FBL Financial Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

FBL Financial Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYS: FFG) :

Financial Highlights
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) today reported net income attributable to FBL for the fourth quarter of 2012 of $22.6 million, or $0.86 per diluted common share compared to a loss of $47.6 million, or $1.55 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Operating Income⁽¹⁾. Operating income totaled $24.2 million, or $0.93 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to $20.3 million, or $0.65 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2011. Fourth quarter 2012 operating income reflects strong underlying results, increased investment fee income, increased equity income and the benefit of $0.04 per share from unlocking assumptions used in the calculation of deferred acquisition costs. Operating income differs from the GAAP measure, net income attributable to FBL Financial Group, in that it excludes the impact of realized gains and losses on investments, the change in net unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, the net impact of discontinued operations and the loss on debt redemption. For further information on this non-GAAP financial measure, please refer to Note (1) and the reconciliation provided within this release.

"I am very pleased to report that FBL Financial Group delivered another strong quarter of financial results with net income of $0.86 per share and operating income of $0.93 per share. These results cap off a very positive year for FBL Financial Group, reflecting the steady growth of Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company as well as the continued execution of our capital management plans," said James P. Brannen, Chief Executive Officer of FBL Financial Group, Inc. "Given the macroeconomic environment, we are maintaining a robust capital position, prudently managing expenses and emphasizing life insurance sales, with life premiums collected up 23 percent during the quarter and 11 percent for the year. We are well positioned as we move forward in 2013, focused on our Farm Bureau marketplace."

Product Revenues. Premiums and product charges for the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $70.5 million compared to $66.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Interest sensitive product charges increased nine percent while traditional life insurance premiums increased four percent during the quarter. Premiums collected⁽²⁾ in the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $145.3 million compared to $144.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Life insurance premiums collected increased 23 percent, while annuity premiums collected declined 17 percent, reflecting the focus on life insurance sales and the suspension of certain annuity products due to the low interest rate environment.

Investment Income. Net investment income in the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $91.5 million compared to $86.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase is due to an increase in average invested assets and an increase in investment fee income, partially offset by lower investment yields on investments purchased during the quarter. The annualized yield earned on average invested assets, with securities at cost, was 5.87 percent for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 6.01 percent for the year ended December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2012, 95 percent of the fixed maturity securities in FBL Financial Group's investment portfolio were investment grade debt securities.

Benefits and Expenses. Benefits and expenses totaled $133.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, a decrease from $163.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, primarily reflecting the loss on debt redemption in 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2012, FBL Financial Group unlocked the assumptions used in the calculation of deferred acquisition costs, resulting in a benefit of $0.04 per share after-tax.

Net Realized Gains/Losses on Investments. In the fourth quarter of 2012, FBL Financial Group recognized net realized losses on investments of $1.1 million. The net realized loss on investments of $1.1 million is attributable to gains on sales of $6.9 million, losses on sales of $0.1 million and impairments of $7.9 million.

Capital and Book Value Increase. As of December 31, 2012, the book value per share of FBL Financial Group common stock totaled $47.47, a 21 percent increase from $39.13 at December 31, 2011. This reflects positive operating results, higher investment valuations and repurchasing shares at a discount to book value. Book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income⁽³⁾,increased to $36.09 at December 31, 2012 from $33.33 at December 31, 2011. During the fourth quarter of 2012, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company paid a $45 million dividend to FBL Financial Group in order to increase financial flexibility at the holding company level. The December 31, 2012 company action level risk based capital ratio of Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company increased during the year to approximately 504 percent.

Stock Repurchases. During the quarter, FBL repurchased 537,688 shares for a cost of $17.7 million, including expenses. During 2012, FBL repurchased a total of 5.5 million shares for a cost of $181.9 million, via open market and block trade repurchases. The 2012 repurchases represent 18 percent of the total common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

Further Financial Information. Further information on FBL Financial Group's financial results, including results by segment, may be found in FBL Financial Group's financial supplement, available on its website, www.fblfinancial.com.

Conference Call. FBL Financial Group will hold a conference call with investors tomorrow, February 8, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be webcast over the Internet, and a replay will be available on FBL Financial Group's website, www.fblfinancial.com.

Certain statements in this release concerning FBL Financial Group's prospects for the future are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements generally can be identified by their context, including terms such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," or similar words. These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties are detailed in FBL Financial Group's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include, but are not limited to, difficult conditions in financial markets and the economy, lack of liquidity and access to capital, investment valuations, interest rate changes, competitive factors, the ability to attract and retain sales agents and a decrease in ratings. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which FBL Financial Group believes to be reasonable; however, no assurance can be given that the assumptions will prove to be correct.

FBL Financial Group is a holding company whose purpose is to protect livelihoods and futures. Its primary operating subsidiary, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, underwrites and markets a broad range of life insurance and annuities to individuals and businesses, which are distributed by multiline exclusive Farm Bureau agents. In addition, FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty insurance companies for a management fee. FBL Financial Group, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FFG. For more information, please visit www.fblfinancial.com.

(1) Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to FBL to Operating Income - Unaudited

In addition to net income, FBL Financial Group has consistently utilized operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure commonly used in the life insurance industry, as a primary economic measure to evaluate its financial performance. Operating income equals net income attributable to FBL adjusted to eliminate the impact of realized gains and losses on investments, the change in net unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, the impact of discontinued operations and loss on debt redemption. FBL uses operating income, in addition to net income, to measure its performance since realized gains and losses on investments and the change in net unrealized gains and losses on derivatives can fluctuate greatly from quarter to quarter. Also, the discontinued operations and loss on debt redemption are nonrecurring items. These fluctuations make it difficult to analyze core operating trends. In addition, for derivatives not designated as hedges, there is a mismatch between the valuation of the asset and liability when deriving net income attributable to FBL. This non-GAAP measure is used for goal setting, determining short-term incentive compensation and evaluating performance on a basis comparable to that used by many in the investment community. FBL believes the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income, together with net income, provides information that may enhance an investor's understanding of FBL's underlying results and profitability. A reconciliation is provided in the following table:

^(a) Net of adjustments, as applicable, to amortization of unearned revenue reserves, deferred acquisition costs, value of insurance in force acquired and income taxes attributable to these items.

(2)Premiums Collected - Net statutory premiums collected, a measure of sales production, is a non-GAAP measure and includes premiums collected from annuities and universal life-type products. For GAAP reporting, these premiums received are not reported as revenues.

(3) Reconciliation of Book Value Per Share Excluding Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Unaudited

Book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income is a non-GAAP financial measure. Accumulated other comprehensive income totaled $289.9 million at December 31, 2012 and $177.8 million at December 31, 2011. Since accumulated other comprehensive income fluctuates from quarter to quarter due to unrealized changes in the fair value of investments caused principally by changes in market interest rates, FBL believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful supplemental information.