-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, K4RSabik49dVVxWCmuqJCGsXXVheUrBfHDaz7tUs2N/Q20N8H7FBoeTLyrtKleym yQiYAvdGDW3AGo1yZWbiiA== 0000080124-08-000009.txt : 20080311 0000080124-08-000009.hdr.sgml : 20080311 20080311102612 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000080124-08-000009 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080311 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080311 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000080124 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: LIFE INSURANCE [6311] IRS NUMBER: 132652144 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-05486 FILM NUMBER: 08679689 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 69 LYDECKER ST CITY: NYACK STATE: NY ZIP: 10960 BUSINESS PHONE: 845-3582300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 69 LYDECKER ST CITY: NYACK STATE: NY ZIP: 10960 10-K 1 dec200710kedgar.htm 10 K YEAR END DEC 31, 2007 PRESIDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ý

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

or

 

o

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

 

Commission file number   0-5486


Presidential Life Corporation

 

Delaware

 

13-2652144

(State of incorporation)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

69 Lydecker Street, Nyack, NY

 

10960

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

 

(845) 358-2300

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Not applicable.

  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

 

Nasdaq

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  o    No  ý

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  o    No  ý

 

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  ý    No  o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  ý    No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  o    No  ý


The aggregate market value of the voting stock (Common Stock) held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2007 was approximately $424,827,022 based on the closing sale price of the common stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on that date.  The company does not have any non-voting common equity.


The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant as of March 10, 2008 was approximately $350,911,283 based upon the closing price of such stock on that date.


The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of March 10, 2008 was 29,553,710.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE


Selected designated portions of the definitive proxy statement to be used in connection with the registrant’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Other documents incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K are listed in the Exhibit Index.





PART 1


ITEM 1.

BUSINESS


General


Presidential Life Corporation (the “Corporation” or “Company”) is an insurance holding company that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Presidential Life Insurance Company (the “Insurance Company”), operates principally in a single reporting segment with two primary operating segments – individual annuities and individual life insurance.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Corporation” or “Company” shall be deemed to include Presidential Life Corporation and its subsidiaries.  The Corporation was founded in 1969 and, through the Insurance Company, is licensed to market its product in 49 states and the District of Columbia.  Approximately 51.7% of the Insurance Company’s 2007 sales of annuity and life insurance products were made to individuals residing in the State of New York.


Organization


Headquartered in Nyack, New York, the Company had 100 full-time employees as of December 31, 2007.

Products


The Insurance Company currently emphasizes the sale of a variety of single premium and flexible premium annuity products.  Each of these products is designed to meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated consumers for supplemental retirement income and estate planning.


Due to the competitive nature of the term, whole life and universal life insurance business and the negative impact of that competition on profits from such business, management decided to exit the traditional life market in 2004 for at least so long as such market conditions prevail.  The Insurance Company will continue to service the inforce business and continue to issue the more profitable graded benefit life product.  


For financial statement purposes, revenues from the sale of ordinary life insurance and annuity contracts with life contingencies are treated as revenues whereas the sale of annuity contracts without life contingencies, deferred annuities and universal life insurance products are reported as additions to policyholders’ account balances.  


Annuity Business


Industry-wide sales of annuity products have experienced strong growth in recent years.  Annuities currently enjoy an advantage over certain other savings mechanisms because the annuitant receives a tax-deferred accrual of interest on his or her investment.


Single Premium Annuity products require a one-time lump sum premium payment.  


Single Premium Deferred Annuities (“SPDAs”) provide for a single premium at time of issue, an accumulation period and an annuity payout period at some future date.  During the accumulation period, the Insurance Company credits the account value of the annuitant with earnings at a current interest rate that is guaranteed for periods ranging from one to six years, at the annuitant’s option, and that, thereafter, is subject to change based on market and other conditions.  Each contract also has a minimum guaranteed rate.  The accrual of interest during the accumulation period is on a tax-deferred basis to the annuitant.  After the number of years specified in the annuity contract, the annuitant may elect to take the proceeds of the annuity as a single payment, a specified income for life, or a specified income for a fixed number of years.  The annuitant is permitted at any time during the accumulation period to withdraw all or part of the single premium paid plus the amount credited to his or her account.  Any such withdrawal, however, typically is subject to a surrender charge during the early years of the annuity contract.


All of the Insurance Company’s deferred annuity products provide minimum interest rate guarantees.  These minimum guaranteed rates range from 3.0% to 5.5% annually and the contracts (except for immediate contracts) are designed to permit the Insurance Company to change the crediting rates annually after the initial guarantee period subject to the minimum guarantee rate.  The Insurance Company takes into account the profitability of its annuity business and its relative competitive position in the marketplace in determining the frequency and extent of changes to the interest-crediting rate.


The Insurance Company’s deferred annuity products are designed to encourage persistency by incorporating surrender charges that exceed the cost of issuing the policy.  An annuitant may not terminate or withdraw substantial funds for periods generally ranging from one to seven years after purchase of the annuity without incurring significant penalties in the form of surrender charges.  As of December 31, 2007, approximately 43.2% of the Insurance Company’s deferred annuity contracts inforce (measured by reserves) are subject to surrender charges.



2



Single Premium Immediate Products guarantee a stream of payments, which begin within the first contract year and continue for the life of the annuitant or for a specified period of time. In an immediate annuity, the payment may be guaranteed for a period of time (typically five to twenty years).  If the annuitant dies during the guarantee period, payments will continue to be made to the annuitant’s beneficiary for the balance of the guarantee period.  Immediate annuities differ from deferred annuities in that they generally provide for fixed payments that are not subject to surrender or loan.  The implicit interest rate on immediate annuities is based on market conditions that exist at the time the annuity is issued and is guaranteed for the term of the annuity.


Other Annuity Products include Flexible Premium Annuities and Group Terminal Funding Annuities. Flexible annuity products provide similar benefits to those provided by the Insurance Company’s SPDA products, but instead permit periodic premium payments in such amounts as the holder deems appropriate.  Group Terminal Funding Annuity products provide benefits similar to single premium immediate annuities.  Benefits are provided to employees when a company’s pension plan is terminated or when the owner wants to transfer liability for making payments.


The following table presents annuity products in force measured by reserves, as well as certain statistical data for each of the years in the five fiscal year period ended December 31, 2007, in each case, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).


ANNUITIES IN FORCE AS OF DECEMBER 31 FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

(dollars in thousands)

Single Premium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Deferred

 

$   1,977,713 

 

$   2,350,978 

 

$   2,630,611 

 

$   2,597,436 

 

$   2,423,796 

      Immediate

 

613,952 

 

        641,173 

 

        664,215 

 

        686,054 

 

        700,727 

Other Annuities

 

442,413 

 

441,938 

 

        441,076 

 

        433,886 

 

        434,723 

Total Annuities

 

$   3,034,078 

 

$   3,434,089 

 

$   3,735,902 

 

$   3,717,376 

 

$   3,559,246 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of annuity contracts in force

 


         61,309 

 


         69,538 

 


         76,242 

 


         77,100 

 


         75,217 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average size of annuity contract in force

 


$           49.5 

 


$           49.4 

 


$           49.0 

 


$            48.2 

 


$           47.3 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total dollar amount of annuity surrenders

 

$       535,149

 

$       480,075

 

$      151,182

 

$       119,363

 

$      104,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of surrenders and withdrawals to mean surrenderable annuities in force*

 



22.8%

 



18.0%

 



5.5%

 



4.5%

 



4.2%

 

*See Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Interest Rate Risk”


Annuity ConsiderationsThe following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Insurance Company’s annuity considerations for each of the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles, which include as revenue the consideration from policyholders in such years other than consideration from immediate annuities without life contingencies.  The information below differs from the premiums shown on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP in that, under GAAP, consideration from single premium annuity contracts without life contingencies, universal life insurance products and deferred annuities are not reported as premium revenues, but are reported as additions to policyholder account balances, which are liabilities on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet.  


Distribution of Products – By Gross Annuity Considerations


 

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

Single Premium

 

(dollars in thousands)

      Deferred

 

$     94,161 

 

$   118,613 

 

$     94,075 

 

    $   182,518 

 

$    169,331 

      Immediate

 

       24,785 

 

       27,539 

 

       27,367 

 

       28,351 

 

       32,596 

Other Annuities

 

       9,900 

 

       9,462 

 

       10,198 

 

       14,025 

 

       11,532 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Annuities

 

$    128,846

 

    $    155,614

 

$    131,640

 

$   224,894 

 

$    213,459 



Life Insurance Business


Graded Benefit Life policies (the only life product currently issued) are products designed for the upper age (i.e. ages 40-80 in most states), substandard applicant.  Depending upon age, these products provide for a limited death benefit of either the return of premium plus 5% interest for three years, or the return of premium plus 5% interest for two years.  Thereafter, the death benefit is limited to the face amount of the policy.  This product typically is offered with a maximum face value of $50,000.


Other Life products inforce, but no longer being issued, include Universal Life, Whole Life, and Term Life.  Universal life policies, flexible premium and single premium, are interest-sensitive products, which typically provide the insured with “non-participating” (i.e. non-dividend paying) life insurance with a cash value.  Current interest is credited to the policy’s cash value based primarily upon prevailing interest rates.  In no event, however, will the interest rate credited on the policy’s cash value be less then the guaranteed rate specified in the policy.  Whole life policies are products that provide the insured with life insurance with a guaranteed cash value.  Typically, a fixed premium, which costs more than comparable term coverage when the policyholder is younger, but less than comparable term coverage as the policyholder grows older, is paid over a period of years.  Whole life insurance products combine insurance protection with a savings plan that gradually increases over a period of time, which the policyholder may borrow against.  Term life policies are products that provide insurance protection if the insured dies during the time period specified in the policy.  No cash value is built up.  Term life products provide the maximum benefit for the lowest initial premium outlay.


Insurance Policies Inforce – The following table sets forth universal, whole and term life insurance policies inforce, as well as certain statistical data for each of the five years ended December 31, 2007.


LIFE INSURANCE INFORCE

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

(dollars in thousands)

Beginning of year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Universal

 

$     429,538 

 

$     443,738 

 

$     459,744 

 

$     474,888 

 

$    444,200 

     Whole <F1>

 

       171,558 

 

       158,669 

 

       146,604 

 

       136,744 

 

      146,359 

     Term

 

       650,584 

 

       703,665 

 

       748,069 

 

       731,879 

 

      562,363 

                 Total

 

$  1,251,680 

 

$  1,306,072 

 

$  1,354,417 

 

$  1,343,511 

 

$ 1,152,922 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and additions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Universal

 

           8,833 

 

           2,642 

 

           1,492 

 

           7,007 

 

        54,665 

     Whole <F1>

 

         71,170 

 

         62,575 

 

         61,138 

 

         43,665 

 

        25,803 

     Term

 

 

 

 

         85,507 

 

      233,362 

                 Total

 

       80,003 

 

       65,217 

 

       62,630 

 

       136,179 

 

      313,830 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Death

 

12,834 

 

14,991 

 

11,768 

 

           9,291 

 

        10,401 

     Surrenders and conversions

 


25,211 

 


21,488 

 


22,173 

 


         24,310 

 


        32,196 

     Lapses

 

56,757 

 

75,276 

 

70,906 

 

         86,079 

 

        75,039 

     Other

 

          8,984 

 

          7,854 

 

          6,128 

 

           5,593 

 

          5,605 

                 Total

 

103,786 

 

119,609 

 

110,975 

 

       125,273 

 

      123,241 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Universal

 

       425,496 

 

       429,538 

 

       443,738 

 

       459,744 

 

      474,888 

     Whole<F1>

 

       189,894 

 

       171,558 

 

       158,669 

 

       146,604 

 

      136,744 

     Term

 

       612,507 

 

       650,584 

 

       703,665 

 

       748,069 

 

      731,879 

                 Total

 

$  1,227,897 

 

$  1,251,680 

 

$  1,306,072 

 

$  1,354,417 

 

$ 1,343,511 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total reinsurance ceded

 

$     710,494 

 

$     755,516 

 

$     814,538 

 

$     868,321 

 

$    859,249 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total insurance inforce at end of year net of reinsurance

 



$     517,403 

 



$     496,164 

 



$     491,534 

 



$     486,096 

 



$    484,262 


<F1> Includes graded benefit life insurance products



3



Accident and Health


New York Statutory Disability Benefits, (“DBL”) are short-term disability contracts issued to employers of one or more employees in New York State.  The benefit must be equal or better, in every respect, to the minimum benefits defined in the New York Disability Benefits Law.  The minimum benefit allowed is 50% of the weekly earnings to a maximum of $170 commencing on the 8th day of non-occupation disabilities for a maximum of 26 weeks in any 52 week period for any one disability.  With few exceptions, employers are required to provide this coverage to their New York employees.


Medical Stop Loss Coverage is sold to employers (not individual employees) to cover their liabilities as incurred in the administration of self-funded medical plans. These are plans that are governed by ERISA. The employer does not buy a full-insured plan from a carrier, but instead opts to pay the benefits for its medical plan itself.  The parameters of these benefits are spelled out in a Plan Document that is disseminated to employees.  The employer then purchases Stop Loss coverage to insure it against claims in excess of contractually designated amounts.


The coverage purchased by the employer will typically cover two types of risks to the self-funded plan:


1)

The risk that a claim on an individual employee exceeds a certain level, usually called the specific deductible or self-insured retention. This is known as specific stop-loss coverage. This level is usually defined in terms of dollars on a particular life. For example, the specific deductible may be $50,000 of claims paid by the plan on any one life.


2)

The risk that the overall claims for the plan (less whatever amount is covered under the specific deductible) exceeds a given level. This is called Aggregate Stop Loss. The given level is usually called the aggregate attachment point. It is typically defined by first computing the level of claims the insurer expects to occur in the given period.  To this amount is added a “corridor” or margin amount, which is typically 25%. The aggregate cover would then reimburse all claims that exceed 125% of expected claims, exclusive of those claims reimbursed under the specific cover.


Both types of plans generally have a maximum reimbursement level. For specific claims, this generally ranges from $1 million to $2 million. For aggregate claims, the coverage is generally $1 million.  Sometimes, the specific coverage is sold without the aggregate coverage. The reverse is almost never sold.


One key aspect of stop-loss coverage is that reimbursement is made to the plan, not to the individual participants. The participants’ medical expenses are paid by the plan.  As such, only expenses covered under the plan and that are spelled out in the Plan Document, are covered.


Marketing and Distribution


The Insurance Company is licensed to market insurance products in 49 states and the District of Columbia.  The Insurance Company distributes its annuity contracts and life insurance policies (products) through 814 independent General Agents (307 of which are located in New York State).  These General Agents, in turn, distribute the Insurance Company’s products through their 13,961 licensed insurance agents or brokers most of whom also distribute similar products marketed by other insurance companies.  Management believes the Insurance Company offers innovative products and quality service and that its product commission rates are competitive.  The New York State Department of Insurance (NYSID) regulates General Agent commission rates.


The independent General Agent system is the Insurance Company’s primary product distribution system.  Management believes the Insurance Company’s focus on the General Agent distribution system provides cost advantages since the Insurance Company incurs minimal fixed costs associated with recruiting, training and maintaining agents via their General Agents.  Therefore, a substantial portion of the costs normally associated with product distribution is variable.  Distribution costs rise and fall with the level of business.


The Insurance Company utilizes many General Agents to distribute its products and, therefore, is not dependent on any one General Agent or agent for a substantial amount of its business.  On the other hand, independent General Agents and agents are not captive to the Company.  Management believes that interest crediting rates, General Agent product commission levels, annuity and life product features, company support services and perceived company financial stability help determine our competitive nature at any given point in time and influence General Agents and their agents to distribute our products.  Generally, the Insurance Company issues annuity contracts along with the General Agent’s commission within two business days after application receipt.  The Insurance Company also provides General Agent support by providing direct access to the Insurance Company’s senior executives.  Annuity contract and life insurance policyholders may access information regarding their individual holdings via the Company’s website or toll-free telephone number.



4




The Insurance Company’s top ten General Agents, as measured by combined 2007 annuity and life premiums, accounted for approximately 35% of the Insurance Company’s sales in 2007.  No single General Agent accounted for more than 7.4% and no single agent accounted for more than 3.6% of total sales.  Management believes no single distribution source loss will have a material adverse impact on the Insurance Company.  However, the simultaneous loss of several distribution sources would diminish our product distribution and reduce sales unless these sources are timely replaced.  To guard against this contingency, the Insurance Company continuously recruits new independent General Agents.


Underwriting Procedures


Since March 2004, the only life policy the Insurance Company has issued has been Graded Benefit Life, a guaranteed issue product that requires no underwriting.  The maximum face amount for this product is $50,000.  The Insurance Company continues to maintain its life inforce business and this may require additional underwriting (i.e. reinstatements, re-entries, and conversions).  In that regard, the Insurance Company has adopted and follows detailed, uniform underwriting procedures designed to assess and quantify insurance risks.  To the extent that a policyholder eligible for reinstatement, reentry or conversion does not meet the Insurance Company’s underwriting standards at the standard risk classifications, the Insurance Company may offer to issue a classified, sub-standard or impaired risk policy for a risk adjusted premium amount rather than declining the application.  The amount of the Insurance Company’s impai red risk insurance in force in proportion to the total amount of the Insurance Company’s individual life insurance in force was approximately 5.3% at December 31, 2007.


Policy Claims


Individual life claims are received and reviewed by claims examiners at the Insurance Company’s home office.  The initial review of claims includes verification that coverage is in force and that the claim is not subject to exclusion under the policy.  Birth and death certificates are basic requirements.  Medical records and investigative reports are ordered for contestable claims.


Reinsurance


The Insurance Company follows the usual industry practice of reinsuring (“ceding”) portions of its life insurance and medical stop loss risks with other companies, a practice that permits the Insurance Company to write policies in amounts larger than the risk it is willing to retain and to obtain commissions on the insurance ceded and thereby reduce its net commission expense.  The maximum amount of individual life insurance normally retained by the Insurance Company on any one life is $50,000 per policy and $100,000 per life.  The Insurance Company cedes primarily on an “automatic” basis, under which risks are ceded to a reinsurer on specific blocks of business where the underlying risks meet certain predetermined criteria, and on a “facultative” basis, under which the reinsurer’s prior approval is required on each risk reinsured.  The maximum retention of the group medical stop loss business varies, but typically the Insurance Company cedes 85% on a quota share basis.


Use of reinsurance does not discharge an insurer from liability on the insurance ceded.  An insurer is required to pay the full amount of its insurance obligations regardless of whether it is entitled or able to receive payments from the reinsurer.  At December 31, 2007, of the approximately $1,228 million of the Company’s individual life insurance in force, the Insurance Company had ceded to reinsurer’s approximately $710 million.  The principal reinsurance companies of individual life policies with whom the Insurance Company did business at December 31, 2007 were Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company and Swiss Re Life and Health America, Inc. (A.M. Best rating of “A+ (Superior)”).


Competition


The Insurance Company operates in a highly competitive environment.  There are numerous insurance companies, banks, securities brokerage firms, and other financial intermediaries marketing insurance products, annuities, and other investments that compete with the Insurance Company, many of which are more highly rated and have substantially greater resources than the Insurance Company.  The Insurance Company believes that the principal competitive factors in the sale of annuity and life insurance products are product features, commission structure, perceived stability of the insurer, claims paying rating and service.  Many other insurance and financial services companies are capable of competing for sales in the Insurance Company’s target markets.  


Management believes that the Insurance Company’s ability to compete is dependent upon, among other things, its ability to retain and attract independent General Agents to market its products and to successfully develop competitive, profitable products.  Management believes that the Insurance Company has good relationships with its agents, has an adequate variety of products approved for issuance and generally is competitive within the industry in all applicable areas.



5




Investments And Investment Policy


At December 31, 2007, the Corporation had an aggregate of investment assets and cash of $3.99 billion.  Of that amount, approximately 82.2%, or $3.3 billion, were invested in fixed maturity bonds and notes, consisting primarily of corporate bonds ($1.93 billion), U.S. Government, government agencies and authorities bonds ($528.1 million), public utility bonds ($444.6 million), commercial mortgage backed securities ($268.8 million), and preferred stocks ($112 million).  Approximately $309.7 million or 7.8% of invested assets were invested in limited partnerships, $366.7 million or 9.2% was invested in cash and short-term investments and the remainder was held as common stock, swaptions, policy loans and real estate.


Investment Grade Securities


As of December 31, 2007, approximately 85.7% or $3.42 billion of the Corporation’s investment portfolio consisted of investment grade securities (according to NAIC designations) and investment grade short-term commercial paper.  Of that amount, approximately $1.9 billion consisted of investment grade corporate bonds and preferred stock and $363.1 million consisted of short term securities and commercial paper rated predominantly A1/P1 or higher (but in no event lower than A2/P2) with terms of 60 days or less.  The remaining $1.2 billion, consisting of U.S. Government bonds and government agency securities, public utility bonds and commercial mortgage backed securities, are discussed below.  Approximately $2.5 million were privately placed securities that management believes are marketable to other institutional investors.  


Below Investment Grade Securities


As of December 31, 2007, the Corporation held approximately $221.4 million in below investment grade securities, according to NAIC designations, representing approximately 5.5% of the Corporation’s investment portfolio.  This compares to $274.9 million, or 6.2% of the Corporation’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2006.  Of the 2007 amount, $158.8 million consisted of corporate bonds and preferred stock, $56.2 million of public utility bonds and $6.4 million of local governmental authority bonds.  Of these, approximately $126.5 million (57%) were rated at the highest below-grade investment level.  Approximately, ninety-one percent (91%) of the Corporation’s holdings of below grade bonds were originally purchased at investment grade levels.  Included in the below-grade bond portfolios are non-performing assets totaling $1.7 million, or 0.04% of total invested assets.


Government Bonds and Agency Securities


As of December 31, 2007, the Corporation held approximately $528.1 million in U.S. Treasury or other government agency bonds consisting primarily of U.S. Treasury and GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC and FHLB obligations.


Public Utility Bonds


As of December 31, 2007, the Corporation held $444.6 million in public utility bonds, representing 11.1% of the investment portfolio.  Of that amount, 87.4% or $388.4 million consisted of investment grade securities.  Approximately 65% of the holdings represented bonds issued by the operating companies of electric and gas utilities, with the balance consisting of an assortment of electric utility holding company bonds, capital trust securities and U.S. dollar holdings in foreign electric and water utilities.  The portfolio is diversified, with 101 individual holdings of primarily investment-grade companies.  Given their large and continuing need for additional capital, public utilities are sensitive to a general rise in overall interest rates.  However, these risks are mitigated by overall economic growth, as utilities benefit by increased usage of electricity and gas and by an overall growth in their customer rate-base.



6




Callable Agency Securities


The Company from time to time purchases callable bonds and notes issued by one of the U.S. Government sponsored entities: FNMA, FHLMC, FHLB and the FFCB.  As of December 31, 2007, the Company had a market value total of approximately $234 million in positions as shown below.

 

 

Book Value

 

Market Value

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Farm Credit Bank (FFCB)

 

$         28,609,097 

 

$        28,689,500 

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)

 

      61,693,004 

 

    61,778,686 

Freddie Mac (FHLMC)

 

      77,807,433 

 

77,330,852 

Fannie Mae (FNMA)

 

      65,673,798 

 

    66,022,773 

  Total Callable

 

$       233,783,332 

 

$      233,821,811 

 

 

 

 

 


Agencies frequently issue callable paper with spreads that compensate the buyer for the Agencies’ call options and make their paper more competitive with fixed-rate corporate bonds.  The Company typically purchases the callable Agency issues at par, or discounts to par, to insure that the yield-to-call is at least equal to the yield-to-maturity and to avoid principal loss in the event the issuer exercises its par call option.  In the event that interest rates fall and a call option is exercised, the Company may be forced to reinvest at lower yields.


Mortgage Backed Securities


As of December 31, 2007, approximately $268.8 million (6.7%) of the Company’s investment portfolio was invested in commercial mortgage-backed obligations (“CMBS”), purchased between 1995 and 2001.  This compares to $274.5 million, or 6.2% of the Company’s portfolio at December 31, 2006.  The Company’s CMBS portfolio has not been materially impacted by prepayment risk because it purchases such securities at prices no greater than par and the Insurance Company has invested primarily in mezzanine level CMBS that generally have limited prepayment risk.  These securities are collateralized by commercial mortgages, which have provisions that limit loan prepayments and a security structure that directs principal payments to the senior most outstanding securities before they make such distributions to the mezzanine debt owned by the Insurance Company.  


The Company has not made any direct investments in residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) since 2003.  The Company’s total RMBS exposure is less than $3.5 million or 0.09% of invested assets.  These securities are all investment grade rated.


Collateralized Debt Obligations


The Company has a small portfolio (approximately $18.3 million or 0.5% of invested assets at December 31, 2007) of collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”) that were purchased between 1997 and 1999.  These securities are collateralized with high yield bank loans and high yield bonds.  These positions have substantial unrealized gains.  The CDO portfolio was responsible for generating approximately $6.0 million of income in 2007.  The market value and level of distributed income of the CDO portfolio is expected to fluctuate with changes in interest rates and the changes in credit spreads associated with below investment-grade debt.


Limited Partnerships


The Insurance Company has been investing in limited partnerships for over nineteen years.  During this time, the Insurance Company has had an opportunity to consider and evaluate a substantial number of limited partnerships and their managers.  The Insurance Company makes limited partnership investments based on a number of considerations, including the reputation, investment philosophy (particularly with respect to risk), performance history and investment strategy of the manager of the limited partnership.  Managers of the limited partnerships in which the Insurance Company is invested include, among others, Blackstone Investment Management, Starwood Capital, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Apollo Real Estate and Fortress Investment Group.


The book value of the Corporation’s investments in limited partnerships as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was approximately $309.7 million, $268.0 million and $283.2 million respectively.  Net investment income derived from the Insurance Company’s interests in limited partnership investments aggregated approximately $52.9 million, $47.0 million and $63.5 million in fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively.  These amounts represented 17.9%, 14.8% and 18.7% of the Company’s total net investment income in such years



7




Pursuant to the terms of certain limited partnership agreements to which the Insurance Company is a party, the Insurance Company is committed to contribute, if called upon, an aggregate of approximately $140.7 million of additional capital to such limited partnerships.  Commitments of $13.2 million will expire in 2008, $2.8 million in 2009, $8.8 million in 2010, $47.7 million in 2011 and $68.0 million in 2012.


As of December 31, 2007, approximately $309.7 million (7.8%) of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of interests in over seventy limited partnerships, which are engaged in a variety of investment strategies, including debt restructurings, real estate, international opportunities and merchant banking.  In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments (i.e., equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the ability of the Insurance Company to take quarterly distributions of partnership earnings, with the exception of hedge fund limited partnerships.


Approximately 23% of the Company’s investment portfolio in limited partnerships is involved in distressed asset investments. These limited partnerships take positions in debt and equity securities, loans originated by banks and other liabilities of financially troubled companies.  Investments in companies undergoing debt restructurings, which by their nature have a high degree of financial uncertainty, may be senior, unsecured or subordinated indebtedness and carry a high characteristic of merchant banking and debt restructuring transactions.  This makes such underlying investments particularly sensitive to interest rate increases, which could affect the ability of the borrower to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its fixed charges.


The limited partnerships that are involved in real estate activities, representing approximately 25% of the Company’s limited partnership portfolio, generally invest in real estate assets, real estate joint ventures and real estate operating companies.  These partnerships seek to achieve significant rates of return by targeting investments that provide a strategic or competitive advantage and are priced at levels that the general partner believes to be attractive.


The limited partnerships that are involved in international investments generally purchase sovereign debt, corporate debt, and/or equity in foreign companies that are developing a greater worldwide presence.  General partners who had demonstrated expertise in this area and in the particular country involved operate such limited partnerships.  Such investments involve risks related to the particular country including political instability, currency fluctuations, and repatriation restrictions.


The limited partnerships that are involved in merchant banking activities generally seek to achieve significant rates of return (including capital gains) through a wide variety of investment strategies, including leveraged acquisitions, bridge financing, and other private equity investments in existing businesses.


Limited partnership investments are selected through a careful, two-stage review process.  The Investment Analyst staff conducts a due diligence review which includes the offering documents, performance history of each investment manager as well as interviews with existing investors and/or market participants.  Separately, the Investment Committee interviews the manager to determine whether the investment philosophy (particularly with respect to risk) and strategies of the limited partnership are in the best interests of the Insurance Company.  Only after both the Investment Analyst Staff and the Investment Committee make a positive recommendation does the Insurance Company invest in a limited partnership.  In addition, the actions of the Investment Committee are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or the Insurance Company, as the case may be.  To evaluate both the carrying value and the con tinuing appropriateness of the Company’s investment in any limited partnership, management maintains ongoing discussions with the investment manager and considers the limited partnership’s operations, current and near term projected financial condition, earnings capacity and distributions received by the Insurance Company during the year.


Despite the Company’s ongoing successful returns on its limited partnership investments and their substantial contributions to the Company’s profits in recent years, the ratings agencies which evaluate the Company have an unfavorable view of such investments.  The Company believes that this has had a negative effect on the Company’s ratings (See Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis-Ratings Agencies).  As such, although the limited partnership investments have contributed substantially to the Company’s profits, they have not enabled the Company to achieve the ratings upgrades that might be expected to accompany such profitable performance.  This factor is continually monitored by Company’s management in determining whether and to what extent the Company will continue to invest in limited partnerships at current, reduced or increased levels.  Such decisions will be subject to the approval of the Chief Investment Officer and the Investment Committee and the review and approval by the Board of Directors of the Insurance Company, as the case may be.  


There can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will continue to achieve the same level of returns on its investments in limited partnerships that it has received during the foregoing periods or that it will achieve any returns on such investments at all.  In addition, there can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will receive a return of all or any portion of its current or future capital investments in limited partnerships.  The failure of the Insurance Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of returns on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Insurance Company’s financial condition and results of operations.



8




Other


As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s investment portfolio included approximately $112.0 million (2.8%) invested in preferred stock, and approximately $9.7 million (0.2%) invested in common stock.  The Company’s only direct real estate investments are two buildings in Nyack, New York, which are used as the current home office of the Insurance Company, and two acres of undeveloped land in Nyack, New York.


The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities for the Company’s investments in bonds and notes as of December 31, 2007.


              Scheduled Maturities



Maturity <F1>

 


Estimated

Fair Value <F2>

 

Percent of Total

Estimated

Fair Value <F2>

 

 

      (in thousands)

 

 

Due in one year or less <F3>

 

$                237,867 

 

7.50 

Due after one year through five years

 

817,079 

 

25.77 

Due after five years through ten years

 

             676,703 

 

     21.35 

Due after 10 years

 

          1,169,612 

 

     36.90 

      Total

 

          2,901,261 

 

91.52 

Mortgage-backed bonds (various Maturities)

 

             268,806 

 

       8.48 

      Total bonds and notes

 

  $            3,170,067 

 

   100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

   <F1> This table is based upon stated maturity dates and does not reflect the effect of prepayments, which would shorten the average life of these securities.  All securities are classified as available for sale; accordingly total carrying value equals estimated fair value.


      <F2> Independent pricing services provide market prices for most publicly traded securities.  Where prices are unavailable from pricing services, prices are obtained from securities dealers and valuation methodologies.


      <F3> Excludes Commercial paper of ninety days or less.


The NAIC assigns securities quality ratings and uniform prices called “NAIC Designation”, which are used by insurers when preparing their statutory annual statements.  The NAIC annually assigns designations at December 31 to publicly traded as well as privately placed securities.  These designations range from class 1 to class 6, with a designation in class 1 being of the highest quality.  Of the bonds and notes in the Company’s investment portfolio, approximately 93.4% were in one of the highest two NAIC Designations at December 31, 2007.


The following table sets forth the carrying value and estimated fair value of the securities in the table above according to NAIC Designations at December 31, 2007.


NAIC Designations

(generally comparable to Moody’s ratings <F1>

 


Estimated

 Fair Value <F2>

 

Percent of Total Estimated

Fair Value <F2>

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

1    (Aaa, Aa, A)

 

$           1,947,714 

 

             61.44 

2    (Baa)

 

             1,011,615 

 

             31.91 

   Total investment grade

 

2,959,329 

 

93.35 

3    (Ba)

 

                120,357 

 

               3.80 

4    (B)

 

                  59,929 

 

1.89 

5    (Caa, Ca)

 

                  28,729 

 

                 .91 

6    (C)

 

1,723 

 

                 .05 

   Total non-investment grade <F3>

 

210,738 

 

6.65 

      Total

 

$           3,170,067 

 

           100.00%


<F1> Comparison between NAIC Designations and Moody’s rating is as published by the NAIC.  NAIC class 1 is considered equivalent to an A or higher rating by Moody’s; class 2, Baa; class 3, Ba; class 4, B; class 5, Caa and Ca; and class 6, C.  All securities are classified as available for sale; accordingly total carrying value equals estimated fair value.


<F2> Independent pricing services provide market prices for most publicly traded securities.  Where prices are unavailable from pricing services, prices are obtained from securities dealers and valuation methodologies.


<F3> Approximately 91.3% of the non-investment grade bonds represents bonds that experienced credit migration from investment grade status.      



9




The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s bond and notes portfolio by rating as of December 31, 2007.



Rating <F1>

 

Estimated

Fair Value <F2>

 

Percent of Total

Estimated

Fair Value <F2>

 

             (in thousands)

 

 

Aaa

 

$            680,311 

 

          21.46 

Aa

 

              296,865 

 

            9.36 

A

 

982,872 

 

31.01 

Baa

 

987,714 

 

          31.16 

  Total investment grade <F3>

 

           2,947,762 

 

92.99 

Ba

 

              143,694 

 

4.53 

B

 

              39,659 

 

            1.25 

Caa, Ca

 

                37,229 

 

            1.18 

C or lower

 

                1,723 

 

            0.05 

  Total non-investment grade

 

222,305 

 

7.01 

  Total

 

$         3,170,067 

 

        100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

<F1> Ratings are those assigned primarily by Moody’s when available, with remaining ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s and converted to a generally comparable Moody’s rating.  Bonds not rated by any such organization (e.g., private placement securities) are included based on the rating prescribed by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”).  NAIC class 1 is considered equivalent to an A or higher rating; class 2, Baa; class 3, Ba; and classes 4-6, B and below.  All securities are classified as available for sale; accordingly total carrying value equals estimated fair value


<F2> Independent pricing services provide market prices for most publicly traded securities.  Where prices are unavailable from pricing services, prices are obtained from securities dealers and valuation methodologies.


<F3> Approximately 17.9% consists of U.S government and agency bonds.  




New York State Insurance Department Regulation 130


The Insurance Company is subject to Regulation 130 adopted and promulgated by the New York State Insurance Department (“NYSID”).  Under this Regulation, the Insurance Company’s ownership of below investment grade debt securities is limited to 20% of total admitted assets, as calculated under statutory accounting.  As of December 31, 2007, approximately 4.3% of the Insurance Company’s total admitted assets were invested in below investment grade debt securities.  Included in the below investment grade debt securities were 11 bond holdings in the Insurance Company’s investment portfolio that were in default, with an estimated fair value totaling $1.7 million (0.05%) at December 31, 2007.  For a detailed discussion concerning below investment grade debt securities, including the risks inherent in such investments, see “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources.”  Also see “Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for certain other information concerning the Company’s investment portfolio.  



10




Investment Portfolio Summary


The following table summarizes the Company's investment portfolio at December 31, 2007.  This table consists primarily of fixed maturity investments available for sale, which are carried at fair value.


Investment Portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

Total Carrying Value<F1>

 

 

   (dollars in thousands)

Fixed Maturities

 

 

      Bonds and Notes:

 

 

      U.S. Government, government agencies

 

 

            and authorities

 

  $                        528,114 

      Investment grade corporate

 

1,780,376 

      Public utilities

 

444,613 

      Below investment grade corporate

 

148,159 

      Mortgage backed

 

268,805 

      Preferred stocks

 

112,032 

 

 

 

            Total Fixed Maturities

 

                         3,282,099 

 

 

 

Equity Securities

 

 

      Common stock

 

9,732 

 

 

 

Other Investments:

 

 

      Policy loans

 

19,194 

      Real Estate

 

415 

      Other long-term investments<F2>

 

309,663 

      Derivatives

 

7,005 

      Cash and short-term investments

 

366,698 

 

 

 

Total cash and investments

 

$                   3,994,806 

                           

_______________________________________________________________________________


<F1>

All fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as available for sale; accordingly total carrying value equals estimated fair value.  Independent pricing services provide market prices for over 96% of the publicly traded securities.  Where prices are unavailable from pricing services, prices are obtained from securities dealers and valuation methodologies.  For other long-term investments, estimated market value either approximates estimated carrying value or was not readily ascertainable.  See “Note 1(c) to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation of the methodology used to value "Other Investments."”


<F2>

Consist principally of investments in limited partnerships, which are accounted for under the equity method.  The equity method is an accounting method used to determine income derived from a company’s investment in another company over which it exerts significant influence.  Under the equity method, investment income equals a share of net income proportional to the size of the equity investment.


Insurance Regulation


General Regulation


As an insurance holding company, the Corporation is subject to regulation by the State of New York, where the Insurance Company is domiciled, as well as all other states where the Insurance Company transacts business.  Most states have enacted legislation that requires each insurance company in a holding company system to register with the insurance regulatory authority of its state of domicile and furnish to it financial and other information concerning the operations of the companies within the holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system.  The Corporation has registered as a holding company system in New York.


The laws and regulations of New York applicable to insurance holding companies require, among other things, that all transactions within a holding company system be fair and equitable and that charges for services be equitable.  In addition, many transactions require prior notification to or approval of the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York (the “Superintendent”).  Prior written approval of the Superintendent is required for the direct or indirect acquisition of 10% or more

of the insurance companies’ voting securities.  Applicable state insurance laws, rather than federal bankruptcy laws, also apply to the liquidation or reorganization of insurance companies.



11



The Insurance Company is subject to regulation and supervision by the insurance regulatory agencies of the states in which it is authorized to transact business.  State insurance laws establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative and supervisory powers.  Principal among these powers are granting and revoking licenses to transact business, regulating marketing and other trade practices, operating guaranty associations, licensing agents, approving policy forms, regulating premium rates, regulating insurance holding company systems, establishing reserve requirements, prescribing the form and content of required financial statements and reports, performing financial, market conduct and other examinations, determining the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and surplus, defining acceptable accounting principles, regulating the type, valuation and amount of investments permitted, and limiting the a mount of dividends that can be paid and the size of transactions that can be consummated without first obtaining regulatory approval.  One of the requirements is that the Insurance Company performs annual cash flow testing of its assets and liabilities.  Based on the testing performed, the Insurance Company held an asset/liability reserve of $60 million at year-end 2007, $51 million at year-end 2006 and $60 million at year-end 2005, for statutory accounting purposes only, to address the risk of a substantial increase in surrenders in a rising interest rate environment.


The Insurance Company is required to file detailed periodic reports and financial statements with the state insurance regulators in each of the states in which it does business.  In addition, insurance regulators periodically examine the Insurance Company’s financial condition, adherence to statutory accounting practices and compliance with the insurance department rules and regulations.  As part of their routine regulatory oversight process, the New York State Insurance Department (NYSID) generally conducts detailed examinations of the books, records and accounts of the Insurance Company every three years.  The Insurance Company is currently undergoing an examination covering the three-year period ending December 31, 2006.  The final report has not yet been issued.  Prior to this, an examination occurred during 2004 for the three-year period ending December 31, 2003. The final report was issued on April 7, 2005.  During that review, concerns were raised regarding the duration of the supporting assets relative to the duration of liabilities and the risks this posed under increasing interest rate scenarios.  In response, as described above, the Insurance Company implemented an asset/liability management strategy, which included additional statutory reserves, a rebalancing of its portfolio and the purchase of payor swaption investments.  No other significant issues or adjustments were noted.


Statutory Reporting Practices


The Insurance Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the New York State Insurance Department.  The New York State Insurance Department has adopted the provisions of the NAIC’s  Statutory Accounting Practices as the basis for its statutory practices.  Accounting practices used to prepare statutory financial statements for regulatory filings of stock life insurance companies differ in certain instances from GAAP.  The following are the major differences between Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”) and GAAP:


§

SAP, unlike GAAP, utilizes asset valuation reserves and interest maintenance reserves, which are intended to stabilize surplus from fluctuations in the value of the investment portfolio.

§

Future policy benefits and policyholders' account balances under SAP differ from GAAP due to differences between actuarial assumptions and reserving methodologies.

§

Certain policy acquisition costs, such as commissions, sales inducements, and certain expenses related to policy issuance and underwriting are expensed as incurred under SAP, but are deferred under GAAP and amortized over the premium-paying period of the related policies or based on past and projected profits to achieve a matching of revenues and expenses.

§

Under GAAP, Deferred Federal income taxes provide for temporary differences, which are recognized in the consolidated financial statements in a different period than for Federal income tax purposes. Deferred taxes are also recognized in statutory accounting practices; however, there are limitations as to the amount of deferred tax assets that may be reported as admitted assets. The change in the deferred taxes is recorded in surplus, rather than as a component of income tax expense.

§

For statutory accounting purposes, all of the Company’s debt securities are recorded at amortized cost, except for securities in or near default, which are reported at fair value. Under GAAP, they are carried at amortized cost or fair value based on their classification as either held to maturity or available for sale.

§

Certain assets, such as furniture and equipment, agents’ debit balances, and prepaid expenses, are not admissible under SAP but are admissible under GAAP.

§

Under SAP, premiums from Universal Life and deferred annuities are recognized as premium when received.  Under GAAP, the premiums received are recorded as an increase in liability for policyholder account balances.





12



Regulation of Dividends and Other Payments from the Insurance Company


The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries.  As a holding company with no other business operations, its primary sources of cash needed to meet its obligations, including principal and interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness and dividend payments on its common stock, are rent from its real estate, income from its investments and dividends from the Insurance Company.


The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances that it may make to the Company without obtaining prior regulatory approval.  Under New York law, the Insurance Company is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its surplus as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its net gain (after tax) from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year.  Any dividend in excess of such amount is subject to approval by the Superintendent.  The Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.  The NYSID has established informa l guidelines for such determinations.  The guidelines focus on, among other things, an insurer’s overall financial condition and profitability under statutory accounting practices, which, as discussed above, differ in certain respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP.


In 2007, the Insurance Company paid $32 million in stockholder dividends to the Corporation.  However, there can be no assurance that this will continue to be the case in subsequent years.  Accordingly, Management of the Company cannot provide assurance that the Insurance Company will have adequate statutory earnings to support payment of dividends to the Company in an amount sufficient to fund the Company’s cash requirements, including the payment of dividends, or that the Superintendent will not disapprove any dividends that the Insurance Company must submit for the Superintendent’s consideration.  In 2008, the Insurance Company would be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend of $35.8 million to the Corporation without prior regulatory clearance.


Investment Reserves


Asset Valuation Reserve – Statutory accounting practices require a life insurance company to maintain an Asset Valuation Reserve (“AVR”) to absorb realized and unrealized capital gains and losses on a portion of an insurer’s fixed income securities and equity securities.


The AVR is required to stabilize statutory surplus from fluctuations in the market value of bonds, stocks, mortgages, real estate, and other long-term investments.  The maximum AVR is calculated based on the application of various factors that are applied to the assets in the insurer’s portfolio.  The AVR generally captures credit-related realized and unrealized capital gains and losses on such assets.  Each year the amount of an insurer’s AVR will fluctuate as the investment portfolio changes and capital gains and losses are absorbed by the reserve.  To adjust for such changes over time, contributions must be made to the AVR in an aggregate amount equal to 20% of the difference between the maximum AVR as calculated and the actual AVR.  These contributions may result in a slower rate of growth in or a reduction of the Insurance Company’s surplus.  The extent of the impact of the AVR on the Insurance Company ’s surplus depends in part on the future composition of the Insurance Company’s investment portfolio.


Interest Maintenance Reserve – The Interest Maintenance Reserve (“IMR”) captures capital gains and losses (net of taxes) on fixed income investments (primarily bonds and mortgage loans) resulting from interest rate changes, which are amortized into net income over the estimated remaining periods to maturity of the investments sold.  The extent of the impact of the IMR depends on the amount of future capital gains and losses on fixed maturity investments resulting from interest rate changes.


NAIC-IRIS Ratios


The NAIC’s Insurance Regulatory Information System (“IRIS”) was developed by a committee of state insurance regulators and primarily is intended to assist state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandates to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states.  IRIS identifies 12 industry ratios and specifies “normal ranges” for each ratio.  The IRIS ratios were designed to advise state insurance regulators of significant changes in an insurance company’s product mix, large reinsurance transactions, increases or decreases in premiums received and certain other changes in operations.  These changes need not result from any problems with an insurance company, but merely indicate changes in certain ratios outside ranges defined as normal by the NAIC.  When an insurance company has four or more ratios falling outside “normal ranges,” state regul ators may, but are not obligated to, inquire of the company regarding the nature of the company’s business to determine the reasons for the ratios being outside the “normal range.”  No regulatory significance results from being out of the normal range on fewer than four of the ratios.  For the year ended December 31, 2007, two ratios, “Change in Premium and Change in Reserve Ratio – Life” fell outside the normal range.  The “Change in Premium” was primarily attributable to a decrease in annuity considerations.  The “Change in Reserve Ratio” fell outside of the normal range primarily due to the establishment of an additional reserve on the guaranteed issue business as well as lower reserves released by death and surrenders on the single premium whole life business.  For the year ended December 31, 2006, one ratio, “Change in Reserve Ratio – Life” fell outside the normal range.  This was primarily attributable to a s ignificant increase in surrenders and death claims on the Single Premium Whole Life product in 2006 when compared to 2005, which, in turn, accounted for a lower reserve increase of approximately $4.9 million in 2006 when compared to 2005.

  

Risk-Based Capital


Under the NAIC's risk-based capital formula, insurance companies must calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula.  The standards require the computation of a risk-based capital amount, which then is compared to a company’s actual total adjusted capital.  The computation involves applying factors to various financial data to address four primary risks: asset default, adverse insurance experience, disintermediation and external events.  This information is intended to permit insurance regulators to identify and require remedial action for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, but is not designed to rank adequately capitalized companies.  The NAIC formula provides for four levels of potential involvement by state regulators for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, ranging from a requirement for an insurance company to submit a plan to improve its capital (Company Action Level) to regulatory c ontrol of the insurance company (Mandatory Control Level).  At December 31, 2007, the Insurance Company’s Company Action Level was $84.0 million and the Mandatory Control Level was $29.4 million. The Insurance Company’s adjusted capital at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $418.3 million and $380.3 million, respectively, which exceeds all four action levels.  


Assessments Against Insurers


Most applicable jurisdictions require insurance companies to participate in guaranty funds, which are designed to indemnify policyholders of insolvent insurance companies.  Insurers authorized to transact business in these jurisdictions generally are subject to assessments based on annual direct premiums written in that jurisdiction.  These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer’s insolvency and, in certain instances, may be offset against future state premium taxes.  


The amount of these assessments against the Insurance Company in 2007 and prior years have not been material.  However, the amount and timing of any future assessment against the Insurance Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated and are beyond the control of the Corporation and the Insurance Company.  As such, no reasonable estimate of such assessments can be made.


Regulation at Federal Level


Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways.  Current and any future federal measures that may significantly affect the insurance business include limitations on antitrust immunity, minimum solvency requirements, and the removal of barriers restricting banks from engaging in the insurance and mutual fund business.  It is not possible to predict the outcome of any such Congressional activity or the potential effects thereof on the Corporation.


Environmental Considerations


As an owner and operator of real property, the Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.  Inherent in such ownership and operation is also the risk that there may be potential environmental liabilities and costs in connection with any required remediation of such properties.  We cannot provide assurance that unexpected environmental liabilities will not arise.  However, based on information currently available to management, we believe that any costs associated with environmental regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.


Enterprise Risk Management


The Company has adopted an Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) policy as a methodology for managing risks. Management is exploring the use of robust capital modeling as an alternative to an Economic Capital framework, to support decision making. In addition, management has developed a roadmap in order to improve its identification of key risks to strategic objectives, clarify governance structure, and identify potential gaps that may exist in current risk management. By creating a more structured framework, optimizing investment decision-making and identifying major risks, management believes ERM will play an important role in the Company’s efforts to create and preserve shareholder value. The Company continues to engage Tillinghast as consultants to support our efforts in this endeavor.  



13




Affiliates


The Corporation has one principal subsidiary, the Insurance Company.  The Insurance Company had one subsidiary, Central National Life Insurance Company of Omaha Inc., which was sold October 31, 2005.  The Corporation has three additional subsidiaries, Presidential Securities Corporation, P.L. Assigned Services Corporation, and Presidential Asset Management Company, Inc.  In aggregate, these three subsidiaries are not material to the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.


Available Information


The Company’s website is www.presidentiallife.com.  Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports are available, free of charge, on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after filing or furnishing such reports electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Other information found on the website is not part of this or any other report filed with or furnished to the SEC.


ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS


The following are certain risk factors that could affect the Corporation’s business, financial results and results of operations.  These risk factors should be considered in connection with evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:



§

Changes in general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates:


The Corporation is affected by the general state of financial markets and economic conditions in the U.S. and elsewhere.    The Company’s principal investments are in fixed maturities, all of which are exposed to at least one of three primary sources of investment risk: credit, interest rate and market valuation.  While the Corporation attempts to obtain a desired return on its investment portfolio without exposing the Corporation to excess risk, there can be no guarantee that its strategies will be successful. Defaults on fixed maturities and a downturn in the market may diminish the value of the Company’s invested assets and adversely affect its sales, profitability and investment returns.


The Corporation attempts to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on the profitability and financial condition of its fixed annuity operations through the rebalancing of its portfolio and payor swaption investments (see Item 7, asset/liability management).  There can be no guarantee that its strategies will be successful.  During a period of rising interest rates, annuity contract surrenders and withdrawals may increase as customers seek to achieve higher returns.  Despite its efforts to reduce the impact of rising interest rates, the Company may be required to sell assets to raise the cash necessary to respond to such surrenders and withdrawals, thereby realizing capital losses on the assets sold.  An increase in policy surrenders and withdrawals may also require the Company to accelerate amortization of policy acquisition costs relating to these contracts, which would further reduce its net income.


During periods of declining interest rates, borrowers may prepay or redeem bonds that the Company owns, which would force it to reinvest the proceeds at lowered interest rates.  The Company’s general account products generally contain minimum interest rate guarantees.  These minimum guarantees may constrain the Company’s ability to lower credited rates in response to lower investment returns.  Therefore, it may be more difficult for the Company to maintain its desired spread between the investment income it earns and the interest it credits to its customers, thereby reducing its profitability.


§

Investment in limited partnerships:


As of December 31, 2007, approximately $309.7 million (7.8%) of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of interests in over seventy limited partnerships, which are engaged in a variety of investment strategies, including real estate, debt restructurings, international opportunities and merchant banking.  In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments (i.e., equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the ability of the Insurance Company to take quarterly distributions of partnership earnings.



14




There can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will continue to achieve the same level of returns on its investments in limited partnerships that it has received during the past periods or that it will achieve any returns on such investments at all.  In addition, there can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will receive a return of all or any portion of its current or future capital investments in limited partnerships.  The failure of the Insurance Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of returns on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Insurance Company’s financial condition and results of operations.


The Company is invested in over 70 limited partnerships, which are managed by various general partners.  The Company is aware of partnerships that had maintained profitable short positions in sub prime related positions, but is not aware of any direct sub prime exposures, which might result in a material loss.  Performance in certain partnerships with investments in financial institutions with sub prime exposure would have been negatively impacted.


§

Heightened competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and the development of new products by new and existing competitors:


The Insurance Company operates in a highly competitive environment.  There are numerous insurance companies, banks, securities brokerage firms, and other financial intermediaries marketing insurance products, annuities, and other investments that compete with the Insurance Company, many of which are more highly rated and have substantially greater resources than the Insurance Company.  The Insurance Company believes that the principal competitive factors in the sale of annuity and life insurance products are product features, commission structure, perceived stability of the insurer, claims paying rating, and service.  Many other insurance and financial services companies are capable of competing for sales in the Insurance Company’s target markets.  


Management believes that the Insurance Company’s ability to compete is dependent upon, among other things, its ability to retain and attract independent general agents to market its products and to successfully develop competitive, profitable products.  Management believes that the Insurance Company has good relationships with its agents, has an adequate variety of products approved for issuance and generally is competitive within the industry in all applicable areas.


§

Our primary reliance, as a holding company, on sales of and interest on the Corporation’s investments and rent from its real estate to meet debt payment obligations, operating expenses and dividend payments:


The Corporation is a holding company and, therefore, depends on dividends, distributions and other payments from its subsidiaries to fund dividend payments and to fund all payments on its obligations, including debt obligations. The Insurance Company is subject to laws that authorize regulatory bodies to block or reduce the flow of funds from the Insurance Company to the Corporation. Regulatory action of that kind could impede access to funds that the Corporation needs to make payments on obligations, including debt obligations, or dividend payments. An inability of the Corporation to access funds from its subsidiaries could adversely affect its ability to meet its obligations.


§

Adverse results from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations:


Financial services companies are frequently the targets of litigation, including class action litigation, which could result in substantial judgments.


§

Regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for, our products or services:


The Company's insurance business is subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision throughout the United States by both state and federal regulators.  The primary purpose of state regulation of the insurance business is to protect contract owners, and not necessarily to protect other constituencies of the Insurance Company, such as creditors or shareholders. State insurance regulators, state attorneys general, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”) continually reexamine existing laws and regulations and may impose changes in the future. Changes in federal legislation and administrative policies in areas such as employee benefit plan regulation, financial services regulation, and federal taxation could lessen the advantages of certain of the Company's products as compared to competing pr oducts, or possibly result in the surrender of some existing contracts and policies or reduced sales of new products and, therefore, could reduce the Company's profitability.


The adoption of new laws or regulations, enforcement action or litigation, whether or not involving the Company, could influence the manner in which it distributes its insurance products, which could adversely impact the Company.



15




Different interpretations of accounting principles could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.  Generally accepted accounting principles are complex, continually evolving and may be subject to varied interpretation by us, our independent registered public accounting firm and the SEC. Such varied interpretations could result from differing views related to specific facts and circumstances. Differences in interpretation of generally accepted accounting principles could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.


§

Downgrades in our claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings:


Ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. A downgrade, or the potential for such a downgrade, of any of the ratings for the Company could, among other things:


§

Materially increase the number of annuity contract surrenders and withdrawals;


§

Result in the termination of relationships with broker-dealers, banks, agents, wholesalers, and other distributors of the Company's products and services; and


§

Reduce new sales of annuity contracts or increase the minimum interest rate the Company may be required to pay under new annuity contracts.


Any of these consequences could adversely affect the Company's profitability and financial condition.


§

Changes in rating agency policies or practices:


Rating organizations assign ratings based upon numerous factors. While most of the factors relate to the rated company, some of the factors relate to the views of the rating organization, general economic conditions, and circumstances outside the rated company's control. In addition, rating organizations may employ different models and formulas to assess financial strength of a rated company, and from time to time rating organizations have, in their discretion, altered the models. Changes to the models, general economic conditions, or circumstances outside the Company's control could impact a rating organization's judgment and the subsequent rating it assigns the Company. The Company cannot predict what actions rating organizations may take, or what actions it may be required to take in response to the actions of rating organizations, which could adversely affect the Company.


§

Reliance on General Agents:


The independent General Agent system is the Insurance Company’s primary product distribution system.  The Insurance Company utilizes many General Agents to distribute its products and therefore, is not dependent on any one General Agent or agent for a substantial amount of its business.  On the other hand, independent General Agents and agents are not captive to the Company.  Management believes that interest crediting rates, General Agent product commission levels, annuity and life product features, company support services and perceived company financial stability help determine our competitive nature at any given point in time and influence General Agents and their agents to distribute our products.  The Insurance Company’s top ten General Agents, as measured by combined 2007 annuity and life premiums, accounted for approximately 35% of the Insurance Company’s sales in 2007.  No single Gene ral Agent accounted for more than 7.4% and no single agent accounted for more than 3.6% of total sales.  Management believes no single distribution source loss will have a material adverse impact on the Insurance Company.  However, the simultaneous loss of several distribution sources would diminish our product distribution and reduce sales unless these sources are timely replaced.  To guard against this contingency, the Insurance Company continuously recruits new independent General Agents.


§

A failure in our operational systems or infrastructure could impair our liquidity, disrupt our businesses, damage our reputation and cause losses:

 

 

Shortcomings or failures in our internal processes, people or systems could lead to impairment of our liquidity, financial loss, disruption of our businesses, liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. For example, our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions. The transactions we process have become increasingly complex and often must adhere to client-specific guidelines, as well as legal and regulatory standards. Our financial, accounting, data processing or other operating systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, adversely affecting our ability to process these transactions. Despite the contingency plans and facilities we have in place, our ability to conduct business may be adversely impacted by a disruption in the infrastructure that sup ports our businesses or the community in which we are located. This may include a disruption involving electrical, communications, transportation or other services.



16





Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. Although we take protective measures and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant, our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other malicious code and other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events occur, this potentially could jeopardize our or our clients’ confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, which could result in significant losses or reputational damage. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, and we may be subjec t to litigation and financial losses that are either not insured against or not fully covered through any insurance maintained by us.


§

Our businesses may be adversely affected if we are unable to hire and retain qualified employees:

 

Our performance is largely dependent on the talents and efforts of highly skilled individuals. Competition in the financial services industry for qualified employees is intense. In addition, competition with businesses outside the financial services industry for the most highly skilled individuals has been intense. Our continued ability to compete effectively depends on our ability to attract new employees and to retain and motivate our existing employees; an inability to do so may impact our ability to take advantage of business opportunities or remediate inefficiencies.


There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry in recent years, and we run the risk that employee misconduct could occur. It is not always possible to deter or prevent employee misconduct and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases.

 

§

Discrepancies between actual claims experience and assumptions used in setting prices for our products and establishing the liabilities for our obligations for future policy benefits and claims:


The Insurance Company establishes liabilities for amounts payable under life and health insurance policies and annuity contracts.  Generally, these amounts are payable over a long period of time and the profitability of the products is dependent on the pricing. Principal assumptions used in pricing policies and in the establishment of liabilities for future policy benefits are investment returns, mortality, expenses and persistency. The reserves reflected in the Corporation's consolidated financial statements are based upon the Corporation's best estimates of mortality, persistency, expenses and investment income, with appropriate provisions for adverse statistical deviation and the use of the net level premium method for all non-interest-sensitive products.  While the Insurance Company historically has not experienced significant adverse deviations from its assumptions, there can be no guarantee that futur e estimates and assumptions will not significantly deviate from actual results.


§

Our business my be adversely affected if the decline in annuity contracts in-force were to continue for an extended period of time


The declining trend in annuity inforce primarily reflects unusually large volumes of business written in 2000 thru 2002.  These contracts started to come off surrender charge at the end of 2005, through the end of 2007, at a relatively large expected surrender rate.  This large volume of surrenders outpaced new sales causing a general decline in total annuity inforce.  The Company believes that the heavy surrender activity is now largely behind us and, along with expected new sales, there should be a turn around in the inforce this year.  Additionally,  management has increased the incentive for agents to retain this business with the Company by paying full first year compensation on internal rollovers.



17




ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS


None


ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES


The Corporation owns, and the Insurance Company leases and is the sole occupant of, two adjacent office buildings located at 69 Lydecker Street and 10 North Broadway in Nyack, New York.  These buildings contain an aggregate of approximately 45,000 square feet of usable office space.


The Insurance Company also owns two acres of unimproved land in Nyack, New York.


Management believes that the Corporation’s present facilities are adequate for its anticipated needs.


ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


From time to time, the Corporation is involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business.  As of March 11, 2008, the Corporation is not a party to any legal proceedings, the adverse outcome of which, in management’s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial condition or results of operations.


ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS


No matters were submitted by the Corporation to its shareholders for vote during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.                                                                                     


Part II


ITEM 5.  

MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS


The Corporation’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol “PLFE”.  The following table sets forth, for the indicated periods, the high and low bid quotations for the common stock as of the close of business each applicable day, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and the per share cash dividends declared on the common stock.

 

 


High

 


Low

 

Cash Dividends

Declared per Share

Fiscal 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

  First Quarter

 

$            25.41 

 

$            19.63 

 

$           .10 

  Second Quarter

 

              26.09 

 

              22.57 

 

           .10 

  Third Quarter

 

              24.45 

 

              22.37 

 

           .10 

  Fourth Quarter

 

              24.12 

 

              21.59 

 

           .10 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

  First Quarter

 

$            22.14 

 

$            19.02 

 

$         .125 

  Second Quarter

 

              20.79 

 

              18.04 

 

           .125 

  Third Quarter

 

              20.14 

 

              15.27 

 

           .125 

  Fourth Quarter

 

19.09 

 

              15.95 

 

           .125 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

  First Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

 

(through March 10, 2008)

 

$              18.41 

 

$              16.11 

 

$          .125 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Corporation has paid regular cash dividends since 1980.  During the first quarter of 2008, the Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.125 per share payable April 1, 2008.  The Corporation expects to continue its policy of paying regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they are dependent on future earnings, capital requirements and the financial condition of the Insurance Company.  Any determination to pay dividends is at the discretion of the Corporation’s Board of Directors and is subject to regulatory and contractual restrictions as described in “Part I – Business – Insurance Regulation” and Part II – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.”  On March 11, 2008, there were approximately 560 holders of record of the Corporation’s common stoc k.



18



Comparative Performance by the Company


The SEC requires the Company to present a graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total shareholder return of:  (i) a broad equity market index; and (ii) a published industry index or peer group.  The following graph compares the Common Stock with:  (i) the S&P 500 Index; and (ii) the S&P Life and Health Insurance Index and assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2003 in each of the Common Stock, the stocks comprising the S&P 500 Index and the stocks comprising the S&P Life and Health Insurance Index, assuming the reinvestment of dividends.  The comparisons in the graph are not intended to forecast nor are they necessarily indicative of possible future performance of the Company’s common stock.



Total Return To Shareholders

(Includes reinvestment of dividends)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL RETURN PERCENTAGE

 

 

Years Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company / Index

 

Dec03

Dec04

Dec05

Dec06

Dec07

Presidential Life Corporation

 

37.52

31.99

14.85

17.26

- -18.04

S&P 500 Index

 

28.68

10.88

4.91

15.79

5.49

S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index

 

27.09

22.15

22.51

16.51

11.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEXED RETURNS

 

Base

Years Ending

 

Period

 

 

 

 

 

Company / Index

Dec02

Dec03

Dec04

Dec05

Dec06

Dec07

Presidential Life Corporation

100

137.52

181.51

208.46

244.44

200.35

S&P 500 Index

100

128.68

142.69

149.70

173.34

182.86

S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index

100

127.09

155.24

190.19

221.60

245.97


The Company believes that the S&P 600 Index provides for a better comparison, as the S&P 600 Index is comprised of small-cap companies with a market capitalization between $300 million to $2 billion.  Presidential Life Corporation falls within this range and as such, the following graph will be provided in this and future reports.


Total Return To Shareholders

(Includes reinvestment of dividends)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL RETURN PERCENTAGE

 

 

Years Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company / Index

 

Dec03

Dec04

Dec05

Dec06

Dec07

Presidential Life Corporation

 

37.52

31.99

14.85

17.26

- -18.04

S&P SmallCap 600 Index

 

38.79

22.65

7.68

15.12

- -0.30

S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index

 

27.09

22.15

22.51

16.51

11.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEXED RETURNS

 

Base

Years Ending

 

Period

 

 

 

 

 

Company / Index

Dec02

Dec03

Dec04

Dec05

Dec06

Dec07

Presidential Life Corporation

100

137.52

181.51

208.46

244.44

200.35

S&P SmallCap 600 Index

100

138.79

170.22

183.30

211.01

210.38

S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index

100

127.09

155.24

190.19

221.60

245.97




19




ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


Selected consolidated financial data for the Corporation are presented below for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2007.  This data should be read in conjunction with the Corporation’s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.  


Income Statement Data:

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

Total Revenue

$

  364,125 

$

  358,826 

$

      458,581 

$

   396,259 

$

      354,919 

 Benefits

 

    217,668 

 

    242,218 

 

    255,743 

 

    254,022 

 

    258,148 

 Interest Expense on Notes Payable

 

      9,138 

 

      10,432 

 

      9,636 

 

        9,805 

 

        9,643 

 Expenses, excluding interest

 

      40,659 

 

      36,013 

 

      44,990 

 

      32,411 

 

      26,891 

Total Benefits and Expenses

 

    267,465 

 

    288,663 

 

    310,369 

 

    296,238 

 

    294,682 

 Provision for Income Taxes

 

      32,978 

 

      20,450 

 

      56,623 

 

      34,056 

 

      21,958 

 Net Income

$

    63,682 

$

     49,713 

$

         91,589 

$

   65,965 

$

      38,279 

 Income per Share, diluted

$

             2.15 

$

           1.67 

$

              3.11 

$

           2.25 

$

            1.31 

Dividends per Share

$

               .50 

$

             .40 

$

                .40 

$

             .40 

$

              .40 


                             Balance Sheet Data:

                               At December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

                                                         (in thousands)

Assets

$

  4,155,516 

$

  4,619,372 

$

4,895,559 

$

4,817,356 

$

4,509,783 

Total Capitalization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Notes Payable

 

     90,195 

 

     150,000 

 

     150,000 

 

     150,000 

 

     150,000 

  Shareholders’ Equity

 

     661,955 

 

     639,587 

 

     626,496 

 

     595,734 

 

     476,259 

Total

$

     752,150 

$

     789,587 

$

    776,496 

$

   745,734 

$

   626,259 

Book Value Per Share

$

         22.40 

$

         21.70 

$

          21.29 

$

       20.29 

$

       16.24 

Net Investment Return on Assets

 

       7.14%

 

       7.06%

 

       7.45%

 

       7.78%

 

       7.38%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Due to the recovery of the financial markets after 2002, the Company has experienced a gradual recovery in profitability and Shareholders’ Equity. In 2005 and 2006, the Company undertook 2 programs designed to rebalance a portion of its fixed income portfolio (See, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Liquidity and Capital Resources, “Asset/Liability Management.”) This portfolio rebalancing resulted in a decreased yield on assets, as long-term, higher yielding assets were sold with the proceeds being reinvested in shorter term assets with lower yields. The sale of the long-term assets resulted in approximately $75 million of capital gains in 2005. In 2006 and 2007, the purchases of new fixed income assets from portfolio rebalancing resulted in decreased income from investments. Also, during 2006 and 2007, the Company experienced a decline in overall assets due to a substantial increase in annuity surrenders ($480.1 mill ion in 2006 and $535.2 million in 2007, compared to $151.2 million in 2005) resulting in an overall decline in Total Assets. Despite these trends, net income improved to $64.4 million in 2007 from $49.7 million in 2006, as invested yields stabilized while credited rates on rollover annuities fell substantially. This improvement in net investment margin combined with an increase in income from the Company’s limited partnership investments resulted in improved earnings performance in 2007.


As described under “Ratings” and “Regulation,” the Corporation’s business is substantially affected by capital ratios and their impact on its ratings.  Consequently, the Insurance Company’s management established a policy of reducing the level of sales increases until capital and surplus ratios are further improved.  Sales are also being made with a greater selectivity based on increased profit level requirements for new business.  The Insurance Company has determined that the level of competition in the sale of traditional and universal life insurance products has made it very difficult for smaller insurance companies, such as the Insurance Company, to participate in this business in a profitable way.  Accordingly, the Insurance Company has determined that, under the current market conditions, it will not participate in the sale of traditional and universal life policies.






20




ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF   OPERATIONS


General


The Insurance Company is engaged in the sale of insurance products with three primary lines of business: individual annuities, individual life insurance, and group accident and health.  Revenues are derived primarily from premiums received from the sale of annuity contracts, life and accident and health products, and gains (or losses), from our investment portfolio.  As described in Item 1A, since 2004 the Insurance Company has suspended the sale of traditional and universal life insurance due to existing market conditions.


For financial statement purposes, our revenues from the sale of whole life and term life insurance products and annuity contracts with life contingencies are treated differently from our revenues from the sale of annuity contracts without life contingencies, deferred annuities and universal life insurance products.  Premiums from the sale of whole or term life insurance products and life contingent annuities are reported as premium income on our financial statements.  Premiums from the sale of deferred annuities, universal life insurance products and annuities without life contingencies are not reported as premium revenues, but rather are reported as additions to policyholders’ account balances.  For these products, revenues are recognized over time in the form of policy fee income, surrender charges and mortality and other charges deducted from policyholders’ account balances.


Profitability in the Insurance Company’s individual annuities, individual life insurance and group accident and health depends largely on the size of its inforce block, the adequacy of product pricing and underwriting discipline, and the efficiency of its claim and expense management.


Unless specifically stated otherwise, all references to 2007, 2006 and 2005 refer to our fiscal years ended, or the dates, as the context requires, December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.


When we use the term “We,” “Us” and “Our” we mean the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.


In this discussion, we have included statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control.  These statements may relate to our future plans and objectives.  By identifying these statements for you in this manner, we are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results may differ, possibly materially, from results indicated in these forward-looking statements.  Important factors, among others, that could cause our results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are discussed below under “Certain Factors That May Affect Our Business” and under “Risk Factors” (See ite m 1A).


Executive Overview


Results


The Corporation’s earnings per share were $2.16 for 2007, as compared to $1.69 in 2006 and $3.12 in 2005.  Results in 2006 and 2007 reflect decreases in both investment income and net realized investment gains from 2005.  Our total revenues in 2007 were $364 million, compared to $359 million in 2006 and $459 million in 2005.  The Corporation’s decreases in earning and revenues in 2006 and 2007 resulted primarily from decreases in net investment income and realized capital gains.  Lower yields from the portfolio rebalancing (See, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Liquidity and Capital Resources, “Asset/Liability Management.”), a loss on the payor swaptions (reflected in the realized capital gains), and decreased investment income from the Corporation’s partnership investments all contributed to lower revenues in 2006 and 2007.


Certain Factors That May Affect Our Business


There are numerous factors, some of which are outside our control, which could have a material impact on our business.  These factors include market conditions, legal and regulatory changes and operational risk.  A summary of these factors is set below:


1.

 Market Conditions:  The Corporation, like all companies, is affected by the general state of financial markets and economic conditions in the U.S. and elsewhere.  Despite certain recent improvements in business conditions, the business environment in recent years has been difficult and the ability to obtain desired returns on the investment portfolio without exposing the Corporation to excess risk has been challenging.  This, in turn, has had an impact on our willingness to expand sales of our single premium annuity products.



21




2.

Legal and Regulatory Risk:  As an insurance company, we are subject to substantial regulatory control.  Any material change in the framework in which we operate could have a material impact on the business.  For further discussion on how we deal with the regulatory requirements, see “Business – Insurance Regulation.”


3.

Operational Risk:  Business is dependent on our ability to process, on a daily basis, our payment obligations under outstanding policies and the condition of the investment portfolio.  Any internal failures in the internal processes, people, or systems could lead to adverse consequences to the Corporation.  In addition, despite the contingency plans in place, the ability to conduct business may be adversely impacted by the disruption in the infrastructure that supports our business and the community in which we are located.


4.

Interest Rate Risk:  The Insurance Company’s principal products are deferred annuities, which are interest rate sensitive instruments.  In an interest rate environment of falling or stable rates the Insurance Company’s annuity holders are less likely to seek to surrender their annuities prior to maturity to seek alternative, higher-yielding investments.  However, in an environment of moderately or significantly increasing rates, such surrenders should be expected to increase.  As of December 31, 2007, the existence of surrender fees on approximately 43.2% of the Insurance Company’s outstanding deferred annuities acts as a deterrent against surrenders.   However, if interest rates climb sufficiently, such fees may not have a significant deterrent effect.  Moreover, the surrender fees are only in effect for up to the first 7 years of each annuity policy and, therefore, disappear over time (see table below).  In the event of a substantial increase in surrenders during a short period of time, the Insurance Company may have to sell off longer-term assets to pay current surrender liabilities.  The Insurance Company continually develops strategies to address the match between the timing of its assets and liabilities.  To that end, in 2006 and 2007, a significant number of policies came off surrender charge and a significant portion of this business did surrender.  This can be seen in the surrender ratio in the table on page 3.  The company anticipated this and increased liquidity, maintaining significant levels of cash equivalents to fund surrenders.  Due to the relatively flat or inverted yield curve during much of this time, this increased level of liquidity resulted in a relatively small reduction of income.  The Company believes that the heavy surrender activity is now largely behind us and, along with expected new sales, there should be a turn around in the inforce thi s year.  Additionally,  management has increased the incentive for agents to retain this business with the Company by paying full first year compensation on internal rollovers.  Beginning in 2008, a significantly smaller amount of business will be coming off surrender charge – as shown in the table below and consequently we expect a significant reduction in the surrender ratio.  During 2005 and 2006, especially in light of the substantial number of policies coming off surrender charges in those years and in 2007, the Insurance Company reduced the amount of assets invested in longer-term investments by approximately $1,239 million and reinvested in short and intermediate return investments at reduced yields.  These reduced yields were partially offset by the gains recognized by the Insurance Company from the sale of the longer-term assets.  To protect against a substantial sudden increase in rates (300 basis points), the Company has entered into a series of payor swaption in vestments.  Under these investments, the Company obtained the right to enter into interest rate swap agreements with counterparties under which the Company’s interest rate obligations are fixed and the counterparties’ obligations are variable, thus protecting the Company from sudden rate increases. (See, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Liquidity and Capital Resources, “Asset /Liability Management.”)

Account Value with Surrender Charges Expiring

 

Year Expiring

 

Account Value

(in millions)

 

Percent of Account Value Expiring

2008

 

$             186.0 

 

        19.8 

%

2009

 

147.4 

 

        15.7 

 

2010

 

88.7 

 

        9.4 

 

2011

 

137.4 

 

14.6 

 

2012

 

212.1 

 

22.6 

 

2013 and later

 

168.4 

 

          17.9 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$            940.0 

 

100.0

%

Pricing


Management believes that the Insurance Company is able to offer its products at competitive prices to its targeted markets as a result of: (i) maintaining relatively low issuance costs by selling through the independent general agency system; (ii) minimizing home office administrative costs; and (iii) utilizing appropriate underwriting guidelines.


The long-term profitability of sales of life and most annuity products depends on the degree of margin of the actuarial assumptions that underlie the pricing of such products.  Actuarial calculations for such products, and the ultimate profitability of sales of such products, are based on four major factors: (i) persistency; (ii) rate of return on cash invested during the life of the policy or contract; (iii) expenses of acquiring and administering the policy or contract; and (iv) mortality.



22




Persistency is the rate at which insurance policies remain in force, expressed as a percentage of the number of policies remaining in force over the previous year. Policyholders can either surrender policies or cause their policies to lapse by failing to pay premiums.

 

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Ratio of annualized voluntary terminations (surrenders and lapses) to mean life insurance in force




6.6%




7.6%




7.0%




8.2%




8.5%


The assumed rate of return on invested cash and desired spreads during the period that insurance policies or annuity contracts are in force also affects pricing of products and currently includes an assumption by the Insurance Company of a specified rate of return and/or spread on its investments for each year that such insurance or annuity product is in force.


Investment Results


The following table summarizes the Insurance Company's investment results for the periods indicated, as determined in accordance with GAAP.


Year Ended December 31,

 

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

                                                       (in thousands)

Cash and total invested Assets <F1>

$     4,228,704 

$     4,589,132 

$       4,678,264 

$       4,640,865 

$       4,280,184 

Net investment income <F2>

$        294,860 

$        316,415 

$          339,711 

$          339,442 

$          299,007 

Effective yield <F3>

           7.14%

           7.06%

           7.45%

           7.78%

           7.38%

Net realized investment Gains (Losses) <F4>


$          24,833 


$         (3,607)


$            75,010 


$            15,278 


$            10,328 


<F1>

Average of cash and aggregate invested amounts at the beginning and end of period.

<F2>

Net investment income is net of investment expenses and excludes capital gains and losses and provision for income taxes.

<F3>

Net investment income divided by average cash and total invested assets (including accrued investment income) minus net investment income.

<F4>

Net realized investment gains (losses) include provisions for impairment in value that are considered other than temporary and exclude provisions for income taxes.


A general improvement in market conditions and an increase in net investment income were the primary factors in the increase from 2003 to 2004. Portfolio rebalancing and the decline in total assets in 2006 and 2007 resulting from annuity surrenders exceeding net premium written contributed to the decline in net investment income in 2005-2007. Net investment margin (the difference between the return on invested assets and credited rates paid on annuities) improved during 2007 and is expected to favorably impact results in 2008. The sale of long-term bonds to support the portfolio rebalancing in 2005 resulted in $75.0 million in realized capital gains. During 2006, a loss of $14.1 million on the Payor Swaption Portfolio combined with a decline in security sales resulted in a decline to $ (3.6) million in net realized investment gains. The Company had net realized investment gains of $24.8 million in 2007, due primarily to the premiums from optionally called trust preferred securities.


Another major factor affecting profitability is the level of expenses. Management believes that one of the Insurance Company's strengths is its concentration on minimizing expenses through periodic review and adjustment of general and administrative costs.


Investments


The Insurance Company derives a predominant portion of its total revenues from investment income. The Insurance Company manages most of its investments internally.  All investments made on behalf of the Insurance Company are governed by the Statement of Investment Policy established and approved by the Investment Committee, the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors of the Insurance Company and the Corporation and by qualitative and quantitative limits prescribed by applicable insurance laws and regulations.  The Investment Committee meets regularly to set and review investment policy and to approve current investment plans.  The actions of the Investment Committee are subject to review and approval by the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors of the Insurance Company and Corporation.  The Insurance Company's Statement of Investment Policy must comply with NYSID regulations and the regulations of other applicable regulatory bodies.


The Insurance Company's investment philosophy generally focuses on purchasing investment grade securities with the intention of holding such securities to maturity.  However, as market opportunities, liquidity, or regulatory considerations may dictate, securities may be sold prior to maturity.  The Insurance Company has categorized all fixed maturity securities as available for sale and carries such investments at market value.


The Insurance Company manages its investment portfolio to meet the diversification, yield and liquidity requirements of its insurance policy and annuity contract obligations. The Insurance Company's liquidity requirements are monitored regularly so that cash flow needs are satisfied.  Adjustments periodically are made to the Insurance Company's investment policies to reflect changes in the Insurance Company's short-and long-term cash needs, as well as changing business and economic conditions.


The Insurance Company seeks to manage its investment portfolio in part to reduce its exposure to interest rate fluctuations.  In general, the market value of our fixed maturity portfolio increases or decreases in an inverse relationship with fluctuations in interest rates, and our net investment income increases or decreases in direct relationship with interest rate changes.  For example, if interest rates decline, the Insurance Company's fixed maturity investments generally will increase in market value, while net investment income will decrease as fixed income investments mature or are sold and proceeds are reinvested at the declining rates, and vice versa. Management is aware that prevailing market interest rates frequently shift and, accordingly, has adopted strategies that are designed to address either an increase or decrease in prevailing rates.  These strategies included the investments in Payor Swaptions, described be low.


The Insurance Company¢s principal investments are in fixed maturities, all of which are exposed to at least one of three primary sources of investment risk: credit, interest rate and market valuation.  The financial statement risks are those associated with the recognition of impairments and income, as well as the determination of fair values. Management evaluates whether other than temporary impairments have occurred on a case-by-case basis.  Inherent in management¢s evaluation of each security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential.  Considerations used by the Insurance Company in the other than temporary impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been below amortized cost; (ii) the potential for impairme nts of securities when the issuer is experiencing significant financial difficulties; (iii) the potential for impairments in an entire industry sector or sub-sector; (iv) the potential for impairments in certain economically depressed geographic locations; (v) the potential for impairments of securities where the issuer, series of issuers or industry has a catastrophic type of loss or has exhausted natural resources; (vi) in situations where it is determined that an impairment is attributable to changes in market interest rates, the Corporation’s ability and intent to hold impaired securities until recovery of fair value at or above cost; and (vii) other subjective factors, including concentrations and information obtained from regulators and rating agencies. In addition, the earnings on certain investments are dependent upon market conditions, which could result in prepayments and changes in amounts to be earned due to changing interest rates or equity markets. & nbsp;The determination of fair values in the absence of quoted market values is based on valuation methodologies, securities the Insurance Company deems to be comparable and assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances.  There can be no assurance that the assumptions relied upon by the Insurance Company will yield accurate assessments of the fair value of these investments.  As such, the Insurance Company reassesses its assumptions regularly.


As of December 31, 2007, 9.1% of the Company’s invested assets (approximately $363.1 million) consisted of short-term commercial paper and corporate bonds and U.S. Agencies with maturities of less than 1-year at the time of purchase. The commercial paper, which totaled approximately $292.0 million at December 31, 2007, consisted of direct obligations of various corporations rated a minimum of A1 by Standard and Poor’s and P1 by Moody’s with maturities of less than 45 days. The fixed income securities with less than 1-year to maturity (approximately $80 million) consisted primarily of investment-grade corporate bonds which, as of December 31, 2007, had quality ratings (except for one) of at least A2 by Moody’s and A by Standard and Poor’s. As part of its Asset-Liability management strategy, the Insurance Company has kept elevated levels of cash or cash equivalent investments since 2005, anticipating the potential surrender of annui ty policies with expiring surrender charges. This cash has been available to meet actual surrenders and any other cash needs. By having the liquidity afforded by these cash investments during 2007, the Company has been able to satisfy all cash needs without portfolio sales from the fixed income portfolio.


As of December 31, 2007, approximately 8% of the Insurance Company's total invested assets were invested in limited partnerships and equity securities.  Investments in limited partnerships are included in the Corporation's consolidated balance sheet under the heading “Other long-term investments.”  See “Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”  The Insurance Company is committed, if called upon during a specified period, to contribute an aggregate of approximately $140.7 million of additional capital to certain of these limited partnerships.  Commitments of $13.2 million will expire in 2008, $2.8 million in 2009, $8.8 in 2010, $47.7 in 2011 and $68.0 in 2012.  The Insurance Company may make selective investments in additional limited partnerships as opportunities arise.  In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments (i.e. , equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the ability of the Insurance Company to take quarterly distributions of partnership earnings.  There can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will continue to achieve the same level of returns on its investments in limited partnerships as it has historically.  Further, there can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will receive a return of all or any portion of its current or future capital investments in limited partnerships.  The failure of the Insurance Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of return on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation's financial condition and results of operations.



23




The primary market risks in the Insurance Company’s investment portfolio are interest rate risk (discussed above), credit risk and, to a lesser degree, equity price risk.  Changes in credit risk are generally measured by changes in corporate yields in relation to the underlying Treasuries (“corporate spreads”) as well as changes in the Credit Default Swap (“CDS”) market, although the Company is a cash investor and does not buy or sell credit default swaps. The Insurance Company's exposure to foreign exchange risk is insignificant.  The Insurance Company has no direct commodity risk.  Changes in interest rates can potentially impact the Corporation’s profitability.  In certain scenarios where interest rates are volatile, the Insurance Company could be exposed to disintermediation risk (asset/liability mismatch) and reduction in net interest rate spread or profit margin.  [See  “Interest Rate Risk” above.]  


Unrealized Losses


The following table presents the amortized cost and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities and common stock where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost at December 31, 2007:


 

Less Than 12 Months

 

   12 Months or More

 

Total

 

Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

Description of Securities

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury obligations and direct obligations of US Government Agencies



$       18,028 

 



$          612 

 



$         20,968 

 



$            1,462 

 



$         38,996 

 



$            2,074 

Corporate Bonds

324,736 

 

13,307 

 

839,968 

 

40,417 

 

1,164,704 

 

53,724 

Preferred Stocks

56,617 

 

8,923 

 

24,996 

 

7,245 

 

81,613 

 

16,168 

Subtotal Fixed Maturities

399,381 

 

22,842 

 

885,932 

 

49,124 

 

1,285,313 

 

71,966 

Common Stock

5,402 

 

993 

 

 

 

5,402 

 

993 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

$     404,783 

 

$     23,835 

 

$       885,932 

 

$       49,124 

 

$    1,290,715 

 

$       72,959 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table presents the total gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost by December 31, 2007.

 

   

Gross      Unrealized Losses

 

   

% Of

Total

 

 

(in thousands)

Less than twelve months

$

22,842 

 

31.74

Twelve months or more

 

49,124 

 

68.26

 

 

 

 

 

Total

$

71,966 

 

100.00 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2007, the Company owned 360 securities with a net unrealized loss position.


Notwithstanding an overall decrease in the number of securities in an unrealized loss position at the end of 2007 from 398 to 360, there was an 11% increase in the amount of the unrealized losses for 12 months or more.  The number of securities with unrealized losses greater than 12 months decreased to 214 from 266 while the number of securities with unrealized losses less than 12 months increased from 76 to 135.  Approximately 82% of the securities with unrealized losses greater than 12 months are corporate bonds.  The average unrealized loss at December 31, 2007 has increased to 4.59% of book value from 4.30% for the prior year.


A combination of factors contributed to the overall increase in unrealized losses for corporate bonds at December 31, 2007.  Corporate spreads widened substantially, with 10-year BBB-rated spreads increasing from +135 basis points over 10-year treasuries at December 31, 2006 to +208 basis points at December 31, 2007, according to the Merrill Lynch corporate indices.  Five-year BBB-rated corporate spreads widened from +105 at year-end 2006 to +201 at December 31, 2007.


Unrealized losses in bank and financial issues increased due to concerns about the sub-prime mortgage market and widening corporate spreads.  Spreads on 10-year A-rated financials increased from +96 at year-end 2006 to +225 at year-end 2007.  Losses were further increased for bank trust preferreds and preferreds by year-end 2007 tax loss selling.  This situation improved subsequent to December 31, 2007, as many of the trust preferreds and preferred issues saw an increase in market value by more than 10% over year-end 2007 levels.  The Company addresses other than temporary impairment issues consistent with its policy as described on page 26.


U.S. Treasury Obligations and Direct Obligations of U.S. Agencies:  The net unrealized loss on U.S. Treasuries and U.S. Agencies totaled $789,000 on a fair value position of $30.755 million at December 31, 2007. This represented a substantial improvement from the $5.329 million unrealized loss at year-end 2006, reflecting the substantial decline in Treasury yields during 2007.


Corporate Bonds: The predominant investment category for the Company’s investments is the Corporate Bond Category (including Public Utilities), which totaled $2.374 billion at December 31, 2007. The $55.0 million of unrealized losses at December 31, 2007, an increase from $48.76 million at December 31, 2006, reflected the general widening of corporate spreads in 2007. The 5 largest unrealized loss positions consisted of the following holdings: GMAC 8% due November 1, 2031; Countrywide Capital III, 8.05% due June 15, 2027; Knight-Ridder (assumed by McClatchy Company), 4 5/8% due November 1, 2014; Limited Brands, 5 ¼% due November 1, 2014; and Ford Motor Credit, 5.70% due January 15, 2010. The GMAC unrealized loss reflected concerns about sub-prime mortgages at its Residential Capital LLC subsidiary. The unrealized loss in Countrywide Capital represented the significant deterioration of the residential mortgage market and its effect on Countrywide; the takeover bid that Countrywide subsequently received from Bank of America has narrowed this unrealized loss. Knight-Ridder suffered from the widening in corporate spreads combined with the McClatchy rating downgrades (in 2007) below investment-grade by S&P and Fitch. The Limited Brands holding reflects a significant book value position ($14 million) that experienced a widening in credit spreads combined with cyclical concerns about the retailing sector. The Ford Motor Credit position is a significant book value position ($14.95 million) that has been hurt by cyclical concerns about automobile and truck sales.


Preferred Stocks: The Preferred Stock Category, which totaled $112.0 million at December 31, 2007, consists primarily of banks, financial companies, electric utilities and REIT’s (real estate investment trusts). Unrealized losses totaled $16.2 million at year-end 2007, primarily reflecting the decline in the market value of financial company preferreds. The market also experienced a significant decline due to year-end tax loss selling. The 5 largest unrealized loss positions consisted of the following holdings: Royal Bank of Scotland, 5 ¾% PFD L; Lehman Brothers Capital Trust V; Equity Residential 6.48% PFD Series N; BRE Properties 6 ¾% PFD Series C; and Duke Realty 6 ½% PFD Series K. The Royal Bank of Scotland and the Lehman Brothers positions were affected by general concerns about the U.S. residential real estate market and the effect on loans and investments in sub-prime mortgages and collateralized bond obligations back ed by sub-prime mortgages. The Equity Residential, BRE Properties and Duke Realty issues were generally affected by the tax loss selling noted previously. All three of these preferreds are currently trading at market values that are more than 10% higher than December 31, 2007.


Common Stocks:  The Company had $993,000 of unrealized losses at December 31, 2007. A significant portion of this unrealized loss reflects a decline in market value of a common stock position in I-Star Financial, Inc., a residential REIT.


 



24




Statutory Information


The Insurance Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed by the New York State Insurance Department.  Prescribed SAP include state laws, regulations and general administrative rules, as well as a variety of publications from the NAIC.  Accounting principles used to prepare statutory financial statements differ from financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP.  (See Item 1, Business, Insurance Regulation, Statutory Reporting Practices)


A reconciliation of the Insurance Company’s net income (loss) as filed with regulatory authorities to net income reported in the accompanying financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, is set forth in the following table:


(in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

Statutory net income

$

59,141 

$

74,976 

$

103,569 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(12,345)

 

(9,020)

 

(20,040)

   Investment income difference

 

  7,714 

 

(9,033)

 

  3,267 

   GAAP Deferred taxes

 

  2,698 

 

(197)

 

(40,614)

   Policy liabilities and accruals

 

  7,053 

 

15,449 

 

3,942 

   IMR amortization

 

  (3,056)

 

  (2,938)

 

  (1,736)

   IMR capital gains

 

9,676 

 

494 

 

48,171 

   Payor Swaptions

 

(8,314)

 

(15,307)

 

(435)

   Federal income taxes

 

(693)

 

(3,831)

 

  2,916 

   Other

 

550 

 

287 

 

      39 

   Non-insurance company’s net income

 

1,258 

 

  (1,167)

 

  (7,490)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP net income

$

 63,682 

$

 49,713 

$

 91,589 


A reconciliation of the Insurance Company’s shareholders’ equity as filed with regulatory authorities to shareholders’ equity reported in the accompanying financial statements as of December 31 is set forth in the following table:


(in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

Statutory shareholders’ equity

$

360,373 

$

330,104 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

   Asset valuation and interest maintenance reserves

 

131,494 

 

117,095 

   Investment valuation differences

 

65,364 

 

123,694 

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

77,721 

 

81,069 

   Policy liabilities and accruals

 

 135,151 

 

 128,090 

   Difference between statutory and GAAP deferred taxes

 

 (95,510)

 

 (114,415)

   Other

 

      (2,754)

 

      (2,618)

   Non-insurance company’s shareholders’ equity

 

(9,884)

 

(23,432)

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP shareholders’ equity

$

661,955 

$

639,587 


Agency Ratings


Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position in the insurance and financial services marketplace.  There can be no assurance that the Corporation’s or the Insurance Company’s ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be changed.  In the event the ratings are downgraded, the level of revenues or the persistency of the Insurance Company’s business may be adversely impacted.


In February 2007, A.M. Best Company reaffirmed the Insurance Company’s rating at “B+” (Good).  At the time of the B+ rating, publications of A.M. Best indicated that the “B+” rating was assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best's opinion, have achieved a very good overall performance when compared to the norms of the insurance industry and that generally have demonstrated a good ability to meet their respective policyholder and other contractual obligations over a long period of time.  The B+ rating is within A.M Best’s “Secure” classification, along with A++, A+, A, A-, and B++ ratings.  In 2007, A.M. Best Company changed the Financial Strength Rating Descriptor for B+ and B++ ratings on insurance companies from “Very Good” to “Good”.  The change was made to make the Rating Descriptor consistent with the existing Rating definitio n and did not, in any way, represent a change in A.M. Best’s opinion of the Company.


In evaluating a company's statutory financial and operating performance, A.M. Best reviews the company's profitability, leverage and liquidity, as well as the company's book of business, the adequacy and soundness of its reinsurance, the quality and estimated market value of its assets, the adequacy of its reserves and the experience and competency of its management.


A.M. Best's rating is based on factors which primarily are relevant to policyholders, agents and intermediaries and is not directed towards the protection of investors, nor is it intended to allow investors to rely on such a rating in evaluating the financial condition of the Insurance Company.


In May 2007, Moody's Investor Services (“Moody's”) reaffirmed the Insurance Company's insurance financial strength at Ba2 (“Questionable financial security”) with a stable outlook, and its rating on the Corporation’s Senior Notes at B2 (“Poor financial security”), with a stable outlook.  


In March 2007, Standard & Poor's Corporation (“Standard & Poor's”) raised the Insurance Company's insurance financial strength rating from a BB- which is defined as “a vulnerability to the broad array of risks that are embedded in its investment and operational profile” to a BB, which is defined as “marginal financial security with positive attributes, but adverse business conditions could lead to insufficient ability to meet financial commitments.”  In March 2007, Standard & Poors raised the credit rating of the Senior Notes from a B- (weak financial security, adverse business conditions will likely impair its ability to meet financial commitments) to a B (weak financial security, adverse business conditions will likely impair its ability to meet financial commitments) with a stable outlook.


In July 2007, Fitch Ratings assigned the Insurance Company an Aq rating, “Strong,” - possessing strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations based solely on the Company’s stand-alone financial statement characteristics.  Fitch Ratings found that risk factors are moderate, and the impact of any adverse business and economic factors is expected to be small.


Results of Operations


Comparison of Fiscal Year 2007 to Fiscal Year 2006 and Fiscal Year 2006 to Fiscal Year 2005.


Operating Revenues


Annuity Considerations and Life Insurance Premiums


Total annuity considerations and life insurance premiums decreased to approximately $40.4 million in 2007 from approximately $41.4 million in 2006, a decrease of approximately 2.4% and increased from approximately $39.1 million in 2005 to $41.4 million in 2006, an increase of approximately 5.9%.  Life insurance premiums were $15.6 million, $13.8 million and $11.8 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively.  Annuity considerations decreased to approximately $24.8 million in 2007 from approximately $27.6 million in 2006, a decrease of approximately $2.8 million, and increased from approximately $27.4 million in 2005 to $27.6 million in 2006, an increase of approximately $0.2 million.  These amounts do not include consideration from the sales of deferred annuities or immediate annuities without life contingencies. Under GAAP, such sales are reported as additions to policyholder account balances. Consideration from such sal es was approximately $136.5 million, $163.6 million and $139.7 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Several factors attributed to the decrease of annuity premium considerations.  The continued repressive interest environment beginning in 2002 has been persistent causing annuity carriers to credit relatively lower and unattractive rates of interest versus the banking savings market which enjoyed a favorable yield curve advantage throughout 2007.  Liquidity is at a premium, as the economy appears to continue slipping towards recession creating an unfavorable environment for the purchase of annuity contracts.  The Company’s diminished A.M. Best, Standard and Poors, and Moody’s ratings from the 2001 levels remain a significant contributory factor to the annuity premium slowdown.



25




Policy Fee Income


Universal life and investment type policy fee income remained stable at approximately $2.9 million in fiscal years 2006 and 2005, but decreased to approximately $2.6 million in fiscal year 2007.  Policy fee income consists principally of amounts assessed during the period against policyholders' account balances for mortality charges and surrender charges.


Net Investment Income


Net investment income totaled $294.9 million in 2007, as compared to $316.4 million in 2006 and $339.7 million in 2005.  This represents a 6.8% decrease comparing 2007 to 2006 and a 6.9% decrease comparing 2006 to 2005.  Invested assets, at amortized cost, for 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $4.0 billion, $4.2 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively.  This decrease in invested assets was primarily caused by an increase in policy surrenders in the Insurance Company’s annuity business which exceeded the level of new annuity sales for the respective periods. Reduced income resulted from a decrease in invested assets, as well as, the income reduction attributable to portfolio rebalancing activities in 2006 and 2005, which involved the sale of higher yielding long-term assets and the reinvestment into lower yielding short-term investments.  The Insurance Company's ratios of net investment income to average cash and invested assets, at amort ized cost, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were approximately 7.44%, 7.43% and 7.97%, respectively.  Income from limited partnership investments amounted to approximately $52.9 million, $47.0 million and $63.5 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The changes in the amounts are largely reflective of the inherent volatility of income in the Company’s limited partnership portfolio.  (See Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Asset/Liability Management).  Without taking into account the Corporation’s returns on its limited partnership investments in those years, the respective ratios would have been 6.43%, 6.64% and 6.85% for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.   For additional information, please refer to “Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”


Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses


Net realized investment gains/(losses) (pre-tax) amounted to $24.8 million in fiscal 2007, as compared to $(3.6 million) in fiscal 2006 and $75.0 million in fiscal 2005.  The increase in 2007 was primarily attributable to gains on fixed maturities.  The decrease in 2006 was primarily attributable to recorded losses on the Insurance Company’s investment in Payor Swaptions.  Due to accounting rules governing these investments, fluctuations in market value are realized in the income statement, even if the investments continued to be held by the Company.  The values of the payor swaptions were $7.0, $9.8 million and $19.0 million for the years ended 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The decrease in investment gains from 2005 to 2006 was largely attributable to gains from the portfolio rebalancing activities in 2005.  Net realized investment gains for years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 include realized investment losses of approximately $52 thousand, $4.5 million, and $10.3 million, respectively, attributable to writedowns of certain securities contained in the Insurance Company's investment portfolio that were deemed by management to be other than temporarily impaired.  For a discussion of the procedure by which such determinations were made, see “Investments” above.  Realized investment gains (losses) also resulted from sales of certain equities and convertible securities and calls and sales of fixed maturity investments in the Company’s investment portfolio.   


Total Benefits and Expenses


Interest Credited and Benefits to Policyholders


Interest credited and benefits paid to policyholders amounted to $217.7 million in fiscal 2007 as compared to $242.2 million in fiscal 2006 and $255.7 million in fiscal 2005.  These represent a decrease of 10.1% comparing fiscal 2007 to fiscal 2006 and a 5.3% decrease comparing fiscal 2006 to fiscal 2005.  These amounts are consistent with the Company’s historic expense levels.


The Insurance Company’s average credited rate for reserves and account balances for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was less than the Company’s ratio of net investment income to mean assets (based on book value) for the same period as noted above under “Net Investment Income”. Although management does not currently expect material declines in the spread between the Company's average credited rate for reserves and account balances and the Company's ratio of net investment income to book value mean assets  (the "Spread"), there can be no assurance that the Spread will not decline in future periods or that such decline will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.  Depending, in part, upon competitive factors affecting the industry in general and the Company, in particular, the Company may, from time to time, change the average credited rates on certain of its products.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to reduce such rates or that any such reductions will widen the Spread.  The actual Spread, excluding capital gains, for the for the 12 months ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was 2.13%, 2.01% and 2.33%, respectively.  In comparing year-end 2007 to year-end 2006, the increase was primarily due to a decrease in the crediting rate.  From 2005 to 2006, the decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the earned rate, partially offset by a decrease in the crediting rate.



26




Interest Expense on Notes Payable


The interest expense on the Corporation's notes payable amounted to approximately $9.1 million in 2007, approximately $10.4 million in 2006 and approximately $9.6 million in 2005.  


General Expenses, Taxes and Commissions


General expenses, taxes and commissions to agents totaled $28.3 million in 2007 as compared to $27.0 million in 2006 and $25.0 million in 2005.  This represents an increase of 4.9% comparing 2007 to 2006 and an increase of 8.2% comparing fiscal 2006 to fiscal 2005.  The increase in 2007 was primarily due to 2006 refunds in state and franchise taxes, which reduced the taxes in that year.  Consultant fees paid in connection with the Company’s ERM project also contributed to the increase in 2007.  The increase in 2006 was primarily due to increased commissions paid on internal rollovers in an effort to keep policies in-force.


Change in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs


The change in the net DAC for 2007 resulted in a charge of approximately $12.3 million, as compared to a charge of approximately $9.0 million and a charge of approximately $20.0 million for 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Changes in DAC consist of three elements:  deferred costs associated with product sales, amortization of the DAC on deferred annuity business and amortization of the DAC on the remainder of the Company’s business.  Deferred costs consisted of credits of $11.3 million, $12.1 million and $8.4 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively.  Amortization of the DAC on deferred annuity business consisted of charges of $17.9 million, $15.9 million and $23.2 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively.  Amortization of the DAC on the remainder of the Company’s business consisted of charges of $5.8 million in 2007 and $5.2 million in both 2006 and 2005.


Under applicable accounting rules (FASB 97), DAC related to deferred annuities is amortized in proportion to the estimated gross profits over the estimated lives of the contracts.  Essentially, as estimated profits of the Insurance Company related to these assets increase, the amount and timing of amortization is accelerated.  The increase in 2007 relates to an increase in realized gains in 2007.  The decrease from 2005 to 2006 was primarily due to a substantial decrease in the realized gains; a direct result of the Company’s portfolio rebalancing program in 2005.  (See also the discussion of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs under Critical Accounting Policies below.)


Income Before Income Taxes


For the reasons discussed above, income before income taxes amounted to approximately $96.7 million in 2007, as compared to approximately $70.2 million in 2006 and approximately $148.2 million in 2005.


Income Taxes


Income tax expense was approximately $33.0 million in 2007, as compared to an expense of approximately $20.5 million in 2006 and approximately $56.6 million in 2005.  Higher income in 2007 generated higher taxes.  The decrease in income taxes in fiscal 2006 was primarily attributable to a net realized investment loss in 2006.  

 

Net Income


For the reasons discussed above, the Corporation had net income of approximately $63.7 million in 2007, as compared to $49.7 million in 2006 and $91.6 million in 2005.


Liquidity and Capital Resources


The Corporation is an insurance holding company and its primary uses of cash are debt service obligations, operating expenses and dividend payments.  The Corporation’s principal sources of cash are sales of and interest on the Corporation’s investments and rent from its real estate.  In 2007, the Corporation’s Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend rate to  $.125 per share from $.10 per share in 2006 and 2005.  During 2007 and 2006, the Corporation did not repurchase any of its common stock, although at December 31, 2007, the Corporation was authorized to purchase approximately 385,000 shares of common stock.


The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances that it may make to the Corporation without obtaining prior regulatory approval.  Under the New York Insurance Law, the Insurance Company is permitted without prior insurance regulatory clearance to pay a stockholder dividend to the Corporation as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its statutory surplus as of the immediately preceding calendar year or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains and losses). The Insurance Company will only be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend to the Corporation in excess of that amount if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Superintendent and the Supe rintendent does not disapprove the distribution. The Insurance Company paid $32 million and $20 million in dividends to the Corporation in fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. No dividends were paid to the Corporation in 2005.  On a going forward basis, there can be no assurance that the Insurance Company will have statutory earnings to support payment of dividends to the Corporation in an amount sufficient to fund its cash requirements and pay cash dividends or that the Superintendent will not disapprove any dividends that the Insurance Company must submit for the Superintendent’s consideration.     


The Corporation was able to meet all its liquidity needs in 2007, including the payment of dividends, and anticipates being able to meet those needs in 2008 and the foreseeable future.


Principal sources of funds at the Insurance Company are premiums and other considerations paid, net investment income received and proceeds from investments called, redeemed or sold. The principal uses of these funds are the payment of benefits on annuity contracts and life insurance policies (including withdrawals and surrender payments), the payment of policy acquisition costs, operating expenses and the purchase of investments.


Given the Insurance Company’s historical cash flow and current financial results, management believes that, for the next twelve months and for the reasonably foreseeable future, the Insurance Company’s cash flow from operating activities will provide sufficient liquidity for the operations of the Insurance Company.   


Net cash provided by the Corporation’s operating activities was approximately $21.1 million, $77.4 million and $45.4 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Net cash provided by/(used in) in the Corporation's investing activities (principally reflecting investments purchased, called, redeemed or sold) was approximately $416.4 million, $236.6 million and $(60.8) million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.


For purposes of the Corporation's consolidated statements of cash flows, financing activities relate primarily to sales and surrenders of the Insurance Company's annuity and universal life insurance products.  The payment of dividends by the Corporation to its stockholders is also considered to be a financing activity.  Net cash (used in)/provided by the Insurance Company's financing activities amounted to approximately $(453.7) million, $(300.8) million and $15.8 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  These fluctuations primarily are attributable to changes in policyholder account balances as a result of surrenders, sales and interest earned by the policyholders as well as the repayment of short-term debt.


The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants relating to limitations on liens and sale or issuance of capital stock of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation violates such covenants, we may be obligated to offer to repurchase the entire outstanding principal amount of such notes.  As of December 31, 2007, we believe that we are in compliance with all of the covenants.


Market Risk


Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and other relevant market rate or price changes.  Market risk is directly influenced by the volatility and liquidity in the markets in which the related underlying assets are traded.  The following is a discussion of our primary market risk exposures and how those exposures are currently managed.


We believe that a portfolio composed principally of fixed-rate investments that generate predictable rates of return should back our fixed-rate liabilities.  We do not have a specific target rate of return.  Instead, our rates of return vary over time depending on the current interest rate environment, the slope of the yield curve, the spread at which fixed-rate investments are priced over the yield curve, and general economic conditions.  Our portfolio strategy is designed to achieve adequate risk-adjusted returns consistent with our investment objectives of effective asset-liability matching, liquidity and safety.


In order to maintain consistency in our portfolio, our deferred annuity products incorporate surrender charges to discourage surrenders or withdrawals.  Annuitants may not terminate or withdraw funds from their annuity contracts for a significant initial period (generally seven years) without incurring penalties in the form of surrender charges.  These surrender charges generally range from 1% to 7% of the investment. Approximately 56.8%, 46.9% and 33.5% of the Insurance Company's deferred annuity contracts in force (measured by reserves) as of December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 were surrenderable without charge.


The market value of our fixed maturity portfolio changes as interest rates change.  In general, rate decreases cause asset prices to rise, while rate increases cause asset prices to fall.  Based on market values and prevailing interest rates as of December 31, 2007, a hypothetical instantaneous increase in interest rates of 100 basis points would produce a loss in fair value of our fixed maturity assets of approximately $167.3 million.    


Asset/Liability Management


A persistent concern of the Insurance Company’s management is maintaining the appropriate balance between the duration of its invested assets and the duration of its contractual liabilities to its annuity holders and credit suppliers.  Prior to 2005, the Insurance Company had permitted the duration gap between its assets and liabilities to rise during a period in which it expected relatively stable interest rates and, most importantly, in which its liabilities were largely protected by significant annuity surrender charges.  This strategy benefited the Company by allowing it to realize enhanced yield from longer duration assets.  At the end of 2004, the Insurance Company determined that the prospect of rising rates and declining surrender charges necessitated a reduction in the duration mismatch, as well as increased management of extension risk in its investment portfolio.  The Company developed a two-step asset liability managem ent strategy.  The first step involved a duration reduction strategy, which involved the sale of certain longer duration assets that were purchased at prices below current market prices and reinvestment in shorter duration assets.  Since December 31, 2004, the Company has completed in excess of $1,238.9 million of asset repositioning.


As the second element of the asset liability management strategy, the Company hedged against the risks posed by a rapid and sustained rise in interest rates by entering into a form of derivative transaction known as Payor Swaptions.  Swaptions are options to enter into an interest rate swap arrangement with a counterparty at a specified future date.  At expiration, the counterparty would be required to pay the Insurance Company the amount of the present value of the difference between the floating rate of interest  (based on 3-month LIBOR) on the swap agreement and a specified strike rate in the agreement multiplied by the notional amount of the swap agreement.  The effect of these transactions would be to lessen the negative impact on the Insurance Company of a significant increase in interest rates. The Company may monetize the value of expiring Payor Swaptions prior to the expiration date.  .  


In July 2005, Presidential Life entered into a series of Payor Swaption investments designed to protect the Company against an instantaneous rise in interest rates of 300 basis points, as required by the New York State Insurance Department (Regulation 126).  Six contracts against the 10-year swap rate were executed with one dealer and three banks at a total cost of $19,430,625. During the 3rd quarter of 2006 Presidential sold the expiring 2006 Payor Swaption for $5,930,000, realizing a capital gain of $3,186,000. The proceeds were reinvested into a new Payor Swaption with a notional value of $325,000,000 (increased from the $200,000,000 notional value for the expiring Payor Swaption) that expires on July 13, 2009, for a total cash consideration of $6,170,000.  During the 2nd quarter of 2007, the Insurance Company sold 2 of the Swaptions set to expire in July 2007 realizing a capital loss of $1,396,875. These proceeds were reinvested into a new Payor Swaption with a notional amount of $400,000,000 that expires on June 21, 2010.


The Company has established ISDA Credit Support Agreements with the three current counterparties. All of the counterparties have ratings equal to or higher than Aa3/AA- by Moody's and S&P, respectively. These contracts expire in July 2008, July 2009, and June 2010 at varying strike rates based on the 10-year swap rate. The Company has determined that the Payor Swaptions represent a "non-qualified hedge" and has adopted accounting procedures consistent with the provisions of FAS 133. The aggregate market value of the Payor Swaptions as of December 31, 2007 was $7,005,197. These investments are classified on the balance sheet as "Derivative Instruments". Under FAS 133, the value of the Payor Swaptions is recognized at "fair value" (market value), with the resulting change in fair value reflected in the statement of income as a realized loss or gain. The change in market value during the calendar year was a loss of $2,778,92 1.  The Company has determined that the average fair value, based upon weekly market values for the period  (January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007), was $11,040,890.


The Insurance Company, in consultation with its actuarial consultant, Milliman, Inc, periodically assesses its overall Swaption portfolio to determine if sufficient protection is provided to cover projected realized losses in the event of a liquidation of assets to satisfy annuity surrenders under the aforementioned 300 basis points increase in interest rates.  As part of this process, Presidential believes that its existing Swaption Portfolio currently provides excess protection against a 300 basis points rise in interest rates. The Company may consider liquidating some of the Swaption Portfolio or allowing the nearby Payor Swaptions maturing in 2008 to expire. Future consideration of these transactions or other asset/liability management strategies is dependent upon periodic testing based on updated asset and liability data as of December 31, 2007.


Line of Credit


The short-term note payable relates to a bank line of credit with JPMorgan Chase Bank which had been in the amount of $50,000,000 (“Bank Line”) and provided for interest on borrowings based on market indices.  At December 31, 2006 the Company had $50,000,000 outstanding. The Bank Line was up for renewal on July 31, 2007, however, on July 9, 2007, the Company paid down the full $50,000,000 Bank Line with available cash.  The proceeds from the Bank Line had previously been used as an arbitrage facility to purchase higher yielding investments.  The Company decided to pay off the Bank Line because due to the increased cost of the Bank Line it no longer provided a positive spread to the Company.


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements


The Corporation has not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements and has made no financial commitments or guarantees with any unconsolidated subsidiary or special purpose entity.  All of the Corporation’s subsidiaries are wholly owned and their results are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.



27




Contractual Obligations


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contain information regarding payments required under existing long-term borrowing arrangements.  The following presents a summary of the Company’s significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007.


CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TABLE


 

 

Payment Due By Period (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Contractual Obligations

 

Less than

1 Year

 


1-3 Years

 


3-5 Years

 


After 5 Years


Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Term Debt Obligations

 

$               - 

 

$     90,195 

 

$               - 

 

$                   - 

$        90,195 

Interest on Long-Term Debt    Obligations

 


$       7,103 

 


$       3,551 

 


$               - 

 


$                   - 


$        10,654 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy Liabilities (1)

 

$   574,114 

 

$   846,367 

 

$   765,024 

 

$     2,724,396 

$   4,909,901 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Contractual Obligations

 

$   581,217 

 

$   940,113 

 

$   765,024 

 

$     2,724,396 

  $   5,010,750 


(1) The difference between the recorded liability of $3,301.8 million, and the total payment obligation amount of $4,909.9 million, is $1,608.1 million and is comprised of (i) future interest to be credited; (ii) the effect of mortality discount for those payments that are life contingent; and (iii) the impact of surrender charges on those contracts that have such charges.


Of the total payment of $4,909.9 million, $3,174.6 million, or 64.7%, is from the Company’s deferred annuity, life, and accident and health business.  Determining the timing of these payments involves significant uncertainties, including mortality, morbidity, persistency, investment returns, and the timing of policyholder surrender.  Notwithstanding these uncertainties, the table reflects an estimate of the timing of such payments.  


Long-term debt obligations consist of $90.2 million, 7 7/8% senior notes due February 15, 2009.  See Note 3 in Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financials Statements for additional discussion concerning both long-term and short-term obligations.


Effects of Inflation and Interest Rate Changes


In a rising interest rate environment, the Insurance Company's average cost of funds would be expected to increase over time, as it prices its new and renewing annuities to maintain a generally competitive market rate. In addition, the market value of the Insurance Company's fixed maturity portfolio would be expected to decrease, resulting in a decline in shareholders' equity.  Concurrently, the Insurance Company would attempt to place new funds in investments that were matched in duration to, and higher yielding than, the liabilities associated with such annuities.  Moreover, surrenders of its outstanding annuities would likely accelerate.  Management believes that liquidity necessary in such an interest rate environment to fund withdrawals, including surrenders, would be available through income, cash flow, the Insurance Company's cash reserves and, if necessary, proceeds from the monetization of the Payor Swaption investments described a bove and the sale of short-term and long-term investments.


In a declining interest rate environment, the Insurance Company's cost of funds would be expected to decrease over time, reflecting lower interest crediting rates on its fixed annuities.  Should increased liquidity be required for withdrawals in such an interest rate environment, management believes that the portion of the Insurance Company's investments that are designated as available for sale in the Corporation's consolidated balance sheet could be sold without materially adverse consequences in light of the general strengthening in market prices that would be expected in the fixed maturity security market.


Interest rate changes also may have temporary effects on the sale and profitability of our annuity products.  For example, if interest rates rise, competing investments (such as annuity or life insurance products offered by the Insurance Company's competitors, certificates of deposit, mutual funds and similar instruments) may become more attractive to potential purchasers of the Insurance Company's products until the Insurance Company increases the rates credited to holders of its annuity products.  In contrast, as interest rates fall, we would attempt to lower our credited rates to compensate for the corresponding decline in net investment income.  As a result, changes in interest rates could materially adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Insurance Company depending on the attractiveness of alternative investments available to the Insurance Company's customers.  In that regard, in the current inte rest rate environment, the Insurance Company has attempted to maintain its credited rates at competitive levels designed to discourage surrenders and also to be considered attractive to purchasers of new annuity products.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements


See Note 1, Item O, “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for a full description of the new accounting pronouncements including the respective dates of adoption and the effects on the results of operations and financial condition.


Critical Accounting Estimates


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (²GAAP²) requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements.  The critical accounting policies, estimates and related judgments underlying the Corporation¢s consolidated financial statements are summarized below.  In applying these accounting policies, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.  Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries; others are specific to the Insurance Company’s business operations.


Investments


The Insurance Company¢s principal investments are in fixed maturities, all of which are exposed to at least one of three primary sources of investment risk: credit, interest rate and market valuation.  The financial statement risks are those associated with the recognition of other than temporary impairments and income, as well as the determination of fair values. Recognition of income ceases when a bond goes into default and management evaluates whether temporary or other than temporary impairments have occurred on a case-by-case basis.  Management considers a wide range of factors about the security issuer and uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause and decline in the estimated fair value of the security and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery.  Inherent i n management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential.  Considerations used by the Company in the other than temporary impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been below amortized cost; (ii) whether the issuer is experiencing significant financial difficulties; (iii) financial difficulties being experienced by an entire industry sector or sub-sector; (iv) economically depressed geographic locations; (v) situations where the issuer, series of issuers or industry  has a catastrophic type of loss or has exhausted natural resources; (vi) in situations where it is determined that an impairment is attributable to changes in market interest rates, the Corporation’s ability and intent to hold impaired securities until recovery of fair value at or above cost; and (vii) other subjective factors, including concentrations and information obtained from regulators and rating agencies. In addition, the earnings on certain investments are dependent upon market conditions, which could result in prepayments and changes in amounts to be earned due to changing interest rates or equity markets.   The determination of fair values in the absence of quoted market values is based on valuation methodologies, securities the Company deems to be comparable and assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances.  The use of different methodologies and assumptions may have a material effect of the estimated fair value amounts.  However, the Company believes that the estimates it uses in determining other than temporary impairment and fair value are realistic, conservative and fairly state the value of its investments.


The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in limited partnership interests in which it has more than a minor equity interest, or more than a minor influence over the joint ventures and partnership’s operations, but does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary.  The Company routinely evaluates its limited partnership investments for impairments. The Company considers financial and other information provided by the investee and other known information and inherent risks in the underlying investments in determining whether an impairment has occurred.  When an other-than-temporary impairment is deemed to have occurred, the Company records a realized capital loss within net investment income to record the investment at its fair value.  Investment income from limited partnerships is recorded based on the Company’s share of earnings reported in the partnership’s most recent audit ed financial statements and income distributed by the partnerships.  Management considers the quarterly financial information received from the limited partnerships to be unreliable or insufficient to record investment income, other than from distributions, on a quarterly basis.  Management estimates the classification of cash distributions received between investment income and return of capital based on correspondence from the respective partnerships.  The Company adjusts its estimate of investment income recorded during the year to the actual realized gains and other income reported in the limited partnerships’ most recent annual audited financial statements, which are generally received in the second quarter of the subsequent year.  As a result, there may be up to a one year reporting lag for recording investment income that is not distributed during the year, which may result in significant adjustments.  The Company records its share of net unrealized gains and losses (net of taxes) from the audited financial statements of the limited partnerships.  As a result, there may be up to a one year reporting lag for reporting unrealized gains and losses, which may result in significant adjustments to other comprehensive income in 2008.  Because it is not practicable to obtain an independent valuation for each limited partnership interest, for purposes of disclosure the market value of a limited partnership interest is estimated at book value based on the most recent available audited financial statements.  The failure of the Insurance Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of return on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation's financial condition and results of operations.



Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs


The Insurance Company incurs significant costs in connection with acquiring new business. Under applicable accounting rules, these costs, which vary, are deferred. The recovery of such costs is dependent upon the future profitability of the related product, which in turn is dependent mainly on investment returns in excess of interest credited, as well as persistency and expenses.  These factors enter into Management¢s estimate of future gross profits, which generally are used to amortize such costs.  Changes in these estimates result in changes to the amounts expensed in the reporting period in which the revisions are made and could result in the impairment of the deferred acquisition cost asset and a charge to income if estimated future gross profits are less than amounts deferred.  


To demonstrate the sensitivity of our net DAC balance ($77.7 million as of December 31, 2007) relative to our future spreads and expenses, the information below indicates how much the net DAC balance would have changed if the future spread assumption decreased by 30% and if the future expense assumption increased by 30%.  We believe that any variation in our expense or spread estimate is likely to fall within these ranges.


Change in Assumption

Decrease in Net DAC Asset

 

 

Future Spread Decreases 30%

$11.1 million

Future Expenses Increase 30%

$1.5 million


Future Policy Benefits


The Insurance Company establishes liabilities for amounts payable under life and health insurance policies and annuity contracts.  Generally, these amounts are payable over a long period of time and the profitability of the products is dependent on the pricing. Principal assumptions used in pricing policies and in the establishment of liabilities for future policy benefits are investment returns, mortality, expenses and persistency.


The reserves reflected in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements included herein are calculated based on GAAP and differ from those specified by the laws of the various states in which the Insurance Company does business and those reflected in the Insurance Company's statutory financial statements.  These differences arise from the use of different mortality and morbidity tables and interest rate assumptions, the introduction of lapse assumptions into the reserve calculation and the use of the net level premium reserve method on all insurance business.   See “Notes 1G, 1H and 8 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”


The reserves reflected in the Corporation's consolidated financial statements are based upon the Corporation's best estimates of mortality, persistency, expenses and investment income, with appropriate provisions for adverse statistical deviation and the use of the net level premium method for all non-interest-sensitive products.  For all interest-sensitive products, the policy account value is equal to the accumulation of gross premiums plus interest credited less mortality and expense charges and withdrawals.  In determining reserves for its insurance and annuity products, the Insurance Company performs periodic studies to compare current experience for mortality, interest and lapse rates with expected experience in the reserve assumptions. Differences are reflected currently in earnings for each period.  


For policies and contracts where the reserve is reported as the account balance ($2,579.9 million), a change in expected experience would have no effect on the reserve.


For those annuities and supplementary contracts with life contingencies that comprise a portion of future policy benefits ($672 million of reserves), an increase in mortality experience of 1% per year for individual contracts would increase the present value of future benefits by approximately $27 million.  We believe that any variation of our mortality estimates is likely to fall within this range.


For traditional life insurance business ($39 million of reserves), establishing reserves requires the use of many assumptions.  Due to the number of independent variables inherent in the calculation of these reserves, and because this business is not material to the overall Company results, it is not practical to perform a quantitative analysis on the impact of changes in underlying assumptions.  However, the Insurance Company historically has not experienced significant adverse deviations from its assumptions and believes that its assumptions are realistic and produce reserves that are fairly stated in accordance with GAAP.



28




Income Taxes


Income taxes are recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS No. 109"). In accordance with SFAS No. 109, for all years presented we use the asset and liability method to record deferred income taxes. Accordingly, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized that reflect the net tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, using enacted tax rates. Such temporary differences are primarily due to tax basis of reserves for future policy benefits, deferred acquisition costs, and net operating loss carry forwards. A valuation allowance is applied to deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that all, or some portion, of the benefits related to the deferred tax assets will not be realized.


FIN 48 liabilities and tax reserves – We have open tax years in the United States that are currently under examination by the applicable taxing authorities, and certain later tax years that may in the future be subject to examination. We periodically evaluate the adequacy of our FIN 48 liabilities and tax reserves, taking into account our open tax return positions, tax assessments received and tax law changes. The process of evaluating FIN 48 liabilities and tax reserves involves the use of estimates and a high degree of management judgment. The final determination of tax audits could affect our tax reserves.


ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


The information required by this item is contained in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


See the accompanying Table of Contents to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on Page F-1.


ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


None


ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  As of December 31, 2007, the Company, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, inclu ding its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting


There have been no changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the year ended December 31, 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


Management’s Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


The Company's management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment we believe that, as of December 31, 2007, the Company's internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.


The Company's independent registered public accounting firm that audited the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements has issued an attestation report on our assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears below.



29





REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Stockholders

Presidential Life Corporation

Nyack, New York


We have audited Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries (“the Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.


We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.


A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthor ized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


In our opinion, Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).


We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended and our report dated March 11, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP


BDO Seidman, LLP

New York, New York

March 11, 2008




30



ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION


None.

PART III


ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


The information relating to the Corporation's directors, nominees for election as directors and executive officers will be included in the Corporation's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”), which the Corporation intends to file pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Directors and Executive Officers" and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


The information relating to compensation paid to executive officers and directors of the Corporation will be included under the headings “Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in the Company’s 2008 Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 14, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


The information relating to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Corporation will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS


The Insurance Company held a senior note of the Corporation with a par value of $9.8 million.  On September 27, 2007, the Insurance Company sold the senior note of the Corporation back to the Corporation and the debt was retired.  Upon the extinguishment of the debt, the Corporation recorded a loss of $49,000, net of taxes.


Other than the foregoing, there are no matters required to be disclosed under this Item.


ITEM 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services


The information relating to Principal Accounting Fees and Services will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference.


PART IV


ITEM 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K


Reports of The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms, Consolidated Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules listed in the Table of Contents on page F-1 are being filed as part of this Form 10-K.


Exhibit Index


Exhibit

Number

Description of Document


2.01

Certificate of Ownership and Merger, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on July 27, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993)


2.02                     Certificate of Merger, as filed with the Secretary of State of State of New York on July 27, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993)


3.01

Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of State of New York on June 8, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993)


3.02

Certificate of Correction of the Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of State of New York on June 29, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993)


3.03

Certificate of Incorporation of Presidential Life Corporation, a Delaware corporation (now the Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


3.04

By-Laws of Presidential Life Corporation, a Delaware corporation (now the Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


4.01

Form of Indenture dated as of December 15, 1993 between the Registrant and M&T Bank relating to the 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Corporation filed on September 2, 1993)


4.02

Form of Indenture dated as of February 23, 1999 between the Registrant and Bankers Trust Company relating to the 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Corporation filed on November 3, 1998)


10.01

   Reinsurance Agreements, dated January 1, 1969, March 1, 1979 and November 15, 1980, in each case together with all amendments thereto, Between the Registrant and Life Reassurance Corporation of America (formerly known as General Reassurance Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)                                                                                       


10.02

Reinsurance Agreements, dated September 25, 1969 and November 21, 1980, in each case together with all amendments thereto, by and between Presidential Life Insurance Company and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company (now known as Swiss Re Life & Health America) (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


10.03

Form of Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


10.04

Presidential Life Corporation 1984 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


10.05

Presidential Life Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Corporation filed on July 16, 1996)


11.01

Statement Re Computation of Per Share Earnings is clearly determinable from the information contained in this Form 10-K


21.01

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992)


23.01

       

Consents of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms


   31.01

        Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant

 

to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14

             

              31.02      

        Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant

        to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14.


32.01       

       Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to

       

       Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2003


32.02

       Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to

       Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2003






31





SIGNATURES



 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.




PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION





By  /s/ Herbert Kurz            

Herbert Kurz

Chief Executive Officer

and Chairman of the Board



Date:  March 11, 2008





32





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:




Date:   March 11, 2008

/s/ Herbert Kurz               

Herbert Kurz

Chief Executive Officer

and Chairman of the Board




Date:   March 11, 2008

 /s/ Charles J. Snyder           

Charles J. Snyder, Treasurer

and Chief Financial Officer




Date:   March 11, 2008

 /s/ Donald Barnes             

Donald Barnes, Director




Date:   March 11, 2008

 /s/ Richard Giesser                 

Richard Giesser, Director




Date:   March 11, 2008

 /s/ Jeffrey Keil            

Jeffrey Keil, Director




Date:  March 11, 2008

 /s/ Paul F. Pape            

Paul F. Pape, Director




Date:  March 11, 2008              /s/ Lawrence Read

                                                         Lawrence Read, Director




Date:  March 11, 2008             /s/ Lawrence Rivkin

                                                         Lawrence Rivkin, Director






33




Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Presidential Life Corporation

Nyack, New York

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-63831) and Form S-8 (No. 333-08217) of Presidential Life Corporation of our report dated March 11, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules, and the effectiveness of Presidential Life Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting, which appear[s] in this Form 10-K.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP


BDO Seidman, LLP

New York, New York

March 11, 2008






34





TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES


                                              Page


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ……….…………………………….              F-2


Consolidated Financial Statements:

      

       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006…………..………….…….

            F-4


Consolidated Statements of Income – Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006  

     and 2005…………..……………………………………………………………………..           F-5


       Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity – Years Ended December 31, 2007,

                 2006 and 2005……………..……………………………………………….…………...

 F-6


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006

         and 2005 ………… .……………………………………………………………………..

 F-7


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  ……………………………………………………...

 F-8



Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:


II  Condensed Balance Sheets (Parent Company Only) as of December 31, 2007 and

         2006 ………….. ..……………………………………………………………………….

S-1


II  Condensed Statements of Income (Parent Company Only) – Years Ended

                December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 ……………. ………………………………………

S-2


II  Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Parent Company Only) – Years Ended

                 December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 …………. …………………………………………

S-3


     III  Supplemental Insurance Information – Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 …

S-4


     IV  Reinsurance – Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005  …………………………..

S-5


                 Certification for Chief Executive Officer  ……………………………………………….

S-6


                 Certification for Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer……  ……………………………

S-7


All schedules not included are omitted because they are either not applicable or because the information required therein is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.             







F-1




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Presidential Life Corporation

Nyack, New York

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.  We have also audited the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index as of and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.  These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and schedules are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and schedules, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and schedules.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries at December 31, 2007 and 2006 , and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes, as a result of adopting Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Presidential Life Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 11, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP


BDO Seidman, LLP

New York, New York

March 11, 2008




F-2



PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

    Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

Available for sale at fair value (Amortized cost of  $3,211,908 and $3,123,677 respectively)

 

$               3,282,099 

 

$              3,261,817 

   Common stocks

 

 

 

 

Available for sale at fair value (Amortized cost of  $7,177 and $31,560 respectively)

 

             9,732 

 

             45,266 

   Derivatives, at fair value

 

7,005 

 

9,784 

   Real estate

 

                  415 

 

                  415 

   Policy loans

 

            19,194 

 

            17,965 

   Short-term investments

 

            363,067 

 

            839,535 

   Other long-term investments

 

          309,663 

 

          267,975 

           Total investments

 

       3,991,175 

 

       4,442,757 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

3,631 

 

19,844 

Accrued investment income

 

45,206 

 

46,514 

Amounts due from security transactions

 

22,600 

 

5,564 

Federal income tax recoverable

 

 

5,716 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

77,721 

 

81,069 

Furniture and equipment, net

 

579 

 

446 

Amounts due from reinsurers

 

13,124 

 

13,682 

Other assets

 

             1,480 

 

             1,772 

Assets held in separate account

 

 

             2,008 

         TOTAL ASSETS

 

$              4,155,516 

 

$              4,619,372 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Policy Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

   Policyholders’ account balances

 

$              2,579,907 

 

$              2,969,434 

   Future policy benefits:

 

 

 

 

                Annuity

 

         642,931 

 

         649,110 

                Life and accident and health

 

69,067 

 

66,355 

   Other policy liabilities

 

             9,917 

 

             10,406 

         Total policy liabilities

 

3,301,822 

 

3,695,305 

Notes payable

 

         90,195 

 

         100,000 

Short-term note payable

 

           - 

 

           50,000 

Deposits on policies to be issued

 

8,446 

 

5,522 

General expenses and taxes accrued

 

             4,073 

 

             5,082 

Federal income tax payable

 

             183 

 

Deferred federal income taxes, net

 

60,217 

 

76,190 

Other liabilities

 

28,625 

 

45,678 

Liabilities related to separate account

 

 

2,008 

        Total Liabilities

 

3,493,561 

 

3,979,785 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

   Capital stock ($.01 par value; authorized

      100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,553,710 shares in 2007 and 29,469,072 in 2006)

 



               295 

 



               294 

Additional paid in capital

 

4,538 

 

2,314 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

91,704 

 

118,444 

Retained earnings

 

565,418 

 

518,535 

        Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

661,955 

 

639,587 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND   SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 


$               4,155,516 

 


$              4,619,372 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.



F-3



PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except share data)


 

Years Ended December 31

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Insurance revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Premiums

 

   $        15,634 

 

   $        13,831 

 

   $        11,759 

     Annuity considerations

 

      24,788 

 

      27,601 

 

      27,384 

     Universal life and investment type          policy fee income

 


2,600 

 


2,916 

 


        2,885 

   Net investment income

 

    294,860 

 

    316,415 

 

    339,711 

   Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

      24,833 

 

      (3,607)

 

      75,010 

   Other income

 

1,410 

 

1,670 

 

1,832 

     TOTAL REVENUES

 

364,125 

 

358,826 

 

458,581 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BENEFITS AND EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death and other life insurance benefits

 

13,499 

 

        13,269 

 

        13,262 

Annuity benefits

 

        77,545 

 

        76,800 

 

        75,011 

Interest credited to policyholders’             account balances

 


      128,871 

 


      151,906 

 


      165,660 

Interest expense on notes payable

 

          9,138 

 

          10,432 

 

          9,636 

Other interest and other charges

 

             975 

 

             879 

 

             844 

(Decrease)/Increase in liability for future policy benefits

 

             (3,222)

 

             (636)

 

             966 

Commissions to agents, net

 

11,747 

 

12,573 

 

        8,699 

General expenses and taxes

 

16,567 

 

14,420 

 

16,251 

Increase in deferred policy acquisition cost

 

         12,345 

 

         9,020 

 

          20,040 

    TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

 

267,465 

 

288,663 

 

310,369 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

96,660 

 

       70,163 

 

       148,212 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Current

 

      34,150 

 

      19,904 

 

      14,203 

   Deferred

 

(1,172)

 

546 

 

        42,420 

 

 

      32,978 

 

      20,450 

 

      56,623 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

   $        63,682 

 

   $        49,713 

 

   $        91,589 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share, basic

 

   $            2.16 

 

   $            1.69 

 

   $            3.12 

Earnings per common share, diluted

 

   $            2.15 

 

   $            1.67 

 

   $            3.11 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, basic

 


29,523,089 

 


29,449,256 

 


29,387,323 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, diluted

 


29,650,894 

 


29,703,933 

 


29,496,252 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.







F-4



PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006, AND 2005

(in thousands, except share data)


 

 

Capital Stock

 


Additional Paid-in-Capital

 



Retained Earnings

 

Accumulated

Other Comprehensive

Income (loss)

 




Total

Balance at January 1, 2005,

 

         294 

 

302 

 

      400,776 

 

       194,362  

 

595,734 

Comprehensive Income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

        91,589 

 

 

 

91,589 

Loss on Rate Lock Hedge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          (2,127)

 

(2,127)

Net Unrealized Investment Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


         (47,846)

 


(47,846)

Comprehensive Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41,616 

Issuance of Shares

Under Stock Option Plan

 

 

 

905 

 

 

 

 

 

905 

Dividends Paid to Shareholders  ($.40 per share)

 

 

 

 

 


     (11,759)

 

 

 

     (11,759)

Balance at December 31, 2005

$

         294 

$

           1,207 

$

480,606 

$

       144,389 

$

626,496 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

        49,713 

 

 

 

49,713 

Loss on Rate Lock Hedge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          (1,456)

 

(1,456)

Net Unrealized Investment Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


         (24,489)

 


(24,489)

Comprehensive Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,768 

Issuance of Shares

Under Stock Option Plan

 

 

 

545 

 

 

 

 

 

545 

Share Based Compensation

 

 

 

562 

 

 

 

 

 

562 

Dividends Paid to Shareholders  ($.40 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

    (11,784)

 

 

 



(11,784)

Balance at December 31, 2006

$

         294 

$

           2,314 

$

518,535 

$

       118,444 

$

639,587 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of adoption of FIN 48

 

 

 

 

 


     (2,036)

 

 

 


   (2,036)

Balance at

January 1, 2007, as adjusted

 


294

 


2,314

 


516,499

 


118,444

 


637,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

        63,682 

 

 

 

63,682 

Loss on Rate Lock Hedge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          (707)

 

(707)

Net Unrealized Investment Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


         (26,033)

 


(26,033)

Comprehensive Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,942 

Issuance of Shares

Under Stock Option Plan

 

1

 

1,095 

 

 

 

 

 

1,096 

Share Based Compensation

 

 

 

1,129 

 

 

 

 

 

1,129 

Dividends Paid to Shareholders  ($.50 per share)

 

 

 

 

 


     (14,763)

 

 

 


(14,763)

Balance at December 31, 2007

$

         295 

$

           4,538 

$

565,418 

$

       91,704 

$

661,955 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.



F-5



PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$       63,682 

 

$       49,713 

 

$       91,589 

   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     (Provision) Benefit for deferred income taxes

 

          (1,172)

 

          546 

 

          42,420 

Depreciation and amortization

 

            979 

 

            960 

 

            1,164 

     Stock Option Compensation

 

            1,129 

 

            562 

 

     Net amortization of discount on fixed maturities

 

       (17,823)

 

       (28,146)

 

       (29,651)

     Realized investment (gains) losses

 

(24,833)

 

3,607 

 

       (75,010)

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Accrued investment income

 

          1,308 

 

          6,168 

 

          810 

     Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

         12,345 

 

         9,020 

 

         20,040 

     Federal income tax recoverable

 

            2,669 

 

            20,137 

 

       (12,591)

     Liability for future policy benefits

 

           (3,467)

 

           (286)

 

           2,528 

     Other items

 

            (13,766)

 

            15,120 

 

            4,054 

             Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

$       21,051 

 

$       77,401 

 

$       45,353 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Acquisitions

 

     (433,705)

 

     (34,301)

 

     (938,966)

     Sales

 

        10,350 

 

        482,531 

 

        784,593 

     Maturities, calls and repayments

 

        376,060 

 

        294,564 

 

        311,322 

Common Stocks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Acquisitions

 

       (24,907)

 

       (36,016)

 

       (38,116)

     Sales

 

          53,224 

 

          48,258 

 

          56,208 

Derivative Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Acquisitions

 

(6,156)

 

(6,170)

 

(19,431)

     Sales

 

          6,051 

 

          5,930 

 

Decrease (Increase) in short-term investments and   policy loans

 

          466,375 

 

           (528,485)

 

           (283,465)

Other Long-term Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Additions to other long-term investments

 

       (100,937)

 

       (66,682)

 

       (60,279)

     Distributions from other long-term investments

 

          87,113 

 

          79,907 

 

          122,910 

Amounts due from security transactions

 

         (17,036)

 

         (2,910)

 

         7,444 

Other Items

 

 

 

(3,023)

     Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

 

          416,432 

 


236,626

 


       (60,803)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) Increase in policyholders’ account balances

 

        (389,527)

 

        (300,447)

 

        23,842 

Repurchase of common stock

 

               1,095 

 

               545 

 

               905 

Bank overdrafts

 

          (4,171)

 

          7,937 

 

          9,942 

Deposits on policies to be issued

 

          2,925 

 

          2,910 

 

         (7,150)

Repayment of short-term debt

 

          (50,000)

 

 

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

       (14,018)

 

       (11,784)

 

       (11,759)

Net cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

 


        (453,696)

 


        (300,839)

 


        15,780 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

          (16,213)

 

          13,188 

 

          330 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year

 

          19,844 

 

          6,656 

 

          6,326 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year

 

$            3,631 

 

$          19,844 

 

$          6,656 

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Taxes Paid

 

$          30,795 

 

$               337 

 

$        26,610 

Interest Paid

 

$          10,107 

 

$          10,596 

 

$          9,668 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.



F-6




PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005


1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES             


A.

Business


Presidential Life Corporation (the “Company”), through its wholly owned subsidiary Presidential Life Insurance Company (“the Insurance Company”), is engaged in the sale of life insurance and annuities.  The Insurance Company has assets of approximately $4.0 billion and shareholders’ equity of $671.8 million as of December 31, 2007 and is licensed in 49 states and the District of Columbia.


On October 31, 2005, the Insurance Company completed the sale of the shares of Central National Life Insurance Company of Omaha (“CNL”) to Renaissance Holding Company, a Michigan corporation (“Renaissance”).  Total proceeds from the sale were $14,316,101, consisting of $2,422,500 allocated to the 52 Certificates of Authority held by CNL and $11,893,601 allocated to the statutory and capital surplus of CNL.  


B.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP”).  Inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.  


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred policy acquisition costs, investments, future policy benefits, provisions for income taxes and reserves for contingent liabilities.


C.

Segment Reporting


The Company has one reportable segment and therefore, no additional disclosures are required under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”.  Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.


We manage and report our business as a single segment in accordance with the provisions of FAS 131, which views certain qualitative and quantitative criteria for determining whether different lines of business should be aggregated for financial reporting purposes.  Substantially all of the Company’s business is divided between annuities (approximately 87%) and life insurance (approximately 13%).  The nature of these two product lines is sufficiently similar to permit their aggregation as a single reporting segment.  Approximately 73% of our life insurance liabilities reflect single premium universal life policies, which bear similar economic and business characteristics to our single premium deferred annuity products.  Both products are funded by initial single premiums, both maintain accreting fund values credited with interest as earned, both are surrenderable before maturity with surrender charges in the early years and the Com pany does not make mortality charges on either product.  Moreover, the two products generate similar returns to the Company and carry similar risks of early surrender by the product holder.  Both are marketed and distributed by the same independent agents.  The products are administered and managed within the same administrative facility, with overlapping administrative functions.  The products are also directed at a similar market, namely mature consumers seeking financial protection for secure future cash streams for themselves and their heirs and associated tax benefits.  The regulatory frameworks for the products are also substantially the same, as both Insurance Company and its independent agents sell these products under single licenses issued by various state insurance departments.  The remaining business of the Company is not material to the overall performance of the Company.  




F-7





D.

Investments


Fixed maturity investments available for sale represent investments that may be sold in response to changes in various economic conditions.  These investments are carried at fair value and net unrealized gains (losses), net of the effects of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred federal income taxes are credited or charged directly to shareholders’ equity, unless a decline in market value is considered to be other than temporary in which case the investment is reduced to its fair value and the loss is recorded in the income statement.  Equity securities include common stocks and non-redeemable preferred stocks and are carried at market value, with the related unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred federal income tax effect, if any, charged or credited directly to shareholders’ equity, unless a decline in market value is deemed to be other than temporary in which case the investment is reduced to its fair value and the loss is recorded in the income statement.


“Other long-term investments” are recorded using the equity method and primarily include interests in limited partnerships, which principally are engaged in real estate, international opportunities, acquisitions of private growth companies, debt restructuring and merchant banking. Substantially all of their investments are recorded at fair value.  In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments  (i.e., equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the practice of many of the partnerships to typically make quarterly distributions (to the extent that distributions are available) of partnership earnings, with the exception of hedge fund limited partnerships.  Investment income from limited partnerships is recorded based on the Company’s share of earnings reported in the partnership’ s most recent audited financial statements and income subsequently distributed by the partnerships.  Management considers the quarterly financial information received from the limited partnerships to be unreliable or insufficient to record investment income, other than from distributions, on a quarterly basis.  Management estimates the classification of cash distributions received between investment income and return of capital based on correspondence from the respective partnerships.  The Company adjusts its estimate of investment income recorded during the year to the actual realized gains and other income reported in the limited partnerships’ most recent annual audited financial statements, which are generally received in the second quarter of the subsequent year.  As a result, there may be up to a one year reporting lag for recording investment income that is not distributed during the year, which may result in significant adjustments in 2008.  The adjustments to its estimat es of investment income recorded during the preceding year (“true-up”) for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 amounted to an increase of approximately $13.4 and $7.3 million respectively.  The Company records its share of net unrealized gains and losses (net of taxes) from the audited financial statements of the limited partnerships.  As a result, there may be up to a one year reporting lag for reporting unrealized gains and losses, which may result in significant adjustments to other comprehensive income in 2008.  Net unrealized gains (cumulative, after tax effects) totaled approximately $51.5 million at December 31, 2007 and $33.4 million at December 31, 2006 and are included in the balance sheet under other comprehensive income.  To evaluate the appropriateness of the carrying value of a limited partnership interest, management maintains ongoing discussions with the investment manager and considers the limited partnership’s operation, its current a nd near term projected financial condition, earnings capacity, and distributions received by the Company during the year. Because it is not practicable to obtain an independent valuation for each limited partnership interest, for purposes of disclosure the market value of a limited partnership interest is estimated at book value based on the most recent available audited financial statements and contributions subsequently made by the Company and income subsequently distributed by the partnerships.  Management believes that the net realizable value of such limited partnership interests, in the aggregate, exceeds their related carrying value as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.  As of December 31, 2007, the Company was committed to contribute, if called upon, an aggregate of approximately $140.7 million of additional capital to certain of these limited partnerships.  Commitments of $13.2 million will expire in 2008, $2.8 million in 2009, $8.8 million in 2010, $47.7 million in 2011 and $68.0 million in 2012.


In evaluating whether an investment security or other investment has suffered an impairment in value that is deemed to be “other than temporary” management considers all available evidence, including, but not limited to the following: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been below amortized cost; (2) the reasons for the decline in value (credit event, interest related or market fluctuation); (3) the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time to allow for a recovery of value; and (4) the financial condition of and near-term prospects of the issuer.  When a decline in the value of an investment security or other investment is considered to be other than temporary, the investment is reduced to its net realizable or fair value, as applicable (which contemplates the price that can be obtained from the sale of such asset in the ordinary course of business) whic h becomes the new cost basis.  The amount of reduction is recorded in the income statement as a realized loss.  Any subsequent increase in the value of the investment over the adjusted cost basis is recognized as an unrealized gain until sold, at which time it is recognized as a realized gain.


Realized gains and losses on disposals of investments are determined for fixed maturities and equity securities by the specific-identification method.


Investments in short-term securities, which consist primarily of commercial paper and corporate debt issues maturing in less than one year, are recorded at amortized cost, which approximate market.  Policy loans are stated at their unpaid principal balance.


The Company’s investments in real estate include two buildings in Nyack, New York, which are occupied entirely by the Company.  The investments are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Accumulated depreciation amounted to $206,800 and $206,800 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Both buildings are fully depreciated and have no depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.


E.

Furniture and Equipment


Furniture and equipment is carried at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over a period of five to ten years except for automobiles, which are depreciated over a period of three years.  Accumulated depreciation amounted to $1,461,000 and $1,354,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and related depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $106,300, $61,700 and $51,900, respectively.


F.

Recognition of Insurance Income and Related Expenses


Premiums from traditional life and annuity policies with life contingencies are recognized as income over the premium-paying period.  Benefits and expenses are matched with such income so as to result in the recognition of profits over the life of the contracts.  This matching is accomplished by means of provision for liabilities for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.


For contracts with a single premium or a limited number of premium payments due over a significantly shorter period than the total period over which benefits are provided (“limited payment contracts”), premiums are recorded as income when due with any excess profit deferred and recognized in income in a constant relationship to insurance in force or, for annuities, the amount of expected future benefit payments.


Premiums from universal life and investment-type contracts are reported as deposits to policyholders’ account balances.  Revenues from these contracts consist of amounts assessed during the period against policyholders’ account balances for mortality charges and surrender charges.  Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense include benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related policyholders’ account balances and interest credited to policyholders’ account balances.


For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, approximately 51.7%, 49.0% and 42.8%, respectively, of premiums from traditional life, annuity, universal life and investment-type contracts received by the Company were attributable to sales to annuitants and policyholders residing in the State of New York.


Premiums, benefits and expenses are stated net of reinsurance ceded to other companies.  Estimated reinsurance recoverables and the cost of reinsurance are recognized over the life of the reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies.

 

G.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DAC”)


The costs of acquiring new business (principally commissions, certain underwriting, agency and policy issue expenses), all of which vary with the production of new business, have been deferred.  When a policy is surrendered, the remaining unamortized cost is written off.  Deferred policy acquisition costs are subject to recoverability testing at time of policy issue and loss recognition testing at the end of each year.


For immediate annuities with life contingencies, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over the life of the contract, in proportion to expected future benefit payments.


For traditional life policies, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over the premium paying periods of the related policies using assumptions that are consistent with those used in computing the liability for future policy benefits.  Assumptions as to anticipated premiums are estimated at the date of policy issue and are consistently applied during the life of the contracts.  For these contracts the amortization periods generally are for the scheduled life of the policy, not to exceed 30 years.


Deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over periods ranging from 15 to 25 years for universal life products and investment-type products as a constant percentage of estimated gross profits arising principally from surrender charges and interest and mortality margins based on historical and anticipated future experience, updated regularly.  The effects of revisions to reflect actual experience on previous amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, subject to the limitation that the outstanding DAC asset can never exceed the original DAC plus accrued interest, are reflected in earnings in the period estimated gross profits are revised.  DAC is also adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized with corresponding credits or charges included in accumulated other comprehensive income.  For that portion of the business where acquisition costs are not deferred, (i.e., medical stop loss business) management believes the expensing of policy acquisition costs is immaterial.



F-8




Unamortized deferred policy acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 are summarized as follows:


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(in thousands)

Balance at the beginning of year

 

$                 81,069 

 

$                 80,394 

Current year’s costs deferred

 

                    11,339 

 

                    12,054 

          Total

 

                 92,408 

 

                 92,448 

Less amortization for the year

 

                   23,632 

 

                   21,358 

          Total

 

                   68,776 

 

                   71,090 

Change in amortization related to Unrealized   Gain in investments

 


8,945 

 


9,979 

Balance at the end of the year

 

$                77,721 

 

$                81,069 


H.

Future Policy Benefits


Future policy benefits for traditional life insurance policies are computed using a net level premium method on the basis of actuarial assumptions as to mortality, persistency and interest established at policy issue.  Assumptions established at policy issue as to mortality and persistency is based on anticipated experience, which, together with interest and expense assumptions, provide a margin for adverse deviation.  Benefit liabilities for deferred annuities during the accumulation period are equal to accumulated contract holders’ fund balances and after annuitization are equal to present value of expected future payments.  The average interest rate used in establishing liabilities for life insurance was 5.28%, 5.27%, and 5.26% for 2007, 2006, and 2005 respectively; and the average interest rate used in establishing liabilities for annuities was 7.50%, 7.55%, and 7.66% for 2007, 2006, and 2005 respectively.


I.

Other Policy Liabilities


The other policy liabilities represents amounts needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims related to insured events that have occurred and have been reported to the insurer on or before the end of the respective reporting period.


J.

Policyholders’ Account Balances


Policyholders’ account balances for universal life and investment-type contracts are equal to policy account values.  The policy account values represent an accumulation of gross premium payments plus credited interest less mortality and expense charges and withdrawals.


These account balances are summarized as follows:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(in thousands)

Account balances at beginning of year

 

$               2,969,434 

 

$               3,269,881 

Additions to account balances

 

                    274,223 

 

                    325,052 

               Total

 

                 3,243,657 

 

                 3,594,933 

Deductions from account balances

 

                    663,750 

 

                    625,499 

Account balances at end of year

 

$               2,579,907 

 

$               2,969,434 

 

 

 

 

 

The average interest rate credited to account balances was 4.75%, 4.99%, and 5.22% for 2007, 2006, and 2005 respectively.


K.

Federal Income Taxes


The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income tax return.  The asset and liability method in recording income taxes on all transactions that have been recognized in the financial statements is used.  Deferred income taxes are adjusted to reflect tax rates at which future tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or realized.  Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.



F-9



L.

Separate Accounts


Separate Accounts are established in conformity with New York State Insurance Law and represent funds for which investment income and investment gains and losses accrue to the policyholders.  Assets and liabilities (stated at market value) of the Separate Account, representing net deposits and accumulated net investment earnings less fees, held primarily for the benefit of contract holders, are shown as separate captions in the consolidated balance sheets.  Effective with the adoption of SOP 03-1 on January 1, 2004, the Company reports separately the assets and liabilities of separate accounts if (i) such separate accounts are legally recognized (ii) assets supporting contract liabilities are legally separated from the Company’s general account liabilities (iii) investments are directed by contract holders (iv) all investment performance, net of fees, is passed to the contract holders.


Deposits to the Separate Account are reported as increases in Separate Account liabilities and are not reported in revenues.  Mortality, policy administration and surrender charges to the Separate Account are included in revenues.


In 2007, all of the remaining policies under separate accounts were surrendered, therefore there were no assets or liabilities in separate accounts as of December 31, 2007.


M.

Earnings Per Common Share


The Company has calculated earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share.  Basic EPS is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.  Diluted EPS is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares including contingently issuable shares and other dilutive items.  The weighted average numbers of common shares used to compute diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 29,650,894, 29,703,933 and 29,496,252 respectively.  The dilution from the potential exercise of stock options outstanding reduced EPS by $0.01 in 2007.


N.

Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand and amounts due from an original maturity of three months or less.


O.

New Accounting Pronouncements


In June 2007, the AICPA issued SOP 07-1, “Clarification of the Scope of the Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies and Accounting by Parent Companies and Equity Method Investors for Investments in Investment Companies.”   This statement provides guidance for determining whether an entity is within the scope of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide Investment Companies (the “Guide”). For those entities that are investment companies under SOP 07-1, it also addresses when specialized industry accounting principles of the Guide should be retained by a parent company in consolidation or by an investor that has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investment company and applies the equity method of accounting to its investment in the entity. In addition, SOP 07-1 includes certain disclosure requirements for parent companies and equity method investors in investment compa nies that retain Investment Company accounting in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements or the financial statements of an equity method investor.  In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) decided to issue a final Staff Position indefinitely deferring the effective date of Statement of Position 07-1


In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”).  SFAS 159 permits all entities the option to measure most financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at specified election dates and to report related unrealized gains and losses in earnings. The fair value option will generally be applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is generally an irrevocable election. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is evaluating which eligible financial instruments, if any, it will elect to account for at fair value under SFAS 159 and the related impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.  This Statement does not require any new fair value measurements, but will potentially require additional disclosures regarding existing fair value measurements we currently report. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not believe that this pronouncement will have a material impact on its financial statements.


In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of prior-year uncorrected misstatements should be considered when quantifying misstatements in the current year financial statements. SAB 108 requires registrants to quantify misstatements using both an income statement (“rollover”) and balance sheet (“iron curtain”) approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. If prior year errors that had been previously considered immaterial now are considered material based on either approach, no restatement is required so long as management properly applied its previous a pproach and all relevant facts and circumstances were considered. If prior years are not restated, the cumulative effect adjustment is recorded in opening accumulated earnings (deficit) as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. SAB 108 was effective for fiscal years ending on or after November 15, 2006, and did not have material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement, as we have not discovered material errors in prior years with material effect as of the reporting date.


In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 provides guidance on the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires that we recognize in the financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position more likely than not will be sustained on an audit, based on the technical merits of the position. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures, and transition provisions. Any transition adjustment recognized on the date of adoption was recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. We adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. See Note 7 - “Income Taxes” for a discussion of the im pact of FIN 48.


In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 140” (“SFAS 156”). SFAS 156 requires that all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. The statement permits, but does not require, the subsequent measurement of servicing assets and servicing liabilities at fair value. Specifically, the new Standard addresses the recognition and measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities and provides an approach to simplify efforts to obtain hedge-like (offset) accounting.  SFAS 156 was effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, which for the Company is as of the beginning of fiscal 2007. The adoption of SFAS 156 did not have an effe ct on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


On February 16, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Instruments.”  This statement removes an exception from the requirement to bifurcate an embedded derivative feature from a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets.  This statement also provides an election, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, to measure at fair value the entire hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, rather than measuring only the embedded derivative on a fair value basis.  The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007 and has determined that SFAS No. 155 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.


In November 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments” (“FSP 115-1”), which provides guidance on determining when investments in certain debt and equity securities are consider impaired, whether that impairment is other-than-temporary, and how to measure such impairment loss.  FSP 115-1 also includes accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments.  FSP 115-1 supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments ("EITF 03-1") and EITF Topic D-44, Recognition of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment on the Planned Sale of a Security Whose Cost Exceeds Fair Value ("Topic D-44") and nullifies the accounting guidance on the determination of whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired as set forth in EITF 03-1. FSP 115-1 was required to be applied to reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005 and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.


In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee (“AcSEC”) of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) issued Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts.” SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting by insurance enterprises for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in SFAS No. 97. The SOP defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. This SOP is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after Dec ember 15, 2006. The Company adopted SOP 05-1 on January 1, 2007. The Company has assessed the impact of SOP 05-1 on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations and has determined that it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.




F-10




2. INVESTMENTS


The following tables provide information relating to fixed maturities and common stocks held by the Company:


Available for Sale investments at December 31, 2007:

 

 

Cost or Amortized

 

Gross Unrealized

 

 

Type of Investment

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

(Losses)

 

Market Value

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds and Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  United State government and government agencies and authorities

 



 $       510,105 

 



$        20,083 

 



$           (2,074)

 



$         528,114 

  States, municipalities and political subdivisions

 


8,859 

 


3,383 

 


                     - 

 


12,242 

  Foreign governments

 

 

 

                     - 

 

  Public Utilities

 

          441,221 

 

12,273 

 

             (8,881)

 

           444,613 

  Commercial Mortgage Backed

      Securities

 


240,346 

 


28,569 

 


              (110)

 


268,805 

  All other corporate bonds

 

1,890,132 

 

70,895 

 

           (44,734)

 

        1,916,293 

Preferred stocks, primarily corporate

 


          121,245 

 


          6,955 

 


            (16,168)

 


112,032 

Total Fixed Maturities

 

$     3,211,908 

 

$      142,158 

 

$         (71,967)

 

$      3,282,099 

Common Stocks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Public Utilities

 

 

 

 

   Banks, trust and insurance  companies

 

 

 

 

   Industrial, miscellaneous and    all other

 

7,177 

 

3,548 

 

(993)

 

9,732 

Total Common Stocks

 

$          7,177 

 

$        3,548 

 

$              (993)

 

$           9,732 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale investments at December 31, 2006:

 

 

Cost or Amortized

 


Gross Unrealized

 

 

Type of Investment

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

(Losses)

 

Market Value

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds and Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  United State government and government agencies and authorities

 



 $       468,449 

 



$          9,698 

 



$           (5,329)

 



$         472,818 

  States, municipalities and political subdivisions

 


8,838 

 


3,147 

 


                     - 

 


11,985 

  Foreign governments

 

 

 

                     - 

 

  Public Utilities

 

          342,123 

 

14,953 

 

             (7,636)

 

           349,440 

  Commercial Mortgage Backed

      Securities

 


241,255 

 


33,248 

 


                     - 

 


274,503 

  All other corporate bonds

 

1,933,862 

 

114,022 

 

           (34,491)

 

        2,013,393 

Preferred stocks, primarily corporate

 


          129,150 

 


          11,275 

 


              (747)

 


139,678 

Total Fixed Maturities

 

$     3,123,677 

 

$      186,343 

 

$         (48,203)

 

$      3,261,817 

Common Stocks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Public Utilities

 

860 

 

298 

 

 

1,158 

   Banks, trust and insurance  companies

 

2,013 

 

676 

 

 

2,689 

   Industrial, miscellaneous and    all other

 

28,687 

 

13,288 

 

(556)

 

41,419 

Total Common Stocks

 

$          31,560 

 

$        14,262 

 

$              (556)

 

$           45,266 




F-11



2. INVESTMENTS - CONTINUED


The estimated fair value of fixed maturities available for sale at December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, is as follows.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.


 

 

Market Value

 

 

(in thousands)

Due in one year or less

$

237,867 

Due after one year through five years

 

               817,079 

Due after five years through ten years

 

               676,703 

Due after ten years

 

            1,169,613 

Total debt securities

 

            2,901,262 

Mortgage-Backed Bonds

 

               268,805 

Preferred Stocks

 

112,032 

                 Total

$

            3,282,099 


The following information summarizes the components of net investment income and realized investment gains:


Net Investment Income:

 

Year Ended December 31

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

(in thousands)

Fixed Maturities

 

$           215,538 

 

$           252,817 

 

$           274,366 

Common Stocks

 

                 3,895 

 

                 2,171 

 

                 1,334 

Short-term investments

 

                 26,302 

 

                 16,584 

 

                 4,197 

Other long-term investments

 

52,872 

 

46,982 

 

63,452 

Other investment income

 

               2,646 

 

               4,452 

 

               1,984 

 

 

301,253 

 

323,006 

 

345,333 

Less investment expenses

 

6,393 

 

                 6,591 

 

                 5,622 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

$          294,860 

 

$          316,415 

 

$          339,711 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 there were seven fixed maturity investments with a carrying value of $13.5 million and twelve fixed maturity investments with a carrying value of $13.8 and seventeen fixed maturity investments with a carrying value of $11.3 million respectively, in the accompanying balance sheet which were non-income producing.


The following table presents the amortized cost and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities and common stock where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost at December 31, 2007:


 

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

 

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized   Losses

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

Description of Securities

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury obligations and direct obligations of US Government Agencies

 



$          18,028 

 



$              612 

 



$        20,968 

 



$              1,462

 



$          38,996 

 



$              2,074 

Corporate Bonds

 

324,736 

 

13,307 

 

839,968 

 

40,417 

 

1,164,704 

 

53,724 

Preferred Stocks

 

56,617 

 

8,923 

 

24,996 

 

7,245 

 

81,613 

 

16,168 

Subtotal  Fixed Maturities

 

399,381 

 

22,842 

 

885,932 

 

49,124 

 

1,285,313 

 

71,966 

Common Stock

 

5,402 

 

993 

 

 

 

5,402 

 

993 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$        404,783 

 

$         23,835 

 

$     885,932 

 

$         49,124 

 

$     1,290,715 

 

$         72,959 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






F-12



2. INVESTMENTS - CONTINUED



The following table presents the amortized cost and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities and common stock where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost at December 31, 2006:


 

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

 

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized   Losses

 


Fair Value

 

Unrealized Losses

Description of Securities

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury obligations and direct obligations of US Government Agencies

 



$          37,588 

 



$              886 

 



$      179,604 

 



$           4,443 

 



$        217,192 

 



$           5,329 

Corporate Bonds

 

164,019 

 

2,539 

 

883,520 

 

39,588 

 

1,047,539 

 

42,127 

Preferred Stocks

 

19,813 

 

382 

 

23,077 

 

365 

 

42,890 

 

747 

Subtotal  Fixed Maturities

 

221,420 

 

3,807 

 

1,086,201 

 

44,396 

 

1,307,621 

 

48,203 

Common Stock

 

4,652 

 

555 

 

 

 

4,652 

 

555 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$        226,072 

 

$           4,362 

 

$   1,086,201 

 

$         44,396 

 

$     1,312,273 

 

$         48,758 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The following presents the amortized cost and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost by December 31, 2007.

 

 



Gross Unrealized Losses

 





% of Total

 

     (in thousands)

Less than twelve months

 

$     22,842

 

31.74

Twelve months or more

 

49,124

 

68.26

Total

 

$    71,966

 

100.00

 

 

 

 

 


The following presents the amortized cost and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities where the estimated fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost by December 31, 2006.

 

 



Gross Unrealized Losses

 





% of Total

 

     (in thousands)

Less than twelve months

 

$     3,807

 

7.90

Twelve months or more

 

44,396

 

92.10

Total

 

$    48,203

 

100.00

 

 

 

 

 

The Company owned 360 and 398 securities with an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  


During 2007, 2006, and 2005 the Company realized losses related to other than temporary impairments of approximately $52 thousand, $4.5 million and $9.2 million, respectively.  The write-downs of $4.5 million in 2006 was primarily due to the write-downs of two investments: a $2.9 million write-off of a position in Clearwater Funding CBO and a write-down to market of $1.5 million in Tenet Healthcare Senior Notes.  In 2005, the other than temporary impairments were primarily due to deteriorating fundamentals in the automotive sector.

  



F-13



2. INVESTMENTS - CONTINUED


Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

(in thousands)

Fixed maturities

 

$        23,880 

 

$        (3,373)

 

$        66,513 

Common stocks

 

            3,783 

 

            8,740 

 

            8,497 

Derivatives

 

(2,830)

 

(8,974)

 

           - 

Total realized (losses) gains on investments

 

$        24,833 

 

$        (3,607)

 

$        75,010 


Net Unrealized Investment (Losses) Gains:


 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

(in thousands)

Fixed maturities

 

$             70,190 

 

$           138,139 

 

$           190,863 

Common stocks

 

                2,555 

 

                13,706 

 

                9,958 

Other Assets

 

               79,195 

 

               51,331 

 

               53,282 

Unrealized investment gains

 

$           151,940 

 

$           203,176 

 

$           254,103 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization (benefit of deferred acquisition costs)

 


            (9,770)

 


            (18,715)

 


            (28,694)

Deferred federal income tax benefit

 

            (49,759)

 

            (64,561)

 

            (78,893)

Transition Adjustment

 

              (707)

 

              (1,456)

 

              (2,127)

Net unrealized investment gains

 

             91,704 

 

             118,444 

 

             144,389 

Change in net unrealized investment (losses) gains

 


$           (26,740)

 


$          (25,945)

 


$          (49,973)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The change in unrealized investment gains (losses), as presented below, resulted primarily from changes in general economic conditions, which directly influenced investment security markets.  These changes were also impacted by writedowns of investment securities for declines in market values deemed to be other than temporary.








Pre Tax

Amount

 


Tax

(Expense)/

 Benefit  

 



After-Tax

Amount

For the Year Ended December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

Net unrealized losses on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 Net unrealized holding losses arising during year

$      (55,938)

 

$          19,579 

 

$      (36,359)

Plus: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income

      24,833 

 

        (8,692)

 

     16,141 

       Change related to deferred policy acquisition costs

    (8,946)

 

          3,131 

 

      (5,815)

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

$      (40,051)

 

$          14,018 

 

$      (26,033)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 Net unrealized holding losses arising during year

$      (24,090)

 

$            8,432 

 

$      (15,658)

Plus: reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net income

    (3,607)

 

          1,262 

 

      (2,345)

       Change related to deferred policy acquisition costs

    (9,978)

 

          3,492 

 

      (6,486)

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

$      (37,675)

 

$          13,186 

 

$      (24,489)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 Net unrealized holding losses arising during year

$    (128,325)

 

$          44,914 

 

$      (83,411)

Plus: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income

      75,010 

 

        (26,254)

 

     48,756 

       Change related to deferred policy acquisition costs

    (20,294)

 

          7,103 

 

      (13,191)

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

$      (73,609)

 

$          25,763 

 

$      (47,846)




F-14




Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturities during 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $386.4 million, $777.1 million and $1,095.9 million, respectively.  During 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, gross gains of $26.4 million, $20.6 million and $86.5 million and gross losses of $2.4 million, $19.4 million and $15.1 million were realized on those sales.


There were no investments owned in any one issuer that aggregate 10% or more of shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2007.


As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, securities with a carrying value of approximately $6.4 million and $6.2 million, respectively, were on deposit with various state insurance departments to comply with applicable insurance laws.


Other long-term investments are comprised of equity interests in limited partnerships.



Variable Interest Entities


The following table presents the total assets and maximum exposure to loss relating to variable interest entities for which the Company has concluded that (i) it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and (ii) it holds significant variable interests but it is not the primary beneficiary and which have not been consolidated.


 

December 31, 2007

 

PRIMARY BENEFICIARY

 

NOT PRIMARY BENEFICIARY

 

(in thousands)

 



Total Assets

 

Maximum Exposure to Loss

 



Total Assets (1)

 

Maximum Exposure to

 Loss (2)

Limited Partnerships

             -

 

           -

 

  $    309,663

 

$     281,797

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

PRIMARY BENEFICIARY

 

NOT PRIMARY BENEFICIARY

 

(in thousands)

 



Total Assets

 

Maximum Exposure to Loss

 



Total Assets (1)

 

Maximum Exposure to

 Loss (2)

Limited Partnerships

             - 

 

           - 

 

  $    267,975

 

$     216,644

(1)

Market value at year-end

(2)

Cost at year-end


Derivative Financial Instruments


The Company accounts for its derivative financial instruments under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instrument and Hedging Activities”.  SFAS No. 133 requires all derivative instruments to be recorded in the balance sheet at fair value.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded as other income (loss) in the period in which they arise.  The Company has not designated its derivatives related to marketable securities as hedges, in accordance with SFAS No. 133.  Accordingly, the change in fair value of derivatives is recognized as a component of realized investment gains and losses in earnings as described above.  The Company does not hold or issue any derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.


As an element of its asset liability management strategy, the Company hedges against the risks posed by a rapid and sustained rise in interest rates by entering into a form of derivative transaction known as payor swaptions.  Swaptions are options to enter into an interest rate swap arrangement with a counter party at a specified future date.  At expiration, the counter party would be required to pay the Insurance Company the amount of the present value of the difference between the fixed rate of interest on the swap agreement and a specified strike rate in the agreement multiplied by the notional amount of the swap agreement.  The total notional amount of these contracts at December 31, 2007 was $1.2 billion.  The effect of these transactions would be to lessen the negative impact on the Insurance Company of a significant and prolonged increase in interest rates.  With the Swaptions, the Company should be able to maintain more competitive crediting rates to policyholders when interest rates rise.  


The Company has determined that the Payor Swaptions represent a “non-qualified hedge” and has adopted accounting procedures consistent with the provisions of SFAS 133. These investments are classified on the balance sheet as “Derivative Instruments”. Under SFAS 133, the value of the Payor Swaptions is recognized at “fair value” (market value), with the resulting change in fair value reflected in the income statement as a realized gain or loss.  The change in market value since purchase was a loss of $12,770,178.  The Company has determined that the average fair value for the period (based upon weekly market values from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007) was $11,040,890.



F-15




 3.  NOTES PAYABLE


Notes payable at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 consist of $90.2 million and $100 million, respectively, 7 7/8% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes”) due February 15, 2009.  Interest is payable February 15 and August 15.  Debt issue costs are being amortized on the interest method over the term of the notes.  As of December 31, 2007, unamortized costs were $282,700.  The total remaining principal is due on February 15, 2009.  In addition, the Company had deferred losses of approximately $0.7 million recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2007, related to an interest rate lock agreement used to hedge the issuance of the Senior Notes.  The Company amortizes the deferred loss from accumulated other comprehensive income to income over the term of the notes.  The Company expects to amortize approximately $606,000 into earnings during 2008.


The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants relating to limitations on liens and sale or issuance of capital stock of the Insurance Company.  In the event the Company violates such covenants as defined in the indenture, the Company may be obligated to offer to repurchase the entire outstanding principal amount of such notes. As of December 31, 2007, the Company believes that it is in compliance with all of the covenants.


The Insurance Company held a senior note of the Corporation with a par value of $9.8 million.  On September 27, 2007, the Insurance Company sold the senior note of the Corporation back to the Corporation and the debt was retired.  Upon the extinguishment of the debt, the Corporation recorded a loss of $49,000, net of taxes.


The short-term note payable relates to a bank line of credit with JPMorgan Chase Bank which had been in the amount of $50,000,000 (“Bank Line”) and provided for interest on borrowings based on market indices.  At December 31, 2006 the Company had $50,000,000 outstanding. The Bank Line was up for renewal on July 31, 2007, however, on July 9, 2007, the Company paid down the full $50,000,000 Bank Line with available cash.  The proceeds from the Bank Line had previously been used as an arbitrage facility to purchase higher yielding investments.  The Company decided to pay off the Bank Line because due to the increased cost of the Bank Line it no longer provided a positive spread to the Company.  For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the short-term note payable had a weighted average interest rate of 5.92% (annualized) and 5.65%, respectively.


4.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


In February 2007, the Company's Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend rate to $.125 per share from $.10 per share in 2006.  This dividend rate was maintained throughout 2007.  During 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company had not purchased or retired shares of its common stock.  The Company is authorized pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors to purchase 385,000 shares of common stock.


The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries.  As a holding company with no other business operations, its primary sources of cash needed to meet its obligations, including principal and interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness and dividend payments on its common stock, are rent from its real estate, income from its investments, and dividends from the Insurance Company.


The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances that it may make to Company without obtaining prior regulatory approval.  Under New York law, the Insurance Company is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its statutory surplus as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its statutory net gain (after tax) from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year.  Any dividend in excess of such amount is subject to approval by the Superintendent.  The Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.  The NYSID has estab lished informal guidelines for such determinations.  The guidelines focus on, among other things, an insurer’s overall financial condition and profitability under statutory accounting practices.  Statutory accounting practices differ in certain respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP.  The significant differences relate to the treatment of deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income taxes, required investment reserves and reserve calculation assumptions.



F-16




5.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS


Employee Savings Plan


The Company adopted an Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401(k) plan for its employees effective January 1, 1992.  Under the plan, participants may contribute up to the dollar limit as prescribed by IRC Section 415(d).  In January 2005, the Company announced its intention to make an annual contribution to the 401(k) plan equal to 4% of all employees’ salaries, allocated to each of the Company’s employees without regard to the amounts, if any, contributed to the plan by the employees.  The Company contribution is subject to a vesting schedule.  The Company contributed approximately $287,000 and $285,000 into this plan during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.


Share-Based Compensation


Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” and began recognizing compensation expense for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. Share-based payments include stock option grants under the Company’s stock plans. SFAS 123(R) requires share-based compensation expense recognized since January 1, 2006, to be based on the following: a) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123 for unvested options granted prior to the adoption date; and b) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R) for unvested options granted subsequent to the adoption date. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based payments using the intrinsic-value-based recognition method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“AP B”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” As options were granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in net income prior to adopting SFAS 123(R). As the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) under the modified-prospective-transition method, results from prior periods have not been restated. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had adopted SFAS 123(R) for the twelve months ending December 31, 2005 and applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R) to options granted under the Company’s stock plans in such period. For purposes of this pro forma disclosure, the value of the options is estimated using Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option pricing model for all option grants.


 

Twelve months ended

 

December 31,

2005

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net income, as reported

$

91,589 

 

Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value- method, net of related taxes

 

229 

 

Pro forma net income

$

91,360 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

Basic - as reported

$

3.12 

 

Basic - pro forma

$

3.11 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted - as reported

$

3.11 

 

Diluted - pro forma

$

3.10 

 


Under SFAS 123(R) forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce expense ratably over the vesting period. This estimate is adjusted periodically based on the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from the previous estimate.


The adoption of SFAS 123(R)’s fair value method has resulted in additional share-based expenses (a component of general expenses and taxes) in the amounts of $561,894 and $1,128,996 related to stock options for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, than if the Company had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB No. 25. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, this additional share-based compensation lowered pre-tax earnings by $1,128,996, lowered net income by $739,492, and lowered both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.02.


The Company’s 1996 Stock Option Plan expired on June 1, 2006.  As of December 31, 2007, there were 600,294 granted options outstanding under the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan.



F-17




In May 2006, the shareholders of the Company approved the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, which became effective on June 1, 2006.  The Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan authorized the granting of awards in the form of non-qualified options or incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code.  The plan authorized the granting of options to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company to employees, directors and independent contractors of the Company.  All stock options granted will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant.  As of December 31, 2007, there were 444,150 granted options outstanding under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.


The Company generally issues new shares when options are exercised.  The following schedule shows all options granted, exercised, expired and exchanged under the Company's 1996 and 2006 Incentive Stock Option Plans.


Information relating to the options is as follows:

                                                     

 

 

Number

 

Amount

 

Total

 

 

of Shares

 

Per Share

 

Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2003

 

 616,450 

 

$                13.38 

 

$          8,245,635 

   Granted

 

100,000 

 

15.43 

 

   1,543,000 

   Repriced

 

  (27,775)

 

10.90 

 

      (302,748)

   Cancelled

 

  (39,975)

 

13.53 

 

          (540,902)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2004

 

648,700 

 

$                13.79 

 

$          8,944,986 

   Granted

 

210,750 

 

18.33 

 

   3,863,048 

   Repriced

 

  (65,323)

 

13.86 

 

      (905,377)

   Cancelled

 

  (17,406)

 

13.96 

 

         (243,057)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2005

 

776,721 

 

$                15.01 

 

$        11,659,599 

   Granted

 

197,900 

 

22.82 

 

4,516,078 

   Exercised

 

(41,306)

 

13.17 

 

      (544,131)

   Cancelled

 

  (6,950)

 

15.52 

 

          (107,881)


 Outstanding, December 31, 2006

 


926,365 

 


$                16.76 

 


$        15,523,665 

   Granted

 

251,100 

 

16.97 

 

4,261,167 

   Exercised

 

(84,638)

 

12.95 

 

      (1,096,064)

   Cancelled

 

  (48,383)

 

16.12 

 

          (780,038)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Outstanding, December 31, 2007

 

1,044,444 

 

$                17.15 

 

$       17,908,730 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Company may grant options to purchase common stock to its employees, directors and independent contractors at prices equal to the market value of the stock on the dates the options were granted. The options granted to date have a term of 5 years from grant date and vest in equal annual installments over the four-year period following the grant date for employee options. Employees generally have three months after the employment relationship ends to exercise all vested options. The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each vesting date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves ass umptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The Company awarded 251,100 options in 2007.  The key assumptions used in determining the fair value of options granted in 2007 and a summary of the methodology applied to develop each assumption are as follows:

 

 

Expected price volatility

26.50%

Risk-free interest rate

4.04%

Weighted average expected lives in years

  3.75 

Forfeiture rate

5-20%

Dividend yield

2.95%


Expected Price Volatility - This is a measure of the amount by which a price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. We use actual historical changes in the market value of our stock to calculate the volatility assumption, as it is management’s belief that this is the best indicator of future volatility. We calculate weekly market value changes from the date of grant over a past period representative of the expected life of the options to determine volatility. An increase in the expected volatility will increase compensation expense.

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate - This is the U.S. Treasury rate for the week of the grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.

 

Expected Lives - This is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules, historical exercise and forfeiture patterns.  The Company uses the simplified method outlined in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to estimate expected lives for options granted during the period as it does not have sufficient historical exercise date to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term.  Options granted have a maximum term of five years. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense


Forfeiture Rate - This is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or canceled before becoming fully vested. This estimate is based on historical experience. An increase in the forfeiture rate will decrease compensation expense.

 

Dividend Yield – The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s current dividend yield and the best estimate of projected dividend yields for future periods within the expected life of the option.  An increase in the dividend yield will decrease compensation expense.


There was no impact on cash provided by operating and/or financing activities related to increased tax benefits from stock based payment arrangements.  During the year ended December 31, 2007, 84,638 options were exercised increasing cash provided by financing activities, issuance of common stock, by approximately $1.1 million.


At December 31, 2007, the aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding options was $18.3 million with a weighted average remaining contractual term of 2.67 years.  The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized was $2.2 million with an expense recognition period of 4 years.  During the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, 198,361 options vested with an intrinsic value of approximately $3.5 million at December 31, 2007.



6.  INCOME TAXES



The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax expense determined by applying the 35% U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to pre-tax net income from continuing operations as follows:


 

 

   2007

 

   2006

 

  2005

                                                                                                    (in thousands)

 

Pre-Tax Net Income

 

$    96,660 

 

$    70,163 

 

$    148,212 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes computed

 

 

 

 

 

 

  At Federal statutory rate

 

33,831 

 

     24,557 

 

     51,873 

Increase (decrease) in income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

  resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

              Other

 

(853)

 

(4,107)

 

     4,750 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Provision for Federal income taxes

 

$    32,978 

 

$    20,450 

 

$     56,623 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




F-18



6.  INCOME TAXES - CONTINUED



The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:


 

2007

 

2006

 

(in thousands)

Deferred tax assets

 

 

 

     Investments and payor swaptions

$   28,966 

 

$   37,610 

     Insurance reserves

11,155 

 

12,566 

     Other

6,403 

 

1,368 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

$   46,524 

 

$   51,544 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

     OID and Market Discount Investments

26,416 

 

32,317 

     Unrealized Capital Gains

49,760 

 

64,713 

     Policyholder Account Balances

87 

 

448 

     Deferred Acquisition Costs

29,986 

 

30,126 

     Other

492 

 

130 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

106,741 

 

127,734 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

$   (60,217)

 

$   (76,190)


The change in net deferred income taxes is comprised of the following:


 

December 31,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

 


Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

$    46,524 

 

$   51,544 

 

$   (5,020)

Total deferred tax liabilities

       106,741

 

127,734 

 

(20,993)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax asset

$ (60,217)

 

$ (76,190)

 

15,973 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect of unrealized gains to other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

(14,801)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in net deferred income tax to income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

$    1,172 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Company provides for deferred income taxes resulting from temporary differences, which arise from recording certain transactions in different years for income tax reporting purposes than for financial reporting purposes.  The sources of these differences and the tax effect of each were as follows:


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

                                    (in thousands)

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

$       3,674 

 

$       2,432 

 

$       11,076 

Policyholders' account balances

 

               375 

 

                  (2,408)

 

                     132 

Investment adjustments

 

               (7,788)

 

               4,481 

 

               35,377 

Insurance policy liabilities

 

(1,361)

 

           - 

 

           6,983 

Original Issue Discount and Market Discount on                    Bonds

 

(1,548)

 

(4,978)

 

           - 

Other

 

               5,476 

 

               1,019 

 

              (11,148)

Deferred Federal income tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

    (benefit) expense

 

$       (1,172)

 

$       546 

 

$       42,420 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


If the Company determines that any of its deferred income tax assets will not result in future tax benefits, a valuation allowance must be established for the portion of these assets that are not expected to be realized.  Upon review, the Company’s management concluded that it is “more likely than not” that the net deferred income tax assets will be realized.


Prior to 1984, Federal income tax law allowed life insurance companies to exclude from taxable income and set aside certain amounts in a tax memorandum account known as the Policyholder Surplus Account (“PSA”).  Under the tax law, the PSA has been frozen at its December 31, 1983 balance of $2,900,000, which may under certain circumstances become taxable in the future.  The Insurance Company does not believe that any significant portion of the amount in this account will be taxed in the foreseeable future.  Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made thereon.  If the amount in the PSA were to become taxable, the resulting liability using current rates would be approximately $1,015,000.  The Company has a net operating loss of approximately $912,000 and it expires in 2023.


Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, (b) operating loss carry forwards, and (c) a valuation allowance.


The Company files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.  In the United States, the Company is no longer subject to federal income tax examinations by tax authorities, generally for the years prior to 2000.  From 2000 through 2003, however, the Company may be subject to tax examinations because the IRS is performing audits on partnership returns in which the Company has investments.  While the Company cannot predict the outcome of the current IRS examination, any adjustments are not expected to be material.  The examination is expected to be concluded during 2008.


The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No.109” (“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007.  As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a $2 million increase to the liability for uncertain tax positions, which was accounted for as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings.   The balance of the unrecognized tax benefits was $2,036,000 at January 1, 2007 and $1,194,005 at December 31, 2007. If recognized, this entire adjustment would impact the effective tax rate.  A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):


Balance at January 1, 2007

$

2,036 

Increases related to prior year tax positions

 

337 

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

 

(84)

Increases related to current year tax positions

 

Settlements

 

(1,095)

Lapse of statute of limitations

 

Balance at December 31, 2007

$

1,194 


The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits as well as interest received from favorable settlements within income tax expense.  The total amount of accrued interest and penalties included in the FIN 48 liability above was $185,000 as of January 1, 2007 and $189,000 as of December 31, 2007.


While we expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change in the next 12 months, we do not expect the change to have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations


7.  REINSURANCE


Reinsurance allows life insurance companies to share risks on a case-by-case or aggregate basis with other insurance and reinsurance companies.  The Insurance Company cedes insurance to the reinsurer and compensates the reinsurer for its assumption of risk.  The maximum amount of individual life insurance normally retained by the Company on any one life is $50,000 per policy and $100,000 per life.  The maximum retention with respect to impaired risk policies typically is the same.  The Insurance Company cedes insurance primarily on an “automatic” basis, under which risks are ceded to a reinsurer on specific blocks of business where the underlying risks meet certain predetermined criteria, and on a “facultative” basis, under which the reinsurer's prior approval is required on each risk reinsured.


The reinsurance of a risk does not discharge the primary liability of the insurance company ceding that risk, but the reinsured portion of the claim is recoverable from the reinsurer.  The major reinsurance treaties into which the Insurance Company has entered can be characterized as follows:


Reinsurance ceded from the Insurance Company to Swiss Re Life & Health America, Inc. at December 31, 2007 and 2006 consists of coinsurance agreements aggregating face amounts of $298.1 million and $317.8 million, respectively, representing the amount of individual life insurance contracts that were ceded to the reinsurers.  The term “coinsurance” refers to an arrangement under which the Insurance Company pays the reinsurers the gross premiums on the portion of the policy to be reinsured and the reinsurers grant a ceding commission to the Insurance Company to cover its acquisition costs plus a margin for profit.


Premiums ceded for 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to approximately $4.8 million, $5.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively.



F-19




8.  STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Accounting practices used to prepare statutory financial statements for regulatory filings of stock life insurance companies differ from GAAP.  Material differences resulting from these accounting practices include the following:  (1) deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred Federal income taxes and statutory non-admitted assets are recognized under GAAP accounting while statutory investment valuation and interest maintenance reserves are not; (ii) premiums for universal life and investment-type products are recognized as revenues for statutory purposes and as deposits to policyholders' accounts under GAAP; (iii) different assumptions are used in calculating future policyholders' benefits under the two methods; (iv) different methods are used for calculating valuation allowances for statutory and GAAP purposes; and (v) fixed maturities are recorded at market value under GAAP while under statutory accounting practices, they are recorded principally at amortized cost.


Effective January 1, 2002, the NAIC adopted the Codification, which is intended to standardize regulatory accounting and reporting to state insurance departments.  However, statutory accounting principles continue to be established by individual state laws and permitted practices.  The NYSID required adoption of the Codification with certain modifications for the preparation of statutory financial statements effective January 1, 2002.  DTA’s are equal to the lesser of: the amount of gross DTA expected to be realized within one year of the balance sheet date; or ten percent of statutory capital and surplus as reported on its most recently filed statutory statement. This change allowed the Insurance Company to realize a DTA of approximately $37.2 million in 2007 and $41.8 million in 2006. The Codification, as currently interpreted, did not adversely affect statutory capital or surplus as of December 31, 2007.


The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances that it may make to the Company without obtaining prior regulatory approval.  Under New York law, the Insurance Company is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its surplus as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its net gain (after tax) from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year.  Any dividend in excess of such amount is subject to approval by the Superintendent.  The Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.  The NYSID has established informal guidelines for such determinations.  The guidelines focus on, among other things, an insurer’s overall financial condition and profitability under statutory accounting practices, which, as discussed above, differ in certain respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP.


In 2007, the Insurance Company paid $32 million in stockholder dividends to the Corporation.  However, there can be no assurance that this will continue to be the case in subsequent years.  Accordingly, Management of the Company cannot provide assurance that the Insurance Company will have adequate statutory earnings to support payment of dividends to the Company in an amount sufficient to fund the Company’s cash requirements, including the payment of dividends, or that the Superintendent will not disapprove any dividends that the Insurance Company must submit for the Superintendent’s consideration.  In 2008, the Insurance Company would be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend of $35.8 million to the Corporation without prior regulatory clearance.


9.  LITIGATION


From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business.  The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings, the adverse outcome of which, in management's opinion, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.


10.  FAIR VALUE INFORMATION


The following estimated fair value disclosures of financial instruments have been determined using available market information, current pricing information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  If quoted market prices were not readily available for a financial instrument, management determined an estimated fair value. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a market transaction.


The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.


For fixed maturities and common stocks, estimated fair values were based primarily upon independent pricing services.  For a limited number of privately placed securities, where prices are not available from independent pricing services, the Company estimates market values using a matrix pricing model, based on the issuer's credit standing and the security's interest rate spread over U.S. Treasury bonds.


The Company determines the fair value of its limited partnership investments based upon financial reports and valuations provided by the general partners.  During 2007, the Company’s unrealized gain from its limited partnership investments increased by $27.9 million (pre-tax), which carry a book value of $309.7 million at December 31, 2007.  As of December 31, 2007, the Company was committed to contribute, if called upon, an aggregate of approximately $140.7 million of additional capital to certain of these limited partnerships.  


The market value of short-term investments and policy loans is estimated to approximate the carrying value.


10.  FAIR VALUE INFORMATION- CONTINUED


Estimated fair values of policyholders' account balances for investment type products (i.e., deferred annuities, immediate annuities without life contingencies and universal life contracts) are calculated by projecting the contract cash flows and then discounting them back to the valuation date at an appropriate discount rate.  For immediate annuities without life contingencies, the cash flows are defined contractually.  For all other products, projected cash flows are based on an assumed lapse rate and crediting rate (based on the current treasury yield curve), adjusted for any anticipated surrender charges. The discount rate is based on the current duration-matched treasury curve, plus an adjustment to reflect the anticipated spread above treasuries on investment grade fixed maturity securities, less an expense and profit spread.


December 31, 2007

 

Carrying Value

 

Estimated Fair Value

Assets

 

(in thousands)

  Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

    Available for Sale

$

3,282,099 

$

3,282,099 

  Common Stock

 

9,732 

 

9,732 

  Derivatives

 

7,005 

 

7,005 

  Policy Loans

 

19,194 

 

19,194 

  Cash and Short-Term Investments

 

366,698 

 

366,698 

  Other Long-Term Investments

 

309,663 

 

309,663 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

  Policyholders' Account Balances

$

               2,579,907 

$

               2,579,803 

  Note Payable

 

90,195 

 

90,195 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

Carrying Value

 

Estimated Fair Value

Assets

 

(in thousands)

  Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

    Available for Sale

$

3,261,817 

$

3,261,817 

  Common Stock

 

  45,266 

 

  45,266 

  Derivatives

 

  9,784 

 

  9,784 

  Policy Loans

 

17,965 

 

17,965 

  Cash and Short-Term Investments

 

859,379 

 

859,379 

  Other Long-Term Investments

 

267,975 

 

267,975 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

  Policyholders' Account Balances

$

               2,969,434 

$

               2,918,778 

  Note Payable

 

100,000 

 

100,000 

  Short-Term Note Payable

 

  50,000 

 

  50,000 

 

 

 

 

 




F-20



11.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)


Summarized quarterly financial data is presented below.  Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

            2007

March 31

   June 30

September 30

December 31

                                                              (in thousands, except per share)

Premiums and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Insurance revenues

 


$             11,902

 


$         10,836

 

 

$            8,419 

 


$       13,275 

Net investment income

 

             75,849

 

           73,639

 

78,819 

 

     66,553 

Realized investment gains/(losses)

 

                13,629

 

            18,977

 

         (1,896)

 

          (5,877)

Total revenues

 

               101,380

 

103,452

 

85,342 

 

        73,951 

Benefits and expenses

 

                69,159

 

            66,869

 

        63,024 

 

        68,413 

Net income

 

$              21,105

 

 $         23,962

 

$          14,618 

 

$          3,997 

Earnings per share, basic

 

$

             .72

 

$

          .81

 

$                .49 

 

$              .14 


 

Three Months Ended

 

 

            2006

March 31

   June 30

September 30

December 31

                                                              (in thousands, except per share)

Premiums and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Insurance revenues

 

$

     11,651

 

$         12,290 

 

$              8,853 

 

$

13,224

Net investment income

 

             80,098

 

           71,290 

 

83,674 

 

     81,353

Realized investment gains/(losses)

 

                10,828

 

            14,039 

 

         (20,974)

 

          (7,500)

Total revenues

 

               102,577

 

97,619 

 

71,553 

 

        87,077

Benefits and expenses

 

                71,342

 

            70,808 

 

        72,513 

 

        74,000

Net income

 

$              20,419

 

 $         17,603 

 

$              3,763 

 

$            7,928

Earnings per share, basic

 

$                    .69

 

$               .60 

 

$                  .13 

 

$

.27


12.  RISK-BASED CAPITAL


Under the NAIC's risk-based capital formula, insurance companies must calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula.  The standards require the computation of a risk-based capital amount, which then is compared to a company’s actual total adjusted capital.  The computation involves applying factors to various financial data to address four primary risks: asset default, adverse insurance experience, disintermediation and external events.  This information is intended to permit insurance regulators to identify and require remedial action for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, but is not designed to rank adequately capitalized companies.  The NAIC formula provides for four levels of potential involvement by state regulators for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, ranging from a requirement for an insurance company to submit a plan to improve its capital (Company Action Level) to regulatory c ontrol of the insurance company (Mandatory Control Level).  At December 31, 2007, the Insurance Company’s Company Action Level was $84.0 million and the Mandatory Control Level was $29.4 million. The Insurance Company’s adjusted capital at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $418.3 million and $380.3 million, respectively, which exceeds all four action levels.


13.  ASSESSMENTS AGAINST INSURERS


Most applicable jurisdictions require insurance companies to participate in guaranty funds, which are designed to indemnify policyholders of insolvent insurance companies.  Insurers authorized to transact business in these jurisdictions generally are subject to assessments based on annual direct premiums written in that jurisdiction.  These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer’s insolvency and, in certain instances, may be offset against future state premium taxes.  


The amount of these assessments against the Insurance Company in 2007 and prior years have not been material.  However, the amount and timing of any future assessment against the Insurance Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated and are beyond the control of the Corporation and the Insurance Company.  As such, no reasonable estimate of such assessments can be made.



F-21



14.  ANNUITY AND UNIVERSAL LIFE DEPOSITS


The Company offers, among other products, annuity and universal life insurance.  The amounts received as deposits for each of the years ended December 31 are as follows:


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

(in thousands)

Universal Life

$

1,451

$

1,474

$

1,453

Annuity

 

136,467

 

163,648

 

139,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Total

$

137,918

$

165,122

$

141,141


15.  STATUTORY INFORMATION


The Insurance Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed by the New York State Insurance Department.  Prescribed SAP include state laws, regulations and general administrative rules, as well as a variety of publications from the NAIC.  Accounting principles used to prepare statutory financial statements differ from financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP.


A reconciliation of the Insurance Company’s net income (loss) as filed with regulatory authorities to net income reported in the accompanying financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is set forth in the following table:


(in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

Statutory net income (loss)

$

59,141 

$

74,976 

$

103,569 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(12,345)

 

(9,020)

 

(20,040)

   Investment income difference

 

7,714 

 

  (9,033)

 

  3,267 

   GAAP Deferred taxes

 

2,698 

 

(197)

 

(40,614)

   Policy liabilities and accruals

 

7,053 

 

15,449 

 

3,942 

   IMR amortization

 

  (3,056)

 

  (2,938)

 

  (1,736)

   IMR capital gains

 

9,676 

 

494 

 

48,171 

   Payor Swaptions

 

(8,314)

 

(15,307)

 

 (435)

   Federal income taxes

 

  (693)

 

  (3,831)

 

  2,916 

   Other

 

      550 

 

      287 

 

      39 

   Non-insurance company’s net income

 

    1,258 

 

  (1,167)

 

  (7,490)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP net income

$

 63,682 

$

 49,713 

$

 91,589 


A reconciliation of the Insurance Company’s shareholders’ equity as filed with regulatory authorities to shareholders’ equity reported in the accompanying financial statements as of December 31 is set forth in the following table:


(in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

Statutory shareholders’ equity

$

360,373 

$

330,104 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

   Asset valuation and interest maintenance reserves

 

131,494 

 

117,095 

   Investment valuation differences

 

65,364 

 

123,694 

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

77,721 

 

81,069 

   Policy liabilities and accruals

 

135,151 

 

 128,090 

   Difference between statutory and GAAP deferred taxes

 

(95,510)

 

(114,415)

   Other

 

    (2,754)

 

    (2,618)

   Non-insurance company’s shareholders’ equity

 

(9,884)

 

(23,432)

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP shareholders’ equity

$

661,955 

$

639,587 






F-22





Schedule II

PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                               December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

  Investment in subsidiaries at equity

 

$

671,928 

$

663,106 

  Cash in bank

 

49 

 

2,559 

  Real estate, net

 

35 

 

35 

  Fixed maturities, available for sale

 

54,422 

 

88,873 

  Investments, common stocks

 

1,003 

 

17,822 

  Short-term investments

 

13,853 

 

24,668 

  Other long-term investments

 

20,322 

 

  Deferred debt issue costs

 

233 

 

479 

  Other assets

 

4,160 

 

4,877 

 

 

 

 

 

          TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

766,005 

$

802,421 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Notes payable, long term

 

90,195 

 

100,000 

  Short-term note payable

 

 

50,000 

  Other liabilities

 

13,855 

 

12,834 

 

 

 

 

 

          TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

104,050 

 

162,834 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Shareholders' Equity

 

661,955 

 

639,587 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

$

766,005 

$

802,421 









S-1




Schedule II

PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Income from rents

 

 $              819 

 

 $          803 

 

 $         788 

 Investment income

 

7,048 

 

8,764 

 

8,228 

 Realized investment gains (losses)

 

6,205 

 

3,863 

 

(712)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

14,072 

 

13,430 

 

8,304 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Operating and administrative

 

           2,423 

 

          1,734 

 

         1,291 

 Interest

 

         10,087 

 

        11,593 

 

       10,789 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Expenses

 

        12,510 

 

        13,327 

 

       12,080 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) before federal income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 and equity in income of subsidiaries

 

          1,562 

 

          103 

 

        (3,776)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal income tax (benefit) expense

 

305 

 

          1,272 

 

         3,585 

Income (Loss) before equity in income of subsidiaries

 

          1,257 

 

(1,169)

 

(7,361)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in income of subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 before deducting dividends received

 

62,425 

 

50,882 

 

98,950 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$        63,682 

 

$      49,713 

 

$     91,589 














S-2




Schedule II

PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Net Income

 

$     63,682 

 

$     49,713 

 

$   91,589 

  Adjustments to reconcile net income to

 

 

 

 

 

 

    net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Realized investment (gains) losses

 

      (6,205)

 

      (3,863)

 

      712 

      Depreciation and amortization

 

           871 

 

           893 

 

          893 

      Stock Option Compensation

 

1,129 

 

           562 

 

           - 

      Equity in income of subsidiary companies

 

     (62,425)

 

     (50,882)

 

   (98,950)

      Deferred Federal income taxes

 

1,526 

 

        349 

 

       1,806 

      Dividend from Subsidiaries

 

        32,000 

 

        20,000 

 

           - 

  Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Accrued investment income

 

         587 

 

         168 

 

         110 

      Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

         9 

 

         144 

 

         20 

      Other assets and liabilities

 

    (564)

 

    1,007 

 

    15,572 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

      30,610 

 

      18,091 

 

     11,752 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Purchase of fixed maturities

 

(387)

 

(10,436)

 

(1,049)

  Sale of fixed maturities

 

     31,185 

 

     15,494 

 

     7,008 

  Common stock acquisitions

 

    (13,140)

 

    (18,170)

 

   (20,887)

  Common stock sales

 

        28,066 

 

        23,384 

 

     21,341 

  Other invested asset acquisiitions

 

(16,980)

 

 

  Decrease (increase) in short-term investments

 

     10,815 

 

         (12,471)

 

     (9,087)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities

 

     39,559 

 

      (2,199)

 

     (2,674)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Dividends to shareholders

 

    (14,018)

 

    (11,784)

 

   (11,759)

  Repayment of short-term debt

 

         (50,000)

 

 

 

 

  Retirement of senior notes

 

(9,756)

 

 

 

 

  Repurchase of common stock

 

1,095 

 

545 

 

905 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Net Cash Used In Financing Activities

 

    (72,679)

 

    (11,239)

 

   (10,854)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Increase (Decrease) in Cash

 

(2,510)

 

4,653 

 

(1,776)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at Beginning of Year

 

2,559 

 

       (2,094)

 

       (318)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at End of Year

 

$           49 

 

$      2,559 

 

$   (2,094)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





S-3




PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

                                         Schedule III

SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Column F

Column F-1

Column G

Column H

Column I

Column J

Column K

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims, Losses,

 

 

 

 

 

Future Policy

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits,

 

Other

 

 

 

Credited to

 

 

 

 

 

Losses, Claims,

 

Policy

 

Mortality,

 

Account

Amortization

 

 

 

Deferred

Loss Expenses,

 

Claims

 

Surrender

 

Balances

of Deferred

 

 

 

Policy

and Policy-

 

and

 

and Other

Net

and

Policy

Other

 

 

Acquisition

holder Account

Unearned

Benefits

Premium

Charges to

Investment

Settlement

Acquisition

Operating

Premiums

 

Costs

Balances

Premiums

Payable

Revenue

Policyholders

Income

Expenses

Costs

Expenses

Written

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance

$    16,048 

$       231,320 

$              - 

$          - 

$       11,166 

$             16 

$           16,818 

$            18,836 

$          2,537 

$           7,320 

 

  Annuity

61,673 

      3,068,185 

                - 

       - 

        24,788 

           1,179 

     277,922 

            195,563 

   21,147 

          20,228 

 

  Accident and Health

               - 

             2,318 

                - 

       - 

          4,468 

                 - 

                  120 

                2,294 

          - 

              1,741 

$ 4,468 

           Total

$    77,721 

$    3,301,823 

$              - 

$          - 

$      40,422 

$        1,195 

$         294,860 

$          216,693 

$        23,684 

$          29,289 

$ 4,468 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance

$    15,255 

$       223,622 

$              - 

$          - 

$        9,355 

$             41 

$           17,121 

$            16,892 

$          1,791 

$           6,657 

 

  Annuity

65,814 

      3,469,180 

                - 

       - 

        27,601 

           1,288 

     299,179 

            222,066 

   19,283 

          20,205 

 

  Accident and Health

               - 

             2,503 

                - 

       - 

          4,476 

                 - 

                  115 

                2,381 

          - 

              1,010 

$ 4,476 

           Total

$    81,069 

$    3,695,305 

$              - 

$          - 

$      41,432 

$        1,329 

$         316,415 

$          241,339 

$        21,074 

$          27,872 

$ 4,476 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance

$    14,692 

$       220,790 

$             - 

$          - 

$        7,138 

$                 69 

$           17,257 

$            15,635 

$          1,591 

$            3,747 

 

  Annuity

      65,702 

      3,772,063 

               - 

      - 

        27,383 

           1,326 

     322,337 

            236,538 

   26,811 

          10,658 

 

  Accident and Health

               - 

             3,028 

               - 

     - 

          4,622 

                 - 

                  117 

                2,726 

          - 

               838 

$ 4,622 

            Total

$    80,394 

$    3,995,881 

$             - 

$          - 

$      39,143 

$            1,395 

$         339,711 

$          254,899 

$        28,402 

$          15,243 

$ 4,622 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 











S-4





REINSURANCE (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Column A

 

Column B

 

Column C

 

Column D

 

Column E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assumed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceded to

 

From

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Other

 

Other

 

Net

 

 

 

Amount

 

Companies

 

Companies

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance in Force

 

$         1,230,057 

 

$           710,494 

 

$       1,031,541 

 

$    1,551,104 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Life Insurance

 

14,601 

 

4,778 

 

1,343 

 

11,166 

 

    Annuity

 

24,788 

 

 

 

24,788 

 

    Accident and Health Insurance

 

6,350 

 

1,882 

 

 

4,468 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Total

 

$              45,739 

 

$                6,660 

 

$              1,343 

 

$          40,422 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance in Force

 

$         1,253,908 

 

$           755,516 

 

$       1,185,426 

 

$    1,683,818 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Life Insurance

 

13,113 

 

5,076 

 

1,318 

 

9,355 

 

    Annuity

 

27,601 

 

 

 

27,601 

 

    Accident and Health Insurance

 

6,403 

 

1,927 

 

 

4,476 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Total

 

$              47,117 

 

$                7,003 

 

$              1,318 

 

$          41,432 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Life Insurance in Force

 

$         1,308,974 

 

$           814,538 

 

$       1,083,542 

 

$    1,577,978 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Life Insurance

 

11,564 

 

5,522 

 

1,096 

 

7,138 

 

    Annuity

 

27,384 

 

 

 

27,384 

 

    Accident and Health Insurance

 

6,923 

 

2,301 

 

 

4,622 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Total

 

$              45,871 

 

$                7,823 

 

$              1,096 

 

$          39,144 

 



Note:  Reinsurance assumed consists entirely of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance







S-5





Exhibit 31.01


Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15f


I, Herbert Kurz, Chief Executive Officer of Presidential Life Corporation certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Presidential Life Corporation;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal control over financial reporting.

5.

The company's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company's auditors and the audit committee of the company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2008

                                                                     /s/Herbert Kurz

                                                                                                                   ----------------------

               Herbert Kurz

               Chief Executive Officer



S-6







Exhibit 31.02


Certification of Chief Financial Officer

       Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15f


I, Charles Snyder, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Presidential Life Corporation certify that:


        1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Presidential Life Corporation;    

 2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal control over financial reporting.

5.

The company's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company's auditors and the audit committee of the company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2008

                      

/s/Charles Snyder

                                                                                                                                 ----------------------

Charles Snyder                       

                                          

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer



S-7




Exhibit 32.01




CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO


18 U.S.C SECTION 1350,


AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO


SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Annual Report of Presidential Life Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Herbert Kurz, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:  



(1)

Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and


(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.




/s/Herbert Kurz



Herbert Kurz

Chief Executive Officer

March 11, 2008



















S-8





Exhibit 32.02



CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO


18 U.S.C SECTION 1350,


AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO


SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Annual Report of Presidential Life Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Charles Snyder, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:



(3)

Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and


(4)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.



/s/Charles Snyder



Charles Snyder

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

March 11, 2008



S-9


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