Unum Group reports first quarter 2021 results

Included in net income for the first quarter of 2021 are the net after-tax loss from the second phase of the Closed Block individual disability reinsurance transaction of $56.7 million ($0.27 per diluted common share), the after-tax amortization of the cost of reinsurance of $15.8 million ($0.08  per diluted common share), and a net after-tax realized investment gain on the Company’s investment portfolio, excluding the net realized investment gain associated with the completion of the second phase of the Closed Block individual disability reinsurance transaction, of $13.5 million ($0.06 per diluted common share).  Included in net income for the first quarter of 2020 is a net after-tax realized investment loss on the Company’s investment portfolio of $113.1 million ($0.56 per diluted common share).  Excluding the items above, after-tax adjusted operating income was $212.0 million ($1.04 per diluted common share) in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $274.1 million ($1.35 per diluted common share) in the first quarter of 2020.

“Our first quarter results reflect the dynamics of the world around us with good growth results, pressured by high, yet improving, levels of mortality,” said Richard P. McKenney, president and chief executive officer.  “With vaccines rolling out and a better economy, the current trends show continued improvement. Looking forward, our market leadership and financial underpinnings position us well to drive growth as the recovery builds in the second half of the year.”

RESULTS BY SEGMENT
We measure and analyze our segment performance on the basis of “adjusted operating income” or “adjusted operating loss”, which differ from income before income tax as presented in our consolidated statements of income due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses, amortization of cost of reinsurance, and certain other items.  These performance measures are in accordance with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, but they should not be viewed as a substitute for income before income tax or net income.

Unum US Segment
Unum US reported adjusted operating income of $115.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 55.8 percent from $261.8 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income for the segment was $1,525.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, which was generally consistent with the $1,527.7 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Net investment income for the segment was $179.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, which was consistent with the $179.6 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Within the Unum US operating segment, the group disability line of business reported a 16.0 percent decrease in adjusted operating income to $64.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $76.3 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income for the group disability line of business increased 1.0 percent to $672.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $666.2 million in the first quarter of 2020 due to higher sales in our short-term disability product line.  Net investment income increased 4.3 percent to $97.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $93.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, driven by higher miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a decline in the yield on invested assets and a lower level of invested assets.  The benefit ratio for the first quarter of 2021 was 74.8 percent, compared to 73.2 percent in the first quarter of 2020, due to higher claims incidence in the short-term disability product line, resulting from the impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by favorable claim recoveries in our group long-term disability product line.  Group long-term disability sales were $31.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, which was generally consistent with the $31.4 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Group short-term disability sales were $24.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 69.7 percent from $14.2 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the group long-term disability product line was 90.7 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 90.6 percent for the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the group short-term disability product line was 86.1 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 86.1 percent for the first quarter of 2020.

The group life and accidental death and dismemberment line of business reported an adjusted operating loss of $58.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to adjusted operating income of $70.4 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income for this line of business decreased 1.1 percent to $451.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $456.2 million in the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily by lower prior period sales, partially offset by higher persistency.  Net investment income decreased 3.1 percent to $24.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $25.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to decline in the yield on invested assets.  The benefit ratio in the first quarter of 2021 was 98.8 percent, compared to 70.6 percent in the first quarter of 2020, due primarily to higher claims incidence in the group life product line resulting from the impacts of COVID-19.  Sales of group life and accidental death and dismemberment products increased 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021 to $30.2 million, compared to $28.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the group life product line was 90.1 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 88.4 percent for the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the accidental death and dismemberment product line was 89.7 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 87.9 percent for the first quarter of 2020.

The supplemental and voluntary line of business reported a decrease of 4.5 percent in adjusted operating income to $109.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $115.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income for the supplemental and voluntary line of business decreased to $401.5 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $405.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, with a decline in the voluntary benefits product line, mostly offset by growth in the individual disability and dental and vision product lines.  Net investment income decreased 5.1 percent to $57.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $60.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to a decline in the yield on invested assets, partially offset by an increase in the level of invested assets. The benefit ratio for the individual disability product line was 42.4 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 52.1 percent for the first quarter of 2020, due to lower claims incidence and higher mortality. The benefit ratio for the voluntary benefits product line was 39.3 percent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 32.7 percent for the first quarter of 2020, due to higher claims incidence in the life product line, resulting from the impacts of COVID-19.  The benefit ratio for the dental and vision product line was 73.2 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 65.1 percent for the first quarter of 2020, due primarily to higher claims incidence.  Relative to the first quarter of 2020, sales in the individual disability product line declined 25.1 percent in the first quarter of 2021 to $17.0 million.  Sales in the voluntary benefits product line declined 21.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021 to $101.0 million.  Sales in the dental and vision product line totaled $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 25.9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the individual disability product line was 90.2 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 88.9 percent for the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the voluntary benefits product line was 74.3 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 72.4 percent for the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the dental and vision product line was 87.4 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 81.9 percent for the first quarter of 2020.

Unum International
The Unum International segment reported adjusted operating income of $26.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 36.1 percent from $19.4 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income increased 6.0 percent to $174.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $164.6 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Net investment income was $26.0 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $26.5 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Sales decreased 2.9 percent to $23.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $23.9 million in the first quarter of 2020.

The Unum UK line of business reported adjusted operating income, in local currency, of £18.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 35.8 percent from £13.7 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income was £110.5 million in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 2.9 percent from £113.8 million in the first quarter of 2020, driven by an increase in ceded premiums in the group life product line, partially offset by both higher sales and persistency in the group life product line and rate increases in the group long-term disability product line.  Net investment income was £17.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 9.8 percent from £19.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to lower miscellaneous investment income and a lower yield on fixed-rate bonds, partially offset by higher investment income from inflation index-linked bonds.  The benefit ratio in the first quarter of 2021 was 75.3 percent, compared to 80.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020, due primarily to favorable mortality experience and lower claims incidence in both the group long-term disability and group critical illness product lines, partially offset by higher claims incidence in the group life product line, resulting from the impacts of COVID-19.  Sales decreased 13.3 percent to £14.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to £16.5 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the group long-term disability product line was 87.0 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 90.1 percent for the first quarter of 2020, resulting from pricing discipline.  Persistency in the group life product line was 87.2 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 86.3 percent for the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in the supplemental product line was 88.2 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 91.2 percent for the first quarter of 2020.

Colonial Life Segment
Colonial Life reported a 9.6 percent decrease in adjusted operating income to $73.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $81.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income decreased 1.9 percent to $426.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $434.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to a decline in sales, partially offset by higher persistency.  Net investment income was $37.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, which was consistent with the first quarter of 2020.  The benefit ratio was 55.4 percent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 52.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020, with unfavorable experience in the life product line, resulting from the impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by favorable experience in the accident, sickness, and disability line of business.

Sales decreased 9.2 percent to $90.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $99.3 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Persistency in Colonial Life was 78.4 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 76.8 percent for the first quarter of 2020.

Closed Block Segment
The Closed Block segment reported adjusted operating income of $97.0 million in the first quarter of 2021, which excludes the impacts from the second phase of the Closed Block individual disability reinsurance transaction of $139.3 million and the amortization of cost of reinsurance related to the Closed Block individual disability reinsurance transaction of $20.0 million, compared to $29.7 million in the first quarter of 2020.  Premium income for this segment increased 3.0 percent to $251.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $244.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to premium rate increases on certain in-force business in the long-term care line of business, partially offset by continued policy terminations and maturities in the individual disability line of business.  Net investment income decreased 11.6 percent to $297.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $336.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, due to a decrease in the level of invested assets supporting individual disability resulting from the reinsurance transaction, partially offset by higher miscellaneous investment income, primarily related to increases in the net asset values on our private equity partnerships, and an increase in the level of invested assets supporting long-term care.  In connection with the completion of the second phase of the Closed Block individual disability reinsurance transaction, we recognized a net realized investment gain of $67.6 million.

The interest adjusted loss ratio for the long-term care line of business was 77.7 percent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to an interest adjusted loss ratio of 81.0 percent in the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily by higher claimant mortality, partially offset by higher submitted claims.  The interest adjusted loss ratio for long-term care for the rolling twelve months ended March 31, 2021, excluding the update of assumptions during the fourth quarter of 2020, was 68.1 percent which is significantly below our long-term expected range.  The interest adjusted loss ratio for the individual disability line of business, excluding the impacts from the reinsurance transaction, was 68.9 percent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 84.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily by lower submitted claims.

Corporate Segment
The Corporate segment reported an adjusted operating loss of $38.9 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to an adjusted operating loss of $45.9 million in the first quarter of 2020, resulting primarily from an increase in the level of invested assets and lower operating expenses.

OTHER INFORMATION
Shares Outstanding
The Company’s weighted average number of shares outstanding, assuming dilution, was 204.7 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 203.4 million for the first quarter of 2020.  Shares outstanding totaled 204.2 million at March 31, 2021.  The Company did not repurchase shares during the first quarter of 2021.

Capital Management
At March 31, 2021, the weighted average risk-based capital ratio for the Company’s traditional U.S. insurance companies was approximately 370 percent, and cash and marketable securities in the holding companies equaled $1,664 million.

Book Value
Book value per common share as of March 31, 2021 was $51.77, compared to $48.21 at March 31, 2020.

Outlook 
As previously announced, the Company expects a modest decline in after-tax adjusted operating income per share for full-year 2021 compared to full-year 2020.  The Company also anticipates a strong recovery in after-tax adjusted operating income per share in the second half of 2021 as the expected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic subside.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We analyze our performance using non-GAAP financial measures.  A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.  The non-GAAP financial measure of “after-tax adjusted operating income” differs from net income as presented in our consolidated operating results and income statements prepared in accordance with GAAP due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses and amortization of cost of reinsurance as well as certain other items as specified in the reconciliations in the Financial Highlights section below.  We believe after-tax adjusted operating income is a better performance measure and better indicator of the profitability and underlying trends in our business.

Realized investment gains or losses depend on market conditions and do not necessarily relate to decisions regarding the underlying business of our segments.  Our investment focus is on investment income to support our insurance liabilities as opposed to the generation of realized investment gains or losses.  Although we may experience realized investment gains or losses which will affect future earnings levels, a long-term focus is necessary to maintain profitability over the life of the business since our underlying business is long-term in nature, and we need to earn the interest rates assumed in calculating our liabilities.

As previously discussed, we have exited a substantial portion of our Closed Block individual disability product line through the two phases of the reinsurance transaction that were executed in December 2020 and March 2021, respectively.  As a result, we exclude the amortization of the cost of reinsurance that was recognized upon the exit of the business related to the ceded reserves for the cohort of policies on claim status.  We believe that the exclusion of the amortization of the cost of reinsurance provides a better view of our results from our ongoing businesses.

We may at other times exclude certain other items from our discussion of financial ratios and metrics in order to enhance the understanding and comparability of our operational performance and the underlying fundamentals, but this exclusion is not an indication that similar items may not recur and does not replace net income or net loss as a measure of our overall profitability.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
Members of Unum Group senior management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 6, at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the results of operations for the first quarter.  Topics may include forward-looking information, such as the Company’s outlook on future results, trends in operations, and other material information.

The dial-in number for the conference call is (866) 652-5200 for U.S. and Canada (Please ask to be joined to the Unum Group call).  For international, the dial-in number is (412) 317-6060 (Please ask to be joined to the Unum Group call).  A live webcast of the call will also be available at www.investors.unum.com in a listen-only mode.  It is recommended that webcast viewers access the “Investors” section of the Company’s website and opt-in to the webcast approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call.  A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website.  A replay of the call will also be available through Thursday, May 13 by dialing (877) 344-7529 (U.S.), (855) 669-9658 (Canada), or (412) 317-0088 (International) – pass code 10154518.

In conjunction with today’s earnings announcement, the Company’s Statistical Supplement for the first quarter of 2021 is available on the “Investors” section of the Company’s website. PR Newswire