UNITED STATES






 


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549




FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 8, 2014


INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware

010306

58-1407235

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, Connecticut

06902

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 358-8000



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240a-12)


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


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














 





Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.


The information set forth under this Item 2.02 (Results of Operations and Financial Condition) is intended to be furnished. Such information, including the Exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.


On May 8, 2014, Independence Holding Company issued a news release announcing its 2014 First-Quarter results, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits


(c)  

Exhibits:


Exhibit 99.1

News Release of Independence Holding Company dated May 8, 2014: Independence Holding Company Announces 2014 First-Quarter Results.




SIGNATURE


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.



INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

 

(Registrant)



By: Teresa A. Herbert




/s/ Teresa A. Herbert

Teresa A. Herbert

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Date:


May 9, 2014










INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

CONTACT:  ADAM VANDERVOORT

96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD

(646) 509-2156

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06902

www.IHCGroup.com

NYSE: IHC

 

NEWS RELEASE


INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY ANNOUNCES

2014 FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS



Stamford, Connecticut, May 8, 2014. Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC) today reported 2014 first-quarter results.    

Financial Results

IHC reported net income of $.21 per diluted share, or $3,701,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to $.26 per diluted share, or $4,701,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The Company reported realized gains, net of tax, of $1,000,000 for the first three months of 2014 as compared to $2,961,000 in 2013. Revenues increased to $141,072,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2013 of $137,882,000.  

Chief Executive Officer’s Comments

Roy Thung, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased that our first-quarter results of $.21 per share are significantly improved over those reported in the fourth quarter of 2013 of $.10 per share.  Our fully insured segment performed significantly better in the first quarter of 2014 than in the fourth quarter of 2013, as losses arising from the lines of major-medical business that we have exited – and which are in runoff – were significantly reduced due to lower premiums.  We expect this runoff premium to continue to decline through the third quarter of 2014 and to terminate by the end of the year.  Losses associated with the runoff are, as previously disclosed, largely attributable to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Earned premium for medical stop-loss, our largest segment, grew substantially over the same quarter of last year despite the cancellation during 2013 of two independent MGU’s that were unprofitable.  We also are reporting an increase in earnings in this line in the first quarter of 2014 due to better results on our directly written business.  We attribute these positive developments to enhanced sales efforts in our direct business, focused underwriting and a general expansion of the market as new employer groups migrate to self-funding from fully insured in response to health care reform.  We expect continued growth of business written as evidenced by the 30% growth in our direct business written in the twelve months ended  April 30, 2014.

Our overall investment portfolio continues to be very highly rated (on average, AA) and has a duration of approximately six years. Our book value was $15.76 per share at March 31, 2014, an increase of 4% over the book value per share at December 31, 2013, and our total stockholders’ equity is $277 million at March 31, 2014 compared to $269 million at December 31, 2013.   Through May 1, 2014, we have repurchased 168,678 shares of IHC stock for $2.3 million at an average price of $13.35 per share, and our current intention is to continue to repurchase shares at current price levels.

With respect to medical stop-loss, we are quite pleased with our transformation into a direct writer.  For 2014 and beyond, we expect that a growing percentage (currently 85%) of our  block of stop-loss business will be written via our direct platform.  Our fully insured division has transitioned from being focused on major-medical to being principally a specialty health insurance company with controlled distribution and higher-margin lines of business.  As a result of the significant increase in the







volume and quality of our stop-loss business and the improved profitability in our fully insured segment, we expect improved operating results for the remainder of the year as compared to 2013.”  

About Independence Holding Company

IHC is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business and the acquisition of blocks of policies through its insurance company subsidiaries (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company) and its marketing and administrative affiliates.  Standard Security Life markets medical stop-loss, group major medical, short-term medical, limited medical, group long-term and short-term disability and life, dental, vision and various supplemental products. Madison National Life sells group life and disability, group major medical, dental, individual life insurance and various supplemental products. Independence American offers pet insurance, non-subscriber occupational accident, international coverages, small-group major medical and short-term medical. IHC owns certain subsidiaries through its majority ownership of American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ: AMIC), which is a holding company principally engaged in the insurance and reinsurance business.

Certain statements and information contained in this release may be considered “forward-looking statements,” such as statements relating to management's views with respect to future events and financial performance.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which IHC operates, new federal or state governmental regulation, IHC’s ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic acquisition, and other factors which can be found in IHC’s other news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  IHC expressly disclaims any duty to update its forward-looking statements or earnings guidance, and does not undertake to provide any such guidance in the future.








INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

March 31, 2014

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)



 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

123,270 

$

117,368 

Net investment income

 

5,801 

 

8,001 

Fee income

 

9,339 

 

6,542 

Other income

 

1,111 

 

1,352 

Net realized investment gains

 

1,551 

 

4,619 

 

 

141,072 

 

137,882 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

Insurance benefits, claims and reserves

 

85,309 

 

85,460 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

48,135 

 

42,880 

Amortization of deferred acquisitions costs

 

1,282 

 

1,440 

Interest expense on debt

 

481 

 

487 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,207 

 

130,267 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

5,865 

 

7,615 

Income taxes

 

1,860 

 

2,575 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

4,005 

 

5,040 

Less: income from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

in subsidiaries

 

(304)

 

(339)

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC

$

3,701 

$

4,701 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income per common share

$

.21 

$

.26 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

 

17,623 

 

17,919 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share

$

.21 

$

.26 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES

 

 

 

 

 

OUTSTANDING

 

17,763 

 

18,040 





As of May 1, 2014, there were 17,491,712 common shares outstanding, net of treasury shares.









INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)


 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

$

50

 

$

50 

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

 

34,971

 

 

22,594 

 

Trading securities

 

 

10,594

 

 

7,125 

 

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

 

 

535,094

 

 

542,287 

 

Equity securities, available-for-sale

 

 

11,995

 

 

11,803 

 

Other investments

 

 

25,344

 

 

25,123 

 

Total investments

 

 

618,048

 

 

608,982 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

23,081

 

 

24,229 

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

29,857

 

 

29,777 

 

Due and unpaid premiums

 

 

62,272

 

 

59,435 

 

Due from reinsurers

 

 

380,002

 

 

380,229 

 

Premium and claim funds

 

 

38,262

 

 

37,353 

 

Goodwill

 

 

50,318

 

 

50,318 

 

Other assets

 

 

86,178

 

 

78,712 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

1,288,018

 

$

1,269,035 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy benefits and claims

 

$

236,656

 

$

237,754 

 

Future policy benefits

 

 

287,309

 

 

287,449 

 

Funds on deposit

 

 

274,090

 

 

274,826 

 

Unearned premiums

 

 

13,833

 

 

12,423 

 

Other policyholders' funds

 

 

25,014

 

 

25,129 

 

Due to reinsurers

 

 

39,528

 

 

37,113 

 

Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities

 

 

80,867

 

 

71,889 

 

Debt

 

 

6,000

 

 

6,000 

 

Junior subordinated debt securities

 

 

38,146

 

 

38,146 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

 

1,001,443

 

 

990,729 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

IHC STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock (none issued)

 

 

-

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

18,524

 

 

18,524 

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

126,335

 

 

126,239 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(4,954)

 

 

(10,472)

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

 

(9,432)

 

 

(8,169)

 

Retained earnings

 

 

146,357

 

 

142,669 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL IHC STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

276,830

 

 

268,791 

NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

9,745

 

 

9,515 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY

 

 

286,575

 

 

278,306 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

1,288,018

 

$

1,269,035