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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 September 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 September 30, 2004
  136,522,471

 


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION

INDEX

         
    - Page No. -
       
    3  
    4  
    5  
    6  
    15  
    45  
    45  
       
    46  
    46  
    47  
    48  
    49  

2


 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                 
        (Audited)
    September 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
    (Dollar Amounts in
    Millions Except
    Share Information)
ASSETS
               
Investments:
               
Debt securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $18,603 and $16,819)
  $ 19,529     $ 17,706  
Debt securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $2,635 and $2,918)
    2,469       2,752  
Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost $236 and $304)
    652       756  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    3,594       3,472  
Policy loans
    842       869  
Real estate
    126       132  
Other investments
    156       65  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total investments
    27,368       25,752  
Cash and cash equivalents
    25       72  
Accrued investment income
    350       326  
Due from reinsurers
    1,333       1,340  
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    2,386       2,230  
Goodwill
    312       312  
Assets held in separate accounts
    2,192       2,166  
Other assets
    680       498  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 34,646     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Policy liabilities:
               
Future policy benefits
  $ 3,063     $ 2,674  
Policyholder contract deposits
    21,560       20,642  
Dividend accumulations and other policyholder funds on deposit
    246       251  
Policy and contract claims
    225       165  
Other
    803       638  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total policy liabilities
    25,897       24,370  
Commercial paper borrowings
    174       654  
Obligations under repurchase agreements
    495       401  
Long-term notes payable
    600        
Junior subordinated debentures
    309       309  
Currently recoverable income taxes
    (38 )     (72 )
Deferred income tax liabilities
    668       543  
Liabilities related to separate accounts
    2,192       2,166  
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
    520       519  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities
    30,817       28,890  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Common stock and paid in capital, par value $1.25 per share: authorized 350,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2004-136,522,471 shares; 2003-140,610,540 shares
    172       176  
Retained earnings
    2,977       2,947  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    680       683  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    3,829       3,806  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 34,646     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
    (Dollar Amounts in   (Dollar Amounts in
    Millions Except   Millions Except
    Share Information)
  Share Information)
Revenue:
                               
Premiums and other considerations
  $ 328     $ 237     $ 960     $ 707  
Universal life and investment product charges
    179       181       544       520  
Net investment income
    406       413       1,226       1,238  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    3       (5 )     37       (4 )
Communications sales
    58       52       173       153  
Broker-dealer concessions and other
    28       28       94       76  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenue
    1,002       906       3,034       2,690  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Benefits and Expenses:
                               
Insurance and annuity benefits
    575       501       1,701       1,503  
Insurance commissions, net of deferrals
    62       31       189       81  
General and administrative expenses, net of deferrals
    48       39       133       109  
Insurance taxes, licenses and fees
    16       20       53       59  
Amortization of policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    56       92       198       255  
Interest expense
    12       8       35       25  
Communications operations
    31       28       97       90  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    800       719       2,406       2,122  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    202       187       628       568  
Income taxes
    68       61       211       193  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    134       126       417       375  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for long-duration contracts, net of taxes
                (17 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 400     $ 375  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Average number of shares outstanding
    136.5       141.4       138.5       142.1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net Income Per Share of Common Stock:
                               
Net income
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89     $ 2.89     $ 2.64  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income - assuming dilution
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88     $ 2.87     $ 2.62  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.380     $ 0.330     $ 1.090     $ 0.963  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4


 

JEFFERSON-PILOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Millions)
                 
    Nine Months Ended
    September 30
    2004
  2003
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
  $ 814     $ 442  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Securities and loans purchased, net
    (1,475 )     (842 )
Other investing activities
    (128 )     (1 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,603 )     (843 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Policyholder contract deposits
    2,154       1,782  
Policyholder contract withdrawals
    (1,257 )     (1,082 )
Net borrowings (repayments)
    213       (99 )
Net repurchase of common shares
    (226 )     (87 )
Cash dividends paid
    (151 )     (137 )
Other financing activities
    9       6  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    742       383  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (47 )     (18 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    72       67  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 25     $ 49  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
               
Income taxes paid
  $ 30     $ 193  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Interest paid
  $ 42     $ 35  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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 normal recurring 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 nine-month period ended September 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.

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

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 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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30   September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Net income, as reported
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 400     $ 375  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (1 )     (1 )     (6 )     (4 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma net income available to common stockholders
  $ 133     $ 125     $ 394     $ 371  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share available to common stockholders, as reported
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89     $ 2.89     $ 2.64  
Pro forma earnings per share available to common stockholders
  $ 0.97     $ 0.89     $ 2.85     $ 2.61  
Earnings per share available to common stockholders - assuming dilution, as reported
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88     $ 2.87     $ 2.62  
Pro forma earnings per share available to common stockholders - assuming dilution
  $ 0.96     $ 0.88     $ 2.82     $ 2.59  

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:

                 
    September 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Assets
               
Individual Products
  $ 18,484     $ 17,717  
AIP
    10,479       9,941  
Benefit Partners
    1,797       1,079  
Communications
    219       210  
Corporate & other
    3,667       3,749  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 34,646     $ 32,696  
 
   
 
     
 
 

7


 

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30   September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Revenues
                               
Individual Products
  $ 437     $ 449     $ 1,325     $ 1,330  
AIP
    166       173       519       516  
Benefit Partners
    308       205       890       611  
Communications
    58       51       171       151  
Corporate & Other
    30       33       92       86  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    999       911       2,997       2,694  
Realized investment gains (losses), before taxes
    3       (5 )     37       (4 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 1,002     $ 906     $ 3,034     $ 2,690  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reportable segments results and reconciliation to net income available to common stockholders
                               
Individual Products
  $ 76     $ 79     $ 226     $ 229  
AIP
    17       20       56       63  
Benefit Partners
    20       10       51       34  
Communications
    14       11       38       30  
Corporate & Other
    5       10       22       22  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total reportable segment results
    132       130       393       378  
Realized investment gains (losses), net of taxes
    2       (4 )     24       (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    134       126       417       375  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                (17 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 400     $ 375  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Default charges paid to the Corporate and Other segment for Individual, AIP and Benefit Partners were $17, $10, $1 and $14, $8, $1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

8


 

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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Numerator:
                               
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 417     $ 375  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (17 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Numerator for earnings per share and earnings per share – assuming dilution - Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 400     $ 375  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Denominator:
                               
Denominator for earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding
    136,485,685       141,365,238       138,470,054       142,063,945  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Stock options
    1,014,180       1,157,211       1,260,971       1,010,835  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Denominator for earnings per share assuming dilution - adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding
    137,499,865       142,522,449       139,731,025       143,074,780  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89     $ 3.01     $ 2.64  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (0.12 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89     $ 2.89     $ 2.64  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88     $ 2.99     $ 2.62  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
                (0.12 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share-assuming dilution
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88     $ 2.87     $ 2.62  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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 (AcSEC) 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

10


 

annuitization 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 originally amounting to $13. During the third quarter, AcSEC issued Technical Practice Aids (the TPAs) addressing certain provisions of the SOP. As a result of this additional guidance, we restated our cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2004 to record an additional $4 of expense. The nine month impact of the TPAs on income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle has been reflected in results for the third quarter. The following table reflects our results for the first quarter of 2004 as originally reported and as adjusted by the third quarter addition to the cumulative effect adjustment.

                         
    Three Months Ended           Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2004   Adoption   March 31, 2004
    As Reported
  of TPAs
  Restated
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 141     $     $ 141  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
    (13 )     (4 )     (17 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 128     $ (4 )   $ 124  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Per share information
                       
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.00     $     $ 1.00  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
    (0.09 )     (0.03 )     (0.12 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 0.91     $ (0.03 )   $ 0.88  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Per share information - assuming dilution
             
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 0.99     $     $ 0.99  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes
    (0.09 )     (0.03 )     (0.12 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 0.90     $ (0.03 )   $ 0.87  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Our cumulative effect adjustment of $17 related primarily to the establishment of additional policy liabilities for secondary guarantees contained in our newer products and accounting for sales inducements resident in certain of our older policies. 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 $15, 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 (including the effect of the TPAs) reduced our income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 by $6.

11


 

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 nine months ended September 30, 2004.

         
Balance, December 31, 2003
  $  
Cumulative impact of adoption, including $30 reclassified from DAC
    68  
Additional amounts deferred
    11  
Amortization
    (7 )
 
   
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2004
  $ 72  
 
   
 
 

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.

Pro forma disclosure of prior year periods as if the SOP had been retroactively applied has been omitted based on the impracticality of performing the necessary calculations as of those prior year periods.

12


 

7. Retirement Benefit Plans

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

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Service cost
  $ 3     $ 4     $ 11     $ 10  
Interest cost
    6       5       17       16  
Expected return on plan assets
    (9 )     (9 )     (24 )     (24 )
Amortization of net transition asset
                (1 )     (1 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    1       1       1       1  
Amortization of net (gain) loss
                1       (1 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 1     $ 1     $ 5     $ 1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The Company expects to make payments of $1 to $2 during 2004 related to our nonqualified plans, which are unfunded. Contributions of $0 and $1 were made during the three and nine months ended September 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. We have evaluated the provisions of the Act and believe that the benefits provided by our plan are actuarially equivalent thereto. As of September 30, 2004, 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.

13


 

9. Comprehensive Income

The components of comprehensive income, net of related effects of DAC/VOBA and income taxes, are as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Net income
  $ 134     $ 126     $ 400     $ 375  
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities
    227       (98 )     (2 )     121  
Change in the fair value of derivative financial instruments
    3       (6 )     (1 )     (5 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 364     $ 22     $ 397     $ 491  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

14


 

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 nine month periods ended September 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, supplemented by the discussion herein.

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

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Individual Products
    44 %     49 %     44 %     49 %
AIP
    17 %     19 %     17 %     19 %
Benefit Partners
    30 %     23 %     30 %     23 %
Communications
    6 %     6 %     6 %     6 %
Corporate and Other
    3 %     3 %     3 %     3 %

The higher proportion of revenues from Benefit Partners in 2004 reflects the acquisition of 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 nine months of 2004. Legal proceedings are discussed in Note 5 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

15


 

Results of Operations

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

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Consolidated Summary of Income
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 133.7     $ 126.1       6.0 %   $ 417.0     $ 375.3       11.1 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (16.5 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 133.7     $ 126.1       6.0 %   $ 400.5     $ 375.3       6.7 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Consolidated Earnings Per Share
                                               
Basic:
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89       10.1 %   $ 3.01     $ 2.64       14.0 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (0.12 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 0.98     $ 0.89       10.1 %   $ 2.89     $ 2.64       9.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Fully-diluted:
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88       10.2 %   $ 2.99     $ 2.62       14.1 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (0.12 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 0.97     $ 0.88       10.2 %   $ 2.87     $ 2.62       9.5 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Average number of shares outstanding
    136,485,685       141,365,238       138,470,054       142,063,945  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Average number of shares outstanding – assuming dilution
    137,499,865       142,522,449       139,731,025       143,074,780  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

16


 

The increase in net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 reflected higher realized gains and earnings growth in the Benefit Partners and Communications segments. The Individual Products and AIP segments declined over the same 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 third quarter and nine months of 2004. Communications achieved market share advances and benefited from increased political advertising revenues in 2004 resulting in 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 prepayments of mortgage backed securities. Realized investment gains, net of taxes, were $2.2 for the quarter and $24.1 for the first nine months of 2004 versus realized investment losses, net of taxes, of ($3.9) and ($3.1) for the 2003 periods.

The Company adopted SOP 03-1 on January 1, 2004 and adjusted the cumulative effect as of that date during the third quarter of 2004, based on the issuance of new implementation guidance. The implementation of SOP 03-1 created both a cumulative effect upon adoption as well as a reduction to net income in the 2004 periods, as discussed later and in Note 6.

Growth in earnings per share was greater than the growth in dollar earnings amounts for the quarter and nine month period due to repurchases of 5,368,200 shares during the first six months of 2004. Share repurchases during the second half of 2003 also contributed to per share growth in 2004 compared to 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. Sales in the Individual Products and AIP segments have little immediate impact on insurance revenues for these two segments as described in the segment discussions below.

17


 

Results by Reportable Segment

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Individual Products
  $ 75.2     $ 78.6       (4.3 )%   $ 225.5     $ 228.9       (1.5 )%
AIP
    17.6       19.9       (11.6 )     56.4       62.7       (10.0 )
Benefit Partners
    19.7       10.1       95.0       50.8       34.5       47.2  
Communications
    13.5       11.4       18.4       37.8       30.0       26.0  
Corporate and Other
    5.5       10.0       (45.0 )     22.4       22.3       0.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total reportable segment results
    131.5       130.0       1.2       392.9       378.4       3.8  
Realized investment gains, net of taxes
    2.2       (3.9 )     156.4       24.1       (3.1 )     877.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    133.7       126.1       6.0       417.0       375.3       11.1  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      (16.5 )           (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net income
  $ 133.7     $ 126.1       6.0 %   $ 400.5     $ 375.3       6.7 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

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.

                 
    September 30
    2004
  2003
Individual Products
  $ 18,484     $ 17,365  
AIP
    10,479       9,582  
Benefit Partners
    1,797       1,032  
Communications
    219       202  
Corporate and Other
    3,667       3,815  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 34,646     $ 31,996  
 
   
 
     
 
 

18


 

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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
UL-Type Products:
                                               
Net investment income
  $ 185.2     $ 187.3       (1.1 )%   $ 553.8     $ 560.2       (1.1 )%
Interest credited to policyholders
    (127.8 )     (130.6 )     2.1       (378.9 )     (385.6 )     1.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Interest margin
    57.4       56.7       1.2       174.9       174.6       0.2  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Product charge revenue:
                                               
Cost of insurance charges
    137.0       135.0       1.5       405.4       383.8       5.6  
Expense charges
    30.8       38.7       (20.4 )     106.0       107.2       (1.1 )
Surrender charges
    9.7       6.7       44.8       30.3       27.0       12.2  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total product charge revenue
    177.5       180.4       (1.6 )     541.7       518.0       4.6  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Death benefits and other insurance benefits
    (85.8 )     (71.8 )     (19.5 )     (239.0 )     (209.2 )     (14.2 )
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (23.6 )     (25.2 )     6.3       (70.6 )     (75.7 )     6.7  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (34.3 )     (50.1 )     31.5       (131.8 )     (131.1 )     (0.5 )
Miscellaneous expense
    (0.1 )     (0.1 )           (0.5 )     (1.3 )     61.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
UL-type product income before taxes
    91.1       89.9       1.3       274.7       275.3       (0.2 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Traditional Products:
                                               
Premiums and other considerations
    37.2       41.3       (9.9 )     115.3       128.7       (10.4 )
Net investment income
    37.7       40.8       (7.6 )     114.8       123.9       (7.3 )
Benefits
    (41.8 )     (42.3 )     1.2       (130.1 )     (147.1 )     11.6  
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (6.0 )     (6.9 )     13.0       (19.8 )     (17.5 )     (13.1 )
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    (4.3 )     (3.4 )     (26.5 )     (11.9 )     (12.7 )     6.3  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Traditional product income before taxes
    22.8       29.5       (22.7 )     68.3       75.3       (9.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total income before income taxes
    113.9       119.4       (4.6 )     343.0       350.6       (2.2 )
Income taxes
    (38.7 )     (40.8 )     5.1       (117.5 )     (121.7 )     3.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 75.2     $ 78.6       (4.3 )%   $ 225.5     $ 228.9       (1.5 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

19


 

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

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Annualized life insurance premium sales:
                                               
Individual Markets excluding Community Banks and BOLI
  $ 48     $ 48       0.0 %   $ 148     $ 154       (3.9 )%
Community Banks and BOLI
  $ 2     $ 2           $ 6     $ 7       (14.3 )
 
Average UL policyholder fund balances
  $ 11,138     $ 10,658       4.5     $ 11,073     $ 10,505       5.4  
Average VUL separate account assets
    1,525       1,277       19.4       1,515       1,183       28.1  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 12,663     $ 11,935       6.1 %   $ 12,588     $ 11,688       7.7 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average face amount of insurance in force:
                                               
Total
  $ 165,527     $ 164,669       0.5 %   $ 165,770     $ 164,231       0.9 %
UL-type policies
  $ 126,789     $ 123,497       2.7     $ 126,575     $ 122,871       3.0  
Average assets
  $ 18,384     $ 17,245       6.6 %   $ 18,169     $ 16,991       6.9 %

Sales from our Individual Markets excluding Community Banks and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) were flat for the quarter and were lower than in 2003 for the nine months primarily due to record sales levels in the first quarter of 2003. In recent years, increased competition among providers of Universal Life insurance contracts has resulted in a shortening of the product life cycle. A focus on product development efforts has resulted in a greater distribution of product offerings for our customers, with no single product representing a majority of our life insurance sales. 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 58% 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 that 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. See Capital Position for discussion of an ongoing industry debate related to statutory-basis reserving methodologies for these types of products.

20


 

Interest margin on UL-type products was essentially flat for the third quarter and first nine months versus 2003. Lower investment yields were mitigated by growth in policyholder fund balances and our 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 17 basis points to 1.91% for the third quarter compared to the 2003 quarter and declined 14 basis points to 1.87% for the nine months. Prepayments of mortgage-backed securities significantly increased during 2003 as a result of declines in long-term mortgage rates, but have been immaterial in 2004. We estimate that prepayments in excess of expected levels increased effective investment yields in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 by 28 basis points and 19 basis points. The decrease in excess accretion of discount contributed to the decline in effective investment spreads on fixed UL products in 2004. 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 will impact future profitability, as the investment of cash flows at current interest rates reduces our average portfolio yield. At October 1, 2004 and January 1, 2004, our crediting rates were approximately 35 and 49 basis points on average in excess of our minimum guaranteed rates. Policies representing approximately 58% of the UL policyholder fund balances were at their minimum guaranteed rates. The earned rate on investments backing our UL blocks declined to 6.47% versus 6.53% for the second quarter of 2004. By comparison, the earned rate was 6.98% for the third quarter of 2003. Should new money rates decline or remain at current levels, we will experience interest spread compression prospectively.

Product charge revenue declined 1.6% in the third quarter, despite growth in average UL policyholder fund balances of 4.5%, and increased 4.6% for the first nine months, compared to 5.4% growth in average UL policyholder fund balances. The newly adopted SOP 03-1 guidance, discussed further below, reduced the amortization of unearned expense charges by $3.7. The effect of reflecting updated longer-term assumptions in estimated gross profits for certain insurance blocks reduced the amortization of unearned expense charges by $3.0 in the third quarter of 2004 versus a $2.2 increase in the amortization of unearned expense charges in the 2003 quarter. Products issued in recent years are designed to generate a higher proportion 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. Also contributing to the decrease in product charge revenue in the third quarter of 2004 versus the 2003 quarter is a reinsurance recapture executed in the third quarter of 2003 that increased cost of insurance charges (COIs) in that quarter by $8.4. Excluding the impact of these factors, product charge revenue grew 7.1% for the quarter and 7.6% for the first nine months over 2003. An increase in the average age of our insureds is contributing to growth in COIs in excess of the growth in average UL policyholder fund balances, but will contribute to increased death benefits as well. Surrender activity also increased in the quarter, resulting in higher surrender charges.

UL-type death benefits and other insurance benefits included $9.9 for the third quarter and $12.2 for the first nine months of 2004 related to the impact of SOP 03-1. The January 1, 2004 cumulative effect of the initial adoption of SOP 03-1 was refined in the current quarter due to the issuance of additional implementation guidance that was adopted in the quarter. This change also increased the impact of SOP 03-1 on an ongoing basis, with the nine-month effect of the refinement to insurance benefits amounting to $8.7. See Note 6 for further discussion of this accounting principle. UL-type death benefits for the third quarter of 2003 also included $7.6 for the reinsurance recapture mentioned above. Absent these items, UL-type death benefits and other insurance benefits increased 20% in the third quarter and 13% for the first nine months over 2003. UL-type death benefits, net of reinsurance, per thousand dollars of face amount of insurance in-force were $0.77 in the 2004 quarter compared to $0.70 in the 2003 quarter and $2.34 compared to $2.22 for the nine month periods. Growth and aging of our blocks will contribute to the increased level of UL-type death benefits. While over the long term death benefits should emerge within actuarial expectations, the level of death benefits will fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

21


 

Consistent with the trend in recent years, traditional premiums and other considerations declined from the third quarter and first nine months of 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, partly due to lower prepayments of mortgage-backed securities, and the decreasing size of the block.

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 112.4% and 112.8% in the third quarter and first nine months compared to 102.4% and 114.3% in the 2003 periods. The increase in the current quarter was primarily attributable to lower policyholder dividends in 2003.

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

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Commissions
  $ 68.8     $ 66.6       (3.3 )%   $ 198.2     $ 212.2       6.6 %
General and administrative – acquisition related
    19.2       18.5       (3.8 )     57.2       60.3       5.1  
General and administrative – maintenance related
    10.2       10.2             32.4       31.2       (3.8 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    9.6       13.3       27.8       31.9       40.7       21.6  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    107.8       108.6       0.7       319.7       344.4       7.2  
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (78.2 )     (76.5 )     2.2       (229.3 )     (251.2 )     (8.7 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA
    29.6       32.1       7.8       90.4       93.2       3.0  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    38.6       53.5       27.9       143.7       143.8       0.1  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total expense
  $ 68.2     $ 85.6       20.3 %   $ 234.1     $ 237.0       1.2 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Expenses excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 from the 2003 periods, primarily due to increased efficiencies reflected in our marketing and distribution costs, and lower taxes licenses and fees, stemming from a reduction in our effective premium tax rate and a reduction in state income tax accruals following the filing of the tax returns. 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. During the third quarter, we adjusted our assumptions for interest spreads, mortality and lapsation on certain blocks of business, resulting in a $13.8 reduction in DAC amortization for the quarter. Also, the establishment of the additional SOP 03-1 reserves in the quarter changed the pattern of expected gross profits for the related products, resulting in a $7.5 decrease to amortization for the quarter and first nine months. These adjustments to DAC amortization are partially offset by corresponding adjustments to unearned expense charges discussed above. On a year to date basis, DAC unlocking has had the effect of reducing DAC amortization by $27.4. DAC

22


 

unlocking reduced DAC amortization by $2.8 and $12.9 for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003.

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 on equity securities and to other tax favored investments held in the Individual Products portfolio.

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.

At September 30, 2004, UL-type products sold to community banks accounted for $2.0 billion in UL policyholder fund balances and have averaged 6% to 9% of earnings for the Individual Products segment in recent years. At September 30, 2004, DAC and VOBA balances, net of unearned revenue reserves, related to these blocks amounted to approximately $100. These policies, which are generally not subject to surrender charges, are owned by several thousand policyholders. These policies were primarily originated through, and continue to be serviced by, two marketing organizations. The surrender rate for this product may increase beyond current experience due to the absence of surrender charges and rising interest rates that may result in returns available to policyholders on competitors’ products being more attractive than on our policies in force. The following factors may influence policyholders to continue these coverages: 1) our ability to adjust credited rates; 2) relatively high minimum rate guarantees; 3) the difficulty of re-underwriting existing and additional covered lives; and 4) unfavorable tax attributes of certain surrenders. Our assumptions for amortizing DAC, VOBA and unearned revenue for these policies reflect a higher expected lapse rate than other UL blocks of business due to the factors noted above.

In addition to the risk factor described above, our financial and operating risks for this segment, some of which are mentioned in our Overview in the Form 10-K, include failure to achieve pricing assumptions for interest margins, mortality, withdrawals and expenses; variances between actual and underlying assumptions of DAC and VOBA; increased lapses when interest rates rise, particularly in those non-variable UL-type products subject to low or no surrender charges; changes in taxation or other regulatory changes related to our products and competing offerings; changes in generally accepted or statutory accounting principles (such as the AXXX actuarial guideline discussed in Capital Resources); 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.

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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 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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Investment product charges and premiums
  $ 3.4     $ 1.6       112.5 %   $ 9.0     $ 6.1       47.5 %
Net investment income
    137.2       145.5       (5.7 )     425.4       438.4       (3.0 )
Broker-dealer concessions and other
    25.6       26.5       (3.4 )     84.5       71.8       17.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total revenue
    166.2       173.6       (4.3 )     518.9       516.3       0.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Policy benefits (including interest credited)
    100.3       101.2       0.9       307.6       308.5       0.3  
Insurance expenses
    14.6       17.0       14.1       45.4       44.6       (1.8 )
Broker-dealer expenses
    24.6       24.9       1.2       80.0       66.8       (19.8 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total benefits and expenses
    139.5       143.1       2.5       433.0       419.9       (3.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Income before income taxes
    26.7       30.5       (12.5 )     85.9       96.4       (10.9 )
Income taxes
    9.1       10.6       14.2       29.5       33.7       12.5  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 17.6     $ 19.9       (11.6 )%   $ 56.4     $ 62.7       (10.0 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

24


 

The following table summarizes key information for AIP:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Fixed annuity premium sales
  $ 312     $ 188       66.0 %   $ 913     $ 435       109.9 %
Variable annuity premium sales
                            2       (100.0 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 312     $ 188       66.0 %   $ 913     $ 437       108.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Investment product sales
  $ 1,037     $ 926       12.0 %   $ 3,767     $ 2,204       70.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average policyholder fund balances
  $ 9,291     $ 8,428       10.2 %   $ 9,098     $ 8,330       9.2 %
Average separate account policyholder fund balances
    323       344       (6.1 )     338       338        
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
 
  $ 9,614     $ 8,772       9.6 %   $ 9,436     $ 8,668       8.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Average assets
  $ 10,462     $ 9,534       9.7 %   $ 10,316     $ 9,463       9.0 %
Effective investment spreads for fixed annuities, including SFAS 133 adjustment
    1.62 %     1.96 %             1.68 %     1.92 %        
Fixed annuity surrenders as a percentage of beginning fund balances
    15.4 %     8.5 %             11.0 %     8.1 %        

Fixed annuity premium sales increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 versus 2003 as a result of increased acceptance in the marketplace of equity-indexed annuities (EIAs). EIAs comprised over three-fourths of our AIP sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2004.

Profitability of EIAs depends on the management of the purchase price of derivatives to hedge the index performance of the policies. These contracts permit the holder to elect an interest rate return or an equity market component, where interest credited to the contracts is linked to the performance of the S&P 500 index. Policyholders may elect to rebalance index options at renewal dates, either annually or biannually. At each renewal date, we have the opportunity to re-price the equity-indexed component by establishing participation rates, subject to minimum guarantees. We purchase options that are highly correlated to the portfolio allocation decisions of our policyholders, such that we are economically hedged with respect to equity returns for the current reset period. The mark-to-market of the options held impacts investment income and interest credited in equal and offsetting amounts. For the third quarter of 2004, this adjustment reduced investment income and interest credited by $5.8, with no net impact on reportable segment results. However, Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, requires that we also calculate fair

25


 

values of index options we will purchase in the future to hedge policyholder index allocations in future reset periods. These fair values represent our estimate of the cost of the options we will purchase in the future, discounted back to the date of the balance sheet, using current market indicators of volatility and interest rates. Changes in the fair values of these liabilities result in volatility that is reported in interest credited. Interest credited was increased by $2.8 in the third quarter and $1.3 in the first nine months of 2004 versus a $0.5 and $1.0 decrease to interest credited for the comparable 2003 periods. The notional amounts of index allocation were $831 at September 30, 2004 and $170 at September 30, 2003.

Net investment income declined despite growth in average policyholder fund balances, due to a decline in investment yields and due to the market value adjustment of $5.8 described above. Lower investment yields were due to a decline in the base earned rate, due to the general interest rate environment, as well as a reduction in excess prepayments of mortgage-backed securities. We estimate that prepayments of mortgage backed securities in excess of expected levels increased effective yields in the AIP segment by 34 and 25 basis points in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, with virtually no benefit in 2004.

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. 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, unless sales increase substantially. The market value adjustment of $5.8 described above, which reduced interest credited, contributed to the decline in policy benefits. General market interest rate declines and changes in product design were smaller factors in the spread compression.

Our ability to manage interest crediting rates on fixed annuity products is limited by the impact on future profitability of continued low general market interest rates, as the investment of cash flows at current interest rates reduces our average portfolio yield and crediting rate actions are limited by minimum guaranteed rates provided in policyholder contracts. We have approximately $4.4 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 10 basis points in excess of our minimum guaranteed rates at September 30, 2004. Approximately $3.2 billion of fixed annuity policyholder fund balances have multi-year guaranteed (MYG) rates, of which a portion have begun to reset in the second half of 2004. Approximately $800 will reset in 2005 and approximately $2.2 billion will reset in 2006 and thereafter. 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 261 basis points.

Annuity surrenders were higher in the 2004 third quarter reflecting, in part, the surrender of annuities with expiring multi-year guarantees. The surrender rate in the AIP segment is influenced by many other 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 some degree of protection from disintermediation in a rising interest rate environment. As of September 30, 2004, 46% 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.

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

26


 

component of DAC and was included in insurance expenses. Excluding the $2.9 and $6.9 net deferral for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, policy benefits increased 2.0% and 1.9%, as growth in average policyholder fund balances was largely offset by interest crediting rate reductions.

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

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Insurance companies:
                                               
Commissions
  $ 20.5     $ 8.6       (138.4 )%   $ 56.5     $ 21.6       (161.6 )%
General and administrative – acquisition related
    3.6       3.1       (16.1 )     10.4       8.9       (16.9 )
General and administrative – maintenance related
    1.6       1.2       (33.3 )     4.8       4.0       (20.0 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    0.6       0.5       (20.0 )     1.8       1.4       (28.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    26.3       13.4       (96.3 )     73.5       35.9       (104.7 )
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (22.5 )     (8.9 )     152.8       (62.6 )     (27.4 )     128.5  
Amortization of DAC and VOBA
    10.8       12.5       13.6       34.5       36.1       4.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense – insurance companies
    14.6       17.0       14.1       45.4       44.6       (1.8 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Broker/Dealer:
                                               
Commissions
    21.8       22.0       0.9       71.4       59.2       (20.6 )
Other
    2.8       2.9       (3.4 )     8.6       7.6       (13.2 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense – broker/dealer
    24.6       24.9       1.2       80.0       66.8       (19.8 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Net expense
  $ 39.2     $ 41.9       6.4 %   $ 125.4     $ 111.4       (12.6 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

The decrease in our insurance companies’ net expenses for the quarter was due to lower DAC amortization primarily the result of lower prepayments of mortgage-backed securities in 2004, and to increased capitalization from higher sales in the third quarter of 2004 versus 2003. These impacts were offset somewhat by 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 first nine months of 2003. Lower DAC amortization, attributable to lower profit emergence including lower prepayments of mortgage-backed securities, was offset by the impact of the SOP 03-1 reclassification.

Investment product sales increased substantially over the third quarter and first nine months of 2003. However, broker/dealer revenues for the quarter declined since a large portion of the revenue growth occurred in stock sales that have little or no gross dealer concessions. On a year to date basis, higher commission payouts on newer products have contributed to an increase in the growth of broker/dealer expenses compared to the growth in broker/dealer revenues.

Risks in the annuity business, other than those mentioned in our Overview in the Form 10-K, are spread compression; increased lapses from maturity of MYG annuities; 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 or products they might compete with; 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.

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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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Premiums and other considerations
  $ 284.2     $ 190.3       49.3 %   $ 824.4     $ 563.4       46.3 %
Net investment income
    23.7       15.9       49.1       65.3       48.3       35.2  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total revenues
    307.9       206.2       49.3       889.7       611.7       45.4  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Policy benefits
    212.1       148.4       (42.9 )     625.2       433.9       (44.1 )
Expenses
    65.6       42.4       (54.7 )     186.4       124.8       (49.4 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total benefits and expenses
    277.7       190.8       (45.5 )     811.6       558.7       (45.3 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Income before income taxes
    30.2       15.4       96.1       78.1       53.0       47.4  
Income taxes
    10.5       5.3       (98.1 )     27.3       18.5       (47.6 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 19.7     $ 10.1       95.0 %   $ 50.8     $ 34.5       47.2 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

The following table summarizes key information for Benefit Partners:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Life, Disability and Dental annualized sales
  $ 46.8     $ 38.6       21.2 %   $ 148.8     $ 151.3       (1.7 )%
Reportable segment results:
                                               
Life
  $ 7.1     $ 4.5       57.8     $ 18.9     $ 11.2       68.8  
Disability
    12.0       5.4       122.2       29.1       20.9       39.2  
Dental
    1.1       2.0       (45.0 )     2.2       3.3       (33.3 )
Other
    (0.5 )     (1.8 )     72.2       0.6       (0.9 )     166.7  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total
  $ 19.7     $ 10.1       95.0 %   $ 50.8     $ 34.5       47.2 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Loss ratios:
                                               
Life
    75.0 %     76.6 %             75.3 %     79.1 %        
Disability
    69.6       72.9               71.2       68.8          
Dental
    76.6       72.4               78.1       76.7          
Combined
    72.9 %     74.3 %             73.9 %     74.3 %        
Total expenses as a % of premium income
    23.1 %     22.3 %             22.7 %     22.2 %        
Average assets
  $ 1,781     $ 1,006             $ 1,638     $ 965          

Reportable segment results for Benefit Partners increased substantially in the third quarter and nine months of 2004. These results reflect both improved loss ratios in our existing business and about $5.3

28


 

and $12.2 of after tax earnings from the acquired Canada Life business, excluding $1.7 and $3.9 of higher after-tax borrowing costs related to the acquisition that are included in the Corporate and Other segment.

Total revenues for Benefit Partners increased over the third quarter and first nine 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 nine months of 2004. See Note 8 for further discussion of the Canada Life transaction. Excluding the Canada Life block, premiums and other considerations increased 12.0% and 14.8% over the third quarter and first nine months of 2003. Annualized sales increased over the third quarter of 2003 primarily due to good sales execution from established sales representatives, and declined from the first nine months of 2003 due to the extraordinarily strong sales results in last year’s first quarter as well as, across the industry, a continued strong competitive environment.

Policy benefits increased in the third quarter and first nine 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.

Expenses were as follows:

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Commissions
  $ 32.4     $ 21.8       (48.6 )%   $ 94.0     $ 64.2       (46.4 )%
General and administrative
    29.6       18.2       (62.6 )     81.6       55.9       (46.0 )
Taxes, licenses and fees
    6.3       5.1       (23.5 )     18.6       15.4       (20.8 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total commissions and expenses incurred
    68.3       45.1       (51.4 )     194.2       135.5       (43.3 )
Less commissions and expenses capitalized
    (9.7 )     (28.1 )     (65.5 )     (27.7 )     (85.3 )     (67.5 )
Amortization of DAC
    7.0       25.4       72.4       19.9       74.6       73.3  
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Total expense
  $ 65.6     $ 42.4       (54.7 )%   $ 186.4     $ 124.8       (49.4 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Total expense growth for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 was somewhat elevated due to the impact of expenses from Canada Life integration activities. The increase in the total unit expense ratios for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 relative to the 2003 periods is driven by the impact of these integration expenses as well as the decline in DAC capitalization and growth in DAC amortization expense on a unit expense basis. 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.

In October 2004, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York announced a lawsuit following a probe into two practices it had observed in the insurance brokerage industry: “bid rigging” and “contingent commissions”. Jefferson-Pilot has not been named in any litigation or investigation and has not received any subpoenas with regard to such matters, though all insurance companies and brokers licensed in the State of North Carolina have been asked by the Insurance Commissioner of North Carolina to provide certain information in the context of an industry fact-finding investigation. Benefit Partners has found no evidence of “bid rigging”. Benefit Partners utilizes broker bonus programs in its business development practices. Such bonuses are considered normal practice within the industry. It is unclear at this time what, if any, changes in regulation may come about as a result of this matter, but

29


 

Jefferson-Pilot is positioning its business practices to respond appropriately to any increase in required disclosure or other such change in business practices.

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 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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Communications revenues (net)
  $ 58.1     $ 51.7       12.4 %   $ 173.1     $ 152.9       13.2 %
Cost of sales
    10.5       9.3       (12.9 )     32.7       30.0       (9.0 )
Operating expenses
    20.3       18.8       (8.0 )     64.1       60.4       (6.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Broadcast cash flow
    27.3       23.6       15.7       76.3       62.5       22.1  
Depreciation and amortization
    2.1       2.0       (5.0 )     6.5       6.2       (4.8 )
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    1.6       1.7       5.9       5.2       4.4       (18.2 )
Net interest expense
    0.6       0.5       (20.0 )     1.6       1.6        
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Operating revenue before income taxes
    23.0       19.4       18.6       63.0       50.3       25.2  
Provision for income taxes
    9.5       8.0       (18.8 )     25.2       20.3       (24.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Reportable segment results
  $ 13.5     $ 11.4       18.4 %   $ 37.8     $ 30.0       26.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         

Communications revenues increased 12.4% over the third quarter of 2003 due to growth in all three divisions. Communications revenues for the first nine months of 2004 increased by 13.2% over 2003 due to growth in all three operating divisions. Combined revenues for radio and television increased 10.2% over the third quarter of 2003 and 11.0% year to date due to improved revenue shares in most markets. Typically, political advertising favorably impacts television revenues in even numbered years. Political advertising for television was $2.1 for the quarter and $4.0 year to date. Excluding the impact of political advertising, television revenues increased 7.8% over the third quarter of 2003 and 7.7% year to date.

Broadcast cash flow increased by 15.7% during the third quarter and 22.1% 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 8.5% over the third quarter of 2003 and 7.4% year to date. As a percent of communication revenues, these expenses were 59.4% and 61.5% for the third quarter of 2004 and 2003 and 62.7% and 66.1% year to date.

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, possible growth in

30


 

competing media and consolidation in the broadcast industry. We discuss these risks in more detail in the Communications section of our Form 10-K.

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   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Earnings on investments and other income
  $ 23.1     $ 24.3     $ 72.0     $ 68.5  
Interest expense on debt
    (12.5 )     (8.2 )     (35.0 )     (25.4 )
Operating expenses
    (6.4 )     (8.0 )     (16.2 )     (21.0 )
Income taxes
    1.3       1.9       1.6       0.2  
 
   
 
             
 
     
 
 
Reportable segment results
    5.5       10.0       22.4       22.3  
Realized investment gains (losses), net of taxes
    2.2       (3.9 )     24.1       (3.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reportable segment results, including realized investment gains (losses)
  $ 7.7     $ 6.1     $ 46.5     $ 19.2  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Earnings on investments and other income decreased slightly in the third quarter of 2004 and improved $3.5 year to date. The year to date increase was driven by income from a $3.6 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 $3.9 foregone earnings ($1.7 for the third 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 our shares outstanding, 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 reflecting a change in the mix of outstanding indebtedness between floating and fixed rate instruments. Specifically, our fixed rate indebtedness increased with the issuance of ten-year notes on January 27, 2004 at an effective interest rate of 4.77%. Two-thirds of the ten-year notes issued are associated with the Canada Life acquisition. See Note 8 of our Form 10-K for details of our debt structure and interest costs.

Effective tax rates improved in the first nine months of 2004 versus 2003 due to an increase in the dividends received deduction.

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Realized investment gains and losses were as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Stock gains
  $ 18.7     $     $ 82.3     $ 13.8  
Stock losses
    (1.2 )           (4.2 )      
Bond gains
    5.7       7.9       31.2       44.7  
Bond losses from sales and calls
    (4.4 )     (13.2 )     (30.7 )     (17.9 )
Bond losses from write downs
    (16.4 )     (14.9 )     (48.7 )     (56.0 )
Other gains and losses (net)
    4.4       (1.1 )     6.6       (1.8 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total pretax gains (losses)
    6.8       (21.3 )     36.5       (17.2 )
DAC amortization
    (3.4 )     16.1       0.6       13.2  
Income taxes
    (1.2 )     1.3       (13.0 )     0.9  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net of taxes
  $ 2.2     $ (3.9 )   $ 24.1     $ (3.1 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Bond impairments increased slightly in the third quarter, but decreased in the first nine months of 2004 as a result of improvement in the corporate credit environment. Third quarter write-downs primarily reflected further deterioration among airline issuers.

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:

                         
    September 30
   
    2004
  2003
  Change
Parent company, passive investment companies and Corporate line assets of insurance subsidiaries
  $ 1,065     $ 1,116       (4.6 )%
Unrealized gain on fixed interest investments
    643       729       (11.8 )
Coinsurance receivables on acquired blocks
    934       997       (6.3 )
Employee benefit plan assets
    377       344       9.6  
Goodwill arising from insurance acquisitions
    270       270        
Other
    378       359       5.3  
 
   
 
     
 
         
Total
  $ 3,667     $ 3,815       (3.9 )%
 
   
 
     
 
         

Total assets for the Corporate and Other segment decreased primarily as a result of the decrease in unrealized gains on fixed interest investments. A large policy loan repayment was received in the second 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 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

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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 $2.0 billion from year end 2003 due primarily to the Canada Life acquisition and growth in the insurance blocks.

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. At least annually, we compare the emerging experience on each of our insurance blocks to our assumptions used for estimating future gross profits. When it is determined that our assumptions vary from emerging experience, we revise our assumptions to reflect actual trends and recognize unlocking adjustments for the block of business being evaluated in the quarter the evaluation is completed. These adjustments can impact the carrying value of DAC, VOBA and unearned revenue, and can impact the estimation of SOP 03-1 reserves. Such adjustments must be reflected in earnings and 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 $308.1 or 11.5% of the gross balances (before adjustments for unrealized gains and losses) at September 30, 2004, and are generally subject to little volatility.

DAC and VOBA on UL-type products were $2,012.5 or 75.1% of the gross balances at September 30, 2004, and DAC and VOBA on our annuity products were $358.0 or 13.4%.

As discussed under Individual Products, during the third quarter of 2004 we unlocked our DAC assumptions regarding mortality, interest spreads, and lapsation 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.

33


 

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Total pension expense including both defined benefit expense and defined contribution pension expense was $1.9 for the third quarter and $5.9 for the first nine months of 2004 compared to $0.6 and $1.7 for the 2003 periods. The increase in pension expense is the result of a lower discount rate (6.25% for 2004 versus 6.75% for 2003) for the defined benefit pension obligations combined with amortization of market related gains and losses, which have primarily been losses for the last three years.

Goodwill and Other

The status and trends related to goodwill and reinsurance receivables were essentially unchanged during the first nine months of 2004. See our Form 10-K for further discussion. We completed our annual test of goodwill impairment in the second quarter of 2004, concluding that no impairment had 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, 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.

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 $174 and $654 at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were 1.76% 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 2004. 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 September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, repurchase agreements, including accrued interest, were $495 and $401. The securities involved had a fair value and amortized cost of $516 and $488 at September 30, 2004 versus $428 and $406 at December 31, 2003. The maximum principal amount outstanding for the first nine 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

34


 

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 increased $23 in 2004 over the yearend amount. Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, which are included as a component of stockholders’ equity, decreased $3. 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 11.8% and 12.5% at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

During the first nine months of 2004, we repurchased 5,368,200 of our common shares at an average cost of $51.05, all of which occurred prior to the third quarter. In May 2004, our board refreshed its share repurchase authorization to 5 million shares, with 4.1 million remaining at September 30, 2004.

Our insurance subsidiaries have statutory surplus and risk based capital levels well above current regulatory required levels. As mentioned earlier, a significant portion of our life sales consists of products containing no-lapse guarantees, for which statutory reserving practices (referred to as “AXXX”) are currently under review by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Numerous proposals have been circulated by regulators and the industry and debate is ongoing. Under these proposals, we could be required to hold additional statutory policy reserves. Our estimate of the potential impact on our yearend 2004 statutory surplus under the various proposals ranges from $0 to $200. This potential impact would grow annually, particularly with continued sales of products subject to these reserve requirements. We are pursuing strategies to mitigate some or all of the potential reserves increase through reinsurance involving letters of credit. The proposals under consideration, if adopted in a manner that results in significantly increased statutory reserves, could cause the Company and other insurers to increase pricing or otherwise limit availability of certain product offerings.

Our current capital and surplus 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, which also was reaffirmed in 2004. 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 nine months of 2004 and 2003 was $814 and $442. 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 $1,603 and $843 for the first nine 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

35


 

affordable housing tax credit securities, acquisition of additional FCC licenses and an increase in policy loans.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $742 and $383 for the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, including cash inflows from policyholder contract deposits net of withdrawals of $897 and $700, with this increase reflecting increased annuity sales. Stock repurchases increased $139 in the first nine months of 2004 over the prior year period. Net borrowings increased $312 in the first nine 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 nine months were $186 and $224 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 and by potential AXXX reserve increases. 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 $25 and $72 at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The parent company and non-regulated subsidiaries held equity and fixed income securities of $647 and $753 at 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 September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $20,181 and $18,462.

Contractual Obligations

Purchase obligations consist of JPCC commitments for purchases of syndicated television programming and commitments on other contracts and future sports programming rights. 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 agreement has not yet been executed, negotiations are complete and we do not anticipate any material changes to the terms of the agreement. Purchase obligations, including obligations relating to this pending agreement, represent $368 as of September 30, 2004, payable through the year 2011. We have commitments to sell a portion of the sports programming rights to other entities for $232 over the same period. These commitments are not reflected as an asset or liability in our balance sheets because the programs are not currently available for use. We expect advertising revenues that are sold on an annual basis to fund the purchase commitments.

Commitments

We routinely enter into commitments to extend credit in the form of commercial 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 September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 approximated $162 and $86. These commitments will be funded through cash flows from operations and investment maturities.

36


 

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 89% of our securities 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 securities 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.

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

                                 
    September 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Publicly-issued bonds
  $ 16,802       61.4 %   $ 15,823       61.3 %
Privately-placed bonds
    5,183       18.9       4,621       17.9  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total bonds
    21,985       80.3       20,444       79.2  
Redeemable preferred stock
    13             14        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total debt securities
    21,998       80.3       20,458       79.2  
Mortgage loans on real property
    3,594       13.1       3,472       13.4  
Common stock
    650       2.4       754       2.9  
Non-redeemable preferred stock
    2             2        
Policy loans
    842       3.1       869       3.4  
Real estate
    126       0.5       132       0.5  
Other
    156       0.6       65       0.3  
Cash and cash equivalents
    25             72       0.3  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 27,393       100.0 %   $ 25,824       100.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

37


 

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 September 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
  $ 257     $ 16     $     $ 273     $ 273  
Federal agency mortgage backed securities (including collateralized mortgage obligations)
    1,725       75       (5 )     1,795       1,795  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    57       4             61       61  
Corporate obligations
    15,907       876       (70 )     16,713       16,713  
Corporate private-labeled mortgage backed securities (including collateralized mortgage obligations)
    645       31       (2 )     674       674  
Redeemable preferred stock
    12       1             13       13  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal, debt securities
    18,603       1,003       (77 )     19,529       19,529  
Non-redeemable preferred stock
    1       1             2       2  
Common stock
    235       422       (7 )     650       650  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Securities available-for-sale
    18,839       1,426       (84 )     20,181       20,181  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Held-to-maturity, carried at amortized cost:
                                       
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    6       1             7       6  
Corporate obligations
    2,463       172       (7 )     2,628       2,463  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Debt securities held-to-maturity
    2,469       173       (7 )     2,635       2,469  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total AFS and HTM securities
  $ 21,308     $ 1,599     $ (91 )   $ 22,816     $ 22,650  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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).

38


 

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

                                         
            Gross   Gross        
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair   Carrying
    Cost
  Gains
  Losses
  Value
  Value
Industrials
                                       
Basic Materials
  $ 964     $ 56     $ (3 )   $ 1,017     $ 1,007  
Capital Goods
    1,292       78       (5 )     1,365       1,346  
Communications
    1,266       74       (9 )     1,331       1,311  
Consumer Cyclical
    1,107       62       (9 )     1,160       1,147  
Consumer Noncyclical
    2,327       133       (8 )     2,452       2,434  
Energy
    1,400       71       (3 )     1,468       1,461  
Technology
    338       9       (1 )     346       345  
Transportation
    792       58       (6 )     844       839  
Other Industrials
    756       43       (1 )     798       794  
Utilities
    3,859       249       (14 )     4,094       4,054  
Financials
                                       
Banks
    2,282       136       (9 )     2,409       2,390  
Insurance
    820       26       (3 )     843       840  
Other Financials
    1,499       75       (6 )     1,568       1,561  
Mortgage Backed Securities (including Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities)
    2,370       106       (7 )     2,469       2,469  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 21,072     $ 1,176     $ (84 )   $ 22,164     $ 21,998  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Credit Risk Management

At September 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                           % of
SVO   Equivalent   Amortized   Fair   Carrying   Carrying
Rating
  Designation
  Cost
  Value
  Value
  Value
1
  AAA   $ 2,878     $ 3,004     $ 3,000       13.6 %
1
  AA     1,933       2,049       2,035       9.3  
1
  A     7,206       7,628       7,557       34.4  
2
  BBB     7,721       8,119       8,046       36.6  
3
  BB     779       805       801       3.6  
4
  B     410       420       420       1.9  
5
  CCC and lower     117       111       111       0.5  
6
  In or near default     28       28       28       0.1  
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
                  Total   $ 21,072     $ 22,164     $ 21,998       100.0 %
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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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 September 30, 2004. 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
JP Morgan Chase & Company
  Financial Institutions   $ 149  
Cargill Incorporated
  Consumer, Noncyclical     99  
UnitedHealth Group
  Consumer, Noncyclical     96  
Goldman Sachs Group
  Financial Institutions     94  
General Electric Company
  Capital Goods     93  
Wells Fargo & Company
  Financial Institutions     93  
Weingarten Realty Investment
  Financial Institutions     93  
Anheuser-Busch Companies
  Consumer, Noncyclical     93  
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
  Financial Institutions     92  
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
  Transportation     91  

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 September 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)
Ahold, Royal
  Consumer, Noncyclical   $ 50     $ 46     $ 4  
El Paso Corporation
  Utilities     47       47       0  
Discovery Communications
  Communications     40       40       2  
Nova Chem. Ltd.
  Basic Materials     37       37       1  
Rite Aid Corporation
  Consumer Cyclicals     34       38       (4 )
Thomas & Betts Corporation
  Technology     32       31       2  
Intl Telecom Satellite US
  Communications     28       32       (4 )
Qwest Communications Intl
  Communications     28       29       (2 )
Williams Cos Inc
  Utilities     28       26       2  
Homer City Funding LLC
  Utilities     27       25       3  

At September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, below investment grade bonds were $1,352 or 6.2% 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.

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Impairment Review

Our impairment review procedures remained essentially unchanged during the first nine 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 September 30, 2004. The fair values of these securities could fluctuate over the respective periods to maturity or any sale.

                                 
                    Gross    
    Amortized           Unrealized   Carrying
    Cost
  Fair Value
  Losses
  Value
Due in one year or less
  $ 28     $ 25     $ (3 )   $ 25  
Due after one year through five years
    479       470       (9 )     471  
Due after five years through ten years
    1,686       1,651       (35 )     1,656  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    904       878       (26 )     879  
Due after twenty years
    325       316       (9 )     316  
Amounts not due at a single maturity date
    75       73       (2 )     73  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal
    3,497       3,413       (84 )     3,420  
Redeemable preferred stocks
    4       4             4  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 3,501     $ 3,417     $ (84 )   $ 3,424  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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

                                                     
    S&P or                   % of   Gross   % of Gross    
    Equivalent   Amortized   Fair   Fair   Unrealized   Unrealized   Carrying
SVO Rating
  Designation
  Cost
  Value
  Value
  Losses
  Losses
  Value
1
  AAA/AA/A   $ 1,720     $ 1,688       49.4 %   $ (32 )     38.1 %   $ 1,690  
2
  BBB     1,396       1,368       40.0       (28 )     33.3       1,370  
3
  BB     164       153       4.5       (11 )     13.1       154  
4
  B     134       129       3.8       (5 )     6.0       130  
5
  CCC and lower     87       79       2.3       (8 )     9.5       80  
6
  In or near default                                    
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  Total   $ 3,501     $ 3,417       100.0 %   $ (84 )     100.0 %   $ 3,424  
 
       
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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

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

                                 
            Gross   % of Gross    
    Fair   Unrealized   Unrealized   Carrying
    Value
  Losses
  Losses
  Value
More than 1 year
  $ 996     $ (43 )     51.2 %   $ 1,001  
6 months – 1 year
    568       (15 )     17.8       569  
Less than 6 months
    1,853       (26 )     31.0       1,854  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 3,417     $ (84 )     100.0 %   $ 3,424  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Of the $84 gross unrealized losses on debt securities at September 30, 2004, approximately $2 was included in our potentially distressed securities list, but has been on the list for less than three months.

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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 determine that we no longer have the intent to hold a security until forecasted recovery, 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 third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we had other-than-temporary impairments on bonds and stocks of $18 and $50 as compared to $15 and $56 for the same periods of 2003. The larger individual impairments in the third quarters, 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

    $5.3 write down on a national passenger airline, due to high labor costs, increasing fuel prices, intense competition from low cost carriers, an inability to access capital, and the lack of demand for older aircraft.

     2003

    $9.8 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 third quarter and first nine months of 2004, we incurred losses of $4.4 and $30.7 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:

                 
    September 30   December 31
    2004
  2003
Federal agency issued mortgage backed securities
  $ 1,795     $ 2,152  
Corporate private-labeled mortgage backed securities
    674       752  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 2,469     $ 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.

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We experienced MBS principal payments totaling $221 and $823 in the third quarter of 2004 and 2003. Our MBS portfolio is primarily a discount portfolio; therefore, excess principal prepayments accelerate the accretion of discount into income. The excess accretion of discount increased investment income in the third quarter of 2004 by $0.6 compared to $16.3 in the 2003 period. These principal prepayments 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 September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, our allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $21.9 and $35.5, respectively. The reduction in our allowance for mortgage loans in the first nine months of 2004 results primarily from allowances on specific loans that were realized as losses in our quarter and year-to-date earnings.

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 September 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 $330 and $348 were open as of September 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 November 8, 2004, 10-year U.S. Treasury rates had decreased 4 basis points to 4.21% 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.

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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; changes in generally accepted or statutory accounting principles (such as the AXXX actuarial guideline discussed in Capital Resources); 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.

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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 third quarter 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

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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
July 1-31, 2004
    0     $ 0.00       0       4,071,000  
August 1-31, 2004
    0     $ 0.00       0       4,071,000  
September 1-30, 2004
    0     $ 0.00       0       4,071,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
         
Total for Quarter
    0     $ 0.00       0          
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
         

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 domestic shares held in the Trust. This arrangement is disclosed in our proxy statement. Trust purchases in the third quarter 2004 were: July, none; August, 360 shares, average price $48.59; and September, 465 shares, average price $49.95.
 
  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. There were no such exercises in the third quarter 2004.

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Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index on page 48.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

  1.   On July 28, 2004, Jefferson Pilot filed a report on Form 8-K, which furnished under items 7 and 12 the press release issued July 28, 2004, reporting financial results for the second quarter of 2004. The press release was filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.
 
  4.   On October 27, 2004, Jefferson Pilot filed a report on Form 8-K, which furnished under items 2.02 and 9.01 the press release issued October 27, 2004, reporting financial results for the third quarter of 2004. The press release was filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned 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: November 9, 2004
 
   
  By (Signature)  /s/ Reggie D. Adamson
  (Name and Title) Reggie D. Adamson, Senior Vice President and Treasurer
 
                                  Principal Accounting Officer
  Date: November 9, 2004

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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.

49