UNITED STATES
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
———————
FORM 8-K
———————
 
CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 30, 2015

PHL Variable Insurance Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Connecticut
 
333-20277
 
06-1045829
(State or other jurisdiction
 of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
 Identification No.)

One American Row, Hartford, CT
 
06102-5056
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (860) 403-5000

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


 
 

 
 
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
 
Cost of Insurance Cases
 
PHL Variable Insurance Company (“PHL Variable”) announced that Phoenix Life Insurance Company and PHL Variable (together, the “Companies”), wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries of The Phoenix Companies, Inc., reached an agreement as of April 30, 2015 with SPRR, LLC, Martin Fleisher, as trustee of the Michael Moss Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust II, and Jonathan Berck, as trustee of the John L. Loeb, Jr. Insurance Trust (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”), to resolve two previously disclosed class actions (the “Class Actions”) against the Companies relating to certain cost of insurance (“COI”) rate adjustments made in 2010 and 2011 with respect to certain policies issued by the Companies.  The agreement requires that a formal settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) will be filed with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and will be subject to certain conditions and court approval.
 
The settlement class consists of all policyholders that were subject to the 2010 or 2011 COI rate adjustments (collectively, the “Settlement Class”) and will be structured to allow members of the Settlement Class to opt out of the settlement (the “Settlement”). The Companies will establish a Settlement fund, which may be reduced proportionally for any opt-outs, and will pay a class counsel fee if the Settlement is approved.  The Companies will be released by all participating members of the Settlement Class.  The Companies agreed to pay a total of $48.5 million, as reduced for any opt-outs, in connection with the Settlement.
 
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
 
PHL Variable expects to incur a $36.4 million charge in the first quarter of 2015 in connection with the Settlement.
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
The foregoing contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend for these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws relating to forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include statements relating to, or representing management’s beliefs about, future events, transactions, strategies, operations and financial results, including, without limitation, our expectation to provide information within anticipated timeframes and in accordance with the amended administrative order entered by the SEC with respect to PHL Variable Insurance Company (the “Company”) and its indirect parent, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (“Phoenix”), and otherwise in accordance with law, the outcome of litigation and claims as well as regulatory examinations, investigations, proceedings and orders arising out of the financial statement restatements of Phoenix and the Company and the failure by Phoenix and the Company to file SEC reports on a timely basis, potential penalties that may result from failure to timely file statutory financial statements with state insurance regulators.  Such forward-looking statements often contain words such as “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is targeting,” “may,” “should” and other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current expectations and beliefs and are not guarantees of future performance. Our ability to resume a timely filing schedule with respect to our SEC filings is subject to a number of contingencies, including but not limited to, whether existing systems and processes can be timely updated, supplemented or replaced, and whether additional filings may be necessary in connection with the restatement. Our actual business, financial condition or results of operations may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties which include, among others, those risks and uncertainties described in any of our other filings with the SEC. Certain other factors which may impact our business, financial condition or results of operations or which may cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements are discussed or included in our reports filed with the SEC and are available on our website at www.phoenixwm.com under “Investor Relations”. You are urged to carefully consider all such factors. We do not undertake or plan to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this Form 8-K, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. If we make any future public statements or disclosures which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this Form 8-K, such statements or disclosures will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this Form 8-K.
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
       
Date:  May 1, 2015
By:
/s/ Bonnie J. Malley
 
    Name: 
Bonnie J. Malley
 
    Title: 
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
       

 
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