Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

NOTE 17. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock Issuance

Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022. There were 64,111,555 shares and 63,912,762 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Common Stock Repurchases

On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under the August 6, 2014 authorization, bringing the remaining share repurchase authorization to approximately $333.3 million. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining share repurchase authorization was $171.6 million under the repurchase program.

During the years ended 2023 and 2022, Kemper did not repurchase any of its common stock. During the year ended 2021 Kemper repurchased and retired approximately 2,085,000 shares of its common stock under its share repurchase authorization for an aggregate cost of $161.7 million and an average cost per share of $77.58.

These purchases were made in the open market in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company issued 89,000, 102,000, and 79,000 shares under the Kemper Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), respectively, at an average discounted price of $40.79, $40.83, and $58.08 per share. Compensation costs charged against income were $0.6 million, $0.7 million, and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Dividends

In 2023, Kemper issued dividends and dividend equivalents of $80.1 million, of which $80.1 million was paid to shareholders. Except for certain financial covenants under Kemper’s credit agreement or during any period in which Kemper elects to defer interest payments, there are no restrictions on Kemper’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders. Certain financial covenants, namely minimum net worth and a maximum debt to total capitalization ratio, under Kemper’s credit agreement could limit the amount of dividends that Kemper may pay to shareholders at December 31, 2023. Kemper had the ability to pay without restrictions of $0.5 billion in dividends to its shareholders and still be in compliance with all financial covenants under its credit agreement at December 31, 2023.