10-Q 1 cig6-0510q.htm CIGNA 10Q CIGNA 10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

for the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission file number 1-8323

CIGNA Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
06-1059331
(State or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)

One Liberty Place, 1650 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (215) 761-1000

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No _ 

As of June 30, 2005, 128,567,742 shares of the issuer's common stock were outstanding.




CIGNA CORPORATION

INDEX

 
Page No.
     
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity
 
 
     
 
 
  20
     
 
   
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
   
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 

As used herein, CIGNA refers to one or more of CIGNA Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.




 
 

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                 
Item 1. Financial Statements
                 
                   
CIGNA CORPORATION         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME         
(In millions, except per share amounts)         
                   
   
Three Months Ended  
 
Six Months Ended  
 
   
June 30,  
 
June 30,  
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
 
                 
REVENUES 
                 
Premiums and fees
 
$
3,408
 
$
3,508
 
$
6,770
 
$
7,136
 
Net investment income
   
331
   
355
   
661
   
958
 
Other revenues
   
366
   
355
   
1,002
   
825
 
Realized investment gains
   
2
   
415
   
19
   
436
 
Total revenues
   
4,107
   
4,633
   
8,452
   
9,355
 
                           
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                         
Health Care medical claims expense
   
1,598
   
1,616
   
3,054
   
3,373
 
Other benefit expenses
   
827
   
869
   
1,695
   
2,076
 
Other operating expenses
   
1,245
   
1,389
   
2,601
   
2,835
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
3,670
   
3,874
   
7,350
   
8,284
 
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                         
BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFITS)
   
437
   
759
   
1,102
   
1,071
 
                           
Income taxes (benefits):
                         
Current
   
168
   
449
   
227
   
591
 
Deferred
   
(102
)
 
(194
)
 
68
   
(231
)
Total taxes
   
66
   
255
   
295
   
360
 
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
   
371
   
504
   
807
   
711
 
                           
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
349
   
-
   
349
   
-
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
720
   
504
   
1,156
   
711
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(139
)
                           
NET INCOME
 
$
720
 
$
504
 
$
1,156
 
$
572
 
                           
                           
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC
                         
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 
$
2.88
 
$
3.63
 
$
6.21
 
$
5.10
 
                           
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
2.70
   
-
   
2.69
   
-
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
5.58
   
3.63
   
8.90
   
5.10
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(1.00
)
                           
NET INCOME
 
$
5.58
 
$
3.63
 
$
8.90
 
$
4.10
 
                           
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED
                         
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 
$
2.82
 
$
3.59
 
$
6.11
 
$
5.05
 
                           
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
2.66
   
-
   
2.65
   
-
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
5.48
   
3.59
   
8.76
   
5.05
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(0.98
)
                           
NET INCOME
 
$
5.48
 
$
3.59
 
$
8.76
 
$
4.07
 
                           
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE
 
$
0.025
 
$
0.025
 
$
0.050
 
$
0.355
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.             
 
1

 
CIGNA CORPORATION          
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS          
(In millions, except per share amounts)          
                    
       
As of
 
  
 
As of
 
 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
  
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2005
 
  
 
2004
 
                    
ASSETS
                  
Investments:
                         
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost, $14,508; $14,758)
       
$
16,068
       
$
16,081
 
Equity securities, at fair value (cost, $64; $65)
         
78
         
88
 
Mortgage loans
         
3,578
         
3,529
 
Policy loans
         
1,672
         
1,594
 
Real estate
         
74
         
78
 
Other long-term investments
         
495
         
478
 
Short-term investments
         
528
         
71
 
Total investments
         
22,493
         
21,919
 
Cash and cash equivalents
         
1,879
         
2,519
 
Accrued investment income
         
266
         
285
 
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
         
1,699
         
1,628
 
Reinsurance recoverables
         
7,691
         
14,595
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
         
573
         
544
 
Property and equipment
         
730
         
777
 
Deferred income taxes
         
1,412
         
1,383
 
Goodwill
         
1,620
         
1,620
 
Other assets, including other intangibles
         
295
         
312
 
Separate account assets
         
9,208
         
35,477
 
Total assets
       
$
47,866
       
$
81,059
 
                           
LIABILITIES
                         
Contractholder deposit funds
       
$
11,002
       
$
17,839
 
Future policy benefits
         
8,609
         
8,428
 
Unpaid claims and claim expenses
         
4,329
         
4,311
 
Health Care medical claims payable
         
1,306
         
1,594
 
Unearned premiums
         
321
         
343
 
Total insurance and contractholder liabilities
         
25,567
         
32,515
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
         
5,709
         
6,359
 
Short-term debt
         
100
         
-
 
Long-term debt
         
1,338
         
1,438
 
Nonrecourse obligations
         
65
         
67
 
Separate account liabilities
         
9,208
         
35,477
 
Total liabilities
         
41,987
         
75,856
 
                       
CONTINGENCIES - NOTE 13
                         
                           
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                         
Common stock (par value per share, $0.25; shares issued, 160; 160)
         
40
         
40
 
Additional paid-in capital
         
2,285
         
2,360
 
Net unrealized appreciation, fixed maturities
 
$
373
       
$
392
       
Net unrealized appreciation, equity securities
   
8
         
15
       
Net unrealized depreciation, derivatives
   
(9
)
       
(16
)
     
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
(3
)
       
2
       
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
(759
)
       
(729
)
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
         
(390
)
       
(336
)
Retained earnings
         
4,829
         
3,679
 
Less treasury stock, at cost
         
(885
)
       
(540
)
Total shareholders' equity
         
5,879
         
5,203
 
                           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
       
$
47,866
       
$
81,059
 
                           
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY PER SHARE
       
$
45.73
       
$
39.41
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.             
 
2

 
CIGNA CORPORATION        
     
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND CHANGES IN           
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY           
(In millions)           
                     
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2005    
 
 2004   
 
   
Compre-
hensive
Income
 
 Share-
holders'
Equity
 
 Compre-
hensive
Income
 
Share-
holders'
Equity
 
                     
Common stock
         
40
         
69
 
                           
Additional paid-in capital, April 1
         
2,297
         
3,704
 
Effect of issuance of stock for employee benefits plans
         
(12
)
       
23
 
Additional paid-in capital, June 30
         
2,285
         
3,727
 
                           
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), April 1
         
(483
)
       
1
 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), fixed maturities
 
$
126
   
126
 
$
(542
)
 
(542
)
Net unrealized depreciation, equity securities
   
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities
   
122
         
(547
)
     
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), derivatives
   
9
   
9
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
(8
)
 
(8
)
 
(11
)
 
(11
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
(30
)
 
(30
)
 
(39
)
 
(39
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
93
         
(598
)
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, June 30
         
(390
)
       
(597
)
                           
Retained earnings, April 1
         
4,112
         
9,523
 
Net income
   
720
   
720
   
504
   
504
 
Common dividends declared
         
(3
)
       
(3
)
Retained earnings, June 30
         
4,829
         
10,024
 
                           
Treasury stock, April 1
         
(657
)
       
(8,577
)
Repurchase of common stock
         
(349
)
       
(284
)
Other, primarily issuance of treasury stock for employee benefit plans
         
121
         
5
 
Treasury stock, June 30
         
(885
)
       
(8,856
)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
813
 
$
5,879
 
$
(94
)
$
4,367
 
                           
                           
Six Months Ended June 30,
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
Common stock
         
40
         
69
 
                           
Additional paid-in capital, January 1
         
2,360
         
3,647
 
Effect of issuance of stock for employee benefits plans
         
(75
)
       
80
 
Additional paid-in capital, June 30
         
2,285
         
3,727
 
                           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, January 1
         
(336
)
       
(54
)
Net unrealized depreciation, fixed maturities
 
$
(19
)
 
(19
)
$
(392
)
 
(392
)
Net unrealized depreciation, equity securities
   
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Net unrealized depreciation on securities
   
(26
)
       
(395
)
     
Net unrealized appreciation, derivatives
   
7
   
7
   
6
   
6
 
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
(30
)
 
(30
)
 
(152
)
 
(152
)
Other comprehensive loss
   
(54
)
       
(543
)
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, June 30
         
(390
)
       
(597
)
                           
Retained earnings, January 1
         
3,679
         
9,502
 
Net income
   
1,156
   
1,156
   
572
   
572
 
Common dividends declared
         
(6
)
       
(50
)
Retained earnings, June 30
         
4,829
         
10,024
 
                           
Treasury stock, January 1
         
(540
)
       
(8,557
)
Repurchase of common stock
         
(589
)
       
(284
)
Other, primarily issuance of treasury stock for employee benefit plans
         
244
         
(15
)
Treasury stock, June 30
         
(885
)
       
(8,856
)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
1,102
 
$
5,879
 
$
29
 
$
4,367
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.              
 
3

 
CIGNA CORPORATION
         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS     
 
         
   
Six Months Ended June 30,  
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
         
Income from continuing operations
 
$
807
 
$
711
 
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing
             
operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Insurance liabilities
   
(312
)
 
(699
)
Reinsurance recoverables
   
(21
)
 
155
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
(29
)
 
(49
)
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
   
68
   
341
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
92
   
(58
)
Current income taxes
   
6
   
471
 
Deferred income taxes
   
68
   
(231
)
Realized investment (gains)
   
(19
)
 
(436
)
Depreciation and amortization
   
112
   
113
 
Gains on sales of businesses
   
(348
)
 
(75
)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities supporting
             
experience-rated pension policyholder contracts,
             
net of purchases
   
-
   
954
 
Other, net
   
(5
)
 
71
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
419
   
1,268
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Proceeds from investments sold:
             
Fixed maturities
   
1,481
   
1,124
 
Equity securities
   
4
   
19
 
Mortgage loans
   
175
   
79
 
Other (primarily short-term investments)
   
3,825
   
4,474
 
Investment maturities and repayments:
             
Fixed maturities
   
635
   
447
 
Mortgage loans
   
159
   
408
 
Investments purchased:
             
Fixed maturities
   
(1,834
)
 
(2,477
)
Equity securities
   
(6
)
 
(14
)
Mortgage loans
   
(380
)
 
(478
)
Other (primarily short-term investments)
   
(4,516
)
 
(4,344
)
Proceeds from sale of businesses
   
-
   
2,103
 
Property and equipment, net
   
(51
)
 
(32
)
Other, net
   
-
   
(25
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(508
)
 
1,284
 
               
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Deposits and interest credited to contractholder deposit funds
   
339
   
2,045
 
Withdrawals and benefit payments from contractholder deposit funds
   
(269
)
 
(2,577
)
Change in cash overdraft position
   
(219
)
 
(5
)
Repayment of long-term debt
   
-
   
(76
)
Repurchase common stock
   
(576
)
 
(272
)
Issuance of common stock
   
180
   
24
 
Common dividends paid
   
(6
)
 
(50
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(551
)
 
(911
)
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
(640
)
 
1,641
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
2,519
   
1,392
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
1,879
 
$
3,033
 
               
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Information:
             
Income taxes paid, net
 
$
209
 
$
107
 
Interest paid
 
$
52
 
$
57
 
               
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.       
 
4

 
 
CIGNA CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CIGNA Corporation, its significant subsidiaries, and variable interest entities of which CIGNA is the primary beneficiary, which are referred to collectively as “CIGNA.” Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The interim financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary, in the opinion of management, for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations for the periods reported. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K for the year ended 2004.

The preparation of interim financial statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal nature of portions of the insurance business as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full year results based on interim results of operations.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the 2005 presentation.

NOTE 2 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Stock compensation. Effective October 1, 2004, CIGNA elected to early adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (as revised in 2004 and referred to as SFAS 123R) “Share-Based Payment.” Prior period financial statements have been restated to comply with SFAS 123R. This standard requires companies to recognize in net income an estimate of expense for stock awards and options over their vesting periods typically determined as of the date of grant. Compensation expense for stock options is recorded over their vesting periods based on the estimated fair value of the stock options using an option-pricing model. Compensation expense is recorded for restricted stock grants and deferred stock units over their vesting periods based on fair value, which is equal to the market price of CIGNA common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense for stock options is recorded in Corporate. The following information summarizes the effects of implementing this standard on CIGNA’s prior year net income and earnings per share for stock option expense:
           
(In millions, except per share
amounts)
 
Three Months
Ended      
June 30, 2004
 
Six Months
Ended    
June 30, 2004
 
Net income, prior to implementation
 
$493
     
$566
 
Compensation expense for
stock options, net of taxes,
prior to implementation
         
22
         
27
 
Compensation expense for
stock options, net of taxes,
under SFAS 123R
         
(11
)
       
(21
)
Net income under SFAS 123R
       
 
$504
       
 
$572
 
Net income per share:
                         
Basic - prior to implementation
 
$3.55
       
 
$4.06
 
Basic - as restated
       
 
$3.63
       
 
$4.10
 
Diluted - prior to implementation
 
$3.51
       
 
$4.02
 
Diluted - as restated
       
 
$3.59
       
 
$4.07
 
 
Compensation expense and related tax benefits for stock options, restricted stock and deferred stock units were as follows:
     
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
(In millions)
2005
2004
2005
2004
Compensation expense
$8
$13
$14
$34
Tax benefits
$3
$5
$5
$12
 
5


Compensation expense for stock options was determined using the following data:

     
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
(Options in thousands)
2005
2004
2005
2004
Options granted
37
112
818
3,159
Weighted average fair value
of options granted
$37.01
$23.45
$34.02
$19.79

The average fair values were determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model under the following assumptions:

     
   
As of
     
June 30,
2005
December 31,
2004
Dividend yield
   
0.1%
0.2%
Expected volatility
   
35.0%
47.6%
Risk-free interest rate
   
3.9%
2.2%
Expected option life
   
5.25 years
3.3 years

The expected volatility of 2005 and 2004 grants reflects CIGNA's past daily stock price volatility. CIGNA does not consider volatility implied in the market prices of traded options to be a good indicator of future volatility because remaining maturities of traded options are less than one year. CIGNA developed the expected option life of 2005 grants by considering certain factors, including assumptions used by other companies with comparable stock option plan features and that CIGNA had cancelled a replacement option feature in June 2004. CIGNA developed the expected option life of 2004 grants considering CIGNA's experience.

Restricted stock granted and the average fair value at the date of grant was as follows:

     
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
(Grants in thousands)
2005
2004
2005
2004
Restricted stock granted
30
1
312
418
Weighted average fair value
$94.47
$67.12
$91.66
$56.94
 
CIGNA did not award deferred stock units in 2005 or 2004.

In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, which provided additional guidance to stock option expensing provisions under SFAS 123R. This guidance had no significant impact on CIGNA's early adoption of SFAS 123R; however, CIGNA considered the additional guidance in establishing assumptions to value newly granted stock options under SFAS 123R.

Long-Duration Contracts.  Effective January 1, 2004, CIGNA implemented SOP 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts.”

The SOP addresses accounting for certain contractual features of investment-related and universal life contracts and for separate accounts. The cumulative effect of implementing the SOP in the first quarter of 2004 was a reduction to net income of $139 million, of which $136 million resulted from recording liabilities for certain experience-rated pension policyholder contracts based on the appreciated value of associated pools of investments, primarily mortgage loans and real estate. CIGNA recorded additional benefits expense of $17 million pre-tax ($11 million after-tax) in the first quarter of 2004 to reflect the post-implementation effect of this accounting requirement. The sale of CIGNA's retirement benefits business generally resulted in the transfer to the buyer of the pool of investments supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts. See Note 4 for information about this sale.

The remaining cumulative effect resulted from implementing the SOP’s requirements applicable to universal life contracts. CIGNA’s accounting for reinsurance of guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts and guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts was not affected by the provisions of the SOP.
 
6


NOTE 3 - INCOME TAXES

During the second quarter of 2005, the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation approved CIGNA's refund claim relating to a tax loss incurred from the sale of a business in 1999 and the completion of the IRS audit for 2000-2002. Pursuant to this approval, CIGNA recorded tax benefits of $430 million consisting of:

·  
$287 million resulting from capital losses realized in connection with the divestiture of the property and casualty insurance operations in 1999, which is included in income from discontinued operations; and
·  
$143 million resulting primarily from the release of tax reserves and valuation allowances of which:
·  
$81 million is reported as income from continuing operations; and
·  
$62 million relates to the divestiture of CIGNA's Brazilian health care business, which is included in income from discontinued operations.

Distribution from policyholders surplus account. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 suspends, for a two-year period commencing January 1, 2005, the tax liability of stock life insurance companies on distributions from the policyholders surplus account. CIGNA's principal subsidiary distributed, with regulatory approval, approximately $330 million from this account to the parent company during the six months of 2005 without incurring federal income tax. For additional information, see Note 13 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders.

NOTE 4 - ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

CIGNA may from time to time acquire or dispose of assets, subsidiaries or lines of business. Significant transactions are described below.

Sale of Retirement Benefits Business. On April 1, 2004, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business, excluding the corporate life insurance business, for cash proceeds of $2.1 billion. The sale resulted in an after-tax gain of $809 million, of which $267 million after-tax was recognized immediately. The sales agreement provides for post closing adjustments however, any future adjustments are not expected to be material to CIGNA's consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

As this transaction was primarily in the form of a reinsurance arrangement under which CIGNA retains liability, $542 million of the after-tax gain was deferred. Subsequent to the original reinsurance transaction, the buyer of the retirement benefits business has entered into agreements with some of the insured parties relieving CIGNA of any remaining contractual obligation to those parties. Additional such agreements are expected.

The deferred gain is amortized at the rate at which earnings from the sold business would have been expected to emerge (primarily 15 years on a declining basis) until CIGNA is relieved of any remaining contractual obligation. At that time, CIGNA accelerates recognition of a portion of the deferred gain and also reduces the associated reinsurance recoverables, contractholder deposit funds and separate account balances. CIGNA recognized normal deferred gain amortization in other revenues in the Run-off Retirement segment of $4 million pre-tax ($3 million after-tax) for the second quarter and $18 million pre-tax ($12 million after-tax) for the six months of 2005, compared with $29 million pre-tax ($19 million after-tax) for the second quarter and six months of 2004. CIGNA recorded in other revenues accelerated amortization of deferred gains of $45 million pre-tax ($29 million after-tax) for the second quarter and $305 million pre-tax ($198 million after-tax) for the six months of 2005, compared with $4 million pre-tax ($3 million after-tax) for the second quarter and six months of 2004. The remaining pre-tax deferred gain as of June 30, 2005 was $89 million.

On January 1, 2005, CIGNA transferred the assets of substantially all of the separate accounts related to the retirement benefits business to the buyer. Since the arrangement is modified coinsurance, CIGNA received units of the buyer’s separate accounts and carries those units as separate account assets on its balance sheet for the business not yet directly assumed by the buyer. At June 30, 2005, there were approximately $5.3 billion of separate account assets and liabilities associated with the business not yet directly assumed by the buyer.

At June 30, 2005, CIGNA had approximately $2.0 billion of invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans, supporting a modified coinsurance arrangement with the buyer. These invested assets are held in a business trust established by CIGNA. CIGNA pays or receives cash quarterly to settle the results of the reinsured business, including the investment results of the assets underlying the modified
 
 
7

 
coinsurance arrangement. Through the six months of 2005, CIGNA recorded in other operating expenses a pre-tax charge of $12 million ($8 million after-tax) to offset realized investment results. This charge for realized investment results due to the buyer had no effect on CIGNA's net income.

As a result of this modified coinsurance arrangement, CIGNA has an embedded derivative that transfers to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of these assets. CIGNA records these effects in other liabilities and other revenues. A decrease in interest rates could result in a charge to CIGNA's consolidated net income until the modified coinsurance arrangement ends in 2006 when the impact of accounting for this embedded derivative will unwind.

The modified coinsurance arrangement provides for conversion to an indemnity reinsurance structure. The buyer will assume ownership of the trust assets in 2006 unless the buyer elects termination, in which case CIGNA would retain the trust assets and the insurance liabilities. If the buyer elects termination, CIGNA does not expect a material adverse effect to its consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

During 2004, CIGNA had another modified coinsurance arrangement, which created an embedded derivative that transferred to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rates and credit risk of assets supporting certain separate accounts. As a result in the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded $41 million pre-tax of other revenues for these effects. These effects were offset by a pre-tax charge of $41 million reflecting the amortization for the period of the excess of the fair value of related assets over the liabilities under this arrangement.

See Note 11 for additional information.

Discontinued Operations. The table below represents tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2005 from past divestitures. See Note 3 for additional information.
 
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Income tax benefits:
                         
Property and Casualty insurance business
 
 
$287
 
 
$—
 
 
$287
 
 
$—
 
Brazilian Health Care operations
   
62
   
   
62
   
 
Income from discontinued operations
 
 
$349
 
 
$—
 
 
$349
 
 
$—
 

NOTE 5 - COST REDUCTION PROGRAMS

First quarter 2005 program. In the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA implemented a plan to further streamline operations in the health care business and in supporting areas. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses a pre-tax charge of $51 million ($33 million after-tax) for severance costs. The table below shows CIGNA's cost reduction activity (pre-tax) related to severance for this program:

               
(In millions)
 
Health
Care
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
First quarter 2005 charge
 
 
$22
 
 
$29
 
 
$51
 
First quarter 2005 payments
   
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Balance as of March 31, 2005
   
21
   
27
   
48
 
Second quarter 2005 payments
   
(5
)
 
(6
)
 
(11
)
Balance as of June 30, 2005
 
 
$16
 
 
$21
 
 
$37
 
 
 
 
8


 
Operational effectiveness review. In the first quarter of 2004, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program associated with planned organizational changes to streamline functional support resources and to adjust its operations to current business volumes. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses total pre-tax charges of $86 million ($56 million after-tax) of which $75 million pre-tax ($49 million after-tax) was recorded in the first quarter of 2004.

The table below shows CIGNA’s restructuring activity (pre-tax) related to severance and real estate for this program:

               
(In millions)
 
Health
Care/
Disability
and Life*
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
Balance as of December 31, 2004:
             
Severance
 
 
$11
 
 
$9
 
 
$20
 
Real estate
   
8
   
1
   
9
 
     
19
   
10
   
29
 
First quarter 2005 payments:
                   
Severance
   
(6
)
 
(6
)
 
(12
)
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
-
   
(1
)
Balance as of March 31, 2005
   
12
   
4
   
16
 
                     
Second quarter 2005 payments:
                   
Severance
   
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
(6
)
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Balance as of June 30, 2005
 
 
$7
 
 
$1
 
 
$8
 

NOTE 6 - GUARANTEED MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT AND INCOME BENEFIT CONTRACTS

CIGNA’s reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured a guaranteed minimum death benefit under certain variable annuities issued by other insurance companies. These variable annuities are essentially investments in mutual funds combined with a death benefit. CIGNA has equity market exposures as a result of this product.

The determination of reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits requires CIGNA to make critical accounting estimates. CIGNA describes the assumptions used to develop the reserves for these death benefits, and provides the effects of hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 22 of CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders. CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing reserves and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating these reserves, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition. During the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA completed its normal quarterly review of assumptions and recorded an after-tax charge of $11 million ($17 million pre-tax). This charge primarily resulted from an update to lapse assumptions based on emerging experience. The charge also reflects updates to partial surrender assumptions, reflecting the impact of stock market declines, as well as other assumptions. CIGNA had future policy benefit reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of approximately $1.0 billion as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

The following provides information about CIGNA’s reserving methodology and assumptions for guaranteed minimum death benefits as of June 30, 2005:

·  
The reserves represent estimates of the present value of net amounts expected to be paid, less the present value of net future premiums. Included in net amounts expected to be paid is the excess of the guaranteed death benefits over the values of the contractholders’ accounts (based on underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments).
·  
The reserves include an estimate for partial surrenders that essentially lock in the death benefit for a particular policy based on annual election rates that vary from 0-20% depending on the net amount at risk for each policy and whether surrender charges apply.
·  
The mean investment performance assumption is 5% considering CIGNA's program to reduce equity market exposures using futures and forward contracts.
·  
The volatility assumption is 15-30%, varying by equity fund type; 3-8%, varying by bond fund type; and 1% for money market funds.
·  
The discount rate is 5.75%.
 
_____________
*  Initial charge in the first quarter of 2004 included $2 million pre-tax in the Disability and Life segment.
 
9

 
·  
The mortality assumption is 70-75% of the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality table, with 1% annual improvement beginning January 1, 2000.
·  
The lapse rate assumption is 0-15%, depending on contract type, policy duration and the ratio of the net amount at risk to account value.

As of June 30, 2005, the aggregate fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments was approximately $41.8 billion. The death benefit coverage in force as of that date (representing the amount that CIGNA would have to pay if all 1.1 million contractholders had died on that date) was approximately $8.7 billion. The death benefit coverage in force represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit amount over the fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments.
 
CIGNA recorded in other revenues pre-tax losses of $21 million for the second quarter and pre-tax gains of $17 million for the six months of 2005, compared with pre-tax losses of $29 million for the second quarter and $60 million for the six months of 2004 from futures and forward contracts. Expense offsets reflecting corresponding changes in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts were included in benefits and expenses. During the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA began using foreign currency futures contracts in place of foreign currency forward contracts as part of its program to reduce international equity market risks associated with this business. The notional or face amount of the futures contract positions held by CIGNA at June 30, 2005, was $1.3 billion.

For further information and details on these contracts and the program adopted to reduce related equity market risk, refer to Note 6 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders.

CIGNA has also written reinsurance contracts with issuers of variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. See Note 13 for further information.

NOTE 7 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 
Pension benefits. CIGNA funds its qualified pension plans by at least the minimum amount required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). CIGNA expects to contribute approximately $545 million in 2005 as follows:

·  
$105 million for minimum funding requirements for the domestic pension plan and for voluntary contributions to the international pension plans; and
·  
$440 million for voluntary contributions to the domestic pension plan, which represents an acceleration of expected payments for minimum funding requirements in 2006 and 2007.

The decision to make a voluntary contribution to the domestic pension plan was based upon the favorable economic impact the contribution will have on the funding status of CIGNA's pension plan, including the potential for reducing future additional funding requirements as well as reducing premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
 
Components of net pension cost were as follows:
           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Service cost
 
 
$19
 
 
$16
 
 
$36
 
 
$38
 
Interest cost
   
55
   
55
   
110
   
110
 
Expected return on plan
assets
   
(44
)
 
(48
)
 
(90
)
 
(96
)
Amortization of:
Net loss from past
experience
   
34
   
30
   
70
   
48
 
Prior service cost
   
   
   
(1
)
 
 
Net pension cost
 
 
$64
 
 
$53
 
 
$125
 
 
$100
 

 
During the second quarter of 2005, CIGNA recorded an after-tax charge of $30 million to increase plan obligations, which resulted in a decrease to shareholders’ equity. This charge was primarily due to the annual update of plan census data.
 
In connection with the sale of the retirement benefits business, the operational effectiveness review and the annual update of plan census data in the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded an
 
10

 
after-tax charge which decreased equity by $39 million for the second quarter and $152 million for the six months of 2004. This charge was primarily due to a reduction in long-term interest rates (from 6.25% to 5.75%) used to determine the accumulated benefit obligation, as well as the update of plan census data, partially offset by the effect of stock market appreciation on plan assets.
 
Other postretirement benefits. Components of net other postretirement benefit cost were as follows:
 

           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Service cost
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$1
 
 
$1
 
Interest cost
   
4
   
8
   
13
   
17
 
Expected return on plan
assets
   
   
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
Amortization of:
                         
Net gain from past
experience
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
 
 
Prior service cost
   
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
(8
)
 
(8
)
Net other postretirement
benefit cost
 
 
$—
 
 
$4
 
 
$4
 
 
$9
 


CIGNA also recognized gains of $14 million pre-tax ($9 million after-tax) for the second quarter and six months of 2004 for other postretirement benefits in connection with the 2004 operational effectiveness review and the sale of the retirement benefits business.

NOTE 8 - INVESTMENTS

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

The following realized gains and losses on investments exclude amounts required to adjust future policy benefits:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Fixed maturities
 
 
$2
 
 
$107
 
 
$15
 
 
$116
 
Equity securities
   
(1
)
 
10
   
   
12
 
Mortgage loans
   
(2
)
 
219
   
(2
)
 
219
 
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
54
   
(1
)
 
52
 
Derivatives and other
   
4
   
25
   
7
   
37
 
Realized investment gains,
before income taxes
   
2
   
415
   
19
   
436
 
Less income taxes
   
1
   
146
   
7
   
153
 
Net realized investment gains
 
 
$1
 
 
$269
 
 
$12
 
 
$283
 

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

Sales of available-for-sale fixed maturities and equity securities were as follows:


           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Proceeds from sales
     $887  
 
$490
     $1,485  
 
$1,143
 
Gross gains on sales
 
 
$7
 
 
$176
 
 
$22
 
 
$210
 
Gross losses on sales
 
 
$(8
)
 
$(31
)
 
$(14
)
 
$(34
)

Fixed maturities included securities of $47 million at June 30, 2005 and $56 million at December 31, 2004 classified as trading. These securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in other revenues.

Review of Declines in Fair Value. Management reviews fixed maturities and equity securities for impairment based on criteria that include:
 
·  length of time and severity of decline;
·  financial health and specific near term prospects of the issuer; and
·  changes in the regulatory, economic or general market environment of the issuer’s industry or geographic region.
 
11

 
As of June 30, 2005, fixed maturities and equity securities with a decline in fair value from cost (primarily investment grade corporate bonds) were as follows, including the length of time of such decline:

               
(In millions)
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized Depreciation
 
Fixed maturities:
             
One year or less:
             
Investment grade
 
 
$922
 
 
$931
 
 
$(9
)
Below investment
grade
 
 
$145
 
 
$149
 
 
$(4
)
More than one year:
                   
Investment grade
 
 
$644
 
 
$657
 
 
$(13
)
Below investment
grade
 
 
$47
 
 
$48
 
 
$(1
)
Equity securities:
                   
Greater than one
year
 
 
$9
 
 
$10
 
 
$(1
)
 
As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA had commitments to purchase the following investments:

     
(In millions)
 
As of
June 30, 2005
Fixed maturities
 
$68
Mortgage loans
 
 286
Real estate joint ventures
 
    41
Investments in partnerships secured by real estate
    87
Investments in partnerships secured by securities
  136
Total
 
$618

CIGNA expects to disburse most of these committed amounts in 2005.
 
NOTE 9 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) excludes:

·  
amounts required to adjust future policy benefits for certain annuities; and
·  
amounts required to adjust other liabilities after the initial reclassification of unrealized appreciation under a modified coinsurance arrangement.

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the second quarter and six months ended June 30 are as follows:
               
 
(In millions)
 
Pre-Tax
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
 
After-Tax
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2005
             
Net unrealized appreciation,
securities:
             
Unrealized appreciation on securities
held
 
 
$188
 
 
$(65
)
 
$123
 
Gains realized on securities
   
(1
)
 
   
$(1
)
Net unrealized appreciation, securities
 
 
$187
 
 
$(65
)
 
$122
 
Net unrealized appreciation,
derivatives
 
 
$14
 
 
$(5
)
 
$9
 
Net translation of foreign
currencies
 
 
$(11
)
 
$3
 
 
$(8
)
Minimum pension liability
adjustment
 
 
$(46
)
 
$16
 
 
$(30
)
2004
                   
Net unrealized depreciation,
securities:
                   
Unrealized depreciation on securities
held
 
 
$(462
)
 
$157
 
 
$(305
)
Gains realized on securities
   
(117
)
 
41
   
(76
)
Reclassification to other liabilities for
modified coinsurance
   
(256
)
 
90
   
(166
)
Net unrealized depreciation, securities
 
 
$(835
)
 
$288
 
 
$(547
)
Net unrealized depreciation,
derivatives
 
 
$(3
)
 
$2
 
 
$(1
)
Net translation of foreign
currencies
 
 
$(17
)
 
$6
 
 
$(11
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment
 
 
$(60
)
 
$21
 
 
$(39
)

 
12



               
(In millions)
 
Pre-Tax
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
 
After-Tax
 
Six months ended June 30,
             
2005
             
Net unrealized depreciation,
securities:
                   
Unrealized depreciation on securities
held
 
 
$(25
)
 
$9
 
 
$(16
)
Gains realized on securities
   
(15
)
 
5
   
(10
)
Net unrealized depreciation, securities
 
 
$(40
)
 
$14
 
 
$(26
)
Net unrealized appreciation,
derivatives
 
 
$12
 
 
$(5
)
 
$7
 
Net translation of foreign
currencies
 
 
$(6
)
 
$1
 
 
$(5
)
Minimum pension liability
adjustment
 
 
$(46
)
 
$16
 
 
$(30
)
2004
                   
Net unrealized depreciation,
securities:
                   
Unrealized depreciation on securities
held
 
 
$(218
)
 
$72
 
 
$(146
)
Gains realized on securities
   
(128
)
 
45
   
(83
)
Reclassification to other liabilities for
modified coinsurance
   
(256
)
 
90
   
(166
)
Net unrealized depreciation, securities
 
 
$(602
)
 
$207
 
 
$(395
)
Net unrealized appreciation,
derivatives
 
 
$8
 
 
$(2
)
 
$6
 
Net translation of foreign
currencies
 
 
$(4
)
 
$2
 
 
$(2
)
Minimum pension liability
adjustment
 
 
$(234
)
 
$82
 
 
$(152
)

NOTE 10 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed as follows:

               
(Dollars in millions, except per share
amounts)
 
Basic
 
Effect of
Dilution
 
Diluted
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
             
2005
             
Income from continuing
operations
 
 
$371
   
 
 
$371
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
128,986
   
   
128,986
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
2,360
   
2,360
 
Total shares
   
128,986
   
2,360
   
131,346
 
EPS
 
 
$2.88
 
 
$(0.06
)
 
$2.82
 
2004
                   
Income from continuing
operations
 
 
$504
 
 
$—
 
 
$504
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
138,801
   
   
138,801
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
1,427
   
1,427
 
Total shares
   
138,801
   
1,427
   
140,228
 
EPS
 
 
$3.63
 
 
$(0.04
)
 
$3.59
 
 
 
 
                     
(Dollars in millions, except per share
amounts)
   
Basic
 
 
Effect of
Dilution
 
 
Diluted
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
                   
2005
                   
Income from continuing
operations
 
 
$807
   
 
 
$807
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
129,850
   
   
129,850
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
2,182
   
2,182
 
Total shares
   
129,850
   
2,182
   
132,032
 
EPS
 
 
$6.21
 
 
$(0.10
)
 
$6.11
 
2004
                   
Income from continuing
operations
 
 
$711
   
 
 
$711
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
139,402
   
   
139,402
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
1,272
   
1,272
 
Total shares
   
139,402
   
1,272
   
140,674
 
EPS
 
 
$5.10
 
 
$(0.05
)
 
$5.05
 

Outstanding employee stock options to purchase approximately 3.3 million shares for the second quarter and 4.8 million shares for the six months ended June 30, 2005, and 12.4 million shares for the second quarter and 13.6 million shares for the six months ended June 30, 2004, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive as the estimated proceeds from their exercise was greater than the average share price of CIGNA's common shares for the period.

Common shares held as Treasury shares were 31,460,719 as of June 30, 2005, and 138,583,374 as of June 30, 2004.

NOTE 11 - REINSURANCE

In the normal course of business, CIGNA’s insurance subsidiaries enter into agreements with other insurance companies to assume and cede reinsurance. Reinsurance is ceded primarily to limit losses from large exposures and to permit recovery of a portion of direct losses. Reinsurance does not relieve the originating insurer of liability. CIGNA evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors their concentrations of credit risk.
 
 
13


 
Retirement benefits business. CIGNA had a reinsurance recoverable of $1.8 billion as of June 30, 2005, and $8.6 billion as of December 31, 2004, from Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company resulting from the sale of the retirement benefits business, which was primarily in the form of reinsurance arrangements. The reinsurance recoverable is secured primarily by fixed maturities and mortgage loans held in a business trust established by the reinsurer. This recoverable is reduced as CIGNA's reinsured liabilities are paid or directly assumed by the reinsurer.

Individual life and annuity reinsurance. CIGNA had a reinsurance recoverable of $5.1 billion at June 30, 2005, and $5.2 billion at December 31, 2004, from Lincoln National Corporation that arose from the 1998 sale of CIGNA’s individual life insurance and annuity business through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement.

Unicover and other run-off reinsurance. The Run-off Reinsurance operations participate in a workers’ compensation reinsurance pool, which ceased accepting new risks in early 1999. This pool was formerly managed by Unicover Managers, Inc. Although an arbitration over the most significant reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool was completed in 2002, some disputes over collection of amounts due CIGNA from those retrocessionaires continue and may require further arbitration actions to resolve. Disputes and arbitrations regarding other reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool are likely to be substantially resolved by the end of 2006.

Run-off Reinsurance also includes other (non-Unicover) workers’ compensation reinsurance contracts, as well as personal accident reinsurance contracts, including contracts assumed in the London market. CIGNA is in dispute and arbitration with some ceding companies over the amount of liabilities assumed under their contracts, and expects that these disputes and arbitrations will be substantially resolved by the end of 2007. CIGNA obtained retrocessional reinsurance coverage for a significant portion of its liabilities under these contracts, and some of these retrocessionaires have disputed the validity of their contracts with CIGNA. Several of these disputes with retrocessionaires were settled in 2004 and 2005 and several remain in arbitration. These arbitrations are expected to be substantially resolved by the end of 2006.
 
Unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures is possible and could result in future losses, including losses attributable to the inability to recover amounts from retrocessionaires (either due to disputes with the retrocessionaires or their financial condition).

CIGNA’s reserves for amounts recoverable from retrocessionaires, as well as reserves associated with underlying reinsurance exposures assumed by CIGNA, are considered appropriate as of June 30, 2005, based on current information. However, it is possible that future developments could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition.

Other reinsurance. CIGNA could have losses if reinsurers fail to indemnify CIGNA on other reinsurance arrangements, either because of reinsurer insolvencies or contract disputes. However, management does not expect charges for other unrecoverable reinsurance to have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Effects of reinsurance. In CIGNA’s consolidated income statements, premiums and fees were net of ceded premiums, and benefits and expenses were net of reinsurance recoveries, in the following amounts:
 
           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
                 
Individual life insurance and
annuity business sold
 
 
$69
 
 
$74
 
 
$136
 
 
$147
 
Other
   
55
   
39
   
96
   
77
 
Total
 
 
$124
 
 
$113
 
 
$232
 
 
$224
 
Reinsurance recoveries
                         
Individual life insurance and
annuity business sold
 
 
$77
 
 
$70
 
 
$140
 
 
$149
 
Other
   
52
   
15
   
95
   
52
 
Total
 
 
$129
 
 
$85
 
 
$235
 
 
$201
 
 
 
 
14


 
NOTE 12 - SEGMENT INFORMATION

Operating segments generally reflect groups of related products, but the International segment is based on geography. CIGNA measures the financial results of its segments using “segment earnings (loss)” which is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before realized investment gains (losses).

Summarized segment financial information was as follows:
           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees and other revenues
         
Health Care
 
 
$2,811
 
 
$2,944
 
 
$5,569
 
 
$5,987
 
Disability and Life
   
553
   
519
   
1,110
   
1,046
 
International
   
304
   
255
   
604
   
496
 
Run-off Retirement
   
51
   
94
   
325
   
328
 
Run-off Reinsurance
   
1
   
(9
)
 
62
   
(18
)
Other Operations
   
61
   
71
   
118
   
152
 
Corporate
   
(7
)
 
(11
)
 
(16
)
 
(30
)
Total
 
 
$3,774
 
 
$3,863
 
 
$7,772
 
 
$7,961
 
Income (loss) from continuing
operations
           
Health Care
 
 
$173
 
 
$175
 
 
$364
 
 
$327
 
Disability and Life
   
59
   
48
   
118
   
87
 
International
   
32
   
20
   
62
   
35
 
Run-off Retirement
   
32
   
29
   
198
   
56
 
Run-off Reinsurance
   
(10
)
 
(13
)
 
(26
)
 
(23
)
Other Operations
   
40
   
18
   
70
   
36
 
Corporate
   
44
   
(42
)
 
9
   
(90
)
Segment earnings
   
370
   
235
   
795
   
428
 
Realized investment gains,
net of taxes
   
1
   
269
   
12
   
283
 
Income from continuing
operations
 
 
$371
 
 
$504
 
 
$807
 
 
$711
 

NOTE 13 - CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER MATTERS

CIGNA, through its subsidiaries, is contingently liable for various financial guarantees provided in the ordinary course of business.

Separate Account Guarantees

Separate account assets, primarily associated with the retirement benefits business, are contractholder funds maintained in accounts with specific investment objectives. CIGNA records separate account liabilities equal to separate account assets. In certain cases, CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of benefits for retirement and insurance contracts written in separate accounts. CIGNA establishes an additional liability if management believes that CIGNA will be required to make a payment under these guarantees.

CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets will be sufficient to pay certain retiree and life benefits. The sponsoring employers are primarily responsible for ensuring that assets are sufficient to pay these benefits and are required to maintain assets that exceed a certain percentage of benefit obligations. This percentage varies depending on the asset class within a sponsoring employer’s portfolio (for example, a bond fund would require a lower percentage than a riskier equity fund) and thus will vary as the composition of the portfolio changes. If employers do not maintain the required levels of separate account assets, CIGNA or the affiliate of the buyer has the right to redirect the management of the related assets to provide for benefit payments. As of June 30, 2005, employers maintained assets that exceeded the benefit obligations. Benefit obligations under these arrangements were $2.4 billion as of June 30, 2005. As of June 30, 2005, approximately 80% of these guarantees were associated with the sold retirement benefits business and reinsured by the affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets, primarily fixed income investments, will be sufficient to pay retiree benefits for participants under a certain group annuity contract. This guarantee is fully reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. This guaranteed benefit obligation was $38 million as of June 30, 2005. CIGNA had no additional liabilities for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.
 
 
15

 
Other Financial Guarantees

CIGNA guaranteed construction loans of $24 million as of June 30, 2005 related to real estate joint venture investments. The loans are secured by joint venture real estate property with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature by 2008, including extension options. CIGNA would be required to repay the construction loans if permanent financing could not be obtained. There were no liabilities required for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA had indemnification obligations to lenders up to $320 million as of June 30, 2005 related to borrowings by certain real estate joint ventures, which CIGNA either records as an investment or consolidates. These borrowings, which are nonrecourse to CIGNA, are secured by the joint ventures’ real estate properties with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature at various dates beginning in the third quarter of 2005 through 2017. CIGNA’s indemnification obligations would require payment to lenders for any actual damages resulting from certain acts such as unauthorized ownership transfers, misappropriation of rental payments by others or environmental damages. Based on initial and ongoing reviews of property management and operations, CIGNA does not expect that payments will be required under these indemnification obligations. Any payments that might be required could be recovered through a refinancing or sale of the assets. In some cases, CIGNA also has recourse to partners for their proportionate share of amounts paid. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005.

As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA guaranteed that it would compensate the lessor for a shortfall of up to $49 million in the market value of leased equipment at the end of the lease. Guarantees of $21 million expire in 2006 and $28 million expire in 2012. CIGNA had additional liabilities for these guarantees of $3 million as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA had indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005 in connection with acquisition and disposition transactions. These indemnification obligations are triggered by the breach of representations or covenants provided by CIGNA, such as representations for the presentation of financial statements, the filing of tax returns, compliance with law or the identification of outstanding litigation. These obligations are typically subject to various time limitations, defined by the contract or by operation of law, such as statutes of limitation. In some cases, the maximum potential amount due is subject to contractual limitations based on a percentage of the transaction purchase price, while in other cases limitations are not specified or applicable. CIGNA does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount due under these guarantees, since not all amounts due under these indemnification obligations are subject to limitation. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA does not expect that these guarantees will have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA's reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. When annuitants elect to receive these minimum income benefits, CIGNA may be required to make payments based on changes in underlying mutual fund values and interest rates.

CIGNA estimates the fair value of the assets and liabilities associated with these contracts using assumptions as to market returns and volatility of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments, interest rates, mortality, policy surrenders, credit risk and annuity election rates.

CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing these assets and liabilities and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. CIGNA describes these assumptions and provides an estimate of the effects of the hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 23 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating these assets and liabilities, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition.
 
 
16

 
The following provides information about the assumptions used in calculating the assets and liabilities for guaranteed minimum income benefits:

·  
These liabilities represent estimates of the present value of net amounts expected to be paid, less the present value of net future premiums expected to be received. Included in net amounts expected to be paid is the excess of the expected value of the income benefits over the values of the annuitant’s accounts at the time of annuitization. The assets associated with these contracts represent receivables in connection with reinsurance that CIGNA has purchased from third parties.
·  
The market return assumption is 9-12% varying by equity fund type; 6-9% varying by bond fund type; and 5-6% for money market funds.
·  
The volatility assumption is 14-24%, varying by equity fund type; 6-7%, varying by bond fund type; and 2-3% for money market funds.
·  
The discount rate is 5.75%.
·  
The projected interest rate used to calculate the reinsured income benefits at the time of annuitization varies by economic scenario, reflects interest rates as of the valuation date, and has a long-term mean rate of 5-6% and a standard deviation of 12-13%.
·  
The mortality assumption is 75% of the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality table, with 1% annual improvement beginning January 1, 2000.
·  
The lapse rate assumption is 2-15%, depending on policy duration.
·  
The annuity election rate assumption is that no more than 5% of the policies eligible to annuitize their variable annuity contracts will do so each year.

CIGNA is required to disclose the maximum potential undiscounted future payments for guarantees related to minimum income benefits using worst-case assumptions, defined as follows:

·  
No annuitants surrendered their accounts, and
·  
All annuitants lived to elect their benefits; and
·  
All annuitants elected to receive their benefit on the first available date (2005 through 2014); and
·  
All underlying mutual fund investment values remained at the June 30, 2005 value of $3.3 billion, with no future returns.

The maximum potential undiscounted payments that CIGNA would make under those assumptions would aggregate $1.7 billion before reinsurance recoveries. CIGNA believes the likelihood of such payment is remote and expects the amount of actual payments to be significantly less than this hypothetical undiscounted aggregate amount. CIGNA has purchased reinsurance from third parties which covers 55% of the exposures on these contracts.
 
As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA had liabilities of $90 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $49 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $39 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of June 30, 2005. As of December 31, 2004, CIGNA had liabilities of $71 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $39 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $41 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of December 31, 2004. Management believes the current assumptions used to estimate reserves for these liabilities are appropriate.

Regulatory and Industry Developments

Employee benefits regulation. The business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs, particularly health care programs, is heavily regulated by federal and state laws and administrative agencies, such as state departments of insurance and the federal Departments of Labor and Justice, as well as the courts. Regulation and judicial decisions have resulted in changes to industry and CIGNA’s business practices and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, CIGNA's subsidiaries are routinely involved with various claims, lawsuits and regulatory audits and investigations that could result in financial liability, changes in business practices, or both. Health care regulation in its various forms could have an adverse effect on CIGNA's health care operations if it inhibits CIGNA's ability to respond to market demands or results in increased medical or administrative costs without improving the quality of care or services. 

Other possible regulatory changes that could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses include:

·  
additional mandated benefits or services that increase costs without improving the quality of care;
 
 
17

 
 
·  
legislation that would grant plan participants broader rights to sue their health plans;
·  
changes in ERISA regulations resulting in increased administrative burdens and costs;
·  
additional restrictions on the use of prescription drug formularies;
·  
additional privacy legislation and regulations that interfere with the proper use of medical information for research, coordination of medical care and disease and disability management;
·  
additional rules establishing the time periods for payment of health care provider claims that vary from state to state;
·  
legislation that would exempt independent physicians from antitrust laws; and
·  
changes in federal tax laws.
 

The employee benefits industry remains under scrutiny by various state and federal government agencies and could be subject to government efforts to bring criminal actions in circumstances that could previously have given rise only to civil or administrative proceedings.

Tax benefits for corporate life insurance. Federal legislation in 1996 eliminated on a prospective basis the tax deductibility of policy loan interest for most leveraged corporate life insurance products, and an Internal Revenue Service initiative in 2001 encouraged policyholders to settle tax disputes regarding these products. As a result, some customers have surrendered their policies and management expects earnings associated with these products to continue to decline.

Concentration of risk. CIGNA’s products in its International segment include coverages for employees and individuals who may be exposed to acts of terrorism or the events of a war zone. These risks could result in a concentration of loss if a single adverse event affected many covered individuals and, in certain situations, could lead to losses that could be material to earnings for this segment and to CIGNA's consolidated results.

Litigation and Other Legal Matters

In 2004, a Florida federal court handling multi-district health care litigation against CIGNA and several health care industry competitors approved a settlement agreement between the physician class and CIGNA. In April 2005, the court approved a settlement between CIGNA and the remaining plaintiffs, a class of non-physician health care professionals.

In 2004, CIGNA, other insurance companies and certain insurance brokers received subpoenas and inquiries from the New York Attorney General, the Connecticut Attorney General and other state regulators relating to their investigations of broker compensation. During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General brought suit against a large insurance broker, alleging that the broker sought rigged bids from, and steered business to, certain property and casualty insurers with whom it had contingent compensation arrangements. During the fourth quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General filed suit against Universal Life Resources (ULR), a disability and accident insurance broker. CIGNA is mentioned in the complaint but is not a defendant. Separately, a purported class action lawsuit is pending (one having been withdrawn) against ULR and several group life, disability and accident insurance companies, including CIGNA and a CIGNA subsidiary, asserting among other things, that contingent commissions are unlawful. On August 1, 2005, two CIGNA subsidiaries were added as defendants to a separate purported class action against numerous brokers and other insurance companies also asserting that contingent commissions are unlawful. In addition, the California insurance commissioner, in a suit against ULR and several insurance holding companies and certain of their subsidiaries, including CIGNA and several of its subsidiaries, is seeking injunctive relief. CIGNA is cooperating with the inquiries by the New York and Connecticut Attorneys General and other state regulators and disagrees with the assertions against it in the lawsuits. Further, in the first quarter of 2005, a shareholder filed a derivative suit nominally on behalf of CIGNA in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against certain directors and officers.  The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty in connection with alleged concealment of the fact that CIGNA paid contingent commissions to brokers, and seeks damages and equitable relief.  The factual allegations are similar to those contained in the cases against the broker ULR described above.

In 2004, the New York Attorney General commenced a lawsuit against Express Scripts, Inc. and two CIGNA insurance companies. Under an agreement with the CIGNA companies, Express Scripts
 
18

 
is responsible for administering the prescription drug benefit program under New York State’s principal employee health plan, the Empire Plan. The CIGNA companies insure the prescription drug benefit program and hold the contract with the New York State Department of Civil Service. The complaint primarily focuses on administration of the prescription drug benefit program.

In 2002, several purported class action lawsuits (which have been consolidated), as well as two shareholder derivative complaints (which have been consolidated) nominally brought on behalf of CIGNA, were filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against CIGNA and certain of its senior officers and directors. These suits allege securities law violations and breaches of fiduciary duty. Two other purported class action lawsuits (which have been consolidated) asserting violations of ERISA were filed against CIGNA and certain officers in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by individuals who seek to represent a class of participants in the CIGNA 401(k) Plan who allegedly suffered losses on investments in CIGNA stock. The court has granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement in the ERISA litigation and has scheduled a fairness hearing for September 2005.

During 2002, a Connecticut federal court certified a class action lawsuit against CIGNA and the CIGNA Pension Plan. The plaintiffs are participants in the Plan who earned certain Plan benefits prior to 1998. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Plan violated ERISA by impermissibly conditioning certain post-1997 benefit accruals on the amount of pre-1998 benefit accruals, that these conditions are not adequately disclosed to Plan participants, and that the Plan’s cash balance formula discriminates against older employees. 

See “Unicover and other run-off reinsurance” in Note 11 for a description of legal matters arising out of the run-off reinsurance operations.

CIGNA is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of the business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs. An increasing number of claims are being made for substantial non-economic, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The outcome of litigation and other legal matters is always uncertain, and outcomes that are not justified by the evidence can occur. CIGNA believes that it has valid defenses to the legal matters pending against it and is defending itself vigorously. Nevertheless, it is possible that resolution of one or more of the legal matters currently pending or threatened could result in losses material to CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

 
19

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 


In this filing and in other marketplace communications, CIGNA makes certain forward-looking statements relating to its financial condition and results of operations, as well as to trends and assumptions that may affect CIGNA. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of predictive words (e.g., “Outlook for 2005”). Actual results may differ from CIGNA’s predictions. Some factors that could cause results to differ are discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis, including in the Cautionary Statement on page 42.

The following discussion addresses the financial condition of CIGNA as of June 30, 2005, compared with December 31, 2004, and its results of operations for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005, compared with the same periods last year. This discussion should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders, to which the reader is directed for additional information.

The preparation of interim financial statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal nature of portions of the insurance business as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full year results based on interim results of operations.


CIGNA Corporation’s subsidiaries provide health care and related benefits offered through the workplace. Key product lines include health care products and services (medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, dental benefits, and disease management) as well as group disability, life and accident insurance, and disability and workers’ compensation case management and related services. In addition, CIGNA has an international operation that offers similar products to businesses and individuals in selected markets, and has certain inactive businesses including a run-off retirement operation (see page 31 for further discussion) and a run-off reinsurance operation.

CIGNA’s results are influenced by a range of economic and other factors, including:

·  
cost trends and inflation levels for medical and related services;
·  
patterns of utilization of medical and other services;
·  
employment levels;
·  
the tort liability system;
·  
interest rates and equity market returns;
·  
regulations and tax rules related to the provision and administration of employee benefit plans; and
·  
initiatives to increase health care regulation.

CIGNA generates revenues, income and cash flows by maintaining and growing its relationships with employers and consumers, charging prices that reflect emerging experience and investing available
 
 
20

cash at attractive rates of return for appropriate durations. CIGNA's ability to increase operating results in terms of growth in revenues, net income and operating cash flow is directly related to its ability to execute plans that address broad economic factors as well as company-specific drivers.

Key company-specific drivers affecting CIGNA’s results include:

·  
competitiveness of CIGNA's product design and service quality;
·  
the absolute level of and trends in benefit costs;
·  
the volume of customers served and the mix of products and services purchased by those customers;
·  
the ability to price products and services competitively at levels that appropriately account for underlying cost inflation and utilization patterns; and
·  
the relationship between administrative costs and revenues.

CIGNA regularly monitors trends in the above mentioned economic and other factors and the company-specific drivers of operating results. CIGNA develops strategic and tactical plans designed to improve performance and maximize its competitive position in the markets served. CIGNA's ability to achieve its financial objectives is dependent upon its ability to effectively execute these plans and to appropriately respond to emerging economic and company-specific trends.

CIGNA is focused, in particular, on continuing to improve the performance of the health care operations, which is dependent on membership growth, and on managing the risks associated with the run-off reinsurance operations. In the health care operations, CIGNA has initiatives in place to (1) offer products that meet emerging consumer and market trends; (2) improve medical membership results; (3) lower medical cost trends; (4) deliver quality member service; and (5) lower administrative expenses (see pages 29 and 30 for further discussion of these initiatives). In the run-off reinsurance operations, CIGNA maintains a program to reduce the equity market risk associated with its guaranteed minimum death benefit reinsurance exposures. CIGNA is also pursuing the resolution of disputes associated with workers’ compensation and other reinsurance contracts through audits of claims from assumed business and managing collections from retrocessionaires (see page 33 for further discussion).
 
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY  
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30, 
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$3,408
 
 
$3,508
 
 
$6,770
 
 
$7,136
 
Net investment income
   
331
   
355
   
661
   
958
 
Other revenues
   
366
   
355
   
1,002
   
825
 
Realized investment gains
   
2
   
415
   
19
   
436
 
Total revenues
   
4,107
   
4,633
   
8,452
   
9,355
 
Benefits and expenses
   
3,670
   
3,874
   
7,350
   
8,284
 
Income from continuing operations
     before taxes
   
437
   
759
   
1,102
   
1,071
 
Income taxes
   
66
   
255
   
295
   
360
 
Income from continuing
operations
   
371
   
504
   
807
   
711
 
Income from discontinued
operations
   
349
   
   
349
   
 
Income before cumulative
effect of accounting
change
   
720
   
504
   
1,156
   
711
 
Cumulative effect of
accounting change, net of
taxes (See Note 2 to the
Financial Statements)
   
   
   
   
(139
)
Net income
 
 
$720
 
 
$504
 
 
$1,156
 
 
$572
 
Realized investment gains,
net of taxes
 
 
$1
 
 
$269
 
 
$12
 
 
$283
 

Income from continuing operations includes special items, which are discussed below. Excluding these special items and realized investment gains, CIGNA’s results increased for the six months of 2005, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher earnings in ongoing operating businesses, partially offset by lower results in the run-off retirement segment (see page 31).

Income Taxes

During the second quarter of 2005, the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation approved CIGNA's refund claim relating to a tax loss incurred from the sale of a business in 1999 and the completion of the IRS audit for 2000-2002. Pursuant to this approval, CIGNA recorded tax benefits of $430 million consisting of:

·  
$287 million resulting from capital losses realized in connection with the divestiture of
 
21

 
   the property and casualty insurance operations in 1999, which is included in income from discontinued operations; and
·  
$143 million resulting primarily from the release of tax reserves and valuation allowances of which:

·  
$81 million is reported in the International segment, Other Operations and Corporate as income from continuing operations; and
·  
$62 million relates to the divestiture of CIGNA's Brazilian health care business, which is included in income from discontinued operations.

CIGNA expects to recover approximately $225 million in net cash, $190 million by the end of 2005 and $35 million in the future relating to CIGNA's refund claim and the settlement of audit issues.
 
In order to facilitate an understanding and comparison of results of operations and permit analysis of trends in underlying revenues, expenses and income from continuing operations, the following table presents special items, which management believes are not representative of the underlying results of operations.
 
           
SPECIAL ITEMS
 
(In millions)
 
Pre-Tax
Benefit
(Charge)
 
After-Tax
Benefit
(Charge)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
         
2005
         
Accelerated recognition of deferred gain on
sale of retirement benefits business (see
 
 
$45
 
 
$29
 
IRS tax settlement (see page 21)
   
83
   
81
 
Total
 
 
$128
 
 
$110
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
             
2005
             
Accelerated recognition of deferred gain on
sale of retirement benefits business (see
 
 
$305
 
 
$198
 
IRS tax settlement (see page 21)
   
83
   
81
 
Cost reduction charge (see page 24)
   
(51
)
 
(33
)
Charge associated with a modified
coinsurance arrangement (see page 24)
   
(12
)
 
(8
)
Total
 
 
$325
 
 
$238
 
2004
             
Cost reduction charge
 
 
$(75
)
 
$(49
)
Effect of new accounting pronouncement
(See Note 2 to the Financial Statements)
   
(17
)
 
(11
)
Total
 
 
$(92
)
 
$(60
)

Revenues

Revenues decreased for the second quarter and six months of 2005 compared with the same periods last year primarily because of:

·  
lower realized gains and reduced net investment income associated with the sale of the retirement benefits business; and
·  
lower premiums and fees in the Health Care segment primarily due to lower membership.

These declines were partially offset by increased recognition of deferred gain amortization associated with the sale of the retirement benefits business.

Outlook for 2005

Management expects full year 2005 income from continuing operations excluding realized investment results and special items to be lower than the first six months of 2005 on an annualized basis. The full year outlook assumes that certain favorable first and second quarter items will not recur, including prior year claim development and the level of favorable claim experience in the disability and life insurance businesses. In addition, the full year 2005 earnings outlook excludes any costs related to CIGNA's expected entry into the Medicare prescription drug program (“Part D”).

Information is not available for management to reasonably estimate future income from continuing operations at this time. Full year 2005 income from continuing operations will include realized investment results, which are not predictable, and special items. In addition to special items reported in the first and second quarter of 2005, special items for the remainder of 2005 may include:

·  
any additional accelerated recognition of the deferred gain on the sale of the retirement benefits business; and
·  
any additional amounts associated with a modified coinsurance arrangement (see page 24).
 
 
 
22


 
Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

·  
it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and
·  
changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

CIGNA’s most critical accounting estimates, as well as the effects of hypothetical changes in material assumptions used to develop each estimate, are described in CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders beginning on page 22 and are as follows:

·  
future policy benefits - guaranteed minimum death benefits;
·  
Health Care medical claims payable;
·  
other liabilities and other assets - guaranteed minimum income benefits;
·  
reinsurance recoverables for Run-off Reinsurance; and
·  
investments - recognition of losses from other- than-temporary impairments of public and private placement fixed maturities.

In addition, there are other accounting estimates used in the preparation of CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements, including estimates of liabilities for future policy benefits other than those identified above, as well as estimates with respect to unpaid claims and claim expenses, post-employment and postretirement benefits, certain compensation accruals and income taxes.

Management believes the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on liquidity and CIGNA’s financial condition.

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS 

CIGNA may from time to time acquire or dispose of assets, subsidiaries or lines of business. Significant transactions are described below.

Sale of Retirement Benefits Business. On April 1, 2004, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business, excluding the corporate life insurance business, for cash proceeds of $2.1 billion. The sale resulted in an after-tax gain of $809 million, of which $267 million after-tax was recognized immediately. The sales agreement provides for post closing adjustments; however, any future adjustments are not expected to be material to CIGNA's consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

As this transaction was primarily in the form of a reinsurance arrangement under which CIGNA retains liability, $542 million of the after-tax gain was deferred. Subsequent to the original reinsurance transaction, the buyer of the retirement benefits business has entered into agreements with some of the insured parties relieving CIGNA of any remaining contractual obligation to those parties. Additional such agreements are expected.

The deferred gain is amortized at the rate at which earnings from the sold business would have been expected to emerge (primarily 15 years on a declining basis) until CIGNA is relieved of any remaining contractual obligation. At that time, CIGNA accelerates recognition of a portion of the deferred gain and also reduces the associated reinsurance recoverables, contractholder deposit funds and separate account balances. CIGNA recognized normal deferred gain amortization in other revenues in the Run-off Retirement segment of $4 million pre-tax ($3 million after-tax) for the second quarter and $18 million pre-tax ($12 million after-tax) for the six months of 2005, compared with $29 million pre-tax ($19 million after-tax) for the second quarter and six months of 2004. CIGNA recorded in other revenues accelerated amortization of deferred gains of $45 million pre-tax ($29 million after-tax) for the second quarter and $305 million pre-tax ($198
 
23

 
million after-tax) for the six months of 2005, compared with $4 million pre-tax ($3 million after-tax) for the second quarter and six months of 2004. The remaining pre-tax deferred gain as of June 30, 2005 was $89 million.

On January 1, 2005, CIGNA transferred the assets of substantially all of the separate accounts related to the retirement benefits business to the buyer. Since the arrangement is modified coinsurance, CIGNA received units of the buyer’s separate accounts and carries those units as separate account assets on its balance sheet for the business not yet directly assumed by the buyer. At June 30, 2005, there were approximately $5.3 billion of separate account assets and liabilities associated with the business not yet directly assumed by the buyer.

At June 30, 2005, CIGNA had approximately $2.0 billion of invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans, supporting a modified coinsurance arrangement with the buyer. These invested assets are held in a business trust established by CIGNA. CIGNA pays or receives cash quarterly to settle the results of the reinsured business, including the investment results of the assets underlying the modified coinsurance arrangement. Through the six months of 2005, CIGNA recorded in other operating expenses a pre-tax charge of $12 million ($8 million after-tax) to offset realized investment results. This charge had no effect on CIGNA's net income.

As a result of this modified coinsurance arrangement, CIGNA has an embedded derivative that transfers to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of these assets. CIGNA records these effects in other liabilities and other revenues. A decrease in interest rates could result in a charge to CIGNA's consolidated net income until the modified coinsurance arrangement ends in 2006 when the impact of accounting for this embedded derivative will unwind.

The modified coinsurance arrangement provides for conversion to an indemnity reinsurance structure. The buyer will assume ownership of the trust assets in 2006 unless the buyer elects termination, in which case CIGNA would retain the trust assets and the insurance liabilities. If the buyer elects termination, CIGNA does not expect a material adverse effect to its consolidated results of operation, liquidity or financial condition.

During 2004, CIGNA had another modified coinsurance arrangement, which created an embedded derivative that transferred to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rates and credit risk of assets supporting certain separate accounts. As a result in the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded $41 million pre-tax of other revenues for these effects. These effects were offset by a pre-tax charge of $41 million reflecting the amortization for the period of the excess of the fair value of related assets over the liabilities under this arrangement.

See Note 11 to the Financial Statements for additional information.


Cost Reduction Programs

First quarter 2005 program. In the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA implemented a plan to further streamline operations in the health care business and in supporting areas. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses a pre-tax charge of $51 million ($33 million after-tax) for severance costs. The table below shows CIGNA's cost reduction activity (pre-tax) related to severance for this program.

               
(In millions)
 
Health
Care
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
First quarter 2005 charge
 
 
$22
 
 
$29
 
 
$51
 
First quarter 2005 payments
   
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Balance as of March 31, 2005
   
21
   
27
   
48
 
Second quarter 2005 payments
   
(5
)
 
(6
)
 
(11
)
Balance as of June 30, 2005
 
 
$16
 
 
$21
 
 
$37
 

CIGNA expects to complete this program by mid-2006 and estimates annualized after-tax savings to be approximately $65 million.
 
 
24


 
Operational effectiveness review. In the first quarter of 2004, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program associated with planned organizational changes to streamline functional support resources and to adjust its operations to current business volumes. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses total pre-tax charges of $86 million ($56 million after-tax) of which $75 million pre-tax ($49 million after-tax) was recorded in the first quarter of 2004. CIGNA substantially completed this program in the second quarter of 2005 and estimates after-tax savings to be approximately $80 million annually.

The table below shows CIGNA’s restructuring activity (pre-tax) related to severance and real estate for this program:

               
(In millions)
 
Health
Care/
Disability
and Life*
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
Balance as of December 31, 2004:
             
Severance
 
 
$11
 
 
$9
 
 
$20
 
Real estate
   
8
   
1
   
9
 
     
19
   
10
   
29
 
First quarter 2005 payments:
                   
Severance
   
(6
)
 
(6
)
 
(12
)
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
-
   
(1
)
Balance as of March 31, 2005
   
12
   
4
   
16
 
                     
Second quarter 2005 payments:
                   
Severance
   
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
(6
)
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Balance as of June 30, 2005
 
 
$7
 
 
$1
 
 
$8
 

Minimum Pension Liability
 
During the second quarter of 2005, CIGNA recorded an after-tax charge of $30 million to increase plan obligations, which resulted in a decrease to shareholders’ equity. This charge was primarily due to the annual update of plan census data.
 
In connection with the sale of the retirement benefits business, the operational effectiveness review and the annual update of plan census data in the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded an after-tax charge which decreased equity by $39 million for the second quarter and $152 million for the six months of 2004. This charge was primarily due to a reduction in long-term interest rates (from 6.25% to 5.75%) used to determine the accumulated benefit obligation, as well as the update of plan census data, partially offset by the effect of stock market appreciation on plan assets.

CIGNA expects to contribute approximately $545 million in 2005 as follows:

·  
$105 million for minimum funding requirements for the domestic pension plan and for voluntary contributions to the international pension plans; and
·  
$440 million for voluntary contributions for the domestic pension plan, which represents an acceleration of expected payments for minimum funding requirements in 2006 and 2007.

The decision to make a voluntary contribution to the domestic plan was based upon the favorable economic impact the contribution will have on the funding status of CIGNA's pension plan, including the potential for reducing future additional funding requirements as well as reducing premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Actual cash contributions made to the pension plan could vary significantly from the estimates of plan obligations based on actual future returns on pension assets and future interest rates, both of which are highly unpredictable, and any regulatory changes to funding requirements.

For additional information, see Note 7 to the Financial Statements.
 
______________
*  Initial charge in the first quarter of 2004 included $2 million pre-tax in the Disability and Life segment.
 
 
25


 
Regulatory and Industry Developments

Employee benefits regulation. The business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs, particularly health care programs, is heavily regulated by federal and state laws and administrative agencies, such as state departments of insurance and the federal Departments of Labor and Justice, as well as the courts. Regulation and judicial decisions have resulted in changes to industry and CIGNA’s business practices and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, CIGNA's subsidiaries are routinely involved with various claims, lawsuits and regulatory audits and investigations that could result in financial liability, changes in business practices, or both. Health care regulation in its various forms could have an adverse effect on CIGNA's health care operations if it inhibits CIGNA's ability to respond to market demands or results in increased medical or administrative costs without improving the quality of care or services. 

Other possible regulatory changes that could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses include:

·  
additional mandated benefits or services that increase costs without improving the quality of care;
·  
legislation that would grant plan participants broader rights to sue their health plans;
·  
changes in ERISA regulations resulting in increased administrative burdens and costs;
·  
additional restrictions on the use of prescription drug formularies;
·  
additional privacy legislation and regulations that interfere with the proper use of medical information for research, coordination of medical care and disease and disability management;
·  
additional rules establishing the time periods for payment of health care provider claims that vary from state to state;
·  
legislation that would exempt independent physicians from antitrust laws; and
·  
changes in federal tax laws.


The employee benefits industry remains under scrutiny by various state and federal government agencies and could be subject to government efforts to bring criminal actions in circumstances that could previously have given rise only to civil or administrative proceedings.
 
Distribution from policyholders surplus account. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 suspends, for a two-year period commencing January 1, 2005, the tax liability of stock life insurance companies on distributions from the policyholders surplus account. CIGNA's principal subsidiary distributed, with regulatory approval, approximately $330 million from this account to the parent company during the first six months of 2005 without incurring federal income tax. For additional information, see Note 13 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders.

Litigation and other legal matters. In 2004, a Florida federal court handling multi-district health care litigation against CIGNA and several health care industry competitors approved a settlement agreement between the physician class and CIGNA. In April 2005, the court approved a settlement between CIGNA and the remaining plaintiffs, a class of non-physician health care professionals.
 
In 2004, CIGNA, other insurance companies and certain insurance brokers received subpoenas and inquiries from the New York Attorney General, the Connecticut Attorney General and other state regulators relating to their investigations of broker compensation. During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General brought suit against a large insurance broker, alleging that the broker sought rigged bids from, and steered business to, certain property and casualty insurers with whom it had contingent compensation arrangements. During the fourth quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General filed suit against Universal Life Resources (ULR), a disability and accident insurance broker. CIGNA is mentioned in the complaint but is not a defendant. Separately, a purported class action lawsuit is pending (one having been withdrawn) against ULR and several group life, disability and accident insurance companies, including CIGNA and a CIGNA subsidiary, asserting among other things, that contingent commissions are unlawful. On August 1, 2005, two CIGNA subsidiaries were added as defendants to a separate purported class action against numerous brokers and other insurance companies also asserting that contingent commissions are unlawful. In addition, the California insurance commissioner, in a suit against ULR and several insurance holding companies and certain of their subsidiaries, including CIGNA and several of its subsidiaries, is seeking injunctive relief.
 
26

 
CIGNA is cooperating with the inquiries by the New York and Connecticut Attorneys General and other state regulators and disagrees with the assertions against it in the lawsuits. Further, in the first quarter of 2005, a shareholder filed a derivative suit nominally on behalf of CIGNA in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against certain directors and officers.  The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty in connection with alleged concealment of the fact that CIGNA paid contingent commissions to brokers, and seeks damages and equitable relief.  The factual allegations are similar to those contained in the cases against the broker ULR described above.

In 2004, the New York Attorney General commenced a lawsuit against Express Scripts, Inc. and two CIGNA insurance companies. Under an agreement with the CIGNA companies, Express Scripts is responsible for administering the prescription drug benefit program under New York State’s principal employee health plan, the Empire Plan. The CIGNA companies insure the prescription drug benefit program and hold the contract with the New York State Department of Civil Service. The complaint primarily focuses on administration of the prescription drug benefit program.

In 2002, several purported class action lawsuits (which have been consolidated), as well as two shareholder derivative complaints (which have been consolidated) nominally brought on behalf of CIGNA, were filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against CIGNA and certain of its senior officers and directors. These suits allege securities law violations and breaches of fiduciary duty. Two other purported class action lawsuits (which have been consolidated) asserting violations of ERISA were filed against CIGNA and certain officers in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by individuals who seek to represent a class of participants in the CIGNA 401(k) Plan who allegedly suffered losses on investments in CIGNA stock. The court has granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement in the ERISA litigation and has scheduled a fairness hearing for September 2005.

During 2002, a Connecticut federal court certified a class action lawsuit against CIGNA and the CIGNA Pension Plan. The plaintiffs are participants in the Plan who earned certain Plan benefits prior to 1998. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Plan violated ERISA by impermissibly conditioning certain post-1997 benefit accruals on the amount of pre-1998 benefit accruals, that these conditions are not adequately disclosed to Plan participants, and that the Plan’s cash balance formula discriminates against older employees. 

See “Unicover and other run-off reinsurance” on page 33 for a description of legal matters arising out of the run-off reinsurance operations.

CIGNA is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of the business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs. An increasing number of claims are being made for substantial non-economic, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The outcome of litigation and other legal matters is always uncertain, and outcomes that are not justified by the evidence can occur. CIGNA believes that it has valid defenses to the legal matters pending against it and is defending itself vigorously. Nevertheless, it is possible that resolution of one or more of the legal matters currently pending or threatened could result in losses material to CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Summary. The eventual effect on CIGNA of the changing environment in which it operates remains uncertain. For additional information on contingencies that could affect CIGNA’s results, see Note 13 to the Financial Statements.
 
Accounting Pronouncements

For information on recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments generally reflect groups of related products, but the International segment is based on geography. CIGNA measures the financial results of its segments using “segment earnings (loss),” which is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before realized investment gains (losses).
 
 
27


 

           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$2,544
 
 
$2,690
 
 
$5,043
 
 
$5,480
 
Net investment income
   
65
   
69
   
133
   
141
 
Other revenues
   
267
   
254
   
526
   
507
 
Segment revenues
   
2,876
   
3,013
   
5,702
   
6,128
 
Benefits and expenses
   
2,614
   
2,748
   
5,148
   
5,627
 
InIncome before taxes
   
262
   
265
   
554
   
501
 
Income taxes
   
89
   
90
   
190
   
174
 
Segment earnings
 
 
$173
 
 
$175
 
 
$364
 
 
$327
 
Realized investment
gains, net of taxes
 
 
$1
 
 
$—
 
 
$3
 
 
$4
 
Special item (after-tax) included in
segment earnings:
                 
Cost reduction charge
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$(14
)
 
$(28
)

The Health Care segment provides health care and related products and services. Key product lines include medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, dental benefits, and disease management. This segment also includes group disability and life insurance products that were historically sold in connection with certain experience-rated medical accounts and continue to be managed by the health care business. CIGNA reports the results of this segment largely based on product lines.

Results

Segment earnings for the second quarter and six months of 2005 include favorable prior year claim development ($34 million after-tax for the second quarter and $101 million after-tax for the six months of 2005, compared with $50 million after-tax for the second quarter and $80 million after-tax for the six months of 2004) due to favorable medical management and underwriting results.

Excluding prior year claim development, segment earnings increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005 reflecting:

·  
improved margins in the experience-rated business due to lower medical costs;
·  
higher earnings in the guaranteed cost business;
·  
lower operating expenses; and
·  
strong specialty health care results.

These factors were largely offset by lower earnings in the service-only business due to membership declines.

Premiums and Fees

Health care segment premiums and fees consisted of the following:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
 June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Commercial HMO
 
 
$665
 
 
$814
 
 
$1,321
 
 
$1,658
 
Experience-rated medical
   
727
   
687
   
1,377
   
1,423
 
Dental
   
224
   
217
   
450
   
438
 
Medicare and Medicaid
   
70
   
72
   
140
   
147
 
Other medical
   
332
   
287
   
675
   
570
 
Life and other non-medical
   
100
   
134
   
208
   
270
 
Total premiums
   
2,118
   
2,211
   
4,171
   
4,506
 
Fees
   
426
   
479
   
872
   
974
 
Total premiums and fees
 
 
$2,544
 
 
$2,690
 
 
$5,043
 
 
$5,480
 

Premiums and fees decreased for the second quarter and six months of 2005 primarily due to declining membership, partially offset by rate increases.

Benefits and Expenses

Health Care segment benefits and expenses consisted of the following:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Medical claims expense
 
 
$1,598
 
 
$1,616
 
 
$3,054
 
 
$3,373
 
Other benefit expenses
   
94
   
152
   
191
   
284
 
Other operating expenses
   
922
   
980
   
1,903
   
1,970
 
Total benefits and expenses
 
 
$2,614
 
 
$2,748
 
 
$5,148
 
 
$5,627
 
 
 
28


 

As of June 30, estimated medical membership was as follows:

           
(In thousands)
 
2005
 
2004
 
Guaranteed cost:
             
Commercial HMO
   
802
   
1,022
 
Medicare and Medicaid
   
33
   
36
 
Other
   
165
   
64
 
Experience-rated1  
   
1,180
   
1,288
 
Service
   
6,834
   
7,620
 
Total medical membership
   
9,014
   
10,030
 
 
______________
1 Includes minimum premium membership, which has a risk profile similar to experience-rated funding arrangements. The risk portion of minimum premium revenue is reported in experience-rated medical premium whereas the self funding portion of minimum premium revenue is recorded in fees. 

Operational Improvement

CIGNA continues to focus on improving operational effectiveness and the financial results of its health care operations. Key areas of focus are:

·  
offering products that meet emerging market and consumer trends;
·  
improving medical membership results;
·  
lowering medical cost trends;
·  
continuing to deliver quality member service; and
·  
lowering administrative expenses.

Offering products that meet emerging trends. In 2004, CIGNA significantly upgraded its product portfolio with the introduction of the CIGNATURES M suite of products. These products allow employers to choose the funding arrangement that is appropriate for the employer and level of medical management that is appropriate for their employee population. In addition, CIGNA offers the CIGNA Choice FundS M, which is a consumer-directed option that enables employees to make effective health decisions using information tools provided by CIGNA.

In May 2005, CIGNA announced its strategic alliance with NationsHealth, Inc. (a distribution and services company) to jointly deliver Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Subject to regulatory approval, CIGNA expects its Medicare Part D prescription plan program to take effect in January 2006.

Improving medical membership results. CIGNA is working to improve medical membership with:

·  
a diverse product portfolio that meets emerging consumer-directed trends;
·  
consistent and responsive member service delivery;
·  
competitive provider networks; and
·  
strong clinical quality in medical, specialty health care and disability management;

and by continuing to implement the other operational improvements described below. Since 2004, CIGNA has formed several strategic alliances with regional health care companies. These alliances are designed to strengthen CIGNA’s national provider network and enhance CIGNA's ability to provide superior medical and disease management programs and administrative ease for multi-state employers.

CIGNA believes that its medical management model, focus on clinical quality and ability to integrate health and related benefit solutions position the company to improve membership results.

Lowering medical cost trend. Since 2003, CIGNA has operated under a centralized medical management model, which has helped facilitate consistent levels of care for its members and reduce infrastructure expenses.

CIGNA is further working to reduce its medical cost trend by managing unit medical costs more effectively. To help achieve this end, CIGNA continues to focus on renegotiating contracts with certain facilities to limit increases in medical reimbursement costs.

Continuing to deliver quality member service. During 2002, CIGNA began transitioning to a new service and systems platform to improve the level and quality of service to its customers.
 
 
29

 
Approximately 90% of health care members were served on this new platform by January 1, 2005. Surveys of new and existing customers who have moved to this new platform since 2003 suggest satisfaction rates in the mid-90% range. Migration to this new platform will continue through 2006.

Lowering administrative expenses. Early in 2005 and 2004, CIGNA took additional steps to realign its organization and consolidate support functions in an effort to increase efficiency and responsiveness to customers. Reducing costs and operating more efficiently are components of CIGNA’s plan to improve profitability. CIGNA continues to perform operational reviews in order to identify additional cost savings.

 
           
 FINANCIAL SUMMARY  
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$501
 
 
$471
 
 
$1,009
 
 
$946
 
Net investment income
   
66
   
64
   
132
   
124
 
Other revenues
   
52
   
48
   
101
   
100
 
Segment revenues
   
619
   
583
   
1,242
   
1,170
 
Benefits and expenses
   
536
   
518
   
1,076
   
1,051
 
Income before taxes
   
83
   
65
   
166
   
119
 
Income taxes
   
24
   
17
   
48
   
32
 
Segment earnings
 
 
$59
 
 
$48
 
 
$118
 
 
$87
 
Realized investment gains,
net of taxes
 
 
$1
 
 
$—
 
 
$2
 
 
$1
 
Special item (after-tax) included
in segment earnings:
                 
Cost reduction charge
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$(1
)

The Disability and Life segment includes group:

·  
disability insurance;
·  
disability and workers’ compensation case management;
·  
life insurance; and
·  
accident and specialty association insurance.

Results

Disability and Life segment earnings increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year, primarily reflecting favorable mortality experience in the life insurance business. Continued solid disability earnings also contributed to the overall result.

Premiums and Fees

Premiums and fees increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005 compared with the same periods last year, primarily reflecting higher new business and strong customer retention in both life and disability products.

 
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$305
 
 
$252
 
 
$607
 
 
$491
 
Net investment income
   
18
   
14
   
32
   
26
 
Other revenues
   
(1
)
 
3
   
(3
)
 
5
 
Segment revenues
   
322
   
269
   
636
   
522
 
Benefits and expenses
   
292
   
238
   
560
   
468
 
Income before taxes
   
30
   
31
   
76
   
54
 
Income taxes (benefits)
   
(2
)
 
11
   
14
   
19
 
Segment earnings
 
 
$32
 
 
$20
 
 
$62
 
 
$35
 
Realized investment gains,
net of taxes
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$1
 
Special item (after-tax) included
in segment earnings:
               
IRS tax settlement
 
 
$7
 
 
$—
 
 
$7
 
 
$—
 

Results

Excluding the special item noted above, International segment earnings increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year, primarily due to revenue growth in the life, accident and health insurance business, primarily in South Korea and favorable tax related items.
 
30


Premiums and fees increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year, reflecting:

·  
new sales growth and improved customer retention in the life, accident and health insurance operations, particularly in South Korea; and
·  
higher premiums and fees for the expatriate employee benefits business particularly resulting from membership growth.

Other Matters
 
Products in the International segment include coverages for employees and individuals who may be exposed to acts of terrorism or the events of a war zone. These risks could result in a concentration of loss if a single adverse event affected many covered individuals and, in certain situations, could lead to losses that could be material to segment earnings and CIGNA's consolidated results.

 
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
 
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$1
 
 
$47
 
 
$1
 
 
$116
 
Net investment income
   
34
   
55
   
72
   
371
 
Other revenues
   
50
   
47
   
324
   
212
 
Segment revenues
   
85
   
149
   
397
   
699
 
Benefits and expenses
   
37
   
111
   
89
   
627
 
Income before taxes
   
48
   
38
   
308
   
72
 
Income taxes
   
16
   
9
   
110
   
16
 
Segment earnings
 
 
$32
 
 
$29
 
 
$198
 
 
$56
 
Realized investment gains
(losses), net of taxes
 
 
$(1
)
 
$262
 
 
$7
 
 
$267
 
Special items (after-tax) included in
segment earnings:
                 
Accelerated recognition of
deferred gain on sale of
retirement benefits
business
 
 
$29
 
 
$—
 
 
$198
 
 
$—
 
Charge associated with a
modified coinsurance
arrangement
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$(8
)
 
$—
 
Effect of new accounting
pronouncement (see Note
2 to the Financial
Statements)
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$(11
)
 
Segment earnings for Run-off Retirement include:
 
·  
gain recognition related to the sale of the retirement benefits business;
·  
results of modified coinsurance arrangements;
·  
expenses associated with the run-off of this business; and
·  
results of the retirement benefits business prior to the April 2004 sale.

Upon completing the sale of the retirement benefits business on April 1, 2004, net investment income represents amounts associated with the portion of the retirement benefits business reinsured under modified coinsurance arrangements and are offset by amounts included in benefits and expenses.

Results

Run-off Retirement segment earnings include the special items noted in the table above. Excluding these items, segment earnings decreased for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year, due to lower deferred gain amortization reflecting significant acceleration of gain in previous quarters triggered by transfers of underlying contracts to the buyer of the retirement benefits business. The decrease for the six months of 2005 also reflects the absence of earnings due to the sale of this business in 2004.

Other Revenues

Other revenues include:

·  
normal deferred gain amortization of $4 million pre-tax for the second quarter and $18 million pre-tax for the six months of 2005, compared with $29 million pre-tax for the second quarter and six months of 2004;
·  
accelerated gain amortization of $45 million pre-tax for the second quarter and $305 million pre-tax for the six months of 2005, compared with $4 million pre-tax for the second quarter and for the six months of 2004 (see page 23 for further discussion); and
 
 
 
31

 
·  
prior to the sale of the retirement benefits business on April 1, 2004, other revenues also reflected changes in fair value of securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts. Under the experience-rating process, gains and losses on assets related to these contracts generally accrued to policyholders and were offset by amounts included in benefits and expenses.
 
 
 
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$22
 
 
$19
 
 
$45
 
 
$40
 
Net investment income
   
24
   
24
   
48
   
48
 
Other revenues
   
(21
)
 
(28
)
 
17
   
(58
)
Segment revenues
   
25
   
15
   
110
   
30
 
Benefits and expenses
   
35
   
34
   
145
   
58
 
Loss before income tax
benefits
   
(10
)
 
(19
)
 
(35
)
 
(28
)
Income tax benefits
   
   
(6
)
 
(9
)
 
(5
)
Segment loss
 
 
$(10
)
 
$(13
)
 
$(26
)
 
$(23
)
Realized investment gains
(losses), net of taxes
 
 
$—
 
 
$(3
)
 
$1
 
 
$(2
)

Results

Segment loss for Run-off Reinsurance for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year, reflects a reserve increase for workers’ compensation products, partially offset by settlements with reinsurers. The six months of 2005 also reflects an after-tax charge of $11 million in the first quarter to increase reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts (see below).

Other Revenues

CIGNA maintains a program to substantially reduce the equity market exposures relating to guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts by entering into exchange-traded futures contracts. CIGNA expects to adjust these contract positions and may enter into other contract positions over time, to reflect changing equity market levels and changes in the investment mix of the underlying variable annuity investments. During the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA began using foreign currency futures contracts in place of foreign currency forward contracts as part of its program to reduce international equity market risks associated with this business.

Other revenues included pre-tax losses of $21 million for the second quarter and pre-tax gains of $17 million for the six months of 2005, compared with pre-tax losses of $29 million for the second quarter and $60 million for the six months of 2004 from these contracts. Expense offsets reflecting corresponding changes in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts were included in benefits and expenses. The notional or face amount of the futures contract positions held by CIGNA at June 30, 2005 was $1.3 billion.

Other Matters

Guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts. CIGNA’s reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured a guaranteed minimum death benefit under certain variable annuities issued by other insurance companies. These variable annuities are essentially investments in mutual funds combined with a death benefit. CIGNA has equity market exposures as a result of this product.

The determination of reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits requires CIGNA to make critical accounting estimates. CIGNA describes the assumptions used to develop the reserves for these death benefits, and provides the effects of hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 22 of CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders. CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing reserves and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating these reserves, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition. During the first quarter of 2005, CIGNA completed its normal quarterly review of assumptions and recorded an after-tax charge of $11 million ($17 million pre-tax). This charge primarily resulted from an update to lapse assumptions based on emerging experience. The charge also reflects updates to
 
 
32

 
partial surrender assumptions, reflecting the impact of stock market declines, as well as other assumptions. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information about the assumptions used to calculate reserves for these contracts. CIGNA had future policy benefit reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of approximately $1.0 billion as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004.
 
As of June 30, 2005, the aggregate fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments was approximately $41.8 billion. The death benefit coverage in force as of that date (representing the amount that CIGNA would have to pay if all 1.1 million contractholders had died on that date) was approximately $8.7 billion. The death benefit coverage in force represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit amount over the fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments.

For further information and details on these contracts and the program adopted to reduce related equity market risk, refer to Note 6 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders.

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA has also written reinsurance contracts with issuers of variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. See page 38 for further information.

Unicover and other run-off reinsurance. The Run-off Reinsurance operations participate in a workers’ compensation reinsurance pool, which ceased accepting new risks in early 1999. This pool was formerly managed by Unicover Managers, Inc. Although an arbitration over the most significant reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool was completed in 2002, some disputes over collection of amounts due CIGNA from those retrocessionaires continue and may require further arbitration actions to resolve. Disputes and arbitrations regarding other reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool are likely to be substantially resolved by the end of 2006.

Run-off Reinsurance also includes other (non-Unicover) workers’ compensation reinsurance contracts, as well as personal accident reinsurance contracts, including contracts assumed in the London market. CIGNA is in dispute and arbitration with some ceding companies over the amount of liabilities assumed under their contracts, and expects that these disputes and arbitrations will be substantially resolved by the end of 2007. CIGNA obtained retrocessional reinsurance coverage for a significant portion of its liabilities under these contracts, and some of these retrocessionaires have disputed the validity of their contracts with CIGNA. Several of these disputes with retrocessionaires were settled in 2004 and 2005 and several remain in arbitration. These arbitrations are expected to be substantially resolved by the end of 2006.

CIGNA bears the risk of the financial condition of its retrocessionaires and their ability to meet their reinsurance obligations to CIGNA.

Unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures is possible and could result in future losses, including losses attributable to the inability to recover amounts from retrocessionaires (either due to disputes with the retrocessionaires or their financial condition).

Summary. CIGNA’s reserves for amounts recoverable from retrocessionaires, as well as reserves associated with underlying reinsurance exposures assumed by CIGNA, are considered appropriate as of June 30, 2005, based on current information. However, it is possible that future developments could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition.
 
 
33

 


           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended 
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Premiums and fees
 
 
$35
 
 
$29
 
 
$65
 
 
$63
 
Net investment income
   
114
   
125
   
226
   
244
 
Other revenues
   
26
   
42
   
53
   
89
 
Segment revenues
   
175
   
196
   
344
   
396
 
Benefits and expenses
   
131
   
167
   
255
   
340
 
Income before taxes
   
44
   
29
   
89
   
56
 
Income taxes
   
4
   
11
   
19
   
20
 
Segment earnings
 
 
$40
 
 
$18
 
 
$70
 
 
$36
 
Realized investment gains
(losses), net of taxes
 
 
$—
 
 
$10
 
 
$(1
)
 
$12
 
Special item (after-tax)
included in segment
earnings:
                         
IRS tax settlement
 
 
$11
 
 
$—
 
 
$11
 
 
$—
 

Other Operations consist of:

·  
gain recognition related to the 1998 sale of the individual life insurance and annuity business;
·  
corporate life insurance (including policies on which loans are outstanding);
·  
settlement annuity business; and
·  
certain investment management services (a significant portion of which was sold during the fourth quarter of 2004).

Results

Excluding the special item noted above, segment earnings for Other Operations increased for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared to the same periods last year, primarily due to:

·  
the absence of severance and employee retention costs recorded in 2004 associated with the investment operations supporting the sold retirement benefits business; and
·  
higher earnings in the corporate life insurance business primarily due to continued favorable mortality experience.

Other Matters

Tax benefits for corporate life insurance. Federal legislation in 1996 eliminated on a prospective basis the tax deductibility of policy loan interest for most leveraged corporate life insurance products, and an Internal Revenue Service initiative in 2001 encouraged policyholders to settle tax disputes regarding these products. As a result, some customers have surrendered their policies and management expects earnings associated with these products to continue to decline.


           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Segment income (loss)
 
 
$44
 
 
$(42
)
 
$9
 
 
$(90
)
Special items (after-tax)
included in segment income (loss):
                         
IRS tax settlement
 
 
$63
 
 
$—
 
 
$63
 
 
$—
 
Cost reduction charge
 
 
$—
 
 
$—
 
 
$(19
)
 
$(20
)

Corporate reflects amounts not allocated to segments, such as interest expense on corporate debt, net investment income on unallocated investments, intersegment eliminations, compensation cost for stock options and certain corporate overhead expenses.

Excluding the special items noted above, the reduced loss for the second quarter and six months of 2005, compared with the same periods last year reflects:

·  
lower stock compensation expense due to accelerated vesting in 2004 and fewer awards in 2005;
·  
higher interest income;
·  
the absence of costs recorded in 2004 associated with retiring $76 million of long-term debt; and
·  
the absence of overhead costs included in 2004 associated with the sold retirement benefits business.

The six months of 2005 also reflect lower stock compensation expense due to higher forfeitures.
 
 
34

 

 
           
 FINANCIAL SUMMARY  
Three Months
Ended
June 30,  
 
 Six Months
Ended
June 30,  
 
(In millions)  
2005
 
 2004
   2005  
2004
 
Income tax benefits:
                 
Property and Casualty insurance
business
 
 
$287
 
 
$—
 
 
$287
 
 
$—
 
Brazilian Health Care
operations
   
62
   
   
62
   
 
Income from discontinued
operations
 
 
$349
 
 
$—
 
 
$349
 
 
$—
 

Income from discontinued operations represents tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2005 from past divestitures. See page 21 for additional information.


Liquidity

CIGNA normally meets its operating requirements by:

·  
maintaining appropriate levels of liquidity in its investment portfolio;
·  
using cash flows from operating activities; and
·  
matching investment maturities to the estimated duration of the related insurance and contractholder liabilities.

Cash flows from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, are as follows:

           
(In millions)
 
2005
 
2004
 
Operating activities
 
 
$419
 
 
$1,268
 
Investing activities
 
 
$(508
)
 
$1,284
 
Financing activities
 
 
$(551
)
 
$(911
)

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $640 million as of June 30, 2005 and increased $1.6 billion as of the same period in 2004. Cash flows from operating activities consist of cash receipts and disbursements for premiums and fees, gains (losses) recognized in connection with CIGNA's program to manage equity market risk related to reinsured guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts, investment income, taxes, and benefits and expenses.

2005: 

·  
The decrease in cash flows from operating activities primarily reflects 2004 net proceeds from sales and maturities of securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts of $954 million. Such proceeds were used to fund most of the 2004 withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds discussed below under financing. Excluding such proceeds, cash flow from operating activities increased in 2005, as the decline in cash revenues received in 2005 resulting largely from membership losses in the health care operations were more than offset by lower paid benefit expenses and lower operating expenses. Those favorable effects were partially offset by higher tax payments in 2005.
·  
Cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of net purchases of investments ($457 million) and net purchases of property and equipment ($51 million).
·  
Cash used in financing activities primarily consisted of dividends on and repurchases of common stock ($582 million) and change in cash overdraft position ($219 million), partially offset by net deposits to contractholder deposit funds ($70 million) and proceeds from issuances of common stock under CIGNA's stock plans ($180 million).

2004:

·  
Cash provided by investing activities primarily consisted of proceeds from the sale of the retirement benefits business of $2.1 billion, partially offset by net purchases of investments ($762 million) and property and equipment ($32 million).
·  
Cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of repurchases of and payments of dividends on common stock ($322 million), net withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds ($532 million), repayment of debt ($76 million), and change in cash overdraft position ($5 million).
 
 
 
35


 
Interest Expense

Interest expense was $27 million for the second quarter and $53 million for the six months of 2005, and $28 million for the second quarter and $55 million for the six months of 2004.

Capital Resources

CIGNA’s capital resources (primarily retained earnings and the proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and equity securities) provide protection for policyholders, furnish the financial strength to underwrite insurance risks and facilitate continued business growth.

Senior management, guided by regulatory requirements and rating agency capital guidelines, determines the amount of capital resources that CIGNA maintains. Management allocates resources to new long-term business commitments when returns, considering the risks, look promising and when the resources available to support existing business are adequate.

With the net proceeds from the sale of the retirement benefits business and dividends from its subsidiaries, CIGNA expects to continue to:

·  
provide capital necessary to support growth and maintain or improve the financial strength ratings of subsidiaries; and
·  
return capital to investors through share repurchase.

CIGNA maintains a share repurchase program. From January 1, 2005 through August 2, 2005, CIGNA repurchased 6.9 million shares through this program at an average price of $94.87 per share for an aggregate cost of $654 million. On July 27, 2005, CIGNA's Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization by an additional $500 million. The total remaining authorization as of August 2, 2005, was $727 million. See also the table in Part II, Item 2 of CIGNA's Form 10-Q for more information on share repurchase activity for the second quarter ended June 30, 2005.

CIGNA has $500 million remaining under an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be issued as debt securities, equity securities or both. Management and the Board of Directors will consider market conditions and internal capital requirements when deciding whether CIGNA should issue new securities.

In May 2004, CIGNA entered into a three-year syndicated revolving credit and letter of credit agreement for $1.0 billion. Of this amount, no more than $600 million may be used to support an internal reinsurance arrangement.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources Outlook

The availability of resources at the parent/holding company level is dependent on dividends from CIGNA’s subsidiaries, most of which are subject to regulatory restrictions and rating agency capital guidelines. CIGNA expects, based on current projections for cash activity (including projections for dividends from subsidiaries), to have sufficient resources to:

·  
provide any funding to subsidiaries needed to support growth and maintain or improve their financial strength ratings;
·  
provide for the capital requirements of its subsidiaries;
·  
meet debt service requirements and pay dividends to CIGNA shareholders; and
·  
satisfy pension plan funding requirements.
 

However, if CIGNA's projections are not realized, the demand for funds could exceed available cash if:

·  
management uses cash for investment opportunities;
·  
a substantial insurance or contractholder liability becomes due before related investment assets mature;
·  
a substantial increase in funding is required for CIGNA's program to reduce the equity market risks associated with the guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts; or
·  
regulatory restrictions prevent the insurance and HMO subsidiaries from distributing cash to the parent company.
 
36

 
In those cases, CIGNA has the flexibility to satisfy liquidity needs through short-term borrowings, such as a line of credit.
 
See “Contractual Obligations” on page 39 for information on the accelerated contribution in 2005 to CIGNA's pension plan. 
 
Ratings

CIGNA and certain of its insurance subsidiaries are rated by nationally recognized rating agencies. Ratings are always subject to change and there can be no assurance that CIGNA’s current ratings will continue for any given period of time. As of August 2, 2005, the ratings of CIGNA and CG Life (CIGNA's principal subsidiary) were as follows:

     
 
CG Life Insurance
Ratings
CIGNA Corporation
Debt Ratings
   
Senior Debt
Commercial
Paper
A.M. Best
A-
Moody’s
A3
Baa3
P3
S&P
A-
BBB
A2
Fitch
A
BBB
F2

CIGNA is committed to maintaining appropriate levels of capital in its subsidiaries to support ratings that meet customers’ expectations, and to improving the earnings of the health care business. Ratings downgrades of CG Life could adversely affect new sales and retention of current business. Lower ratings at the parent company level would increase the cost to borrow funds.

Guarantees and Contractual Obligations

CIGNA, through its subsidiaries, is contingently liable for various financial guarantees provided and contractual obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.

Separate account guarantees. Separate account assets, primarily associated with the retirement benefits business, are contractholder funds maintained in accounts with specific investment objectives. CIGNA records separate account liabilities equal to separate account assets. In certain cases, CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of benefits for retirement and insurance contracts written in separate accounts. CIGNA establishes an additional liability if management believes that CIGNA will be required to make a payment under these guarantees.

CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets will be sufficient to pay certain retiree and life benefits. The sponsoring employers are primarily responsible for ensuring that assets are sufficient to pay these benefits and are required to maintain assets that exceed a certain percentage of benefit obligations. This percentage varies depending on the asset class within a sponsoring employer’s portfolio (for example, a bond fund would require a lower percentage than a riskier equity fund) and thus will vary as the composition of the portfolio changes. If employers do not maintain the required levels of separate account assets, CIGNA or the affiliate of the buyer has the right to redirect the management of the related assets to provide for benefit payments. As of June 30, 2005, employers maintained assets that exceeded the benefit obligations. Benefit obligations under these arrangements were $2.4 billion as of June 30, 2005. As of June 30, 2005, approximately 80% of these guarantees were associated with the sold retirement benefits business and reinsured by the affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets, primarily fixed income investments, will be sufficient to pay retiree benefits for participants under a certain group annuity contract. These guarantees are fully reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. This guaranteed benefit obligation was $38 million as of June 30, 2005. CIGNA had no additional liabilities for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.

Other financial guarantees. CIGNA guaranteed construction loans of $24 million as of June 30, 2005, related to real estate joint venture investments. The loans are secured by joint
 
 
37

 
venture real estate property with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature by 2008, including extension options. CIGNA would be required to repay the construction loans if permanent financing could not be obtained. There were no liabilities required for these guarantees as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA had indemnification obligations to lenders up to $320 million as of June 30, 2005 related to borrowings by certain real estate joint ventures, which CIGNA either records as an investment or consolidates. These borrowings, which are nonrecourse to CIGNA, are secured by the joint ventures’ real estate properties with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature at various dates beginning in the third quarter of 2005 through 2017. CIGNA’s indemnification obligations would require payment to lenders for any actual damages resulting from certain acts such as unauthorized ownership transfers, misappropriation of rental payments by others or environmental damages. Based on initial and ongoing reviews of property management and operations, CIGNA does not expect that payments will be required under these indemnification obligations. Any payments that might be required could be recovered through a refinancing or sale of the assets. In some cases, CIGNA also has recourse to partners for their proportionate share of amounts paid. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005.

As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA guaranteed that it would compensate the lessor for a shortfall of up to $49 million in the market value of leased equipment at the end of the lease. Guarantees of $21 million expire in 2006 and $28 million expire in 2012. CIGNA had additional liabilities for these guarantees of $3 million as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA had indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005, in connection with acquisition and disposition transactions. These indemnification obligations are triggered by the breach of representations or covenants provided by CIGNA, such as representations for the presentation of financial statements, the filing of tax returns, compliance with law or the identification of outstanding litigation. These obligations are typically subject to various time limitations, defined by the contract or by operation of law, such as statutes of limitation. In some cases, the maximum potential amount due is subject to contractual limitations based on a percentage of the transaction purchase price, while in other cases limitations are not specified or applicable. CIGNA does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount due under these guarantees, since not all amounts due under these indemnification obligations are subject to limitation. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of June 30, 2005.

CIGNA does not expect that these guarantees will have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA's reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. When annuitants elect to receive these minimum income benefits, CIGNA may be required to make payments based on changes in underlying mutual fund values and interest rates.

CIGNA estimates the fair value of the assets and liabilities associated with these contracts using assumptions as to market returns and volatility of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments, interest rates, mortality, policy surrenders, credit risk and annuity election rates.

CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing these assets and liabilities and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. CIGNA describes these assumptions and provides an estimate of the effects of the hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 23 of CIGNA's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating these assets and liabilities, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information on these assumptions.
 
 
38


 
CIGNA is required to disclose the maximum potential undiscounted future payments for guarantees related to minimum income benefits using worst-case assumptions, defined as follows:

·  
No annuitants surrendered their accounts; and
·  
All annuitants lived to elect their benefits; and
·  
All annuitants elected to receive their benefit on the first available date (2005 through 2014); and
·  
All underlying mutual fund investment values remained at the June 30, 2005 value of $3.3 billion, with no future returns.

The maximum potential undiscounted payments that CIGNA would make under those assumptions would aggregate $1.7 billion before reinsurance recoveries. CIGNA believes the likelihood of such payment is remote and expects the amount of actual payments to be significantly less than this hypothetical undiscounted aggregate amount. CIGNA has purchased reinsurance from third parties which covers 55% of the exposures on these contracts.

As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA had liabilities of $90 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $49 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $39 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of June 30, 2005. As of December 31, 2004, CIGNA had liabilities of $71 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $39 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $41 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of December 31, 2004. Management believes the current assumptions used to estimate reserves for these liabilities are appropriate.

Contractual obligations. As of June 30, 2005, CIGNA's contractual obligations included commitments to:

·  
purchase $68 million of fixed maturities;
·  
extend credit under commercial mortgage loans agreements of $286 million, most of which were at a fixed market rate of interest; and
·  
contribute $264 million to real estate joint ventures and security partnerships.

CIGNA expects to disburse most of the commitments in 2005.
 
CIGNA funds its qualified pension plans at least at the minimum amount required by ERISA. CIGNA expects to contribute approximately $545 million in 2005.
 
For additional information on this contribution, see page 25

For additional information on CIGNA's contractual obligations, see page 38 of the 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders.


CIGNA’s investment assets do not include separate account assets. Additional information regarding CIGNA’s investment assets and related accounting policies is included in Notes 2, 7, 8 and 9 to the Financial Statements in CIGNA’s 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K.

Investments in fixed maturities (bonds) include publicly traded and privately placed debt securities, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities and redeemable preferred stocks.

CIGNA’s mortgage loans are diversified by property type, location and borrower to reduce exposure to potential losses.
 
Problem and Potential Problem Investments

“Problem” bonds and mortgage loans are either delinquent or have been restructured as to terms (interest rate or maturity date). “Potential problem” bonds and mortgage loans are fully current, but management believes they have certain characteristics that increase the likelihood that they will become “problems.” For example, CIGNA considers mortgage loans to be potential problems if the borrower has requested restructuring, or principal or interest payments are past due by more than 30 but fewer than 60 days.
 
 
39


CIGNA recognizes interest income on “problem” bonds and mortgage loans only when payment is actually received because of the risk profile of the underlying investment. This resulted in lower net income of $2 million for the second quarter and $4 million for the six months of 2005, compared to $4 million for the second quarter and $7 million for the six months of 2004. These amounts would have been recorded if interest on problem investments had been recognized in accordance with the original terms of these investments.

The following table shows problem and potential problem investments, net of valuation reserves and write-downs:

     
(In millions)
June 30,
2005
December 31,
2004
Problem bonds
$32
$37
Potential problem bonds
$39
$44
Problem mortgage loans
$10
$65
Potential problem mortgage loans
$72
$72
Foreclosed real estate
$10
$10
 
Foreclosed real estate represents an investment in a real estate joint venture classified in other long-term investments.

Summary

CIGNA recorded $2 million after-tax for the second quarter and $8 million after-tax for the six months of 2005, compared to $5 million after-tax for the second quarter and $11 million after-tax for the six months of 2004 in realized investment losses for investment asset write-downs and changes in valuation reserves.

The weakness in certain sectors of the economy and rising interest rates may cause additional investment losses. These investment losses could materially affect future results of operations, although CIGNA does not currently expect them to have a material effect on its liquidity or financial condition, or to result in a significant decline in the aggregate carrying value of its assets.


Market Risk of Financial Instruments

CIGNA’s assets and liabilities include financial instruments subject to the risk of potential losses from adverse changes in market rates and prices. The primary market risk exposures are interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and equity price risk.

CIGNA uses futures contracts as part of a program to substantially reduce the effect of equity market changes on certain reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits based on unfavorable changes in variable annuity account values. At June 30, 2005, futures were used to reduce exposure to various domestic and foreign equity indices (the S&P 500, Russell 2000, NASDAQ, TOPIX, FTSE 100 and euro STOXX 50) as well as to the British pound, euro and Japanese yen. The hypothetical effect of a 10% increase in domestic and foreign equity indices and a 10% weakening in the U.S. dollar to the British pound, euro and Japanese yen would have been a decrease of approximately $120 million in the fair value of the futures contracts outstanding under this program as of June 30, 2005. A corresponding decrease in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts would result from this hypothetical 10% increase in these equity indices and 10% weakening in the U.S. dollar. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of this program and the related guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts.

In addition, CIGNA reports the effects of an embedded derivative under a modified coinsurance arrangement that transfers to the buyer of the retirement benefits business certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of the underlying invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans. As of June 30, 2005, a hypothetical 100 basis point decline in interest rates would decrease net income by approximately $80 million for the effects of this embedded derivative. A hypothetical 200 basis point decline in interest rates would decrease net income by approximately $175 million for the effect of this embedded derivative. Associated increases in the fair values of the underlying fixed maturities would be reflected in shareholders’ equity.
 
 
40


Stock Market Performance

The performance of equity markets can have a significant effect on CIGNA’s businesses including on:
 
·  
risks and exposures associated with guaranteed minimum death benefit (see page 32) or income benefit contracts (see page 38); and
·  
minimum pension liabilities since equity securities comprise a significant portion of the assets of CIGNA’s employee pension plans.

41



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

CIGNA and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in press releases, in CIGNA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in its reports to shareholders and in meetings with analysts and investors. Forward-looking statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions, trends and other uncertainties. For example, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes forward-looking information regarding, among other things, CIGNA’s restructuring programs and activities, litigation and other legal matters, operational improvement in the health care operations, and the outlook for CIGNA’s full year 2005 results. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. CIGNA cautions that actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include:

1.  
increased medical costs that are higher than anticipated in establishing premium rates in CIGNA’s health care operations, including increased use and costs of medical services;
2.  
increased medical, administrative, technology or other costs resulting from new legislative and regulatory requirements imposed on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses (see Employee benefits regulation on page 26 for more information);
3.  
challenges and risks associated with implementing the improvement initiatives in the health care operations, the organizational realignment and the reduction of overall CIGNA and health care cost structure, including that operational efficiencies and medical cost benefits do not emerge as expected and that membership does not stabilize and begin to grow, resulting in significantly greater than expected reductions in medical membership;
4.  
risks associated with the amount and timing of gain recognition on the sale of CIGNA's retirement benefits business;
5.  
risks associated with pending and potential state and federal health care class action lawsuits, purported securities class action lawsuits, disputes regarding reinsurance arrangements, other litigation and regulatory actions challenging CIGNA’s businesses and the outcome of pending government proceedings;
6.  
heightened competition, particularly price competition, which could reduce product margins and constrain growth in CIGNA’s businesses, primarily the health care business;
7.  
significant changes in interest rates;
8.  
downgrades in the financial strength ratings of CIGNA’s insurance subsidiaries, which could, among other things, adversely affect new sales and retention of current business;
9.  
limitations on the ability of CIGNA's insurance subsidiaries to dividend capital to the parent company as a result of downgrades in the subsidiaries’ financial strength ratings, changes in statutory reserve or capital requirements or other financial constraints;
10.  
inability of the program adopted by CIGNA to substantially reduce equity market risks for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits under certain variable annuities (including possible market difficulties in entering into appropriate futures and forward contracts and in matching such contracts to the underlying equity risk);
11.  
adjustments to the reserve assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating CIGNA's liabilities for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits under certain variable annuities;
12.  
adjustments to the assumptions (including annuity election rates and reinsurance recoverables) used in estimating CIGNA’s assets and liabilities for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum income benefits under certain variable annuities;
13.  
significant stock market declines, which could, among other things, result in increased pension expenses in CIGNA’s pension plan in future periods and the recognition of additional pension obligations;
 
 
42

 
 
14.  
unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures of the run-off reinsurance business, including losses attributable to the inability to recover claims from retrocessionaires;
15.  
significant deterioration in economic conditions, which could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s operations and investments;
16.  
changes in federal income tax laws;
17.  
potential public health epidemics and bio-terrorist activity, which could, among other things, cause our covered medical expenses and mortality experience to rise significantly, depending on the severity of the event and number of individuals affected who are covered under CIGNA’s insurance products;
18.  
risks associated with security or interruption of information systems, which could among other things cause operational disruption; and
19.  
risk factors detailed in CIGNA's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, including the Cautionary Statement in Management's Discussion and Analysis.

This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. There may be other risk factors that would preclude CIGNA from realizing the forward-looking statements. While CIGNA may periodically update this discussion of risk factors, CIGNA does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made by or on behalf of CIGNA prior to its next required filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
43


Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information responsive to this Item 3 is included in Item 2 above, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


 

44



Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation of the effectiveness of CIGNA's disclosure controls and procedures, CIGNA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, CIGNA's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by CIGNA in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

There have been no changes in CIGNA’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation described in the above paragraph that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, CIGNA's internal control over financial reporting.

 




45


Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings


In its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, CIGNA described In re CIGNA Corp. ERISA Litigation.  In July 2005, the court granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement and scheduled a fairness hearing for September 2005. Upon final approval by the court, the settlement would resolve for CIGNA defendants and the plaintiffs all claims reflected in the litigation.
 
In its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, CIGNA described In re CIGNA Corp. Securities Litigation.  In July 2005, the lead plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend its complaint to expand certain claims and reassert other claims that were dismissed in 2004. 
 
In its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, CIGNA described various litigation brought in connection with compensation, including commissions, paid to brokers. On August 1, 2005, two CIGNA subsidiaries, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and Life Insurance Company of North America, were named as defendants in a consolidated amended complaint filed in In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation, a multi-district litigation proceeding previously consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The complaint alleges that brokers and insurers conspired to hide commissions, increasing the cost of employee benefit plans, and seeks treble damages and injunctive relief. Numerous insurance brokers and other insurance companies are named as defendants.
 
See “Unicover and other run-off reinsurance” on page 33 for a description of legal matters arising out of the run-off reinsurance operations.
 
CIGNA is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of the business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs. An increasing number of claims are being made for substantial non-economic, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The outcome of litigation and other legal matters is always uncertain, and outcomes that are not justified by the evidence can occur. CIGNA believes that it has valid defenses to the legal matters pending against it and is defending itself vigorously. Nevertheless, it is possible that resolution of one or more of the legal matters currently pending or threatened could result in losses material to CIGNA's consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.






46


Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table provides information about CIGNA's share repurchase activity for the quarter ended June 30, 2005:

   
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Period
 
Total # of
shares
purchased
(1)
 
Average price paid
per share
 
Total # of shares purchased as
part of publicly announced
program (2)
 
Approximate dollar value of
shares that may yet be
 purchased as part of publicly
announced program (3)
 
April 1-30, 2005
   
809,642
 
 
$90.26
   
807,400
   
$568,237,692
 
May 1-31, 2005
   
1,047,069
 
 
$96.94
   
1,042,000
   
$467,223,755
 
June 1-30, 2005
   
1,687,850
 
 
$104.24
   
1,687,850
   
$291,279,291
 
Total
   
3,544,561
 
 
$98.89
   
3,537,250
   
N/A
 
_______________
(1)  
Includes shares tendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans. Employees tendered 2,242 shares in April and 5,069 shares in May. There were no shares tendered in June.

(2)  
CIGNA has had a repurchase program for many years, and has had varying levels of repurchase authority and activity under this program. The program has no expiration date. CIGNA suspends activity under this program from time to time, generally without public announcement. Remaining authorization under the program was approximately $291 million as of June 30, 2005 and $727 million as of August 2, 2005.
 
(3)  
Approximate dollar value of shares is as of the last date of the applicable month.





47


 
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 
 
 
CIGNA held its annual meeting of shareholders on April 27, 2005. As of February 28, 2005, the record date for the meeting, 132,469,442 shares of CIGNA common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. At the meeting, 114,819,056 shares of CIGNA common stock were represented in person or by proxy. CIGNA shareholders elected all four nominees to the Board of Directors, ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors for 2005, and approved the amendment and restatement of the CIGNA Long-Term Incentive Plan.
 
Election of nominees to
Board of Directors for
terms expiring in 2008:
Votes For
Votes Withheld
 
   
     
Peter N. Larson
111,384,198 
3,434,858 
Carol Cox Wait
111,297,183 
3,521,873 
William D. Zollars
108,021,980 
6,797,076 
 
   
For term expiring in 2006:
   
 
   
Marilyn Ware
107,203,139 
7,615,917 

 
 Votes For
Votes Against
Abstained
Ratification of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP as Independent Auditors
110,424,953 
  3,639,626 
   754,477
Approval of the CIGNA Long-Term Incentive Plan
  85,029,310
18,798,336
1,091,608


 


48



Item 6. Exhibits 

(a) See Exhibit Index.










 



49





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.

 
CIGNA CORPORATION
   
   
   
 
By:      /s/ Michael W. Bell
 
    Michael W. Bell
 
    Executive Vice President and
 
    Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: August 3, 2005








50





Number
Description
Method of Filing
     
     
10.1
CIGNA Long-Term Incentive Plan,
Filed as Appendix B to the
 
as amended and restated.
Registrant’s definitive proxy
   
statement filed March 21,
   
2005 and incorporated
   
herein by reference.
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Filed herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to
 
 
Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
     
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Filed herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to
 
 
Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
     
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Furnished herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to Rule
 
 
13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18
 
 
U.S.C. Section 1350
 
     
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Furnished herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to Rule
 
 
13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18
 
 
U.S.C. Section 1350
 
 
 
E-1