which predominately write health insurance), United Investors, and various minor distribution channels. The Other Agencies distribution group contributed $176 million of life premium income, or 23% of Torchmark’s total in the 2007 period, and contributed only 8% of net sales.

Life Insurance

Summary of Results

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,          
     2007    2006    Increase
     Amount    % of
Premium
   Amount    % of
Premium
   Amount    %

Premium and policy charges

   $ 783,758    100    $ 761,383    100    $ 22,375    3

Net policy obligations

     331,508    42      323,393    42      8,115    3

Commissions and acquisition expense

     249,026    32      240,027    32      8,999    4
                                 

Insurance underwriting income before other income and administrative expense

   $ 203,224    26    $ 197,963    26    $ 5,261    3
                                   

Life insurance underwriting income before insurance administrative expenses was $203 million, increasing 3%. This margin growth was primarily the result of premium growth, but was also positively affected by favorable mortality in the Military Agency in the 2007 period. This improvement in mortality is not expected to be a trend. As a percentage of life premium, underwriting margin was stable at 26%.

 

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Health insurance, comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. Health premium accounted for 45% of our total premium in the 2007 period, while the health underwriting margin accounted for 33% of total underwriting margin, reflective of the lower underwriting margin as a percent of premium for health compared with life insurance. Our health products are supplemental health plans that include a variety of limited-benefit health plans including hospital/surgical, cancer and accident plans sold to customers under age 65, as well as Medicare Supplements sold to Medicare enrollees. Beginning January 1, 2006, we also began providing coverage under the Medicare Part D prescription plan. Because of the significant contribution to premium and underwriting income of our new Medicare Part D health product, Medicare Part D business will be shown as a separate health component and will be discussed separately in the analysis of the health segment.

Total health insurance premium for the 2007 period as viewed by management was $634 million, up 5%. Excluding Medicare Part D premium, health premium was $524 million, an increase of 2% over the prior period. A reconciliation between segment reporting for Part D and GAAP is discussed under the caption Medicare Part D in this report.

The table below is an analysis of our health premium by distribution method.

Health Insurance

Premium by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

United American Independent Agency

   $ 202,016    39    $ 215,757    42    $ (13,741 )   (6 )

United American Branch Office Agency

     194,369    37      173,074    34      21,295     12  

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     71,884    14      71,759    14      125     0  

American Income Exclusive Agency

     34,244    6      32,643    6      1,601     5  

Direct Response

     21,360    4      20,034    4      1,326     7  
                                  

Subtotal

     523,873    100      513,267    100      10,606     2  
                    

Medicare Part D

     109,787         92,415         17,372     19  
                              

Total Health Premium

   $ 633,660       $ 605,682       $ 27,978     5  
                                  

 

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Presented below is a table of health net sales by distribution method.

Health Insurance

Net Sales by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

United American Branch Office Agency

   $ 86,264    70    $ 74,679    63    $ 11,585     16  

United American Independent Agency

     23,367    19      29,389    25      (6,022 )   (20 )

American Income Exclusive Agency

     5,338    4      5,898    5      (560 )   (9 )

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     4,627    4      6,094    5      (1,467 )   (24 )

Direct Response

     3,174    3      3,101    2      73     2  
                                  

Subtotal

     122,770    100      119,161    100      3,609     3  
                    

Medicare Part D*

     24,203         261,995         (237,792 )   (91 )
                              

Total Health Net Sales

   $ 146,973       $ 381,156       $ (234,183 )   (61 )
                                  

* Net sales for Medicare Part D represents only new first-time enrollees.

The following table presents health insurance first-year collected premium by distribution method.

Health Insurance

First-Year Collected Premium by Distribution Method

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

United American Branch Office Agency

   $ 64,231    66    $ 47,808    56    $ 16,423     34  

United American Independent Agency

     20,743    21      23,871    28      (3,128 )   (13 )

American Income Exclusive Agency

     5,920    6      5,960    7      (40 )   (1 )

Liberty National Exclusive Agency

     4,412    4      5,142    6      (730 )   (14 )

Direct Response

     2,618    3      2,549    3      69     3  
                                  

Subtotal

     97,924    100      85,330    100      12,594     15  
                    

Medicare Part D*

     41,332         92,415         (51,083 )   (55 )
                              

Total

   $ 139,256       $ 177,745       $ (38,489 )   (22 )
                                  

* First-year collected premium for Medicare Part D represents only premium collected from new first-time enrollees in their first policy year.

 

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Below is an analysis of health net sales by product type.

Health Insurance

Net Sales by Product Type

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

Limited-benefit plans

   $ 108,643    88    $ 99,336    83    $ 9,307     9  

Medicare Supplement

     14,127    12      19,825    17      (5,698 )   (29 )
                                  

Subtotal

     122,770    100      119,161    100      3,609     3  
                    

Medicare Part D*

     24,203         261,995         (237,792 )   (91 )
                              

Total

   $ 146,973       $ 381,156       $ (234,183 )   (61 )
                                  

* Net sales for Medicare Part D represents only new first-time enrollees.

The following table is an additional presentation of first-year collected health premium by product type.

Health Insurance

First-Year Collected Premium by Product Type

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,   

Increase

(Decrease)

 
     2007    2006   
     Amount    % of
Total
   Amount    % of
Total
   Amount     %  

Limited-benefit plans

   $ 83,439    85    $ 68,099    80    $ 15,340     23  

Medicare Supplement

     14,485    15      17,231    20      (2,746 )   (16 )
                                  

Subtotal

     97,924    100      85,330    100      12,594     15  
                    

Medicare Part D*

     41,332         92,415         (51,083 )   (55 )
                              

Total

   $ 139,256       $ 177,745       $ (38,489 )   (22 )
                                  

* First-year collected premium for Medicare Part D represents only premium collected from new first-time enrollees in their first policy year.

Health insurance, excluding Medicare Part D. In recent periods, we have emphasized the sale of limited-benefit health insurance products rather than Medicare Supplement insurance, as customer demand for the limited-benefit hospital/surgical plans has increased and price competition and decreased demand for Medicare Supplements have caused reduced sales of that product. Even though Medicare Supplement remains our dominant health product in terms of premium income, the contribution to premium of other health products has increased rapidly. Medicare Supplement represented 52% of total health premium income for the first six months of 2007, compared with 56% a year earlier. In addition, net sales of limited-benefit plans were 88% of health sales in the 2007 period, compared with 83% in the 2006 period, reflecting the change in product mix in sales of health insurance business. Limited-benefit plan first-year collected premium accounted for 85% of collections, compared with 80% in the prior period.

 

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The United American (UA) Branch Office and Independent Agencies are the predominant distributors of health products, primarily limited-benefit hospital/surgical plans. These agencies accounted for $396 million or 76% of our 2007 health premium income, exclusive of Part D premium. In recent periods, the focus of these agencies has been toward an increased emphasis on limited-benefit hospital/surgical policies sold to customers under age 65. Accordingly, these agencies have expanded their product lines as increased consumer demand for under-age-65 supplemental health products has resulted from the increase in the number of Americans without health insurance.

The UA Branch Office is a captive agency which focuses on sales of limited-benefit hospital/surgical plans. As is the case with all of our captive agency forces, growing the number of agents is critical to growth in sales. This agency has had ongoing recruiting initiatives, and as a result, this agency grew 18% over the prior year to 3,252 producing agents at June 30, 2007. As a result of the growth in this agency, net sales rose 16% over the prior year to $86 million and first-year collected premium increased 34% to $64 million, the highest percentage increase in new business of any Torchmark distribution group, life or health. For the first time, this agency has surpassed the UA Independent Agency in annualized health premium in force. Emphasis on sales of limited-benefit hospital/surgical plans resulted in premium growth of 45% in these products in 2007 to $100 million, surpassing this agency’s Medicare Supplement premium. However, the 9% decline in Medicare Supplement premium reduced the growth in total health premium at this distribution channel to 12%.

The UA Independent Agency consists of independent agencies appointed with Torchmark who also sell for other companies. The UA Independent Agency is Torchmark’s largest carrier of Medicare Supplement insurance, with Medicare Supplement annualized premium in force of $301 million at June 30, 2007. This represented approximately 57% of all Torchmark Medicare Supplement premium in force at that date. However, sales and premium of this Agency have declined over the prior period. In the first six months of 2007, total net sales declined 20% to $23 million and total health premium fell 6% to $202 million, respectively.

Other agencies. Certain of our other distribution channels market health products, although their main emphasis is on life insurance. On a combined basis, they account for 24% of health premium. The Liberty National Agency markets primarily limited-benefit cancer products. American Income also markets a variety of limited-benefit plans, primarily accident. The Direct Response group markets primarily Medicare Supplements to employer or union-sponsored groups. Direct Response is also involved in marketing Medicare Part D.

 

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Medicare Part D. Coverage under Torchmark’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for Medicare beneficiaries began January 1, 2006 and has been offered again in 2007. Medicare Part D is marketed by Torchmark through our Direct Response organization and our UA Independent and Branch Agencies.

As described in Note D—Business Segments, we report our Medicare Part D business for segment analysis purposes as we view the business, in which expected full-year benefits are matched with the related premium income which is received evenly throughout the policy year. At this time, we have expensed benefits based on our expected benefit ratio of 80% for the 2007 contract year. This ratio was 77% for the full year 2006. Also described in Note D are the differences between the segment analysis and GAAP. Due to the design of the Medicare prescription drug product, claims are expected to be heaviest early in the calendar year. Management believes that the use of the full-year loss ratio is an appropriate measure for interim results, and also that these reporting differences will arise only on an interim basis and will be eliminated at the end of a full year, as they did in the full year of 2006.

 

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Medicare Part D underwriting results are summarized in the following chart, with corresponding adjustments for GAAP.

Medicare Part D

Summary of Medicare Part D Results

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2007
     Per
Segment
Analysis
   % of
Premium
   Adjustments     GAAP

Premium

   $ 109,787    100    $ 19,372 (1)   $ 129,159

Policy obligations

     87,927    80      26,647 (2)     114,574

Pharmacy Benefit Manager fees

     8,034    7        8,034

Amortization of acquisition costs

     2,746    3        2,746
                          

Insurance underwriting income before other income and administrative expense

   $ 11,080    10    $ (7,275 )   $ 3,805
                          
     Six months ended June 30, 2006
     Per
Segment
Analysis
   % of
Premium
   Adjustments     GAAP

Premium

   $ 92,415    100    $ 29,727 (1)   $ 122,142

Policy obligations

     73,685    80      35,765 (2)     109,450

Pharmacy Benefit Manager fees

     7,393    8        7,393

Amortization of acquisition costs

     2,772    3        2,772
                          

Insurance underwriting income before other income and administrative expense

   $ 8,565    9    $ (6,038 )   $ 2,527
                          

(1) Reflects a receivable from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for risk sharing related to claims we paid in the first six months. This receivable is not recognized in the segment analysis because the risk- sharing adjustment, if any, will be based on contract year experience, not the experience of interim periods.
(2) Deferral of excess benefits incurred in earlier interim quarters to later quarters in order to more closely match the benefit cost with the associated revenue during the contract year.

Medicare Part D premium was $110 million in 2007 compared with $92 million in 2006, after removal of the risk-sharing adjustment in both periods noted above. Premium for the 2007 period has increased 19% over the year-ago period primarily because in the 2006 plan, Medicare beneficiaries were allowed until mid May, 2006 to enroll. However, for the 2007 plan, all enrollments had to be completed by December 31, 2006. Enrollees turning age 65 after these dates are allowed to enroll when they become age 65.

 

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We do not expect a high level of growth in the number of enrollees in our Medicare Part D coverage in future periods, as most eligible enrollees chose a carrier in 2006. Also, because this is a government-sponsored program, regulatory changes could alter the outlook for this market.

The following table presents underwriting margin data for health insurance.

Health Insurance

Summary of Results

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2007
     Health *    % of
Premium
   Medicare
Part D
   % of
Premium
   Total
Health
   % of
Premium

Premium and policy charges

   $ 523,873    100    $ 109,787    100    $ 633,660    100

Net policy obligations

     328,604    63      87,927    80      416,531    66

Commissons and acquisition expense

     101,916    19      10,780    10      112,696    18
                                   

Insurance underwriting income before other income and administrative expense

   $ 93,353    18    $ 11,080    10    $ 104,433    16
                                   
     Six months ended June 30, 2006
     Health *    % of
Premium
   Medicare
Part D
   % of
Premium
   Total
Health
   % of
Premium

Premium and policy charges

   $ 513,267    100    $ 92,415    100    $ 605,682    100

Net policy obligations

     324,479    63      73,685    80      398,164    66

Commissons and acquisition expense

     97,441    19      10,165    11      107,606    18
                                   

Insurance underwriting income before other income and administrative expense

   $ 91,347    18    $ 8,565    9    $ 99,912    16
                                   

* Health other than Medicare Part D.

Underwriting margins for health insurance improved 5% or $4.5 million to $104 million, as premium also rose 5% to $634 million. Medicare Part D added $2.5 million to the margin growth while Liberty’s margin increased another $3.4 million. Part D’s margin rose 29% to $11.1 million while Liberty’s margin grew 24% to $17.5 million. These increases were partially offset by margin declines in the UA Independent Agency. As a percentage of health premium, underwriting margins were flat at 16%. As a percentage of premium, Liberty’s health margin improved from 20% to 24%, as they were positively affected by the changes in agents’ compensation implemented during 2006.

 

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Annuities. We market both fixed and variable annuities. Annuities represent less than 1% of total premium income and less than 2% of total underwriting income. Annuities are not a major component of our marketing strategy and continue to diminish in relation to our other operations.

Operating expenses, comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. Operating expenses consist of insurance administrative expenses and parent company expenses. Also included is stock compensation expense, which is viewed by us as a parent company expense. Insurance administrative expenses relate to premium income for a given period; therefore, we measure those expenses as a percentage of premium income. Total expenses are measured as a percentage of total revenues. An analysis of operating expenses is shown below.

Operating Expenses Selected Information

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended June 30,
     2007    2006
     Amount     %
Increase
    % of
Premium
   % of
Revenue
   Amount    %
Increase
    % of
Premium
   % of
Revenue

Insurance administrative expenses:

                    

Salaries

   $ 32,876     (0.9 )   2.3       $ 33,163    5.8     2.4   

Employee costs

     14,527     (8.2 )   1.0         15,826    8.4     1.1   

Legal

     6,349     41.5     0.4         4,486    (42.2 )   0.3   

Medicare Part D

     1,837     (40.4 )   0.1         3,084    N/A     0.2   

Other administrative costs

     20,854     (9.7 )   1.4         23,106    20.5     1.6   
                                  

Total insurance administrative expenses

     76,443     (4.0 )   5.3         79,665    9.3     5.7   
                        

Parent company expense

     4,354     (6.5 )           4,658    12.5       

Stock compensation expense

     4,290     23.1             3,485    N/A       
                              

Total operating expenses, per

                    

Consolidated Statements of

                    

Operations

     85,087     (3.1 )           87,808    12.3       

Expenses related to settlement of prior period litigation

     (849 )             0        
                              

Total operating expenses, per segment analysis

   $ 84,238     (4.1 )      4.7    $ 87,808    12.3        5.1
                                          

 

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Both insurance administrative expenses and total expenses declined over the prior year period. One factor in the 4% decline in insurance administrative expense was caused by the changes implemented in Liberty’s agent compensation system. The changes resulted in reductions in agent salaries and related employee costs of approximately $2.7 million in 2007 compared with the prior period. Management believes that these salary reductions could be replaced by higher deferred acquisition costs going forward, as the compensation system changes emphasize a commission-based agent compensation system rather than salaries. Commissions on new product sales are deferred and amortized over the premium-paying life of the business. Additionally, Medicare Part D administrative costs were lower in 2007 by $1.2 million, because open enrollment was still in effect in 2006 until May 15, causing us to incur additional administrative expense. Open enrollment for the 2007 plan year was closed on December 31, 2006. Legal expense incurred in 2007 in the amount of $849 thousand was related to litigation originating several years ago and concerned with events occurring many years ago. This litigation was settled in 2005. We remove such amounts that arise from prior periods when evaluating current operating results in our segment analysis. Stock compensation expense rose due to a higher Black Scholes value assigned to recent grants (primarily as a result of the increase in the Torchmark stock price), and due to restricted stock granted in late 2006 for the first time in several years.

Investments (excess investment income), comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. The following table summarizes Torchmark’s investment income and excess investment income.

Excess Investment Income

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Six months ended
June 30,
    Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     Amount     %  

Net investment income *

   $ 323,177     $ 308,118     $ 15,059     5  

Required interest on net insurance policy liabilities

     (126,406 )     (116,656 )     (9,750 )   8  

Financing costs:

        

Debt

     (33,666 )     (33,432 )     (234 )   1  

Interest rate swaps

     0       491       (491 )   (100 )
                          

Total financing costs

     (33,666 )     (32,941 )     (725 )   2  
        

Excess investment income

   $ 163,105     $ 158,521     $ 4,584     3  
                              

Excess investment income per share

   $ 1.67     $ 1.55     $ 0.12     8  
                              

* Net investment income per Torchmark’s segment analysis does not agree with Net investment income per the Consolidated Statements of Operations as explained in the Reconciliation in Note E—Business Segments.

 

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The Investment segment is responsible for the management of capital resources, including investments, debt, and cash flow. As defined in Note DBusiness Segments, excess investment income is the profitability measure used by management to evaluate the performance of the Investment segment. Management also views excess investment income per diluted share as an important performance measure for this segment. It is defined as excess investment income divided by the total diluted weighted average shares outstanding, representing the contribution by the Investment segment to the consolidated earnings per share of the Company. Since 1986, we have used excess cash flow to repurchase Torchmark shares under our ongoing share repurchase program after determining that the repurchases provided a greater return than other investment alternatives. Share repurchases reduce excess investment income because of the potential earnings foregone on cash that could have otherwise been invested in interest-bearing assets, but the repurchases also reduce the number of shares outstanding. In order to put all capital resource uses on a comparable basis, management believes that excess investment income per diluted share is the most appropriate measure of the Investment segment.

Growth in excess investment income continues to be restrained in 2007, as the spreads between long-term rates and short-term rates remain narrow compared with historical spreads. Nonetheless, excess investment income increased 3% during the six month period from $159 million in 2006 to $163 million. On a per share basis, excess investment income per share rose 8% to $1.67. The largest component of excess investment income is net investment income, which rose 5% to $323 million.

Average invested assets, which include fixed maturities at amortized cost, were $9.7 billion in the 2007 period, compared with a $9.2 billion average a year earlier. This 6% increase closely correlates with the 5% increase in net investment income. The increase in portfolio size was achieved even though we used excess operating cash flows in the prior twelve months to repurchase $351 million of Torchmark shares under our share repurchase program, although we did increase our commercial paper debt by $149 million. Please see the discussion in Capital Resources for more information on our capital transactions.

The increase in net investment income was partially offset by the increased required interest on insurance liabilities and a slight increase in financing costs. Required interest on policy liabilities increased 8% to $126 million, correlating somewhat with the 7% growth in average interest-bearing net insurance policy liabilities.

 

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Financing costs for this segment primarily consist of interest on our various debt instruments. The following table reconciles interest expense per the Consolidated Statements of Operations to financing costs.

Reconciliation of Interest Expense to Financing Costs

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     For the six months ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Interest expense per Consolidated Statements of Operations

   $ 33,798     $ 33,628  

Reclassification of interest amount due to deconsolidation

     (132 )     (196 )

Benefit from interest-rate swaps

     0       (491 )
                

Financing costs

   $ 33,666     $ 32,941  
                

The table below presents the components of financing costs.

Analysis of Financing Costs

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     For the six months ended
June 30,
 
     2007    2006  

Interest on funded debt

   $ 26,556    $ 26,891  

Interest on short-term debt

     7,110      6,541  

Benefit from interest-rate swaps

     0      (491 )
               

Financing costs

   $ 33,666    $ 32,941  
               

Financing costs increased 2% over the previous year’s period to $34 million, primarily as a result of the disposition of two profitable interest-rate swaps in the second quarter of 2006. The disposition of the two swaps reduced 2006 financing costs $491 thousand. We had no swaps outstanding in the 2007 period. Additionally, approximately $569 thousand of the increase in financing costs was due to the increase in short-term borrowing costs caused by the effect of higher short-term rates on our commercial paper debt. In a public offering during the second quarter of 2006, we issued our 7.1% Trust Preferred Securities, funded by our issuance to Capital Trust III of $124 million principal amount 7.1% Junior Subordinated Debentures. Also during that quarter we issued $250 million principal amount of our 6 3/8% Senior Notes. These new issues were offered to replace our 7 3/4% Trust Preferred Securities supported by our 7 3/4% Junior Subordinated Debentures and our 6 1/4% Senior Notes, in the combined principal amount of $335 million. The 7 3/4% Trust Preferreds and the 6 1/4% Senior Notes were called and matured, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2006. These new offerings in 2006 effectively added $39 million of principal to our long-term debt balance for most of the first half of 2007, albeit with lower interest rates, reducing financing costs approximately $212 thousand in the 2007 period. Please refer to the caption “Capital Resources” in this report for more information on our capital transactions and swaps.

 

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As previously noted, the relatively flattened yield curve, whereby lower long-term interest rates coincide with higher short-term rates, has caused the growth in excess investment income to continue to be restricted. Excess investment income would benefit if long-term rates available on new investments were to rise or short-term borrowing rates were to decline. Of these two factors, higher investment rates will have the greater impact because of the significant cash flow generated from operations becoming available for investment.

Investments (acquisitions), comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. Torchmark’s current investment policy calls for investing almost exclusively in investment-grade fixed maturities when long-term yields on suitable investments are available at or above 6 1/2%. Otherwise, new money is invested short-term. In the low interest-rate environment of the past few years, acquisitions of new investments have been made at yields lower than the average portfolio yield rate, causing a steady decline in the average portfolio yield.

During the first six months of 2007, we acquired $1.5 billion of fixed maturities with an average yield of 6.7% and an average rating of A. This compares with the $730 million of fixed maturities with an average yield of 6.6% and an average rating of A+ that we acquired during the first six months of 2006. The primary reason we invested more money during the first six months of 2007 than in the same period of 2006 was because more investable funds were available due to an increase in the level of maturities, calls, and sales of securities in our portfolio. While this level of portfolio turnover was unusually high, it was expected, and is also expected to moderate in 2007. The fixed maturities that we acquired during the first six months of 2007 included a combination of investment-grade fixed maturity corporate bonds, tax-exempt municipals, and trust preferred securities (classified as redeemable preferred stocks). These securities spanned a range of issuers, industry sectors, and geographical regions.

The following chart summarizes selected information for fixed-maturity purchases. The effective annual yield shown is the yield calculated to the potential termination date that produces the lowest yield. This date is commonly known as the “worst call date.” For noncallable bonds, the worst call date is always the maturity date. For callable bonds, the worst call date is the call date that produces the lowest yield (or the maturity date, if the yield calculated to the maturity date is less than or equal to the yield calculated to each of the call dates.) Two different average life calculations are shown, average life to next call date and average life to maturity date.

 

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Fixed Maturity Acquisitions Selected Information

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

     For the six months ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Cost of acquisitions:

    

Investment-grade corporate securities

   $ 1,233     $ 730  

Tax-exempt municipal securities

     257       0  
                

Total fixed-maturity acquisitions

   $ 1,490     $ 730  
                

Effective annual yield (one year compounded)*

     6.71  %     6.64  %

Average life (in years, to next call)

     19.7       9.8  

Average life (in years, to maturity)

     31.9       22.9  

* Tax-equivalent basis, whereby the yield on tax-exempt securities is adjusted to produce a yield equivalent to the pretax yield on taxable securities.

Investments (portfolio composition), comparing June 30, 2007 with June 30, 2006. Approximately 94% of our investments at fair value are in a diversified fixed-maturity portfolio. Policy loans, which are secured by policy cash values, make up an additional 3%. The remaining balance is comprised of other investments including equity securities, mortgage loans, and other long-term and short-term investments. At June 30, 2007, fixed maturities had a fair value of $9.2 billion, compared with $9.1 billion at December 31, 2006 and $8.9 billion at June 30, 2006. An analysis of our fixed-maturity portfolio by component at June 30, 2007 is as follows.

Fixed Maturities by Component

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   % of Total
Fixed
Maturities*

Fixed maturities available for sale:

             

Bonds:

             

U.S. Government direct obligations
& agencies

   $ 20    $ 0    $ 0     $ 20    0.2

Government sponsored enterprises

     269      0      (8 )     261    2.9

GNMA pools and other mortgage-backed securities

     56      2      0       58    0.7

Corporates

     7,068      155      (170 )     7,053    77.0

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     269      0      (12 )     257    2.8

Other

     183      5      (1 )     187    2.0

Redeemable preferred stocks

     1,314      34      (32 )     1,316    14.4
                                 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 9,179    $ 196    $ (223 )   $ 9,152    100.0
                                 

* At fair value

 

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An analysis of the fixed-maturity portfolio by quality rating at June 30, 2007 is as follows.

Fixed Maturities by Rating*

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

     Amortized
Cost
   %    Fair
Value
   %

Investment grade:

           

AAA

   $ 776    9    $ 756    8

AA

     486    5      493    6

A

     3,210    35      3,268    36

BBB

     4,030    44      3,962    43
                       

Investment grade

     8,502    93      8,479    93

Below investment grade:

           

BB

     482    5      488    5

B

     173    2      164    2

Below B

     22    0      21    0
                       

Below investment grade

     677    7      673    7
                       
   $ 9,179    100    $ 9,152    100
                       

* Rating based on Bloomberg composite
** Of the amortized cost and fair value amounts shown as “BBB” in the above table, approximately 37% were rated BBB+, 41% were rated BBB, and 22% were rated BBB-.

 

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The portfolio has an average quality rating of “A-.” Approximately 93% of the portfolio at amortized cost was considered investment grade.

Over 93% of our fixed-maturity holdings are in corporate securities. Investments in corporate fixed maturities are diversified in a wide range of industry sectors. At fair value, the following table presents the largest twelve holdings of our corporate fixed maturities by industry sector at June 30, 2007.

 

Industry

   %

Insurance carriers

   21

Depository institutions

   14

Electric, gas, sanitation services

   11

Nondepository credit institutions (finance)

   8

Communications

   4

Oil & gas extraction

   4

Chemicals & allied products

   3

Food & kindred products

   3

Security & commodity brokers

   2

Media (printing, publishing & allied lines)

   2

Petroleum refining & related industries

   2

Metal mining

   2

All other sectors *

   24
    
   100
    

* No other individual industry sector represented more than 2% of Torchmark’s corporate fixed maturities.

Additional information concerning the fixed-maturity portfolio is as follows.

Fixed Maturity Portfolio Selected Information

 

     At June 30,
2007
    At December 31,
2006
    At June 30,
2006
 

Amortized cost (millions)

   $ 9,179     $ 8,898     $ 8,876  

Gross unrealized gains (millions)

     196       319       204  

Gross unrealized losses (millions)

     (223 )(2)     (90 )     (219 )
                        

Fair value (millions)

   $ 9,152     $ 9,127     $ 8,861  
                        

Average annual effective yield

     6.97 %     7.02 %     7.04 %

Average life (in years, to next call) (1)

     13.7       10.6       9.6  

Average life (in years, to maturity) (1)

     19.6       16.5       15.8  

Effective duration (to next call) (1), (3)

     7.4       6.5       6.0  

Effective duration (to maturity) (1), (3)

     9.4       8.6       8.1  

(1) Torchmark calculates the average life and duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio two ways: (a) based on the next call date which is the next call date for callable bonds and the maturity date for noncallable bonds, and

(b) based on the maturity date of all bonds, whether callable or not.

(2) Of the $223 million gross unrealized losses at June 30, 2007, only $13 million related to securities which had a fair value less than 80% of book value, the remainder all had fair values greater than 80% of book value.
(3) Effective duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income security to a particular change in interest rates.

 

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The average life and duration of the portfolio continue to increase. The increase during the first six months of 2007 is largely attributable to a significant amount of turnover in the portfolio during this period and due to the average life and duration of the securities acquired being much greater than the average life and duration of the securities disposed of.

Realized Gains and Losses, comparing the first six months of 2007 with the first six months of 2006. As discussed in Note DBusiness Segments, our core business of providing insurance coverage requires us to maintain a large and diverse investment portfolio to support our insurance liabilities. From time to time, investments are disposed of or written down prior to maturity for reasons generally beyond the control of management, resulting in realized gains or losses. As discussed in Note D, realized gains and losses are incidental, but can be significant to the earnings from core insurance operations. As a result, these gains and losses can have a material impact on net income and, if included in core operating results, might cause those results to not be indicative of the past or future performance. For these reasons, management removes the effects of realized gains and losses when evaluating its overall operating results.

The following table summarizes our tax-effected realized gains (losses) by component.

Analysis of Realized Gains (Losses)

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

 

     Six months ended June 30,  
     2007     2006  
     Amount     Per Share     Amount     Per Share  

Realized gains (losses), net of tax, from:

        

Investment sales

   $ (2,550 )   $ (.03 )   $ 1,631     $ .02  

Investments called or tendered

     7,244       .08       2,241       .02  

Loss on redemption of debt

     0       .00       (270 )     .00  

Valuation of interest rate swaps

     0       .00       (2,956 )     (.03 )

Spread on interest rate swaps *

     0       .00       319       .00  
                                

Total

   $ 4,694     $ .05     $ 965     $ .01  
                                

* The reduction in interest cost from swapping fixed-rate obligations to floating rates.

As noted earlier and discussed under the caption “Capital Resources,” we disposed of our remaining interest-rate swaps in the second quarter of 2006. Prior to their termination, accounting rules required us to value the interest-rate swaps at their fair value at the end of each accounting period. The temporary unrealized changes in swap values are included as a component of “Realized Investment Gains (Losses)” on the 2006 Consolidated Statement of Operations. This fair value adjustment for swaps on an after-tax basis was a negative $3.0 million in the six months of 2006.

 

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The Securities and Exchange Commission’s accounting guidance requires that all income and expenses related to a nonhedged derivative be recorded in the same line item on the income statement that the adjustment to fair value is recorded. Therefore, the cash settlements of the swaps were combined with the noncash unrealized fair value adjustments as a component of realized investment gains and losses. Our after-tax interest cost reduction from the cash settlements included in realized investment gains and losses was a positive $319 thousand in 2006. We reduced interest cost for this benefit in our segment analysis, because the segment analysis is required by GAAP to be presented as management evaluates the performance of the segment. We view the benefit from lower interest rates as a reduction in financing costs in our Investment segment.

As noted under the caption “Capital Resources,” we acquired with the intent to retire $3.3 million principal amount of our 7 7/8% Notes during the second quarter of 2006, recording an after-tax loss of $270 thousand.

 

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Financial Condition

Liquidity. Our liquidity is evidenced by our positive cash flow, a portfolio of marketable investments, and the availability of a line of credit facility. Our insurance operations have historically generated cash flows well in excess of immediate requirements. Net cash inflows from operations were $433 million in the first six months of 2007 compared with $432 million in the same period of 2006. In addition to cash inflows from operations, Torchmark received $580 million in investment calls and $288 million of scheduled maturities or repayments during the 2007 six months.

Cash and short-term investments were $119 million at June 30, 2007, compared with $173 million at December 31, 2006 and $83 million at the end of June, 2006. In addition to these liquid assets, the entire $9.2 billion (fair value at June 30, 2007) portfolio of fixed-income and equity securities is available for sale in the event of an unexpected need. Substantially all of our fixed-income and equity securities are publicly traded. We generally expect to hold fixed-income securities to maturity. Even though these securities are available for sale, we have the ability and intent to hold securities which are temporarily impaired until they mature.

We have a line of credit facility with a group of lenders which terminates on August 31, 2011. It allows unsecured borrowings and stand-by letters of credit up to $600 million. Up to $175 million in letters of credit can be issued against the facility. The line of credit is further designated as a back-up credit line for a commercial paper program not to exceed $600 million, whereby we may borrow from either the credit line or issue commercial paper at any time, with total commercial paper outstanding not to exceed $600 million, less any letters of credit issued. Interest is charged at variable rates. A facility fee is charged on the entire facility. There are also issuance and fronting fees related to the letters of credit and there is an additional usage fee if borrowing exceeds $300 million. The facility has no ratings-based acceleration triggers which would require early repayment. In accordance with the agreements, we are subject to certain covenants regarding capitalization and interest coverage in which we were in full compliance at June 30, 2007. As of June 30, 2007, $264 million face amount of commercial paper was outstanding ($263 million book value), $155 million letters of credit were issued, and there were no borrowings under the line of credit.

Torchmark (Parent Company) is dependent on dividends from the insurance subsidiaries in order to meet its interest and principal repayment obligations on debt, to pay expenses, and to pay shareholder dividends. While insurance statutory regulations restrict the flow of dividends to the parent, these dividends are expected to be more than adequate to meet Parent Company obligations. In the first six months of 2007, $289 million dividends were paid to the Parent Company by the insurance subsidiaries.

 

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Capital resources. The capital structure consists of short-term debt (consisting of the commercial paper facility described above and maturities of long-term debt within one year), long-term funded debt, and shareholders’ equity. The outstanding long-term debt at book value, including our Junior Subordinated Debentures, was $721 million at June 30, 2007, compared with $721 million at December 31, 2006 and $870 million at June 30, 2006. An analysis of long-term debt issues outstanding is as follows at June 30, 2007 and 2006.

Long Term Debt at June 30, 2007

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

Instrument

   Year
Due
   Interest
Rate
    Par
Value
   Book
Value
    Fair
Value
 

Senior Debentures

   2009     1/4 %   $ 99.5    $ 99.5     $ 104.8  

Notes

   2023    7 7/8       165.6      162.9       193.1  

Notes

   2013     3/8       94.0      93.3       101.8  

Senior Notes

   2016    6  3/8       250.0      246.3       258.4  

Issue expenses (1)

             (4.2 )  
                            

Total long-term debt

          609.1      597.8       658.1  

Junior Subordinated Debentures (2)

   2046    7.1       123.7      123.7       122.9 (3)
                            

Total

        $ 732.8    $ 721.5     $ 781.0  
                            

(1) Unamortized issue expenses related to Torchmark’s Trust Preferred Securities.
(2) Included in “Due to Affiliates” in accordance with accounting regulations.
(3) Market value of the Trust Preferred Securities which are obligations of unconsolidated corporate trust.

Outstanding debt at June 30, 2006 was as follows:

Long Term Debt at June 30, 2006

(Dollar amounts in millions)

 

Instrument

   Year
Due
   Interest
Rate
    Par
Value
   Book
Value
    Fair
Value
 

Senior Debentures

   2009     1/4 %   $ 99.5    $ 99.5     $ 106.4  

Notes

   2023    7 7/8       165.6      162.8       190.4  

Notes

   2013     3/8       94.0      93.2       101.5  

Senior Notes

   2016    6  3/8       250.0      246.0       253.2  

Issue expenses (1)

             (9.7 )  
                            

Total long-term debt

          609.1      591.8       651.5  

Junior Subordinated Debentures (2)

   2041     3/4       154.6      154.6       152.3 (3)

Junior Subordinated Debenture (2)

   2046    7.1       123.7      123.7       119.5 (3)
                            

Total

        $ 887.4    $ 870.1     $ 923.3  
                            

(1) Unamortized issue expenses related to Torchmark’s Trust Preferred Securities.
(2) Included in “Due to Affiliates” in accordance with accounting regulations.
(3) Market value of the Trust Preferred Securities which are obligations of unconsolidated corporate trusts.

 

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A comparison of funded debt outstanding with the year ago balance is affected by four transactions that occurred in 2006. In the second quarter of 2006, Torchmark issued $123.7 million of 7.1% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2046 and $250 million principal amount of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2016. The Junior Subordinated Debentures are payable to Torchmark Capital Trust III which in turn issued 4.8 million shares of 7.1% Trust Preferred Securities in a public offering in June, 2006. Issue expenses of $8.3 million were connected with these new issues and were deducted from long-term debt. In the fourth quarter of 2006, our 6 1/4% Senior Notes in the principal amount of $180 million matured and were repaid. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2006, we called our 7 3/4% Trust Preferred Securities in the principal amount of $150 million. This call resulted in the repayment of our 7 3/4% Junior Subordinated Debentures in the principal amount of $155 million to our Capital Trusts I and II. The combined result of the second quarter offerings and the fourth quarter refundings ultimately added a net amount of $39 million of principal to our funded debt.

As previously mentioned, during June, 2006, we acquired with the intent to retire $3.3 million par value of our 7 7/8% Notes due 2023 at a cost of $3.7 million. This transaction resulted in an after-tax realized loss of $270 thousand.

We sold our two remaining interest-rate swaps in the second quarter of 2006, as rising short-term rates continued to reduce future prospects for positive interest-rate spreads. These swaps had previously exchanged the fixed-interest commitments for floating rate commitments on our 6 1/4% Senior Notes due December, 2006 ($180 million notional amount) and 7 3/4% Trust Preferred Securities due November, 2041 ($150 million notional amount).

We acquired 4.5 million of our outstanding common shares with excess operating cash flow on the open market at a cost of $298 million ($66.10 per share) during the first six months of 2007 under our ongoing share repurchase program. Please refer to the description of our share repurchase program under the caption Highlights in this report. We intend to continue the repurchase of our common shares when financial markets are favorable.

Shareholders’ equity was $3.25 billion at June 30, 2007. This compares with $3.46 billion at December 31, 2006 and $3.13 billion at June 30, 2006. Since year end, shareholder’s equity was reduced by the $298 million in share purchases made under the Company’s share repurchase program over the preceding six months and by $157 million of unrealized losses in the fixed maturity portfolio during the same period as a result of rising long-term interest rates.

We are required by an accounting rule (SFAS 115) to revalue our available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio to fair market value at the end of each accounting period. These changes, net of their associated impact on deferred acquisition costs and income tax, are reflected directly in shareholders’ equity. Changes in the fair value of the portfolio compared with prior periods result primarily from changes in interest rates in financial markets. While SFAS 115 requires invested assets to be revalued, it does not permit

 

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interest-bearing insurance policy liabilities to be valued at fair value in a consistent manner. If these liabilities were revalued in the same manner as the assets, the effect on equity would be largely offset. The size of both the investment portfolio and our policy liabilities are quite large in relation to our shareholders’ equity. Therefore, this inconsistency in measurement usually has a material impact on the reported value of shareholders’ equity. Fluctuations in interest rates cause volatility in the period-to-period presentation of our shareholders’ equity, capital structure, and financial ratios which would be substantially removed if interest-bearing liabilities were valued in the same manner as assets. For this reason, management, credit rating agencies, lenders, many industry analysts, and certain other financial statement users remove the effect of SFAS 115 when analyzing Torchmark’s balance sheet, capital structure, and financial ratios.

The FASB issued SFAS Statement 159, effective for Torchmark beginning in 2008, which provides us with the opportunity to carry our interest-bearing policy liabilities and debt as well as our invested assets at market value, with changes reflected in earnings. The size of this unrealized adjustment to earnings in relation to net income each period could be considerable and very volatile, causing our earnings not to be reflective of core results, historical patterns, or predictive of future earnings trends. Therefore, we will not elect to adopt this Statement.

The following table presents selected data related to capital resources. Additionally, the table presents the effect of SFAS 115 on relevant line items, so that investors and other financial statement users may determine its impact on our capital structure.

Selected Financial Data

 

     At June 30,
2007
    At December 31,
2006
    At June 30,
2006
 
     GAAP     Effect of
SFAS 115*
    GAAP     Effect of
SFAS 115*
    GAAP     Effect of
SFAS 115*
 

Fixed maturities (millions)

   $ 9,152     $ (27 )   $ 9,127     $ 229     $ 8,861     $ (15 )

Deferred acquisition costs (millions) **

     3,071       4       2,956       (11 )     2,895       5  

Total assets (millions)

     15,098       (23 )     14,980       219       14,782       (9 )

Short-term debt (millions)

     263       0       170       0       294       0  

Long-term debt (millions)

     721       0       721       0       870       0  

Shareholders’ equity (millions)

     3,248       (15 )     3,459       142       3,127       (6 )

Book value per diluted share

     34.04       (0.16 )     34.68       1.43       31.14       (0.06 )

Debt to capitalization ***

     23.3 %     0.1 %     20.5 %     (0.7 )%     27.1 %     0.0 %

Diluted shares outstanding (thousands)

     95,412         99,755         100,419    

Actual shares outstanding (thousands)

     93,798         98,115         98,926    

* Amount added to (deducted from) comprehensive income to produce the stated GAAP item.
** Includes the value of insurance purchased.
*** Torchmark’s debt covenants require that the effect of SFAS 115 be removed to determine this ratio.

Interest coverage was 12.7 times in the 2007 six months compared with 12.2 times in the prior period.

 

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Pension assets. The following chart presents assets at fair value for our defined-benefit pension plans at June 30, 2007 and the prior-year end.

Pension Assets by Component

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     June 30, 2007    December 31, 2006
     Amount    %    Amount    %

Corporate debt

   $ 41,866    20.6    $ 48,720    24.6

Other fixed maturities

     890    0.4      962    0.5

Equity securities

     156,425    77.1      143,233    72.4

Short-term investments

     2,844    1.4      2,565    1.3

Other

     1,003    0.5      2,314    1.2
                       

Total

   $ 203,028    100.0    $ 197,794    100.0
                       

The liability for the funded defined-benefit pension plan was $193 million at December 31, 2006. As disclosed in Note C, we intend to contribute an amount not to exceed $20 million to this plan and set aside an amount equal to the SERP obligation (approximately $17 million) in 2007. Contributions in the amount of $6 million have been made to the pension plan as of June 30, 2007.

New Unadopted Accounting Rules

There have been no new standards with material application to Torchmark issued in 2007 that were not disclosed in prior filings.

Cautionary Statements

We caution readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in the previous discussion and elsewhere in this document, and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of Torchmark whether or not in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any statement that is not a historical fact, or that might otherwise be considered an opinion or projection concerning Torchmark or its business, whether express or implied, is meant as and should be considered a forward-looking statement. Such statements represent management’s opinions concerning future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. We specifically disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

 

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Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. If these estimates or assumptions prove to be incorrect, the actual results of Torchmark may differ materially from the forward-looking statements made on the basis of such estimates or assumptions. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments, which may be national in scope, related to the insurance industry generally, or applicable to Torchmark specifically. Such events or developments could include, but are not necessarily limited to:

 

  1) Changing general economic conditions leading to unexpected changes in lapse rates and/or sales of our policies, as well as levels of mortality, morbidity, and utilization of health care services that differ from Torchmark’s assumptions;

 

  2) Regulatory developments, including changes in governmental regulations (particularly those impacting taxes and changes to the Federal Medicare program that would affect Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D insurance);

 

  3) Market trends in the senior-aged health care industry that provide alternatives to traditional Medicare (such as Health Maintenance Organizations and other managed care or private plans) and that could affect the sales of traditional Medicare Supplement insurance;

 

  4) Interest rate changes that affect product sales and/or investment portfolio yield;

 

  5) General economic, industry sector or individual debt issuers’ financial conditions that may affect the current market value of securities we own, or that may impair an issuers’ ability to make principal and/or interest payments due on those securities;

 

  6) Changes in pricing competition;

 

  7) Litigation results;

 

  8) Levels of administrative and operational efficiencies that differ from our assumptions;

 

  9) Our inability to obtain timely and appropriate premium rate increases for health insurance policies due to regulatory delay;

 

  10) The customer response to new products and marketing initiatives; and

 

  11) Reported amounts in the financial statements which are based on management’s estimates and judgments which may differ from the actual amounts ultimately realized.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no quantitative or qualitative changes with respect to market risk exposure during the six months ended June 30, 2007.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Torchmark, under the direction of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Torchmark in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are also intended to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to Torchmark’s management, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

As of the end of the fiscal quarter completed June 30, 2007, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of Torchmark management, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Torchmark’s disclosure controls and procedures (as those terms are defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon their evaluation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that Torchmark’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the date of this Form 10-Q. In compliance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. §1350), each of these officers executed a Certification included as an exhibit to this Form 10-Q.

As of the date of this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, there have not been any significant changes in Torchmark’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Torchmark’s internal control over financial reporting. No material weaknesses in such internal controls were identified in the evaluation and as a consequence, no corrective action was required to be taken.

 

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Part II – Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Torchmark and its subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation, including claims involving tax matters, alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims based on alleged wrongful or fraudulent acts of agents of Torchmark’s subsidiaries, employment discrimination, and miscellaneous other causes of action. Based upon information presently available, and in light of legal and other factual defenses available to Torchmark and its subsidiaries, management does not believe that such litigation will have a material adverse effect on Torchmark’s financial condition, future operating results or liquidity; however, assessing the eventual outcome of litigation necessarily involves forward-looking speculation as to judgments to be made by judges, juries and appellate courts in the future. This bespeaks caution, particularly in states with reputations for high punitive damage verdicts such as Alabama and Mississippi. Torchmark’s management recognizes that large punitive damage awards continue to occur bearing little or no relation to actual damages awarded by juries in jurisdictions in which Torchmark and its subsidiaries have substantial business, particularly Alabama and Mississippi, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments in any given punitive damage suit.

As previously reported, on March 15, 1999, Torchmark was named as a defendant in consolidated derivative securities class action litigation involving Vesta Insurance Group, Inc. filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (In Re Vesta Insurance Group, Inc. Securities Litigation, Master File No. 98-AR-1407-S). The amended consolidated complaint in this litigation alleges violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by the defendants Vesta, certain present and former Vesta officers and directors, KPMG, LLP (Vesta’s former independent public accountants) and Torchmark and of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act by certain former Vesta officers and directors and Torchmark acting as “controlling persons” of Vesta in connection with certain accounting irregularities in Vesta’s reported financial results and filed financial statements. Unspecified damages and equitable relief are sought on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of Vesta equity securities between June 2, 1995 and June 29, 1998. A class was certified in this litigation on October 25, 1999. In September, 2001, Torchmark filed a motion for summary judgment, which was denied by the District Court on January 10, 2002. On April 9, 2003, the District Court issued an order denying the class plaintiffs’ motion to strike certain of Torchmark’s affirmative defenses, holding that Torchmark cannot be held jointly and severally liable with Vesta under the securities law without an affirmative jury determination that Torchmark knowingly committed a violation of the securities laws.

Vesta, its officers and directors, its insurance carriers and KPMG settled their portions of the litigation with class plaintiffs in 2001; Torchmark did not. Subsequently, in May 2003, Torchmark instituted separate litigation against KPMG which was resolved in March, 2006. In April , 2006, class plaintiffs In Re Vesta Insurance Group Securities Litigation filed a motion in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama renewing

 

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their claims against Torchmark based upon an allegation of control person liability. This matter was set for trial in the District Court on October 2, 2006 and has been stayed pending resolution of an interlocutory appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit filed by class plaintiffs. The interlocutory appeal, which was filed August 23, 2006, seeks a ruling whether and to what extent proportionate liability provisions may apply if the allegations of control person liability against Torchmark are ultimately proven. Arguments on the interlocutory appeal were heard by the Eleventh Circuit on July 31, 2007.

As previously reported in Forms 10-K and 10-Q, Liberty National Life Insurance Company and Torchmark Corporation were parties to purported class action litigation filed in the Circuit Court of Choctaw County, Alabama on behalf of all persons who currently or in the past were insured under Liberty cancer policies which were no longer being marketed, regardless of whether the policies remained in force or lapsed (Roberts v. Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Case No. CV-2002-009-B). These cases were based on allegations of breach of contract in the implementation of premium rate increases, misrepresentation regarding the premium rate increases, fraud and suppression concerning the closed block of business and unjust enrichment. On December 30, 2003, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an opinion granting Liberty’s and Torchmark’s petition for a writ of mandamus, concluding that the Choctaw Circuit Court did not have subject matter jurisdiction and ordering that Circuit Court to dismiss the action. The plaintiffs then filed their purported class action litigation against Liberty and Torchmark in the Circuit Court of Barbour County, Alabama on December 30, 2003 (Roberts v. Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Civil Action No. CV-03-0137). On April 16, 2004 the parties filed a written Stipulation of Agreement of Compromise and Settlement with the Barbour County, Alabama Circuit Court seeking potential settlement of the Roberts case. A fairness hearing on the potential settlement was held by the Barbour County Circuit Court with briefs received on certain issues, materials relating to objections to the proposed settlement submitted to the Court-appointed independent special master, objectors to the potential settlement heard, and a report of the Court-appointed independent actuary received on certain issues thereafter.

On November 22, 2004, the Court entered an order and final judgment in Roberts whereby the Court consolidated Roberts with Robertson v. Liberty National Life Insurance Company, CV-92-021 (previously reported in Forms 10-K and 10-Q) for purposes of the Roberts Stipulation of Settlement and certified the Roberts class as a new subclass of the class previously certified by that Court in Robertson. The Court approved the Stipulation and Settlement and ordered and enjoined Liberty to perform its obligations under the Stipulation. The Court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims, released the defendants, enjoined Roberts subclass members from any further prosecution of released claims and retained continuing jurisdiction of all matters relating to the Roberts settlement. In an order issued February 1, 2005, the Court denied the objectors’ motion to alter, amend or vacate its earlier final judgment on class settlement and certification. The companies proceeded to implement the settlement terms. On March 10, 2005, the Roberts plaintiffs filed notice of appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.

 

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In an opinion issued on September 29, 2006, the Alabama Supreme Court voided the Barbour County Circuit Court’s final judgment and dismissed the Roberts appeal. The Supreme Court held that the Barbour County Court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction in Roberts to certify the Roberts class as a subclass of the Robertson class and to enter a final judgment approving the settlement since Roberts was filed as an independent class action collaterally attacking Robertson rather than being filed in Robertson under the Barbour County Court’s reserved continuing jurisdiction over that case. On October 23, 2006, Liberty filed a petition with the Barbour County Circuit Court under its continuing jurisdiction in Robertson for clarification, or in the alternative, to amend the Robertson final judgment. Liberty sought an order from the Circuit Court declaring that Liberty pay benefits to Robertson class members based upon the amounts accepted by providers in full payment of charges. A hearing was held on Liberty’s petition on March 13, 2007.

On March 30, 2007, the Barbour County Circuit Court issued an order denying Liberty’s petition for clarification and/or modification of Robertson, holding that Liberty’s policies did not state that they will pay “actual charges” accepted by providers. On April 8, 2007, the Court issued an order granting a motion to intervene and establishing a subclass in Robertson comprised of Liberty cancer policyholders who are now or have within the past six years, undergone cancer treatment and filed benefit claims under the policies in questions. Liberty filed a motion with the Barbour County Circuit Court to certify for an interlocutory appeal that Court’s order on Liberty’s petition for clarification in Robertson on April 17, 2007. An appellate mediation of these issues will be conducted on August 9, 2007.

On July 26, 2007, purported class action litigation for a class comprised only of Texas citizens was filed against United American Insurance Company in the state District Court of Falls County, Texas (Neuman v. United American Insurance Company, Case No. 36593). Plaintiffs assert that the UA Partners program is a fraudulent scheme presented by United American to prospective insureds when they apply for insurance as a discount product and service program and the fee for this program is built into the insurance premium. They allege that United American has been unjustly enriched as a result of the UA Partners program and are suing for money had and received and attorneys fees.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Torchmark has had no material changes to its risk factors.

 

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Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

  (e) Purchases of Certain Equity Securities by the Issuer and Others

 

Period

   (a) Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   (b) Average
Price Paid
Per Share
   (c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   (d) Maximum Number
of Shares (or
Approximate Dollar
Amount) that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs

April 1-30, 2007

   209,317    $ 65.09    209,317   

May 1-31, 2007

   780,600      69.57    780,600   

June 1-30, 2007

   957,600      68.55    957,600   

On July 26, 2007, Torchmark’s Board reaffirmed its continued authorization of the Company’s stock repurchase program in amounts and with timing that management, in consultation with the Board, determined to be in the best interest of the Company. The program has no defined expiration date or maximum shares to be purchased.

 

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The following matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders at their Annual Meeting held April 26, 2007:

 

  (i) Election of Directors:

 

     FOR    WITHHELD

  Charles E. Adair

   87,357,380    898,971

  Joseph L. Lanier, Jr.

   86,495,661    1,760,670

  Lloyd W. Newton

   87,274,887    981,444

The following directors have continuing terms of office:

 

   David L. Boren

   Sam R. Perry

   M. Jane Buchan

   Lamar C. Smith

   Robert W. Ingram

   Paul J. Zucconi

   Mark S. McAndrew

  

 

  (ii) Ratification of Auditors:

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

86,828,731

  871,739   555,861

 

  (iii) Approval of Torchmark Corporation 2007 Long-Term Compensation Plan:

 

      BROKER

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

NON-VOTE

70,834,388

  6,315,971   857,108   10,248,864

 

  (iv) Shareholder Proposal Regarding Diversity on Board of Directors:

 

      BROKER

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

NON-VOTE

5,431,102

  60,401,676   12,174,689   10,248,864

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits

 

  (11) Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings

 

  (12) Statement re Computation of Ratios

 

  (31.1) Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Mark S. McAndrew

 

  (31.2) Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Gary L. Coleman

 

  (32.1) Section 1350 Certification by Mark S. McAndrew and Gary L. Coleman

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    TORCHMARK CORPORATION
Date: August 6, 2007     /s/ Mark S. McAndrew
    Mark S. McAndrew
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date: August 6, 2007     /s/ Gary L. Coleman
    Gary L. Coleman,
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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