Edgar Filing: Primerica, Inc.

pri-10q_20180930.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

☐	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: 001-34680

Primerica, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		27-1204330
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1 Primerica Parkway Duluth, Georgia		30099
(Address of principal executive offices)		(ZIP Code)

(770) 381-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable.

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class		As of October 31, 2018
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value		42,938,145 shares

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION		1
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited).		1
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017		1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017		2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017		3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017		4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017		5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.		26
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.		43
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.		43
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION		43
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.		43
Item 1A. Risk Factors.		43
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.		44
Item 6. Exhibits.		45
Signatures		46

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	(Unaudited)
	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $2,016,559 in 2018 and $1,877,326 in 2017)	$	2,010,900		$	1,927,842
Fixed-maturity security held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $874,328 in 2018 and $779,472 in 2017)		891,860			737,150
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $0 in 2018 and $31,331 in 2017)		-			41,107
Equity securities, at fair value (historical cost: $34,842 in 2018 and $0 in 2017)		39,317			-
Trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: $15,944 in 2018 and $6,172 in 2017)		15,955			6,228
Policy loans		30,902			32,816
Total investments		2,988,934			2,745,143
Cash and cash equivalents		225,378			279,962
Accrued investment income		18,202			16,665
Reinsurance recoverables		4,196,021			4,205,173
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net		2,107,814			1,951,892
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables		295,885			229,522
Intangible assets, net (accumulated amortization: $81,186 in 2018 and $78,633 in 2017)		48,961			51,513
Income taxes		53,440			48,614
Other assets		352,897			359,347
Separate account assets		2,419,997			2,572,872
Total assets	$	12,707,529		$	12,460,703

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	$	6,132,750		$	5,954,524
Unearned premiums		439			486
Policy claims and other benefits payable		287,640			307,401
Other policyholders’ funds		394,046			377,998
Notes payable		373,567			373,288
Surplus note		891,139			736,381
Income taxes		182,240			177,468
Other liabilities		511,623			451,398
Payable under securities lending		70,632			89,786
Separate account liabilities		2,419,997			2,572,872
Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Commitments and Contingent Liabilities note)
Total liabilities		11,264,073			11,041,602

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 in 2018 and 2017; issued and outstanding 42,977 shares in 2018 and 44,251 shares in 2017)		430			443
Paid-in capital		-			-
Retained earnings		1,452,841			1,375,090
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)		(5,300	)		3,995
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) not other-than-temporarily impaired		(4,381	)		39,686
Net unrealized investment losses other-than-temporarily impaired		(134	)		(113	)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,443,456			1,419,101
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	12,707,529		$	12,460,703

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Unaudited

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
Revenues:
Direct premiums	$	670,222		$	646,079		$	1,993,499		$	1,911,203
Ceded premiums		(391,175	)		(397,641	)		(1,188,873	)		(1,203,452	)
Net premiums		279,047			248,438			804,626			707,751
Commissions and fees		170,879			144,627			505,646			437,211
Investment income net of investment expenses		30,214			27,153			86,687			78,595
Interest expense on surplus note		(9,592	)		(7,231	)		(27,018	)		(19,037	)
Net investment income		20,622			19,922			59,669			59,558
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses		(126	)		22			(470	)		260
Other, net		14,359			14,291			43,047			41,381
Total revenues		484,781			427,300			1,412,518			1,246,161

Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims		118,787			105,864			340,747			307,761
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		59,534			53,384			173,546			153,094
Sales commissions		84,588			72,022			250,062			221,165
Insurance expenses		41,925			37,637			126,485			112,177
Insurance commissions		6,584			5,593			18,878			15,649
Interest expense		7,216			7,073			21,617			21,344
Other operating expenses		54,712			45,527			173,023			143,539
Total benefits and expenses		373,346			327,100			1,104,358			974,729
Income before income taxes		111,435			100,200			308,160			271,432
Income taxes		26,296			33,565			70,610			89,619
Net income	$	85,139		$	66,635		$	237,550		$	181,813

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	1.95		$	1.46		$	5.36		$	3.94
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.94		$	1.46		$	5.34		$	3.93

Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic		43,452			45,318			44,081			45,864
Diluted		43,589			45,408			44,212			45,947

Supplemental disclosures:
Total impairment losses recognized on invested assets	$	(49	)	$	(668	)	$	(152	)	$	(1,363	)
Impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income before income taxes		-			142			-			142
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(49	)		(526	)		(152	)		(1,221	)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)		(816	)		548			350			1,481
Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities		739			-			(668	)		-
Net realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses	$	(126	)	$	22		$	(470	)	$	260

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Unaudited

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	85,139		$	66,635		$	237,550		$	181,813
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
Unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities		(8,347	)		(3,725	)		(56,267	)		7,447
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment (gains) losses included in net income		755			(554	)		92			(896	)
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)		5,009			10,000			(9,295	)		17,878
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes		(2,583	)		5,721			(65,470	)		24,429
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,720	)		(1,391	)		(12,014	)		2,487
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes		(863	)		7,112			(53,456	)		21,942
Total comprehensive income	$	84,276		$	73,747		$	184,094		$	203,755

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – Unaudited

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Common stock:
Balance, beginning of period	$	432		$	450		$	443		$	457
Repurchases of common stock		(3	)		(7	)		(17	)		(18	)
Net issuance of common stock		1			1			4			5
Balance, end of period		430			444			430			444

Paid-in capital:
Balance, beginning of period		-			-			-			52,468
Share-based compensation		4,020			4,566			22,384			21,658
Net issuance of common stock		(1	)		(1	)		(4	)		(5	)
Repurchases of common stock		(4,019	)		(4,565	)		(22,380	)		(74,121	)
Balance, end of period		-			-			-			-

Retained earnings:
Balance, beginning of period		1,409,104			1,224,375			1,375,090			1,138,851
Cumulative effect from the adoption of new accounting standards, net		-			-			24,610			-
Net income		85,139			66,635			237,550			181,813
Dividends		(10,920	)		(9,120	)		(33,281	)		(26,802	)
Repurchases of common stock		(30,482	)		(53,344	)		(151,128	)		(65,316	)
Balance, end of period		1,452,841			1,228,546			1,452,841			1,228,546

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Balance, beginning of period		(8,952	)		44,428			43,568			29,598
Cumulative effect from the adoption of new accounting standards, net		-			-			73			-
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)		5,009			9,893			(9,295	)		17,685
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period, net of income taxes:
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other- than temporarily impaired		(5,874	)		(2,691	)		(44,140	)		4,340
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) other-than-temporarily impaired		2			(90	)		(21	)		(83	)
Balance, end of period		(9,815	)		51,540			(9,815	)		51,540
Total stockholders’ equity	$	1,443,456		$	1,280,530		$	1,443,456		$	1,280,530

Dividends declared per share	$	0.25		$	0.20		$	0.75		$	0.58

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Unaudited

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	237,550		$	181,813
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in future policy benefits and other policy liabilities		187,684			216,086
Deferral of policy acquisition costs		(329,672	)		(317,112	)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		173,546			153,094
Change in income taxes		5,313			22,151
Realized investment (gains) losses, including other-than-temporary impairments		470			(260	)
Accretion and amortization of investments		(1,396	)		(1,051	)
Depreciation and amortization		9,122			10,323
Change in reinsurance recoverables		(662	)		(24,137	)
Change in agent balances, due premiums and other receivables		(14,336	)		(30,283	)
Trading securities sold, matured, or called (acquired), net		(11,174	)		(4,147	)
Share-based compensation		15,378			13,491
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net		13,457			(10,169	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		285,280			209,799

Cash flows from investing activities:
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — sold		48,175			67,648
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — matured or called		275,486			159,427
Available-for-sale equity securities — sold		-			2,125
Equity securities — sold		1,938			-
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — acquired		(446,466	)		(300,169	)
Available-for-sale equity securities — acquired		-			(306	)
Equity securities — acquired		(243	)		-
Purchases of property and equipment and other investing activities, net		(11,013	)		(7,965	)
Cash collateral received (returned) on loaned securities, net		(19,154	)		33,332
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments using securities lending collateral, net		19,154			(33,332	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(132,123	)		(79,240	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid		(33,281	)		(26,802	)
Common stock repurchased		(167,395	)		(132,751	)
Tax withholdings on share-based compensation		(6,129	)		(6,704	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(206,805	)		(166,257	)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash		(936	)		1,140
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(54,584	)		(34,558	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		279,962			211,976
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	225,378		$	177,418

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — Unaudited

(1) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business. Primerica, Inc. (the "Parent Company"), together with its subsidiaries (collectively, "we", "us" or the "Company"), is a leading distributor of financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. Our primary subsidiaries include the following entities: Primerica Financial Services, LLC ("PFS"), a general agency and marketing company; Primerica Life Insurance Company ("Primerica Life"), our principal life insurance company; Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd., a holding company for our Canadian operations, which includes Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada ("Primerica Life Canada") and PFSL Investments Canada Ltd. ("PFSL Investments Canada"); and PFS Investments Inc. ("PFS Investments"), an investment products company and broker-dealer. Primerica Life, domiciled in Tennessee, owns National Benefit Life Insurance Company ("NBLIC"), a New York life insurance company. Peach Re, Inc. ("Peach Re") and Vidalia Re, Inc. ("Vidalia Re") are special purpose financial captive insurance companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of Primerica Life. Peach Re and Vidalia Re have each entered into separate coinsurance agreements with Primerica Life whereby Primerica Life has ceded certain level-premium term life insurance policies to Peach Re and Vidalia Re (respectively, the "Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement" and the "Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement").

Basis of Presentation. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, generally consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), and stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or of the results to be expected in future periods.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are sufficient to make the information not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Annual Report").

Use of Estimates. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, and income taxes. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.

Significant Accounting Policies. All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2017 Annual Report unless otherwise described.

New Accounting Principles. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASC 606"). ASC 606 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue by establishing the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Insurance contracts are specifically excluded from the scope of ASC 606 and therefore revenue from our insurance product lines is not affected by the new standard. We adopted the amendments in ASC 606 during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 resulted in an increase to retained earnings of $24.7 million or 1.7% on January 1, 2018. The adjustment recognized upon the adoption of ASC 606 primarily consisted of recognizing the after tax net impact of renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in future periods less the portion we pay to our agents for the sale of prepaid legal service subscriptions and the referral of auto and homeowners’ insurance policies in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment made prior to January 1, 2018. Specifically, the cumulative effect adjustment recognized as of January 1, 2018 increased the following balance sheet line items:

	January 1, 2018
	(In thousands)
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables	$	45,730
Other liabilities		14,400
Income taxes (Liabilities)		6,647
Retained earnings		24,683

After the initial product sale or referral, we earn commissions from product providers for our distribution services as clients pay ongoing subscription fees for prepaid legal service subscriptions or premiums on auto and homeowners’ insurance policies purchased through our referral channel. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, we recognized commission revenue upon receipt of the commission revenue from the product providers, which is the point in time when revenue becomes fixed and determinable, as the commissions earned are dependent on our clients’ future renewal activity. After the adoption of ASC 606, we recognize commission revenue equal to the expected value of the commissions we will earn over the life of the subscription or the referred policy when that initial subscription sale or policy referral occurs, which coincides with when we satisfy our performance obligation to the product provider. The application of ASC 606 did not result in any material changes in the line items within our statements of income, comprehensive income (loss) and stockholders’ equity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or our statement of cash flows during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606, primarily due to the immaterial amount of revenue associated with these product distributions as well as the offsetting effect of replacing revenue for commissions received from existing sales prior to adopting ASC 606 with revenue for future estimated commissions from new sales subsequent to adopting ASC 606. Likewise, the application of ASC 606 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the line items within our balance sheet between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018. In addition, no changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition have been made in any of our other product lines as discussed further in Note 13 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers).

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10) – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"). ASU 2016-01 intends to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments and addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. We adopted the amendments in ASU 2016-01 during the first quarter of 2018, which resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to increase retained earnings and decrease accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by $7.7 million, equal to the after tax amount of the net unrealized gains on investments in equity securities as of January 1, 2018. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the change in fair value (except for other-than-temporary impairment) on available-for-sale equity securities was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the change in fair value on all investments in equity securities is recognized in net income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $0.7 million of pre-tax net gains and $0.7 million of pre-tax net losses, respectively, in realized investment gains (losses) for the change in fair value of our investments in equity securities that would have been recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. Additionally, we no longer maintain the classifications of available-for-sale or trading for equity securities but instead present all equity security investments held by the Company as equity securities in the balance sheet due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. As a result, equity securities with a carrying value of $1.4 million previously included within the trading securities classification as of December 31, 2017 are presented as equity securities in the balance sheet subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-01.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2018-02"). ASU 2018-02 allows for the reclassification of stranded tax effects on items resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Reform Act") from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings. ASU 2018-02 is effective for all entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. We adopted the amendments in ASU 2018-02 during the first quarter of 2018 and recorded a decrease of $7.8 million to retained earnings with a corresponding increase to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on January 1, 2018 to reclassify the stranded tax effects from the Tax Reform Act.

Future Application of Accounting Standards. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944) — Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts ("ASU 2018-12"). The amendments in this update change accounting guidance for insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts, including term life insurance. ASU 2018-12 requires companies that issue long-duration insurance contracts to update assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits, including mortality and persistency, at least annually instead of locking those assumptions at contract inception and reflecting differences in assumptions and actual performance as the experience occurs. ASU 2018-12 also includes changes to how insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts amortize DAC and determine and update the discount rate assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits reserves while increasing the level of financial statement disclosures required. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are scheduled to be effective for the Company beginning in 2021 as of the earliest period presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements. We anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have a pervasive impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require changes to certain of our processes, systems

and controls. We are unable to determine the magnitude of its impact at this time as we are in the early stages of evaluating this recently-issued standard.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842) ("ASC 842"), which requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company will adopt the amendments in ASC 842 beginning in the first quarter of 2019 as of the January 1, 2019 adoption date through a cumulative-effect adjustment. We expect the primary impact of ASC 842 will be the recognition of our operating lease obligations and corresponding right-of-use assets on our balance sheet, which mainly consist of our executive office operations and other real estate leases of office space. We anticipate that the impact of adopting this standard will result in an immaterial increase to assets and liabilities that is less than 1% of our total assets and total liabilities, respectively.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 ("ASU 2016-13"), Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASC 326"). ASC 326 introduces new guidance for accounting for credit losses on financial instruments within its scope, including reinsurance recoverables, by replacing the current approach that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred with a new approach that estimates an allowance for anticipated credit losses on the basis of an entity’s own expectations. The objective of the new approach for estimating credit losses is to require consideration of a broader range of forward-looking information, which is expected to result in earlier recognition of credit losses on financial instruments. Available-for-sale debt securities are excluded from the scope of financial instruments that require measurement of credit losses on the basis of a forward-looking expected loss estimate under ASC 326. The incurred probable loss approach for measuring credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will remain under ASC 326, however, an entity will be allowed to reverse credit losses previously recognized in an allowance for available-for-sale debt securities (other than credit losses for securities an entity intends to sell or will more-likely-than-not be required to sell before recovery of amortized cost) in situations where the estimate of credit losses on those securities has declined. The amendments in ASC 326 also preclude an entity from considering the length of time an available-for-sale debt security has been in an unrealized loss position to avoid recording a credit loss and removes the requirement to consider recoveries or declines in fair value after the balance sheet date. The amendments in ASC 326 are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2020. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently-issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business.

Income Taxes. On December 22, 2017 the Tax Reform Act was enacted in the United States. The Tax Reform Act introduced a broad range of tax reforms affecting businesses, including corporate tax rates, business deductions, and international tax provisions. Under U.S. GAAP, the effects of new legislation are recognized upon enactment, which, for federal legislation, is the date the president signs a bill into law. Accordingly, we recognized the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act as of December 31, 2017. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which allows companies to recognize provisional amounts for the tax effects resulting from the enactment of the Tax Reform Act for which the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740") is incomplete but a reasonable estimate can be determined. Adjustments to these provisional amounts, if any, are to be completed within a measurement period not to exceed one year. Amounts recognized by the Company as of December 31, 2017 represent reasonable estimates based on obtaining, preparing, and analyzing the information necessary at that time to account for the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act under ASC 740.

As of September 30, 2018, we continued the effort to finalize our analysis of the incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized as of December 31, 2017. We identified the following updates to the areas discussed in the 2017 Annual Report that were or remain incomplete and subject to adjustment when the necessary information is available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting:

•

The Company has finalized its decision to make a policy election to account for estimated taxes in regard to global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act by recognizing such taxes as incurred. We recognized $0.9 million and $2.9 million of income tax expense for the estimated taxes incurred for global intangible low-taxed income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

•

We finalized the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act, which resulted in a $1.0 million and $2.7 million reduction to income tax expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. As part of the finalization of the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation, we identified excess foreign tax credits that could not be used to offset the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings stipulated by the Tax Reform Act of $6.1 million in addition to the provisional amount recognized as of December 31, 2017. However, the amount recognized for these foreign tax credits is fully offset by a corresponding increase to the full valuation allowance recorded for these foreign tax credits as we do not expect to be able to utilize them in the future.

•

No changes have been made to the provisional amount recognized as of December 31, 2017 for the timing difference for the haircut on deductibility of future policy benefit reserves prescribed in the Tax Reform Act. The provisional amount could be subject to change upon the Company’s final computation as it relates to insurance contracts identified with cash value

features. Adjustments to the provisional amount are not expected to impact the Company’s effective income tax rate or net deferred tax liability position but could impact the timing of when such temporary differences are eliminated.

We expect to finalize our analysis of the remaining incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments during the fourth quarter of 2018.

The Tax Reform Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and had a significant impact on our effective tax rate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We have presented the primary components impacting our effective tax rate as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
U.S. federal statutory rate		21.0	%		35.0	%		21.0	%		35.0	%
Difference between foreign statutory rate and U.S. statutory rate		1.0	%		(1.6	)%		1.1	%		(1.7	)%
Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation		(0.6	)%		(0.9	)%		(1.0	)%		(1.9	)%
Tax on global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act		0.8	%		—	%		0.9	%		—	%
Updates to the provisional amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act		(0.9	)%		—	%		(0.9	)%		—	%
Other		2.3	%		1.0	%		1.8	%		1.6	%
Effective tax rate		23.6	%		33.5	%		22.9	%		33.0	%

(2) Segment and Geographical Information

Segments. We have two primary operating segments — Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products. We also have a Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Notable information included in profit or loss by segment was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Term life insurance segment	$	287,972		$	256,240		$	831,259		$	729,193
Investment and savings products segment		165,269			140,058			490,151			424,239
Corporate and other distributed products segment		31,540			31,002			91,108			92,729
Total revenues	$	484,781		$	427,300		$	1,412,518		$	1,246,161

Net investment income:
Term life insurance segment	$	3,506		$	2,527		$	9,841		$	7,177
Investment and savings products segment		-			-			-			-
Corporate and other distributed products segment		17,116			17,395			49,828			52,381
Total net investment income	$	20,622		$	19,922		$	59,669		$	59,558

Amortization of DAC:
Term life insurance segment	$	56,904		$	50,386		$	164,834		$	145,456
Investment and savings products segment		2,349			2,780			7,870			6,824
Corporate and other distributed products segment		281			218			842			814
Total amortization of DAC	$	59,534		$	53,384		$	173,546		$	153,094

Non-cash share-based compensation expense:
Term life insurance segment	$	646		$	298		$	3,612		$	2,375
Investment and savings products segment		581			354			2,099			1,895
Corporate and other distributed products segment		758			1,172			9,667			9,221
Total non-cash share-based compensation expense	$	1,985		$	1,824		$	15,378		$	13,491

Income (loss) before income taxes:
Term life insurance segment	$	74,337		$	66,543		$	209,787		$	177,421
Investment and savings products segment		45,052			39,050			128,265			115,854
Corporate and other distributed products segment		(7,954	)		(5,393	)		(29,892	)		(21,843	)
Total income before income taxes	$	111,435		$	100,200		$	308,160		$	271,432

Total assets by segment were as follows:

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Term life insurance segment	$	6,356,636	$	6,205,837
Investment and savings products segment ⁽¹⁾		2,548,623		2,684,717
Corporate and other distributed products segment		3,802,270		3,570,149
Total assets	$	12,707,529	$	12,460,703

_______________

⁽¹⁾ The Investment and Savings Products segment includes assets held in separate accounts. Excluding separate accounts, the Investment and Savings Products segment assets were $128.7 million and $112.0 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Geographical Information. Results of operations by country and long-lived assets, primarily tangible assets reported in other assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Revenues by country:
United States	$	411,998	$	358,534	$	1,191,502	$	1,047,717
Canada		72,783		68,766		221,016		198,444
Total revenues	$	484,781	$	427,300	$	1,412,518	$	1,246,161
Income before income taxes by country:
United States	$	91,793	$	81,040	$	249,106	$	216,586
Canada		19,642		19,160		59,054		54,846
Total income before income taxes	$	111,435	$	100,200	$	308,160	$	271,432

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Long-lived assets by country:
United States	$	25,980	$	27,443
Canada		4,612		656
Total long-lived assets	$	30,592	$	28,099

(3) Investments

Available-for-sale Securities. The period-end amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

	September 30, 2018
	Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Fair value
	(In thousands)
Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value:
Fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	12,636	$	124	$	(108	)	$	12,652
Foreign government		163,357		3,026		(1,741	)		164,642
States and political subdivisions		52,945		836		(554	)		53,227
Corporates		1,388,166		13,964		(18,151	)		1,383,979
Residential mortgage-backed securities		182,398		2,022		(3,533	)		180,887
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		136,166		1,800		(2,657	)		135,309
Other asset-backed securities		80,891		151		(838	)		80,204
Total available-for-sale securities⁽¹⁾	$	2,016,559	$	21,923	$	(27,582	)	$	2,010,900

⁽¹⁾	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

	December 31, 2017
	Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Fair value
	(In thousands)
Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value:
Fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	11,577	$	283	$	(47	)	$	11,813
Foreign government		139,486		5,651		(648	)		144,489
States and political subdivisions		54,714		1,554		(141	)		56,127
Corporates		1,337,321		42,616		(3,655	)		1,376,282
Residential mortgage-backed securities		119,672		3,583		(297	)		122,958
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		134,003		2,299		(910	)		135,392
Other asset-backed securities		80,553		452		(224	)		80,781
Total fixed-maturity securities⁽¹⁾		1,877,326		56,438		(5,922	)		1,927,842
Equity securities		31,331		9,796		(20	)		41,107
Total fixed-maturity and equity securities	$	1,908,657	$	66,234	$	(5,942	)	$	1,968,949

⁽¹⁾	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

All of our available-for-sale mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent variable interests in variable interest entities ("VIEs"). We are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement in these VIEs equals the carrying value of the securities.

The scheduled maturity distribution of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio as of September 30, 2018 was as follows:

	Amortized cost		Fair value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	180,096	$	181,719
Due after one year through five years		864,618		864,694
Due after five years through 10 years		521,980		515,449
Due after 10 years		50,410		52,638
		1,617,104		1,614,500
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities		399,455		396,400
Total fixed-maturity securities	$	2,016,559	$	2,010,900

Expected maturities may differ from scheduled contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments. The net effect on stockholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments was as follows:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities including OTTI:
Available-for-sale securities	$	(5,659	)	$	60,292		⁽¹⁾
OTTI		171			174
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI		(5,488	)		60,466
Deferred income taxes		1,107			(20,780	)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI, net of tax	$	(4,381	)	$	39,686

⁽¹⁾	Includes $9.8 million of net unrealized gains for equity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01.

Trading Securities. The amortized cost and fair value of the securities classified as trading securities were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Amortized cost		Fair value		Amortized cost		Fair value
	(In thousands)
Fixed-maturity securities	$	15,944	$	15,955	$	4,801	$	4,800
Equity securities⁽¹⁾		-		-		1,371		1,428
Total trading securities	$	15,944	$	15,955	$	6,172	$	6,228

⁽¹⁾	Equity securities, previously classified as trading securities, are no longer classified as trading securities due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. As of September 30, 2018, all equity security investments held by the Company are presented in the balance sheet as equity securities.

Held-to-maturity Security. Concurrent with the execution of the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, Vidalia Re entered into a Surplus Note Purchase Agreement (the "Surplus Note Purchase Agreement") with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "Hannover Re") and a newly formed limited liability company (the "LLC") owned by a third- party service provider. Under the Surplus Note Purchase Agreement, Vidalia Re issued a surplus note (the "Surplus Note") to the LLC in exchange for a credit enhanced note from the LLC with an equal principal amount (the "LLC Note"). The principal amount of both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of reserves contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. The LLC Note is guaranteed by Hannover Re through a credit enhancement feature in exchange for a fee, which is reflected in interest expense on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

The LLC is a VIE as its owner does not have an equity investment at risk that is sufficient to permit the LLC to finance its activities without Vidalia Re or Hannover Re. The Parent Company, Primerica Life, and Vidalia Re share the power to direct the activities of the LLC with Hannover Re, but do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive any residual returns related to the LLC’s primary risks or sources of variability. Through the credit enhancement feature, Hannover Re is the ultimate risk taker in this transaction and bears the obligation to absorb the LLC’s losses in the event of a Surplus Note default in exchange for the fee. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the LLC and does not consolidate the LLC within its consolidated financial statements.

The LLC Note is classified as a held-to-maturity debt security in the Company’s invested asset portfolio as we have the positive intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. As of September 30, 2018, the LLC Note, which was rated A+ by Fitch Ratings, had an estimated unrealized holding loss attributable to the rise in market interest rates since issuance of $17.5 million based on its amortized cost and estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the LLC Note is expected to be at least equal to the estimated fair value of the offsetting Surplus Note. See Note 4 (Fair Value of Financial Instruments) for information on the fair value of our financial instruments.

Investments on Deposit with Governmental Authorities. As required by law, we have investments on deposit with governmental authorities and banks for the protection of policyholders. The fair values of investments on deposit were $10.0 million and $11.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Securities Lending Transactions. We participate in securities lending transactions with broker-dealers and other financial institutions to increase investment income with minimal risk. We require minimum collateral on securities loaned equal to 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. We accept collateral in the form of securities, which we are not able to sell or encumber, and to the extent the collateral declines in value below 100%, we require additional collateral from the borrower. Any securities collateral received is not reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also accept collateral in the form of cash, all of which we reinvest. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability representing our obligation to return the collateral. We continue to carry the loaned securities as invested assets on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets during the terms of the loans, and we do not report them as sales. Cash collateral received and reinvested was $70.6 million and $89.8 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)	$	20,142		$	19,268		$	59,173		$	57,537
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)		9,592			7,231			27,018			19,037
Equity securities		482			525			1,461			1,575
Policy loans and other invested assets		391			395			1,192			1,016
Cash and cash equivalents		664			282			1,892			722
Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement⁽¹⁾		1,094			869			1,882			2,671
Gross investment income		32,365			28,570			92,618			82,558
Investment expenses		(2,151	)		(1,417	)		(5,931	)		(3,963	)
Investment income net of investment expenses		30,214			27,153			86,687			78,595
Interest expense on surplus note		(9,592	)		(7,231	)		(27,018	)		(19,037	)
Net investment income	$	20,622		$	19,922		$	59,669		$	59,558

⁽¹⁾

Includes $0.3 million and $2.0 million of losses recognized for the change in fair value of the deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The change in fair value of the deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was not material.

The components of net realized investment gains (losses) recognized in net income as well as details on gross realized investment gains and losses were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$	238		$	1,089		$	1,025		$	2,153
Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale securities		(944	)		(9	)		(965	)		(36	)
OTTI losses of available-for-sale securities		(49	)		(526	)		(152	)		(1,221	)
Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities		739			-			(668	)		-
Gains (losses) from bifurcated options		(110	)		(532	)		290			(636	)
Net realized investment gains (losses)	$	(126	)	$	22		$	(470	)	$	260

The proceeds from sales or other redemptions of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Proceeds from sales or other redemptions	$	83,398	$	86,502	$	323,661	$	229,200

The components of net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities	$	739	$	-	$	(668	)	$	-
Less: Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities sold		1		-		(48	)		-
Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end	$	738	$	-	$	(620	)	$	-

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. We conduct a review each quarter to identify and evaluate impaired investments that have indications of possible OTTI. An investment in a debt security is impaired if its fair value falls below its cost. Factors considered in determining whether an impairment is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects for the issuer, and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery, which may be maturity for fixed-maturity securities.

Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities with a cost basis in excess of their fair values were $1,349.2 million and $529.2 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The following tables summarize, for all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and the gross unrealized loss by length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position:

	September 30, 2018
	Less than 12 months							12 months or longer
	Fair value		Unrealized losses			Number of securities		Fair value		Unrealized losses			Number of securities
	(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	4,756	$	(58	)		3	$	4,009	$	(50	)		5
Foreign government		65,531		(939	)		52		28,001		(802	)		34
States and political subdivisions		22,293		(378	)		19		7,538		(176	)		9
Corporates		717,844		(12,321	)		575		131,884		(5,830	)		119
Residential mortgage-backed securities		120,866		(2,210	)		53		27,114		(1,323	)		17
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		84,144		(1,375	)		62		42,365		(1,282	)		46
Other asset-backed securities		46,702		(617	)		38		18,539		(221	)		28
Total fixed-maturity securities	$	1,062,136	$	(17,898	)			$	259,450	$	(9,684	)

	December 31, 2017
	Less than 12 months							12 months or longer
	Fair value		Unrealized losses			Number of securities		Fair value		Unrealized losses			Number of securities
	(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	4,754	$	(34	)		5	$	2,975	$	(13	)		3
Foreign government		40,287		(465	)		45		7,102		(183	)		7
States and political subdivisions		7,369		(43	)		7		6,267		(98	)		7
Corporates		247,613		(2,323	)		216		39,767		(1,332	)		43
Residential mortgage-backed securities		33,610		(263	)		16		2,592		(34	)		8
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		60,116		(394	)		52		22,149		(516	)		25
Other asset-backed securities		32,605		(121	)		33		14,819		(103	)		19
Total fixed-maturity securities		426,354		(3,643	)				95,671		(2,279	)
Equity securities		1,076		(16	)		4		170		(4	)		2
Total fixed-maturity and equity securities	$	427,430	$	(3,659	)			$	95,841	$	(2,283	)

As of September 30, 2018, the unrealized losses on our available-for-sale fixed-maturity security portfolio were largely caused by interest rate sensitivity and, to a lesser extent, changes in credit spreads. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments. We do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired because we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose of them.

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Amortized cost		Fair value		Amortized cost		Fair value
	(In thousands)
Fixed-maturity securities in default	$	3	$	192	$	503	$	654

OTTI recognized in earnings on available-for-sale securities were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
OTTI on fixed-maturity securities not in default	$	49	$	412	$	152	$	947
OTTI on fixed-maturity securities in default		-		114		-		114
OTTI on equity securities⁽¹⁾		-		-		-		160
Total OTTI recognized in earnings	$	49	$	526	$	152	$	1,221

⁽¹⁾	Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-01 all changes in the fair value of equity securities are recognized in net income and thus OTTI no longer applies to equity securities.

The securities noted above were considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired due to: our intent to sell them; adverse credit events, such as news of an impending filing for bankruptcy; analyses of the issuer’s most recent financial statements or other information in which liquidity deficiencies, significant losses and large declines in capitalization were evident; or analyses of rating agency information for issuances with severe ratings downgrades that indicated a significant increase in the possibility of default. We also recognized OTTI related to invested assets held at the Parent Company that we intended to sell to fund share repurchases.

OTTI recognized in earnings for available-for-sale securities were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Total OTTI related to securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be required to sell:
Total OTTI losses recognized	$	49	$	668	$	152	$	1,203
Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		-		142		-		142
OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery		49		526		152		1,061
OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell before recovery		-		-		-		160
OTTI recognized in earnings	$	49	$	526	$	152	$	1,221

The rollforward of the OTTI recognized in net income for all fixed-maturity securities still held as of period end was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, beginning of period	$	3,294		$	5,575		$	4,346		$	5,774
Additions for securities where no OTTI were recognized prior to the beginning of the period		-			351			-			351
Additions for securities where OTTI have been recognized prior to the beginning of the period		49			175			152			710
Reductions due to sales, maturities, calls, amortization or increases in cash flows expected to be collected over the remaining life of credit-impaired securities		(578	)		(699	)		(1,733	)		(1,296	)
Reductions for exchanges of securities previously impaired		-			(1,047	)		-			(1,184	)
Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, end of period	$	2,765		$	4,355		$	2,765		$	4,355

As of September 30, 2018, no cumulative impairment losses have been recognized on the LLC Note held-to-maturity security.

Derivatives. Embedded conversion options associated with fixed-maturity securities are bifurcated from the fixed-maturity security host contracts and separately recognized as equity securities. The change in fair value of these bifurcated conversion options is reflected in realized investment gains (losses), including OTTI losses. The fair value of these bifurcated options was $0 and $0.9 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

We have a deferred loss related to closed forward contracts, which were settled several years ago, that were used to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates that resulted from the net investment in our Canadian operations. The amount of deferred loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) was $26.4 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. These deferred losses will not be recognized until such time as we sell or substantially liquidate our Canadian operations; although we have no such intention.

(4) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We classify and disclose all invested assets carried at fair value in one of the following three categories:

•

Level 1. Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices in active markets, such as exchange-traded common stocks and actively traded mutual fund investments;

•

Level 2. Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using industry-standard pricing methodologies, models or other valuation methodologies. Various inputs are considered in deriving the fair value of the underlying financial instrument, including interest rate and yield curves, credit spread, and foreign exchange rates. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include: certain public and private corporate fixed-maturity and equity securities; government or agency securities; and certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities; and

•

Level 3. Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. Level 3 consists of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on industry-standard pricing methodologies and models using significant inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, readily available market information. Valuations for this category primarily consist of non-binding broker quotes. Financial instruments in this category primarily include less liquid mortgage-and asset-backed securities and equity securities.

As of each reporting period, all assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input (Level 3 being the lowest) that is significant to the fair value measurement. Significant levels of estimation and judgment are required to determine the fair value of certain of our investments. The factors influencing these estimations and judgments are subject to change in subsequent reporting periods.

The estimated fair value and hierarchy classifications for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

	September 30, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	-	$	12,652	$	-	$	12,652
Foreign government		-		164,642		-		164,642
States and political subdivisions		-		53,227		-		53,227
Corporates		3,060		1,380,916		3		1,383,979
Residential mortgage-backed securities		-		180,614		273		180,887
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		-		135,309		-		135,309
Other asset-backed securities		-		80,204		-		80,204
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities		3,060		2,007,564		276		2,010,900
Equity securities		38,057		1,065		195		39,317
Trading securities		-		15,955		-		15,955
Separate accounts		-		2,419,997		-		2,419,997
Total fair value assets	$	41,117	$	4,444,581	$	471	$	4,486,169
Fair value liabilities:
Separate accounts	$	-	$	2,419,997	$	-	$	2,419,997
Total fair value liabilities	$	-	$	2,419,997	$	-	$	2,419,997

	December 31, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	-	$	11,813	$	-	$	11,813
Foreign government		-		144,489		-		144,489
States and political subdivisions		-		56,127		-		56,127
Corporates		3,240		1,373,039		3		1,376,282
Residential mortgage-backed securities		-		122,544		414		122,958
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		-		135,392		-		135,392
Other asset-backed securities		-		80,781		-		80,781
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities		3,240		1,924,185		417		1,927,842
Available-for-sale equity securities		39,026		1,931		150		41,107
Trading securities		1,428		4,800		-		6,228
Separate accounts		-		2,572,872		-		2,572,872
Total fair value assets	$	43,694	$	4,503,788	$	567	$	4,548,049
Fair value liabilities:
Separate accounts	$	-	$	2,572,872	$	-	$	2,572,872
Total fair value liabilities	$	-	$	2,572,872	$	-	$	2,572,872

In assessing fair value of our investments, we use a third-party pricing service for 94% of our securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The remaining securities are primarily thinly-traded securities, such as private placements, and are valued using models based on observable inputs on public corporate spreads having similar characteristics (e.g., sector, average life and quality rating), liquidity and yield based on quality rating, average life and U.S. Treasury yields. All observable data inputs are corroborated by independent third-party data. We also corroborate pricing information provided by our third-party pricing service by performing a review of selected securities. Our review activities include obtaining detailed information about the assumptions, inputs and methodologies used in pricing the security; documenting this information; and corroborating it by comparison to independently obtained prices and/or independently developed pricing methodologies.

Furthermore, we perform internal reasonableness assessments on fair value determinations within our portfolio throughout the quarter and as of quarter-end, including pricing variance analyses and comparisons to alternative pricing sources and benchmark returns. If a fair value appears unusual relative to these assessments, we will re-examine the inputs and may challenge a fair value assessment made by the pricing service. If there is a known pricing error, we will request a reassessment by the pricing service. If the pricing service is unable to perform the reassessment on a timely basis, we will determine the appropriate price by requesting a reassessment from an alternative pricing service or other qualified source as necessary. We do not adjust quotes or prices except in a rare circumstance to resolve a known error.

Because many fixed-maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, third-party pricing services generally determine fair value using industry-standard methodologies, which vary by asset class. For corporates, governments, and agency securities, these methodologies

include developing prices by incorporating available market information such as U.S. Treasury curves, benchmarking of similar securities including new issues, sector groupings, quotes from market participants and matrix pricing. Observable information is compiled and integrates relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. Additionally, security prices are periodically back-tested to validate and/or refine models as conditions warrant. Market indicators and industry and economic events are also monitored as triggers to obtain additional data. For certain structured securities (such as mortgage-and asset-backed securities) with limited trading activity, third-party pricing services generally use industry-standard pricing methodologies that incorporate market information, such as index prices or discounting expected future cash flows based on underlying collateral, and quotes from market participants, to estimate fair value. If one or more of these input measures are not deemed observable for a particular security, the security will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Where specific market information is unavailable for certain securities, pricing models produce estimates of fair value primarily using Level 2 inputs along with certain Level 3 inputs. These models include matrix pricing. The pricing matrix uses current U.S. Treasury rates and credit spreads received from third-party sources to estimate fair value. The credit spreads incorporate the issuer’s industry- or issuer-specific credit characteristics and the security’s time to maturity, if warranted. Remaining unpriced securities are valued using an estimate of fair value based on indicative market prices that include significant unobservable inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, market information, including the utilization of non-binding broker quotes.

The roll-forward of the Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30, ⁽¹⁾						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Level 3 assets, beginning of period	$	516		$	1,861		$	567		$	8,162
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income		(4	)		24			(17	)		246
Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings, including OTTI		2			-			47			9
Purchases		-			-			-			1,250
Settlements		(43	)		(204	)		(126	)		(645	)
Transfers into Level 3		-			-			-			2,439
Transfers out of Level 3 ⁽²⁾		-			-			-			(9,780	)
Level 3 assets, end of period	$	471		$	1,681		$	471		$	1,681

(1)	Activities for investments that enter Level 3 in one quarter and exit Level 3 in another quarter within the same fiscal year are not eliminated until year-end when only the full year amounts are presented.

(2)	During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, transfers out of Level 3 assets primarily consisted of newly issued fixed-maturity securities in the previous quarter for which observable inputs, most notably quoted prices, used to derive valuations became readily available.

We obtain independent pricing quotes based on observable inputs as of the end of the reporting period for all securities in Level 2. Those inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers, quoted prices for similar instruments in markets that are not active, and other relevant data. We monitor these inputs for market indicators, industry and economic events. There were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:

	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
	Carrying value		Estimated fair value		Carrying value		Estimated fair value
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale)	$	2,010,900	$	2,010,900	$	1,927,842	$	1,927,842
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) ⁽³⁾		891,860		874,328		737,150		779,472
Available-for-sale equity securities		-		-		41,107		41,107
Equity securities		39,317		39,317		-		-
Trading securities		15,955		15,955		6,228		6,228
Policy loans ⁽³⁾		30,902		30,902		32,816		32,816
Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement ⁽³⁾		226,025		226,025		217,336		217,336
Separate accounts		2,419,997		2,419,997		2,572,872		2,572,872
Liabilities:
Notes payable ^(1) (2)	$	373,567	$	386,505	$	373,288	$	400,628
Surplus note ^(1) (3)		891,139		874,328		736,381		778,050
Separate accounts		2,419,997		2,419,997		2,572,872		2,572,872

(1)	Carrying value amounts shown are net of issuance costs.

(2)	Classified as a level 2 fair value measurement.

(3)	Classified as a level 3 fair value measurement.

The fair values of financial instruments presented above are estimates of the fair values at a specific point in time using various sources and methods, including market quotations and a complex matrix system that takes into account issuer sector, quality, and spreads in the current marketplace.

Financial Instruments Recognized at Fair Value in the Balance Sheet. Estimated fair values of investments in available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities are principally a function of current spreads and interest rates that are corroborated by independent third-party data. Therefore, the fair values presented are indicative of amounts we could realize or settle at the respective balance sheet date. We do not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. Trading securities are carried at fair value. Equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Segregated funds in separate accounts are carried at the underlying value of the variable insurance contracts, which is fair value.

(5) Reinsurance

We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. Reinsurance arrangements do not relieve us of our primary obligation to the policyholder. We monitor the concentration of credit risk we have with any reinsurer, as well as the financial condition of the reinsurers.

Details on in-force life insurance were as follows:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Direct life insurance in force	$	784,286,697		$	767,001,938
Amounts ceded to other companies		(682,975,825	)		(668,446,638	)
Net life insurance in force	$	101,310,872		$	98,555,300
Percentage of reinsured life insurance in force		87	%		87	%

Reinsurance recoverables include ceded reserve balances and ceded claim liabilities. Reinsurance recoverables and financial strength ratings by reinsurer were as follows:

	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
	Reinsurance recoverables		A.M. Best rating	Reinsurance recoverables		A.M. Best rating
	(In thousands)
Pecan Re Inc. ^{(1) (2)}	$	2,744,439	NR	$	2,725,795	NR
SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies ⁽³⁾		348,661	A+		354,458	A+
Munich Re of Malta ^{(2) (5)}		293,572	NR		302,391	NR
Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. ⁽⁴⁾		235,511	A+		245,543	A+
American Health and Life Insurance Company ⁽²⁾		171,875	B		172,956	B
Munich American Reassurance Company		110,365	A+		112,841	A+
Korean Reinsurance Company		101,886	A		102,915	A
RGA Reinsurance Company		89,250	A+		90,037	A+
Hannover Life Reassurance Company		32,386	A+		32,250	A+
TOA Reinsurance Company		25,519	A		24,619	A
All other reinsurers		42,557	-		41,368	-
Reinsurance recoverables	$	4,196,021		$	4,205,173

NR – not rated

⁽¹⁾	Pecan Re Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.

⁽²⁾	Includes balances ceded under coinsurance transactions of term life insurance policies that were in force as of December 31, 2009. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance recoverables from other reinsurers.

⁽³⁾	Includes amounts ceded to Transamerica Reinsurance Companies and fully retroceded to SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies.

⁽⁴⁾	Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and fully retroceded to Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.

⁽⁵⁾	This entity is rated AA- by S&P.

Benefits and claims ceded to reinsurers during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $310.8 million and $964.0 million, respectively, compared to $314.8 million and $991.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

(6) Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

Changes in policy claims incurred and other benefits payable were as follows:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period	$	307,401		$	268,136
Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable		322,137			323,195
Net balance, beginning of period		(14,736	)		(55,059	)
Incurred related to current year		131,862			120,062
Incurred related to prior years ⁽¹⁾		(1,755	)		2,179
Total incurred		130,107			122,241
Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received		(194,564	)		(190,542	)
Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid		21,889			60,118
Total paid		(172,675	)		(130,424	)
Foreign currency translation		(166	)		330
Net balance, end of period		(57,470	)		(62,912	)
Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable		345,110			347,363
Balance, end of period	$	287,640		$	284,451

⁽¹⁾	Includes the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported as of period end and the actual incurred claims reported after period end.

The liability for policy claims and other benefits payable on traditional life insurance products includes estimated unpaid claims that have been reported to us and claims incurred but not yet reported. We estimate claims incurred but not yet reported based on our historical claims activity and reported lag time experience.

(7) Stockholders’ Equity

A reconciliation of the number of shares of our common stock follows:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Common stock, beginning of period		44,251			45,721
Shares issued for stock options exercised		33			38
Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of restricted stock units ("RSUs")		428			430
Common stock retired		(1,735	)		(1,809	)
Common stock, end of period		42,977			44,380

The above reconciliation excludes RSUs and performance-based stock units (“PSUs”), which do not have voting rights. As sales restrictions on RSUs lapse and PSUs are earned, we issue common shares with voting rights. As of September 30, 2018, we had a total of 643,856 RSUs and 85,010 PSUs outstanding. The PSU outstanding balance is based on the target number of PSUs granted pursuant to the award agreements; however, the actual number of common shares issued could be higher or lower based on actual versus target performance. See Note 9 (Share-Based Transactions) for discussion of the PSU award structure.

On February 6, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $275.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases through June 30, 2019 (the “share repurchase program”). Under the share repurchase program, we repurchased 1,658,380 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $167.3 million through September 30, 2018. Approximately $107.7 million remains available for repurchases of our outstanding common stock under the share repurchase program as of September 30, 2018.

(8) Earnings Per Share

The Company has outstanding common stock and equity awards that consist of RSUs, PSUs and stock options. The RSUs maintain non-forfeitable dividend rights that result in dividend payment obligations on a one-to-one ratio with common shares for any future dividend declarations.

Unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share ("EPS") as they maintain dividend rights. We calculate EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, we allocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. Earnings attributable to unvested participating securities, along with the corresponding share counts, are excluded from EPS as reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

In calculating basic EPS, we deduct from net income any dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested RSUs and then divide the result by the weighted-average number of common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period.

We determine the potential dilutive effect of PSUs and stock options outstanding (“contingently-issuable shares”) on EPS using the treasury-stock method. Under this method, we determine the proceeds that would be received from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. The proceeds from the contingently-issuable

shares include the remaining unrecognized compensation expense of the awards and the cash received for the exercise price on stock options. We then use the average market price of our common shares during the period the contingently-issuable shares were outstanding to determine how many shares we could repurchase with the proceeds raised from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares. The net incremental share count issued represents the potential dilutive securities. We then reallocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs by incorporating the increased fully-diluted share count to determine diluted EPS.

The calculation of basic and diluted EPS was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
Basic EPS:
Numerator:
Net income	$	85,139		$	66,635		$	237,550		$	181,813
Income attributable to unvested participating securities		(485	)		(465	)		(1,405	)		(1,326	)
Net income used in calculating basic EPS	$	84,654		$	66,170		$	236,145		$	180,487
Denominator:
Weighted-average vested shares		43,452			45,318			44,081			45,864
Basic EPS	$	1.95		$	1.46		$	5.36		$	3.94

Diluted EPS:
Numerator:
Net income	$	85,139		$	66,635		$	237,550		$	181,813
Income attributable to unvested participating securities		(484	)		(464	)		(1,401	)		(1,324	)
Net income used in calculating diluted EPS	$	84,655		$	66,171		$	236,149		$	180,489
Denominator:
Weighted-average vested shares		43,452			45,318			44,081			45,864
Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for contingently-issuable shares		137			90			131			83
Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS		43,589			45,408			44,212			45,947
Diluted EPS	$	1.94		$	1.46		$	5.34		$	3.93

(9) Share-Based Transactions

The Company has outstanding equity awards under its Omnibus Incentive Plan ("OIP"). The OIP provides for the issuance of equity awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, RSUs, PSUs, and stock payment awards, as well as cash-based awards. In addition to time-based vesting requirements, awards granted under the OIP may also be subject to specified performance criteria. Since 2010, the Company has issued equity awards under the OIP to our management (officers and other key employees), non-employees who serve on our Board of Directors, and sales force leaders. For more information on equity awards granted under the OIP, see Note 14 (Share-Based Transactions) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report.

Equity awards granted to our sales force prior to January 2018 contained sales restrictions that expired over three years. Because of such sales restrictions, the fair market value of the awards incorporated an illiquidity discount reflecting the risk associated with the post-vesting restrictions. Starting in January 2018, equity awards granted under quarterly contests no longer contain sales restrictions, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate an illiquidity discount. These awards are measured at fair value at the conclusion of the quarterly contest. Awards granted before January 2018 maintain the post-vest restrictions established at the time of grant.

In connection with our granting of equity awards to management and members of the Board of Directors, we recognize expense over the requisite service period of the equity award. We defer and amortize the fair value of equity awards granted to our sales force in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs for those awards that are an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions of life insurance policies that result directly from and are essential to the policy acquisition(s) and would not have been incurred had the policy acquisition(s) not occurred. All equity awards granted to our sales force that are not directly related to the successful acquisition of life insurance policies are recognized as expense as incurred, which is in the quarter granted and earned.

The impacts of equity awards granted are as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Total equity awards expense recognized	$	1,985	$	1,824	$	15,378	$	13,491
Quarterly incentive awards expense deferred		2,035		2,744		7,014		8,162

On February 26, 2018, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors granted the following equity awards to employees as part of the annual approval of management incentive compensation:

•

94,758 RSUs awarded to management with a measurement-date fair value of $100.55 per unit that have time-based vesting requirements with equal and annual graded vesting over approximately three years subsequent to the grant date.

•

30,579 PSUs awarded under the OIP to our four top executives with a measurement-date fair value of $100.55 per unit. The PSUs will be earned on March 1, 2021 contingent upon the Company achieving a target annual average three-year return on adjusted equity ("ROAE") for the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020. The actual number of common shares that will be issued will vary based on the actual ROAE relative to the target ROAE and can range from zero to 45,868 shares.

All awards granted to employees on February 26, 2018 vest upon voluntary termination of employment by any employee who is "retirement eligible" as of his or her termination date. In order to be retirement eligible, an employee must be at least 55 years old and his or her age plus years of service with the Company must equal at least 75. The number of PSUs that will ultimately vest for a retirement eligible employee is equal to the amount calculated using the Company’s actual cumulative three-year ROAE ending on December 31, 2020, even if that employee retires prior to the completion of the three-year performance period.

(10) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Letter of Credit (“LOC”). Peach Re maintains a credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank (the "Credit Facility Agreement") to support certain obligations for a portion of the Regulation XXX reserves related to the Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement. Under the Credit Facility Agreement, Deutsche Bank issued a letter of credit for the benefit of Primerica Life with a term ending on January 15, 2026. At September 30, 2018, the amount of the LOC outstanding was $312.8 million. This amount will decline over the remaining term of the LOC to correspond with declines in the Regulation XXX reserves. As of September 30, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement.

Further discussion on the Company’s letter of credit is included in Note 16 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report.

Contingent Liabilities. The Company is involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. These disputes are subject to uncertainties, including the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. As such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these matters unless otherwise indicated.

The Company is currently undergoing multi-state unclaimed property audits by 30 jurisdictions, currently focusing on the life insurance claims paying practices of its subsidiaries, Primerica Life and NBLIC. Other jurisdictions may pursue similar audits. The potential outcome of such audits is difficult to predict but could subject the Company to adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, settlement payments, additional payments to beneficiaries and additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likelihood or the impact of additional costs or liabilities that could result from the resolution of these matters.

(11) Other Comprehensive Income

The components of other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI"), including the income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component, were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) before income taxes	$	5,009		$	10,000		$	(9,295	)	$	17,878
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)		-			107			-			193
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes	$	5,009		$	9,893		$	(9,295	)	$	17,685
Unrealized gain (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period before income taxes	$	(8,347	)	$	(3,725	)	$	(56,267	)	$	7,447
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period		(1,879	)		(1,304	)		(12,033	)		2,608
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during period, net of income taxes		(6,468	)		(2,421	)		(44,234	)		4,839

Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities		755			(554	)		92			(896	)
Income tax (expense) benefit on (gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income		159			(194	)		19			(314	)
Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes		596			(360	)		73			(582	)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment	$	(5,872	)	$	(2,781	)	$	(44,161	)	$	4,257

(12) Debt

Notes Payable. At September 30, 2018, the Company had $375.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes (the "Senior Notes"), with an annual interest rate of 4.75% that are scheduled to mature on July 15, 2022. As of September 30, 2018, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes. No events of default occurred on the Senior Notes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Further discussion on the Company’s Senior Notes is included in Note 10 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report.

Surplus Note. At September 30, 2018, the principal amount outstanding on the Surplus Note issued by Vidalia Re was $891.7 million, which is equal to the principal amount of the LLC Note. The principal amount of both the Surplus Note and the LLC Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of policy reserves being contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. Based on the estimated reserves for policies issued in 2011 through 2016 that have been ceded under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, the principal amounts of the Surplus Note and the LLC Note are expected to reach $1.3 billion each. The Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement also provides the option for Primerica Life to cede level-premium term life insurance policies issued in 2017 to Vidalia Re at a future date. This financing arrangement is non-recourse to the Parent Company and Primerica Life, meaning that neither of these companies has guaranteed the Surplus Note or is otherwise liable for reimbursement for any payments triggered by the LLC Note’s credit enhancement feature. The Parent Company has agreed to support Vidalia Re’s obligation to pay the credit enhancement fee incurred on the LLC Note.

Further discussion on the Company’s Surplus Note and LLC Note are included in Note 10 (Debt) and Note 4 (Investments) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report.

Revolving Credit Facility. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") with a syndicate of commercial banks that has a scheduled termination date of December 19, 2022. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a periodic rate equal to LIBOR or the base rate, plus in either case an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for LIBOR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.125% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.125% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.125% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, no amounts have been drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. Furthermore, no events of default have occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

(13) Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Our revenues from contracts with customers primarily include:

•

Commissions and fees earned for the marketing and distribution of investment and savings products underwritten by mutual fund companies and annuity providers. For purposes of ASC 606, mutual fund companies and annuity providers are considered the customers in marketing and distribution arrangements.

•

Fees earned for investment advisory and administrative services within our managed investments programs.

•

Account-based fees for transfer agent recordkeeping functions and non-bank custodial services.

•

Fees associated with the distribution of other third-party financial products.

•

Other revenue from the sale of miscellaneous products and services including monthly subscription fees from our sales representatives for access to Primerica Online ("POL"), our primary sales force support tool.

Premiums from insurance contracts we underwrite, fees received from segregated funds insurance contracts, and income earned on our invested assets are excluded from the definition of revenues from contracts with customers in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The disaggregation of our revenues from contracts with customers were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Term Life Insurance segment revenues:
Other, net	$	10,615	$	10,655	$	31,943	$	30,345
Total segment revenues from contracts with customers		10,615		10,655		31,943		30,345
Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers		277,357		245,585		799,316		698,848
Total Term Life Insurance segment revenues	$	287,972	$	256,240	$	831,259	$	729,193

Investment and Savings Products segment revenues:
Commissions and fees
Sales-based revenues	$	64,181	$	53,488	$	192,949	$	174,697
Asset-based revenues		63,529		55,219		184,222		158,748
Account-based revenues		20,306		13,811		61,339		40,310
Other, net		2,464		2,480		7,223		7,056
Total segment revenues from contracts with customers		150,480		124,998		445,733		380,811
Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers (segregated funds)		14,789		15,060		44,418		43,428
Total Investment and Savings Products segment revenues	$	165,269	$	140,058	$	490,151	$	424,239

Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues:
Commissions and fees ⁽¹⁾	$	8,074	$	7,049	$	22,718	$	20,028
Other, net		1,280		1,156		3,881		3,980
Total segment revenues from contracts with customers		9,354		8,205		26,599		24,008
Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers		22,186		22,797		64,509		68,721
Total Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues	$	31,540	$	31,002	$	91,108	$	92,729

⁽¹⁾

Commissions and fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 include $1.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively, attributable to performance obligations satisfied in a previous reporting period and represent the collection of variable consideration in the transaction price that had been previously constrained.

We recognize revenue upon the satisfaction of the related performance obligation, unless the transaction price includes variable consideration that is constrained; in which case, we recognize revenue when the uncertainty associated with the constrained amount is subsequently resolved. Variable consideration is not treated as constrained to the extent it is probable that no significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. We have no material obligations for refunds of commission and fees on contracts with customers subsequent to completion of our performance obligation.

Investment and Savings Products Marketing and Distribution Services. We receive commissions and fees from mutual fund companies and annuity providers for the marketing and distribution by our licensed sales representatives of investment and savings products underwritten by such companies and providers. We recognize the sales-based marketing and distribution revenue received from such companies and providers at the point in time our performance obligation to them is satisfied, which is the trade date. The sales-based commissions from mutual fund companies and annuity providers are known and are due at the same time our performance obligation to such mutual fund companies and annuity providers is satisfied. We also receive ongoing asset-based commissions from mutual fund companies and annuity providers each reporting period based on client asset values. We do not recognize revenue for

asset-based marketing and distribution commissions until the end of each subsequent reporting period when the amount becomes known and due from mutual fund companies or annuity providers as this revenue represents variable consideration that is fully constrained at the point in time our distinct performance obligation to mutual fund companies and annuity providers is satisfied. We consider variable consideration in the form of asset-based marketing and distribution commissions to be fully constrained as the amounts we will be entitled to collect are highly uncertain and susceptible to factors outside of our control. Such factors include the market values of assets under management and the length of time investors hold their accounts. Asset-based marketing and distribution commissions recognized during the current period are almost exclusively attributable to distinct performance obligations satisfied to mutual fund companies and annuity providers in previous periods. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for marketing and distribution services of investment and savings products.

Investment Advisory and Administrative Services. We provide investment advisory and administrative services over time to investors in the managed investments programs we offer. We recognize revenue as our performance obligation is satisfied over time for daily investment advisory and administrative services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of delivery. Fees for these services, which are based on a percentage of client assets in managed investment programs, become known and are charged to investors during the same reporting period in which the daily investment advisory and administrative services are performed. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for investment advisory and administrative services.

Account-based Services. We provide distinct transfer agent recordkeeping services for certain mutual funds we distribute and non-bank custodial services to investors purchasing investment products we distribute through qualified retirement accounts in the United States. Fees charged for these account-based services consist primarily of a stated fee for each investment position or each qualified retirement account. Generally, our performance obligation for each account-based service arrangement is satisfied over time and is substantially the same with the same pattern of delivery. We recognize revenue to which we are entitled for each investment position or each qualified account over time based on the time-based pro-rata amount earned each reporting period. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for account-based services.

Distribution of Other Third-party Financial Products. We distribute various other financial products on behalf of third parties to consumers. We receive upfront commissions and/or renewal commissions from product providers for sales of other financial product sales we have arranged. We recognize revenue at the point in time our performance obligation to product providers is satisfied, which is generally on the date the financial product is purchased by the consumer from the product provider. For certain financial products, most notably prepaid legal subscriptions and auto and homeowners’ insurance referrals, we receive ongoing renewal commissions that coincide with recurring payments received by product providers from active subscribers or policyholders. Ongoing renewal commissions represent variable consideration that will not be resolved until after the reporting period in which our performance obligation has been satisfied. We estimate variable consideration in the transaction price for these financial products (with the exception of miscellaneous products for which we expect nominal ongoing commissions) as the expected amount of commissions to be received over the life of the subscription or referred policy and apply a constraint so that it is probable that a subsequent change in estimate will not result in a significant revenue reversal. Management judgement primarily is required to determine the average life of a subscription or referred policy, which we establish based on historical information. We recognize variable consideration in excess of the amount constrained in subsequent reporting periods when the uncertainty is resolved and the excess amounts are due from the product providers. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, we recognized revenue for ongoing renewal commissions associated with other third-party financial products upon receipt of the commission revenue from the product providers, which is the point in time when the amount became fixed and determinable.

Revenue for Other Services. We recognize revenue from the sale of other miscellaneous products and services, including monthly subscription fees from our sales representatives for access to POL, upon the transfer of the promised product or service. For POL subscriptions, we satisfy our performance obligation by providing subscribers access to the promised services over time during each monthly subscription period. Revenue recognized from the sale of other miscellaneous products and services becomes known and charged at the same time we satisfy the corresponding performance obligation. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for revenue for other services.

Contract Balances. For revenue associated with ongoing renewal commissions on other distributed financial products, we record a contract asset for the amount of ongoing renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in reporting periods subsequent to the sale or referral, less amounts that are constrained in other assets. The contract asset is reduced for commissions that are billed and become due receivables from product providers during the reporting period.

Activity in the contract asset account was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30, 2018		Nine months ended September 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	48,168	$	48,533
Current period sales, net of collection of renewal commissions		657		292
Balance, end of period	$	48,825	$	48,825

No significant estimate adjustments were made to the contract asset and no impairment losses were recognized on the contract asset during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts, most notably sales commissions to our sales representatives, are not incurred prior to the recognition of the related revenue. Therefore, we have no assets recognized for incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Primerica, Inc. (the "Parent Company") and its subsidiaries (collectively, "we", "us" or the "Company") for the period from December 31, 2017 to September 30, 2018. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with MD&A and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Annual Report"). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that constitute our plans, estimates and beliefs. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the 2017 Annual Report as well as Item 1A of Part II (Other Information) included elsewhere in this report. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

This MD&A is divided into the following sections:

•

Business Overview

•

Business Trends and Conditions

•

Factors Affecting Our Results

•

Critical Accounting Estimates

•

Results of Operations

•

Financial Condition

•

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Business Overview

We are a leading distributor of financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We have two primary operating segments, Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products; and a third segment, Corporate and Other Distributed Products.

Term Life Insurance. We distribute the term life insurance products that we originate through our three issuing life insurance company subsidiaries: Primerica Life Insurance Company ("Primerica Life"), National Benefit Life Insurance Company ("NBLIC"), and Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada ("Primerica Life Canada"). Our in-force term insurance policies have level premiums for the stated term period. As such, the policyholder pays the same amount each year. Initial policy term periods are between 10 and 35 years. While premiums typically remain level during the initial term period, our claim obligations generally increase as our policyholders age. In addition, we incur significant upfront costs in acquiring new insurance business. Our deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs and reserving methodology are designed to match the recognition of premium revenues with the timing of policy lapses and the payment of expected claims obligations.

Investment and Savings Products. In the United States, we distribute mutual funds, managed investments, variable and fixed annuity products of several third-party companies. We provide investment advisory and administrative services for client assets invested in our managed investments programs. We also perform distinct transfer agent recordkeeping services for certain mutual funds we distribute and non-bank custodial services to investors purchasing investment products we distribute through qualified retirement accounts. In Canada, we offer our own Primerica-branded mutual funds, as well as mutual funds of other companies, and segregated funds, which are underwritten by Primerica Life Canada.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment consists primarily of revenues and expenses related to other distributed products, including closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, prepaid legal services, and other financial products. These products, except for closed blocks of various insurance products underwritten by NBLIC, are distributed pursuant to distribution arrangements with third-party companies through our independent sales force. Net investment income earned on our invested asset portfolio is recorded in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment, with the exception of the assumed net interest accreted to our Term Life Insurance segment’s future policy benefit reserve liability less deferred acquisition costs. Interest expense incurred by the Company is attributed solely to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Business Trends and Conditions

The relative strength and stability of financial markets and economies in the United States and Canada affect our growth and profitability. Our business is, and we expect will continue to be, influenced by a number of industry-wide and product-specific trends and conditions. Economic conditions, including unemployment levels and consumer confidence, influence investment and spending decisions by middle-income consumers, who are generally our primary clients. These conditions and factors also impact prospective recruits’ perceptions of the business opportunity that becoming a Primerica sales representative offers, which can drive or dampen recruiting. Consumer spending and borrowing levels affect how consumers evaluate their savings and debt management plans. In addition, interest rates and equity market returns impact consumer demand for the savings and investment products we distribute. Our

customers’ perception of the strength of the capital markets may influence their decisions to invest in the investment and savings products we distribute.

The financial and distribution results of our operations in Canada, as reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As a result, changes in the Canadian dollar exchange rate may significantly affect the result of our business for all amounts translated and reported in U.S. dollars. The effects of these trends and conditions are discussed below and in the Results of Operations section.

Size of our Independent Sales Force.

Our ability to increase the size of our independent sales force is largely based on the success of our independent sales force’s recruiting efforts as well as training and motivating recruits to become licensed to sell life insurance. We believe that recruitment and licensing levels are important to sales force trends, and growth in recruiting and licensing is usually indicative of future growth in the overall size of the sales force. Recruiting changes do not always result in commensurate changes in the size of our licensed independent sales force because new recruits may obtain the requisite licenses at rates above or below historical levels.

Details on new recruits and life-licensed sales representative activity were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
New recruits		76,146		90,210		228,896		239,466
New life-licensed sales representatives		11,715		12,783		36,989		36,633

New recruits decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 largely due to approximately 17,000 additional recruits from hurricane-affected areas in 2017 whose Independent Business Application (“IBA”) fees were waived in September 2017.

New life-licensed sales representatives decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, which followed recruiting levels in recent periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the number of new life-licensed sales representatives was consistent with the prior year period.

The size of our life-licensed independent sales force was as follows:

		September 30, 2018				June 30, 2018
Life-licensed sales representatives			130,658				130,156

The size of our life-licensed sales representatives remained consistent at September 30, 2018 compared to June 30, 2018 primarily as the number of new life-licensed representatives were offset by non-renewals during the third quarter of 2018.

Term Life Insurance Product Sales and Face Amount In Force.

The average number of life-licensed sales representatives and the number of term life insurance policies issued, as well as the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed sales representative (historically between 0.18 and 0.22), were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Average number of life-licensed sales representatives		130,370		122,960		128,444		120,000
Number of new policies issued		74,892		78,056		229,467		232,731
Average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed sales representative		0.19		0.21		0.20		0.22

New life insurance policies issued during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was lower versus the comparable periods in 2017 largely due to fluctuations in the productivity of the sales force between periods as the prior year periods benefited from strong productivity at the high end of our historical experience range. Productivity, measured by the average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed sales representative, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was below the comparable periods in 2017 but was within our historical experience range.

The changes in the face amount of our in-force book of term life insurance policies were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,												Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			% of beginning balance			2017			% of beginning balance			2018			% of beginning balance			2017			% of beginning balance
	(Dollars in millions)
Face amount in force, beginning of period	$	773,604					$	746,427					$	763,831					$	728,385
Net change in face amount:
Issued face amount		23,728			3	%		24,035			3	%		71,987			9	%		71,121			10	%
Terminations		(17,638	)		(2	)%		(16,331	)		(2	)%		(51,766	)		(7	)%		(48,029	)		(7	)%
Foreign currency		1,582		*				3,280		*				(2,776	)	*				5,934			1	%
Net change in face amount		7,672			1	%		10,984			1	%		17,445			2	%		29,026			4	%
Face amount in force, end of period	$	781,276					$	757,411					$	781,276					$	757,411

*	Less than 1%.

The face amount of term life policies in force increased 3% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as the level of face amount issued continued to exceed the face amount of terminations. As a percentage of the beginning face amount in force, issued face amount as well as terminated face amount during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 remained consistent with the comparable periods. The strengthening of the Canadian dollar spot rate relative to the U.S. dollar during the three months ended September 30, 2018 also contributed to the increase in face amount. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the effect of a stronger U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar reduced the translated face amount of existing policies in force and partially offset the overall increase in issued face amount when compared to the same periods in 2017.

Investment and Savings Products Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions.

Investment and savings products sales and average client asset values were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Change						Nine months ended September 30,				Change
	2018		2017		$			%			2018		2017		$			%
	(Dollars in millions)
Product sales:
Retail mutual funds	$	945	$	878	$	67			8	%	$	3,013	$	2,850	$	163			6	%
Annuities and other		583		366		217			59	%		1,531		1,243		288			23	%
Total sales-based revenue generating product sales		1,528		1,244		284			23	%		4,544		4,093		451			11	%
Managed investments		190		125		65			52	%		584		269		315			117	%
Segregated funds		44		62		(18	)		(29	)%		176		227		(51	)		(22	)%
Total product sales	$	1,762	$	1,431	$	331			23	%	$	5,304	$	4,589	$	715			16	%
Average client asset values:
Retail mutual funds	$	39,049	$	35,717	$	3,332			9	%	$	38,341	$	34,538	$	3,803			11	%
Annuities and other		18,718		17,230		1,488			9	%		18,388		16,730		1,658			10	%
Managed investments		3,179		2,246		933			42	%		2,949		2,095		854			41	%
Segregated funds		2,417		2,463		(46	)		(2	)%		2,443		2,390		53			2	%
Total average client asset values	$	63,363	$	57,656	$	5,707			10	%	$	62,121	$	55,753	$	6,368			11	%

The rollforward of asset values in client accounts was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,												Nine months ended September 30,
	2018			% of beginning balance			2017			% of beginning balance			2018			% of beginning balance			2017			% of beginning balance
	(Dollars in millions)
Asset values, beginning of period	$	61,777					$	56,591					$	61,167					$	52,339
Net change in asset values:
Inflows		1,762			3	%		1,431			3	%		5,304			9	%		4,589			9	%
Redemptions		(1,499	)		(2	)%		(1,257	)		(2	)%		(4,568	)		(7	)%		(3,841	)		(7	)%
Net inflows		263		*				174		*				736			1	%		748			1	%
Change in fair value, net		2,019			3	%		1,552			3	%		2,634			4	%		4,941			9	%
Foreign currency, net		174		*				354			1	%		(304	)	*				643			1	%
Net change in asset values		2,456			4	%		2,080			4	%		3,066			5	%		6,332			12	%
Asset values, end of period	$	64,233					$	58,671					$	64,233					$	58,671

*	Less than 1%.

Average number of fee-generating positions was as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Change						Nine months ended September 30,				Change
	2018		2017		Positions			%			2018		2017		Positions			%
	(Positions in thousands)
Average number of fee-generating positions ⁽¹⁾:
Recordkeeping and custodial		2,066		2,235		(169	)		(8	)%		2,094		2,230		(136	)		(6	)%
Recordkeeping only		657		678		(21	)		(3	)%		661		675		(14	)		(2	)%
Total average number of fee- generating positions		2,723		2,913		(190	)		(7	)%		2,755		2,905		(150	)		(5	)%

⁽¹⁾

We receive recordkeeping fees by mutual fund positions. An individual client account may include multiple mutual fund positions. We may also receive fees, which are earned on a per account basis, for custodial services that we provide to clients with retirement plan accounts that hold positions in these mutual funds.

Changes in Investment and Savings Products Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions during the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Product sales. Investment and savings products sales increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to higher variable annuity sales, reflecting enhanced product offerings by our product partners as well as a favorable market environment.

Average client asset values. Average client asset values increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to market appreciation and continued net positive inflows in recent periods.

Rollforward of client asset values. The increase in client asset values during the three months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily due to positive market performance during the third quarter of 2018 and continued inflows from product sales, which outpaced redemptions.

Average number of fee-generating positions. The average number of fee-generating positions decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the transition of our clients’ managed investments since the second quarter of 2017 from Freedom Portfolios, for which we earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees, to the Lifetime Investments Platform, for which we do not earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees.

Changes in Investment and Savings Products Sales, Asset Values and Accounts/Positions during the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Product sales. Investment and savings products sales increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to strong growth in managed investments as a result of the Lifetime Investments Platform that we launched in the second quarter of 2017 as well as higher variable annuity sales as discussed above in the three-month comparison. Higher retail mutual funds sales also contributed to the increase in product sales as strong market performance in recent periods positively contributed to consumer demand for retail mutual funds during 2018.

Average client asset values. Average client asset values increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting average client asset values as described above in the three-month comparison.

Rollforward of client asset values. Client asset values increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to the same factors impacting client asset values as discussed above in the three-month comparison.

Average number of fee-generating positions. The average number of fee-generating positions decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting average number of fee-generating positions as discussed above in the three-month comparison.

Other business trends and conditions.

Regulatory changes can also impact our product sales. On April 18, 2018, the SEC proposed (i) a new rule to establish a “best interest” standard of conduct for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer, (ii) new and amended rules and forms to require registered broker-dealers, investment advisers and their investment professionals to provide a relationship summary to retail investors, (iii) required disclosures in retail communications, (iv) new restrictions on the user of the term “adviser” or “advisor” by broker-dealers in specified circumstances; and (v) an SEC interpretation of the fiduciary standard of conduct for investment advisers (together, the “SEC Best Interest Proposal”). The SEC Regulatory Agenda now indicates that final action on the SEC Best Interest Proposal will be taken in September 2019. Similarly, in Canada, the organization of provincial and territorial securities regulators (“Canadian Securities Administrators” or “CSA”) published a notice requesting public comment on reforms to obligations of registered firms and individuals to enhance conflict of interest mitigation rules (“Client Focused Reforms”). Because of the uncertain status of the rules, we have not

determined the extent to which changes to our business would be necessary and are, therefore, unable to quantify the impact, if any, on our business, nor are we able to project the timing of the adoption of any such reforms or transition timeline.

On July 18, 2018, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) issued a final version of amendments to its suitability regulation for annuities (the “Amended Suitability Rule”), which adopts duties and obligations of insurers and insurance producers in the sale of life insurance, including term life insurance, in addition to annuities. Under the Amended Suitability Rule, the NYDFS requires firms and insurance representatives to ensure that transactions are suitable and consistent with the customer’s “best interest”. While the factors considered to satisfy suitability requirements for term life insurance are less onerous than for other products, the Amended Suitability Rule may necessitate changes to our term life insurance business in New York. The amended regulation will become effective for annuity products on August 1, 2019 and for life insurance products on February 1, 2020.

In Canada, on September 13, 2018, the CSA published for comment proposed amendments that would prohibit upfront sales commissions by fund companies for the sale of mutual funds offered under a prospectus. The CSA expects that the prohibition of upfront sales commissions by fund companies will eliminate the use of the mutual fund deferred sales charge compensation model, which is the primary model for the mutual funds we distribute in Canada. These proposed amendments follow the June 21, 2018 publication of the CSA’s policy decision on embedded commissions and its proposed Client Focused Reforms. Under proposed enhanced conflict of interest rules in the Client Focused Reforms, all embedded commissions would be considered conflicts that must be addressed in the best interests of clients or avoided. The proposed amendments are open for comment until December 13, 2018. If such rules are adopted, changes in compensation arrangements with the fund companies that offer the mutual fund products we distribute in Canada may be necessary.

Factors Affecting Our Results

Term Life Insurance Segment. Our Term Life Insurance segment results are primarily driven by sales volumes, how closely actual experience matches our pricing assumptions, terms and use of reinsurance, and expenses.

Sales and policies in force. Sales of term policies and the size and characteristics of our in-force book of policies are vital to our results over the long term. Premium revenue is recognized as it is earned over the term of the policy, and eligible acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized ratably with the level premiums of the underlying policies. However, because we incur significant cash outflows at or about the time policies are issued, including the payment of sales commissions and underwriting costs, changes in life insurance sales volume in a period will have a more immediate impact on our cash flows than on revenue and expense recognition in that period.

Historically, we have found that while sales volume of term life insurance products between fiscal periods may vary based on a variety of factors, the productivity of sales representatives generally remains within a relatively narrow range (i.e., an average monthly rate of new policies issued per life-licensed sales representative between 0.18 and 0.22), and consequently, our sales volume over the longer term generally correlates to the size of our independent sales force.

Pricing assumptions. Our pricing methodology is intended to provide us with appropriate profit margins for the risks we assume. We determine pricing classifications based on the coverage sought, such as the size and term of the policy, and certain policyholder attributes, such as age and health. In addition, we generally utilize unisex rates for our term life insurance policies. The pricing assumptions that underlie our rates are based upon our best estimates of mortality, persistency and interest rates at the time of issuance, sales force commission rates, issue and underwriting expenses, operating expenses and the characteristics of the insureds, including the distribution of sex, age, underwriting class, product and amount of coverage. Our results will be affected to the extent there is a variance between our pricing assumptions and actual experience.

•

Persistency. Persistency is a measure of how long our insurance policies stay in force. As a general matter, persistency that is lower than our pricing assumptions adversely affects our results over the long term because we lose the recurring revenue stream associated with the policies that lapse. Determining the near-term effects of changes in persistency is more complicated. When actual persistency is lower than our pricing assumptions, we must accelerate the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"). The resultant increase in amortization expense is offset by a corresponding release of reserves associated with lapsed policies, which causes a reduction in benefits and claims expense. The future policy benefit reserves associated with any given policy will change over the term of such policy. As a general matter, future policy benefit reserves are lowest at the inception of a policy term and rise steadily to a peak before declining to zero at the expiration of the policy term. Accordingly, depending on when the lapse occurs in relation to the overall policy term, the reduction in benefits and claims expense may be greater or less than the increase in amortization expense, and, consequently, the effects on earnings for a given period could be positive or negative. Persistency levels will impact results to the extent actual experience deviates from the persistency assumptions that are locked-in at time of issue.

•

Mortality. Our profitability will fluctuate to the extent actual mortality rates differ from the assumptions that are locked-in at time of issue. We mitigate a significant portion of our mortality exposure through reinsurance.

•

Interest Rates. We use an assumption for future interest rates that initially reflects the current low interest rate environment gradually increasing to a level consistent with historical experience. Both DAC and the future policy benefit reserve liability increase with the assumed interest rate. Since DAC is higher than the future policy benefit reserve liability

in the early years of a policy, a lower assumed interest rate generally will result in lower profits. In the later years, when the future policy benefit reserve liability is higher than DAC, a lower assumed interest rate generally will result in higher profits. These assumed interest rates, which like other pricing assumptions are locked-in at issue, impact the timing but not the aggregate amount of DAC and future policy benefit reserve changes. We allocate net investment income generated by the investment portfolio to the Term Life Insurance segment in an amount equal to the assumed net interest accreted to the segment’s U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”)-measured future policy benefit reserve liability less DAC. All remaining net investment income, and therefore the impact of actual interest rates, is attributed to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.

Reinsurance. We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. We have generally reinsured between 80% and 90% of the mortality risk on our term life insurance in force on a quota share yearly renewable term ("YRT") basis. To the extent actual mortality experience is more or less favorable than the contractual rate, the reinsurer will earn incremental profits or bear the incremental cost, as applicable. In contrast to coinsurance, which is intended to eliminate all risks (other than counterparty risk of the reinsurer) and rewards associated with a specified percentage of the block of policies subject to the reinsurance arrangement, the YRT reinsurance arrangements we enter into are intended only to reduce volatility associated with variances between estimated and actual mortality rates.

In 2010, as part of our corporate reorganization and the initial public offering of our common stock, we entered into significant coinsurance transactions (the "IPO coinsurance transactions") and ceded between 80% and 90% of the risks and rewards of our term life insurance policies that were in force at year-end 2009. We administer all policies subject to these coinsurance agreements. Beginning in 2017, policies reaching the end of their initial level term period are no longer ceded under the IPO coinsurance transactions.

The effect of our reinsurance arrangements on ceded premiums and benefits and expenses on our statement of income follows:

•

Ceded premiums. Ceded premiums are the premiums we pay to reinsurers. These amounts are deducted from the direct premiums we earn to calculate our net premium revenues. Similar to direct premium revenues, ceded coinsurance premiums remain level over the initial term of the insurance policy. Ceded YRT premiums increase over the period that the policy has been in force. Accordingly, ceded YRT premiums generally constitute an increasing percentage of direct premiums over the policy term.

•

Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims include incurred claim amounts and changes in future policy benefit reserves. Reinsurance reduces incurred claims in direct proportion to the percentage ceded. Coinsurance also reduces the change in future policy benefit reserves in direct proportion to the percentage ceded, while YRT reinsurance does not significantly impact the change in these reserves.

•

Amortization of DAC. DAC, and therefore amortization of DAC, is reduced on a pro-rata basis for the coinsured business, including the business reinsured with the IPO coinsurers. There is no impact on amortization of DAC associated with our YRT contracts.

•

Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses are reduced by the allowances received from coinsurance. There is no impact on insurance expenses associated with our YRT contracts.

We may alter our reinsurance practices at any time due to the unavailability of YRT reinsurance at attractive rates or the availability of alternatives to reduce our risk exposure. We presently intend to continue ceding approximately 90% of our U.S. and Canadian mortality risk on new business.

Expenses. Results are also affected by variances in client acquisition, maintenance and administration expense levels.

Investment and Savings Products Segment. Our Investment and Savings Products segment results are primarily driven by sales, the value of assets in client accounts for which we earn ongoing management, marketing and support, and distribution fees, and the number of transfer agent recordkeeping positions and non-bank custodial fee-generating accounts we administer.

Sales. We earn commissions and fees, such as dealer re-allowances and marketing and distribution fees, based on sales of mutual fund products and annuities. Sales of investment and savings products are influenced by the overall demand for investment products in the United States and Canada, as well as by the size and productivity of our independent sales force. We generally experience seasonality in our Investment and Savings Products segment results due to our high concentration of sales of retirement account products. These accounts are typically funded in February through April, coincident with our clients' tax return preparation season. While we believe the size of our independent sales force is a factor in driving sales volume in this segment, there are a number of other variables, such as economic and market conditions, which may have a significantly greater effect on sales volume in any given fiscal period.

Asset values in client accounts. We earn marketing and distribution fees (trail commissions or, with respect to U.S. mutual funds, 12b-1 fees) on mutual fund and annuity assets in the United States and Canada. In the United States, we also earn investment advisory and administrative fees on assets in managed investments. In Canada, we earn management fees on certain mutual fund assets and on the segregated funds for which we serve as investment manager. Asset values are influenced by new product sales, ongoing contributions to existing accounts, redemptions and the change in market values in existing accounts. While we offer a wide variety of asset classes and investment styles, our clients' accounts are primarily invested in equity funds.

Positions. We earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees for administrative functions we perform on behalf of several of our mutual fund providers. An individual client account may include multiple fund positions for which we earn transfer agent recordkeeping fees. We may also receive fees earned for non-bank custodial services that we provide to clients with retirement plan accounts.

Sales mix. While our investment and savings products all provide similar long-term economic returns to the Company, our results in a given fiscal period will be affected by changes in the overall mix of products within these categories. Examples of changes in the sales mix that influence our results include the following:

•

sales of annuity products in the United States will generate higher revenues in the period such sales occur than sales of other investment products that either generate lower upfront revenues or, in the case of managed investments and segregated funds, no upfront revenues;

•

sales of a higher proportion of managed investments and segregated funds products will spread the revenues generated over time because we earn higher revenues based on assets under management for these accounts each period as opposed to earning upfront revenues based on product sales; and

•

sales of a higher proportion of mutual fund products sold will impact the timing and amount of revenue we earn given the distinct transfer agent recordkeeping and non-bank custodial services we provide for certain mutual fund products we distribute.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment. We earn revenues and pay commissions and referral fees within our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment for various other insurance products, prepaid legal services and other financial products, all of which are originated by third parties. Our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes in-force policies from several discontinued lines of insurance underwritten by NBLIC.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment net investment income reflects actual net investment income recognized by the Company less the amount allocated to our Term Life Insurance segment based on the assumed net interest accreted to the segment’s U.S. GAAP-measured future policy benefit reserve liability less DAC. Actual net investment income reflected in the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment is impacted by the size and performance of our invested asset portfolio, which can be influenced by interest rates, credit spreads, and the mix of invested assets.

The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment also includes corporate income and expenses not allocated to our other segments, general and administrative expenses (other than expenses that are allocated to our Term Life Insurance or Investment and Savings Products segments), interest expense on notes payable, redundant reserve financing transactions and our revolving credit facility, as well as realized gains and losses on our invested asset portfolio.

Capital Structure. Our financial results are affected by our capital structure, which includes our senior unsecured notes (the “Senior Notes”) redundant reserve financing transactions, our revolving credit facility, and common stock. See Note 12 (Debt) and Note 7 (Stockholders’ Equity) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on changes in our capital structure.

Foreign Currency. The Canadian dollar is the functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries and our consolidated financial results, reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in the currency exchange rate. As such, the translated amount of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities attributable to our Canadian subsidiaries will be higher or lower in periods where the Canadian dollar appreciates or weakens relative to the U.S. dollar, respectively. See Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Canadian Currency Risk included in our 2017 Annual Report and Note 2 (Segment and Geographical Information) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more information on our Canadian subsidiaries and the impact of foreign currency on our financial results.

Income Taxes. The profitability of the Company and its subsidiaries is affected by income taxes assessed by federal, state, and territorial jurisdictions in the U.S. and federal and provincial jurisdictions in Canada. Changes in tax legislation, such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Reform Act”), impact the measurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities and the amount of income tax expense we incur.

The Tax Reform Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and included other tax reforms affecting business, such as allowable business deductions and international tax provisions. The decrease in the federal corporate tax rate will reduce the Company’s overall effective tax rate in 2018 and thereafter even after factoring in certain increases from other provisions introduced by the Tax Reform Act. The Company intends to use a portion of income tax savings that result from the Tax Reform Act to increase spending by approximately $10 million over 2017 levels on investments in our communities, people, and businesses (the “key constituent initiatives”).

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant

Accounting Policies) to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report. The most significant items on our condensed consolidated balance sheets are based on fair value determinations, accounting estimates and actuarial determinations, which are susceptible to changes in future periods and could affect our results of operations and financial position.

The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of our results of operations and financial position are those related to DAC, future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, income taxes, and the valuation of investments. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.

Accounting Policy Changes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, there have been no changes in the accounting methodology for items that we have identified as critical accounting estimates except for the recognition of changes in fair value for investment held in equity securities within our invested asset portfolio. Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10) – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the change in fair value (except for other-than-temporary impairment) on equity securities classified as available-for-sale was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the change in fair value on all investments in equity securities is recognized in net income and the available-for-sale classification for equity securities no longer remains. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $0.7 million pre-tax net gains and $0.7 million of pre-tax net losses, respectively, in realized investment gains (losses) for the change in fair value of our investments in equity securities that would have been recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01.

For additional information regarding our critical accounting estimates, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of MD&A included in our 2017 Annual Report.

Results of Operations

Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results. Our results of operations were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Change						Nine months ended September 30,						Change
	2018			2017			$			%			2018			2017			$			%
	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues:
Direct premiums	$	670,222		$	646,079		$	24,143			4	%	$	1,993,499		$	1,911,203		$	82,296			4	%
Ceded premiums		(391,175	)		(397,641	)		(6,466	)		(2	)%		(1,188,873	)		(1,203,452	)		(14,579	)		(1	)%
Net premiums		279,047			248,438			30,609			12	%		804,626			707,751			96,875			14	%
Commissions and fees		170,879			144,627			26,252			18	%		505,646			437,211			68,435			16	%
Investment income net of investment expenses		30,214			27,153			3,061			11	%		86,687			78,595			8,092			10	%
Interest expense on surplus note		(9,592	)		(7,231	)		2,361			33	%		(27,018	)		(19,037	)		7,981			42	%
Net investment income		20,622			19,922			700			4	%		59,669			59,558			111		*
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than-temporary impairment losses		(126	)		22			(148	)	*				(470	)		260			(730	)	*
Other, net		14,359			14,291			68		*				43,047			41,381			1,666			4	%
Total revenues		484,781			427,300			57,481			13	%		1,412,518			1,246,161			166,357			13	%

Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims		118,787			105,864			12,923			12	%		340,747			307,761			32,986			11	%
Amortization of DAC		59,534			53,384			6,150			12	%		173,546			153,094			20,452			13	%
Sales commissions		84,588			72,022			12,566			17	%		250,062			221,165			28,897			13	%
Insurance expenses		41,925			37,637			4,288			11	%		126,485			112,177			14,308			13	%
Insurance commissions		6,584			5,593			991			18	%		18,878			15,649			3,229			21	%
Interest expense		7,216			7,073			143			2	%		21,617			21,344			273			1	%
Other operating expenses		54,712			45,527			9,185			20	%		173,023			143,539			29,484			21	%
Total benefits and expenses		373,346			327,100			46,246			14	%		1,104,358			974,729			129,629			13	%
Income before income taxes		111,435			100,200			11,235			11	%		308,160			271,432			36,728			14	%
Income taxes		26,296			33,565			(7,269	)		(22	)%		70,610			89,619			(19,009	)		(21	)%
Net income	$	85,139		$	66,635		$	18,504			28	%	$	237,550		$	181,813		$	55,737			31	%

*	Less than 1% or not meaningful.

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Total revenues. Total revenues increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 driven by incremental premiums on term life insurance policies that are not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions. The run-off of business subject to these same transactions is reflected in the decline in ceded premiums. Additionally, higher direct premiums from

growth in new policy sales experienced in recent periods further contributed to the increase in net premiums. Commissions and fees from our Investment and Savings Products segment increased largely due to higher investment and savings product sales as well as growth in client asset values. Also contributing to the increase in commissions and fees was $6.5 million of higher account-based revenues primarily from revised contracts with a mutual fund provider and a service provider that expanded the scope of the Company’s transfer agent recordkeeping platform.

Investment income net of investment expenses includes interest earned on our held-to-maturity invested asset, which is completely offset by interest expense on surplus note, thereby eliminating any impact on net investment income. Amounts recognized for each line item will remain offsetting and will fluctuate from period to period along with the principal amounts of the held-to-maturity asset and the surplus note based on the balance of reserves being contractually supported under a redundant reserve financing transaction used by Vidalia Re, Inc. (“Vidalia Re Financing Transaction”). For more information on the Vidalia Re Financing Transaction, see Note 3 (Investments) and Note 12 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Net investment income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was generally consistent with the prior year periods largely due to the positive impact from a larger invested asset portfolio being mostly offset by lower portfolio yields and lower total return on the deposit asset backing the 10% coinsurance agreement that is subject to deposit method accounting.

Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 led by growth in premium-related costs, which include benefits and claims and amortization of DAC. Insurance expenses and other operating expenses increased reflecting higher costs of $5.7 million from our transfer agent recordkeeping services primarily due to the contract changes mentioned above, higher expenses of approximately $4 million from higher employee-related costs and other expenses incurred to support growth in the business, increased spending of $2.0 million on digital development, and $1.7 million of incremental spending on key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act. Sales commissions were generally consistent with increases in commissions and fees revenue.

Income taxes. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was 23.6%, down from 33.5% in the same period in 2017 primarily due to the impact of the Tax Reform Act. Refer to Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for information regarding the primary components impacting our effective tax rate during the current and prior year reporting periods.

Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Total revenues. Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting total revenues as discussed above in the three-month comparison. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, account-based revenues increased by $21.0 million versus the same period in 2017 primarily due to the revised transfer agent recordkeeping contracts mentioned above.

Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 mostly due to growth in premium-related costs, which include benefits and claims and amortization of DAC. Although benefits and claims increased in 2018 versus 2017, the rate of growth was slower than the rate of net premium growth as claims experience for the nine months ending September 30, 2018 was favorable to our historical trends by approximately $2 million, while negative claims experience impacted benefits and claims in the prior year period. Insurance expenses and other operating expenses increased $19.5 million due to higher costs in performing transfer agent recordkeeping services largely from the revised contracts discussed above. Expenses increased another $13.8 million from higher employee-related costs and other expenses incurred to support growth in the business. Also contributing to the year-over-year increase in insurance and other operating expenses was incremental spending of $4.0 million on digital development and $6.5 million of increased spending for key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act.

Income taxes. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 22.9%, down from 33.0% in the same period in 2017. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the same factors impacting income taxes as discussed above in the three-month comparison.

For additional information, see the Segment Results discussions below.

Segment Results

Term Life Insurance Segment Results. Our results for the Term Life Insurance segment were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Change						Nine months ended September 30,						Change
	2018			2017			$			%			2018			2017			$			%
	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues:
Direct premiums	$	663,183		$	638,830		$	24,353			4	%	$	1,973,054		$	1,889,695		$	83,359			4	%
Ceded premiums		(389,332	)		(395,772	)		(6,440	)		(2	)%		(1,183,579	)		(1,198,024	)		(14,445	)		(1	)%
Net premiums		273,851			243,058			30,793			13	%		789,475			691,671			97,804			14	%
Allocated investment income		3,506			2,527			979			39	%		9,841			7,177			2,664			37	%
Other, net		10,615			10,655			(40	)	*				31,943			30,345			1,598			5	%
Total revenues		287,972			256,240			31,732			12	%		831,259			729,193			102,066			14	%
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims		113,988			101,351			12,637			12	%		328,574			294,653			33,921			12	%
Amortization of DAC		56,904			50,386			6,518			13	%		164,834			145,456			19,378			13	%
Insurance expenses		39,807			36,086			3,721			10	%		120,045			106,734			13,311			12	%
Insurance commissions		2,936			1,874			1,062			57	%		8,019			4,929			3,090			63	%
Total benefits and expenses		213,635			189,697			23,938			13	%		621,472			551,772			69,700			13	%
Income before income taxes	$	74,337		$	66,543		$	7,794			12	%	$	209,787		$	177,421		$	32,366			18	%

* Less than 1%

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Net premiums. Direct premiums increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to growth in new policy sales experienced in recent periods that have contributed to growth in the in-force book of business. The decline in ceded premiums includes $16.4 million in lower coinsurance ceded premiums due to the run-off of business subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions, partially offset by $9.9 million in higher non-level YRT reinsurance ceded premiums as business not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions ages. The continued impact from the increase in direct premiums combined with the reduction in ceded premiums caused net premiums to grow at a higher rate than direct premiums.

Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 primarily due to the growth in net premiums. Claims experience, which was favorable for both the current and prior year periods, positively impacted benefits and claims by approximately $2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

Amortization of DAC. The amortization of DAC increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to growth in net premiums. Persistency during the third quarter of 2018 was in-line with the prior year period.

Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to $2.1 million in spending on digital development and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act, as well as higher expenditures of $1.6 million to support growth in the business. The increase in insurance expenses reflects approximately $1 million of lower retaliatory premium taxes and representative licensing fees incurred due to changing the state of domicile of Primerica Life to Tennessee in December 2017.

Insurance commissions. Insurance commissions increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to higher non-deferred commissions on new business in 2018 largely due to revisions in the sales force equity program, which changed the timing of expense recognition, but not the economics of the program.

Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Net premiums. Net premiums increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 mostly due to the same trends impacting net premiums as discussed above in the three-month comparison. Ceded premiums decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 versus the comparable period in 2017 as lower coinsurance ceded premiums from the run-off of business subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions of $47.3 million were partially offset by higher non-level YRT reinsurance ceded premiums of $32.8 million.

Benefits and claims. Benefits and claims increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, although at a slower rate than the increase in net premiums, primarily due to claims experience as discussed earlier in “Total benefits and expenses” under the consolidated “Primerica, Inc. and Subsidiaries Results” section.

Amortization of DAC. Amortization of DAC increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting amortization of DAC as discussed above in the three-month comparison.

Insurance expenses. Insurance expenses increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to $6.1 million in spending on digital development and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act, as well as higher expenditures of $7.2 million to support growth in the business. The increase in insurance expenses reflects approximately $3 million of lower retaliatory premium taxes and representative licensing fees incurred due to changing the state of domicile of Primerica Life to Tennessee in December 2017.

Insurance commissions. Insurance commissions increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting insurance commissions as discussed above in the three-month comparison.

Investment and Savings Products Segment Results. Investment and Savings Products segment results were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,				Change						Nine months ended September 30,				Change
	2018		2017		$			%			2018		2017		$		%
	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues:
Commissions and fees:
Sales-based revenues	$	64,181	$	53,488	$	10,693			20	%	$	192,949	$	174,697	$	18,252		10	%
Asset-based revenues		78,318		70,279		8,039			11	%		228,640		202,176		26,464		13	%
Account-based revenues		20,306		13,811		6,495			47	%		61,339		40,310		21,029		52	%
Other, net		2,464		2,480		(16	)		(1	)%		7,223		7,056		167		2	%
Total revenues		165,269		140,058		25,211			18	%		490,151		424,239		65,912		16	%
Expenses:
Amortization of DAC		2,349		2,780		(431	)		(16	)%		7,870		6,824		1,046		15	%
Insurance commissions		3,193		3,219		(26	)		(1	)%		9,525		9,227		298		3	%
Sales commissions:
Sales-based		45,634		38,338		7,296			19	%		137,797		124,800		12,997		10	%
Asset-based		34,813		30,220		4,593			15	%		100,646		86,815		13,831		16	%
Other operating expenses		34,228		26,451		7,777			29	%		106,048		80,719		25,329		31	%
Total expenses		120,217		101,008		19,209			19	%		361,886		308,385		53,501		17	%
Income before income taxes	$	45,052	$	39,050	$	6,002			15	%	$	128,265	$	115,854	$	12,411		11	%

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 driven by strong investment and savings product sales fueled by investor demand for variable annuity and mutual fund products. Also contributing to the increase in commissions and fees was growth in asset-based revenues largely reflecting higher average client asset values driven by favorable market performance and growth in managed account sales. Account-based revenues increased by $6.5 million primarily due to revised contracts with a mutual fund provider and a service provider that expanded the scope of the Company’s transfer agent recordkeeping platform beginning in 2018. The increase in account-based revenues from this contract, while partially offset by higher other operating expenses incurred to service this contract, contributed $0.9 million to income before income taxes during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

Amortization of DAC. Amortization of DAC decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to favorable market performance of the funds underlying our Canadian segregated funds product in the third quarter of 2018 versus 2017.

Sales commissions. The increases in sales- and asset-based commissions for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 were generally consistent with the increases in sales and asset-based revenues, respectively. When considering that asset-based expenses for our Canadian segregated funds were reflected within insurance commissions and amortization of DAC, the increase in asset-based commissions in the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period was consistent with the increase in asset-based revenues excluding the Canadian segregated funds.

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 reflecting higher expenses of $5.7 million from our transfer agent recordkeeping services primarily due to the contract changes mentioned above and approximately $2 million of other expenses due to higher spending to support growth in the business, digital development, and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act.

Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the same factors impacting commissions and fees as discussed above in the three-month comparison. Account-based revenues increased by $21.0 million primarily due to the revised transfer agent recordkeeping contracts mentioned above. The increase in account-based revenues from this contract, while partially offset by higher other operating

expenses incurred to service this contract, contributed $1.7 million to income before income taxes during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Amortization of DAC. Amortization of DAC increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to unfavorable year-over-year market performance of the funds underlying our Canadian segregated funds product in the first quarter of 2018, partially offset by lower DAC amortization due to the positive impact of favorable year-over-year market performance in the second and third quarters of 2018.

Sales commissions. The increase in sales- and asset-based commissions during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was relatively consistent with the growth in sales- and asset-based revenues, respectively. When considering that asset-based expenses for our Canadian segregated funds were reflected within insurance commissions and amortization of DAC, the increase in asset-based commissions in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period was consistent with the increase in asset-based revenues excluding the Canadian segregated funds.

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to $19.5 million of higher costs in performing transfer agent recordkeeping services largely from the revised contracts discussed above, increased expenses of $4.1 million to support growth in the business, and $1.7 million of spending related to digital development and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Results. Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment results were as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Change						Nine months ended September 30,						Change
	2018			2017			$			%			2018			2017			$			%
	(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues:
Direct premiums	$	7,039		$	7,249		$	(210	)		(3	)%	$	20,445		$	21,508		$	(1,063	)		(5	)%
Ceded premiums		(1,843	)		(1,869	)		(26	)		(1	)%		(5,294	)		(5,428	)		(134	)		(2	)%
Net premiums		5,196			5,380			(184	)		(3	)%		15,151			16,080			(929	)		(6	)%
Commissions and fees		8,074			7,049			1,025			15	%		22,718			20,028			2,690			13	%
Allocated investment income net of investment expenses		26,708			24,626			2,082			8	%		76,846			71,418			5,428			8	%
Interest expense on surplus note		(9,592	)		(7,231	)		2,361			33	%		(27,018	)		(19,037	)		7,981			42	%
Allocated net investment income		17,116			17,395			(279	)		(2	)%		49,828			52,381			(2,553	)		(5	)%
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses		(126	)		22			(148	)	*				(470	)		260			(730	)	*
Other, net		1,280			1,156			124			11	%		3,881			3,980			(99	)		(2	)%
Total revenues		31,540			31,002			538			2	%		91,108			92,729			(1,621	)		(2	)%
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims		4,799			4,513			286			6	%		12,173			13,108			(935	)		(7	)%
Amortization of DAC		281			218			63			29	%		842			814			28			3	%
Insurance expenses		2,118			1,551			567			37	%		6,440			5,443			997			18	%
Insurance commissions		455			500			(45	)		(9	)%		1,334			1,493			(159	)		(11	)%
Sales commissions		4,141			3,464			677			20	%		11,619			9,550			2,069			22	%
Interest expense		7,216			7,073			143			2	%		21,617			21,344			273			1	%
Other operating expenses		20,484			19,076			1,408			7	%		66,975			62,820			4,155			7	%
Total benefits and expenses		39,494			36,395			3,099			9	%		121,000			114,572			6,428			6	%
Loss before income taxes	$	(7,954	)	$	(5,393	)	$	2,561			47	%	$	(29,892	)	$	(21,843	)	$	8,049			37	%

*	Less than 1% or not meaningful.

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Total revenues. Total revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased slightly as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to the increase in commissions and fees from other distributed products. The most notable driver of the increase in commissions and fees was the cumulative effect of slightly higher sales of various other distributed product offerings.

The application of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 did not result in any material changes to the revenue recognized for commissions and fees associated with other distributed products as discussed in Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Total benefits and expenses. Total benefits and expenses increased during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to approximately $1 million of other operating expenses related to digital

development and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act, along with increased sales commissions incurred for higher other distributed product sales discussed in the three-month comparison.

Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Total revenues. Total revenues decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 largely due to the decline in allocated net investment income, which is a function of allocating more consolidated net investment income to the Term Life segment given the rise in its U.S. GAAP-measured future policy benefit reserves. Also contributing to the decrease in total revenues was a decline in net premiums due to the run-off of the closed blocks of business issued by NBLIC. These decreases in total revenues were partially offset by an increase in commissions and fees from other distributed products mostly reflecting higher sales of an ancillary product added to our other distributed product offerings since the prior year reporting period began.

Total benefits and expenses. The increase in total benefits and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period was primarily due to approximately $3 million in spending on digital development and key constituent initiatives with savings from the Tax Reform Act, higher sales commissions of $2.1 million due to higher commission and fees revenues, and higher employee-related expenses of approximately $2 million.

Financial Condition

Investments. Our insurance business is primarily focused on selling term life insurance, which does not include an investment component for the policyholder. The invested asset portfolio funded by premiums from our term life insurance business does not involve the substantial asset accumulations and spread requirements that exist with other non-term life insurance products. As a result, the profitability of our term life insurance business is not as sensitive to the impact that interest rates have on our invested asset portfolio and investment income as the profitability of other companies that distribute non-term life insurance products.

We follow a conservative investment strategy designed to emphasize the preservation of our invested assets and provide adequate liquidity for the prompt payment of claims. To meet business needs and mitigate risks, our investment guidelines provide restrictions on our portfolio’s composition, including limits on asset type, per issuer limits, credit quality limits, portfolio duration, limits on the amount of investments in approved countries and permissible security types. We also manage and monitor our allocation of investments to limit the accumulation of any disproportionate concentrations of risk among industry sectors or issuer countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. In addition, as of September 30, 2018, we did not hold any country of issuer concentrations outside of the U.S. or Canada that represented more than 5% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio or any industry concentrations of corporate bonds that represented more than 10% of the fair value of our available-for-sale invested asset portfolio.

We invest a portion of our portfolio in assets denominated in Canadian dollars to support our Canadian operations. Additionally, to ensure adequate liquidity for payment of claims, we take into account the maturity and duration of our invested asset portfolio and our general liability profile.

We also hold within our invested asset portfolio a credit enhanced note (“LLC Note”) issued by a limited liability company owned by a third-party service provider which is classified as a held-to-maturity security. The LLC Note, which is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030, was obtained in exchange for the Surplus Note of equal principal amount issued by Vidalia Re. For more information on the LLC Note, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

We have an investment committee composed of members of our senior management team that is responsible for establishing and maintaining our investment guidelines and supervising our investment activity. Our investment committee regularly monitors our overall investment results and our compliance with our investment objectives and guidelines. We use a third-party investment advisor to assist us in the management of our investing activities. Our investment advisor reports to our investment committee.

Our invested asset portfolio is subject to a variety of risks, including risks related to general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit and default risk. Investment guideline restrictions have been established to minimize the effect of these risks but may not always be effective due to factors beyond our control. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. A significant increase in interest rates could result in significant losses, realized or unrealized, in the value of our invested asset portfolio. Additionally, with respect to some of our investments, we are subject to prepayment and, therefore, reinvestment risk.

Details on asset mix (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:

	September 30, 2018	December 31, 2017
Average rating of our fixed-maturity portfolio	A	A
Average duration of our fixed-maturity portfolio	3.7 years	3.8 years
Average book yield of our fixed-maturity portfolio	3.88%	3.97%

The distribution of our investments in fixed-maturity securities (excluding our held-to-maturity security) by rating, including those

classified as trading securities, were as follows:

	September 30, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Amortized cost		%			Amortized cost ⁽¹⁾		%
	(Dollars in thousands)
AAA	$	448,143		22	%	$	360,622		19	%
AA		216,206		11	%		158,574		8	%
A		451,553		22	%		417,047		22	%
BBB		857,331		42	%		875,846		47	%
Below investment grade		55,688		3	%		66,136		4	%
Not rated		3,593	*				3,901	*
Total	$	2,032,514		100	%	$	1,882,126		100	%

⁽¹⁾	Includes trading securities at fair value and available-for-sale securities at amortized cost.

*	Less than 1%.

The ten largest holdings within our fixed-maturity invested asset portfolio (excluding our held-to-maturity security) were as follows:

	September 30, 2018
Issuer	Fair value			Amortized cost			Unrealized gain (loss)			Credit rating
	(Dollars in thousands)
Government of Canada	$	24,430		$	24,524		$	(94	)	AAA
Province of Quebec Canada		13,432			12,904			528		AA-
Province of British Columbia Canada		11,966			12,047			(81	)	AAA
Province of Alberta Canada		11,324			11,396			(72	)	A+
Province of Ontario Canada		11,122			10,994			128		A+
Wells Fargo & Co		10,898			10,901			(3	)	A-
Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia		10,504			10,692			(188	)	AAA
Comcast Corp		10,405			10,510			(105	)	A-
City of Toronto Canada		9,385			9,538			(153	)	AA
AT&T Inc.		9,350			8,778			572		BBB+
Total – ten largest holdings	$	122,816		$	122,284		$	532
Total – fixed-maturity securities	$	2,026,855		$	2,032,514
Percent of total fixed-maturity securities		6	%		6	%

For additional information on our invested asset portfolio, see Note 3 (Investments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Dividends and other payments to the Parent Company from its subsidiaries are our principal sources of cash. The amount of dividends paid by the subsidiaries is dependent on their capital needs to fund future growth and applicable regulatory restrictions. The primary uses of funds by the Parent Company include the payments of stockholder dividends, interest on notes payable, general operating expenses, and income taxes, as well as repurchases of common shares outstanding. At September 30, 2018, the Parent Company had cash and invested assets of $96.2 million.

The Parent Company’s subsidiaries generate operating cash flows primarily from term life insurance premiums (net of premiums ceded to reinsurers), income from invested assets, commissions and fees collected from the distribution of investment and savings products as well as other financial products. The subsidiaries' principal operating cash outflows include the payment of insurance claims and benefits (net of ceded claims recovered from reinsurers), commissions to our independent sales force, insurance and other operating expenses, interest expense for future policy benefit reserves financing transactions, and income taxes.

The distribution and underwriting of term life insurance requires upfront cash outlays at the time the policy is issued as we pay a substantial majority of the sales commission during the first year following the sale of a policy and incur costs for underwriting activities at the inception of a policy’s term. During the early years of a policy's term, we generally receive level term premiums in excess of claims paid. We invest the excess cash generated during earlier policy years in fixed-maturity and equity securities held in support of future policy benefit reserves. In later policy years, cash received from the maturity or sale of invested assets is used to pay claims in excess of level term premiums received.

Historically, cash flows generated by our businesses, primarily from our existing block of term life policies and our investment and savings products, have provided us with sufficient liquidity to meet our operating requirements. We anticipate that cash flows from our businesses will continue to provide sufficient operating liquidity over the next 12 months. We do not expect our after tax cash flows to change significantly as a result of the Tax Reform Act given that lower tax payments caused by the reduction of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018 will be largely offset by provisions in the Tax Reform Act that

extend the time period for which we are able to realize tax deductions for deferred acquisition costs and policy reserves from our insurance businesses.

We may seek to enhance our liquidity position or capital structure through borrowings from third-party sources, sales of debt or equity securities, reserve financings or some combination of these sources. Additionally, we believe that cash flows from our businesses and potential sources of funding will sufficiently support our long-term liquidity needs.

Cash Flows. The components of the change in cash and cash equivalents were as follows:

	Nine months ended September 30,						Change
	2018			2017			$
	(In thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	285,280		$	209,799		$	75,481
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(132,123	)		(79,240	)		(52,883	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(206,805	)		(166,257	)		(40,548	)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash		(936	)		1,140			(2,076	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	$	(54,584	)	$	(34,558	)	$	(20,026	)

Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 versus the nine months ended September 30, 2017 driven by growth in cash receipts from the collection of premium revenues in excess of benefits and claims paid in our Term Life Insurance segment. The impact of direct premium growth and the additional layering of net premiums from term life insurance policies not subject to the IPO coinsurance transactions has continued to generate positive incremental cash. In addition, the timing effect of when cash payments to reinsurers are due for ceded premiums in the current year period versus the prior year period contributed to the increase in operating cash flows in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Investing Activities. The largest item affecting the increase in cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 versus the comparable period in 2017 was the higher use of cash in the current period to purchase investments in fixed-maturity securities as the size of our investment portfolio continued to grow along with the growth of our in-force term life business. These purchases were partially offset by an increase in fixed-maturity investments that matured during the first nine months of 2018 versus the comparable period in the prior year.

Financing Activities. The increase in cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to higher repurchases of common stock on a year-over-year basis under the larger share repurchase program in place during 2018 versus 2017.

Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”). The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has established RBC standards for U.S. life insurers, as well as a risk-based capital model act (the “RBC Model Act”) that has been adopted by the insurance regulatory authorities. The RBC Model Act requires that life insurers annually submit a report to state regulators regarding their RBC based upon four categories of risk: asset risk; insurance risk; interest rate risk and business risk. The capital requirement for each is determined by applying factors that vary based upon the degree of risk to various asset, premiums and policy benefit reserve items. The formula is an early warning tool to identify possible weakly capitalized companies for purposes of initiating further regulatory action.

Although the Tax Reform Act in the United States lowered our calculated RBC ratio as of September 30, 2018, our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries still maintain statutory capital and surplus substantially in excess of the applicable regulatory requirements and remain well positioned to support existing operations and fund future growth.

In Canada, an insurer’s minimum capital requirement is overseen by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”) and determined as the sum of the capital requirements for five categories of risk: asset default risk; mortality/morbidity/lapse risks; changes in interest rate environment risk; segregated funds risk; and foreign exchange risk. As of September 30, 2018, Primerica Life Canada was in compliance with Canada’s minimum capital requirements as determined by OSFI.

Redundant Reserve Financings. The Model Regulation entitled Valuation of Life Insurance Policies, commonly known as Regulation XXX, requires insurers to carry statutory policy benefit reserves for term life insurance policies with long-term premium guarantees which are often significantly in excess of the future policy benefit reserves that insurers deem necessary to satisfy claim obligations (“redundant policy benefit reserves”). Accordingly, many insurance companies have sought ways to reduce their capital needs by financing redundant policy benefit reserves through bank financing, reinsurance arrangements and other financing transactions.

We have established Peach Re, Inc. ("Peach Re") and Vidalia Re as special purpose financial captive insurance companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of Primerica Life. Primerica Life has ceded certain term life policies issued prior to 2011 to Peach Re as part of a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction (the “Peach Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction”) and has ceded certain term life policies issued in 2011 through 2016 to Vidalia Re as part of a Regulation XXX redundant reserve financing transaction (the “Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction”). These redundant reserve financing transactions allow us to more efficiently manage and deploy our capital.

The NAIC has adopted a model regulation for determining reserves using a principle-based approach (“principle-based reserves” or “PBR”), which is designed to reflect each insurer’s own experience in calculating reserves and move away from a standardized reserving formula. Primerica Life adopted PBR during the first quarter of 2018. Prior to the adoption of PBR, premiums for U.S. policies were guaranteed to remain level for the initial term period up to a maximum of 20 years. The adoption of PBR facilitated extending the premium guarantees for Primerica Life for the entire initial term period for new sales. The new principle-based reserve regulation will significantly reduce the statutory policy benefit reserve requirements, but will only apply for business issued after the effective date. As a result, we expect that the adoption of PBR will significantly reduce the need to engage in future redundant reserve financing transactions for business issued after the effective date. See Note 4 (Investments), Note 10 (Debt) and Note 16 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report for more information on these redundant reserve financing transactions.

Notes Payable. The Company has $375.0 million of publicly-traded, Senior Notes outstanding issued at a price of 99.843% with an annual interest rate of 4.75%, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15. The Senior Notes mature July 15, 2022.

We were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes at September 30, 2018. No events of default(s) occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Rating Agencies. On July 30, 2018, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded its credit rating for Primerica, Inc.’s Senior Notes to Baa1, stable outlook from Baa2, positive outlook and upgraded its financial strength rating for Primerica Life to A1, stable outlook from A2, positive outlook. There have been no other changes to Primerica, Inc.'s Senior Notes ratings or Primerica Life's financial strength ratings since December 31, 2017.

Short-Term Borrowings. We had no short-term borrowings as of or during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Surplus Note. Vidalia Re issued the Surplus Note in exchange for the LLC Note as a part of the Vidalia Re Redundant Reserve Financing Transaction. The Surplus Note has a principal amount equal to the LLC Note and is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2030. For more information on the Surplus Note, see Note 12 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We have no transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements to which an entity unconsolidated with the Company is a party, under which the Company maintains any off-balance sheet obligations or guarantees as of September 30, 2018.

Credit Facility Agreement. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") with a syndicate of commercial banks that has a scheduled termination date of December 19, 2022. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a periodic rate equal to LIBOR or the base rate, plus in either case an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for LIBOR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.125% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.125% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.125% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, no amounts have been drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. Furthermore, no events of default have occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Contractual Obligations Update. There has been no material changes in contractual obligations from those disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this report as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements made by our officials during our presentations are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “will be”, “will continue”, “will likely result”, and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, and “could.” In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve external risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” included herein.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of our management team. All forward-looking statements in this report and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:

•

our failure to continue to attract new recruits, retain sales representatives or license or maintain the licensing of our sales representatives would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

there are a number of laws and regulations that could apply to our distribution model, which could require us to modify our distribution structure;

•

there may be adverse tax, legal or financial consequences if the independent contractor status of our sales representatives is overturned;

•

the Company’s or its independent sales representatives' violation of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations and related claims and proceedings could expose us to material liabilities;

•

any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information could adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

we may face significant losses if our actual experience differs from our expectations regarding mortality or persistency;

•

the occurrence of a catastrophic event could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

our insurance business is highly regulated, and statutory and regulatory changes may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

a decline in the regulatory capital ratios of our insurance subsidiaries could result in increased scrutiny by insurance regulators and ratings agencies and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

a significant ratings downgrade by a ratings organization could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

the failure by any of our reinsurers or reserve financing counterparties to perform its obligations to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

our Investment and Savings Products segment is heavily dependent on mutual fund and annuity products offered by a relatively small number of companies, and, if these products fail to remain competitive with other investment options or we lose our relationship with one or more of these companies, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected;

•

the Company’s or its securities-licensed sales representatives' violations of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations could expose us to material liabilities;

•

if heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements, such as those proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, those adopted by the Department of Labor, and those proposed or adopted by other state legislatures or regulators, are imposed on us or our sales representatives, or selling compensation is reduced as a result of new legislation or regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

if our suitability policies and procedures were deemed inadequate, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

•

our sales force support tools may fail to appropriately identify financial needs or suitable investment products;

•

non-compliance with applicable regulations could lead to revocation of our subsidiary's status as a non-bank custodian;

•

as our securities sales increase, we become more sensitive to performance of the equity markets;

•

if one of our significant information technology systems fails, if its security is compromised, or if the Internet becomes disabled or unavailable, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected;

•

the current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to cybersecurity may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

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in the event of a disaster, our business continuity plan may not be sufficient, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

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credit deterioration in, and the effects of interest rate fluctuations on, our invested asset portfolio and other assets that are subject to changes in credit quality and interest rates could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

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valuation of our investments and the determination of whether a decline in the fair value of our invested assets is other-than-temporary are based on estimates that may prove to be incorrect;

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changes in accounting standards can be difficult to predict and could adversely impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations;

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the effects of economic down cycles could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

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we are subject to various federal, state and provincial laws and regulations in the United States and Canada, changes in which or violations of which may require us to alter our business practices and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

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litigation and regulatory investigations and actions may result in financial losses and harm our reputation;

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the current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to financial services may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

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the inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or other payments to us in sufficient amounts would impede our ability to meet our obligations and return capital to our stockholders;

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a significant change in the competitive environment in which we operate could negatively affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share and profitability;

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the loss of key employees and sales force leaders could negatively affect our financial results and impair our ability to implement our business strategy;

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we may be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations in the United States dollar versus the Canadian dollar; and

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the market price of our common stock may fluctuate.

Developments in any of these areas could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected or cause a significant reduction in the market price of our common stock.

The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties may not contain all of the risks and uncertainties that could affect us. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this report may not in fact occur. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

There have been no material changes in our exposures to market risk since December 31, 2017. For details on the Company's interest rate, foreign currency exchange, and credit risks, see "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks" in our 2017 Annual Report.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s 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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

We are involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. Additional information regarding certain legal proceedings to which we are a party is described under “Contingent Liabilities” in Note 10 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and such information is incorporated herein by reference. As of the date of this report, we do not believe any pending legal proceeding to which Primerica or any of its subsidiaries is a party is required to be disclosed pursuant to this item.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

The following supplements and amends the Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference.

If heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements, such as those proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and those proposed or adopted by state legislatures or regulators or Canadian securities

regulators, are imposed on us or our sales representatives, or selling compensation is reduced as a result of new legislation or regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our U.S. sales representatives are subject to federal and state regulation as well as state licensing requirements. PFS Investments, which is regulated as a broker-dealer, and our U.S. sales representatives are currently subject to general anti-fraud limitations under the Exchange Act and SEC rules and regulations, as well as other conduct standards prescribed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). These standards generally require that broker-dealers and their sales representatives disclose conflicts of interest that might affect the advice or recommendations they provide and require them to make suitable investment recommendations to their customers. On April 18, 2018, the SEC proposed (i) a new rule to establish a “best interest” standard of conduct for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer, (ii) new and amended rules and forms to require registered broker-dealers, investment advisers and their investment professionals to provide a relationship summary to retail investors, (iii) required disclosures in retail communications, (iv) new restrictions on the user of the term “adviser” or “advisor” by broker-dealers in specified circumstances; and (v) an SEC interpretation of the fiduciary standard of conduct for investment advisers (together, the “SEC Best Interest Proposal”). The SEC Regulatory Agenda now indicates that final action on the SEC Best Interest Proposal will be taken in September 2019. Similarly, in Canada, the organization of provincial and territorial securities regulators (“Canadian Securities Administrators” or “CSA”) published a notice requesting public comment on reforms to obligations of registered firms and individuals to enhance conflict of interest mitigation rules (“Client Focused Reforms”).

On July 18, 2018, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) issued a final version of amendments to its suitability regulation for annuities (the “Amended Suitability Rule”), which adopts duties and obligations of insurers and insurance producers in the sale of life insurance, including term life insurance, and annuities. Under the Amended Suitability Rule, the NYDFS requires firms and insurance representatives to ensure that transactions are suitable and consistent with the customer’s “best interest”. While the factors considered to satisfy suitability requirements for term life insurance are less onerous than for other products, the Amended Suitability Rule may necessitate changes to our term life insurance business in New York. The amended regulation will become effective for annuity products on August 1, 2019 and for life insurance products on February 1, 2020.

Heightened standards of conduct or restrictions on compensation as a result of any of the above items or other similar proposed rules or regulations could also increase the compliance and regulatory burdens on our representatives and could lead to increased litigation and regulatory risks, changes to our business model, a decrease in the number of our licensed representatives and a reduction in the products we offer to our clients, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we repurchased shares of our common stock as follows:

Period	Total number of shares purchased ⁽¹⁾		Average price paid per share ⁽¹⁾		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs		Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs ⁽²⁾
July 1 - 31, 2018		162,797	$	106.66		146,979	$	125,620,736
August 1 - 31, 2018		124,636		115.30		117,585		111,998,514
September 1 - 30, 2018		35,682		120.39		35,336		107,744,766
Total		323,115	$	111.51		299,900	$	107,744,766

⁽¹⁾

Consists of (a) repurchases and withholdings of 23,215 shares at an average price of $107.25 arising from share-based compensation tax withholdings and shares retained to cover the strike price of exercised options, and (b) open market repurchases of shares under the share repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors.

⁽²⁾	On February 6, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program for up to $275.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases through June 30, 2019.

For information regarding year-to-date share repurchases, refer to Note 7 (Stockholders' Equity) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

The agreements included as exhibits to this report are included to provide you with information regarding the terms of these agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company or its subsidiaries, our business or the other parties to these agreements. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:

•

should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;

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have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the application agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;

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may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to our investors; and

•

were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.

Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Exhibit Number	Description	Reference
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer.	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Alison S. Rand, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
32.1	Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350), executed by Glenn J. Williams, Chief Executive Officer, and Alison S. Rand, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document(1)	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase	Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this Annual Report.

⁽¹⁾

Includes the following materials contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNATURES

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.

	Primerica, Inc.

November 7, 2018	/s/ Alison S. Rand
	Alison S. Rand
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)