PLC 10Q 6-30-06


 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
 
 
FORM 10-Q
[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006
 
or
 
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the transition period from ________ to _______
 
 
 
Commission File Number 001-11339
 
Protective Life Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
95-2492236
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
2801 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, Alabama 35223
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
(205) 268-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [ X ] No [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer ý     Accelerated Filer o     Non-accelerated filer o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ]
 
Number of shares of Common Stock, $0.50 par value, outstanding as of August 8, 2006: 69,916,711
 


PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For Quarter Ended June 30, 2006
 
INDEX
   
Part I.
Financial Information:
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited):
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the
 
Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2006
 
and December 31, 2005
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the
 
Six Months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
   
Item 2. 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
 
and Results of Operations
 
   
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
   
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
   
Part II.
Other Information:
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
   
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
   
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
   
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
   
   
Signature 
 
   
   



PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)



   
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30
 
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
Revenues
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
516,182
 
$
484,643
 
$
1,023,876
 
$
953,157
 
Reinsurance ceded
   
(317,740
)
 
(312,511
)
 
(598,410
)
 
(594,663
)
Net premiums and policy fees
   
198,442
   
172,132
   
425,466
   
358,494
 
Net investment income
   
300,734
   
282,374
   
599,799
   
570,327
 
Realized investment gains (losses):
Derivative financial instruments
   
(4,799
)
 
(26,021
)
 
8,538
   
(32,389
)
All other investments
   
14,663
   
12,480
   
19,816
   
40,358
 
Other income
   
53,599
   
45,505
   
102,135
   
89,789
 
Total revenues
   
562,639
   
486,470
   
1,155,754
   
1,026,579
 
 
Benefits and expenses
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded:
(three months: 2006 - $290,566; 2005 - $279,484
six months: 2006 - $547,125; 2005 - $544,847)
   
335,937
   
291,636
   
685,545
   
592,070
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
34,153
   
51,867
   
84,184
   
126,118
 
Other operating expenses, net of reinsurance ceded:
(three months: 2006 - $48,703; 2005 - $54,489
six months: 2006 - $94,994; 2005 - $91,363)
   
89,863
   
69,525
   
172,682
   
143,079
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
459,953
   
413,028
   
942,411
   
861,267
 
Income before income tax
   
102,686
   
73,442
   
213,343
   
165,312
 
Income tax expense
   
35,745
   
25,411
   
74,265
   
57,198
 
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
Net income per share - basic
 
$
0.94
 
$
0.68
 
$
1.96
 
$
1.53
 
Net income per share - diluted
 
$
0.94
 
$
0.68
 
$
1.95
 
$
1.52
 
Cash dividends paid per share
 
$
0.215
 
$
0.195
 
$
0.41
 
$
0.37
 
Average shares outstanding - basic
   
70,805,802
   
70,517,476
   
70,779,151
   
70,496,026
 
Average shares outstanding - diluted
   
71,381,677
   
71,279,363
   
71,469,976
   
71,276,577
 
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
June 30
 
December 31
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturities, at market (amortized cost: 2006 - $15,197,216; 2005 - $15,172,482)
 
$
14,901,325
 
$
15,472,386
 
Equity securities, at market (cost: 2006 - $117,652; 2005 - $114,994)
   
121,215
   
121,012
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
   
3,537,842
   
3,287,745
 
Investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation (2006 - $9,056; 2005 - $14,684)
   
57,059
   
72,932
 
Policy loans
   
454,225
   
458,825
 
Other long-term investments
   
290,427
   
279,676
 
Short-term investments
   
734,021
   
776,139
 
Total investments
   
20,096,114
   
20,468,715
 
Cash
   
35,718
   
83,670
 
Accrued investment income
   
204,572
   
189,038
 
Accounts and premiums receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible amounts
(2006 - $3,623; 2005 - $3,296)
   
114,514
   
82,080
 
Reinsurance receivables
   
3,212,207
   
3,020,685
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
2,475,843
   
2,171,988
 
Goodwill
   
49,423
   
49,423
 
Property and equipment, net
   
44,897
   
47,010
 
Other assets
   
151,499
   
140,124
 
Income tax receivable
   
21,581
   
85,807
 
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,391,285
   
2,377,124
 
Variable universal life
   
275,261
   
251,329
 
   
$
29,072,914
 
$
28,966,993
 
Liabilities
Policy liabilities and accruals
 
$
12,496,204
 
$
11,895,145
 
Stable value product account balances
   
5,764,856
   
6,057,721
 
Annuity account balances
   
3,328,479
   
3,388,005
 
Other policyholders' funds
   
144,951
   
147,921
 
Other liabilities
   
937,138
   
968,403
 
Deferred income taxes
   
240,774
   
317,317
 
Non-recourse funding obligations
   
200,000
   
125,000
 
Liabilities related to variable interest entities
   
435,980
   
448,093
 
Long-term debt
   
489,532
   
482,532
 
Subordinated debt securities
   
324,743
   
324,743
 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
Variable annuity
   
2,391,285
   
2,377,124
 
Variable universal life
   
275,261
   
251,329
 
     
27,029,203
   
26,783,333
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities - Note 2
             
Share-owners' equity
Preferred Stock, $1 par value, shares authorized: 4,000,000; Issued: None
Common Stock, $.50 par value, shares authorized: 2006 and 2005 -160,000,000
shares issued: 2006 and 2005 - 73,251,960
   
36,626
   
36,626
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
443,462
   
440,475
 
Treasury stock, at cost (2006 - 3,335,383 shares; 2005 - 3,557,911 shares)
   
(11,968
)
 
(12,765
)
Unallocated stock in Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(2006 - 373,729 shares; 2005 - 480,356 shares)
   
(1,231
)
 
(1,610
)
Retained earnings
   
1,726,146
   
1,615,714
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of income tax:
(2006 - $(80,103); 2005 - $57,649)
   
(150,874
)
 
104,489
 
Accumulated gain - hedging, net of income tax: (2006 - $1,955; 2005 - $394)
   
3,682
   
731
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax: (2006 - $(1,132); 2005 - $0)
   
(2,132
)
 
0
 
     
2,043,711
   
2,183,660
 
   
$
29,072,914
 
$
28,966,993
 


See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
 
 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment (gains) losses
   
(19,816
)
 
(40,358
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
84,184
   
126,118
 
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
(192,892
)
 
(208,213
)
Depreciation expense
   
6,742
   
7,635
 
Deferred income tax
   
61,393
   
(19,454
)
Accrued income tax
   
59,720
   
7,193
 
Interest credited to universal life and investment products
   
379,760
   
353,739
 
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products
   
(232,124
)
 
(197,873
)
Change in reinsurance receivables
   
(191,522
)
 
(133,388
)
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables
   
(47,968
)
 
(300,723
)
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds
of traditional life and health products
   
539,386
   
381,201
 
Net change in trading securities
   
5,329
   
190
 
Change in other liabilities
   
44,375
   
302,392
 
Other, net
   
2,474
   
23,071
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
638,119
   
409,644
 
Cash flows from investing activities
Investments available for sale:
             
Maturities and principal reductions of investments
             
Fixed maturities
   
580,437
   
901,778
 
Equity securities
   
0
   
189
 
Sale of investments
             
Fixed maturities
   
2,496,444
   
2,881,206
 
Equity securities
   
3,520
   
6,199
 
Cost of investments acquired
             
Fixed maturities
   
(3,096,211
)
 
(4,931,094
)
Equity securities
   
(3,343
)
 
(32,114
)
Mortgage loans:
             
New borrowings
   
(489,928
)
 
(304,451
)
Repayments
   
238,972
   
182,005
 
Change in investment real estate, net
   
34,368
   
3,757
 
Change in policy loans, net
   
4,600
   
16,040
 
Change in other long-term investments, net
   
19,124
   
5,598
 
Change in short-term investments, net
   
(21,081
)
 
446,623
 
Purchase of property and equipment
   
(3,053
)
 
(5,283
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(236,151
)
 
(829,547
)
Cash flows from financing activities
             
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and long-term debt
   
89,000
   
52,600
 
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and long-term debt
   
(82,000
)
 
(34,716
)
Net proceeds from securities sold under repurchase agreements
   
0
   
31,550
 
Payments on liabilities related to variable interest entities
   
(12,113
)
 
(17,356
)
Issuance of non-recourse funding obligations
   
75,000
   
0
 
Dividends to share owners
   
(28,647
)
 
(25,756
)
Investment product deposits and change in universal life deposits
   
991,537
   
1,563,274
 
Investment product withdrawals
   
(1,461,953
)
 
(1,275,863
)
Excess tax benefits on stock based compensation
   
2,668
   
0
 
Other financing activities, net
   
(23,412
)
 
93,890
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
(449,920
)
 
387,623
 
Change in cash
   
(47,952
)
 
(32,280
)
Cash at beginning of period
   
83,670
   
130,596
 
Cash at end of period
 
$
35,718
 
$
98,316
 



See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
 
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share amounts)


1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Protective Life Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006. The year-end consolidated condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Certain reclassifications have been made in the previously reported financial statements and accompanying notes to make the prior period amounts comparable to those of the current period. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or share-owners' equity.

2. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The Company is contingently liable to obtain a $20 million letter of credit under indemnity agreements with its directors. Such agreements provide insurance protection in excess of the directors’ liability insurance in force at the time up to $20 million. Should certain events occur constituting a change in control of the Company, the Company must obtain the letter of credit upon which directors may draw for defense or settlement of any claim relating to performance of their duties as directors. The Company has similar agreements with certain of its officers providing up to $10 million in indemnification that are not secured by the obligation to obtain a letter of credit.

Under insurance guaranty fund laws, in most states insurance companies doing business therein can be assessed up to prescribed limits for policyholder losses incurred by insolvent companies. The Company does not believe such assessments will be materially different from amounts already provided for in the financial statements. Most of these laws provide that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would threaten an insurer's own financial strength.

A number of civil jury verdicts have been returned against insurers and other providers of financial services involving sales practices, alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise representatives, relationships with agents or persons with whom the insurer does business, and other matters. Increasingly these lawsuits have resulted in the award of substantial judgments that are disproportionate to the actual damages, including material amounts of punitive and non-economic compensatory damages. In some states, juries, judges, and arbitrators have substantial discretion in awarding punitive and non-economic compensatory damages which creates the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments or awards in any given lawsuit or arbitration. Arbitration awards are subject to very limited appellate review. In addition, in some class action and other lawsuits, companies have made material settlement payments. The Company, like other financial services companies, in the ordinary course of business, is involved in such litigation and in arbitration. Although the outcome of any such litigation or arbitration cannot be predicted, the Company believes that at the present time there are no pending or threatened lawsuits that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.
 
3. Operating Segments

The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. A brief description of each segment follows:

·  
The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance (collectively “traditional life”), universal life, variable universal life, and bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and independent marketing organizations.

·  
The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals.

·  
The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent agents and brokers.

·  
The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans.

·  
The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product and a guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”) product.

The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital and interest on debt). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities), various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several small subsidiaries.

The Company uses the same accounting policies and procedures to measure segment operating income and assets as it uses to measure its consolidated net income and assets. Segment operating income is generally income before income tax excluding net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and participating income from real estate ventures). Periodic settlements of derivatives associated with corporate debt and certain investments and annuity products are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of operating income because the derivatives are used to mitigate risk in items affecting consolidated and segment operating income. Segment operating income represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is internally assessed by management. Premiums and policy fees, other income, benefits and settlement expenses, and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs are attributed directly to each operating segment. Net investment income is allocated based on directly related assets required for transacting the business of that segment. Realized investment gains (losses) and other operating expenses are allocated to the segments in a manner that most appropriately reflects the operations of that segment. Investments and other assets are allocated based on statutory policy liabilities, while deferred policy acquisition costs and goodwill are shown in the segments to which they are attributable.

There are no significant intersegment transactions.


The following tables summarize financial information for the Company’s segments. Asset adjustments represent the inclusion of assets related to discontinued operations.

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Revenues
                 
Life Marketing
 
$
196,557
 
$
144,013
 
$
415,482
 
$
307,745
 
Acquisitions
   
100,505
   
105,399
   
201,956
   
207,945
 
Annuities
   
67,478
   
66,390
   
131,274
   
159,568
 
Stable Value Products
   
83,060
   
78,166
   
160,439
   
152,660
 
Asset Protection
   
70,303
   
71,947
   
135,452
   
137,025
 
Corporate and Other
   
44,736
   
20,555
   
111,151
   
61,636
 
Total revenues
 
$
562,639
 
$
486,470
 
$
1,155,754
 
$
1,026,579
 
                           
Segment Operating Income
                         
Life Marketing
 
$
51,225
 
$
38,332
 
$
92,006
 
$
77,473
 
Acquisitions
   
18,958
   
21,473
   
38,864
   
42,508
 
Annuities
   
6,150
   
8,145
   
10,891
   
12,209
 
Stable Value Products
   
11,800
   
13,484
   
24,144
   
27,883
 
Asset Protection
   
8,904
   
6,292
   
17,642
   
12,464
 
Corporate and Other
   
6,848
   
9,380
   
18,511
   
21,025
 
Total segment operating income
   
103,885
   
97,106
   
202,058
   
193,562
 
                           
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1)
   
4,946
   
5,317
   
4,773
   
10,783
 
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2)
   
(6,145
)
 
(28,981
)
 
6,512
   
(39,033
)
Income tax expense
   
(35,745
)
 
(25,411
)
 
(74,265
)
 
(57,198
)
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
                           
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments
 
$
14,663
 
$
12,480
 
$
19,816
 
$
40,358
 
 Less participating income from real estate ventures
   
8,168
   
5,883
   
13,494
   
5,883
 
 Less related amortization of DAC
   
1,549
   
1,280
   
1,549
   
23,692
 
   
$
4,946
 
$
5,317
 
$
4,773
 
$
10,783
 
                           
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
(4,799
)
$
(26,021
)
$
8,538
 
$
(32,389
)
 Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps
   
674
   
2,960
   
2,005
   
6,644
 
 Less derivative gains related to certain annuities
   
672
   
0
   
21
   
0
 
   
$
(6,145
)
$
(28,981
)
$
6,512
 
$
(39,033
)



   
Operating Segment Assets
June 30, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Life
Marketing
 
Acquisitions
 
Annuities
 
Stable Value
Products
 
                   
Investments and other assets
 
$
7,764,884
 
$
3,802,462
 
$
6,123,039
 
$
5,637,154
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,824,914
   
373,143
   
152,082
   
17,280
 
Goodwill
   
10,354
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
9,600,152
 
$
4,175,605
 
$
6,275,121
 
$
5,654,434
 
                           
                           
 
   
Asset
Protection
   
Corporate
and Other
   
Adjustments
   
Total
Consolidated
 
                           
Investments and other assets
 
$
831,365
 
$
2,348,884
 
$
39,860
 
$
26,547,648
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
93,889
   
14,535
   
0
   
2,475,843
 
Goodwill
   
38,986
   
83
   
0
   
49,423
 
Total assets
 
$
964,240
 
$
2,363,502
 
$
39,860
 
$
29,072,914
 
                           
                           
                           
 
Operating Segment Assets
December 31, 2005
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Life
Marketing
   
Acquisitions
   
Annuities
   
Stable Value
Products
 
                           
Investments and other assets
 
$
7,219,157
 
$
3,914,853
 
$
6,065,367
 
$
5,959,112
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,584,325
   
330,278
   
128,930
   
19,102
 
Goodwill
   
10,354
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total assets
 
$
8,813,836
 
$
4,245,131
 
$
6,194,297
 
$
5,978,214
 
                           
                           
 
   
Asset
Protection
   
Corporate
and Other
   
Adjustments
   
Total
Consolidated
 
                           
Investments and other assets
 
$
812,774
 
$
2,732,774
 
$
41,545
 
$
26,745,582
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
101,972
   
7,381
   
0
   
2,171,988
 
Goodwill
   
38,986
   
83
   
0
   
49,423
 
Total assets
 
$
953,732
 
$
2,740,238
 
$
41,545
 
$
28,966,993
 


4. Statutory Reporting Practices

Financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP differ in some respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. In accordance with statutory reporting practices, at June 30, 2006, and for the six months then ended, the Company's insurance subsidiaries had combined capital and surplus of $1.5 billion and net loss of $86.7 million. At June 30, 2006, the combined asset valuation reserve held by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries was $79.5 million.

The statutory net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2006 is the result of an increase in the level of reserves maintained for statutory reporting practices, combined with a loss from separate accounts related primarily to the Company’s market value adjusted annuities. An amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38 increased the level of statutory reserves required for certain universal life with secondary guarantee insurance products issued on or after July 1, 2005. Additionally, during 2005 statutory reserves required by Regulation XXX were reinsured with a special purpose finance captive insurance company wholly owned by Protective Life. See additional discussion of the Company’s change during 2005 in its reinsurance strategy in the Life Marketing section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) contained herein.



5.  Net Income Per Share

Net income per share - basic is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including shares issuable under various deferred compensation plans. Net income per share - diluted is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period, including shares issuable under various stock-based compensation plans and stock purchase contracts.

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net income per share is presented below:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Calculation of basic earnings per share:
                 
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
                           
Average shares issued and outstanding
   
69,804,417
   
69,618,179
   
69,798,924
   
69,578,030
 
Issuable under various deferred compensation plans
   
1,001,385
   
899,297
   
980,227
   
917,996
 
Weighted shares outstanding - Basic
   
70,805,802
   
70,517,476
   
70,779,151
   
70,496,026
 
                           
Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.94
 
$
0.68
 
$
1.96
 
$
1.53
 
                           
Calculation of diluted earnings per share:
                         
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
                           
Weighted shares outstanding - Basic
   
70,805,802
   
70,517,476
   
70,779,151
   
70,496,026
 
Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)(a)
   
290,235
   
256,212
   
303,172
   
283,411
 
Issuable under various other stock-back compensation plans
   
285,640
   
505,675
   
387,653
   
497,140
 
Weighted shares outstanding - Diluted
   
71,381,677
   
71,279,363
   
71,469,976
   
71,276,577
 
                           
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.94
 
$
0.68
 
$
1.95
 
$
1.52
 
 
(a) Excludes 144,100 and 119,400 SARs as of June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, that are antidilutive. In the event the average market price exceeds the issue price of the SARs, such rights would be dilutive to the Company’s earnings per share and will be included in the Company’s calculation of the diluted average shares outstanding.


6. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AcSEC”) issued SOP 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts.” This SOP 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 FAS97. 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. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SOP 05-1, which is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, but does not currently believe that its adoption will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” (“FAS155”). FAS155 amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS133”) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities” (“FAS140”) and resolves issues addressed in FAS133 DIG Issue D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interest in Securitized Financial Assets.” FAS155 eliminates the exemption from applying the bifurcation requirements of FAS133 to interests in securitized financial assets, in an effort to ensure that similar instruments are accounted for consistently regardless of the form of the instrument. The Company is currently evaluating the impact FAS155, which is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, but does not currently believe that its adoption will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In March 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets - an amendment of FASB Statement 140” (“FAS 156”). FAS156 amends FAS140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. FAS156 requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract in certain situations. Additionally, FAS156 permits the choice of the amortization method or the fair value measurement method, with changes in fair value recorded in income, for the subsequent measurement for each class of separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. The statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006  The Company is currently evaluating this new standard, but does not currently believe that its adoption will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In July 2006, the FASB issued an FASB Interpretation No.  48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109,” (“FIN 48"). FIN 48 provides guidance on the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions. It also addresses changes in judgment with respect to the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions, the accrual of any interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties, the balance sheet classification of liabilities resulting from tax uncertainties, and qualitative and quantitative disclosures required. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 48 on its financial statements.


7. Comprehensive Income

The following table sets forth the Company's comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented below:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
 
Change in net unrealized gains on investments, net of income tax:
(three months: 2006 - $(57,216); 2005 - $123,035)
six months: 2006 - $(135,519); 2005 - $39,390)
   
(106,632
)
 
228,494
   
(253,903
)
 
73,154
 
Change in accumulated gain-hedging, net of income tax:
(three months: 2006 - $(725); 2005 - $(867)
six months: 2006 - $1,575; $2005 - (1,860))
   
(1,352
)
 
(1,610
)
 
2,951
   
(3,454
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax:
(three months: 2006 - $(1,144); 2005 - $0
six months: 2006 - $(1,144); $2005 - $0)
   
(2,132
)
 
0
   
(2,132
)
 
0
 
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in
net income, net of income tax:
(three months: 2006 - $(2,128); 2005 - $(4,368)
six months: 2006 - $(779); 2005 - $(14,125))
   
(3,966
)
 
(8,112
)
 
(1,460
)
 
(26,233
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(47,141
)
$
266,803
 
$
(115,466
)
$
151,581
 


8. Retirement Benefit Plans

Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and unfunded excess benefits plan are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Service cost - Benefits earned during the period
 
$
1,726
 
$
1,691
 
$
4,302
 
$
3,795
 
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations
   
2,162
   
1,736
   
4,658
   
4,144
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(2,676
)
 
(2,414
)
 
(5,772
)
 
(4,842
)
Amortization of prior service cost
   
54
   
51
   
118
   
133
 
Amortization of actuarial losses
   
774
   
950
   
2,046
   
1,739
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
2,040
 
$
2,014
 
$
5,352
 
$
4,969
 

The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005, that it expected to contribute $7.0 million to its defined benefit pension plan during 2006. The Company currently estimates that it will contribute up to $6.8 million to this plan in 2006. As of June 30, 2006, no contributions have been made to the defined benefit pension plan.

In addition to pension benefits, the Company provides limited healthcare benefits and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees. The cost of these plans for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 was immaterial.

9. Borrowings

Long Term Debt

At June 30, 2006, the Company had $75.0 million outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 5.5% under its $200 million revolving line of credit due July 30, 2009. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants at June 30, 2006.

Non-Recourse Funding Obligations

The Company issued $75 million of non-recourse funding obligations during the first six months of 2006, bringing the total amount outstanding to $200 million at June 30, 2006. The weighted average interest rate as of June 30, 2006, was 6.6%.

10. Stock-Based Compensation

Since 1973, the Company has had stock-based incentive plans to motivate management to focus on the Company’s long-range performance through the awarding of stock-based compensation. Under plans approved by share owners in 1997 and 2003, up to 6,500,000 shares may be issued in payment of awards.

Through December 31, 2005, the Company accounted for its stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (“FAS123”) which was originally issued by the FASB in 1995. As originally issued, FAS123 provided companies with the option to either record expense for share-based payments under a fair value model, or to simply disclose the impact of the expense. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS123R”), using the modified prospective method, and accordingly prior periods have not been restated. FAS123R requires companies to measure the cost of share-based payments to employees using a fair value model and to recognize that cost over the relevant service period. Since the Company elected to recognize the cost of its share-based compensation plans in its financial statements when it originally adopted FAS123, the adoption of FAS123R in the first quarter of 2006 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or earnings per share.

In addition, FAS123R requires that an estimate of future award forfeitures be made at the grant date, while FAS123 permitted recognition of forfeitures on an as incurred basis. Prior to the adoption of FAS123R, the Company accounted for forfeitures as they occurred. This change in method related to forfeitures also did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Prior to adopting FAS123R, the Company presented all tax benefits of deductions resulting from payouts of stock based compensation as operating cash flows. FAS123R requires the cash flows resulting from excess tax benefits (tax deductions realized in excess of the compensation costs recognized for the exercise of the awards) from the date of adoption of FAS123R to be classified as a part of cash flows from financing activities. As a result of adopting FAS123R as of January 1, 2006, $2.7 million of excess tax benefits for the first six months of 2006 have been classified as financing cash flows.

The criteria for payment of 2006 performance awards is based primarily upon a comparison of the Company’s average return on average equity over a four-year period (earlier upon the death, disability, or retirement of the executive, or in certain circumstances, upon a change in control of the Company) to that of a comparison group of publicly held life and multi-line insurance companies. If the Company’s results are below the median of the comparison group (40th percentile for 2006 awards), no portion of the award is earned. If the Company’s results are at or above the 90th percentile, the award maximum is earned. Awards are paid in shares of Company Common Stock.

Performance shares awarded in the first quarter of 2006 and their estimated fair value at grant date are as follows:

Year
Awarded
Performance
Shares
Estimated
Fair Value
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
2006
125,430
$6,100


Performance shares are equivalent in value to one share of Company Common Stock times the award earned percentage payout. At June 30, 2006, the total outstanding performance shares related to these performance-based plans (including shares issued prior to January 1, 2006) measured at maximum payouts was 788,134.

During the first quarter of 2006, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) were granted to certain officers of the Company to provide long-term incentive compensation based solely on the performance of the Company’s Common Stock. The SARs are exercisable either in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant or after five years depending on the terms of the grant (earlier upon the death, disability, or retirement of the officer, or in certain circumstances, upon a change in control of the Company) and expire after ten years or upon termination of employment. The SARs activity as well as weighted average base price for the first six months of 2006 is as follows:

   
Weighted Average
Base Price
 
No. of SARs
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
 
$
26.89
   
1,467,210
 
SARs granted
   
48.60
   
46,900
 
SARs exercised
   
20.32
   
(255,429
)
Balance at June 30, 2006
 
$
29.03
   
1,258,681
 



The outstanding SARs at June 30, 2006, were at the following base prices:

Base Price
SARs
Outstanding
Remaining Life
in Years
Currently
Exercisable
$22.31
524,881
3
524,881
 31.26
 50,000
4
 50,000
 31.29
   2,500
4
   2,500
 32.00
435,000
5
          0
 26.49
 80,000
6
          0
 41.05
119,400
8
  11,100
 48.60
 46,900
9
          0


The SARs issued in the first quarter of 2006 had estimated fair values at grant date of $0.7 million. The fair value of the 2006 SARs was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The assumptions used varied depending on the vesting period of the awards. Assumptions used in the model were as follows: expected volatility ranged from 16.1% to 32.5%, the risk-free interest rate ranged from 4.9% to 5.0%, a dividend rate of 1.6%, a zero forfeiture rate, and the expected exercise date ranged from 2011 to 2014.

The Company will pay an amount in stock equal to the difference between the specified base price of the Company’s Common Stock and the market value at the exercise date for each SAR.

The Company recognizes all stock based compensation expense over the related service period of the award, or earlier for retirement eligible employees. The expense recorded by the Company for its stock-based compensation plans was $3.0 million for the first six months of 2006. Additionally, as of June 30, 2006, $14.6 million of unrecognized expense related to the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is expected to be recognized in future periods through December 31, 2009. The Company’s obligations of its stock-based compensation plans that are expected to be settled in shares of the Company’s Common Stock are reported as a component of share-owners’ equity, net of deferred taxes.

11. Subsequent Events

Chase Insurance Group Acquisition

On July 3, 2006, Protective Life Insurance Company (“Protective Life”), the Company’s largest operating subsidiary, completed the acquisition contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement previously reported in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 2006 and in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Pursuant to that agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMC”) and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Sellers”), Protective Life and its subsidiary West Coast Life Insurance Company purchased from the Sellers the Chase Insurance Group, which consists of five insurance companies that manufacture and distribute traditional life insurance and annuity products and four related non-insurance companies (which collectively are referred to as the “Acquired Companies”). The aggregate purchase price for the Acquired Companies was $1.172 billion which was reduced by $272 million in pre-closing dividends paid to the Sellers by the Acquired Companies. The purchase price is subject to post-closing adjustment payments from the Sellers or Protective Life, as the case may be, to reflect the final adjusted book value of the Acquired Companies.

Immediately after the closing of the acquisition, certain of the Acquired Companies entered into agreements with Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company (“AFLIAC”) and Wilton Reassurance Company and Wilton Reinsurance Bermuda Limited (collectively, the “Wilton Re Group”), whereby AFLIAC reinsured 100% of the variable annuity business of the Acquired Companies and the Wilton Re Group reinsured approximately 42% of the other insurance business of the Acquired Companies. The aggregate ceding commissions received by the Acquired Companies from these transactions was $319.8 million, which is approximately $231.7 million on an after tax basis.

Additional information regarding the consummation of this transaction may be found in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 10, 2006.


Issuance of Capital Securities

In connection with the Chase Insurance Group acquisition discussed above, on July 3, 2006, the Company issued $200 million of 7.25% Capital Securities due 2066 (the "Capital Securities"). For additional information regarding this transaction, please refer to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 2006.

Western General Acquisition

On July 14, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of the vehicle extended service contract business of Western General. Western General, headquartered in Calabasas, California, is an industry leading provider of vehicle service contracts nationally, focusing primarily on the West Coast market. Western General currently provides extended service contract administration for several automobile manufacturers and provides used car service contracts for a publicly-traded national dealership group.


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in tables are in thousands)


This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in its entirety, since it contains detailed information that is important to understanding the Company’s results and financial condition. The Overview below is qualified in its entirety by the full Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE

This report reviews the Company’s financial condition and results of operations including its liquidity and capital resources. Historical information is presented and discussed. Where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance are also identified and discussed. Certain statements made in this report include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical facts and may contain words like “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “will,” “shall,” “may,” and other words, phrases, or expressions with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements, and the Company cannot give assurances that such statements will prove to be correct. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.

For a more complete understanding of the Company’s business and its current period results, please read the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in conjunction with the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC.

INTRODUCTION

Protective Life Corporation (the “Company”) is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide financial services through the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products. Founded in 1907, Protective Life Insurance Company is the Company's largest operating subsidiary. Unless the context otherwise requires, the "Company" refers to the consolidated group of Protective Life Corporation and its subsidiaries.

The Company operates several business segments each having a strategic focus. An operating segment is generally distinguished by products and/or channels of distribution. The Company's operating segments are Life Marketing, Acquisitions, Annuities, Stable Value Products, and Asset Protection. The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other which consists of net investment income on unallocated capital, interest on debt, earnings from various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several non-strategic lines of business. The Company periodically evaluates its operating segments in light of the segment reporting requirements prescribed by FAS131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” and makes adjustments to its segment reporting as needed.

KNOWN TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The factors which could affect the Company's future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the following known trends and uncertainties: we are exposed to the risks of natural disasters, pandemics, malicious and terrorist acts that could adversely affect our operations; we operate in a mature, highly competitive industry, which could limit our ability to gain or maintain our position in the industry; a ratings downgrade could adversely affect our ability to compete; our policy claims fluctuate from period to period, and actual results could differ from our expectations; our results may be negatively affected should actual experience differ from management's assumptions and estimates; the use of reinsurance introduces variability in our statements of income; we could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder withdrawals; interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect our spread income or otherwise impact our business; equity market volatility could negatively impact our business; insurance companies are highly regulated and subject to numerous legal restrictions and regulations; changes to tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could adversely affect the Company and its ability to compete with non-insurance products or reduce the demand for certain insurance products; publicly held companies in general and financial services companies in particular are frequently the targets of litigation, including class action litigation, which could result in substantial judgments; the financial services industry is sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations and the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny; our ability to maintain low unit costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency of existing business; our investments are subject to market and credit risks; we may not realize our anticipated financial results from our acquisitions strategy; we may not be able to achieve the expected results from our recent acquisition; we are dependent on the performance of others; our reinsurers could fail to meet assumed obligations, increase rates or be subject to adverse developments that could affect us; computer viruses or network security breaches could affect our data processing systems or those of our business partners; our ability to grow depends in large part upon the continued availability of capital; and new accounting or statutory rules or changes to existing accounting or statutory rules could negatively impact us. Please refer to Exhibit 99 about these factors that could affect future results.

The Company’s results may fluctuate from period to period due to fluctuations in mortality, persistency, claims, expenses, interest rates, and other factors. Therefore, it is management's opinion that quarterly operating results for an insurance company are not necessarily indicative of results to be achieved in future periods, and that a review of operating results over a longer period is necessary to assess an insurance company's performance.

OVERVIEW

In the following discussion, segment operating income is defined as income before income tax, excluding net realized investment gains and losses (net of the related amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and participating income from real estate ventures). Periodic settlements of derivatives associated with corporate debt and certain investments and annuity products are included in realized gains and losses but are considered part of segment operating income because the derivatives are used to mitigate risk in items affecting segment operating income. Management believes that segment operating income provides relevant and useful information to investors, as it represents the basis on which the performance of the Company’s business is internally assessed. Although the items excluded from segment operating income may be significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s overall financial performance, management believes that segment operating income enhances an investor’s understanding of the Company’s results of operations by highlighting the income (loss) attributable to the normal, recurring operations of the Company’s business. Note that the Company’s segment operating income measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.


The following table presents a summary of results and reconciles segment operating income to consolidated net income:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Segment Operating Income
                         
Life Marketing
 
$
51,225
 
$
38,332
   
33.6
%
$
92,006
 
$
77,473
   
18.8
%
Acquisitions
   
18,958
   
21,473
   
(11.7
)
 
38,864
   
42,508
   
(8.6
)
Annuities
   
6,150
   
8,145
   
(24.5
)
 
10,891
   
12,209
   
(10.8
)
Stable Value Products
   
11,800
   
13,484
   
(12.5
)
 
24,144
   
27,883
   
(13.4
)
Asset Protection
   
8,904
   
6,292
   
41.5
   
17,642
   
12,464
   
41.5
 
Corporate and Other
   
6,848
   
9,380
   
(27.0
)
 
18,511
   
21,025
   
(12.0
)
Total segment operating income
   
103,885
   
97,106
   
7.0
   
202,058
   
193,562
   
4.4
 
                                       
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments(1)
   
4,946
   
5,317
         
4,773
   
10,783
       
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives(2)
   
(6,145
)
 
(28,981
)
       
6,512
   
(39,033
)
     
Income tax expense
   
(35,745
)
 
(25,411
)
       
(74,265
)
 
(57,198
)
     
Net income
 
$
66,941
 
$
48,031
   
39.4
 
$
139,078
 
$
108,114
   
28.6
 
                                       
(1) Realized investment gains (losses) - investments
 
$
14,663
 
$
12,480
       
$
19,816
 
$
40,358
       
Less participating income from real estate ventures
   
8,168
   
5,883
         
13,494
   
5,883
       
Less related amortization of DAC
   
1,549
   
1,280
         
1,549
   
23,692
       
   
$
4,946
 
$
5,317
       
$
4,773
 
$
10,783
       
                                       
(2) Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
(4,799
)
$
(26,021
)
     
$
8,538
 
$
(32,389
)
     
Less settlements on certain interest rate swaps
   
674
   
2,960
         
2,005
   
6,644
       
Less derivative gains related to certain annuities
   
672
   
0
         
21
   
0
       
   
$
(6,145
)
$
(28,981
)
     
$
6,512
 
$
(39,033
)
     


Net income for the second quarter and first six months of 2006 reflects a 7.0% and 4.4% growth, respectively, in segment operating income compared to the same periods of 2005. Additionally, net realized investment losses were $1.2 million for the second quarter compared to losses of $23.7 million for the same period of 2005, a favorable change of $22.5 million. For the first six months of 2006, the Company had net realized investment gains of $11.3 million compared to net realized investment losses of $28.3 million for the same period of 2005, a favorable change of $39.6 million. Life Marketing segment operating income was $51.2 million and $92.0 million for the current quarter and year-to-date, respectively, representing increases of 33.6% and 18.8% over the same periods of the prior year. These increases were attributable to growth in business in-force due to strong sales in prior periods and favorable DAC unlocking of approximately $14.1 million in the second quarter of 2006, partially offset by higher mortality and operating expenses (net of expenses capitalized). The declines in the Acquisitions segment’s operating income for both the current quarter and year-to-date are due to the normal runoff of the segment’s previously acquired blocks of business. Favorable DAC unlocking of $5.0 million during the second quarter of 2005 drove the decrease in operating income for the Annuities segment. The impact of the favorable DAC unlocking in 2005 was somewhat offset in 2006 by improvement in the equity markets, increasing account balances, and a 15 basis point improvement in interest spread during the current quarter. Spread compression due to increasing short term interest rates caused operating income to decline 12.5% for the second quarter and 13.4% for the first six months of 2006 in the Stable Value Products segment compared to the same periods of 2005. The Asset Protection segment’s 41.5% increases in operating income for both the second quarter and year-to-date are due to improvements in the segment’s service contract line, as well as their inventory protection product (“IPP”) line. Earnings from the service contract line are up $2.0 million (17%) year-to-date, while IPP earnings are up $3.3 million (1,353%) year-to-date.

RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

In the following segment discussions, various statistics and other key data the Company uses to evaluate its segments are presented. Sales statistics are used by the Company to measure the relative progress in its marketing efforts, but may or may not have an immediate impact on reported segment operating income. Sales data for traditional life insurance are based on annualized premiums, while universal life sales are based on annualized planned (target) premiums plus 6% of amounts received in excess of target premiums. Sales of annuities are measured based on the amount of deposits received. Stable value contract sales are measured at the time that the funding commitment is made based on the amount of deposit to be received. Sales within the Asset Protection segment are generally based on the amount of single premium and fees received.

Sales and life insurance in-force amounts are derived from the Company’s various sales tracking and administrative systems, and are not derived from the Company’s financial reporting systems or financial statements. Mortality variances are derived from actual claims compared to expected claims. These variances do not represent the net impact to earnings due to the interplay of reserves and DAC amortization.

Life Marketing
The Life Marketing segment markets level premium term and term-like insurance (collectively “traditional life”), universal life (“UL”), variable universal life and bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) products on a national basis primarily through networks of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and independent marketing organizations. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
335,467
 
$
290,333
   
15.5
%
$
660,831
 
$
564,102
   
17.1
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(247,119
)
 
(235,968
)
 
4.7
   
(455,750
)
 
(435,714
)
 
4.6
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
88,348
   
54,365
   
62.5
   
205,081
   
128,388
   
59.7
 
Net investment income
   
75,474
   
62,541
   
20.7
   
148,327
   
123,694
   
19.9
 
Other income
   
32,735
   
27,107
   
20.8
   
62,074
   
55,663
   
11.5
 
Total operating revenues
   
196,557
   
144,013
   
36.5
   
415,482
   
307,745
   
35.0
 
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
122,432
   
72,994
   
67.7
   
258,331
   
162,777
   
58.7
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,636
   
21,413
   
(92.4
)
 
21,102
   
39,240
   
(46.2
)
Other operating expenses
   
21,264
   
11,274
   
88.6
   
44,043
   
28,255
   
55.9
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
145,332
   
105,681
   
37.5
   
323,476
   
230,272
   
40.5
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
51,225
   
38,332
   
33.6
   
92,006
   
77,473
   
18.8
 
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
51,225
 
$
38,332
   
33.6
 
$
92,006
 
$
77,473
   
18.8
 


The following table summarizes key data for the Life Marketing segment:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
         
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
2005
Change
   
(Dollars in thousands)
       
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Sales By Product
                             
Traditional
 
$
35,733
 
$
26,861
   
33.0
%
     
$
73,209
 
$
61,369
   
19.3
%
Universal life
   
16,109
   
41,638
   
(61.3
)
       
47,597
   
74,385
   
(36.0
)
Variable universal life
   
1,628
   
1,197
   
36.0
         
2,913
   
2,335
   
24.8
 
   
$
53,470
 
$
69,696
   
(23.3
)
     
$
123,719
 
$
138,089
   
(10.4
)
                                             
Sales By Distribution Channel
                                           
Brokerage general agents
 
$
32,644
 
$
29,495
   
10.7
       
$
70,823
 
$
65,667
   
7.9
 
Independent agents
   
9,216
   
18,746
   
(50.8
)
       
23,016
   
36,057
   
(36.2
)
Stockbrokers/banks
   
8,082
   
18,004
   
(55.1
)
       
21,649
   
30,629
   
(29.3
)
BOLI / other
   
3,528
   
3,451
   
2.2
         
8,231
   
5,736
   
43.5
 
   
$
53,470
 
$
69,696
   
(23.3
)
     
$
123,719
 
$
138,089
   
(10.4
)
                                             
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1)
                                           
Traditional
 
$
374,705,974
 
$
337,741,129
   
10.9
       
$
368,990,677
 
$
333,005,255
   
10.8
 
Universal life
   
50,337,452
   
44,572,685
   
12.9
         
49,726,677
   
43,862,908
   
13.4
 
   
$
425,043,426
 
$
382,313,814
   
11.2
       
$
418,717,354
 
$
376,868,163
   
11.1
 
                                             
Average Account Values
                                           
Universal life
 
$
4,746,318
 
$
4,037,911
   
17.5
       
$
4,677,818
 
$
3,888,986
   
20.3
 
Variable universal life
   
272,397
   
221,347
   
23.1
         
265,374
   
219,930
   
20.7
 
   
$
5,018,715
 
$
4,259,258
   
17.8
       
$
4,943,192
 
$
4,108,916
   
20.3
 
                                             
Mortality Experience (2)
 
$
(749
)
$
3,819
             
$
(950
)
$
5,071
       
                                             
 
(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(2) Represents a favorable (unfavorable) variance as compared to pricing assumptions.


 
Operating income increased 33.6% and 18.8% from the first quarter and first six months of 2005, respectively primarily as a result of DAC unlocking during the current quarter. (See additional discussion of this item below.) The increases in total revenues are the result of growth of life insurance in-force and average account values, and were partially offset by higher overall benefits and expenses (37.5% higher for the second quarter and 40.5% higher for the first six months of 2006, as compared to the same periods of 2005). Additionally, as discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2005, during 2005 the Company reduced its reliance on reinsurance (see additional comments below) and entered into a capital markets solution to fund the additional statutory reserves required as a result of these changes in the Company’s reinsurance arrangements. In addition to the expected fluctuations in premiums and benefits and settlement expenses discussed below, earnings emerge more slowly under a capital markets structure relative to the previous reinsurance structure utilized by the Company.

Net premiums and policy fees grew by 62.5% in the current quarter and 59.7% year-to-date due in part to the growth in life insurance in-force achieved over the last several quarters. Net premiums and policy fees are also higher than the prior year due to an increase in retention levels on certain newly written traditional life products. Beginning in the second quarter of 2005, the Company reduced its reliance on reinsurance by changing from coinsurance to yearly renewable term reinsurance agreements and increased the maximum amount retained on any one life from $500,000 to $1,000,000 on certain of its newly written traditional life products. In addition to increasing net premiums, this change will result in higher benefits and settlement expenses, and will cause greater variability in financial results due to fluctuations in mortality results.

Net investment income increased 20.7% for the quarter and 19.9% year-to-date, reflecting the growth of the segment’s assets caused by the increase in life reserves, offset by lower investment yields, while other income increased 20.8% and 11.5% for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, primarily due to additional income from the segment’s broker-dealer subsidiary. The increase in income from the broker-dealer subsidiary is the result of increased fees related to variable annuity managed accounts and higher investment advisory fees. Due to the nature of this business, the majority of this additional income is offset by an increase in other operating expenses.

Benefits and settlement expenses were 67.7% and 58.7% higher than the second quarter and first six months of 2005, respectively, due to growth in life insurance in-force, increased retention levels on certain newly written traditional life products, higher credited interest on UL products resulting from increases in account values, and unfavorable fluctuations in mortality experience. The mortality variance (actual results compared to pricing) for the current quarter and first six months of 2006 was $4.6 million and $6.0 million less favorable, respectively, than the same periods of 2005. The estimated mortality negative impact on earnings for the second quarter and first six months of 2006 was $1.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, which was approximately $3.6 million and $4.3 million less favorable than the same periods of 2005.

Amortization of DAC was 92.4% and 46.2% lower for the second quarter and first six months of 2006 compared to the same periods of 2005 primarily due to favorable DAC unlocking. An evaluation of DAC, including a review of the underlying assumptions of future mortality, expenses, lapses, premium persistency, investment yields, and interest spreads was performed by the Company on its West Coast Life UL product during the second quarter of 2006. As a result of this review, assumptions were updated based on actual experience and/or expectations for the future. This change in assumptions, and resulting adjustment to DAC, referred to as “unlocking”, resulted in a favorable adjustment of approximately $14.1 million.

Other operating expenses for the segment were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Insurance Companies:
                         
First year commissions
 
$
76,429
 
$
80,881
   
(5.5)%
$
170,696
 
$
160,929
   
6.1
%
Renewal commissions
   
8,973
   
8,187
   
9.6
   
17,377
   
15,982
   
8.7
 
First year ceding allowances
   
(28,033
)
 
(33,230
)
 
(15.6
)
 
(60,865
)
 
(73,583
)
 
(17.3
)
Renewal ceding allowances
   
(55,129
)
 
(47,664
)
 
15.7
   
(101,460
)
 
(85,790
)
 
18.3
 
General & administrative
   
40,500
   
44,484
   
(9.0
)
 
83,763
   
91,825
   
(8.8
)
Taxes, licenses and fees
   
7,365
   
7,887
   
(6.6
)
 
15,437
   
14,365
   
7.5
 
Other operating expenses incurred
   
50,105
   
60,545
   
(17.2
)
 
124,948
   
123,728
   
1.0
 
                                       
Less commissions, allowances & expenses capitalized
   
(62,948
)
 
(75,704
)
 
(16.8
)
 
(144,590
)
 
(149,049
)
 
(3.0
)
                                       
Other operating expenses
   
(12,843
)
 
(15,159
)
 
(15.3
)
 
(19,642
)
 
(25,321
)
 
(22.4
)
                                       
Marketing Companies:
                                     
Commissions
   
19,781
   
17,599
   
12.4
   
37,077
   
35,697
   
3.9
 
Other
   
14,326
   
8,834
   
62.2
   
26,608
   
17,879
   
48.8
 
Other operating expenses
   
34,107
   
26,433
   
29.0
   
63,685
   
53,576
   
18.9
 
                                       
Other operating expenses
 
$
21,264
 
$
11,274
   
88.6
 
$
44,043
 
$
28,255
   
55.9
 


Currently, the segment reinsures significant amounts of its life insurance in-force. Pursuant to the underlying reinsurance contracts, reinsurers pay allowances to the segment as a percentage of both first year and renewal premiums. A portion of these allowances is deferred as part of DAC while the remainder is recognized immediately as a reduction of other operating expenses. While the recognition of reinsurance allowances is consistent with GAAP, non-deferred allowances often exceed the segment’s non-deferred direct costs, causing net other operating expenses to be negative. Consideration of all components of the segment’s income statement, including amortization of DAC, is required to assess the impact of reinsurance on segment operating income.

Other operating expenses for the insurance companies increased from the prior year as a result of lower DAC capitalization, primarily due to lower UL sales. Amounts capitalized as DAC generally include first year commissions and allowances and other deferrable acquisition expenses. The change in these amounts generally reflects the trend in sales for the quarter. Additionally, the first quarter of 2006 included a $2.1 million true-up of field compensation expenses related to sales in prior periods.

Other operating expenses for the segment’s marketing companies increased 29.0% and 18.9% for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005, primarily as a result of higher commissions and other expenses in the segment’s broker-dealer subsidiary associated with the higher revenue. The broker-dealer subsidiary has also incurred additional expenses in the current year related to new business initiatives.

Sales for the segment declined 23.3% and 10.4% versus the second quarter and first six months of 2005, respectively,  primarily due to sharp declines in UL sales. Traditional life sales increased 33.0% and 19.3% for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Traditional life sales were negatively impacted during the first half of 2005 as a result of pricing adjustments on certain traditional life products in response to the rising cost of reinsurance. The Company was able to improve its competitive position with respect to these products in the second quarter of 2005 by reducing its reliance on reinsurance for certain newly written traditional life products. As a result, traditional life sales improved during the second half of 2005, and this upward trend in traditional life sales has continued into 2006. The 61.3% and 36.0% declines in UL sales for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, are a result of pricing adjustments on certain UL products in response to the higher reserve levels required under Actuarial Guideline 38 (“AG38”). The Company expects UL sales to continue to decline during the second half of 2006 compared to the sales levels achieved in 2005. See additional discussion of AG38 and its impact on certain UL products in the “Recent Developments” section herein. Sales of BOLI business improved for both the quarter and year-to-date from the same periods of 2005. BOLI sales can vary widely between periods as the segment responds to opportunities for these products only when required returns can be achieved.

Acquisitions

The Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing policies acquired from other companies. The segment's primary focus is on life insurance policies sold to individuals. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
63,203
 
$
66,104
   
(4.4)%
$
126,189
 
$
131,604
   
(4.1)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(16,617
)
 
(17,257
)
 
(3.7
)
 
(33,259
)
 
(37,286
)
 
(10.8
)
Net premiums and policy fees
   
46,586
   
48,847
   
(4.6
)
 
92,930
   
94,318
   
(1.5
)
Net investment income
   
53,626
   
56,099
   
(4.4
)
 
108,116
   
112,813
   
(4.2
)
Other income
   
293
   
453
   
(35.3
)
 
910
   
814
   
11.8
 
Total operating revenues
   
100,505
   
105,399
   
(4.6
)
 
201,956
   
207,945
   
(2.9
)
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
66,984
   
68,784
   
(2.6
)
 
134,438
   
135,183
   
(0.6
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
6,809
   
7,185
   
(5.2
)
 
13,144
   
14,256
   
(7.8
)
Other operating expenses
   
7,754
   
7,957
   
(2.6
)
 
15,510
   
15,998
   
(3.1
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
81,547
   
83,926
   
(2.8
)
 
163,092
   
165,437
   
(1.4
)
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
18,958
   
21,473
   
(11.7
)
 
38,864
   
42,508
   
(8.6
)
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
18,958
 
$
21,473
   
(11.7
)
$
38,864
 
$
42,508
   
(8.6
)



The following table summarizes key data for the Acquisitions segment:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Average Life Insurance In-Force(1)
                         
Traditional
 
$
9,949,178
 
$
10,912,493
   
(8.8)%
$
10,056,356
 
$
11,052,073
   
(9.0)%
Universal life
   
16,192,682
   
17,314,671
   
(6.5
)
 
16,325,474
   
17,476,843
   
(6.6
)
   
$
26,141,860
 
$
28,227,164
   
(7.4
)
$
26,381,830
 
$
28,528,916
   
(7.5
)
                                       
Average Account Values
                                     
Universal life
 
$
1,681,697
 
$
1,708,352
   
(1.6
)
$
1,685,399
 
$
1,712,455
   
(1.6
)
Fixed annuity(2)
   
206,279
   
214,063
   
(3.6
)
 
207,620
   
215,016
   
(3.4
)
Variable annuity
   
61,455
   
77,202
   
(20.4
)
 
63,192
   
80,714
   
(21.7
)
   
$
1,949,431
 
$
1,999,617
   
(2.5
)
$
1,956,211
 
$
2,008,185
   
(2.6
)
                                       
Interest Spread - UL & Fixed Annuities
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
6.79
%
 
7.04
%
       
6.83
%
 
7.07
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.05
   
5.16
         
5.07
   
5.15
       
Interest spread
   
1.74
%
 
1.88
%
       
1.76
%
 
1.92
%
     
                                       
Mortality Experience(3)
 
$
2,395
 
$
2,718
       
$
2,662
 
$
3,165
       
                                       
 
(1) Amounts are not adjusted for reinsurance ceded.
(2) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.
(3) Represents a favorable variance as compared to pricing assumptions.


Policies acquired through this segment are typically “closed” blocks of business (no new policies are being marketed). Therefore, earnings and account values are expected to decline as the result of lapses, deaths, and other terminations of coverage.

Net premiums and policy fees declined 4.6% and 1.5% from the second quarter and first six months of 2005, respectively, due to the runoff of the acquired blocks of business. Net premiums for the first six months of 2005 were decreased by payment during the first quarter of 2005 of amounts due under two reinsurance treaties. While this had no net income impact, the payments decreased net premiums and policy fees in the first quarter of 2005 by $3.9 million, benefits and settlement expenses by $3.5 million, and other operating expenses by $0.3 million. Excluding the impact of this transaction, net premiums and policy fees decreased $5.3 million (5.3%) during the first six months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005.

Net investment income was lower in both the second quarter and first six months of 2006 compared to the same periods of 2005 due to the runoff of business and lower overall earned rates. The segment continues to review credited rates on UL and annuity business to minimize the impact of lower earned rates on interest spreads. The interest spread declined 14 basis points and 16 basis points, respectively, from the second quarter and first six months of 2005.

Benefits and settlement expenses for the second quarter and first six months of 2006 are 2.6% and 0.6% lower, respectively,  than the comparable periods of 2005 due to the decline in in-force business and the impact of the reinsurance payments in the first quarter of 2005 mentioned above. Excluding the impact of this transaction, benefits and settlement expenses decreased $4.1 million (3.0%) during the first six months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. Amortization of DAC decreased 5.2% and 7.8% during the current quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005, due to the overall decline in business. Other operating expenses decreased 2.6% and 3.1%, respectively, from the second quarter and first six months of 2005 due to lower commissions resulting from lower net premiums and reductions in other general expenses.

The segment’s life insurance in-force and UL and annuity account values have declined from 2005 levels as no new acquisitions have been completed since 2002. In the ordinary course of business, the segment regularly considers acquisitions of blocks of policies or smaller insurance companies. However, the level of the segment’s acquisition activity is predicated upon many factors, including available capital, operating capacity, and market dynamics. The Company regularly pursues suitable acquisitions as they become available.

On February 7, the Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire from JPMorgan Chase & Co. the stock of five life insurance companies that manufacture and distribute traditional life insurance and annuities (the “Chase Insurance Group”) and the stock of four related non-insurance companies. This transaction was completed on July 3, 2006. Additional information regarding the consummation of this transaction can be found in Note 11 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contained herein.

Annuities

The Annuities segment manufactures, sells, and supports fixed and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through stockbrokers, but are also sold through financial institutions and independent agents and brokers. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
8,000
 
$
7,866
   
1.7
%
$
16,144
 
$
15,706
   
2.8
%
Reinsurance ceded
   
0
   
0
   
0.0
   
0
   
0
   
0.0
 
Net premiums and policy fees
   
8,000
   
7,866
   
1.7
   
16,144
   
15,706
   
2.8
 
Net investment income
   
54,865
   
54,786
   
0.1
   
108,359
   
110,936
   
(2.3
)
Realized gains (losses) - derivatives
   
672
   
0
   
n/a
   
21
   
0
   
n/a
 
Other income
   
2,343
   
2,264
   
3.5
   
5,242
   
3,990
   
31.4
 
Total operating revenues
   
65,880
   
64,916
   
1.5
   
129,766
   
130,632
   
(0.7
)
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
46,883
   
48,687
   
(3.7
)
 
94,196
   
96,767
   
(2.7
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
5,834
   
2,173
   
168.5
   
10,960
   
9,399
   
16.6
 
Other operating expenses
   
7,013
   
5,911
   
18.6
   
13,719
   
12,257
   
11.9
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
59,730
   
56,771
   
5.2
   
118,875
   
118,423
   
0.4
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
6,150
   
8,145
   
(24.5
)
 
10,891
   
12,209
   
(10.8
)
                                       
Realized gains (losses) - investments
   
1,598
   
1,474
         
1,508
   
28,936
       
Related amortization of DAC
   
(1,549
)
 
(1,280
)
       
(1,549
)
 
(23,692
)
     
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
6,199
 
$
8,339
   
(25.7
)
$
10,850
 
$
17,453
   
(37.8
)


The following table summarizes key data for the Annuities segment:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Sales
                         
Fixed annuity
 
$
136,579
 
$
60,841
   
124.5
%
$
228,669
 
$
120,409
   
89.9
%
Variable annuity
   
81,206
   
90,329
   
(10.1
)
 
154,937
   
167,332
   
(7.4
)
   
$
217,785
 
$
151,170
   
44.1
 
$
383,606
 
$
287,741
   
33.3
 
                                       
Average Account Values
                                     
Fixed annuity(1)
 
$
3,449,328
 
$
3,448,809
   
0.0
 
$
3,436,125
 
$
3,445,667
   
(0.3
)
Variable annuity
   
2,372,486
   
2,181,000
   
8.8
   
2,365,692
   
2,190,214
   
8.0
 
   
$
5,821,814
 
$
5,629,809
   
3.4
 
$
5,801,817
 
$
5,635,881
   
2.9
 
                                       
Interest Spread - Fixed Annuities(2)
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
6.25
%
 
6.42
%
       
6.20
%
 
6.45
%
     
Interest credited to policyholders
   
5.35
   
5.67
         
5.37
   
5.60
       
Interest spread
   
0.90
%
 
0.75
%
       
0.83
%
 
0.85
%
     

   
As of
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
     
               
GMDB - Net amount at risk(3)
 
$
134,432
 
$
183,797
   
(26.9
)
GMDB - Reserves
  $ 
2,408
 
$
3,266
   
(26.3
)
S&P 500® Index
   
1,270
   
1,191
   
6.6
 
                     
(1) Includes general account balances held within variable annuity products.
(2) Interest spread on average general account values.
(3) Guaranteed death benefit in excess of contract holder account balance.


Segment operating revenues increased 1.5% compared to the second quarter of 2005 and declined 0.7% compared to the first six months of 2005, primarily as a result of fluctuations in net investment income. The increase for the second quarter of 2006 compared to the prior year period is primarily the result of the 15 basis point increase in interest spreads. Interest spreads on fixed annuities declined sharply during the second quarter of 2005, primarily due to the rebalancing of the investment portfolio discussed below. The year-to-date decline in net investment income reflects the year-to-date decline in interest spreads of 2 basis points, also the result of the 2005 portfolio rebalancing. Other income increased in both the quarterly and year-to-date periods compared to the same periods of the prior year primarily due to an increase in asset-based fees.

During the first quarter of 2005, the investment portfolio was rebalanced to improve the duration match between the segment’s assets and liabilities. Approximately $300 million in securities were sold, causing the large realized investment gains for the six months ended June 30, 2005. These gains were partially offset by $22.4 million in DAC amortization associated with those gains. The resulting funds from this transaction were reinvested in assets with lower rates than the investments that were sold, causing a decline in the investment income yield for the segment’s portfolio beginning in the second quarter of 2005. The segment continually monitors and adjusts credited rates as appropriate in an effort to maintain the interest spread. Adjustments to credited rates have enabled the segment to increase the net interest spread achieved during the second quarter of 2006 to its highest level since the portfolio rebalancing.

Benefits and settlement expenses decreased 3.7% and 2.7% for the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005 due to reductions in credited interest rates in the market value adjusted annuity line, partially offset by less favorable year-to-date mortality. Mortality was $3.2 million unfavorable for the first six months of 2006, compared to unfavorable mortality of $2.9 million for the same period of 2005, an unfavorable change of $0.3 million. These unfavorable mortality variances primarily relate to the nonrecurring sales of $122 million of single premium immediate annuities on 28 lives sold in the fourth quarter of 2004 in a structured transaction. Because this block of annuities is large relative to the total amount of annuities in-force, volatility in mortality results are expected.

The increases in DAC amortization in 2006 compared to 2005 are primarily the result of DAC unlocking. The Company periodically reviews and updates as appropriate its key assumptions including future mortality, expenses, lapses, premium persistency, investment yields and interest spreads. Changes to these assumptions result in adjustments which increase or decrease DAC amortization. The periodic review and updating of assumptions is referred to as “unlocking”. During the second quarter of 2005, DAC amortization for the Annuities segment was reduced $5.0 million due to favorable DAC unlocking in the market value adjusted annuity line as a result of the portfolio rebalancing discussed above. While the investment income yield obtained on the reinvested assets resulting from the portfolio rebalancing was lower than the yield obtained prior to the rebalancing, the actual yield on the reinvested assets exceeded previously projected spread income. The higher investment yield resulted in higher future estimated gross profits (“EGPs”) in the segment’s market value adjusted annuity line, causing the favorable unlocking of DAC.

In addition to the second quarter of 2005 DAC unlocking, DAC was also unlocked in the fourth quarter of 2005 in the market value adjusted and variable annuity lines. This unlocking was a combination of a review of assumptions underlying future EGPs (prospective unlocking) and a “true-up” of past EGPs to actual gross profits (“AGPs”) in the DAC amortization models (retrospective unlocking). As a result of these adjustments to EGPs, gross profits recognized in these lines have been lower in 2006 than the gross profits recognized in 2005. DAC is amortized in proportion to gross profits, so decreased gross profits results in less DAC amortization.

Total sales were 44.1% and 33.3% higher than the second quarter and first six months, respectively, of the prior year. Sales of fixed annuities increased 124.5% and 89.9% for the second quarter and year-to-date, respectively, as a result of higher interest rates compared to 2005 and strong sales increases in the equity indexed annuity product introduced in 2005. Sales of variable annuities decreased 10.1% and 7.4% from the second quarter and first six months, respectively, of 2005. A general improvement in the equity markets reduced the net amount at risk with respect to guaranteed minimum death benefits by 26.9%.

Stable Value Products

The Stable Value Products segment sells guaranteed funding agreements (“GFAs”) to special purpose entities that in turn issue notes or certificates in smaller, transferable denominations. The segment also markets fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds. Additionally, the segment markets guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) to 401(k) and other qualified retirement savings plans. Segment results were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
REVENUES
                         
Net investment income
 
$
82,350
 
$
76,081
   
8.2
%
$
164,583
 
$
149,956
   
9.8
%
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
68,415
   
60,084
   
13.9
   
135,878
   
117,253
   
15.9
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
1,136
   
1,121
   
1.3
   
2,365
   
2,205
   
7.3
 
Other operating expenses
   
999
   
1,392
   
(28.2
)
 
2,196
   
2,615
   
(16.0
)
Total benefits and expenses
   
70,550
   
62,597
   
12.7
   
140,439
   
122,073
   
15.0
 
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
11,800
   
13,484
   
(12.5
)
 
24,144
   
27,883
   
(13.4
)
                                       
Realized gains (losses)
   
710
   
2,085
         
(4,144
)
 
2,704
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
12,510
 
$
15,569
   
(19.6
)
$
20,000
 
$
30,587
   
(34.6
)



The following table summarizes key data for the Stable Value Products segment:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Sales
                         
GIC
 
$
111,400
 
$
5,000
   
2,128.0
%
$
157,600
 
$
29,050
   
442.5
%
GFA - Registered Notes - Institutional
   
0
   
350,000
   
(100.0
)
 
0
   
700,000
   
(100.0
)
GFA - Registered Notes - Retail
   
13,078
   
96,795
   
(86.5
)
 
53,919
   
128,640
   
(58.1
)
   
$
124,478
 
$
451,795
   
(72.4
)
$
211,519
 
$
857,690
   
(75.3
)
                                       
Average Account Values
 
$
5,853,111
 
$
5,808,943
   
0.8
 
$
5,914,749
 
$
5,763,519
   
2.6
 
                                       
Operating Spread
                                     
Net investment income yield
   
5.75
%
 
5.37
%
       
5.67
%
 
5.34
%
     
Interest credited
   
4.78
   
4.24
         
4.68
   
4.18
       
Operating expenses
   
0.15
   
0.18
         
0.16
   
0.17
       
Operating spread
   
0.82
%
 
0.95
%
       
0.83
%
 
0.99
%
     


Operating income declined 12.5% and 13.4% for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005. These declines are primarily due to spread compression of 13 basis points for the second quarter and 16 basis points for the first six months. The primary driver of the spread compression has been increasing short term interest rates, resulting in higher interest credited rates. The segment continues to review its investment portfolio for opportunities to increase the net investment income yield in an effort to maintain interest spreads. Operating spreads are not expected to change significantly during the remainder of 2006.

Total sales have declined 72.4% and 75.3% for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005. The Company chose not to participate in the institutional market during the first six months of 2006 and plans to reenter this market in upcoming quarters.

Asset Protection

The Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers’ investments in automobiles and watercraft. In addition, the segment markets an inventory protection product (“IPP”) and a guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”) product. Segment results were as follows:


   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
REVENUES
                         
Gross premiums and policy fees
 
$
100,203
 
$
109,846
   
(8.8
)%
$
200,893
 
$
220,221
   
(8.8)%
Reinsurance ceded
   
(53,997
)
 
(59,233
)
 
(8.8
)
 
(109,390
)
 
(121,535
)
 
(10.0
)
Net premiums and policy fees
   
46,206
   
50,613
   
(8.7
)
 
91,503
   
98,686
   
(7.3
)
Net investment income
   
8,076
   
8,602
   
(6.1
)
 
15,884
   
16,202
   
(2.0
)
Other income
   
16,021
   
12,732
   
25.8
   
28,065
   
22,137
   
26.8
 
Total operating revenues
   
70,303
   
71,947
   
(2.3
)
 
135,452
   
137,025
   
(1.1
)
                                       
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
                                     
Benefits and settlement expenses
   
22,870
   
29,851
   
(23.4
)
 
45,079
   
56,380
   
(20.0
)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
   
16,321
   
17,669
   
(7.6
)
 
33,241
   
35,215
   
(5.6
)
Other operating expenses
   
22,208
   
18,135
   
22.5
   
39,490
   
32,966
   
19.8
 
Total benefits and expenses
   
61,399
   
65,655
   
(6.5
)
 
117,810
   
124,561
   
(5.4
)
                                       
OPERATING INCOME
   
8,904
   
6,292
   
41.5
   
17,642
   
12,464
   
41.5
 
                                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
 
$
8,904
 
$
6,292
   
41.5
 
$
17,642
 
$
12,464
   
41.5
 



The following table summarizes key data for the Asset Protection segment:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Sales
                         
Credit insurance
 
$
39,952
 
$
51,421
   
(22.3)%
$
71,799
 
$
101,527
   
(29.3)%
Service contracts
   
73,347
   
58,815
   
24.7
   
127,064
   
105,953
   
19.9
 
Other products
   
22,900
   
13,567
   
68.8
   
39,821
   
22,642
   
75.9
 
   
$
136,199
 
$
123,803
   
10.0
 
$
238,684
 
$
230,122
   
3.7
 
                                       
Loss Ratios (1)
                                     
Credit insurance
   
33.1
%
 
36.7
%
       
33.7
%
 
34.3
%
     
Service contracts
   
65.3
   
72.2
         
65.7
   
72.8
       
Other products
   
34.5
   
73.6
         
33.1
   
68.4
       
(1) Incurred claims as a percentage of earned premiums.


Operating income increased 41.5% during both the second quarter and first six months of 2006 compared to the same periods of 2005. Earnings from core product lines are up $4.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, for the second quarter and first six months of 2006 compared to the prior year, while results from lines the segment is no longer marketing declined $1.6 million and $1.3  million, respectively,   for the same periods.
 
Within the segment’s core product lines, service contract earnings improved $1.7 million for the quarter and $2.0 million year-to-date, earnings from other products improved $3.0 million for the quarter and $5.0 million year-do-date, and credit insurance earnings declined $0.5 million for both the current quarter and year-to-date. $1.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively, of the improvement in earnings from other products during the second quarter and first six months of 2006 are related to the segment’s IPP line. IPP earnings improved due to higher premiums and favorable claim results.

Net premiums and policy fees for both the current quarter and year-to-date declined primarily as a result of decreases of $2.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively, in the credit insurance line due to a decline in the business in-force. Additionally, as expected, net premiums in the lines the segment is no longer marketing continue to decline, resulting in net premiums for these lines that were $1.9 million and $3.5 million lower, respectively, for the current quarter and first six months of 2006. Net premiums declined for both the current quarter and first six months of 2006 in the vehicle service contract lines as a result of increases in the amount of ceded premiums, while net premiums increased for both periods in the other lines of business compared to the same periods of 2005.

Other income increased 25.8% for the second quarter and 26.8% year-to-date from the same periods of the prior year primarily due to increases in administrative fees on service contracts resulting from the increased volume of contracts sold in this product line.

Benefits and settlement expenses decreased 23.4% and 20.0% from the second quarter and first six months of 2005, respectively, reflecting the decrease in the segment’s net premiums discussed above. In addition to lower net premiums, benefits and settlement expenses have also been favorably impacted by improved loss ratios, most notably in the service contract and other product lines. Loss ratios in the service contract lines continue to benefit from the segment’s initiatives to increase pricing and tighten the underwriting and claims processes. The decrease in the loss ratio for other products is the result of favorable claims experience, primarily related to the inventory protection product.

Amortization of DAC is slightly lower for the quarter and year-to-date compared to the same periods of 2005, due to corresponding decreases in earned premiums. Other operating expenses have increased in 2006 compared to 2005 primarily due to higher commissions on service contracts due to increased volume and higher retrospective commissions resulting from improvements in loss ratios. Additionally, other operating expenses for the second quarter of 2006 include a $1.1 million adjustment to the reinsurance bad debt reserve associated with a product line the segment is no longer marketing.

Total segment sales increased 10.0% and 3.7% for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2005. Service contract sales continued to improve in the second quarter, exceeding the prior year amounts by 24.7% for the quarter and 19.9% year-to-date. The second quarter improvement in service contract sales is comprised of increases in both the vehicle and marine lines. The decline in credit insurance sales is due to a significant decrease in sales through financial institutions. The bulk of these sales are derived from a third party administrator relationship which is in runoff. We therefore expect these sales to continue to decline during 2006 compared to 2005 amounts. Credit insurance sold through automobile dealers actually increased 1.7% and 5.5%, respectively, from the second quarter and first six months of the prior year, resulting in a net decline in total credit insurance sales of 22.3% for the quarter and 29.3% year-to-date. Other product sales are up in both the IPP and GAP lines, with the GAP product accounting for the majority (93.0% for the second quarter and 84.7% year-to-date) of the increases.

On July 14, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of the vehicle extended service contract business of Western General. Western General is headquartered in Calabasas, California and is an industry leading provider of vehicle service contracts nationally, focusing primarily on the West Coast market. Western General currently provides extended service contract administration for several automobile manufacturers and provides used car service contracts for a publicly-traded national dealership group.

Corporate and Other

The Company has an additional segment referred to as Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment primarily consists of net investment income and expenses not attributable to the segments above (including net investment income on unallocated capital and interest on debt). This segment also includes earnings from several small non-strategic lines of business (primarily cancer insurance, residual value insurance, surety insurance, and group annuities), various investment-related transactions, and the operations of several small subsidiaries.

The following table summarizes results for this segment:

                   
   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Operating income(1)
 
$
6,848
 
$
9,380
 
$
(2,532
)
$
18,511
 
$
21,025
 
$
(2,514
)
                                       
Realized gains (losses) - investments
   
4,285
   
2,728
   
1,557
   
9,368
   
2,655
   
6,713
 
Realized gains (losses) - derivatives
   
(6,243
)
 
(28,671
)
 
22,428
   
6,102
   
(38,853
)
 
44,955
 
Income before income tax
 
$
4,890
 
$
(16,563
)
$
21,453
 
$
33,981
 
$
(15,173
)
$
49,154
 
 
(1) Includes settlements on interest rate swaps of $674 and $2,960 for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $2,005 and $6,644 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Also includes participating income from real estate ventures of $8,168 and $5,883 for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $13,494 and $5,883 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.


Operating income decreased $2.5 million from both the second quarter and first six months of 2005. Net investment income increased $2.1 million during the second quarter while it decreased $2.2 million during the first six months of 2006 compared to the same periods of 2005. The current quarter increase in net investment income was primarily the result of higher investment income on unallocated capital and higher participating income, offset by lower prepayment fees on mortgage loans. The year-to-date decrease was driven by lower mortgage loan prepayment fees and lower investment income on unallocated capital, partially offset by higher participating income. Operating expenses increased for both the quarter and year-do-date, primarily due to increases in interest expense resulting from decreases in settlements from interest rate swaps. Results for the runoff insurance lines improved compared to the prior year, with operating losses of $1.2 million and $1.3 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to losses of $2.2 million and $5.0 million for the same periods of 2005.


Realized Gains and Losses

The following table sets forth realized investment gains and losses for the periods shown:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30
     
Six Months Ended
June 30
     
   
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
2006
 
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Fixed maturity gains
 
$
6,982
 
$
6,550
 
$
432
 
$
23,263
 
$
43,314
 
$
(20,051
)
Fixed maturity losses
   
(881
)
 
(458
)
 
( 423
)
 
(21,252
)
 
(6,855
)
 
(14,397
)
Equity gains
   
0
   
1,438
   
(1,438
)
 
235
   
1,576
   
(1,341
)
Equity losses
   
(7
)
 
(28
)
 
21
   
(7
)
 
(835
)
 
828
 
Impairments on fixed maturity securities
   
0
   
(50
)
 
50
   
0
   
(296
)
 
296
 
Impairments on equity securities
   
0
   
(24
)
 
24
   
0
   
(24
)
 
24
 
Other
   
8,569
   
5,052
   
3,517
   
17,577
   
3,478
   
14,099
 
Total realized gains (losses) - investments
 
$
14,663
 
$
12,480
 
$
2,183
 
$
19,816
 
$
40,358
 
$
(20,542
)
                                       
Foreign currency swaps
 
$
1,635
 
$
(9,483
)
$
11,118
 
$
2,561
 
$
(13,460
)
$
16,021
 
Foreign currency adjustments on stable value contracts
   
(1,600
)
 
9,306
   
(10,906
)
 
(2,344
)
 
13,531
   
(15,875
)
Derivatives related to corporate debt
   
(5,230
)
 
8,838
   
(14,068
)
 
(11,035
)
 
8,497
   
(19,532
)
Derivatives related to mortgage loan commitments
   
0
   
(32,802
)
 
32,802
   
19,698
   
(27,932
)
 
47,630
 
Other derivatives
   
396
   
(1,880
)
 
2,276
   
(342
)
 
(13,025
)
 
12,683
 
Total realized gains (losses) - derivatives
 
$
(4,799
)
$
(26,021
)
$
21,222
 
$
8,538
 
$
(32,389
)
$
40,927
 


Realized gains and losses on investments reflect portfolio management activities designed to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities and to enhance long-term investment portfolio performance. The change in net realized investment gains for the current quarter, excluding impairments, reflects the normal operation of the Company’s asset/liability program within the context of the changing interest rate environment. The absence of impairments for the first six months of 2006 compared to impairments of $0.3 million for the same period of 2005 reflects a general improvement in the corporate credit environment. The $17.6 million of other realized gains recognized in the first six months of 2006 includes gains of $14.3 million related to real estate investments, a loss of $0.9 million related to mortgage loans, losses of $0.4 million relating to short-term investments, and a $4.6 million decrease in the Company’s allowance for mortgage loan credit losses. Additional details on the Company’s investment performance and evaluation are provided in the “Consolidated Investments” section below.

Realized investment gains and losses related to derivatives represent changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and gains (losses) on derivative contracts closed during the period. The Company has entered into foreign currency swaps to mitigate the risk of changes in the value of principal and interest payments to be made on certain of its foreign currency denominated stable value contracts. The Company recorded an immaterial gain and a net realized gain of $0.2 million from these securities in the second quarter and first six months of 2006, respectively. These gains were the result of differences in the related foreign currency spot and forward rates used to value the stable value contracts and foreign currency swaps. The Company also uses interest rate swaps to mitigate interest rate risk related to certain Senior Notes, Medium-Term Notes, and subordinated debt securities. Increasing interest rates along with a flattening yield curve during the current quarter caused the 2006 results from these swaps to compare unfavorably with the second quarter of 2005. In prior periods, the Company has taken short positions in U.S. Treasury futures to mitigate interest rate risk related to the Company’s mortgage loan commitments.

The Company also uses various swaps and options to mitigate risk related to other interest rate exposures of the Company. For the second quarter and the first six months of 2006, a portion of the change, a net $1.0 million increase and a $4.6 million increase, respectively, in realized gains (losses) resulted from higher interest rates in 2006, which impacted the fair value of certain interest rate swaps and options. During the second quarter and first six months of 2006, a net $2.3 million increase and a net $2.1 million increase, respectively, in realized gains (losses) resulted from embedded derivatives within annuity contracts and reinsurance agreements.

Additionally, in the first quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a $7.1 million realized investment loss (derivative financial instruments) related to accrued investment income which arose in periods prior to 2003. The impact had no effect on previously reported segment operating income and no material effect on previously reported net income.

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

Portfolio Description

The Company's investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) and commercial mortgage loans. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity by purchasing investments that match future cash flow needs. However, the Company may sell any of its investments to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has classified $14.5 billion of its fixed maturities and certain other securities as “available for sale”.

Additionally, the Company consolidates a special-purpose entity, in accordance with FIN46, whose investments are managed by the Company. The Company has classified these investments with a market value of $406.5 million at June 30, 2006, as “trading” securities.

The Company’s investments in debt and equity securities are reported at market value, and investments in mortgage loans are reported at amortized cost. At June 30, 2006, the Company’s fixed maturity investments (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) had a market value of $14.9 billion, which is less than 2% below amortized cost of $15.2 billion. The Company had $3.54 billion in mortgage loans at June 30, 2006. While the Company’s mortgage loans do not have quoted market values, at June 30, 2006, the Company estimates the market value of its mortgage loans to be $3.51 billion (using discounted cash flows from the next call date), which is 0.7% less than amortized cost. Most of the Company’s mortgage loans have significant prepayment fees. These assets are invested for terms approximately corresponding to anticipated future benefit payments. Thus, market fluctuations are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.

The following table shows the reported values of the Company's invested assets.

   
June 30, 2006
 
December 31, 2005
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                   
Publicly-issued bonds
 
$
13,290,234
   
66.1
%
$
13,665,615
   
66.8
%
Privately issued bonds
   
1,611,010
   
8.0
   
1,804,263
   
8.8
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
81
   
0.0
   
2,508
   
0.0
 
Fixed maturities
   
14,901,325
   
74.2
   
15,472,386
   
75.6
 
Equity securities
   
121,215
   
0.6
   
121,012
   
0.6
 
Mortgage loans
   
3,537,842
   
17.6
   
3,287,745
   
16.0
 
Investment real estate
   
57,059
   
0.3
   
72,932
   
0.4
 
Policy loans
   
454,225
   
2.3
   
458,825
   
2.2
 
Other long-term investments
   
290,427
   
1.4
   
279,676
   
1.4
 
Short-term investments
   
734,021
   
3.7
   
776,139
   
3.8
 
Total investments
 
$
20,096,114
   
100.0
%
$
20,468,715
   
100.0
%


Included in the table above are $406.5 million and $408.4 million of fixed maturities and $0.0 million and $3.5 million of short-term investments classified by the Company as trading securities at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

Market values for private, non-traded securities are determined as follows: 1) the Company obtains estimates from independent pricing services or 2) the Company estimates market value based upon a comparison to quoted issues of the same issuer or issues of other issuers with similar terms and risk characteristics. The market value of private, non-traded securities was $1.6 billion at June 30, 2006, representing 8.0% of the Company’s total invested assets.

The Company participates in securities lending, primarily as an investment yield enhancement, whereby securities that are held as investments are loaned to third parties for short periods of time. The Company requires collateral of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities to be separately maintained. The loaned securities’ market value is monitored on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained as necessary. At June 30, 2006, securities with a market value of $456.6 million were loaned under these agreements. As collateral for the loaned securities, the Company receives short-term investments, which are recorded in “short-term investments” with a corresponding liability recorded in “other liabilities” to account for the Company’s obligation to return the collateral.

Risk Management and Impairment Review

The Company monitors the overall credit quality of the Company’s portfolio within general guidelines. The following table shows the Company's available for sale fixed maturities by credit rating at June 30, 2006.

S&P or Equivalent Designation
 
Market Value
 
Percent of
Market Value
 
 (Dollars in thousands)
     
AAA
 
$
6,576,261
   
45.4
%
AA
   
506,829
   
3.5
 
A
   
2,357,859
   
16.3
 
BBB
   
4,358,869
   
30.1
 
Investment grade
   
13,799,818
   
95.2
 
BB
   
437,605
   
3.0
 
B
   
206,397
   
1.4
 
CCC or lower
   
26,161
   
0.2
 
In or near default
   
24,716
   
0.2
 
Below investment grade
   
694,879
   
4.8
 
Redeemable preferred stock
   
81
   
0.0
 
Total
 
$
14,494,778
   
100.0
%


The table above excludes $393.0 million of investment grade and $13.5 million of less than investment grade fixed maturities classified by the Company as trading securities.

Limiting bond exposure to any creditor group is another way the Company manages credit risk. The following table summarizes the Company's ten largest fixed maturity exposures to an individual creditor group as of June 30, 2006.

Creditor
 
Market Value
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Duke Energy
 
$
95.7
 
Dominion Resources
   
80.3
 
Wachovia
   
74.6
 
Bank of America
   
74.1
 
Comcast
   
73.4
 
Bellsouth
   
69.9
 
Progress Energy
   
69.2
 
Entergy
   
69.1
 
Kinder Morgan
   
67.5
 
Goldman Sachs
   
66.3
 


The Company’s management considers a number of factors when determining the impairment status of individual securities. These include the economic condition of various industry segments and geographic locations and other areas of identified risks. Although it is possible for the impairment of one investment to affect other investments, the Company engages in ongoing risk management to safeguard against and limit any further risk to its investment portfolio. Special attention is given to correlated risks within specific industries, related parties and business markets.

The Company generally considers a number of factors in determining whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. These include, but are not limited to: 1) actions taken by rating agencies, 2) default by the issuer, 3) the significance of the decline, 4) the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment until recovery, 5) the time period during which the decline has occurred, 6) an economic analysis of the issuer’s industry, and 7) the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of the issuer. Management performs a security-by-security review each quarter in evaluating the need for any other-than-temporary impairment. Although no set formula is used in this process, the investment performance, collateral position, and continued viability of the issuer are significant measures considered.

The Company generally considers a number of factors relating to the issuer in determining the financial strength, liquidity, and recoverability of an issuer. These include but are not limited to: available collateral, assets that might be available to repay debt, operating cash flows, financial ratios, access to capital markets, quality of management, market position, exposure to litigation or product warranties, and the effect of general economic conditions on the issuer. Once management has determined that a particular investment has suffered an other-than-temporary impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.

There are certain risks and uncertainties associated with determining whether declines in market values are other-than-temporary. These include significant changes in general economic conditions and business markets, trends in certain industry segments, interest rate fluctuations, rating agency actions, changes in significant accounting estimates and assumptions, commission of fraud, and legislative actions. The Company continuously monitors these factors as they relate to the investment portfolio in determining the status of each investment. Provided below are additional facts concerning the potential effect upon the Company’s earnings should circumstances lead management to conclude that some of the current declines in market value are other-than-temporary.

Unrealized Gains and Losses

The information presented below relates to investments at a certain point in time and is not necessarily indicative of the status of the portfolio at any time after June 30, 2006, the balance sheet date. Information about unrealized gains and losses is subject to rapidly changing conditions, including volatility of financial markets and changes in interest rates. As indicated above, the Company’s management considers a number of factors in determining if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, including its ability and intent to hold the security until recovery. Furthermore, since the timing of recognizing realized gains and losses is largely based on management’s decisions as to the timing and selection of investments to be sold, the tables and information provided below should be considered within the context of the overall unrealized gain (loss) position of the portfolio. At June 30, 2006, the Company had an overall pretax net unrealized loss of $285.3 million.

For traded and private fixed maturity and equity securities held by the Company that are in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006, the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
<= 90 days
 
$
1,138,931
   
11.3
%
$
1,157,241
   
11.0
%
$
(18,310
)
 
3.8
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
3,212,316
   
31.9
   
3,349,738
   
31.8
   
(137,422
)
 
28.4
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
1,945,647
   
19.3
   
2,025,186
   
19.2
   
(79,539
)
 
16.4
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
3,099,869
   
30.8
   
3,274,458
   
31.1
   
(174,589
)
 
36.0
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
413,937
   
4.1
   
445,296
   
4.2
   
(31,359
)
 
6.5
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
166,166
   
1.7
   
182,504
   
1.7
   
(16,338
)
 
3.4
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
60,034
   
0.6
   
66,542
   
0.6
   
(6,508
)
 
1.3
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
429
   
0.0
   
500
   
0.0
   
(71
)
 
0.0
 
>5 years
   
23,502
   
0.2
   
43,956
   
0.4
   
(20,454
)
 
4.2
 
Total
 
$
10,060,831
   
100.0
%
$
10,545,421
   
100.0
%
$
(484,590
)
 
100.0
%


The unrealized losses as of June 30, 2006, primarily relate to the rising interest rate environment experienced over the past several quarters. At June 30, 2006, securities with a market value of $25.2 million and $20.5 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including $19.9 million of unrealized losses greater than five years. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations. The Company currently plans to exercise its option to purchase all of the outstanding loans held in one of the Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations during the third quarter of 2006.

The Company has no material concentrations of issuers or guarantors of fixed maturity securities. The industry segment composition of all securities in an unrealized loss position held by the Company at June 30, 2006, is presented in the following table.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Agency Mortgages
 
$
2,351,512
   
23.3
%
$
2,467,462
   
23.3
%
$
(115,950
)
23.9%
Banking
   
652,257
   
6.5
   
688,784
   
6.5
   
(36,527
)
7.5
Basic Industrial
   
278,640
   
2.8
   
296,699
   
2.8
   
(18,059
)
3.7
Brokerage
   
183,220
   
1.8
   
192,896
   
1.8
   
(9,676
)
2.0
Canadian Govt Agencies
   
18,864
   
0.2
   
19,788
   
0.2
   
(924
)
0.2
Capital Goods
   
85,944
   
0.9
   
89,678
   
0.9
   
(3,734
)
0.8
Communications
   
334,997
   
3.3
   
358,564
   
3.4
   
(23,567
)
4.9
Consumer Cyclical
   
273,313
   
2.7
   
291,141
   
2.8
   
(17,828
)
3.7
Consumer Noncyclical
   
207,361
   
2.1
   
220,047
   
2.1
   
(12,686
)
2.6
Electric
   
1,062,040
   
10.6
   
1,126,231
   
10.7
   
(64,191
)
13.2
Energy
   
184,053
   
1.8
   
195,608
   
1.9
   
(11,555
)
2.4
Finance Companies
   
193,002
   
1.9
   
202,342
   
1.9
   
(9,340
)
1.9
Insurance
   
246,140
   
2.4
   
259,986
   
2.5
   
(13,846
)
2.9
Municipal Agencies
   
4,153
   
0.0
   
4,239
   
0.0
   
(86
)
0.0
Natural Gas
   
484,908
   
4.8
   
521,539
   
4.9
   
(36,631
)
7.6
Non-Agency Mortgages
   
2,738,936
   
27.2
   
2,816,747
   
26.7
   
(77,811
)
16.1
Other Finance
   
119,200
   
1.2
   
129,009
   
1.2
   
(9,809
)
2.0
Other Industrial
   
76,137
   
0.8
   
80,656
   
0.8
   
(4,519
)
0.9
Other Utility
   
21
   
0.0
   
44
   
0.0
   
(23
)
0.0
Technology
   
76,307
   
0.8
   
81,024
   
0.8
   
(4,717
)
1.0
Transportation
   
211,182
   
2.1
   
222,086
   
2.1
   
(10,904
)
2.3
U.S. Government
   
271,545
   
2.7
   
273,510
   
2.6
   
(1,965
)
0.4
U.S. Govt Agencies
   
7,099
   
0.1
   
7,341
   
0.1
   
(242
)
0.0
Total
 
$
10,060,831
   
100.0
%
$
10,545,421
   
100.0
%
$
(484,590
)
100.0%


The range of maturity dates for securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006 varies, with 6.6% maturing in less than 5 years, 22.6% maturing between 5 and 10 years, and 70.8% maturing after 10 years. The following table shows the credit rating of securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006.

S&P or Equivalent
Designation
 
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
AAA/AA/A
 
$
6,960,934
   
69.2
%
$
7,233,162
   
68.6
%
$
(272,228
)
 
56.2
%
BBB
   
2,669,204
   
26.5
   
2,837,535
   
26.9
   
(168,331
)
 
34.7
 
Investment grade
   
9,630,138
   
95.7
   
10,070,697
   
95.5
   
(440,559
)
 
90.9
 
BB
   
273,139
   
2.7
   
288,151
   
2.7
   
(15,012
)
 
3.1
 
B
   
122,233
   
1.2
   
132,091
   
1.3
   
(9,858
)
 
2.0
 
CCC or lower
   
35,321
   
0.4
   
54,482
   
0.5
   
(19,161
)
 
4.0
 
Below investment grade
   
430,693
   
4.3
   
474,724
   
4.5
   
(44,031
)
 
9.1
 
Total
 
$
10,060,831
   
100.0
%
$
10,545,421
   
100.0
%
$
(484,590
)
 
100.0
%


At June 30, 2006, securities in an unrealized loss position that were rated as below investment grade represented 4.3% of the total market value and 9.1% of the total unrealized loss. Unrealized losses related to below investment grade securities that had been in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months were $32.7 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position rated less than investment grade were 2.1% of invested assets. The Company generally purchases its investments with the intent to hold to maturity. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.


The following table shows the estimated market value, amortized cost, unrealized loss and total time period that the security has been in an unrealized loss position for all below investment grade securities.

   
Estimated
Market Value
 
% Market
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
% Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
% Unrealized
Loss
 
 (Dollars in thousands)
 
<= 90 days
 
$
106,090
   
24.7
%
$
107,304
   
22.5
%
$
(1,214
)
 
2.8
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
87,153
   
20.2
   
91,135
   
19.2
   
(3,982
)
 
9.0
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
40,401
   
9.4
   
43,490
   
9.2
   
(3,089
)
 
7.0
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
59,511
   
13.8
   
62,536
   
13.2
   
(3,025
)
 
6.9
 
>1 year but <= 2 years
   
89,680
   
20.8
   
97,830
   
20.6
   
(8,150
)
 
18.5
 
>2 years but <= 3 years
   
26,810
   
6.2
   
31,599
   
6.7
   
(4,789
)
 
10.9
 
>3 years but <= 4 years
   
254
   
0.1
   
330
   
0.1
   
(76
)
 
0.2
 
>4 years but <= 5 years
   
49
   
0.0
   
53
   
0.0
   
(4
)
 
0.0
 
>5 years
   
20,745
   
4.8
   
40,447
   
8.5
   
(19,702
)
 
44.7
 
Total
 
$
430,693
   
100.0
%
$
474,724
   
100.0
%
$
(44,031
)
 
100.0
%


At June 30, 2006, below investment grade securities with a market value of $21.1 million and $19.3 million of unrealized losses were issued in Company-sponsored commercial mortgage loan securitizations, including securities in an unrealized loss position greater than 5 years with a market value of $18.9 million and $19.2 million of unrealized losses. The Company does not consider these unrealized positions to be other-than-temporary because the underlying mortgage loans continue to perform consistently with the Company’s original expectations.

Realized Losses

Realized losses are comprised of both write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments and actual sales of investments. For the first six months of 2006, the Company recorded pretax other-than-temporary impairments in its investments of $0.0 million compared to $0.3 million for the same period of 2005.

As previously discussed, the Company’s management considers several factors when determining other-than-temporary impairments. Although the Company generally intends to hold securities until maturity, the Company may change its position as a result of a change in circumstances. Any such decision is consistent with the Company’s classification of all but a specific portion of its investment portfolio as available for sale. During the quarter ended June 30, 2006, the Company sold securities in an unrealized loss position with a market value of $1,837.4 million resulting in a realized loss of $21.3 million. The securities were sold as a result of normal portfolio rebalancing activity and tax planning. For such securities, the proceeds, realized loss, and total time period that the security had been in an unrealized loss position are presented in the table below.

   
Proceeds
 
% Proceeds
 
Realized Loss
 
% Realized Loss
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
<= 90 days
 
$
1,110,994
   
60.4
%
$
(2,154
)
 
10.1
%
>90 days but <= 180 days
   
292,238
   
15.9
   
(6,677
)
 
31.4
 
>180 days but <= 270 days
   
415,080
   
22.6
   
(10,879
)
 
51.2
 
>270 days but <= 1 year
   
958
   
0.1
   
(41
)
 
0.2
 
> 1 year
   
18,136
   
1.0
   
(1,508
)
 
7.1
 
Total
 
$
1,837,406
   
100.0
%
$
(21,259
)
 
100.0
%



Mortgage Loans

The Company records mortgage loans net of an allowance for credit losses. This allowance is calculated through analysis of specific loans that are believed to be at a higher risk of becoming impaired in the near future. At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company's allowance for mortgage loan credit losses was $2.2 million and $6.8 million, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2005, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (“Winn-Dixie”), an anchor tenant in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At June 30, 2006, the Company had 19 loans amounting to $52.3 million in loan balances in which Winn-Dixie was considered to be the anchor tenant for the underlying property (including 7 loans with balances of $13.3 million included in mortgage loan securitization trusts in which the Company holds retained beneficial interests). At June 30, 2006, the rents from Winn-Dixie represented approximately 45% of the total rents applicable to the properties underlying these loans (including approximately 69% of rents on loans in mortgage loan securitizations). On June 21, 2005, Winn-Dixie announced a reorganization plan that included selling or closing a number of stores that served as the anchor tenant for properties underlying loans in the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio. At June 30, 2006, the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio included 10 properties with rejected leases under this reorganization plan. Within the 10 loans on these properties, the Company has identified 1 potential impairment, and the mortgage loan allowance for credit losses at June 30, 2006 included $0.9 million related to this loan. The Company will continue to actively monitor these loans and assess them for potential impairments as circumstances develop in the future.

For several years the Company has offered a type of commercial mortgage loan under which the Company will permit a slightly higher loan-to-value ratio in exchange for a participating interest in the cash flows from the underlying real estate. As of June 30, 2006, approximately $456.6 million of the Company’s mortgage loans have this participation feature.

At June 30, 2006, delinquent mortgage loans and foreclosed properties were less than 0.1% of invested assets. The Company does not expect these investments to adversely affect its liquidity or ability to maintain proper matching of assets and liabilities.

LIABILITIES

Many of the Company's products contain surrender charges and other features that reward persistency and penalize the early withdrawal of funds. Certain stable value and annuity contracts have market-value adjustments that protect the Company against investment losses if interest rates are higher at the time of surrender than at the time of issue.

At June 30, 2006, the Company had policy liabilities and accruals of $12.5 billion. The Company's interest-sensitive life insurance policies have a weighted average minimum credited interest rate of approximately 3.8%.

MARKET RISK EXPOSURES

The Company’s financial position and earnings are subject to various market risks including changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in spreads between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, changes in foreign currency rates, changes in used vehicle prices, and equity price risks. The Company analyzes and manages the risks arising from market exposures of financial instruments, as well as other risks, through an integrated asset/liability management process. The Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures involve the monitoring of asset and liability durations for various product lines; cash flow testing under various interest rate scenarios; and the continuous rebalancing of assets and liabilities with respect to yield, risk, and cash flow characteristics. These programs also incorporate the use of derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk, inflation risk, currency exchange risk, and equity market risk.

The primary focus of the Company’s asset/liability program is the management of interest rate risk within the insurance operations. This includes monitoring the duration of both investments and insurance liabilities to maintain an appropriate balance between risk and profitability for each product category and for the Company as a whole. It is the Company’s policy to generally maintain asset and liability durations within one-half year of one another, although, from time to time, a broader interval may be allowed.

Combinations of interest rate swap contracts, futures contracts, and option contracts are used to mitigate or eliminate certain financial and market risks, including those related to changes in interest rates for certain investments, primarily outstanding mortgage loan commitments and mortgage-backed securities, and the Company’s outstanding debt. Swap contracts are also used to alter the effective durations of assets and liabilities and to mitigate the inflation risk caused by the issuance of inflation adjusted notes through the Stable Value Products segment. The Company uses foreign currency swaps to manage its exposure to currency exchange risk on certain stable value contracts denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the European Euro. The Company also uses S&P 500® options to mitigate its exposure to the value of equity indexed annuity contracts.

Derivative instruments expose the Company to credit and market risk and could result in material changes from quarter-to-quarter. The Company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with highly rated counterparties. The Company manages the market risk associated with interest rate and foreign exchange contracts by establishing and monitoring limits as to the types and degrees of risk that may be undertaken. The Company monitors its use of derivatives in connection with its overall asset/liability management programs and procedures.

In the ordinary course of its commercial mortgage lending operations, the Company will commit to provide a mortgage loan before the property to be mortgaged has been built or acquired. The mortgage loan commitment is a contractual obligation to fund a mortgage loan when called upon by the borrower. The commitment is not recognized in the Company's financial statements until the commitment is actually funded. The mortgage loan commitment contains terms, including the rate of interest, which may be different than prevailing interest rates. At June 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding mortgage loan commitments of $1.0 billion at an average rate of 6.17%.

The Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures and certain product features provide protection for the Company against the effects of changes in interest rates under various scenarios. Additionally, the Company believes its asset/liability management programs and procedures provide sufficient liquidity to enable it to fulfill its obligation to pay benefits under its various insurance and deposit contracts. However, the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures incorporate assumptions about the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates (i.e., the slope of the yield curve), relationships between risk-adjusted and risk-free interest rates, market liquidity and other factors, and the effectiveness of the Company’s asset/liability management programs and procedures may be negatively affected whenever actual results differ from those assumptions.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

The Company meets its liquidity requirements primarily through positive cash flows from its operating subsidiaries. Primary sources of cash from the operating subsidiaries are premiums, deposits for policyholder accounts, investment sales and maturities, and investment income. Primary uses of cash for the operating subsidiaries include benefit payments, withdrawals from policyholder accounts, investment purchases, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses.

While the Company generally anticipates that the cash flows of its subsidiaries will be sufficient to meet their investment commitments and operating cash needs, the Company recognizes that investment commitments scheduled to be funded may, from time to time, exceed the funds then available. Therefore, the Company has established repurchase agreement programs for certain of its insurance subsidiaries to provide liquidity when needed. The Company expects that the rate received on its investments will equal or exceed its borrowing rate. Additionally, the Company may, from time to time, sell short-duration stable value products to complement its cash management practices. The Company has also used securitization transactions involving its commercial mortgage loans to increase liquidity for the operating subsidiaries.

The Company’s positive cash flows from operations are used to fund an investment portfolio that provides for future benefit payments. The Company employs a formal asset/liability program to manage the cash flows of its investment portfolio relative to its long-term benefit obligations. See additional discussion of the Company’s asset/liability program in the “Market Risk Exposures” section.

The life insurance subsidiaries were committed at June 30, 2006, to fund mortgage loans in the amount of $1.0 billion. The Company's subsidiaries held $767.6 million in cash and short-term investments at June 30, 2006. Protective Life Corporation had an additional $2.1 million in cash and short-term investments available for general corporate purposes.

Protective Life Corporation’s primary sources of cash are dividends from its operating subsidiaries; revenues from investment, data processing, legal, and management services rendered to subsidiaries; investment income; and external financing. These sources of cash support the general corporate needs of the holding company including its common stock dividends and debt service. The states in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are domiciled impose certain restrictions on the insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to Protective Life Corporation. These restrictions are generally based in part on the prior year’s statutory income and surplus. Generally, these restrictions pose no short-term liquidity concerns for Protective Life Corporation. The Company plans to retain substantial portions of the earnings of its insurance subsidiaries in those companies primarily to support their future growth.

Capital Resources

To give the Company flexibility in connection with future acquisitions and other funding needs, the Company has registered debt securities, preferred and common stock, and stock purchase contracts of Protective Life Corporation, and additional preferred securities of special purpose finance subsidiaries under the Securities Act of 1933 on a delayed (or shelf) basis.

Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate”), a special purpose financial captive insurance company wholly owned by Protective Life Insurance Company (“Protective Life”), the Company’s largest operating subsidiary, has $200 million of non-recourse funding obligations outstanding at June 30, 2006, which bear a floating rate of interest and mature in 2037. These non-recourse funding obligations were issued under a surplus notes facility established with certain purchasers through which Golden Gate may issue up to an aggregate of $400 million of non-recourse funding obligations through June 2007. The non-recourse funding obligations are direct financial obligations of Golden Gate and are not guaranteed by Protective Life or the Company. The non-recourse obligations are represented by surplus notes that were issued to fund statutory reserves required by the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Regulation (Regulation XXX). Under the terms of the notes, the holders of the notes cannot require repayment from the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than Golden Gate, the direct issuer of the notes, although the Company has agreed to indemnify Golden Gate for certain costs and obligations (which obligations do not include payment of principal and interest on the notes). In addition, the Company has entered into certain support agreements with Golden Gate obligating the Company to make capital contributions to Golden Gate or provide support related to certain of Golden Gate’s expenses and in certain circumstances, to collateralize certain of the Company’s obligations to Golden Gate.

In May 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program, available through May 2, 2007. There has been no activity under this program, and future activity will be dependent upon many factors, including capital levels, rating agency expectations, and the relative attractiveness of alternative uses for capital.

A life insurance company's statutory capital is computed according to rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), as modified by state law. Generally speaking, other states in which a company does business defer to the interpretation of the domiciliary state with respect to NAIC rules, unless inconsistent with the other state’s law. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to reflect a more conservative view by, for example, requiring immediate expensing of policy acquisition costs. The NAIC's risk-based capital requirements require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula. The achievement of long-term growth will require growth in the statutory capital of the Company's insurance subsidiaries. The subsidiaries may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as retained statutory earnings or equity contributions by the Company.


Contractual Obligations

The table below sets forth future maturities of debt, non-recourse funding obligations, subordinated debt securities, stable value products, notes payable, operating lease obligations, other property lease obligations, mortgage loan commitments, and liabilities related to variable interest entities.

   
2006
 
2007-2008
 
2009-2010
 
After 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Long-term debt(a)
             
$
75,000
 
$
414,532
 
Non-recourse funding obligations(b)
                     
200,000
 
Subordinated debt securities(c)
                     
324,743
 
Stable value products(d)
 
$
674,105
 
$
2,839,972
   
991,913
   
1,258,866
 
Operating leases(e)
   
2,894
   
8,277
   
6,303
   
4,695
 
Home office lease(f)
   
1,911
   
75,637
             
Mortgage loan commitments
   
1,000,437
                   
Liabilities related to variable interest entities(g)
   
657
   
35,323
   
400,000
       
Policyholder obligations(h)
   
474,075
   
1,974,581
   
1,631,984
   
10,160,271
 
Defined benefit pension obligations(i)
   
6,800
                   
 
(a) Long-term debt includes all principal amounts owed on note agreements, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the notes.
(b) Non-recourse funding obligations include all principal amounts owed on note agreements, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the notes.
(c) Subordinated debt securities includes all principal amounts owed to non-consolidated special purpose finance subsidiaries of the Company, and does not include interest payments due over the term of the obligations.
(d) Anticipated stable value products cash flows, excluding interest not yet accrued.
(e) Includes all lease payments required under operating lease agreements.
(f) The lease payments shown assume the Company exercises its option to purchase the building at the end of the lease term.
(g) Liabilities related to variable interest entities are not the legal obligations of the Company, but will be repaid with cash flows generated by the variable interest entities. The amounts represent scheduled principal payments.
(h) Estimated contractual policyholder obligations are based on mortality, morbidity, and lapse assumptions comparable to the Company’s historical experience, modified for recent observed trends. These obligations are based on current balance sheet values and do not incorporate an expectation of future market growth, interest crediting, or future deposits. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results. As separate account obligations are legally insulated from general account obligations, the separate account obligations will be fully funded by cash flows from separate account assets. The Company expects to fully fund the general account obligations from cash flows from general account investments.
(i) Estimated 2006 contributions to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan approximates the projected expense to be recognized in 2006. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, this amount could differ from actual results. No estimate has been made of amounts to be contributed to this plan in years subsequent to 2006.


RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for information regarding recently issued accounting standards.


RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

A proposal to amend Actuarial Guideline 38 (promulgated by the NAIC and part of the codification of statutory accounting principles) has been approved by the NAIC, with an effective date of July 1, 2005. Actuarial Guideline 38, also known as AXXX, sets forth the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees (“ULSG”). The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 increase the reserve levels required for many ULSG products, and potentially make those products more expensive and less competitive as compared to other products including term and whole life products. The changes to Actuarial Guideline 38 affect only policies with an issue date of July 1, 2005 and later, and reduce the competitiveness and/or profitability of newly written ULSG products compared to traditional whole life or other high cash value insurance products or other products supported by relatively inexpensive capital (such as reinsurance of redundant reserves). To the extent that the additional reserves are generally considered to be economically redundant, capital market or other solutions may emerge to reduce the impact of the amendment. The ability of the Company to access such solutions may depend on factors such as the ratings of the Company, the size of the blocks of business affected, the mortality experience of the Company and other factors. The Company cannot predict when or if these solutions may become available to the Company or its competitors. The NAIC is continuing to study this issue and may issue additional changes. In addition, an actuarial task force is studying whether to suggest changes to accounting standards that relate to certain reinsurance credits, and whether, if changes are suggested, they are to be applied retrospectively or prospectively only. The NAIC is also currently working to reform state regulation in various areas, including comprehensive reforms relating to life insurance reserves.

A recent ruling by the Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) of the NAIC indicates that certain securities previously classified as “preferred securities” may be classified as “equity securities” in the future. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries currently invest in these securities and if the securities are reclassified, the market value of these securities may be negatively affected and the capital required to hold these assets may increase.

The financial services industry has become the focus of increased scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities relating to allegations of improper special payments, price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other alleged misconduct, including payments made by insurers and other financial service providers to brokers and the practices surrounding the placement of insurance business and sales of other financial products, as well as practices related to finite reinsurance. Some publicly held companies have been the subject of enforcement or other actions relating to corporate governance and the integrity of financial statements, most recently relating to the issuance of stock options. Such publicity may generate inquiries to or litigation against publicly held companies and/or financial service providers, even those who do not engage in the business lines or practices currently at issue. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these investigations or proceedings, whether they will expand into other areas not yet contemplated, whether they will result in changes in insurance regulation, whether activities currently thought to be lawful will be characterized as unlawful, or the impact, if any, of this increased regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of the financial services industry on the Company. As some inquiries appear to encompass a large segment of our industry, it would not be unusual for large numbers of companies in the financial services industry to receive subpoenas, requests for information from regulatory authorities, or other inquiries relating to these and similar matters. From time to time, the Company receives subpoenas, requests, or other inquiries and responds to them in the ordinary course of business.

In the first quarter of 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General of West Virginia for documents and other information relating to funding agreement-backed securities, special purpose vehicles, and related subjects. The Company understands that other U.S. based life insurers that participate in funding agreement-backed note programs have received similar subpoenas. The Company has responded to the subpoena. The Company is not aware of any problems relating to its participation in funding agreement-backed note programs that would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

The California Department of Insurance has promulgated proposed regulations that would characterize some life insurance agents as brokers and impose certain obligations on those agents that may conflict with the interests of insurance carriers or require the agent to, among other things, advise the client with respect to the best available insurer. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this regulatory proposal or whether any other state will propose or adopt similar actions.

In March 2006, the FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards that would amend Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (“FAS87”), Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits” (“FAS88”), Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions” (“FAS106”), and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 (revised), “Employers’ Disclosures About Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits” (“FAS132(R))”. The proposed statement would require that the funded status of postretirement benefit plans be fully recognized on the balance sheet. The proposed statement would not change how plan assets and benefit obligations are measured and would not change the basic approach for measuring the amount of annual net benefit cost included in earnings. The final standard is expected to be issued in September of 2006, and would be effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this proposed standard, but does not currently anticipate that its adoption would have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There has been no material change from the disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 
(a)
Disclosure controls and procedures

Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date. It should be noted that any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain judgments, including the costs and benefits of controls and the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within the Company have been detected.

 
(b)
Changes in internal control over financial reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting. Our internal controls exist within a dynamic environment and the Company continually strives to improve its internal controls and procedures to enhance the quality of its financial reporting.


PART II

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The operating results of companies in the insurance industry have historically been subject to significant fluctuations. The factors which could affect the Company’s future results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and the known trends and uncertainties. In addition to other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors and Cautionary Factors that may Affect Future Results” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition, or future results of operations. In addition, please consider the following:

Insurance companies are highly regulated and subject to numerous legal restrictions and regulations.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to government regulation in each of the states in which they conduct business. Such regulation is vested in state agencies having broad administrative power dealing with many aspects of the Company’s business, which may include, among other things, premium rates, reserve requirements, marketing practices, advertising, privacy, policy forms, reinsurance reserve requirements, acquisitions, and capital adequacy, and is concerned primarily with the protection of policyholders and other customers rather than share owners. At any given time, a number of financial and/or market conduct examinations of the Company’s subsidiaries may be ongoing. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to obtain state regulatory approval for rate increases for certain health insurance products, and the Company’s profits may be adversely affected if the requested rate increases are not approved in full by regulators in a timely fashion. From time to time, regulators raise issues during examinations or audits of the Company’s subsidiaries that could, if determined adversely, have a material impact on the Company.

The Company cannot predict whether or when regulatory actions may be taken that could adversely affect the Company or its operations. Interpretations of regulations by regulators may change and statutes, regulations and interpretations may be applied with retroactive impact, particularly in areas such as accounting or reserve requirements. In addition, regulatory actions with prospective impact can potentially have a significant impact on currently sold products. As an example of both retroactive and prospective impacts, in late 2005, the NAIC approved an amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38, which interprets the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees. This amendment retroactively increased the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantee products issued after July 1, 2005. This change to Actuarial Guideline 38 also affected the profitability of universal life products sold after the adoption date. The NAIC is continuing to study this issue and may issue additional changes. In addition, an actuarial task force is studying whether to suggest changes to accounting standards that related to certain reinsurance credits and whether, if changes are suggested, they are to be applied retrospectively or prospectively only. The NAIC is also currently working to reform state regulation in various areas, including comprehensive reforms relating to life insurance reserves. At the federal level, a bill has been introduced in the U. S. Senate that would provide for an optional federal charter for life and property and casualty insurers, and another bill has been introduced that would pre-empt state law in certain respects with regard to the regulation of reinsurance. The Company cannot predict whether or in what form reforms will be enacted and, if so, whether the enacted reforms will positively or negatively affect the Company. Moreover, although in general with respect to regulations and guidelines, states defer to the interpretation of the insurance department of the state of domicile, neither the action of the domiciliary state nor action of the NAIC is binding on a state. Accordingly, a state could choose to follow a different interpretation.

The Company’s subsidiaries may be subject to regulation by the United States Department of Labor when providing a variety of products and services to employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Severe penalties are imposed for breach of duties under ERISA.

Certain policies, contracts, and annuities offered by the Company’s subsidiaries are subject to regulation under the federal securities laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The federal securities laws contain regulatory restrictions and criminal, administrative, and private remedial provisions.

Other types of regulation that could affect the Company and its subsidiaries include insurance company investment laws and regulations, state statutory accounting practices, anti-trust laws, minimum solvency requirements, state securities laws, federal privacy laws, insurable interest laws, federal money laundering and anti-terrorism laws, and because the Company owns and operates real property state, federal, and local environmental laws. The Company cannot predict what form any future changes in these or other areas of regulation affecting the insurance industry might take or what effect, if any, such proposals might have on the Company if enacted into law.

Publicly held companies in general and the financial services industry in particular are sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations and the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny.

Publicly held companies in general and the financial services industry in particular are sometimes the target of law enforcement investigations relating to the numerous laws that govern publicly held companies and the financial services and insurance business. The Company cannot predict the impact of any such investigations on the Company or the industry.

The financial services industry has become the focus of increased scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities relating to allegations of improper special payments, price-fixing, bid-rigging and other alleged misconduct, including payments made by insurers and other financial services providers to brokers and the practices surrounding the placement of insurance business and sales of other financial products as well as practices related to finite reinsurance. Some publicly held companies have been the subject of enforcement or other actions relating to corporate governance and the integrity of financial statements, most recently relating to the issuance of stock options. Such publicity may generate inquiries to or litigation against publicly held companies and/or financial service providers, even those who do not engage in the business lines or practices currently at issue. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these investigations or proceedings, whether they will expand into other areas not yet contemplated, whether they will result in changes in insurance regulation, whether activities currently thought to be lawful will be characterized as unlawful, or the impact, if any, of this increased regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of the financial services industry on the Company. As some inquiries appear to encompass a large segment of our industry, it would not be unusual for large numbers of companies in the financial services industry to receive subpoenas, requests for information from regulatory authorities or other inquiries relating to these and similar matters. From time to time, the Company receives subpoenas, requests or other inquires and responds to them in the ordinary course of business.

The Company may not be able to achieve the expected results from its recent acquisition.

On July 3, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition from JPMorgan Chase & Co. of the stock of five life insurance companies that manufacture and distribute traditional life insurance and annuities and the stock of four related non-insurance companies. Integration of the acquisition may be more expensive, more difficult, or take longer than expected. In addition, the Company may not achieve the returns projected from its analysis of the acquisition opportunity, and the effects of purchase GAAP accounting on the Company’s financial statements may be different than originally contemplated.

The Company’s ability to grow depends in large part upon the continued availability of capital.

The Company has recently deployed significant amounts of capital to support its sales and acquisitions efforts. A recent amendment to Actuarial Guideline 38 increased the reserve requirements for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees for products issued after July 1, 2005. This amendment, along with the continued reserve requirements of Regulation XXX for traditional life insurance products, has caused the sale of these products to consume additional capital. Future marketing plans are dependent on access to the capital markets through securitization. A disruption in the securitization marketplace, or the Company’s inability to access capital through these transactions, could have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to grow. Capital has also been consumed as the Company increased its reserves on the residual value product. Although positive performance in the equity markets has recently allowed the Company to decrease its guaranteed minimum death benefit related policy liabilities and accruals, deterioration in these markets could lead to further capital consumption. Although the Company believes it has sufficient capital to fund its immediate growth and capital needs, the amount of capital available can vary significantly from period to period due to a variety of circumstances, some of which are neither predictable nor foreseeable, nor within the Company’s control. A lack of sufficient capital could impair the Company’s ability to grow.

New accounting or statutory rules or changes to existing accounting or statutory rules could negatively impact the Company.

Like all publicly traded companies, the Company is required to comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A number of organizations are instrumental in the development and interpretation of GAAP such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”). GAAP is subject to constant review by these organizations and others in an effort to address emerging issues and otherwise improve financial reporting. In this regard, these organizations adopt new accounting rules and issue interpretive accounting guidance on a continual basis. The Company can give no assurance that future changes to GAAP will not have a negative impact on the Company.

In addition, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to comply with statutory accounting principles (“SAP”). SAP and various components of SAP (such as actuarial reserving methodology) are subject to constant review by the NAIC and its taskforces and committees as well as state insurance departments in an effort to address emerging issues and otherwise improve or alter financial reporting. Various proposals are currently pending before committees and taskforces of the NAIC, some of which, if enacted, would negatively affect the Company and some of which could positively impact the Company, including one that related to certain reinsurance credits. The NAIC is also currently working to reform state regulation in various areas, including comprehensive reforms relating to life insurance reserves and the accounting for such reserves. The Company cannot predict whether or in what form reforms will be enacted and, if so, whether the enacted reforms will positively or negatively affect the Company. Moreover, although in general with respect to regulations and guidelines, states defer to the interpretation of the insurance department of the state of domicile, neither the action of the domiciliary state nor action of the NAIC is binding on a state. Accordingly, a state could choose to follow a different interpretation. The Company can give no assurance that future changes to SAP or components of SAP will not have a negative impact on the Company.

These may not be the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.



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

During the quarter ended June 30, 2006, the Company issued no securities in transactions which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Annual Meeting of Share Owners of Protective Life Corporation the “Company”) was held on May 1, 2006. Shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting totaled 69,910,031 of which 62,614,673 shares were represented.

At the Annual Meeting the following directors were elected. The number of shares cast for and authorized withheld for each nominee is shown below:

Name of Directors
Number of Shares Voted For
Authorization Withheld
     
John J. McMahon, Jr.
60,370,789
2,243,685
James S. M. French
62,553,638
     60,837
John D. Johns
58,244,990
4,369,484
J. Gary Cooper
62,449,626
    164,848
H. Corbin Day
62,552,284
     62,191
W. Michael Warren, Jr.
62,551,006
     63,468
Malcolm Portera
62,552,682
     61,792
Thomas L. Hamby
62,552,965
     61,510
Vanessa Leonard
62,550,285
     64,189
William A. Terry
62,553,427
     61,048
Charles D. McCrary
59,299,354
3,315,120
C. Dowd Ritter
62,222,904
   391,570

Share owners approved a proposal to ratify the appointment by the Board of Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and its subsidiaries for 2006. Shares voting for this proposal were 59,549,078, shares voting against were 3,031,803, and shares abstaining were 33,792.

Item 6. Exhibits

     
Exhibit 31(a)
- Certification Pursuant to §302 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002.
     
Exhibit 31(b)
- Certification Pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
     
Exhibit 32(a)
- Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
     
Exhibit 32(b)
- Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
     
                  Exhibit 99
- Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements.




SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION

Date: August 9, 2006
                     /s/ Steven G. Walker__________
Steven G. Walker
Senior Vice President, Controller
and Chief Accounting Officer
(Duly authorized officer)