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8-K - FORM 8-K - CITIZENS, INC. | d494583d8k.htm |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2018
For further information contact: | ||||
Investor Relations | ||||
PR@citizensinc.com |
CITIZENS PURSUES BOARD DIVERSITY AS STEVE SHELTON ANNOUNCES
INTENTION NOT TO STAND FOR BOARD RE-ELECTION
AUSTIN, TX January 26, 2018 Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) today announced its intention to pursue Board diversity. It further announced that Steve Shelton, age 62, independent director and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, notified the Company of his intention not to stand for re-election as a director at the completion of his current one-year term, which will expire at the Companys 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Shelton will continue to serve on the Companys Board of Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee until that time.
Mr. Sheltons service with the Citizens Board began in 1987, making him the Boards longest serving director with 31 years of service. As a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Mr. Shelton has played an active role in the Committees best practices review for continued Board service that has focused on areas such as Board expertise, diversity and tenure. In light of his long standing tenure, Mr. Shelton indicated his intention not to stand for re-election.
We, as a Board and Company, have made great progress, especially over the last two years, Shelton said. It has certainly been an honor and privilege to serve with the Board and executive team, and I value the professional relationships we have developed. For that, I will forever be grateful.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Company, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Steve for his strength of character and wisdom, exercised over a 30-year tenure as a director of Citizens, said Dr. Robert Sloan, Chairman of Citizens. Youve been with the company through much change, and all of us express our heartfelt gratitude to you.
Steve has been a reliable and selfless Board member, and I appreciate his many contributions to Citizens, said Geoff Kolander, chief executive officer of Citizens. I look forward to working with the Board to address diversity, identify a new director candidate and continue advancing the Companys strategic objectives, concluded Kolander.
The Company expects to hold its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 4, 2018.
About Citizens Inc.
Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and the acquisition of other U.S.-based life insurance companies.
Information herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, intends, continue or comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding Mr. Sheltons intention not to stand for re-election at the end of his current term and the Boards intention to identify a qualified, diverse independent director to join the Board.. Readers are encouraged to read the SEC reports of the Company, particularly its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K, for Risk Factors and other meaningful cautionary language disclosing why actual results may vary materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Companys expectations. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community.