Jefferson-Pilot Corporation
 

FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
For Quarter Ended June 30, 2004   Commission file number 1-5955

Jefferson-Pilot Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
North Carolina
    56-0896180  
(State or other jurisdiction of
  (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
  Identification No.)
 
       
100 North Greene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina
    27401  
(Address of principal executive offices)
  (Zip Code)

(336) 691-3000
(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 Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes [X] No [   ]

         
Number of shares of common stock outstanding at June 30, 2004
    136,471,398  

 


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION

INDEX

             
        - Page No. -
  Financial Information        
  Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets - June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003     3  
  Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Statements of Income - Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003     4  
  Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003     5  
  Notes to Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements     6  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     13  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     42  
  Controls and Procedures     42  
  Other Information        
  Legal Proceedings     43  
  Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     43  
  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K     44  
        45  
Exhibit Index, followed by Exhibits     46  

2


 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    June 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
    (Dollar Amounts in
    Millions Except
    Share Information)
ASSETS
               
Investments:
               
Debt securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $18,176 and $16,819)
  $ 18,602     $ 17,706  
Debt securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $2,649 and $2,918)
    2,545       2,752  
Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost $237 and $304)
    652       756  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    3,612       3,472  
Policy loans
    844       869  
Real estate
    126       132  
Other investments
    133       65  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total investments
    26,514       25,752  
Cash and cash equivalents
    69       72  
Accrued investment income
    339       326  
Due from reinsurers
    1,356       1,340  
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    2,486       2,230  
Goodwill
    312       312  
Assets held in separate accounts
    2,234       2,166  
Other assets
    686       498  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 33,996     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Policy liabilities:
               
Future policy benefits
  $ 3,042     $ 2,674  
Policyholder contract deposits
    21,350       20,642  
Dividend accumulations and other policyholder funds on deposit
    247       251  
Policy and contract claims
    254       165  
Other
    757       638  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total policy liabilities
    25,650       24,370  
Commercial paper borrowings
    187       654  
Obligations under repurchase agreements
    509       401  
Long-term notes payable
    600        
Junior subordinated debentures
    309       309  
Currently recoverable income taxes
    (21 )     (72 )
Deferred income tax liabilities
    498       543  
Liabilities related to separate accounts
    2,234       2,166  
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
    510       519  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities
    30,476       28,890  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Common stock and paid in capital, par value $1.25 per share: authorized 350,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2004-136,471,398 shares; 2003-140,610,540 shares
    171       176  
Retained earnings
    2,899       2,947  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    450       683  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    3,520       3,806  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 33,996     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
    (Dollar Amounts in   (Dollar Amounts in
    Millions Except   Millions Except
    Share Information)   Share Information)
Revenue:
                               
Premiums and other considerations
  $ 352     $ 239     $ 632     $ 470  
Universal life and investment product charges
    183       167       365       339  
Net investment income
    414       415       820       825  
Realized investment gains
    10       20       34       1  
Communications sales
    57       51       115       101  
Broker-dealer concessions and other
    31       24       66       48  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenue
    1,047       916       2,032       1,784  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Benefits and Expenses:
                               
Insurance and annuity benefits
    585       504       1,126       1,002  
Insurance commissions, net of deferrals
    68       25       127       50  
General and administrative expenses, net of deferrals
    47       39       85       70  
Insurance taxes, licenses and fees
    20       18       37       39  
Amortization of policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    75       81       142       163  
Interest expense
    12       8       23       17  
Communications operations
    29       27       66       62  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    836       702       1,606       1,403  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    211       214       426       381  
Income taxes
    69       74       143       132  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    142       140       283       249  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for long-duration contracts, net of taxes
                (13 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 142     $ 140     $ 270     $ 249  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Average number of shares outstanding
    138.3       142.0       139.5       142.4  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net Income Per Share of Common Stock:
                               
Net income
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99     $ 1.94     $ 1.75  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income - assuming dilution
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98     $ 1.92     $ 1.74  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.380     $ 0.330     $ 0.710     $ 0.633  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Millions)
                 
    Six Months Ended
    June 30
    2004
  2003
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
  $ 647     $ 208  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Securities and loans purchased, net
    (1,152 )     (476 )
Other investing activities
    (106 )     1  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,258 )     (475 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Policyholder contract deposits
    1,447       1,183  
Policyholder contract withdrawals
    (762 )     (748 )
Net borrowings (repayments)
    241       (48 )
Net repurchase of common shares
    (227 )     (46 )
Cash dividends paid
    (99 )     (90 )
Other financing activities
    8       1  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    608       252  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (3 )     (15 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    72       67  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 69     $ 52  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
               
Income taxes (received) paid
  $ (6 )   $ 167  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Interest paid
  $ 18     $ 20  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in millions)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2004. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Stock Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock incentive awards in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and accordingly, recognizes no compensation expense for stock option awards to employees or directors when the option price is not less than the market value of the stock at the date of award. The Company recognizes expense utilizing the fair value method in accordance with SFAS 123 for stock options granted to non-employees, specifically agents.

SFAS 123 requires the presentation of pro forma information as if the Company had accounted for its employee and director stock options granted after December 31, 1994 under the fair value method of that Statement.

6


 

The following is a reconciliation of reported net income and proforma information as if the Company had adopted SFAS 123 for its employee and director stock option awards:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Net income, as reported
  $ 142     $ 140     $ 270     $ 249  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    1             4       3  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma net income available to common stockholders
  $ 141     $ 140     $ 266     $ 246  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share available to common stockholders, as reported
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99     $ 1.94     $ 1.75  
Pro forma earnings per share available to common stockholders
  $ 1.02     $ 0.99     $ 1.90     $ 1.73  
Earnings per share available to common stockholders - assuming dilution, as reported
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98     $ 1.92     $ 1.74  
Pro forma earnings per share available to common stockholders - assuming dilution
  $ 1.01     $ 0.98     $ 1.89     $ 1.72  

Except as described otherwise herein, all significant accounting policies remain as we described in our Form 10-K for 2003.

3. Segment Reporting

The Company has five reportable segments that are defined based on the nature of the products and services offered: Individual Products, Annuity and Investment Products (AIP), Benefit Partners, Communications, and Corporate and Other. The segments remain as we described in our Form 10-K for 2003.

The following table summarizes certain financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments:

                 
    June 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Assets
               
Individual Products
  $ 18,283     $ 17,717  
AIP
    10,445       9,941  
Benefit Partners
    1,765       1,079  
Communications
    214       210  
Corporate & other
    3,289       3,749  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 33,996     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 

7


 

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Revenues
                               
Individual Products
  $ 444     $ 439     $ 888     $ 881  
AIP
    178       173       353       343  
Benefit Partners
    331       208       582       406  
Communications
    55       50       113       100  
Corporate & Other
    29       26       62       53  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    1,037       896       1,998       1,783  
Realized investment gains, before taxes
    10       20       34       1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 1,047     $ 916     $ 2,032     $ 1,784  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reportable segments results and reconciliation to net income available to common stockholders
                               
Individual Products
  $ 75     $ 74     $ 150     $ 150  
AIP
    20       22       39       43  
Benefit Partners
    20       12       31       24  
Communications
    13       12       24       19  
Corporate & Other
    7       7       17       12  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total reportable segment results
    135       127       261       248  
Realized investment gains, net of taxes
    7       13       22       1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    142       140       283       249  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                (13 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 142     $ 140     $ 270     $ 249  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

8


 

Default charges for Individual, AIP and Benefit Partners were $11, $7, $1 and $20, $11, $1 for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

4. Income from Continuing Operations Per Share of Common Stock

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share and earnings per share assuming dilution:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Numerator:
                               
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 142     $ 140     $ 283     $ 249  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (13 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Numerator for earnings per share and earnings per share – assuming dilution – Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 142     $ 140     $ 270     $ 249  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Denominator:
                               
Denominator for earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding
    138,286,952       142,038,270       139,473,141       142,419,088  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Stock options
    1,258,786       1,017,098       1,384,368       937,649  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Denominator for earnings per share assuming dilution – adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding
    139,545,738       143,055,368       140,857,509       143,356,737  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99     $ 2.03     $ 1.75  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (0.09 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99     $ 1.94     $ 1.75  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98     $ 2.01     $ 1.74  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (0.09 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share – assuming dilution
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98     $ 1.92     $ 1.74  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

9


 

5. Contingent Liabilities

A life insurance subsidiary is a defendant in a proposed class action suit. The suit alleges that a predecessor company, decades ago, unfairly discriminated in the sale of certain small face amount life insurance policies, and unreasonably priced these policies. Management believes that the life company’s practices have complied with state insurance laws and intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted.

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various lawsuits. Because of the considerable uncertainties that exist, the Company cannot predict the outcome of pending or future litigation. However, management believes that the resolution of pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity, although it could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations for a specified period.

6. Accounting Pronouncements

FIN 46

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (FIN 46). Under FIN 46, an enterprise consolidates a variable interest entity (VIE), as defined, if the enterprise absorbs a majority of the VIE’s expected losses, receives a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the VIE. Prior to FIN 46, entities were generally consolidated by an enterprise only when it had a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority voting interest in the entity. In accordance with FIN 46, effective December 31, 2003, the Company deconsolidated Jefferson Pilot Capital Trust A and Jefferson Pilot Capital Trust B (the Trusts), VIE’s that issued $300 of redeemable preferred securities in private placement transaction in 1997. All periods presented have been restated accordingly. The redeemable preferred securities were previously presented in the Company’s financial statements as Capital Securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Dividends on the Capital Securities were presented in the consolidated statements of income as a deduction to arrive at net income available to common stockholders, and as a financing outflow on the consolidated statements of cash flows. As a result of the deconsolidation of the Trusts, the consolidated balance sheets now reflect junior subordinated debentures purchased from the Company by the Trusts in 1997, which had previously been eliminated in consolidation. Interest expense on the junior subordinated debentures is presented as interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and is presented as an operating cash outflow on the consolidated statements of cash flow.

SOP 03-1

In July 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 03-1 “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” (the SOP or SOP 03-1). The SOP addresses: (i) separate account presentation; (ii) accounting for an insurance company’s proportionate interest in separate accounts; (iii) transfers of assets from the general account to a separate account; (iv) valuation of certain insurance liabilities and policy features such as guaranteed minimum death benefits and annuitization

10


 

benefits; and (v) accounting for sales inducements. The SOP was effective January 1, 2004 and was adopted through an adjustment for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. Our cumulative effect of adjustment of $13 related primarily to accounting for sales inducements resident in certain of our older policies and the establishment of additional policy liabilities for secondary guarantees contained in our newer products. While we had previously provided for these items in our financial statements, the SOP prescribed new methods of valuation. Each of these items was at least partially offset by adjustments to related balances of deferred acquisition costs (DAC) or value of business acquired (VOBA), or in the case of sales inducements, by the establishment of a deferred sales inducement asset. The gross amount of additional policy liabilities established was approximately $9, with $0.1 pertaining to guaranteed minimum death benefits on variable universal life (VUL) products. No additional reserves were necessary related to minimum guaranteed death benefits on variable annuities (VAs), as our already-existing policy liabilities (which were less than $1) proved to be adequate under the new standard with respect to this feature. In addition to the cumulative effect of adoption, the SOP reduced our income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for the six months ended June 30, 2004 by $2.

The Company has policies in force containing two primary types of sales inducements: 1) day one bonuses on fixed annuities, which are in the form of either an increased interest rate for a stated period or an additional premium credit; and 2) persistency-related interest credited bonuses. The fixed annuity bonuses were previously being capitalized and amortized as a component of DAC. Thus, there was no cumulative impact upon adoption other than a balance sheet reclassification of the deferred amount out of DAC into deferred sales inducements. The persistency-related bonuses were previously expensed on a pay-as-you-go basis. These bonuses are now accrued over the period in which the policy must remain in force for the policyholder to qualify for the inducement. Capitalized sales inducements are amortized using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. The following table rolls forward our deferred sales inducement asset for the six months ended June 30, 2004.

         
Balance, December 31, 2003
  $  
Cumulative impact of adoption, including $30 reclassified from DAC
    68  
Additional amounts deferred
    6  
Amortization
    (4 )
 
   
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2004
  $ 70  
 
   
 
 

Separate account assets and liabilities represent funds segregated for the benefit of certain policyholders who bear the investment risk. SOP 03-1 did not impact our accounting policies with respect to separate accounts, as they meet the criteria for summary presentation contained in the SOP. Separate account assets and liabilities are equal and are recorded at fair value. Policyholder deposits and withdrawals, investment income and related realized investment gains and losses are excluded from the amounts reported in our income statement. Fees charged on policyholder deposits are included in universal life and investment product charges. The policies reported in our separate accounts are VA and VUL policies. As indicated above, the amounts of minimum guarantees or other similar benefits related to these policies are negligible.

11


 

Implementation and accounting guidance pertaining to the SOP is still evolving. While we do not expect this additional guidance to affect the amounts we have reported related to our implementation of the SOP, there is no assurance it will not.

7. Retirement Benefit Plans

The following table illustrates the components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension plans:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Service cost
  $ 4     $ 3     $ 8     $ 6  
Interest cost
    5       6       11       11  
Expected return on plan assets
    (7 )     (7 )     (15 )     (15 )
Amortization of net transition asset
    (1 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )
Amortization of net (gain) loss
    1       (1 )     1       (1 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 2     $     $ 4     $  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The Company expects to make payments of $1 to $2 during 2004 related to our nonqualified plans, which are unfunded. Contributions of $1 were made during the three and six months ended June 30, 2004.

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (the Act) was signed into law. The Act includes a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health plans that provide a prescription drug benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to the benefit to be provided under Medicare Part D. As of June 30, 2004, we have not recorded any impact of the Act, as we are still evaluating its provisions and determining whether the benefits provided by our plan are actuarially equivalent thereto. We do not expect the impact of the Act to be material to our results of operations or our financial position.

8. Canada Life Transaction

Effective March 1, 2004, we acquired via a reinsurance transaction substantially all of the in-force U.S. group life, disability and dental business of The Canada Life Assurance Company, an indirect subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. Upon closing, Canada Life ceded, and the Company assumed, approximately $400 million of policy liabilities. The company also received assets, primarily cash, to back the liabilities. As a result of the transaction we initially recorded DAC in the amount of $35 and an intangible asset of $25 representing the value of the sales force acquired as part of the transaction. These amounts may be subject to adjustment in the case of any post-closing adjustments related to the transaction. The DAC will be amortized over 15 years, representing the premium-paying period of the acquired blocks. The sales force asset will be amortized over 30 years, representing the period over which we expect to earn premiums from new sales stemming from the added distribution capacity.

12


 

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

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations analyzes the consolidated financial condition, changes in financial position and results of operations for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2004, as compared to the same periods of 2003, of Jefferson-Pilot Corporation and consolidated subsidiaries. The discussion supplements Management’s Discussion and Analysis in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and should be read in conjunction with the interim financial statements and notes contained herein. All dollar amounts are in millions except share and per share amounts.

Company Profile

Overview and Segment Revenues

We have five reportable segments: Individual Products, Annuity and Investment Products (AIP), Benefit Partners, Communications, and Corporate and Other. See our Form 10-K for an overview of the Company and our reportable segments and a discussion of key drivers and trends in our businesses.

Our reportable segments’ revenues as a percentage of total revenues, excluding realized investment gains, were as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Individual Products
    43 %     49 %     44 %     49 %
AIP
    17 %     19 %     18 %     19 %
Benefit Partners
    32 %     23 %     29 %     23 %
Communications
    5 %     6 %     6 %     6 %
Corporate and Other
    3 %     3 %     3 %     3 %

The higher proportion of revenues from Benefit Partners in 2004 reflects the Canada Life business, discussed later.

Update on Critical Accounting Policies

Our Form 10-K describes our accounting policies that are critical to the understanding of our results of operations and our financial position. They relate to deferred acquisition costs (DAC), value of business acquired (VOBA) and unearned revenue, assumptions and judgments utilized in determining if declines in fair values of investments are other-than-temporary, valuation methods for infrequently traded securities and private placements, and accruals relating to legal and administrative proceedings.

These policies were applied in a consistent manner during the first six months of 2004. Legal proceedings are discussed in Note 5 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

13


 

Results of Operations

The following tables illustrate our results before and after the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Consolidated Summary of Income
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 142.1     $ 140.1       1.4 %   $ 283.3     $ 249.2       13.7 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (12.9 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 142.1     $ 140.1       1.4 %   $ 270.4     $ 249.2       8.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Consolidated Earnings Per Share
                                               
Basic:
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99       4.0 %   $ 2.03     $ 1.75       16.0 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (0.09 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 1.03     $ 0.99       4.0 %   $ 1.94     $ 1.75       10.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Fully-diluted:
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98       4.1 %   $ 2.01     $ 1.74       15.5 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (0.09 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 1.02     $ 0.98       4.1 %   $ 1.92     $ 1.74       10.3 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Average number of shares outstanding
    138,286,952       142,038,270       139,473,141       142,419,088  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Average number of shares outstanding – assuming dilution
    139,545,738       143,055,368       140,857,509       143,356,737  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The increase in net income for the second quarter of 2004 reflected earnings growth in the Benefit Partners and Communications segments. This growth was largely offset by lower realized investment gains net of taxes of $7.2 for the quarter versus $13.2 in the second quarter of 2003. Individual Products advanced slightly while AIP and Corporate and Other declined. The increase in income before

14


 

cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for the 2004 six months was attributable to increased earnings in the Benefit Partners, Communications and Corporate and Other segments. Realized investment gains net of taxes contributed $21.9 for the first half of 2004 compared to $0.8 in the 2003 period. Benefit Partners results for the quarter and year to date periods were favorably impacted by earnings from the business added via the Canada Life transaction, which closed during the first quarter of 2004, and by improved loss ratios during the second quarter. Communications achieved market share advancements in 2004 spurring earnings growth. Individual Products and AIP results were adversely impacted by spread compression for the quarter and year to date periods due to lower portfolio yields, partially resulting from lower repayments of mortgage backed securities.

The Company adopted SOP 03-1 in the first quarter of 2004. SOP 03-1 created both a cumulative effect upon adoption as well as a reduction to net income, as discussed later and in Note 6.

Growth in earnings per share was more favorable than the growth in dollar earnings amounts due to repurchases of 5,368,200 shares during the first half of 2004, 3,484,000 of which occurred in the second quarter. Share repurchases during the second half of 2003 also contributed to this growth over the 2003 periods.

Results by Business Segment

Throughout this Form 10-Q, “reportable segment results” is defined as net income before realized investment gains and losses (and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, if applicable). Reportable segment results is a non-GAAP measure. We believe reportable segment results provides relevant and useful information to investors, as it represents the basis on which we assess the performance of our business segments. We deem reportable segment results to be a meaningful measure for this purpose because, except for losses from other-than-temporary impairments, realized investment gains and losses occur primarily at our sole discretion. Note that reportable segment results as described above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

We assess profitability by business segment and measure other operating statistics as detailed in the separate segment discussions that follow. Sales are one of the statistics we use to track performance. Our sales in the Individual Products and AIP segments have little immediate impact on revenues for these two segments as described in the segment discussions below.

15


 

Results by Reportable Segment

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Individual Products
  $ 75.3     $ 74.3       1.3 %   $ 150.3     $ 150.3       %
AIP
    19.7       21.6       (8.8 )     38.8       42.8       (9.3 )
Benefit Partners
    19.6       12.5       56.8       31.1       24.4       27.5  
Communications
    13.7       11.5       19.1       24.3       18.6       30.6  
Corporate and Other
    6.6       7.0       (5.7 )     16.9       12.3       37.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total reportable segment results
    134.9       126.9       6.3       261.4       248.4       5.2  
Realized investment gains, net of taxes
    7.2       13.2       (45.5 )     21.9       0.8       2,637.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    142.1       140.1       1.4       283.3       249.2       13.7  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                        (12.9 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 142.1     $ 140.1       1.4 %   $ 270.4     $ 249.2       8.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Segment Assets

We assign invested assets backing insurance liabilities to our segments in relation to policyholder funds and reserves. We assign net DAC and VOBA, reinsurance receivables, communications assets and certain other assets to the respective segments where those assets originate. We also assign invested assets to back capital allocated to each segment in relation to our philosophy for managing business risks, reflecting appropriate conservatism. We assign the remainder of invested and other assets, including all defaulted securities, to the Corporate and Other segment.

                 
    June 30
    2004
  2003
Individual Products
  $ 18,283     $ 17,124  
AIP
    10,445       9,487  
Benefit Partners
    1,765       980  
Communications
    214       201  
Corporate and Other
    3,289       3,896  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 33,996     $ 31,688  
 
   
 
     
 
 

16


 

Individual Products

The Individual Products segment markets individual life insurance policies primarily through independent general agents, independent national account marketing firms, and agency building general agents. We also sell products through home service agents, broker/dealers, banks and other strategic alliances. Segment results were:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
UL-Type Products:
                                               
Net investment income
  $ 184.5     $ 187.8       (1.8 )%   $ 368.6     $ 372.9       (1.2 )%
Interest credited to policyholders
    (125.4 )     (128.6 )     2.5       (251.1 )     (255.0 )     1.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Interest margin
    59.1       59.2       (0.2 )     117.5       117.9       (0.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Product charge revenue:
                                               
Cost of insurance charges
    135.8       123.4       10.0       268.4       248.8       7.9  
Expense charges
    37.8       32.9       14.9       75.2       68.5       9.8  
Surrender charges
    9.6       10.0       (4.0 )     20.6       20.3       1.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total product charge revenue
    183.2       166.3       10.2       364.2       337.6       7.9  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Death benefits and other insurance benefits
    (76.0 )     (66.1 )     (15.0 )     (153.2 )     (137.4 )     (11.5 )
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (24.5 )     (26.7 )     8.2       (47.0 )     (50.5 )     6.9  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (52.5 )     (40.1 )     (30.9 )     (97.5 )     (81.0 )     (20.4 )
Miscellaneous expense
    (0.4 )     (1.2 )     66.7       (0.4 )     (1.2 )     66.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
UL-type product income before taxes
    88.9       91.4       (2.7 )     183.6       185.4       (1.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Traditional Products:
                                               
Premiums and other considerations
    37.9       43.2       (12.3 )     78.1       87.4       (10.6 )
Net investment income
    38.6       41.2       (6.3 )     77.1       83.1       (7.2 )
Benefits
    (40.9 )     (51.5 )     20.6       (88.3 )     (104.8 )     15.7  
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (6.6 )     (5.4 )     (22.2 )     (13.8 )     (10.6 )     (30.2 )
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (3.6 )     (4.6 )     21.7       (7.6 )     (9.3 )     18.3  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Traditional product income before taxes
    25.4       22.9       10.9       45.5       45.8       (0.7 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total income before income taxes
    114.3       114.3             229.1       231.2       (0.9 )
Income taxes
    (39.0 )     (40.0 )     2.5       (78.8 )     (80.9 )     2.6  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 75.3     $ 74.3       1.3 %   $ 150.3     $ 150.3       %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

17


 

The following table summarizes key data for Individual Products that we believe are important drivers and indicators of future profitability:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Annualized life insurance premium sales:
                                               
Individual Markets excluding Community Banks and BOLI
  $ 51     $ 49       4.1 %   $ 100     $ 106       (5.7 )%
Community Banks and BOLI
  $ 3     $       100.0 %   $ 4     $ 5       (20.0 )%
Average UL policyholder fund balances
  $ 11,074     $ 10,508       5.4 %   $ 11,006     $ 10,430       5.5 %
Average VUL separate account assets
    1,528       1,166       31.0       1,509       1,136       32.8  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 12,602     $ 11,674       7.9 %   $ 12,515     $ 11,566       8.2 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average face amount of insurance in force:
                                               
Total
  $ 165,702     $ 164,139       1.0 %   $ 165,967     $ 163,950       1.2 %
UL-type policies
  $ 126,587     $ 122,716       3.2 %   $ 126,369     $ 122,479       3.2 %
Average assets
  $ 18,185     $ 16,977       7.1 %   $ 18,061     $ 16,864       7.1 %

Sales from our Individual markets excluding Community Banks and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) were up for the quarter but lagged behind 2003 for the six months primarily due to record sales levels in the first quarter of 2003. As a result of new product offerings in 2004 and in the latter part of 2003, sales were well distributed with no single product comprising more than 25% of sales for the 2004 periods. Community Banks and BOLI business will vary widely between periods as we respond to sales opportunities for these single premium products only when the market accommodates our required returns.

Approximately 57% of year to date and 59% of prior year life insurance sales were attributable to products with secondary guarantee benefits. These products were priced considering interest, mortality, withdrawal and termination (lapse) assumptions that are specific to the nature, marketing focus, and funding pattern for each product. The lapse assumptions we use for pricing are based on multi-scenario modeling techniques and are lower than the assumptions we use for non-guaranteed products, particularly when the secondary guarantee option is “in the money”. Since guaranteed UL policies are relatively new to the marketplace, credible experience has yet to emerge regarding policy and premium persistency; however, our assumptions represent our best estimate of future experience.

Interest margin on UL-type products was essentially flat for the second quarter and first six months versus 2003, despite lower investment yields, due to growth in policyholder fund balances and our

18


 

management of interest spreads. The lower investment yield was primarily due to the general interest rate environment. We actively manage interest spreads on our fixed UL-type products in response to changes in investment yields by adjusting the rates credited to policyholder fund balances while considering our competitive strategies as well. The average investment spread on fixed UL products declined 11 basis points to 1.90% for the second quarter compared to the 2003 quarter and declined 8 basis points to 1.89% for the six months. During 2003, repayments of mortgage backed securities significantly increased as a result of continued declines in long-term mortgage rates. Our mortgage backed securities portfolio is primarily a discount portfolio. We estimate that repayments in excess of expected levels increased effective investment yields by 3 and 4 basis points for the second quarter and first six months of 2004 compared to 16 basis points and 13 basis points for the 2003 periods. The decrease in excess accretion of discount contributed to the decline in effective investment spreads on fixed UL products. Our ability to manage interest crediting rates on fixed UL-type products is limited by minimum guaranteed rates provided in policyholder contracts. Therefore, continued low general market interest rates may impact future profitability, as the investment of cash flows at current interest rates reduces our average portfolio yield. At July 1, 2004 and January 1, 2004, our crediting rates were approximately 33 and 49 basis points on average in excess of our minimum guaranteed rates. Policies representing approximately 60% of the UL policyholder fund balances were at their minimum guaranteed rates. As a result of increases in general market interest rates and reinvestment out of lower yielding bonds during the second quarter of 2004, the earned rate on investments backing our UL blocks declined more slowly to 6.53% versus 6.57% for the first quarter. By comparison, the similar earned rate was 7.05% for the second quarter of 2003. However, should new money rates decline or remain at current levels, it will be more difficult to maintain investment spreads prospectively.

Product charge revenue grew at a rate in excess of the growth in average UL policyholder fund balances. Expense charge growth is largely a result of increased amortization of unearned expense charges. Products issued in recent years are designed to generate more of their revenues from expense charges. We defer expense charges received in excess of ultimate annual expense charges and amortize them into income relative to future estimated gross profits. A reinsurance recapture executed in the third quarter of 2003 is benefiting cost of insurance charges (COIs) in 2004, via lower premiums ceded. This is somewhat offset in death benefits by a higher retention of the related death claims. An increase in the average age of our insureds is also contributing to growth in COIs, but contributes to increased death benefits as well.

Total mortality experience for the quarter was in line with expectations, however, UL-type death benefits were somewhat higher and traditional death benefits were somewhat lower. Growth and aging of our blocks contributed to the increased level of UL-type death benefits and other insurance benefits for the second quarter and first six months of 2004. UL-type death benefits, net of reinsurance, per thousand dollars of face amount of insurance in-force were $0.81 in the 2004 quarter compared to $0.75 in the 2003 quarter and $1.57 compared to $1.54 for the six month periods. UL-type death benefits and other insurance benefits included $(0.8) for the quarter and $2.3 year to date of benefits related to SOP 03-1. The lower impact in the second quarter was attributable to refinements made in assumptions used to calculate reserves for secondary guarantees; however, the quarterly impact for the second half of 2004 is likely to approximate the first quarter impact. See Note 6 for further discussion of this accounting principle.

Consistent with the trend in recent years, traditional premiums and other considerations declined from the second quarter and first six months 2003, as our life insurance sales efforts are currently focused on UL-type products. Net investment income from our traditional blocks declined period over period due to lower investment yields, the decreasing size of the block and lower prepayments of mortgage backed securities.

19


 

Policy benefits on traditional business include death benefits, dividends, surrenders and changes in reserves, with the most significant being death benefits. Policy benefits as a percentage of premiums and other considerations were 107.9% and 113.1% in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 compared to 119.2% and 119.9% in the second quarter and first six months of 2003. The decreases were primarily attributable to favorable mortality experience during the second quarter of 2004, favorable change in reserves (driven by lower premiums) and lower policyholder dividends.

Total expenses (including the net deferral and amortization of DAC and VOBA) were as follows:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Commissions
  $ 65.6     $ 66.4       1.2 %   $ 129.4     $ 145.6       11.1 %
General and administrative – acquisition related
    19.1       20.9       8.6       38.0       41.8       9.1  
General and administrative – maintenance related
    11.3       11.8       4.2       22.2       21.0       (5.7 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    11.3       12.5       9.6       22.3       27.4       18.6  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    107.3       111.6       3.9       211.9       235.8       10.1  
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (76.2 )     (79.5 )     (4.2 )     (151.1 )     (174.7 )     (13.5 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    31.1       32.1       3.1       60.8       61.1       0.5  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    56.1       44.7       (25.5 )     105.1       90.3       (16.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total expense
  $ 87.2     $ 76.8       (13.5 )%   $ 165.9     $ 151.4       (9.6 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA decreased in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 from the 2003 periods, primarily due to increased efficiencies realized in our marketing and distribution costs and lower taxes licenses and fees, stemming from a reduction in our effective premium tax rate. The expense amounts we capitalize as DAC include first year commissions and deferrable acquisition expenses. We generally limit our capitalization of deferrable acquisition expenses to the lower of product specific pricing allowables or actual deferrable acquisition costs. See further discussion of DAC and VOBA under the Financial Position section. Growth in our interest sensitive blocks from recent years’ sales growth, combined with higher emergence of gross profits on UL-type products, were the primary contributors to the increase in the amortization of DAC and VOBA. During the second quarter, we adjusted our assumptions for interest spreads and lapsation on certain blocks of business, resulting in a $5.0 reduction in DAC amortization for the quarter. On a year to date basis, DAC unlocking has had the effect of reducing DAC amortization by $13.5. DAC unlocking in 2003 reduced DAC amortization by $7.0 and $10.0 for the second quarter and first six months.

The effective income tax rate was lower in 2004 for the quarter and year to date periods, due primarily to an increase in the dividends received deduction and to tax favored investments held in the Individual Products portfolio.

20


 

The growth in average Individual Products assets in 2004 was primarily due to growth in UL and VUL policyholder fund balances, partially offset by a decline in assets supporting our traditional block of business.

Our financial and operating risks for this segment include, among others, failure to achieve pricing assumptions for interest margins, mortality, withdrawals and expenses; variances between actual and underlying assumptions of DAC and VOBA; changes in taxation or other regulatory changes related to our products and competing offerings; and the effects of unresolved litigation. We discuss financial and operating risks in more detail in the Financial Position, Capital Resources and Liquidity, and Market Risk Exposures sections of this filing and in our Form 10-K. See Note 6 for further discussion of SOP 03-1, for which accounting guidance continues to evolve. While we do not expect additional guidance to affect amounts reported related to our implementation of the SOP, there is no assurance it will not.

Annuity and Investment Products

Annuity and Investment Products are marketed through most of the distribution channels discussed in Individual Products above as well as through financial institutions, investment professionals and annuity marketing organizations. Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation (JPSC) markets primarily variable life insurance written by our insurance subsidiaries and other carriers, and also sells other securities and mutual funds.

Reportable segment results were:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended    
      June 30
    June 30
 
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Investment product charges and premiums
  $ 3.2     $ 2.5       28.0 %   $ 5.6     $ 4.5       24.4 %
Net investment income
    144.7       147.4       (1.8 )     288.2       292.9       (1.6 )
Broker-dealer concessions and other
    29.5       23.1       27.7       58.9       45.3       30.0  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total revenue
    177.4       173.0       2.5       352.7       342.7       2.9  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Policy benefits (including interest credited)
    103.7       103.7             207.3       207.3        
Insurance expenses
    15.9       14.5       (9.7 )     30.8       27.6       (11.6 )
Broker-dealer expenses
    27.9       21.6       (29.2 )     55.4       41.9       (32.2 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total benefits and expenses
    147.5       139.8       (5.5 )     293.5       276.8       (6.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Income before income taxes
    29.9       33.2       (9.9 )     59.2       65.9       (10.2 )
Income taxes
    10.2       11.6       12.1       20.4       23.1       11.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 19.7     $ 21.6       (8.8 )%   $ 38.8     $ 42.8       (9.3 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

21


 

The following table summarizes key information for AIP:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30
      June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Fixed annuity premium sales
  $ 291     $ 132       120.5 %   $ 601     $ 247       143.3 %
Variable annuity premium sales
          1       (100.0 )           2       (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 291     $ 133       118.8 %   $ 601     $ 249       141.4 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Investment product sales
  $ 1,406     $ 663       112.1 %   $ 2,730     $ 1,278       113.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average policyholder fund balances
  $ 9,128     $ 8,319       9.7 %   $ 9,002     $ 8,280       8.7 %
Average separate account policyholder fund balances
    340       336       1.2       345       336       2.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 9,468     $ 8,655       9.4 %   $ 9,347     $ 8,616       8.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average assets
  $ 10,369     $ 9,449       9.7 %   $ 10,243     $ 9,427       8.7 %
Effective investment spreads for fixed annuities
    1.64 %     1.88 %             1.67 %     1.89 %        
Fixed annuity surrenders as a percentage of beginning fund balances
    8.5 %     7.8 %             8.8 %     7.9 %        

Fixed annuity premium sales increased in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 versus 2003 as a result of the acceptance in the marketplace of annuities with equity-indexed components. We continue to develop differentiated annuity products designed to create new distribution opportunities and strengthen existing marketing relationships.

Net investment income growth was lower than the growth in average policyholder fund balances, due to a decline in investment yields. We estimate that repayments of mortgage backed securities in excess of expected levels in the AIP segment increased effective yields by 2 and 4 basis points in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 versus 24 and 20 basis points in the second quarter and first six months of 2003. This decrease in excess accretion of discount accounted for the majority of the decline in effective investment spreads on fixed annuities.

We actively manage spreads on fixed annuity products in response to changes in our investment portfolio yields by adjusting the interest rates we credit on annuity policyholder fund balances while considering our competitive strategies. Effective investment spreads on fixed annuities compressed in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 versus the 2003 periods due to lower repayments of mortgage backed securities, general market interest rate declines and changes in product design. Our

22


 

recent sales have been weighted toward products with lower guaranteed minimum rates and lower spread requirements, developed in response to the declining interest rate environment. Profitability of equity-indexed annuities (EIA), which comprised over three-fourths of our AIP sales during the second quarter and first six months of 2004, depends on the management of the purchase price of derivatives to hedge the index performance of the policies. Our newer product designs in AIP require lower spreads to achieve targeted returns and require lower levels of capital to support new sales. These factors, combined with the current interest rate environment, will likely result in earnings growth that lags behind growth in average fund balances for a period of time.

Our ability to manage interest crediting rates on fixed annuity products is limited by minimum guaranteed rates provided in policyholder contracts, and continued low general market interest rates will impact future profitability, as the investment of cash flows at current interest rates reduces our average portfolio yield. We have approximately $5.0 billion of fixed annuity policyholder fund balances with crediting rates that are reset on an annual basis, and our crediting rates on average were approximately 18 basis points in excess of our minimum guaranteed rates at June 30, 2004. Approximately $3.6 billion of fixed annuity policyholder fund balances have multi-year guaranteed rates, of which a portion will begin to reset in the second half of 2004. As multi-year guarantees expire, policyholders will have the opportunity to renew their coverages at rates in effect at that time. Our ability to retain these annuities will be subject to then current competitive conditions. The current average spread to the minimum underlying guarantee on these products is approximately 273 basis points.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2004 and in accordance with SOP 03-1 (see Note 6), net deferral and amortization of bonus interest is presented in policy benefits. Previously, it had been included as a component of DAC and was included in insurance expenses. Excluding the $2.4 and $4.0 net deferral for the second quarter and first six months of 2004, policy benefits increased 2.3% and 1.9%, as growth in average policyholder fund balances was largely offset by interest crediting rate reductions.

The surrender rate in the AIP segment is influenced by many factors such as: 1) the portion of the business that has low or no remaining surrender charges; 2) competition from annuity products including those which pay up-front interest rate bonuses or higher market rates; and 3) rising interest rates that may make returns available on new annuities or investment products more attractive than our older annuities. In addition to surrender charge protection against early surrender, we have added a market value adjustment (MVA) to many of our new annuity products. The MVA provides a protection from disintermediation in a rising interest rate environment. As of June 30, 2004, 47% of our fixed annuity average fund balances were subject to a surrender charge of at least 5% or a MVA. This compares with 49% as of December 31, 2003.

23


 

Total expenses (including the net deferral and amortization of DAC and VOBA) were as follows:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
    June 30
   
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Insurance companies:
                                               
Commissions
  $ 17.6     $ 7.0       (151.4 )%   $ 36.0     $ 13.0       (176.9 )%
General and administrative – acquisition related
    3.5       2.6       (34.6 )     6.8       5.8       (17.2 )
General and administrative – maintenance related
    1.6       1.6             3.2       2.8       (14.3 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    0.6       0.4       (50.0 )     1.2       0.9       (33.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    23.3       11.6       (100.9 )     47.2       22.5       (109.8 )
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (19.6 )     (9.2 )     113.0       (40.1 )     (18.5 )     116.8  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    12.2       12.1       (0.8 )     23.7       23.6       (0.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense – insurance companies
    15.9       14.5       (9.7 )     30.8       27.6       (11.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Broker/Dealer:
                                               
Commissions
    24.8       19.1       (29.8 )     49.6       37.2       (33.3 )
Other
    3.1       2.5       (24.0 )     5.8       4.7       (23.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense – broker/dealer
    27.9       21.6       (29.2 )     55.4       41.9       (32.2 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense
  $ 43.8     $ 36.1       (21.3 )%   $ 86.2     $ 69.5       (24.0 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

The increase in our insurance companies’ net expenses was largely attributable to the SOP 03-1 reclassification of the net deferral of bonus interest to benefits as discussed above. Commissions, acquisition related general and administrative expenses and DAC capitalization all increased with the strong sales increase over the second quarter and first six months of 2003. Broker/dealer revenues and expenses increased commensurately due to the improved condition of the equity market versus the second quarter and first six months of last year.

Risks in the annuity business other than those mentioned in our Overview in the Form 10-K are spread compression; increased lapses when interest rates rise, particularly in the portion of business subject to low or no surrender charges; execution risk on EIA hedges; changes in taxation of our products; and competition from variable annuities or other financial services in an evolving market for investment products. We discuss these risks in more detail in the Financial Position, Capital Resources and Liquidity, and Market Risk Exposures sections of this filing and in our Form 10-K.

24


 

Benefit Partners

The Benefit Partners segment markets products primarily through a national distribution system of regional group offices. These offices develop business through employee benefit brokers, third party administrators and other employee benefit firms.

Reportable segment results were:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
    June 30
   
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Premiums and other considerations
  $ 307.7     $ 191.3       60.8 %   $ 540.2     $ 373.1       44.8 %
Net investment income
    23.2       16.5       40.6       41.6       32.4       28.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total revenues
    330.9       207.8       59.2       581.8       405.5       43.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Policy benefits
    232.7       147.8       (57.4 )     413.1       285.5       (44.7 )
Expenses
    67.9       40.7       (66.8 )     120.8       82.4       (46.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total benefits and expenses
    300.6       188.5       (59.5 )     533.9       367.9       (45.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Income before income taxes
    30.3       19.3       57.0       47.9       37.6       27.4  
Income taxes
    10.7       6.8       (57.4 )     16.8       13.2       (27.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 19.6     $ 12.5       56.8 %   $ 31.1     $ 24.4       27.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

The following table summarizes key information for Benefit Partners:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
    June 30
   
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Life, Disability and Dental annualized sales
  $ 48.1     $ 39.7       21.2 %   $ 102.0     $ 112.7       (9.5 )%
Reportable segment results:
                                               
Life
  $ 8.3     $ 4.2       97.6 %   $ 11.8     $ 6.7       76.1 %
Disability
    10.3       7.1       45.1       17.1       15.5       10.3  
Dental
    0.5       1.0       (50.0 )     1.1       1.3       (15.4 )
Other
    0.5       0.2       150.0       1.1       0.9       22.2  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total
  $ 19.6     $ 12.5       56.8 %   $ 31.1     $ 24.4       27.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Loss ratios:
                                               
Life
    73.0 %     78.5 %             75.5 %     80.3 %        
Disability
    71.5       69.7               72.2       66.6          
Dental
    79.4       78.0               78.9       78.9          
Combined
    73.2 %     74.7 %             74.5 %     74.3 %        
Total expenses as a % of premium income
    22.1 %     21.4 %             22.4 %     22.2 %        
Average assets
  $ 1,738     $ 962       80.7 %   $ 1,566     $ 945       65.7 %

25


 

Reportable segment results for Benefit Partners increased substantially in the second quarter 2004, reflecting both improved loss ratios in our existing business and about $5 of earnings from the acquired Canada Life business.

Total revenues for Benefit Partners increased over the second quarter and first six months of 2003 due to the March 1, 2004 acquisition of substantially all of the group life, disability and dental business of Canada Life (“the Canada Life block”) and due to organic growth from sales during 2003 and the first half of 2004. See Note 8 for further discussion of the Canada Life transaction. Excluding the Canada Life block, premiums and other considerations increased 19.2% and 16.3% over the second quarter and first six months of 2003. Revenue growth for the second quarter of 2004 over the 2003 quarter included an increase of $12 related to our Exec-U-Care product that is not expected to recur over the remainder of 2004. Annualized sales increased over the second quarter of 2003 primarily due to good sales execution from established sales reps, and declined from the first six months of 2003 due to the extraordinarily strong sales results in last year’s first quarter as well as, across the industry, continued customer tendency in 2004 to retain existing carriers for their non-medical coverages. Also, our sales results reflect the actions we implemented in 2003 and have continued into 2004 in the life line to tighten certain underwriting rules and strengthen our sales focus on higher margin, smaller case business.

Policy benefits increased in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 over the same periods in 2003, reflecting growth from the acquired Canada Life business as well as strong organic growth in our business. The second quarter of 2004 also reflected the non-recurring increase in the Exec-U-Care product discussed above. Total benefit ratios for combined Life, Disability, and Dental were down from the second quarter of 2003 and relatively in-line with the first six months of 2003.

Expenses were as follows:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Commissions
  $ 34.7     $ 21.6       (60.6 )%   $ 61.6     $ 42.4       (45.3 )%
General and administrative
    29.0       18.2       (59.3 )     52.0       37.7       (37.9 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    7.3       5.0       (46.0 )     12.3       10.3       (19.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    71.0       44.8       (58.5 )     125.9       90.4       (39.3 )
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (9.8 )     (28.9 )     (66.1 )     (18.0 )     (57.2 )     (68.5 )
Amortization of DAC
    6.7       24.8       73.0       12.9       49.2       73.8  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total expense
  $ 67.9     $ 40.7       (66.8 )%   $ 120.8     $ 82.4       (46.6 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Total expense growth for the second quarter and first six months of 2004 was somewhat elevated due to the impact of expenses from Canada Life integration activities. The integration expenses are the primary driver of the increase in the total unit expense ratios for the second quarter and first six months of 2004 relative to the 2003 periods. In the first quarter 2004 we changed our presentation of commissions, which are paid and expensed on a monthly basis. In the past, we reflected such commissions as capitalized and fully amortized each month. We no longer flow these commissions through DAC. This change has no impact on total expenses or reportable segment results.

Risks beyond normal competition that may impact this segment include increased morbidity risk due to a weak economy that may increase disability claim costs (an industry-wide phenomenon); continued medical cost inflation that can put pressure on non-medical benefit premium rates because employers may focus more on the employer’s cost of non-medical programs; and mortality risks including

26


 

concentration risks from acts of terrorism not priced for or reinsured. We discuss these risks in more detail in the Benefit Partners section of our Form 10-K.

Communications

JPCC operates radio and television broadcast properties and produces syndicated sports programming. Reportable segment results were:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Communications revenues (net)
  $ 56.5     $ 50.7       11.4 %   $ 115.0     $ 101.2       13.6 %
Cost of sales
    7.5       7.3       (2.7 )     22.2       20.7       (7.2 )
Operating expenses
    21.8       20.3       (7.4 )     43.8       41.6       (5.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Broadcast cash flow
    27.2       23.1       17.7       49.0       38.9       26.0  
Depreciation and amortization
    2.2       2.1       (4.8 )     4.4       4.2       (4.8 )
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    2.0       1.2       (66.7 )     3.6       2.7       (33.3 )
Net interest expense
    0.6       0.5       (20.0 )     1.0       1.1       9.1  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Operating revenue before income taxes
    22.4       19.3       16.1       40.0       30.9       29.4  
Provision for income taxes
    8.7       7.8       (11.5 )     15.7       12.3       (27.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 13.7     $ 11.5       19.1 %   $ 24.3     $ 18.6       30.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Communications revenues increased 11.4% over the second quarter of 2003 due to growth in our radio and TV divisions. Sports division revenues were minimal, reflecting the seasonality of basketball and football programming. Communications revenues for the first six months of 2004 increased by 13.6% over 2003 due to growth in all three operating divisions, including Sports. Combined revenues for Radio and Television increased 11.8% over the second quarter of 2003 and 11.5% year to date over the prior year due to improved revenue shares in most markets. Typically, political advertising favorably impacts television revenues in even numbered years. Political advertising for Television was $1.1 for the quarter and $2.8 year to date. Excluding the impact of political, Television revenues increased 5.6% over the second quarter of 2003 and 7.7% year to date.

Broadcast cash flow increased by 17.7% during the second quarter and 26.0% year to date in 2004 due to increases in revenues combined with effective operating expense control in all the businesses.

Total expenses, excluding interest expense, increased 8.4% over the second quarter of 2003 and 6.9% year to date. As a percent of communication revenues, these expenses were 59.3% and 60.9% for the second quarter of 2004 and 2003 and 64.3% and 68.4% year to date.

On April 1, 2004, under the option to purchase provision of a lease entered into in 2003, JPCC acquired the assets and license to broadcast a FM radio station in San Diego, CA for $18.

Risks for this segment include sensitivity to cyclical changes in both the general economy and the economic strength of local markets, concentration of our advertising revenues from the automotive industry, the ability to periodically renew FCC licenses, technological changes and consolidation in the broadcast industry. We discuss these risks in more detail in the Communications section of our Form 10-K.

27


 

Corporate and Other

The Corporate and Other segment includes the excess capital of the insurance subsidiaries, other corporate investments including defaulted securities, benefit plan net assets, goodwill related to insurance acquisitions, and corporate debt. This reportable segment’s results include earnings on invested excess capital, interest expense related to corporate debt, and operating expenses that are corporate in nature (such as advertising and charitable and civic contributions). All net realized investment gains and losses, which include other-than-temporary impairments of securities, are reported in this segment.

The following table summarizes results for this segment. Prior year amounts have been restated to conform to the current year presentation for the adoption of FIN 46, under which, as discussed in Note 2 of our 10-K, we no longer consolidate two affiliated Capital Trusts.

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Earnings on investments and other income
  $ 23.0     $  22.4     $ 48.9     $ 44.2  
Interest expense on debt
    (11.7 )     (8.4 )     (22.5 )     (17.2 )
Operating expenses
    (6.8 )     (6.7 )     (9.8 )     (13.0 )
Income taxes
    2.1       (0.3 )     0.3       (1.7 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reportable segment results
    6.6       7.0       16.9       12.3  
Realized investment gains, net of taxes
    7.2       13.2       21.9       0.8  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reportable segment results, including realized gains
  $ 13.8     $ 20.2     $ 38.8     $ 13.1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Earnings on investments and other income increased slightly in the second quarter of 2004 and improved $4.7 year to date. The year to date increase was driven by income from a $4.0 settlement from a Bank of America merger class action suit, an increase in default charges received from the operating segments, and increased dividends on equity securities, offset by approximately $2.2 foregone earnings ($1.7 for the second quarter) on capital transferred to the Benefit Partners segment in connection with the acquisition of the Canada Life business. Earnings on investments in this segment can fluctuate based upon opportunistic repurchases of common stock, the amount of excess capital generated by the operating segments and lost investment income on bonds defaulted or sold at a loss.

Interest expense on debt increased primarily due to the issuance of ten-year notes on January 27, 2004 at an effective interest rate of 4.77%. This increase was partially offset by lower short-term interest rates. See Note 8 of our Form 10-K for details of our debt structure and interest costs.

Effective tax rates improved in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 versus 2003 due to an increase in the dividends received deduction and other tax preferred investments.

28


 

Realized investment gains and losses were as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30
  June 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Stock gains
  $ 35.1     $ 13.8     $ 63.6     $ 13.8  
Stock losses
    (0.6 )           (3.0 )      
Bond gains
    7.8       22.5       25.5       36.8  
Bond losses from sales and calls
    (22.8 )     (1.9 )     (26.3 )     (4.7 )
Bond losses from writedowns
    (16.4 )     (12.1 )     (32.3 )     (41.1 )
Other gains and losses (net)
    2.2             2.2       (0.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total pretax gains
    5.3       22.3       29.7       4.2  
DAC amortization
    4.9       (2.0 )     4.0       (3.0 )
Income taxes
    (3.0 )     (7.1 )     (11.8 )     (0.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Realized investment gains, net of taxes
  $ 7.2     $ 13.2     $ 21.9     $ 0.8  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Bond impairments increased in the second quarter, but decreased in the first six months of 2004 as a result of improvement in the corporate credit environment. Second quarter write-downs reflected further deterioration among airline issuers. Bond losses from sales and calls increased $20.9 and $21.6 in the second quarter and first six months of 2004 compared to 2003, due primarily to bond swaps in the 2004 second quarter—increased market yields and favorable tax attributes provided opportunities for sales of lower yielding bonds with redeployment at higher interest rates. Gains on the sale of Bank of America stock and of about $50 of the $250 equity portfolio acquired in the second quarter of 2003 more than offset the losses on these bond sales.

We reflect provisions for credit related losses in our estimated gross profits when calculating DAC and VOBA amortization. As reflected in the preceding table, we record DAC and VOBA amortization on realized gains and losses on investments that back UL-type and annuity products.

The following table summarizes assets assigned to this segment:

                         
    June 30
   
    2004
  2003
  Change
Parent company, passive investment companies and Corporate line assets of insurance subsidiaries
  $ 995     $ 1,052       (5.4 )%
Unrealized gain on fixed interest investments
    291       867       (66.4 )
Coinsurance receivables on acquired blocks
    957       1,045       (8.4 )
Employee benefit plan assets
    379       344       10.2  
Goodwill arising from insurance acquisitions
    270       270        
Other
    397       318       24.8  
 
   
 
     
 
         
Total
  $ 3,289     $ 3,896       (15.6 )%
 
   
 
     
 
         

Total assets for the Corporate and Other segment decreased primarily as a result of the decrease in unrealized gains on fixed interest investments and the transfer to Benefit Partners in connection with the Canada Life acquisition. A large policy loan repayment was received in the quarter, reducing coinsurance receivables.

Risks for this segment include investment impairments due to continuing economic weakness or further economic decline, the risk of rising interest rates on our floating rate debt, the ability to replace existing

29


 

debt agreements with comparable terms, declines in the values of our equity securities which would limit our potential for realized gains, general uncertainty regarding litigation, and the potential for future impairment of goodwill. Also, as discussed in the Liquidity section, to service our debt and to pay shareholder dividends, we rely on excess cash flows through dividends from subsidiaries. Insurance subsidiary dividends depend on regulatory approval when above certain limits.

Financial Position

Our primary resources are investments related to our Individual Products, AIP and Benefit Partners segments, properties and other assets utilized in all segments and investments backing corporate capital. This section identifies several items on our balance sheet that are important to the overall understanding of our financial position. The Investments section reviews our investment portfolio and key portfolio management strategies.

Total assets increased $1.3 billion from year end 2003 due primarily to the Canada Life acquisition and growth in the insurance blocks, partially offset by lower unrealized gains.

Intangible assets on our balance sheet include DAC, VOBA, deferred sales inducements, goodwill and FCC licenses.

DAC, VOBA and Unearned Revenue

Both DAC and VOBA are amortized through expenses as revenues are recognized in the future. Some of the assumptions regarding future experience that can affect the carrying value of DAC and VOBA balances include mortality, interest spreads, lapse rates and policy fees earned. VUL and VA products contain an additional assumption regarding the rate of growth of the separate account mutual funds, referred to as the mean reversion assumption. Significant differences between actual experience and assumptions we use can impact the carrying balance of DAC and VOBA and therefore produce changes that must be reflected in earnings. These changes can be positive or negative. See our Form 10-K for further discussion.

The DAC and VOBA balances on our traditional individual and group insurance products were $307.7 or 11.7% of the gross balances (before adjustments for unrealized gains and losses) at June 30, 2004, and are generally subject to little volatility.

DAC and VOBA on UL-type products were $1,970.5 or 75.0% of the gross balances at June 30, 2004, and DAC and VOBA on our annuity products were $348.5 or 13.3%.

As discussed under Individual Products, during the second quarter of 2004 we unlocked our DAC assumptions regarding mortality, withdrawals and interest spreads on certain blocks of business. In our Form 10-K, we provided sensitivity analyses of changes in significant assumptions to DAC and VOBA. Those analyses continue to accurately portray the estimated sensitivity of DAC and VOBA to the significant underlying assumptions used therein.

We also adjust the carrying value of DAC and VOBA to reflect changes in the unrealized gains and losses in available-for-sale securities backing UL-type and annuity products, since this impacts the timing of and possible realization of expected gross profits for these products.

Goodwill and Other

The status and trends related to goodwill, reinsurance receivables and defined benefit pension plans were essentially unchanged during the first six months of 2004. See our Form 10-K for further discussion.

30


 

We completed our annual test of goodwill impairment during the second quarter of 2004 and concluded that no impairment has occurred.

Capital Resources

Our capital structure consists of 10-year term notes, floating rate EXtendible Liquidity Securities® (EXLs), short-term commercial paper, securities sold under repurchase agreements, long-term junior subordinated debentures, and stockholders’ equity. We also have a bank credit agreement backing a portion of unsecured revolving credit, under which we have the option to borrow at various interest rates. The agreement, as amended on May 7, 2004, aggregates $348 which is available until May 2007. The credit agreement principally supports our issuance of commercial paper.

Outstanding commercial paper has various maturities that can be up to 270 days. If we cannot remarket commercial paper at maturity, we have sufficient liquidity, consisting of the bank credit agreement, liquid assets, such as equity securities, and other resources to retire these obligations. The weighted-average interest rates for commercial paper borrowings outstanding of $187 and $654 at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were 1.16% and 1.13%. The maximum amount outstanding in 2004 after the January issuance of the term debt and EXLs was $298 and the maximum amount outstanding during 2003 was $656.

Our commercial paper is currently rated by two rating agencies.

     
Agency
  Rating
Fitch
  F1+
Standard & Poor’s
  A1+

These are the highest ratings that these agencies issue and each has been affirmed in the past six months. A significant drop in these ratings, while not anticipated, could cause us to pay higher rates on commercial paper borrowings or lose access to the commercial paper market.

Our insurance subsidiaries have sold collateralized mortgage obligations and agency debentures under repurchase agreements involving various counterparties, accounted for as financing arrangements with maturities less than six months. We use proceeds to purchase securities with longer durations as an asset/liability management strategy. At June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, repurchase agreements, including accrued interest, were $509 and $401. The securities involved had a fair value and amortized cost of $531 and $504 at June 30, 2004 versus $428 and $406 at December 31, 2003. The maximum principal amount outstanding for the first six months of 2004 was $528 versus $597 for the year ended December 31, 2003.

On January 27, 2004, we issued $300 of 4.75% 10-year term notes and $300 of EXLs with an initial maturity of February 17, 2005 subject to periodic extension through 2011. The proceeds from the debt issuances were used to support the Canada Life acquisition and for other general corporate purposes, while also rebalancing our mix of fixed and floating rate debt and short and long term maturities. The 10-year term notes were publicly registered during the second quarter of 2004.

Stockholders’ equity decreased $286 in 2004 over the yearend amount. Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, which are included as a component of stockholders’ equity, decreased $233. The remaining change in stockholders’ equity is due to net income, dividends to stockholders, and common share activity through issuance of shares under our stock option plans and our share repurchases. Our ratio of stockholders’ equity to assets excluding separate accounts was 11.1% and 12.5% at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

31


 

During the second quarter and first six months of 2004, we repurchased 3,484,000 and 5,368,200 of our common shares at an average cost of $49.62 and $51.05. In May 2004, our board refreshed its share repurchase authorization to 5 million shares, with 4.1 million remaining at June 30.

Our insurance subsidiaries have statutory surplus and risk based capital levels well above current regulatory required levels. These capital levels together with the rating agencies’ assessments of our business strategies have enabled our major life insurance affiliates to attain the following claims paying ratings:

             
    JP Life
  JPFIC
  JPLA
A.M. Best
  A++   A++   A++
Standard & Poor’s
  AAA   AAA   AAA
Fitch Ratings
  AA+   AA+   AA+

The ratings by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s are currently the highest available by those rating agencies and have been reaffirmed in 2004, while the ratings by Fitch Ratings is that agency’s second highest rating. A significant drop in our ratings, while not anticipated, could potentially impact future sales and/or accelerate surrenders on our business in force.

Liquidity

We meet liquidity requirements primarily by positive cash flows from the operations of our subsidiaries. Cash provided by operations in the first six months of 2004 and 2003 was $647 and $208. The primary driver for the increase over 2003 related to the Canada Life transaction and lower federal income tax payments.

Net cash used in investing activities was $1,258 and $475 for the first six months of 2004 and 2003. In 2004, investment purchases increased substantially due to cash received in the Canada Life transaction and from higher annuity sales. Cash used in other investing activities increased due to purchases of affordable housing tax credit securities, acquisition of additional FCC licenses and an increase in policy loans.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $608 and $252 for the first six months of 2004 and 2003, including cash inflows from policyholder contract deposits net of withdrawals of $685 and $435, reflecting increased annuity sales. Stock repurchases increased $181 in the first six months of 2004 over the prior year period. Net borrowings increased $289 in the first six months of 2004 over 2003 largely due to the capital assigned to the Canada Life acquisition.

In order to meet the parent company’s dividend payments, debt servicing obligations and other expenses, we rely on dividends from our subsidiaries. Cash dividends received from subsidiaries by the parent company during the first six months were $100 and $146 in 2004 and 2003. The lower level of dividends was in accordance with our capital planning strategies for 2004. Our life insurance subsidiaries are subject to laws in their states of domicile that limit the amount of dividends that can be paid without the prior approval of the respective state’s insurance regulator. The limits are based in part on the prior year’s statutory income and capital, which can be negatively impacted by bond losses and write downs. Approval of dividends from our life insurance subsidiaries will depend upon circumstances at the time, but historically our levels of statutory income and capital have been sufficient to obtain such approvals.

Cash and cash equivalents were $69 and $72 at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The parent company and non-regulated subsidiaries held equity and fixed income securities of $649 and $753 at

32


 

these dates. We consider the majority of these securities to be a source of liquidity to support our strategies.

Total debt and equity securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $19,254 and $18,462.

Contractual Obligations

During the second quarter of 2004, JPCC announced an agreement in principle that will give JP Sports and its broadcasting partner television syndication rights to Atlantic Coast Conference football and basketball games through the 2010 season. While the exact terms of the agreement are still being finalized, our contractual obligations will increase upon execution of the agreement. Otherwise, the composition and maturity of our contractual obligations remained essentially unchanged during the second quarter of 2004. See our first quarter Form 10-Q and our Form 10-K for greater detail and discussion.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Commitments

We have no material off balance sheet arrangements of a financing nature.

We routinely enter into commitments to extend credit in the form of mortgage loans and to purchase certain debt instruments in private placement transactions for our investment portfolio. The fair value of such outstanding commitments as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 approximated $201 and $86. These commitments will be funded through cash flows from operations and investment maturities.

Investments

Portfolio Description

Our strategy for managing the investment portfolio of our insurance subsidiaries is to consistently meet pricing assumptions while appropriately managing credit and interest rate risk. We invest for the long term, and most of our investments are held until they mature. Our investment portfolio includes primarily fixed income securities and commercial mortgage loans. The nature and quality of investments that our insurance subsidiaries hold must comply with state regulatory requirements. We have established a formal investment policy, which describes our overall quality and diversification objectives and limits.

Approximately 88% of our portfolio has been designated as available-for-sale (AFS) and is carried on the balance sheet at fair value. We determine fair values of our securities, including securities not actively traded, using the methodology described in the Critical Accounting Policies section of our Form 10-K. Changes in fair values of AFS securities are reflected in other comprehensive income. The remainder of our portfolio has been designated as held-to-maturity (HTM). As prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles, HTM securities are carried at amortized cost, and accordingly there is a difference between fair value and carrying value for HTM securities.

33


 

The following table shows the carrying values of our invested assets:

                                 
    June 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Publicly-issued bonds
  $ 16,039       60.3 %   $ 15,823       61.3 %
Privately-placed bonds
    5,094       19.2       4,621       17.9  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total bonds
    21,133       79.5       20,444       79.2  
Redeemable preferred stock
    14             14        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total debt securities
    21,147       79.5       20,458       79.2  
Mortgage loans on real property
    3,612       13.6       3,472       13.4  
Common stock
    650       2.4       754       2.9  
Non-redeemable preferred stock
    2             2        
Policy loans
    844       3.2       869       3.4  
Real estate
    126       0.5       132       0.5  
Other
    133       0.5       65       0.3  
Cash and cash equivalents
    69       0.3       72       0.3  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 26,583       100.0 %   $ 25,824       100.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

34


 

Unrealized Gains and Losses

The following table summarizes by category the unrealized gains and losses in our entire securities portfolios, including common stock and redeemable preferred stock, as of June 30, 2004:

                                         
            Gross   Gross        
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair   Carrying
    Cost
  Gains
  Losses
  Value
  Value
Available-for-sale, carried at fair value:
                                       
US Treasury obligations and direct obligations of US Government agencies
  $ 243     $ 14     $ (1 )   $ 256     $ 256  
Federal agency mortgage backed securities (including collateralized mortgage obligations)
    1,857       69       (15 )     1,911       1,911  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    58       3       (1 )     60       60  
Corporate obligations
    15,373       576       (242 )     15,707       15,707  
Corporate private-labeled mortgage backed securities (including collateralized mortgage obligations)
    632       25       (3 )     654       654  
Redeemable preferred stock
    13       1             14       14  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal, debt securities
    18,176       688       (262 )     18,602       18,602  
Non-redeemable preferred stock
    2       1             3       3  
Common stock
    235       420       (6 )     649       649  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Securities available-for-sale
    18,414       1,109       (268 )     19,254       19,254  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Held-to-maturity, carried at amortized cost:
                                       
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    6       1             7       6  
Corporate obligations
    2,539       130       (27 )     2,642       2,539  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Debt securities held-to-maturity
    2,545       131       (27 )     2,649       2,545  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total AFS and HTM securities
  $ 20,958     $ 1,241     $ (295 )   $ 21,904     $ 21,799  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The majority of our unrealized gains and losses can be attributed to changes in interest rates and market changes in credit spreads. These unrealized gains and losses do not necessarily represent future gains or losses that will be realized. Changing conditions related to specific bonds, overall market interest rates, credit spreads or equity securities markets as well as general portfolio management decisions might impact values we ultimately realize. Gross unrealized gains and losses at December 31, 2003 were $1,633 and $(128).

35


 

The following table shows the diversification of unrealized gains and losses for our debt securities portfolio across industry sectors as of June 30, 2004:

                                         
            Gross   Gross        
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair   Carrying
    Cost
  Gains
  Losses
  Value
  Value
Industrials
                                       
Basic Materials
  $ 952     $ 37     $ (16 )   $ 973     $ 974  
Capital Goods
    1,288       54       (14 )     1,328       1,314  
Communications
    1,221       53       (18 )     1,256       1,246  
Consumer Cyclical
    1,063       41       (15 )     1,089       1,083  
Consumer Noncyclical
    2,333       84       (34 )     2,383       2,373  
Energy
    1,367       40       (19 )     1,388       1,384  
Technology
    318       5       (5 )     318       317  
Transportation
    759       47       (14 )     792       787  
Other Industrials
    750       33       (5 )     778       775  
Utilities
    3,837       161       (61 )     3,937       3,908  
Financials
                                       
Banks
    2,178       101       (31 )     2,248       2,232  
Insurance
    779       15       (17 )     777       774  
Other Financials
    1,387       54       (22 )     1,419       1,415  
Mortgage Backed Securities (including Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities)
    2,489       94       (18 )     2,565       2,565  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 20,721     $ 819     $ (289 )   $ 21,251     $ 21,147  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Credit Risk Management

At June 30, 2004, the average quality rating of our bond portfolio was “A-” (the Moody’s equivalent is “A3”), which equates to a rating of 1 from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Securities Valuation Office (SVO). We monitor the overall credit quality of our portfolio within internal investment guidelines. This table describes our debt security portfolio by credit rating:

                                     
    S&P or                
SVO   Equivalent   Amortized   Fair   Carrying    
Rating
  Designation
  Cost
  Value
  Value
  % of Carrying Value
1
  AAA   $ 2,968     $ 3,057     $ 3,055       14.4 %
1
  AA     1,864       1,925       1,914       9.0  
1
  A     7,070       7,279       7,226       34.2  
2
  BBB     7,413       7,592       7,546       35.7  
3
  BB     749       752       759       3.6  
4
  B     507       502       502       2.4  
5
  CCC and lower     113       107       108       0.5  
6
  In or near default     37       37       37       0.2  
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  Total   $ 20,721     $ 21,251     $ 21,147       100.0 %
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Limiting our bond exposure to any one creditor is another way we manage credit risk. The following table lists our ten largest exposures to an individual creditor in our bond portfolio as of June 30, 2004.

36


 

As noted above, the carrying values in the following tables are stated at fair value for AFS securities and amortized cost for HTM securities.

             
Creditor
  Sector
  Carrying Value
Union Bank of Switzerland
  Financial Institutions   $ 87  
Piedmont Natural Gas
  Utilities     85  
Weingarten Realty Investors
  Financial Institutions     85  
National Rural Utilities
  Utilities     85  
HSBC Holdings PLC
  Financial Institutions     84  
Goldman Sachs Group
  Financial Institutions     84  
Cargill Inc
  Consumer, Noncyclical     83  
Wachovia Corp
  Financial Institutions     83  
General Electric Corp
  Capital Goods     82  
Wells Fargo & Co
  Financial Institutions     81  

We monitor those securities that are rated below investment grade as to individual exposures and in comparison to the entire portfolio, as an additional credit risk management strategy.

The following table shows the ten largest below investment grade debt security exposures by individual issuer at June 30, 2004. Investment grade bonds of issuers listed below are not included in these values. The gross unrealized gain or loss shown below is calculated as the difference between the fair value of the securities and their amortized cost.

                             
                        Gross Unrealized
Creditor
  Sector
  Amortized Cost
  Carrying Value
  Gain/(Loss)
El Paso Corp
  Utilities   $ 47     $ 45     $ (3 )
Ahold, Royal
  Consumer, Noncyclical     41       42       1  
Discovery Communications
  Communications     40       40       1  
Enterprise Products LP
  Utilities     40       40       (1 )
Nova Chem. Ltd.
  Basic Materials     37       37       (3 )
Rite Aid Corp
  Consumer Cyclicals     38       36       (3 )
Intertape Polymer Group
  Capital Goods     35       34        
Thomas & Betts Co
  Technology     31       32       1  
Williams Cos Inc
  Utilities     26       27       1  
Homer City Funding LLC
  Utilities     25       26       1  

At June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, below investment grade bonds were $1,397 or 6.6% and $1,452 or 7.1% of the carrying value of the bond portfolio.

As noted above, credit risk is inherent in our bond portfolio. We manage this risk through a structured approach in which we assess the effects of the changing economic landscape. We devote a significant amount of effort of both highly specialized, well-trained internal resources and external experts in our approach to managing credit risk.

37


 

Impairment Review

Our impairment review procedures remained essentially unchanged during the first six months of 2004. See our Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our impairment review procedures.

The following table shows the maturity date distribution of our debt securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2004. The fair values of these securities could fluctuate over the respective periods to maturity or any sale.

                                 
                    Gross Unrealized    
    Amortized Cost
  Fair Value
  Losses
  Carrying Value
Due in one year or less
  $ 24     $ 20     $ (4 )   $ 19  
Due after one year through five years
    954       931       (23 )     934  
Due after five years through ten years
    4,415       4,273       (142 )     4,286  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    1,673       1,598       (75 )     1,609  
Due after twenty years
    1,121       1,079       (42 )     1,080  
Amounts not due at a single maturity date
    75       72       (3 )     72  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal
    8,262       7,973       (289 )     8,000  
Redeemable preferred stocks
    4       4             4  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 8,266     $ 7,977     $ (289 )   $ 8,004  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The following table shows the credit quality of our debt securities with unrealized losses at June 30, 2004:

                                                     
    S&P or Equivalent                   % of   Gross Unrealized   % of Gross    
SVO Rating
  Designation
  Amortized Cost
  Fair Value
  Fair Value
  Losses
  Unrealized Losses
  Carrying Value
1
  AAA/AA/A   $ 4,588     $ 4,444       55.6 %   $ (144 )     49.9 %   $ 4,449  
2
  BBB     2,996       2,893       36.3       (103 )     35.6       2,903  
3
  BB     320       301       3.8       (19 )     6.6       310  
4
  B     261       246       3.1       (15 )     5.2       247  
5
  CCC and lower     91       84       1.1       (7 )     2.4       85  
6
  In or near default     10       9       0.1       (1 )     0.3       10  
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  Total   $ 8,266     $ 7,977       100.0 %   $ (289 )     100.0 %     8,004  
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

No individual issuer had an unrealized loss of $10 or greater at June 30, 2004.

The following table shows the length of time that individual debt securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

                                 
    Fair   Gross Unrealized   % of Gross    
    Value
  Losses
  Unrealized Losses
  Carrying Value
More than 1 year
  $ 854     $ (65 )     22.5 %   $ 867  
6 months – 1 year
    570       (29 )     10.0       575  
Less than 6 months
    6,553       (195 )     67.5       6,562  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 7,977     $ (289 )     100.0 %   $ 8,004  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Of the $289 gross unrealized losses on debt securities at June 30, 2004, approximately $2 was included in our potentially distressed securities list, but has been on the list for less than twelve months.

38


 

Information about unrealized gains and losses is subject to rapidly changing conditions. Securities with unrealized gains and losses will fluctuate, as will those securities that we have identified as potentially distressed. The recent volatility of financial markets and an increase in market interest rates has led to a decrease in unrealized gains and an increase in unrealized losses. We consider all of the factors discussed earlier when we determine if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, including our ability and intent to hold the security until the value recovers. If we make the decision to dispose of a security with an unrealized loss, we will write down the security to its fair value if we have not sold it by the end of the reporting period.

Realized Losses – Write Downs and Sales

Realized losses are comprised of both write downs on other-than-temporary impairments and actual sales of securities.

For the second quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2004, we had other-than-temporary impairments on bonds of $16 and $32 as compared to $12 and $41 for the same periods of 2003. The larger individual impairments, how they were measured, the circumstances giving rise to the losses, and the impact those circumstances have on other material investments we held at the time are as follows:

     2004

  o   $12.2 write down on a national passenger airline, due to overcapacity in the industry, increasing fuel prices, intense competition from low cost carriers, and the lack of demand for older aircraft.

     2003

  o   $5.1 write down on US Generating. This was an investment in a project finance security in the power generating industry. The lessee of this facility filed bankruptcy and rejected this lease.

For the second quarter and first six months of 2004, we incurred losses of $22.8 and $26.3 on sales of securities. There were no individually material losses on sales of securities during this period. All disposals were in accordance with established portfolio management strategies and did not previously meet the criteria for other-than-temporary impairment.

Mortgage Backed Securities

Mortgage backed securities (including Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities), all of which are included in debt securities available-for-sale, were as follows:

                 
    June 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Federal agency issued mortgage backed securities
  $ 1,911     $ 2,152  
Corporate private-labeled mortgage backed securities
    654       752  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 2,565     $ 2,904  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Our investment strategy with respect to our mortgage backed securities (MBS) portfolio focuses on actively traded issues with less volatile cash flows. The majority of the MBS holdings are sequential and planned amortization class tranches of federal agency issuers. The MBS portfolio has been constructed with underlying mortgage collateral characteristics and structure in order to mitigate cash flow volatility over a range of interest rates.

39


 

We experienced MBS principal payments totaling $338 and $603 in the second quarter of 2004 and 2003. Our MBS portfolio is primarily a discount portfolio; therefore, excess principal repayments accelerate the accretion of discount into income. The excess accretion of discount increased investment income in the second quarter of 2004 by $1.5 compared to $11.0 in the 2003 period, on a pre-tax basis. These principal repayments are reinvested at yields that are lower than our current portfolio yields, producing less investment income going forward. Our MBS portfolio declined substantially in 2003, and we reinvested most of the proceeds in investment grade corporate bonds.

Mortgage Loans

We record mortgage loans on real property net of an allowance for credit losses. This allowance includes both reserve amounts for specific loans, and a general reserve that is calculated by review of historical industry loan loss statistics. We consider future cash flows and the probability of payment when we calculate our specific loan loss reserve. At June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, our allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $31.6 and $35.5.

Derivative Instruments

Our investment guidelines permit use of derivative financial instruments such as futures contracts and interest rate swaps in conjunction with specific direct investments. Our actual use of derivatives through June 30, 2004 has been limited to managing well-defined interest rate and equity market risks. Interest rate swaps utilized in our asset/liability management strategy with a current notional value of $310 and $348 were open as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The Company also uses interest rate swaps to hedge prospective bond purchases to back deposits on certain fixed annuity contracts. This hedging strategy protects the spread between the annuity crediting rate offered at the time the annuities are sold and the yield on bonds to be purchased to back those annuity contracts. These interest rate swap contracts are generally terminated within a month. We also purchase S&P 500 Index® options in conjunction with our sales of equity indexed annuities. The reinsurance agreement on the indexed performance of our equity indexed annuities issued prior to August 1, 2002 remains in force.

Market Risk Exposures

We believe that the amounts shown in our Form 10-K with respect to interest rates, changes in spreads over U.S. Treasuries on new investment opportunities, changes in the yield curve, and equity price risks continue to be representative of our current sensitivities. As of June 30, 2004, 10-year U.S. Treasury rates had risen 37 basis points to 4.62% since December 31, 2003. See further discussion in our Form 10-K regarding the impacts that a changing interest rate environment has on a single year’s earnings. While a modest interest rate increase would initially be unfavorable to our earnings, due to the near-term impact on our cost of borrowing, such an increase would be favorable to our earnings over a longer timeframe as higher investment yields would be incorporated into our investment portfolio and our interest spreads. Conversely, a sustained period of flat to declining new money rates would reduce reported earnings due to the effect of minimum rate guarantees in our insurance products.

External Trends and Forward Looking Information

With respect to external trends, general economic conditions, interest rate risks, credit risks, environmental liabilities and the legal environment, see management’s comments in our Form 10-K.

40


 

Forward Looking Information

You should note that this document and our other SEC filings reflect information that we believe was accurate as of the date the respective materials were made publicly available. They do not reflect later developments.

As a matter of policy, we do not normally make projections or forecasts of future events or our performance. When we do, we rely on a safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for statements that are not historical facts, called forward looking statements. These may include statements relating to our future actions, sales and product development efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, or financial performance.

Certain information in our SEC filings and in any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf, involves forward looking statements. We have used appropriate care in developing this information, but any forward looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect our actual results or financial condition. These risks and uncertainties include among others, general economic conditions (including the uncertainty as to duration and rate of the current economic recovery), the impact on the economy from any further terrorist activities or any US military engagements, and interest rate levels, changes and fluctuations, all of which can impact our sales, investment portfolios, and earnings; any failure to complete successfully the integration of our recently completed group acquisition; competitive factors, including pricing pressures, technological developments, new product offerings and the emergence of new competitors; changes in federal and state taxes, changes in the regulation of the insurance industry or the financial services industry; or changes in other laws and regulations and their impact; and the various risks discussed earlier.

We undertake no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our press releases and filings with the SEC. In particular, you should read the discussion in the section entitled “External Trends and Forward Looking Information,” and other sections it may reference, in our most recent 10-K report as it may be updated in our subsequent 10-Q and 8-K reports. This discussion covers certain risks, uncertainties and possibly inaccurate assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Other factors besides those listed there could also adversely affect our performance.

41


 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Information under the heading “Market Risk Exposures” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a)   We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) Rule 13a-15. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our CEO and CFO, concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that management, including our CEO and CFO, is alerted to material information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Act so as to allow timely decisions regarding our disclosures. In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures, we recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do.
 
(b)   There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation described in the above paragraph that occurred during the second quarter 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

42


 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

There have been no material developments in the proceedings described in Item 3 of Form 10-K and there are no new material proceedings to report here.

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

                                 
                    Total Number of    
                    Shares    
    Total           Purchased as   Maximum Number
    Number of           Part of Publicly   of Shares that May
    Shares   Average Price   Announced   Yet Be Purchased
Period   Purchased   Paid per Share   Plans   Under the Plans
April 1-30, 2004
    100,000     $ 49.73       100,000       3,015,800  
May 1-31, 2004
    2,728,900     $ 49.37       2,728,900       4,726,100  
June 1-30, 2004
    655,100     $ 50.63       655,100       4,071,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
         
Total for Quarter
    3,484,000     $ 49.62       3,484,000          
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
         

We have an ongoing authorization from our Board of Directors to repurchase shares of Jefferson Pilot’s common stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions. The Board periodically has refreshed this authorization, to 5.0 million shares on February 9, 2004 and most recently to 5.0 million shares on May 24, 2004, and in each case we announced the Board’s action in a press release.

In addition, two other types of Jefferson Pilot common stock transactions periodically take place that the SEC staff has suggested be reported here.

  1.   A Rabbi Trust buys shares with directors’ fee deferrals and with dividends received on shares held in the Trust. This arrangement is disclosed in our proxy statement. Trust purchases in 2004 were: February, 412 shares, average price $53.48; March, 339 shares, average price $54.56; April, 260 shares, average price $53.86; May, 3,360 shares, average price $50.00; and June, 448 shares, average price $51.17.
 
  2.   Under our stock option plans, an optionee may exercise options by certifying to JP that the optionee owns sufficient JP common shares to pay the exercise price for the option shares being exercised. We then issue to the optionee common shares equal to the spread (profit) on the exercise, less required withholding taxes if the optionee so designates. The number of shares so used to pay option exercise prices in 2004 were: January, 721 shares, average price $50.31; and February, 41,400 shares, average price $54.00.

43


 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index on page 46.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

  1.   On April 20, 2004, Jefferson Pilot filed a report on Form 8-K, which filed under items 5 and 7 the selected press release schedules issued April 20, 2004, reporting historical quarterly results. The selected press release schedules were filed as an exhibit to the
Form 8-K.
 
  2.   On April 27, 2004, Jefferson Pilot filed a report on Form 8-K, which filed under items 5 and 7 the press release issued April 27, 2004, reporting financial results for the first quarter of 2004. The press release was filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.
 
  3.   On June 28, 2004, Jefferson Pilot filed a report on Form 8-K, which furnished under items 7 and 12 the press release issued June 28, 2004, reporting financial results for the second quarter of 2004. The press release was filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.

44


 

SIGNATURES

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

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION
 
By (Signature) /s/ Theresa M. Stone
(Name and Title) Theresa M. Stone, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date August 6, 2004
 
By (Signature) /s/ Reggie D. Adamson
(Name and Title) Reggie D. Adamson, Senior Vice President and Treasurer
                                                                            Principal Accounting Officer
 
Date August 6, 2004

45


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

         
Exhibit    
Number
  Description
 
31(i)
    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
     
 
31(ii)
    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
     
 
32
    Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

46