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FORM 10-Q
_____________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
 
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005
 
OR
 
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from __ to __
 
Commission File Number 001-12332
 
Protective Life Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
95-2492236
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
 
2801 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, Alabama 35223
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
(205) 268-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
__________________
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
 
Number of shares of Common Stock, $.50 par value, outstanding as of April 29, 2005: 69,615,285 shares.
 

 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For Quarter Ended March 31, 2005
 
INDEX
 
 
Page
Part I. Financial Information:
 
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
2
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the
 
Three Months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
3
 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2005
 
and December 31, 2004
4
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the
 
Three Months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
5
 
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
6
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
 
and Results of Operations
12
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
34
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
34
   
Part II. Other Information:
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
35
   
Item 6. Exhibits
35
   
Signatures 
36
   







REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



To the Directors and Share Owners
Protective Life Corporation


We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet of Protective Life Corporation and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, and the related consolidated condensed statements of income for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

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

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

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, share-owners' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004; and in our report dated March 15, 2005, we expressed unqualified opinions thereon. The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting referred to above are not presented herein. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
May 10, 2005

 

 

PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)



   
Three Months Ended
   
March 31
     
2005
2004

REVENUES
Premiums and policy fees
 
$
472,143
 
$
443,796
 
Reinsurance ceded
   
(284,913
)
 
(249,339
)
Premiums and policy fees, net of reinsurance ceded
   
187,230
   
194,457
 
Net investment income
   
287,953
   
264,608
 
Realized investment gains (losses):
Derivative financial instruments
   
(6,368
)
 
5,083
 
All other investments
   
27,878
   
16,627
 
Other income
   
43,416
   
37,419
 
     
540,109
   
518,194
 
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Benefits and settlement expenses
(net of reinsurance ceded:
three months: 2005 - $265,363; 2004 - $241,287)
   
300,434
   
287,316
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
74,251
   
59,794
 
Other operating expenses (net of reinsurance ceded:
three months: 2005 - $36,874; 2004 - $39,562)
   
73,554
   
71,685
 
     
448,239
   
418,795
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
   
91,870
   
99,399
 
Income tax expense
   
31,787
   
34,094
 
NET INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
   
60,083
   
65,305
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
net of income tax
   
0
   
(15,801
)
NET INCOME
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
 
NET INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE PER
SHARE - BASIC
 
$
0.85
 
$
0.93
 
NET INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE PER
SHARE - DILUTED
 
$
0.84
 
$
0.92
 
NET INCOME PER SHARE - BASIC
 
$
0.85
 
$
0.71
 
NET INCOME PER SHARE - DILUTED
 
$
0.84
 
$
0.70
 
DIVIDENDS PAID PER SHARE
 
$
0.175
 
$
0.16
 
Average shares outstanding - basic
   
70,474,337
   
70,142,108
 
Average shares outstanding - diluted
   
71,273,760
   
70,887,591
 





See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

 

 

 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)


 
March 31
December 31
 
2005
2004

ASSETS
Investments:
Fixed maturities, at market (amortized cost: 2005 - $14,795,163; 2004 - $13,711,526)
 
$
15,263,694
 
$
14,412,605
 
Equity securities, at market (cost: 2005 - $56,366; 2004 - $56,049)
   
59,605
   
58,941
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
   
3,042,584
   
3,005,418
 
Investment in real estate, net
   
104,986
   
107,246
 
Policy loans
   
472,345
   
482,780
 
Other long-term investments
   
222,943
   
259,025
 
Short-term investments
   
816,335
   
1,059,557
 
Total investments
   
19,982,492
   
19,385,572
 
Cash
   
53,673
   
130,596
 
Accrued investment income
   
202,008
   
196,076
 
Accounts and premiums receivable, net
   
50,271
   
44,364
 
Reinsurance receivables
   
2,835,979
   
2,750,260
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,913,803
   
1,821,972
 
Goodwill
   
46,619
   
46,619
 
Property and equipment, net
   
44,520
   
45,454
 
Other assets
   
259,622
   
264,512
 
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,256,920
   
2,308,858
 
Variable universal life
   
217,167
   
217,095
 
   
$
27,863,074
 
$
27,211,378
 
LIABILITIES
Policy liabilities and accruals
 
$
10,895,852
 
$
10,680,666
 
Stable value product account balances
   
5,670,355
   
5,562,997
 
Annuity account balances
   
3,433,293
   
3,463,477
 
Other policyholders' funds
   
151,572
   
151,660
 
Other liabilities
   
1,569,759
   
1,075,949
 
Accrued income taxes
   
29,213
   
13,195
 
Deferred income taxes
   
256,453
   
312,544
 
Liabilities related to variable interest entities
   
481,921
   
482,434
 
Long-term debt
   
451,424
   
451,433
 
Subordinated debt securities
   
324,743
   
324,743
 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,256,920
   
2,308,858
 
Variable universal life
   
217,167
   
217,095
 
     
25,738,672
   
25,045,051
 
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES - NOTE 2
SHARE-OWNERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized: 3,600,000; Issued: None
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value
shares authorized: 400,000; Issued: None
Common Stock, $.50 par value, shares authorized: 160,000,000
shares issued: 2005 and 2004 - 73,251,960
   
36,626
   
36,626
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
433,467
   
426,927
 
Treasury stock, at cost (2005 - 3,636,675 shares; 2004 - 3,802,071 shares)
   
(13,041
)
 
(13,632
)
Unallocated stock in Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(2005 - 491,643 shares; 2004 - 594,961 shares)
   
(1,610
)
 
(1,989
)
Retained earnings
   
1,469,986
   
1,422,084
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized gains on investments
(net of income tax: 2005 - $100,603; 2004 - $154,913)
   
186,835
   
287,695
 
Accumulated gain - hedging (net of income tax: 2005 - $6,536; 2004 - $4,639)
   
12,139
   
8,616
 
     
2,124,402
   
2,166,327
 
   
$
27,863,074
 
$
27,211,378
 



See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

 

 

PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31
 
2005
2004

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment (gains) losses
   
(27,878
)
 
(13,803
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
74,251
   
59,794
 
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
(98,528
)
 
(95,245
)
Depreciation expense
   
4,049
   
2,736
 
Deferred income tax
   
(514
)
 
(5,312
)
Accrued income tax
   
16,818
   
37,533
 
Interest credited to universal life and investment products
   
175,257
   
161,309
 
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products
   
(96,921
)
 
(87,864
)
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables
   
(97,842
)
 
(158,539
)
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds
of traditional life and health products
   
157,719
   
214,321
 
Net change in trading securities
   
477
   
1,708
 
Change in other liabilities
   
344,564
   
(92,180
)
Other, net
   
5,016
   
(30,090
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
516,551
   
43,872
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments available for sale, net of short-term investments:
             
Maturities and principal reductions of investments
   
422,243
   
454,563
 
Sale of investments
   
1,030,039
   
925,287
 
Cost of investments acquired
   
(2,490,176
)
 
(1,620,368
)
Mortgage loans:
             
New borrowings
   
(131,113
)
 
(149,965
)
Repayments
   
92,263
   
136,531
 
Change in investment real estate, net
   
1,540
   
972
 
Change in policy loans, net
   
10,316
   
9,966
 
Change in other long-term investments, net
   
2,854
   
(1,910
)
Change in short-term investments, net
   
275,276
   
40,351
 
Purchase of property and equipment
   
(2,695
)
 
(2,239
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(789,453
)
 
(206,812
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and long-term debt
   
0
   
67,000
 
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and long-term debt
   
(9
)
 
(151,872
)
Net proceeds from securities sold under repurchase agreements
   
0
   
8,660
 
Dividends to share owners
   
(12,181
)
 
(11,058
)
Issuance of subordinated debt securities
   
0
   
103,093
 
Issuance (purchase) of common stock held in trust
   
0
   
423
 
Investment product deposits and change in universal life deposits
   
734,458
   
597,697
 
Investment product withdrawals
   
(652,232
)
 
(472,729
)
Other financing activities, net
   
125,943
   
0
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
195,979
   
141,214
 
CHANGE IN CASH
   
(76,923
)
 
(21,726
)
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
130,596
   
136,698
 
CASH AT END OF PERIOD
 
$
53,673
 
$
114,972
 




See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

 

 


PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share amounts)


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

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

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

With respect to the unaudited consolidated condensed financial information of the Company for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PricewaterhouseCoopers") reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated May 10, 2005, appearing herein, stated that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited consolidated condensed financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited consolidated condensed financial information because that report is not a "report" or a "part" of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers into which this Form 10-Q may be incorporated by reference within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

NOTE 2 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Company's certificate of incorporation provides indemnification for persons serving as officers and directors of the Company. In addition, agreements with the Company's directors require the Company, upon certain "change-in-control" contingencies, to obtain a $20 million letter of credit to secure the Company's indemnification obligations. The letter of credit would provide security for the Company's obligations up to an aggregate amount of $20 million (after taking into account amounts paid by the Company and amounts paid under the Company's directors and officers or other insurance policies).

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

A number of civil jury verdicts have been returned against insurers and other providers of financial services involving sales practices, alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise representatives, relationships with agents or persons with whom the insurer does business, and other matters. Increasingly these lawsuits have resulted in the award of substantial judgments that are disproportionate to the actual damages, including material amounts of punitive and non-economic compensatory damages. In some states, juries, judges, and arbitrators have substantial discretion in awarding punitive and non-economic compensatory damages which creates the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments or awards in any given lawsuit or arbitration. Arbitration awards are subject to very little appellate review. In addition, in some class action and other lawsuits, companies have made material settlement payments. The Company, like other financial services companies, in the ordinary course of business, is involved in such litigation and in arbitration. Although the outcome of any such litigation or arbitration cannot be predicted, the Company believes that at the present time there are no pending or threatened lawsuits that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.

NOTE 3 - OPERATING SEGMENTS

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

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

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

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

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

Asset Protection. The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft.

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

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

 

 

There are no significant intersegment transactions.

The following tables set forth total revenue by segment, segment operating income, and assets for the periods shown. Asset adjustments represent the inclusion of assets related to discontinued operations.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Total Revenue
         
Life Marketing
 
$
163,732
 
$
146,283
 
Acquisitions
   
102,546
   
111,740
 
Annuities
   
93,178
   
67,005
 
Stable Value Products
   
74,494
   
67,912
 
Asset Protection
   
65,078
   
71,676
 
Corporate and Other
   
41,081
   
53,578
 
   
$
540,109
 
$
518,194
 


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Segment Operating Income
         
Life Marketing
 
$
39,141
 
$
41,601
 
Acquisitions
   
21,035
   
21,203
 
Annuities
   
4,064
   
2,813
 
Stable Value Products
   
14,399
   
11,699
 
Asset Protection
   
6,172
   
4,603
 
Corporate and Other
   
11,645
   
4,305
 
Total segment operating income
   
96,456
   
86,224
 
               
Add back: realized investment gains (losses)
   
21,510
   
21,710
 
Less: related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
22,412
   
3,660
 
Less: derivative gains (losses) related to corporate debt and investments
   
3,684
   
4,875
 
Income before income tax
   
91,870
   
99,399
 
Income tax expense
   
31,787
   
34,094
 
Net income before cumulative effect of change in
             
accounting principle
   
60,083
   
65,305
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
   
0
   
(15,801
)
Net income
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
 


 

 


Operating Segment Assets
March 31, 2005
 
   
Life
Marketing
 
Acquisitions
 
Annuities
 
Stable Value
Products
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
6,168,127
 
$
4,020,016
 
$
5,940,148
 
$
5,511,280
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,342,925
   
342,872
   
91,970
   
18,468
 
Goodwill
   
10,354
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
7,521,406
 
$
4,362,888
 
$
6,032,118
 
$
5,529,748
 
 
 
   
Asset
Protection
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Adjustments
 
Total
Consolidated
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
857,556
 
$
3,359,980
 
$
45,545
 
$
25,902,652
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
109,303
   
8,265
   
0
   
1,913,803
 
Goodwill
   
36,182
   
83
   
0
   
46,619
 
Total assets
 
$
1,003,041
 
$
3,368,328
 
$
45,545
 
$
27,863,074
 
 

Operating Segment Assets
December 31, 2004
 
   
Life
Marketing
 
Acquisitions
 
Annuities
 
Stable Value
Products
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
5,967,768
 
$
4,063,711
 
$
5,980,259
 
$
5,377,917
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,262,637
   
337,372
   
81,251
   
18,301
 
Goodwill
   
10,354
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
7,240,759
 
$
4,401,083
 
$
6,061,510
 
$
5,396,218
 
 
                   
   
Asset
Protection
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Adjustments
 
Total
Consolidated
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
879,385
 
$
3,027,486
 
$
46,261
 
$
25,342,787
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
113,918
   
8,493
   
0
   
1,821,972
 
Goodwill
   
36,182
   
83
   
0
   
46,619
 
Total assets
 
$
1,029,485
 
$
3,036,062
 
$
46,261
 
$
27,211,378
 


NOTE 4 - STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES

Financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP differ in some respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. In accordance with statutory reporting practices, at March 31, 2005, and for the three months then ended, the Company's insurance subsidiaries had combined capital and surplus of $1.4 billion and net income of $63.6 million. At March 31, 2005, the combined asset valuation reserve held by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries was $174.0 million.

NOTE 5 - NET INCOME PER SHARE

Net income per share - basic is net income divided by the average number of shares of common stock outstanding including shares that are issuable under various deferred compensation plans.

Net income per share - diluted is adjusted net income divided by the average number of shares outstanding including all dilutive, potentially issuable shares that are issuable under various stock-based compensation plans and stock purchase contracts.

Net income and a reconciliation of basic and diluted average shares outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are summarized as follows:


Reconciliation of Net Income and
Average Shares Outstanding
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Net income
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
 
Average shares issued and outstanding
   
69,537,435
   
69,173,416
 
Stock held in trust
   
0
   
(81,142
)
Issuable under various deferred compensation plans
   
936,902
   
1,049,834
 
Average shares outstanding - basic
   
70,474,337
   
70,142,108
 
Stock held in trust
   
0
   
81,142
 
Stock appreciation rights
   
310,912
   
313,583
 
Performance shares
   
488,511
   
350,758
 
Average shares outstanding - diluted
   
71,273,760
   
70,887,591
 


NOTE 6 - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

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


NOTE 7 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

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

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Net income
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
Change in net unrealized gains/losses on
investments (net of income tax:
three months: 2005 - $(44,552); 2004 - $87,049)
   
(82,739
)
 
161,662
 
Change in accumulated gain-hedging
(net of income tax:
three months: 2005 - $1,897; 2004 - $1,135)
   
3,523
   
2,107
 
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included
in net income (net of income tax:
three months: 2005 - $(9,757); 2004 - $(5,819))
 
(18,121
)
 
(10,808
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(37,254
)
$
202,465
 



 

 

NOTE 8 - RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The following table sets forth the amount of net periodic benefit cost recognized for the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and unfunded excess benefits plan:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Service cost
 
$
2,104
 
$
2,012
 
Interest cost
   
2,408
   
2,325
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(2,428
)
 
(2,280
)
Amortization of prior service cost
   
82
   
92
 
Amortization of net loss
   
789
   
470
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
2,955
 
$
2,619
 


The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, that it expected to contribute $6.6 million to its pension plan in 2005. There has been no change in this estimate. As of April 25, 2005, no contributions had been made.

In addition to pension benefits, the Company provides limited healthcare benefits and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees. The cost of these plans for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was immaterial.

NOTE 9 - SENIOR NOTES

On April 1, 2005, the Company redeemed the $35 million of 8.25% Senior Notes due in 2030.

NOTE 10 - CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
 
In January 2004, the Company adopted Statement of Position 03-1 “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” (“SOP 03-1”). SOP 03-1 provides guidance related to the establishment of reserves for benefit guarantees provided under certain long-duration contracts, as well as the accounting for mortality benefits provided in certain universal life products. In addition, it addresses the capitalization and amortization of sales inducements to contract holders. The SOP was effective January 1, 2004 and was adopted through an adjustment for the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle originally amounting to $10.1 million (net of $5.5 million income tax). During the third quarter of 2004, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AcSEC) issued a Technical Practice Aid (TPA) which provided additional interpretive guidance on applying certain provisions of the SOP. As a result of this additional guidance, the Company restated its cumulative effect charge as of January 1, 2004 to record an additional expense of $5.7 million (net of $3.1 million income tax) for a total cumulative charge to net income of $15.8 million, net of income tax of $8.5 million ($0.22 per share on both a basic and diluted basis).

 

 

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


INTRODUCTION

Protective Life Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide financial services through the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products. Founded in 1907, Protective Life Insurance Company is the Company's principal operating subsidiary. Unless the context otherwise requires, the "Company" refers to the consolidated group of Protective Life Corporation and its subsidiaries.

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

The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. The Company's operating segments are Life Marketing, Acquisitions, Annuities, Stable Value Products, and Asset Protection. The Company also has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other.

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

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

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

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

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



   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Life Marketing
 
$
39,141
 
$
41,601
   
(5.9
)%
Acquisitions
   
21,035
   
21,203
   
(0.8
)
Annuities
   
4,064
   
2,813
   
44.5
 
Stable Value Products
   
14,399
   
11,699
   
23.1
 
Asset Protection
   
6,172
   
4,603
   
34.1
 
Corporate and Other
   
11,645
   
4,305
   
170.5
 
     
96,456
   
86,224
       
                     
Realized investment gains - investments(1)
   
5,466
   
12,967
       
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2)
   
(10,052
)
 
208
       
Income tax expense
   
(31,787
)
 
(34,094
)
     
                     
Net income before cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle
   
60,083
   
65,305
   
(8.0
)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
net of income tax
   
0
   
(15,801
)
     
                     
Net income
 
$
60,083
 
$
49,504
   
21.4
 
                     
                     
(1) Realized investment gains - investments
 
$
27,878
 
$
16,627
       
Related amortization of DAC
   
(22,412
)
 
(3,660
)
     
   
$
5,466
 
$
12,967
       
                     
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
(6,368
)
$
5,083
       
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps
   
3,684
   
4,875
       
   
$
(10,052
)
$
208
       

 



 

 

Net income for the first quarter of 2005 reflects moderate growth in segment operating income, offset by lower net realized investment gains compared to the first quarter of 2004. In addition, net income for the first quarter of 2004 included a cumulative effect charge of $15.8 million with no such adjustment in the first quarter of 2005. Life Marketing’s operating income decreased 5.9% from the first quarter of 2004, reflecting higher overall expenses caused by a less favorable mortality variance and lower capitalization levels at West Coast Life, partially offset by continued growth in life insurance in-force through new sales. The Acquisitions segment’s earnings for the quarter declined due to the normal runoff of the segment’s previously acquired blocks of business. The first quarter of 2005 benefited from an increase in average account values and a slight widening of spreads in the Stable Value Products segment, while improvement in the equity markets and higher sales of both fixed and variable annuities contributed to the increase in the Annuities segment’s earnings. Excluding gains from a charter sale in the first quarter of 2004 of $1.0 million, Asset Protection segment operating income increased 72.4% over the first quarter of 2004, primarily due to improvements in all of the segment’s core product lines.

RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

In the following segment discussions, various statistics and other key data the Company uses to evaluate its segments are presented. Sales statistics are used by the Company to measure the relative progress in its marketing efforts, but typically have little immediate impact on reported segment operating income. Sales data for traditional life insurance are based on annualized premiums, while universal life sales are based on annualized target premiums. Sales of annuities are measured based on the amount of deposits received. Stable value contract sales are measured at the time that the funding commitment is made, based on the amount of deposit to be received. Sales within the Asset Protection segment are generally based on the amount of single premium and fees received.

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

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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
REVENUES
             
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
273,769
 
$
235,986
   
16.0
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(199,746
)
 
(168,786
)
 
18.3
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
74,023
   
67,200
   
10.2
 
Net investment income
   
61,153
   
57,940
   
5.5
 
Other income
   
28,556
   
21,143
   
35.1
 
Total operating revenues
   
163,732
   
146,283
   
11.9
 
                     
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                   
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
89,783
   
72,026
   
24.7
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
17,827
   
21,081
   
(15.4
)
Other operating expenses
   
16,981
   
11,575
   
46.7
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
124,591
   
104,682
   
19.0
 
                     
OPERATING INCOME
   
39,141
   
41,601
   
(5.9
)
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
39,141
 
$
41,601
   
(5.9
)


 

 

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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Sales By Product
             
Traditional
 
$
34,508
 
$
46,835
   
(26.3
)%
Universal life
   
32,747
   
17,697
   
85.0
 
Variable universal life
   
1,138
   
1,125
   
1.2
 
   
$
68,393
 
$
65,657
   
4.2
 
                     
Sales By Distribution Channel
                   
Brokerage general agents
 
$
36,173
 
$
42,747
   
(15.4
)
Independent agents
   
17,309
   
12,740
   
35.9
 
Stockbrokers/banks
   
12,670
   
6,059
   
109.1
 
BOLI/other
   
2,241
   
4,111
   
(45.5
)
   
$
68,393
 
$
65,657
   
4.2
 
                     
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1)
                   
Traditional
 
$
329,056,571
 
$
275,674,638
       
Universal life
   
43,105,270
   
39,063,682
       
   
$
372,161,841
 
$
314,738,320
       
                     
Average Account Values
                   
Universal life
 
$
3,876,441
 
$
3,463,960
       
Variable universal life
   
217,131
   
177,037
       
   
$
4,093,572
 
$
3,640,997
       
                     
Interest Spread - Universal Life(2)
                   
Net investment income yield
   
6.18
%
 
6.48
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
4.88
   
4.96
       
Interest spread
   
1.30
%
 
1.52
%
     
                     
Mortality Experience (3)
 
$
1,252
 
$
2,194
       
                     
(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(2) Interest spread on average general account values.
(3) Represents a favorable variance as compared to pricing assumptions.

 
Operating income decreased 5.9% from the first quarter of 2004. This decrease is the result of higher overall expenses, including a less favorable mortality variance, partially offset by a 10.2% increase in net premiums and policy fees resulting from a moderate increase in sales and the growth of life insurance in-force.

Gross premiums and policy fees grew by 16.0% in the current quarter due to the growth in life insurance in-force achieved over the last several quarters, while amounts ceded increased 18.3% as the segment continued to reinsure a significant amount of its new business. Net investment income increased 5.5% over the first quarter of 2004 reflecting the growth of the segment’s assets, offset by lower investment yields. The 35.1% increase in other income for the quarter is due primarily to additional income from the segment’s direct response and broker-dealer subsidiaries. Due to the nature of these businesses, the majority of this additional income is offset by increases in other operating expenses.

Benefits and settlement expenses were 24.7% higher than the first quarter of 2004 due to growth in life insurance in-force, fluctuations in mortality experience and higher credited interest on UL products resulting from increases in account values. Mortality for the current quarter was $0.9 million less favorable than the first quarter of 2004. Amortization of DAC was 15.4% lower for the quarter primarily due to favorable effects of unlocking on UL amortization in the first quarter of 2005 and effects on amortization of the SOP implementation in the first quarter of 2004.


 

 

Other operating expenses for the segment were as follows:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Insurance Companies:
             
First year commissions
 
$
80,048
 
$
78,255
   
2.3
%
Renewal commissions
   
7,794
   
7,673
   
1.6
 
First year ceding allowances
   
(40,353
)
 
(44,622
)
 
(9.6
)
Renewal ceding allowances
   
(38,126
)
 
(30,823
)
 
23.7
 
General & administrative
   
46,909
   
48,566
   
(3.4
)
Taxes, licenses and fees
   
6,480
   
4,290
   
51.0
 
Other operation expenses incurred
   
62,752
   
63,339
   
(0.9
)
                     
Less commissions, allowances & expenses capitalized
   
(72,914
)
 
(72,272
)
 
0.9
 
                     
Other operating expenses
   
(10,162
)
 
(8,933
)
 
13.8
 
                     
Marketing Companies:
                   
Commissions
   
18,098
   
15,463
   
17.0
 
Other
   
9,045
   
5,045
   
79.3
 
Other operating expenses
   
27,143
   
20,508
   
32.4
 
                     
Other operating expenses
 
$
16,981
 
$
11,575
   
46.7
 


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

Other operating expenses for the insurance companies were 13.8% more favorable than the first quarter of 2004, as the 4.2% increase in sales combined with lower incurred expenses positively impacted the segment’s expense capitalization levels. General and administrative expenses decreased 3.4% from the first quarter of 2004 as a result of reductions in overhead. Amounts capitalized as DAC generally include first year commissions and allowances, and other deferrable acquisition expenses. The change in these amounts generally reflects the trend in sales for the quarter.

Other operating expenses for the marketing companies increased 32.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of higher commissions and other expenses in the segment’s direct response and broker-dealer subsidiaries, resulting from higher revenue.

Sales for the segment increased 4.2% versus the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the significant increase in universal life sales. The strong UL sales were partially offset by lower production of traditional life in the brokerage general agent channel. Sales of BOLI business also declined from 2004. BOLI sales will vary widely between periods as the segment responds to opportunities for these products only when the market accommodates required returns. The segment has changed its direct response business sold through Matrix Direct, Inc. to focus on a multi-carrier distribution strategy, and is not currently marketing its product through this distribution channel.

 

 

Acquisitions

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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
REVENUES
             
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
65,500
 
$
69,469
   
(5.7
)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(20,029
)
 
(17,101
)
 
17.1
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
45,471
   
52,368
   
(13.2
)
Net investment income
   
56,714
   
58,655
   
(3.3
)
Other income
   
361
   
717
   
(49.7
)
Total operating revenues
   
102,546
   
111,740
   
(8.2
)
                     
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                   
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
66,399
   
73,020
   
(9.1
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
7,071
   
7,849
   
(9.9
)
Other operating expenses
   
8,041
   
9,668
   
(16.8
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
81,511
   
90,537
   
(10.0
)
                     
OPERATING INCOME
   
21,035
   
21,203
   
(0.8
)
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
21,035
 
$
21,203
   
(0.8
)


The following table summarizes key data for the Acquisitions segment:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Average Life Insurance In-Force(2)
             
Traditional
 
$
11,190,436
 
$
12,600,628
   
(11.2
)%
Universal life
   
17,633,906
   
18,898,914
   
(6.7
)
   
$
28,824,342
 
$
31,499,542
   
(8.5
)
                     
Average Account Values
                   
Universal life
 
$
1,715,584
 
$
1,743,884
   
(1.6
)
Fixed annuity(3)
   
215,707
   
221,753
   
(2.7
)
Variable annuity
   
83,925
   
102,246
   
(17.9
)
   
$
2,015,216
 
$
2,067,883
   
(2.5
)
                     
Interest Spread - UL & Fixed Annuities
                   
Net investment income yield
   
7.09
%
 
7.23
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.15
   
5.26
       
Interest spread
   
1.94
%
 
1.97
%
     
                     
Mortality Experience(1)
 
$
447
 
$
660
       
(1) Represents a favorable variance as compared to pricing assumptions.
(2) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(3) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.


Net premiums and policy fees declined by 13.2% from the first quarter of 2004. Approximately half of this decrease is related to the payment of amounts due under two reinsurance treaties. While this had no net income impact, the payments decreased current period net premiums and policy fees by $3.9 million, benefits and settlement expenses by $3.5 million, and other operating expenses by $0.4 million. The remainder of the decline is due to the continued runoff from acquired blocks of business.

 

 

Net investment income was also lower for the current quarter due to the runoff of business and lower overall earned rates. The segment has continued to review credited rates on UL and annuity business to minimize the impact of lower earned rates on interest spreads. The interest spread declined 3 basis points from the first quarter of 2004.

Policy benefit expenses were down 9.1% from the first quarter of 2004. Approximately half of the decrease is due to the reinsurance transaction mentioned above with the remainder of the decrease due to the decline in in-force. Amortization of DAC decreased during the current quarter due to the overall decline in business as well as a favorable change in DAC adjustments on certain universal life blocks. The first quarter of 2004 included an adjustment to increase DAC $0.8 million, compared to an adjustment of only $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2005. Other operating expenses decreased 16.8% from the first quarter of 2004 due to lower commissions resulting from lower net premiums, reductions in other general expenses, and the reinsurance transaction discussed above.

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


Annuities

The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and the Life Marketing segment's sales force. Segment results were as follows:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
REVENUES
             
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
7,840
 
$
7,628
   
2.8
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
-
   
-
       
Net premiums and policy fees
   
7,840
   
7,628
   
2.8
 
Net investment income
   
56,150
   
51,588
   
8.8
 
Other income
   
1,726
   
1,785
   
(3.3
)
Total operating revenues
   
65,716
   
61,001
   
7.7
 
                     
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                   
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
48,080
   
46,046
   
4.4
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
7,226
   
5,397
   
33.9
 
Other operating expenses
   
6,346
   
6,745
   
(5.9
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
61,652
   
58,188
   
6.0
 
                     
OPERATING INCOME
   
4,064
   
2,813
   
44.5
 
                     
Realized investment gains
   
27,462
   
6,004
       
Related amortization of DAC
   
(22,412
)
 
(3,660
)
     
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
9,114
 
$
5,157
   
76.7
 


 

 

The following table summarizes key data for the Annuities segment:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Sales
             
Fixed annuity
 
$
59,568
 
$
16,095
   
270.1
%
Variable annuity
   
77,003
   
61,723
   
24.8
 
   
$
136,571
 
$
77,818
   
75.5
 
                     
Average Account Values
                   
Fixed annuity(3)
 
$
3,442,520
 
$
3,180,016
   
8.3
 
Variable annuity
   
2,194,782
   
1,996,390
   
9.9
 
   
$
5,637,302
 
$
5,176,406
   
8.9
 
                     
Interest Spread - Fixed Annuities(1)
                   
Net investment income yield
   
6.60
%
 
6.57
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.60
   
5.77
       
Interest spread
   
1.00
%
 
0.80
%
     
                     
                     
 
 
As of
March 31
     
     
2005
   
2004
       
                     
GMDB - Net amount at risk(2)
 
$
198,954
 
$
262,102
   
(24.1
)
GMDB - Reserves
 
$
4,382
 
$
5,225
   
(16.1
)
S&P 500 Index
   
1,181
   
1,126
   
4.9
 
                   
 
(1) Interest spread on average general account values.
(2) Guaranteed death benefit in excess of contract holder account balance.
(3) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.

 
 
 

Segment operating income increased 44.5% compared to the first quarter of 2004, reflecting higher sales of both fixed and variable annuities and the impact of improved equity markets reflected in the variable annuity business.

The improvement in the equity markets and increase in net deposits caused a 9.9% increase in variable annuity account values, which drove the modest increase in net premiums and policy fees for the quarter. The increase in fixed annuity balances caused net investment income and interest credited to increase from the first quarter of 2004. Interest spreads on fixed annuities increased 20 basis points as compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to crediting rate reductions. Other income was relatively unchanged from the first quarter of 2004.

The increase in benefits and settlement expenses is primarily the result of a $2.3 million increase in credited interest compared to the first quarter 2004 due to the increase in fixed annuity account values. The additional profits on variable annuities were partially offset by higher amortization of DAC of $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2005. Other operating expenses decreased 5.9% versus the first quarter of 2004 due to higher expense capitalization caused by the increase in sales and lower operating expenses.

The large increase in realized investment gains is due to the sale of approximately $300 million in securities as a result of rebalancing the portfolio to improve the duration match between the segment’s assets and liabilities. The impact of the realized investment gains was partially offset by the related increase of $22.4 million in DAC amortization associated with those gains.

Sales of fixed annuities increased 270.1% from the first quarter of 2004 due to the very low interest rate environment in the first quarter of 2004. Variable annuity sales were 24.8% higher than the same quarter of 2004. The improved equity markets reduced the net amount at risk with respect to guaranteed minimum death benefits by 24.1%.

Stable Value Products

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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
REVENUES
             
Net investment income
 
$
73,875
 
$
64,033
   
15.4
%
                     
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                   
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
57,169
   
49,769
   
14.9
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,084
   
761
   
42.4
 
Other operating expenses
   
1,223
   
1,804
   
(32.3
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
59,476
   
52,334
   
13.6
 
                     
OPERATING INCOME
   
14,399
   
11,699
   
23.1
 
                     
Realized investment gains
   
619
   
3,879
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
15,018
 
$
15,578
   
(3.6
)


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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Sales
             
GIC
 
$
24,050
 
$
0
   
n/a
 
GFA - Registered Notes - Institutional
   
350,000
   
300,000
   
16.7
%
GFA - Registered Notes - Retail
   
31,845
   
221,500
   
(85.6
)
   
$
405,895
 
$
521,500
   
(22.2
)
                     
                     
Average Account Values
 
$
5,716,571
 
$
4,851,592
   
17.8
 
                     
Operating Spread
                   
Net investment income yield
   
5.33
%
 
5.44
%
     
Interest credited
   
4.12
   
4.23
       
Operating expenses
   
0.17
   
0.22
       
Operating spread
   
1.04
%
 
0.99
%
     


Operating income increased 23.1% from the first quarter of 2004 due to growth in average account balances, as well as a slight widening of spreads from the first quarter of 2004. The growth in average account balances was primarily driven by sales of the Company’s registered funding agreement-backed notes program. Differences in portfolio composition caused the investment income yield to decline from the first quarter of 2004, while the maturity of high rate contracts caused the interest credited rate to decline. Although the net interest spread remained unchanged from the first quarter of 2004, lower operating expenses resulted in an improvement in operating spreads of 5 basis points. Currently, operating spreads are anticipated to range from 90-100 basis points for the remainder of 2005.

Total sales were 22.2% lower than the first quarter of 2004. Although institutional sales were strong, retail note sales for the quarter were disappointing, especially when compared with the sales volume generated by the product introduction in the first quarter of 2004. The decline in retail note sales for the quarter was caused by general market conditions including interest rate volatility. Sales in the second quarter are rebounding and the Company currently anticipates total annual sales for 2005 of $1.5 billion.


 

 

Asset Protection

The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. Segment results were as follows:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
REVENUES
             
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
114,004
 
$
118,179
   
(3.5
)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(65,063
)
 
(63,106
)
 
3.1
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
48,941
   
55,073
   
(11.1
)
Net investment income
   
7,600
   
7,541
   
0.8
 
Other income
   
8,537
   
9,062
   
(5.8
)
Total operating revenues
   
65,078
   
71,676
   
(9.2
)
                     
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                   
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
26,529
   
32,199
   
(17.6
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
17,546
   
19,956
   
(12.1
)
Other operating expenses
   
14,831
   
14,918
   
(0.6
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
58,906
   
67,073
   
(12.2
)
                     
OPERATING INCOME
   
6,172
   
4,603
   
34.1
 
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
6,172
 
$
4,603
   
34.1
 


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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Sales
             
Credit insurance
 
$
50,106
 
$
51,246
   
(2.2
)%
Service contracts
   
47,138
   
44,275
   
6.5
 
Other products
   
9,075
   
8,151
   
11.3
 
   
$
106,319
 
$
103,672
   
2.6
 
                     
Loss Ratios (1)
                   
Credit insurance
   
32.1
%
 
39.6
%
     
Service contracts
   
73.4
   
76.9
       
Other products
   
62.0
   
78.1
       
 
(1) Incurred claims as a percentage of earned premiums.


Operating income increased 34.1% from the first quarter of 2004 due to improvements in earnings for all core product lines. Earnings from service contract products improved $1.8 million from the first quarter of 2004, while credit insurance products and other products improved $1.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, from the first quarter of 2004. The improvement in earnings from core operations was partially offset by higher losses of $0.4 million from discontinued operations, and the lack of income from charter sales in 2005 compared to charter sales of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2004.

The decline in net premiums for the quarter was primarily related to a decrease of $5.5 million in the credit insurance lines, due primarily to higher levels of reinsurance. Partially offsetting this decline was an increase in net premiums in other lines of business of $1.4 million for the quarter, reflecting the continued steady growth of these lines. Net premiums for the vehicle service contract line remained relatively unchanged from the same quarter of 2004. The decrease in other income is due to the charter sale in the first quarter of 2004.

Benefits and settlement expenses decreased 17.6% from the first quarter of 2004 due to the decrease in the segment’s net premiums and the overall improvement in loss ratios. Amortization of DAC in the first quarter of 2005 was lower than the comparable period in 2004 due to the decline in the segment’s credit business. Other operating expenses were relatively unchanged from the first quarter of 2004.

 

 

Loss ratios for service contracts have continued to improve over prior periods as a result of segment initiatives to increase pricing and tighten the underwriting and claims processes. Loss ratios for other products have declined significantly from the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the continuing decline in the closed blocks of business in the segment’s runoff lines.

Sales of credit insurance through financial institutions rose 5.0% from levels achieved in the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to a third party administrator relationship. The increase in financial institution credit insurance sales is expected to decline as the third party administrator goes into runoff over the next year. These strong credit insurance sales results were offset by a 16% decline in credit insurance sold through automobile dealers. Service contract sales for the current quarter were 6.5% above the sales reported in the first quarter of 2004, reflecting increases of $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively, in vehicle lines and marine sales.

Corporate and Other

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

The following table summarizes results for this segment:


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Operating income(1)
 
$
11,645
 
$
4,305
 
$
7,340
 
                     
Realized gains and losses - investments
   
(73
)
 
7,015
   
(7,088
)
Realized gains and losses - derivatives
   
(10,182
)
 
(63
)
 
(10,119
)
Income before income tax
 
$
1,390
 
$
11,257
 
$
(9,867
)

(1) Includes settlements on interest rate swaps of $3,684 and $4,875 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.


Operating income increased $7.3 million from the first quarter of 2004. Net investment income increased $7.6 million while income from interest rate swaps decreased $1.2 million from the first quarter of 2004. The increase in net investment income is the result of higher amounts of unallocated capital and increased participating mortgage income, slightly offset by lower mark-to-market gains on trading securities. Participating mortgage income increased $1.9 million over the first quarter of 2004, reflecting increased transaction activity within the Company’s mortgage portfolio. Mark-to-market adjustments on the Company’s trading portfolio resulted in a loss of $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to a gain of $1.7 million for the same period in 2004. Results for the runoff insurance remained relatively unchanged from the first quarter of 2004 with operating losses of $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2005.


 

 

Realized Gains and Losses

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


   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Change
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
               
Fixed maturity gains
 
$
36,764
 
$
20,151
 
$
16,613
 
Fixed maturity losses
   
(6,397
)
 
(3,294
)
 
(3,103
)
Equity gains
   
138
   
1,221
   
(1,083
)
Equity losses
   
(807
)
 
(402
)
 
(405
)
Impairments on fixed maturity securities
   
(246
)
 
(200
)
 
(46
)
Other
   
(1,574
)
 
(849
)
 
(725
)
Total realized gains - investments
 
$
27,878
 
$
16,627
 
$
11,251
 
                     
Foreign currency swaps
 
$
(3,977
)
$
(9,719
)
$
5,742
 
Foreign currency adjustments on stable value contracts
   
4,225
   
9,990
   
(5,765
)
Derivatives related to corporate debt
   
(341
)
 
6,900
   
(7,241
)
Derivatives related to mortgage loan commitments
   
4,870
   
(8,370
)
 
13,240
 
Other derivatives
   
(11,145
)
 
6,282
   
(17,427
)
Total realized gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
(6,368
)
$
5,083
 
$
(11,451
)


Realized gains and losses on investments reflect portfolio management activities designed to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities and to enhance long-term investment portfolio performance. The overall change in net realized investment gains for the current quarter, excluding impairments, reflects the normal operation of the Company’s asset/liability program within the context of the changing interest rate environment. Investment impairments for the first quarter of 2005 were relatively unchanged as compared to the first quarter of 2004. Additional details on the Company’s investment performance and evaluation is provided in the section entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” included herein.

Realized investment gains and losses related to derivatives represent changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and gains (losses) on derivative contracts closed during the period. The Company has entered into foreign currency swaps to mitigate the risk of changes in the value of principal and interest payments to be made on certain of its foreign currency denominated stable value contracts. The net change in the realized gains (losses) resulting from these securities in the first quarter of 2005 was immaterial. These changes were the result of differences in the related foreign currency spot and forward rates used to value the stable value contracts and foreign currency swaps. The Company also uses interest rate swaps to mitigate interest rate risk related to its Senior Notes, Medium-Term Notes, and subordinated debt securities. Interest rates moved higher in the first quarter 2005 and caused the 2005 results from these swaps to compare unfavorably with the first quarter of 2004. The Company has taken short positions in U.S. Treasury futures to mitigate interest rate risk related to the Company’s mortgage loan commitments. The changes in net gains (losses) from these securities were the result of fluctuations in interest rates and adjustments to the Company’s short positions during the respective periods.

The Company also uses various swaps and options to mitigate risk related to other interest rate exposures of the Company. For the first quarter of 2005, a portion of the change, a $5.4 million decrease in realized gains (losses) resulted from higher interest rates in the first quarter of 2005, which impacted the fair value of certain interest rate swaps and options. An additional decrease of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2005 related to gains from embedded derivatives within certain bonds that either matured or were called in the first quarter of 2004. There was also a $0.7 million increase in realized gains (losses) for the first quarter of 2005 from asset swaps that either matured or were called in the first quarter of 2005. An additional $0.9 million decrease in realized gains (losses) for the first quarter 2005 was due to embedded derivatives within annuity contracts and reinsurance agreements.

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

 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In January 2004, the Company adopted Statement of Position 03-1 “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” (“SOP 03-1”). SOP 03-1 provides guidance related to the establishment of reserves for benefit guarantees provided under certain long-duration contracts, as well as the accounting for mortality benefits provided in certain universal life products. In addition, it addresses the capitalization and amortization of sales inducements to contract holders. The SOP was effective January 1, 2004 and was adopted through an adjustment for the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle originally amounting to $10.1 million (net of $5.5 million income tax). During the third quarter of 2004, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AcSEC) issued a Technical Practice Aid (TPA) which provided additional interpretive guidance on applying certain provisions of the SOP. As a result of this additional guidance, the Company restated its cumulative effect charge as of January 1, 2004 to record an additional expense of $5.7 million (net of $3.1 million income tax) for a total cumulative charge to net income of $15.8 million, net of income tax of $8.5 million ($0.22 per share on both a basic and diluted basis).


Recent Developments

A proposal to amend Actuarial Guideline 38 (promulgated by the NAIC and part of codification of statutory accounting principles) has been exposed for comment, and certain regulators have indicated a desire for the NAIC to adopt the proposal in mid-2005 or early 2006. Actuarial Guideline 38, also known as AXXX, sets forth the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees (ULSG). The Company believes that the proposal would increase the reserve levels required for many ULSG products, and thus would make those products more expensive and less competitive as compared to other products including term and whole life products. The Company cannot predict whether the proposal will be adopted and, if so, whether it will be in the form currently proposed and whether it will be retroactive. The Company believes that the impact of the proposal on the Company will be primarily prospective and relate to the competitiveness of its products as compared to traditional whole life or other high cash value insurance products or other products supported by relatively inexpensive capital (such as reinsurance of redundant reserves). To the extent the additional reserves are generally considered to be economically redundant, capital market or other solutions may emerge to reduce the impact of the proposal, if passed in its current form. The ability of the Company to access such solutions may depend on factors such as the ratings of the Company, the size of the blocks of business affected, the mortality experience of the Company and other factors. The Company cannot predict when or if these solutions may become available to the Company or its competitors.

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

The Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General of West Virginia for documents and other information relating to funding agreement-backed securities, special purpose vehicles, and related subjects. The Company understands that other U.S. based life insurers that participate in funding agreement backed note programs have received similar subpoenas. The Company is responding to the subpoena. The Company is not aware of any problems relating to its participation in funding agreement-backed note programs that would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.
 
The California Department of Insurance has promulgated proposed regulations that would characterize some life insurance agents as brokers and impose certain obligations on those agents that may conflict with the interests of insurance carriers or require the agent to, among other things, advise the client with respect to the best available insurer. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this regulatory proposal or whether any other state will propose or adopt similar actions.



 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


The Company’s operations usually produce a positive cash flow. This cash flow is used to fund an investment portfolio to finance future benefit payments. Since future benefit payments largely represent medium- and long-term obligations reserved using certain assumed interest rates, the Company’s investments are predominantly in medium- and long-term, fixed-rate investments such as bonds and mortgage loans.

INVESTMENTS

Portfolio Description

The Company's investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) and commercial mortgage loans. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity by purchasing investments that match future cash flow needs. However, the Company may sell any of its investments to maintain proper duration matching of assets and liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has classified $14.9 billion of its fixed maturities and equity securities as “available for sale.”

As of December 31, 2003, the Company consolidated a special-purpose entity, in accordance with FIN 46, whose investments are managed by the Company. These investments, which have a market value of $411.3 million at March 31, 2005, have been classified as “trading” securities by the Company.

The Company’s investments in debt and equity securities are reported at market value, and investments in mortgage loans are reported at amortized cost. At March 31, 2005, the Company’s fixed maturity investments had a market value of $15.3 billion, which is 3.2% above amortized cost of $14.8 billion. The Company had $3.0 billion in mortgage loans at March 31, 2005. While the Company’s mortgage loans do not have quoted market values, at March 31, 2005, the Company estimates the market value of its mortgage loans to be $3.1 billion (using discounted cash flows from the next call date), which is 3.4% above amortized cost. Most of the Company’s mortgage loans have significant prepayment fees. These assets are invested for terms approximately corresponding to anticipated future benefit payments. Thus, market fluctuations are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.

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

   
March 31, 2005
 
December 31, 2004
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
                   
Publicly-issued bonds
 
$
13,394,735
   
67.1
%
$
12,519,107
   
64.6
%
Privately issued bonds
   
1,866,212
   
9.3
   
1,889,905
   
9.7
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
2,749
   
0.0
   
3,593
   
0.0
 
Fixed maturities
   
15,263,696
   
76.4
   
14,412,605
   
74.3
 
Equity securities
   
59,605
   
0.3
   
58,941
   
0.3
 
Mortgage loans
   
3,042,584
   
15.2
   
3,005,418
   
15.5
 
Investment real estate
   
104,986
   
0.5
   
107,246
   
0.6
 
Policy loans
   
472,345
   
2.4
   
482,780
   
2.5
 
Other long-term investments
   
222,943
   
1.1
   
259,025
   
1.3
 
Short-term investments
   
816,335
   
4.1
   
1,059,557
   
5.5
 
Total investments
 
$
19,982,494
   
100.0
%
$
19,385,572
   
100.0
%


Included in the above table are $409.7 million of fixed maturities and $1.6 million of short term investments and $410.1 million of fixed maturities and $7.2 million of short-term investments classified by the Company as trading securities at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

Market values for private, non-traded securities are determined as follows: 1) the Company obtains estimates from independent pricing services or 2) the Company estimates market value based upon a comparison to quoted issues of the same issuer or issues of other issuers with similar terms and risk characteristics. The market value of private, non-traded securities was $1.9 billion at March 31, 2005, representing 9.3% of the Company’s total invested assets.

 

 

The Company participates in securities lending, primarily as an investment yield enhancement, whereby securities that are held as investments are loaned to third parties for short periods of time. The Company requires collateral of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities to be separately maintained. The loaned securities’ market value is monitored, on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained as necessary. At March 31, 2005, securities with a market value of $565.5 million were loaned under these agreements. As collateral for the loaned securities, the Company receives short-term investments, which are recorded in “short-term investments” with a corresponding liability recorded in “other liabilities” to account for the Company’s obligation to return the collateral.

Risk Management and Impairment Review

The Company monitors the overall credit quality of the Company’s portfolio within general guidelines. The following table shows the Company's available for sale fixed maturities by credit rating at March 31, 2005.

S&P or Equivalent
Designation
 
Market Value
 
Percent of
Market Value
 
   
($ in thousands)
     
           
AAA
 
$
6,055,326
   
40.8
%
AA
   
889,408
   
6.0
 
A
   
3,105,756
   
20.9
 
BBB
   
3,855,253
   
26.0
 
Investment grade
   
13,905,743
   
93.7
 
BB
   
704,833
   
4.7
 
B
   
225,813
   
1.5
 
CCC or lower
   
14,724
   
0.1
 
In or near default
   
155
   
0.0
 
Below investment grade
   
945,525
   
6.3
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
2,749
   
0.0
 
Total
 
$
14,854,017
   
100.0
%


Not included in the table above are $398.6 million of investment grade and $11.1 million of less than investment grade fixed maturities classified by the Company as trading securities.

Limiting bond exposure to any creditor group is another way the Company manages credit risk. The following table summarizes the Company's ten largest fixed maturity exposures to an individual creditor group as of March 31, 2005.

Creditor
 
Market Value
 
   
($ in millions)
 
       
Berkshire Hathaway
 
$
81.1
 
FPL Group
   
77.0
 
Bank of America
   
76.4
 
Dominion Resources
   
75.6
 
Kinder Morgan
   
75.0
 
Wachovia
   
74.8
 
Southern Company
   
73.1
 
Merrill Lynch
   
72.2
 
Edison International
   
72.0
 
Progress Energy
   
71.4
 


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

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

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

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

Unrealized Gains and Losses

The information presented below relates to investments at a certain point in time and is not necessarily indicative of the status of the portfolio at any time after March 31, 2005, the balance sheet date. Information about unrealized gains and losses is subject to rapidly changing conditions, including volatility of financial markets and changes in interest rates. As indicated above, the Company’s management considers a number of factors in determining if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, including its ability and intent to hold the security until recovery. Furthermore, since the timing of recognizing realized gains and losses is largely based on management’s decisions as to the timing and selection of investments to be sold, the tables and information provided below should be considered within the context of the overall unrealized gain (loss) position of the portfolio. At March 31, 2005, the Company had an overall pretax net unrealized gain of $472.9 million.

For traded and private fixed maturity and equity securities held by the Company that are in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2005, the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
<= 90 days
 
$
3,865,315
   
78.4
%
$
3,917,727
   
77.7
%
$
(52,412
)
 
46.1
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
513,289
   
10.4
   
526,019
   
10.4
   
(12,730
)
 
11.2
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
53,435
   
1.1
   
57,210
   
1.1
   
(3,775
)
 
3.3
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
212,983
   
4.3
   
228,294
   
4.5
   
(15,311
)
 
13.5
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
230,045
   
4.7
   
243,847
   
4.8
   
(13,802
)
 
12.1
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
299
   
0.0
   
535
   
0.0
   
(236
)
 
0.2
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
22,778
   
0.5
   
24,389
   
0.5
   
(1,611
)
 
1.4
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
257
   
0.0
   
408
   
0.0
   
(151
)
 
0.1
 
>5 years
   
30,975
   
0.6
   
44,709
   
1.0
   
(13,734
)
 
12.1
 
Total
 
$
4,929,376
   
100.0
%
$
5,043,138
   
100.0
%
$
(113,762
)
 
100.0
%


 

 

At March 31, 2005, securities with a market value of $28.8 million and $17.0 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including $13.4 million of unrealized losses greater than five years. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary, because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.

The Company has no material concentrations of issuers or guarantors of fixed maturity securities. The industry segment composition of all securities in an unrealized loss position held by the Company at March 31, 2005, is presented in the following table.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
Agency Mortgages
 
$
1,657,692
   
33.6
%
$
1,675,897
   
33.2
%
$
(18,205
)
16.0%
Banking
   
266,775
   
5.4
   
271,555
   
5.4
   
(4,780
)
4.2
Basic Industrial
   
109,358
   
2.2
   
114,009
   
2.3
   
(4,651
)
4.1
Brokerage
   
142,309
   
2.9
   
145,543
   
2.9
   
(3,234
)
2.8
Canadian Govt. Agencies
   
19,655
   
0.4
   
19,827
   
0.4
   
(172
)
0.2
Communications
   
101,603
   
2.1
   
105,978
   
2.1
   
(4,375
)
3.8
Consumer Cyclical
   
93,568
   
1.9
   
98,305
   
2.0
   
(4,737
)
4.2
Consumer Noncyclical
   
35,738
   
0.7
   
37,774
   
0.7
   
(2,036
)
1.8
Electric
   
424,070
   
8.6
   
438,464
   
8.7
   
(14,394
)
12.7
Energy
   
111,532
   
2.3
   
115,242
   
2.3
   
(3,710
)
3.3
Finance Companies
   
453,437
   
9.2
   
465,421
   
9.2
   
(11,984
)
10.5
Insurance
   
156,607
   
3.2
   
160,661
   
3.2
   
(4,054
)
3.5
Municipal Agencies
   
71
   
0.0
   
71
   
0.0
   
(0
)
0.0
Natural Gas
   
194,919
   
4.0
   
200,544
   
4.0
   
(5,625
)
4.9
Non-Agency Mortgages
   
690,261
   
14.0
   
709,853
   
14.1
   
(19,592
)
17.2
Other Finance
   
183,310
   
3.7
   
189,104
   
3.7
   
(5,794
)
5.1
Other Industrial
   
53,708
   
1.1
   
54,702
   
1.1
   
(994
)
0.9
Other Utility
   
21
   
0.0
   
44
   
0.0
   
(23
)
0.0
Real Estate
   
99
   
0.0
   
101
   
0.0
   
(2
)
0.0
Technology
   
17,035
   
0.3
   
19,381
   
0.4
   
(2,346
)
2.1
Transportation
   
70,952
   
1.4
   
72,978
   
1.4
   
(2,026
)
1.8
U.S. Government
   
45,551
   
0.9
   
46,460
   
0.9
   
(909
)
0.8
U.S. Govt. Agencies
   
101,105
   
2.1
   
101,224
   
2.0
   
(119
)
0.1
Total
 
$
4,929,376
   
100.0
%
$
5,043,138
   
100.0
%
$
(113,762
)
100.0%


The range of maturity dates for securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2005 varies, with 10.4% maturing in less than 5 years, 19.9% maturing between 5 and 10 years, and 69.7% maturing after 10 years. The following table shows the credit rating of securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2005.

S&P or Equivalent
Designation
 
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
 
AAA/AA/A
 
$
3,874,094
   
78.6
%
$
3,930,098
   
78.0
%
$
(56,004
)
 
49.2
%
BBB
   
889,333
   
18.0
   
924,251
   
18.3
   
(34,918
)
 
30.7
 
Investment grade
   
4,763,427
   
96.6
   
4,854,349
   
96.3
   
(90,922
)
 
79.9
 
BB
   
65,627
   
1.4
   
69,701
   
1.4
   
(4,074
)
 
3.6
 
B
   
85,721
   
1.7
   
93,657
   
1.8
   
(7,936
)
 
7.0
 
CCC or lower
   
14,601
   
0.3
   
25,431
   
0.5
   
(10,830
)
 
9.5
 
Below investment grade
   
165,949
   
3.4
   
188,789
   
3.7
   
(22,840
)
 
20.1
 
Total
 
$
4,929,376
   
100.0
%
$
5,043,138
   
100.0
%
$
(113,762
)
 
100.0
%


At March 31, 2005, securities in an unrealized loss position that were rated as below investment grade represented 3.4% of the total market value and 20.1% of the total unrealized loss. Unrealized losses related to below investment grade securities that had been in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months were $15.6 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position rated less than investment grade were 0.8% of invested assets. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.

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

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
<= 90 days
 
$
69,317
   
41.8
%
$
71,981
   
38.1
%
$
(2,664
)
 
11.6
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
39
   
0.0
   
39
   
0.0
   
(0
)
 
0.0
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
1,424
   
0.9
   
1,700
   
0.9
   
(276
)
 
1.2
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
33,644
   
20.3
   
37,975
   
20.1
   
(4,331
)
 
19.0
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
11,879
   
7.2
   
13,011
   
6.9
   
(1,132
)
 
5.0
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
188
   
0.1
   
251
   
0.1
   
(63
)
 
0.3
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
22,486
   
13.5
   
24,053
   
12.8
   
(1,567
)
 
6.9
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
11
   
0.0
   
42
   
0.0
   
(31
)
 
0.1
 
>5 years
   
26,961
   
16.2
   
39,737
   
21.1
   
(12,776
)
 
55.9
 
Total
 
$
165,949
   
100.0
%
$
188,789
   
100.0
%
$
(22,840
)
 
100.0
%


At March 31, 2005, below investment grade securities with a market value of $25.0 million and $12.5 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including securities in an unrealized loss position greater than five years with a market value of $24.9 million and $12.5 million of unrealized losses. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary, because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.

Realized Losses

Realized losses are comprised of both write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments and actual sales of investments. The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments of $0.2 million in both the first quarter of 2005 and 2004.

As discussed earlier, the Company’s management considers several factors when determining other-than-temporary impairments. Although the Company generally intends to hold securities until maturity, the Company may change its positions as a result of a change in circumstances. Any such decision is consistent with the Company’s classification of all but a specific portion of its investment portfolio as available for sale. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company sold securities in an unrealized loss position with a market value of $420.9 million resulting in a realized loss of $7.2 million. The securities were sold as a result of normal portfolio rebalancing activity and tax planning. For such securities, the proceeds, realized loss and total time period that the security had been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Proceeds
 
% Proceeds
 
Realized Loss
 
% Realized Loss
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
   
<= 90 days
 
$
323,053
   
76.8
%
$
(3,883
)
 
53.9
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
0
   
0.0
   
0
   
0.0
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
6,880
   
1.6
   
(111
)
 
1.6
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
14,749
   
3.5
   
(224
)
 
3.1
 
> 1 year
   
76,174
   
18.1
   
(2,986
)
 
41.4
 
Total
 
$
420,856
   
100.0
%
$
(7,204
)
 
100.0
%



 

 

Mortgage Loans

The Company records mortgage loans net of an allowance for credit losses. This allowance is calculated through analysis of specific loans that are believed to be at a higher risk of becoming impaired in the near future. At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company's allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $4.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2005, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (Winn-Dixie), an anchor tenant in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At March 31, 2005, the Company had 45 loans amounting to $117.5 million in loan balances in which Winn-Dixie was considered to be the anchor tenant for the underlying property (including 12 loans with balances of $21.2 million included in mortgage loan securitization trusts in which the Company holds retained beneficial interests). At March 31, 2005, the rents from Winn-Dixie represented approximately 50% of the total rents applicable to the properties underlying these loans (including approximately 66% of rents on loans in mortgage loan securitizations). The Company has evaluated each of the related loans, and has identified two potential impairments. As of March 31, 2005, the mortgage loan reserve included $1.1 million for these two loans. The Company will continue to actively monitor these loans and assess them for potential impairments as circumstances develop in the future.

For several years the Company has offered a type of commercial mortgage loan under which the Company will permit a slightly higher loan-to-value ratio in exchange for a participating interest in the cash flows from the underlying real estate. As of March 31, 2005, approximately $474.8 million of the Company’s mortgage loans have this participation feature.

In the ordinary course of its commercial mortgage lending operations, the Company will commit to provide a mortgage loan before the property to be mortgaged has been built or acquired. The mortgage loan commitment is a contractual obligation to fund a mortgage loan when called upon by the borrower. The commitment is not recognized in the Company's financial statements until the commitment is actually funded. The mortgage loan commitment contains terms, including the rate of interest, which may become less than prevailing interest rates. At March 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding mortgage loan commitments of $981.1 million at an average rate of 6.08%.

At March 31, 2005, delinquent mortgage loans and foreclosed properties were 0.1% of invested assets. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.

Liabilities

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

At March 31, 2005, the Company had policy liabilities and accruals of $10.9 billion. The Company's interest-sensitive life insurance policies have a weighted average minimum credited interest rate of approximately 3.99%.

At March 31, 2005, the Company had $5.7 billion of stable value product account balances and $3.4 billion of annuity account balances.

Derivative Financial Instruments

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

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

Asset/Liability Management

The Company's asset/liability management programs and procedures involve the monitoring of asset and liability durations for various product lines; cash flow testing under various interest rate scenarios; and the continuous rebalancing of assets and liabilities with respect to yield, risk, and cash flow characteristics. It is the Company's policy to generally maintain asset and liability durations within one-half year of one another, although, from time to time, a broader interval may be allowed.

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

Cash outflows related to stable value contracts (primarily maturing contracts, scheduled interest payments and expected withdrawals) were approximately $1.1 billion during 2004. Cash outflows related to stable value contracts are estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion in 2005. The Company's asset/liability management programs and procedures take into account maturing contracts and expected withdrawals. Accordingly, the Company does not expect stable value contract related cash outflows to have an unusual effect on the future operations and liquidity of the Company.

The life insurance subsidiaries were committed at March 31, 2005, to fund mortgage loans in the amount of $981.1 million. The Company's subsidiaries held $861.9 million in cash and short-term investments at March 31, 2005. Protective Life Corporation had an additional $8.1 million in cash and short-term investments available for general corporate purposes.

While the Company generally anticipates that the cash flows of its subsidiaries will be sufficient to meet their investment commitments and operating cash needs, the Company recognizes that investment commitments scheduled to be funded may, from time to time, exceed the funds then available. Therefore, the Company has arranged sources of credit for its insurance subsidiaries to use when needed. The Company expects that the rate received on its investments will equal or exceed its borrowing rate. Additionally, the Company may from time to time sell short-duration stable value products to complement its cash management practices.

The Company has also used securitization transactions involving its commercial mortgage loans to increase its liquidity.


 

 

Capital

At March 31, 2005, the Company had no borrowings under its $200 million revolving line of credit due July 30, 2009.

Protective Life Corporation's cash flow is dependent on cash dividends from its subsidiaries, revenues from investment, data processing, legal and management services rendered to the subsidiaries, and investment income. At December 31, 2004, approximately $574.2 million of consolidated share-owners' equity, excluding net unrealized investment gains and losses, represented net assets of the Company's insurance subsidiaries that cannot be transferred to the Company. In addition, the states in which the Company's insurance subsidiaries are domiciled impose certain restrictions on the insurance subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Company.

The Company plans to retain substantial portions of the earnings of its life insurance subsidiaries in those companies primarily to support their future growth. The Company's cash disbursements have from time to time exceeded its cash receipts, and these shortfalls have been funded through various external financings. Therefore, the Company may, from time to time, require additional external financing.

To give the Company flexibility in connection with future acquisitions and other growth opportunities or for other corporate purposes, the Company has registered debt securities, preferred and common stock, and stock purchase contracts of Protective Life Corporation, and additional preferred securities of special purpose finance subsidiaries under the Securities Act of 1933 on a delayed (or shelf) basis.

On May 3, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program, available through May 2, 2007. There has been no activity under this program, and future activity will be dependent upon many factors, including capital levels, rating agency expectations, and the relative attractiveness of alternative uses for capital.

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


 

 

Contractual Obligations

The table below sets forth future maturities of debt, subordinated debt securities, stable value products, notes payable, operating lease obligations, other property lease obligations, mortgage loan commitments, and liabilities related to variable interest entitie

 
   
2005
 
2006-2007
 
2008-2009
 
After 2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Long-term debt(a)
 
$
27
 
$
2,166
       
$
449,231
 
Subordinated debt securities(b)
                     
324,743
 
Stable value products(c)
   
805,413
   
2,449,148
 
$
1,325,289
   
1,090,505
 
Operating leases(d)
   
5,051
   
8,818
   
3,788
   
2,982
 
Home office lease(e)
   
1,450
   
77,255
             
Mortgage loan commitments
   
981,117
                   
Liabilities related to variable interest entities(f)
   
5,907
   
3,025
   
36,089
   
36,568
 
Policyholder obligations(g)
   
678,711
   
1,789,599
   
1,607,851
   
9,029,655
 
 
(a)  
Long-term debt includes all principal amounts owed on note agreements, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the notes.
(b)  
Subordinated debt securities includes all principal amounts owed to non-consolidated special purpose finance subsidiaries of the Company, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the obligations.
(c)  
Anticipated stable value products cash flows, excluding interest not yet accrued.
(d)  
Includes all base lease payments required under operating lease agreements.
(e)  
The lease payments shown assume the Company exercises its option to purchase the building at the end of the lease term.
(f)  
Liabilities related to variable interest entities are not the legal obligations of the Company, but will be repaid with cash flows generated by the variable interest entities. The amounts represent scheduled principal payments.
(g)  
Estimated contractual policyholder obligations are based on mortality, morbidity, and lapse assumptions comparable to the Company’s historical experience, modified for recent observed trends. These obligations are based on current balance sheet values and do not incorporate an expectation of future market growth, interest crediting, or future deposits. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results. As separate account obligations are legally insulated from general account obligations, the separate account obligations will be fully funded by cash flows from separate account assets. The Company expects to fully fund the general account obligations from cash flows from general account investments.

 

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

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

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

 
(a)
Disclosure controls and procedures

Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2005. It should be noted that any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain judgments, including the costs and benefits of controls and the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within the Company have been detected.

 
(b)
Changes in internal control over financial reporting

No significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting. Our internal controls exist within a dynamic environment and the Company continually strives to improve its internal controls and procedures to enhance the quality of its financial reporting.



 

 

PART II

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

During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the Company issued no securities in transactions which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).

Item 6.
Exhibits

Exhibit 10(a) - Form of Performance Share Award Letter for Vice Presidents under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10(b) - Form of Performance Share Award Letter for Senior Officers under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10(c) - Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Letter under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10(d) - Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Letter for Senior Officers under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan

Exhibit 15 - Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.

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

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

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

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

Exhibit 99 - Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements.



 

 


SIGNATURE


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


 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
   
Date: May 10, 2005
/s/ Steven G. Walker
 
Steven G. Walker
 
Senior Vice President, Controller
 
and Chief Accounting Officer
 
(Duly authorized officer)