CNO Financial Group Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

CARMEL, Ind., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) today announced first quarter of 2015 operating earnings (1) of $60.1 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, compared to $59.9 million, or 27 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2014.

"The resiliency and strength of our distribution channels showed through in the quarter as we achieved overall sales and recruiting gains," said Ed Bonach, CEO of CNO.  "While again increasing earnings and maintaining financial strength, we continued to grow our customer base, improve customer service and our business benefited from strong persistency."

First Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Sales, as defined by total new annualized premium ("NAP") (2):  $105.3 million, up 3% from 1Q14
• Collected premium from our continuing operating segments (3): $808.0 million down 1% from 1Q14
• Net income (loss) per diluted share:  26 cents in 1Q15 compared to $(1.03) in 1Q14 (including $(1.35) from the loss on the sale of Conseco Life Insurance Company ("CLIC"))
• Net operating income (1) per diluted share:  up 11% to 30 cents in 1Q15 compared to 27 cents in 1Q14
• Unrestricted cash and investments held by our holding company were $311 million at March 31, 2015
• Common stock repurchases, dividends and debt payments were $113.4 million in 1Q15
• Consolidated risk-based capital ratio was estimated at 428% at March 31, 2015, reflecting estimated statutory operating earnings of $79 million and insurance company dividends to the holding company of $75.5 million during the first three months of 2015

The following table summarizes the financial impact of a significant item on our 1Q15 net operating income (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):

The significant item in 1Q15 of $3.0 million resulted from the unfavorable development of prior period incurred claim estimates in the Washington National supplemental health block.

*  See page 9 for the table of Net Operating Income Excluding Significant Items for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Segment Results

Bankers Life markets and distributes a variety of insurance products to middle-income Americans at or near retirement through a dedicated field force of career agents. NAP in 1Q15 was $61.6 million, down $1.5 million from 1Q14.  Sales results reflect reductions in Medicare supplement and annuity sales, partially offset by increased sales of life and shorter duration long-term care products. Although Medicare supplement sales were down, such decrease was somewhat offset by increased sales of third party Medicare Advantage and PDP products which are not included in NAP but provide fee income to the segment.  The reduction in sales of annuity products reflects the low interest rate environment.  In contrast to the challenges we experienced in the first nine months of 2014, we achieved a 6 percent increase in new recruits in 1Q15 following a 9 percent increase in 4Q14, resulting in an increase in the average producing agent count.  We continue to anticipate this segment's sales growth to be in the 3 to 5 percent range in 2015.

Collected premiums were down 3 percent in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14, primarily driven by a reduction in premiums from fixed interest annuity products reflecting the low interest rate environment in recent periods.  In addition, collected premiums in 1Q14 included $6.8 million related to adjustments for the PDP quota-share reinsurance agreement that was terminated in August 2013.  Annuity account values, on which spread income is earned, increased 1 percent to $7.4 billion in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14, driven by strong persistency.

Pre-tax operating earnings in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14 were down $2.0 million, or 2 percent. Earnings in 1Q14 reflected favorable mortality in the life block which did not re-occur in 1Q15.  Pre-tax operating earnings in 1Q15 reflected a higher long-term care interest-adjusted benefit ratio of 83 percent based on refinements to the build of the future loss reserve.  Given these refinements, we currently expect that this block's interest-adjusted benefit ratio will be in the 84 percent range during 2015.

Washington National markets and distributes supplemental health and life insurance to middle-income consumers through a wholly-owned subsidiary and independent insurance agencies.  NAP in 1Q15 was $22.6 million, up 3 percent from 1Q14, driven by strong supplemental health sales in the individual and group markets through Performance Matters Associates, our wholly owned marketing organization.  We anticipate this segment's sales growth to be in the 5 to 7 percent range in 2015.

Collected premiums from the segment's supplemental health block were up 5 percent in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14, driven by strong sales and persistency.

Pre-tax operating earnings in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14 were down $2.6 million, or 8 percent, primarily resulting from $3 million of unfavorable reserve developments in the supplemental health block related to claims incurred in prior periods.  After adjusting for the unfavorable reserve adjustments, this block's interest-adjusted benefit ratio in 1Q15 was 55.4%.

Colonial Penn markets primarily graded benefit and simplified issue life insurance directly to customers through television advertising, direct mail, the internet and telemarketing.  NAP in 1Q15 was $21.1 million, up 26 percent from 1Q14, due to the positive impact from marketing and telesales productivity initiatives, increased lead generation investments and recovery from a weaker 1Q14. Given the strong 1Q15 sales, we currently anticipate this segment's sales growth to be in the 9 to 12 percent range in 2015.

Collected premiums were up 7 percent in 1Q15 compared to 1Q14, driven by increased sales and steady persistency.

Pre-tax operating losses in 1Q15 were $5.9 million compared to $6.2 million of losses in 1Q14, primarily reflecting growth in the in-force block and improved marketing effectiveness.  In-force EBIT was $10.6 million, up 3 percent from 1Q14, reflecting growth in the block.

Recognizing the accounting standard related to deferred acquisition costs, the amount of our investment in new business during a particular period will have a significant impact on this segment's results.  We expect this segment to report slightly positive earnings in 2015.

Corporate Operations includes our investment advisory subsidiary and corporate expenses.

Pre-tax losses in 1Q15 were $1.3 million compared to $6.0 million of losses in 1Q14 primarily reflecting lower expenses.  Pre-tax losses in 1Q14 reflected higher expenses of $3 million primarily related to accrual adjustments for incentive compensation.

Non-Operating Items

On July 1, 2014, we completed the previously announced sale of CLIC to Wilton Reassurance Company.  In 1Q14, we recognized an estimated loss on the CLIC transaction of $298 million, net of income taxes.

The earnings related to the CLIC business prior to being sold are also reflected as non-operating items.  Such earnings, net of taxes, were $6.7 million in 1Q14.

Net realized investment losses in 1Q15 were $1.4 million (net of related amortization and taxes) including total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $1.3 million recorded in earnings.  Net realized investment gains in 1Q14 were $13.6 million (net of related amortization and taxes) including total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $11.9 million recorded in earnings.   Impairment losses in 1Q14 reflect the writedown of a commercial mortgage loan and certain legacy investments in private companies.

During 1Q15 and 1Q14, we recognized decreases in earnings of $8.3 million and $7.2 million, respectively, resulting from changes in the estimated fair value of embedded derivative liabilities related to our fixed index annuities, net of related amortization and income taxes.  Such amount includes the impacts of changes in market interest rates used to determine the derivative's estimated fair value.

We expect to incur approximately $6 million in one-time transition costs related to our comprehensive agreement with Cognizant to form a strategic partnership for technology delivery.  Other non-operating items in 1Q15 include $3 million (after taxes) of such costs and the remaining $3 million is expected to be recognized in 2Q15.  The agreement is expected to deliver annual run-rate after-tax savings of approximately $6.5 million.  Other non-operating items in 1Q15 also included a $7.3 million gain (after taxes) on the dissolution of a variable interest entity and a $2 million loss (after taxes) attributable to our equity in the losses of the other variable interest entities.

Statutory (based on non-GAAP measures) and GAAP Capital Information

Our consolidated statutory risk-based capital ratio was estimated at 428% at March 31, 2015, reflecting estimated 1Q15 consolidated statutory operating earnings of $79 million and the payment of insurance company dividends to the holding company of $75.5 million during the first three months of 2015.

During the first quarter of 2015, we repurchased $86.0 million of common stock under our securities repurchase program (including $4.5 million of repurchases settled in 2Q15).  We repurchased 5.3 million common shares at an average cost of $16.32 per share.  CNO anticipates repurchasing common stock in the range of $250 million to $325 million in 2015, absent compelling alternatives.  As of March 31, 2015, we had 198.6 million shares outstanding and had authority to repurchase up to an additional $334.9 million of our common stock.  During 1Q15, we also paid common stock dividends of $12.1 million.

Book value per diluted share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (6), was $19.05 at March 31, 2015, compared to $18.75 at December 31, 2014.

Our debt-to-total capital ratio, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (4) at March 31, 2015, was 16.9 percent, a decrease of 20 basis points from December 31, 2014.  Unrestricted cash and investments held by our holding company were $311 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $345 million at December 31, 2014, reflecting common stock repurchases and dividend and debt payments.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss results on April 30, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  The webcast can be accessed through the Investors section of the company's website: http://ir.CNOinc.com.  Participants should go to the website at least 15 minutes before the event to register and download any necessary audio software.  During the call, we will be referring to a presentation that will be available the morning of the call at the Investors section of the company's website.

About CNO Financial Group

CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) is a holding company.  Our insurance subsidiaries - principally Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company and Washington National Insurance Company - primarily serve middle-income pre-retiree and retired Americans by helping them protect against financial adversity and provide for a more secure retirement.  For more information, visit CNO online at www.CNOinc.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.  Our statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this press release relative to markets for CNO Financial's products and trends in CNO Financial's operations or financial results, as well as other statements, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "contemplate," "possible," "attempt," "seek," "should," "could," "goal," "target," "on track," "comfortable with," "optimistic," "guidance," "outlook" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should consider statements that contain these words carefully because they describe our expectations, plans, strategies and goals and our beliefs concerning future business conditions, our results of operations, financial position, and our business outlook or they state other ''forward-looking'' information based on currently available information. Assumptions and other important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements include, among other things: (i) changes in or sustained low interest rates causing reductions in investment income, the margins of our fixed annuity and life insurance businesses, and sales of, and demand for, our products; (ii) expectations of lower future investment earnings may cause us to accelerate amortization, write down the balance of insurance acquisition costs or establish additional liabilities for insurance products; (iii) general economic, market and political conditions, including the performance and fluctuations of the financial markets which may affect the value of our investments as well as our ability to raise capital or refinance existing indebtedness and the cost of doing so; (iv) the ultimate outcome of lawsuits filed against us and other legal and regulatory proceedings to which we are subject; (v) our ability to make anticipated changes to certain non-guaranteed elements of our life insurance products; (vi) our ability to obtain adequate and timely rate increases on our health products, including our long-term care business; (vii) the receipt of any required regulatory approvals for dividend and surplus debenture interest payments from our insurance subsidiaries; (viii) mortality, morbidity, the increased cost and usage of health care services, persistency, the adequacy of our previous reserve estimates and other factors which may affect the profitability of our insurance products; (ix) changes in our assumptions related to deferred acquisition costs or the present value of future profits; (x) the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and the effect of potential ownership changes and tax rate changes on their value; (xi) our assumption that the positions we take on our tax return filings will not be successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service; (xii) changes in accounting principles and the interpretation thereof; (xiii) our ability to continue to satisfy the financial ratio and balance requirements and other covenants of our debt agreements; (xiv) our ability to achieve anticipated expense reductions and levels of operational efficiencies including improvements in claims adjudication and continued automation and rationalization of operating systems, (xv) performance and valuation of our investments, including the impact of realized losses (including other-than-temporary impairment charges); (xvi) our ability to identify products and markets in which we can compete effectively against competitors with greater market share, higher ratings, greater financial resources and stronger brand recognition; (xvii) our ability to generate sufficient liquidity to meet our debt service obligations and other cash needs; (xviii) our ability to maintain effective controls over financial reporting; (xix) our ability to continue to recruit and retain productive agents and distribution partners and customer response to new products, distribution channels and marketing initiatives; (xx) our ability to achieve additional upgrades of the  financial strength ratings of CNO Financial and our insurance company subsidiaries as well as the impact of our ratings on our business, our ability to access capital and the cost of capital; (xxi) regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation of the financial affairs of our insurance companies, such as the payment of dividends and surplus debenture interest to us, regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of products, and health care regulation affecting health insurance products; (xxii) changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations which may affect or eliminate the relative tax advantages of some of our products or affect the value of our deferred tax assets; (xxiii) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance arrangements, as well as any defaults or failure of reinsurers to perform; (xxiv) the performance of third party service providers and potential difficulties arising from outsourcing arrangements; (xxv) the growth rate of sales, collected premiums, annuity deposits and assets; (xxvi) interruption in telecommunication, information technology or other operational systems or failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data on such systems; (xxvii) events of terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters or other catastrophic events, including losses from a disease pandemic; (xxviii) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures in identifying, monitoring and managing risks; and (xxix) the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Other factors and assumptions not identified above are also relevant to the forward-looking statements, and if they prove incorrect, could also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  We assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements.                                                                         

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SOURCE CNO Financial Group, Inc.