form10q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
___________________

x   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

or

o   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:  000-16509

CITIZENS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
Colorado
 
84-0755371
 
 
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
         
 
400 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX
 
78752
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 

 
(512) 837-7100
 
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
N/A
 
(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.  x Yes   o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).   x Yes   o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  o    Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  o Yes   x No

As of May 1, 2012, the Registrant had 48,962,938 shares of Class A common stock, no par value, outstanding and 1,001,714 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.



 
 

 



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Part I. Financial Information
Page
Number
  Item 1.   Financial Statements  
         
     
2
         
     
4
         
     
5
         
     
7
         
 
Item 2.
 
25
         
 
Item 3.
 
43
         
 
Item 4.
 
44
         
Part II. Other Information  
         
  Item 1.   Legal Proceedings 44
         
  Item 1A.   Risk Factors 45 
         
  Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 45
         
  Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities 45
         
  Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures 45
         
  Item 5.   Other Information 45
         
  Item 6.   Exhibits 46
 
 
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(In thousands)
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2012
   
2011
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(As adjusted)
 
Investments:
           
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost:  $466,828 and $484,809 in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
  $ 497,977       514,253  
Fixed maturities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value:  $242,383 and $230,093 in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
    239,040       227,500  
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost:  $45,397 and $45,599 in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
    46,723       46,137  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    1,546       1,557  
Policy loans
    40,170       39,090  
Real estate held for investment (less $1,184 and $1,149 accumulated depreciation in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
    8,574       8,539  
Other long-term investments
    112       105  
Short-term investments
    2,030       2,048  
Total investments
    836,172       839,229  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
    61,096       33,255  
Accrued investment income
    8,853       7,787  
Reinsurance recoverable
    9,594       9,562  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    126,333       124,542  
Cost of customer relationships acquired
    27,373       27,945  
Goodwill
    17,160       17,160  
Other intangible assets
    899       906  
Federal income tax receivable
    -       901  
Property and equipment, net
    7,810       7,860  
Due premiums, net (less $1,598 and $1,698 allowance for doubtful accounts in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
    8,671       9,169  
Prepaid expenses
    1,234       396  
Other assets
    852       800  
Total assets
  $ 1,106,047       1,079,512  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
(Continued)

 
2

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(In thousands, except share amounts)


   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
2012
   
2011
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(As adjusted)
 
Liabilities:
           
Policy liabilities:
       
 
 
Future policy benefit reserves:
           
Life insurance
  $ 711,148       697,502  
Annuities
    48,119       47,060  
Accident and health
    5,556       5,612  
Dividend accumulations
    10,864       10,601  
Premiums paid in advance
    26,276       25,291  
Policy claims payable
    9,070       10,020  
Other policyholders' funds
    8,832       8,760  
Total policy liabilities
    819,865       804,846  
                 
Commissions payable
    2,442       2,851  
Current federal income tax payable
    396       -  
Deferred federal income tax
    14,201       13,940  
Payable for securities in process of settlement
    7,546       -  
Warrants outstanding
    415       451  
Other liabilities
    9,981       9,382  
Total liabilities
    854,846       831,470  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
               
Stockholders' equity:
               
Class A, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 52,098,676 shares issued in 2012 and 52,089,189 shares issued in 2011, including shares in treasury of 3,135,738 in 2012 and 2011
    258,616       258,548  
Class B, no par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, 1,001,714 shares issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011
    3,184       3,184  
Accumulated deficit
    (20,339 )     (21,851 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
               
Unrealized gains on securities, net of tax
    20,751       19,172  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (11,011 )     (11,011 )
Total stockholders' equity
    251,201       248,042  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,106,047       1,079,512  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
3

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
       
2012
       
2011
 
Revenues:
               
(As adjusted)
 
Premiums:
                   
Life insurance
      $ 37,406           35,611  
Accident and health insurance
        413           372  
Property insurance
        1,277           1,245  
Net investment income
        7,577           7,300  
Realized investment gains, net
        98           19  
Decrease in fair value of warrants
        36           399  
Other income
        98           123  
Total revenues
        46,905           45,069  
Benefits and expenses:
                       
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
                       
Claims and surrenders
        14,754           14,879  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
        14,141           12,318  
Policyholders' dividends
        1,874           1,662  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
        30,769           28,859  
                         
Commissions
        8,664           9,072  
Other general expenses
        6,616           6,403  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
        (5,939 )         (6,641 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
        4,126           4,238  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
        576           647  
Total benefits and expenses
        44,812           42,578  
                         
Income before federal income tax
        2,093           2,491  
Federal income tax expense
      581           869  
Net income
        1,512           1,622  
                         
Per Share Amounts:
           
 
         
Basic earnings per share of Class A common stock
  $ 0.03               0.03          
Basic earnings per share of Class B common stock
    0.02               0.02          
Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock
    0.03               0.03          
Diluted earnings per share of Class B common stock
    0.02               0.01          
                                 
Other comprehensive income:
                               
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
                               
Unrealized holding gains arising during period
            2,561               1,626  
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income
            (86 )             (19 )
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net
            2,475               1,607  
Income tax expense on unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities
            (896 )             (562 )
Other comprehensive income
            1,579               1,045  
Comprehensive income
          $ 3,091               2,667  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
4


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
         
(As adjusted)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 1,512       1,622  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Realized gains on sale of investments and other assets
    (98 )     (19 )
Net deferred policy acquisition costs
    (1,813 )     (2,403 )
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    576       647  
Decrease in fair value of warrants
    (36 )     (399 )
Depreciation
    299       205  
Amortization of premiums and discounts on fixed maturities and short-term investments
    1,015       1,240  
Deferred federal income tax benefit
    (636 )     (250 )
Change in:
               
Accrued investment income
    (1,066 )     (999 )
Reinsurance recoverable
    (32 )     332  
Due premiums and other receivables
    498       353  
Future policy benefit reserves
    14,026       12,100  
Other policyholders' liabilities
    370       1,212  
Federal income tax receivable
    1,297       2,042  
Commissions payable and other liabilities
    190       193  
Other, net
    (890 )     (1,547 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    15,212       14,329  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Sale of fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    503       -  
Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    70,619       8,871  
Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
    22,000       19,000  
Purchase of fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    (37,650 )     (47,922 )
Purchase of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
    (42,508 )     (5,973 )
Calls of equity securities, available-for-sale
    325       150  
Principal payments on mortgage loans
    11       11  
Increase in policy loans, net
    (1,080 )     (721 )
Sale of other long-term investments
    2       1  
Purchase of other long-term investments
    (69 )     -  
Purchase of property and equipment
    (215 )     (579 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    11,938       (27,162 )

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
(Continued)

 
5


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Continued
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)


   
2012
   
2011
 
         
(As adjusted)
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
           
Warrants exercised
  $ 68       -  
Annuity deposits
    1,586       1,560  
Annuity withdrawals
    (963 )     (1,000 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    691       560  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    27,841       (12,273 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    33,255       49,723  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 61,096       37,450  
Supplemental disclosures of operating activities:
               
Cash received during the period for income taxes recovered
  $ (79 )     (923 )

Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing Activities:

None.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
6


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)

(1)           Financial Statements

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Citizens, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP").

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Citizens, Inc. ("Citizens"), a Colorado corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CICA Life Insurance Company of America ("CICA"), Computing Technology, Inc. ("CTI"), Insurance Investors, Inc. ("III"), Citizens National Life Insurance Company ("CNLIC"), Security Plan Life Insurance Company ("SPLIC"), and Security Plan Fire Insurance Company ("SPFIC").  Citizens and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "the Company," "we," "us" or "our."

The consolidated statements of financial position for March 31, 2012, the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three-month period then ended have been prepared by the Company without audit.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and changes in cash flows at March 31, 2012 and for comparative periods have been made.  The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

We provide primarily life insurance and a small amount of health insurance policies through our insurance subsidiaries:  CICA, SPLIC, and CNLIC.  CICA and CNLIC issue ordinary whole-life policies, burial insurance, pre-need policies, and accident and health related policies, throughout the Midwest and southern United States.  CICA also issues ordinary whole-life policies to non-U.S. residents.  SPLIC offers final expense and home service life insurance in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi and SPFIC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SPLIC, writes a limited amount of property insurance in Louisiana.

CTI provides data processing systems and services, as well as furniture and equipment, to the Company.  III provides aviation transportation to the Company.

Reserves at March 31, 2012 include an adjustment resulting in a reserve decrease of $157,000 relating to system corrections in the life segment that were discovered during the detailed system validation as part of the implementation of the new deferred acquisition accounting standard.  In addition, we have a release of incurred but not reported liability of $500,000 related to the home service claims experience which is reducing claims expense in the current quarter.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The most significant estimates include those used in the evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities and valuation allowances on investments, actuarially determined liabilities and assumptions, goodwill impairment, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and contingencies relating to litigation and regulatory matters.  Certain of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
7

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
Reclassification

Reclassifications have been made in the current year related to certain prior year reported amounts to provide consistent presentation.

Significant Accounting Policies

For a description of significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2011 Form 10-K Annual Report, which should be read in conjunction with these accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)           Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company retrospectively adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s ("FASB") guidance modifying the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts.  The guidance specified that the costs must be based on successful efforts.  The guidance also specifies that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs only when the direct-response advertising accounting criteria are met.  The retrospective effect of the change in our deferred acquisition costs decreased the December 31, 2011 stockholders’ equity balance by $7.6 million, the DAC asset and deferred taxes decreased by $11.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively.

The following table provides the balance sheet and income statement accounts that were impacted by the change in accounting principle.

   
As Previously
Reported
   
Impact of
Change in
Accounting
Principle
   
As
Adjusted
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Balance Sheet Accounts:
                 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
   
 
       
Deferred acquisition costs
  $ 136,300       (11,758 )     124,542  
Deferred federal income taxes
    18,055       (4,115 )     13,940  
Accumulated deficit
    (14,208 )     (7,643 )     (21,851 )
                         
Statement of Operations:
                       
As of March 31, 2011
                       
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
  $ (7,165 )     524       (6,641 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    4,520       (282 )     4,238  
Federal income tax expense
    953       (84 )     869  
Net income
    1,780       (158 )     1,622  
Per share of Class A common stock:
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.04       (0.01 )     0.03  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.03       -       0.03  

In June 2011, the FASB amended its guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items that are recorded in other comprehensive income. The new accounting guidance requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. The provisions of this new guidance are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on our financial statements.
 
 
8


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement ("Topic 820") – Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” ASU 2011-04 amends Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” to converge the fair value measurement guidance in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). ASU 2011-04 clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, changes certain principles in Topic 820 and requires additional fair value disclosures. ASU 2011-04 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and did not have any impact on the Company’s financial statements.

(3)           Segment Information

The Company has three reportable segments:  Life Insurance, Home Service Insurance, and Other Non-Insurance Enterprises.  The accounting policies of the segments are in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are the same as those used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.  The Company evaluates profit and loss performance based on U.S. GAAP income before federal income taxes for its three reportable segments.

The Company has no reportable differences between segments and consolidated operations.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2012
 
   
Life
Insurance
   
Home
Service
Insurance
   
Other
Non-Insurance
Enterprises
   
Consolidated
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Revenues:
       
 
             
Premiums
  $ 28,169       10,927       -       39,096  
Net investment income
    4,158       3,155       264       7,577  
Realized investment gains, net
    2       87       9       98  
Decrease in fair value of warrants
    -       -       36       36  
Other income
    57       6       35       98  
Total revenue
    32,386       14,175       344       46,905  
                                 
Benefits and expenses:
                               
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
                               
Claims and surrenders
    9,927       4,827       -       14,754  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
    13,218       923       -       14,141  
Policyholders' dividends
    1,862       12       -       1,874  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
    25,007       5,762       -       30,769  
                                 
Commissions
    5,022       3,642       -       8,664  
Other general expenses
    2,920       2,964       732       6,616  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (4,512 )     (1,427 )     -       (5,939 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    3,651       475       -       4,126  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    209       367       -       576  
Total benefits and expenses
    32,297       11,783       732       44,812  
Income (loss) before income tax expense
  $ 89       2,392       (388 )     2,093  
 
 
9

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2011
 
   
Life
Insurance
   
Home
Service
Insurance
   
Other
Non-Insurance
Enterprises
   
Consolidated
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Revenues:
       
 
             
Premiums
  $ 26,520       10,708       -       37,228  
Net investment income
    3,867       3,237       196       7,300  
Realized investment gains, net
    -       19       -       19  
Decrease in fair value of warrants
    -       -       399       399  
Other income
    87       8       28       123  
Total revenue
    30,474       13,972       623       45,069  
                                 
Benefits and expenses:
                               
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
                               
Claims and surrenders
    9,401       5,478       -       14,879  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
    11,809       509       -       12,318  
Policyholders' dividends
    1,643       19       -       1,662  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
    22,853       6,006       -       28,859  
                                 
Commissions
    5,342       3,730       -       9,072  
Other general expenses
    2,854       2,975       574       6,403  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (5,065 )     (1,576 )     -       (6,641 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    3,652       586       -       4,238  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    216       431       -       647  
Total benefits and expenses
    29,852       12,152       574       42,578  
Income before income tax expense
  $ 622       1,820       49       2,491  
 
 
10

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
(4)
Earnings Per Share

 
The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands,
except per share amounts)
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
           
Numerator:
       
 
 
Net income
  $ 1,512       1,622  
                 
Net income allocated to Class A common stock
  $ 1,497       1,606  
Net income allocated to Class B common stock
    15       16  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 1,512       1,622  
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares of Class A outstanding - basic and diluted
    48,959       48,687  
Weighted average shares of Class B outstanding - basic and diluted
    1,002       1,002  
                 
Basic earnings per share of Class A common stock
  $ 0.03       0.03  
Basic earnings per share of Class B common stock
    0.02       0.02  
Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock
    0.03       0.03  
Diluted earnings per share of Class B common stock
    0.02       0.01  
 
The diluted earnings per share calculation has assumptions regarding the exercise of warrants issued to certain investors as discussed below in Note 8 - Convertible Preferred Stock: Warrants.  No dilution occurred for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

(5)
Investments

 
The Company invests primarily in fixed maturity securities, which totaled 82.1% of total investments and cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2012.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
   
(In thousands)
         
(In thousands)
       
                         
Fixed maturity securities
  $ 737,017       82.1     $ 741,753       85.0  
Equity securities
    46,723       5.2       46,137       5.3  
Mortgage loans
    1,546       0.2       1,557       0.2  
Policy loans
    40,170       4.5       39,090       4.5  
Real estate and other long-term investments
    8,686       1.0       8,644       1.0  
Short-term investments
    2,030       0.2       2,048       0.2  
Cash and cash equivalents
    61,096       6.8       33,255       3.8  
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments
  $ 897,268       100.0     $ 872,484       100.0  
 
 
11

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
The following tables represent the cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for fixed maturities and equity securities as of the periods indicated.

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
       
 
             
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 10,213       3,226       -       13,439  
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    94,839       2,800       28       97,611  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    154,747       11,932       794       165,885  
Foreign governments
    105       33       -       138  
Corporate
    199,092       14,773       1,348       212,517  
Securities not due at a single maturity date
    7,832       559       4       8,387  
Total available-for-sale securities
    466,828       33,323       2,174       497,977  
                                 
Held-to-maturity securities:
                               
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    154,425       542       226       154,741  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    58,293       2,808       29       61,072  
Corporate
    26,322       293       45       26,570  
Total held-to-maturity securities
    239,040       3,643       300       242,383  
Total fixed maturities
  $ 705,868       36,966       2,474       740,360  
                                 
Equity securities:
                               
Stock mutual funds
  $ 12,686       656       97       13,245  
Bond mutual funds
    31,504       267       59       31,712  
Common stock
    17       4       -       21  
Preferred stock
    1,190       555       -       1,745  
Total equity securities
  $ 45,397       1,482       156       46,723  

 
12

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
Available-for-sale securities:
       
 
             
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 10,228       3,730       -       13,958  
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    143,684       3,198       65       146,817  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    151,058       10,275       1,391       159,942  
Foreign governments
    105       37       -       142  
Corporate
    171,462       14,576       1,493       184,545  
Securities not due at a single maturity date
    8,272       585       8       8,849  
Total available-for-sale securities
    484,809       32,401       2,957       514,253  
                                 
Held-to-maturity securities:
                               
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    160,411       742       12       161,141  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    56,260       1,941       84       58,117  
Corporate
    10,829       49       43       10,835  
Total held-to-maturity securities
    227,500       2,732       139       230,093  
Total fixed maturity securities
  $ 712,309       35,133       3,096       744,346  
                                 
Equity securities:
                               
Stock mutual funds
  $ 12,686       415       376       12,725  
Bond mutual funds
    31,504       27       117       31,414  
Common stock
    17       7       -       24  
Preferred stock
    1,392       582       -       1,974  
Total equity securities
  $ 45,599       1,031       493       46,137  
 
 
At March 31, 2012, the Company had $7.8 million of mortgage-backed security holdings based on amortized cost, of which $7.2 million, or 91.3%, were residential U.S. Government-sponsored issues.  Mortgage-backed securities are also referred to as securities not due at a single maturity date throughout this report.  The majority of the Company's equity securities are diversified stock and bond mutual funds.
 
Valuation of Investments in Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

Held-to-maturity securities are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost and available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value.

The Company monitors all debt and equity securities on an on-going basis relative to changes in credit ratings, market prices, earnings trends and financial performance, in addition to specific region or industry reviews.  The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on a case-by-case evaluation of underlying reasons for the decline in fair value.  The Company determines other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing relevant evidence related to the specific security issuer as well as the Company's intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost.

 
13

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.  If the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date.  If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into the following: (a) the amount representing the credit loss; and (b) the amount related to all other factors.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  The previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment.  The new amortized cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company evaluates whether a credit impairment exists for debt securities by considering primarily the following factors: (a) changes in the financial condition of the security's underlying collateral; (b) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments; (c) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer; (d) the extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost of the security; and (e) the payment structure of the security.  The Company's best estimate of expected future cash flows used to determine the credit loss amount is a quantitative and qualitative process.  Quantitative review includes information received from third party sources such as financial statements, pricing and rating changes, liquidity and other statistical information.  Qualitative factors include judgments related to business strategies, economic impacts on the issuer and overall judgment related to estimates and industry factors.  The Company's best estimate of future cash flows involves assumptions including, but not limited to, various performance indicators, such as historical and projected default and recovery rates, credit ratings, and current delinquency rates.  These assumptions require the use of significant management judgment and include the probability of issuer default and estimates regarding timing and amount of expected recoveries, which may include estimating the underlying collateral value.  In addition, projections of expected future debt security cash flows may change based upon new information regarding the performance of the issuer.

The primary factors considered in evaluating whether an impairment exists for an equity security include, but are not limited to: (a) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost of the security; (b) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer; (c) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated payments; and (d) the intent and ability of the Company to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery.

The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI") during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
 
 
14

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
The following tables present the fair values and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturities and equity securities that have remained in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated.

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
Greater than 12 months
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
 
   
(In thousands, except for # of securities)
 
                                                       
Fixed maturities:
       
 
                                           
Available-for-sale securities:
                                                     
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 6,233       26       5       1,001       2       1       7,234       28       6  
States of the United States  and political subdivisions of the states
    8,192       91       9       6,417       703       3       14,609       794       12  
Corporate
    46,239       503       34       8,544       845       6       54,783       1,348       40  
Securities not due at a single maturity date
    237       1       1       66       3       2       303       4       3  
Total available-for-sale securities
    60,901       621       49       16,028       1,553       12       76,929       2,174       61  
Held-to-maturity securities:
                                                                       
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    53,043       215       27       1,112       11       1       54,155       226       28  
States of the United States  and political subdivisions of the states
    7,462       29       5       -       -       -       7,462       29       5  
Corporate
    12,458       45       9       -       -       -       12,458       45       9  
Total held-to-maturity securities
    72,963       289       41       1,112       11       1       74,075       300       42  
Total fixed maturities
  $ 133,864       910       90       17,140       1,564       13       151,004       2,474       103  
                                                                         
Equity securities:
                                                                       
Stock mutual funds
  $ 7,437       97       2       -       -       -       7,437       97       2  
Bond mutual funds
    6,364       59       3       -       -       -       6,364       59       3  
Total equities
  $ 13,801       156       5       -       -       -       13,801       156       5  

 
As of March 31, 2012, the Company had 12 available-for-sale securities and 1 held-to-maturity security that were in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months.  These securities consisted of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, municipals, corporate and mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
15

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
Greater than 12 months
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
# of
Securities
 
   
(In thousands, except for # of securities)
 
                                                       
Fixed maturities:
       
 
                                           
Available-for-sale securities:
                                                     
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ -       -       -       3,718       65       2       3,718       65       2  
States of the United States  and political subdivisions of the states
    1,965       29       4       11,777       1,362       9       13,742       1,391       13  
Corporate
    27,239       976       30       8,886       517       6       36,125       1,493       36  
Securities not due at a single maturity date
    536       4       1       67       4       2       603       8       3  
Total available-for-sale securities
    29,740       1,009       35       24,448       1,948       19       54,188       2,957       54  
Held-to-maturity securities:
                                                                       
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
    6,997       2       4       1,121       10       1       8,118       12       5  
States of the United States  and political subdivisions of the states
    8,345       84       7       -       -       -       8,345       84       7  
Corporate
    6,706       43       4       -       -       -       6,706       43       4  
Total held-to-maturity securities
    22,048       129       15       1,121       10       1       23,169       139       16  
Total fixed maturities
  $ 51,788       1,138       50       25,569       1,958       20       77,357       3,096       70  
                                                                         
Equity securities:
                                                                       
Stock mutual funds
  $ 7,158       376       2       -       -       -       7,158       376       2  
Bond mutual funds
    25,387       117       10       -       -       -       25,387       117       10  
Total equities
  $ 32,545       493       12       -       -       -       32,545       493       12  
 
 
We have reviewed these securities for the periods ended March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and determined that no other-than-temporary impairment exists based on our evaluation of the credit worthiness of the issuers and the fact that we do not intend to sell the investments nor is it likely that we will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases which may be maturity.  We continue to monitor all securities on an on-going basis, and future information may become available which could result in impairments being recorded.
 
 
16


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
 
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2012 by contractual maturity are shown in the table below.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Available-for-sale securities:
           
Due in one year or less
  $ 7,339       7,450  
Due after one year through five years
    52,579       54,785  
Due after five years through ten years
    108,692       115,135  
Due after ten years
    290,386       312,220  
Total available-for-sale securities
    458,996       489,590  
Held-to-maturity securities:
               
Due in one year or less
    4,975       4,969  
Due after one year through five years
    15,091       15,129  
Due after five years through ten years
    35,939       37,418  
Due after ten years
    183,035       184,867  
Total held-to-maturity securities
    239,040       242,383  
Securities not due at a single maturity date
    7,832       8,387  
Total fixed maturities
  $ 705,868       740,360  

 
The securities not due at a single maturity date are primarily mortgage-backed obligations of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and corporate securities.

The Company uses the specific identification method of the individual security to determine the cost basis used in the calculation of realized gains and losses related to security sales.  Proceeds and gross realized gains from sales of securities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are summarized as follows.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
Fixed Maturities Available-for-Sale
   
Equity Securities
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Proceeds
  $ 503       -       -       -  
Gross realized gains
  $ 1       -       -       -  
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, no securities were sold for realized losses nor were there any securities sold from the held-to-maturity portfolio.
 
 
17

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
(6)           Fair Value Measurements

 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  We hold available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, which are carried at fair value.

 
Fair value measurements are generally 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 utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  All assets and liabilities carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories.

 
·
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 
·
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 whose inputs or whose significant value drivers are observable.

 
·
Level 3 - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as U.S. Treasury securities and actively traded mutual fund and stock investments.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes.  These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs, such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates for the underlying financial instruments.  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 corporate fixed maturity securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities and certain mortgage and asset-backed securities.

Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices utilizing significant inputs not based on or corroborated by readily available market information.  This category consists of two private placement mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
18


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
The following tables set forth our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated.

   
March 31, 2012
 
Available-for-sale investments
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial assets:
       
 
             
Fixed maturities:
                       
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 13,439       97,611       -       111,050  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    -       165,885       -       165,885  
Corporate
    -       212,517       -       212,517  
Mortgage-backed
    -       7,946       441       8,387  
Foreign governments
    -       138       -       138  
Total fixed maturities
    13,439       484,097       441       497,977  
Equity securities:
                               
Stock mutual funds
    13,246       -       -       13,246  
Bond mutual funds
    31,711       -       -       31,711  
Common stock
    21       -       -       21  
Preferred stock
    1,745       -       -       1,745  
Total equity securities
    46,723       -       -       46,723  
Total financial assets
  $ 60,162       484,097       441       544,700  
Financial liabilities:
                               
Warrants outstanding
  $ -       415       -       415  


 
19


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
   
December 31, 2011
 
Available-for-sale investments
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial assets:
       
 
             
Fixed maturities:
                       
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 13,958       146,817       -       160,775  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    -       159,942       -       159,942  
Corporate
    -       184,545       -       184,545  
Mortgage-backed
    -       8,390       459       8,849  
Foreign governments
    -       142       -       142  
Total fixed maturities
    13,958       499,836       459       514,253  
Equity securities:
                               
Stock mutual funds
    12,725       -       -       12,725  
Bond mutual funds
    31,414       -       -       31,414  
Common stock
    24       -       -       24  
Preferred stock
    1,974       -       -       1,974  
Total equity securities
    46,137       -       -       46,137  
Total financial assets
  $ 60,095       499,836       459       560,390  
Financial liabilities:
                               
Warrants outstanding
  $ -       451       -       451  
 
 
20

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
 
Financial Instruments Valuation

 
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale.  At March 31, 2012, our fixed maturity securities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $484.1 million for Level 2 assets and comprised 88.9% of total reported fair value of our financial assets.  The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and updated quarterly through random testing by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third-party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades.  In addition, we obtain information relative to the third-party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness.  Fair values for Level 3 assets are based upon unadjusted broker quotes that are non-binding, and consist of two private placement mortgage-backed securities with a total value of $0.4 million.  Our Level 3 assets are current relative to principal and interest payments and are considered immaterial to our financial statements.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third party prices were changed from the values received.

 
Equity securities, available-for-sale.  Our available-for-sale equity securities are classified as Level 1 assets as their fair values are based upon quoted market prices.

 
Warrants outstanding.  Our outstanding warrants are classified as Level 2 liabilities as their fair values are based upon industry standard models that consider various observable inputs.

 
The following table presents additional information about fixed maturity securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that are classified as Level 3 assets and for which we have utilized significant unobservable  inputs to determine fair value.

   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 459       519  
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
               
Included in net income
    -       -  
Included in other comprehensive income
    (2 )     6  
Principal paydowns
    (16 )     (66 )
Transfer in and (out) of Level 3
    -       -  
Balance at end of period
  $ 441       459  

 
We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets.  Such reclassifications are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.
 
 
21

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
 
Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value

 
Estimates of fair values are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market prices and information about the financial instruments.  The estimated fair values of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might realize in actual market transactions.

 
The carrying amount and fair value for the financial assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets not otherwise disclosed for the periods indicated are as follows:

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying Value
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Value
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial assets:
       
 
             
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
  $ 239,040       242,383       227,500       230,093  
Mortgage loans
    1,546       1,488       1,557       1,428  
Policy loans
    40,170       40,170       39,090       39,090  
Short-term investments
    2,030       2,030       2,048       2,048  
Cash and cash equivalents
    61,096       61,096       33,255       33,255  
Financial liabilities:
                               
Annuities
    48,119       48,211       47,060       43,402  
 
Fair values for fixed income securities, which are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.  In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other assumptions, including a discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.

Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential and commercial properties.  Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.6% per year as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, with maturities ranging from one to thirty years.  Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at March 31, 2012.  Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Policy loans had a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% as of both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and no specified maturity dates.  The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheets.  These loans typically carry an interest rate that is tied to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves.  Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies we have in force, cannot be valued separately and are not marketable.  Therefore, the fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of short-term investments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature.  Our short-term investments are considered Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 assets, was estimated at March 31, 2012 using discounted cash flows with an interest rate based upon swap rates adjusted for various risk adjustments.  The fair value of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.

 
22

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
(7)
Legal Proceedings
 
We are a defendant in a lawsuit filed on August 6, 1999, in the Texas District Court, Austin, Texas, now styled Delia Bolanos Andrade, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Citizens Insurance Company of America, et al., Defendants in which a class was originally certified by the trial court and reversed by the Texas Supreme Court in 2007 with an order to the trial court to conduct further proceedings consistent with its ruling.  The underlying lawsuit alleged that certain life insurance policies CICA made available to non-U.S. residents, when combined with a policy feature that allowed certain cash benefits to be assigned to two non-U.S. trusts for the purpose of accumulating ownership of our Class A common stock, along with allowing the policyholders to make additional contributions to the trusts, were actually offers and sales of securities that occurred in Texas by unregistered dealers in violation of the Texas securities laws.  The remedy sought was rescission and return of the insurance premium payments.  On December 9, 2009, the trial court denied the recertification of the class after conducting additional proceedings in accordance with the Texas Supreme Court's ruling.  The remaining plaintiffs must now proceed individually, and not as a class, if they intend to pursue their claims against us.  Since the December 9, 2009 trial court ruling, no individual cases have been further pursued by the plaintiffs.  The probability of the plaintiffs further pursuing their cases individually is unknown.  An estimate of any possible loss or range of losses cannot be made at this time in regard to individuals pursuing claims.  However, should the plaintiffs further pursue their claims individually, we intend to vigorously defend any proceedings.

SPFIC is a defendant in a lawsuit in Louisiana styled The State of Louisiana v. AAA Insurance (the "Road Home Litigation"), which was filed in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans on August 23, 2007.  The Louisiana Attorney General initially filed the Road Home Litigation as a putative class action lawsuit in state court against SPFIC and approximately 200 other insurers on behalf of the State of Louisiana, as assignee, and on behalf of a class of Road Home fund recipients alleging that SPFIC and the other insurers have failed to pay all damages owed under their policies. The insurers removed the matter to federal court.  The defendants filed a motion to dismiss, and in March 2009, the district court granted part of the defendants’ motion, dismissing all of the extra-contractual claims, including the bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty claims.  As a result, the remaining claims are for breach of contract and declaratory relief on the alleged underpayment of claims by the insurers.  The defendants also had moved to dismiss the complaint on grounds that the State had no standing to bring the lawsuit as an assignee of insureds because of anti-assignment language in the insurers’ policies.  The court denied the defendants’ motion for reconsideration on the assignment issue but found the matter was ripe for consideration by the federal appellate court.  The defendants filed a petition for permission to appeal to the Fifth Circuit.  The Fifth Circuit accepted review.  On July 20, 2011, the Fifth Circuit ruled there was no public policy which precludes an anti-assignment clause from applying to post loss assignments, but the anti-assignment language must be evaluated on a policy by policy basis and unambiguously express that the non-assignment clause applies to post-loss assignments. In October 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied the State’s motion to remand to state court.  The Road Home Litigation remains pending in federal district court, but all class allegations have now been dismissed.  The State has yet to identify the specific claims it intends to pursue against SPFIC, or the alleged deficiencies in adjusting those claims. The United States District for the Eastern District of Louisiana has recently established a deadline of May 31, 2012 for the State to identify the claims it intends to pursue against SPFIC.  Each individual claim at issue will require an individual analysis. A number of the claims may be subject to individual defenses and many may not be covered by the SPFIC policies at issue.  To date, there has been no discovery in the Road Home Litigation.  We anticipate the State will vigorously pursue the matter in the district court and are uncertain as to the impact a case by case analysis of claims will have on SPFIC.  An estimate of possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time as a result of the Fifth Circuit or federal district court's rulings in the Road Home Litigation.  SPFIC intends to vigorously defend any remaining proceedings.

SPFIC is vigorously defending a number of matters in various stages of development filed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in addition to the Road Home Litigation, including a number of individual lawsuits, which are immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

 
23


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
 
(8)
Convertible Preferred Stock:  Warrants

 
In July 2004, the Company completed a private placement of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A-1 Preferred") to four unaffiliated institutional investors.  The investors were also issued unit warrants to purchase Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A-2 Preferred").  In 2005, three of the four investors exercised their right to purchase the Series A-2 Preferred.  We also issued to the investors warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock at various exercise prices that range from $6.72 to $7.93, with most of them striking at $6.95.  The conversion, exercise and redemption prices, along with the number of shares and warrants, were adjusted for stock dividends paid on December 31, 2004 and 2005.

 
On July 13, 2009, the Company converted all of its outstanding Series A-1 Preferred and Series A-2 Preferred into Class A common shares in accordance with the mandatory redemption provision of the preferred shareholder agreement dated July 12, 2004.  The total amount of Class A common shares issued as part of the conversion was 1,706,682, inclusive of pro rata dividends due through the conversion date.

 
There are outstanding warrants to purchase the Company's stock at prices ranging from $6.72 to $7.93, which were issued to investors of the Series A-2 Preferred.  These warrants will expire this year unless exercised.

As of March 31, 2012
 
Warrants
Outstanding
 
 Expiration
 Date
 
Strike
Price
   
Fair
Value
 
   
 
       
(In thousands)
 
  56,219  
7/12/12
  $ 6.72     $ 179  
  51,657  
9/30/12
    7.93       116  
  52,121  
10/06/12
    7.86       120  
  159,997               $ 415  

 
The fair value of the warrants is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is classified as a liability on the balance sheet in the amount of approximately $0.4 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The change in fair value of warrants is reported as a component of revenue in the income statement.

(9)
Income Taxes

 
The effective tax rate was 27.8% and 34.9% for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.  In periods where our effective tax rate is lower than the statutory tax rate of 35%, the difference is primarily due to gains and losses from the change in fair value of outstanding warrants to purchase Class A common stock.  The change in fair value of outstanding warrants, which is not taxable, resulted in an increase in income, as previously noted, of $36 thousand and $399 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The effective tax rate is lower in the current year compared to 2011 because the Company began purchasing tax-exempt state and local bonds in the second half of 2011 in the non-insurance companies where the full tax benefit can be realized.

(10)
Related Party Transactions

 
The Company has various routine related party transactions related to the holding company structure, such as a management service agreement related to costs incurred, a tax sharing agreement between entities, and inter-company dividends and capital contributions.  There were no changes related to these relationships during the three months ended March 31, 2012.  See our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011 for a comprehensive discussion of these transactions.
 
 
24


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Item 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (the "Act"), including, without limitation, statements specifically identified as forward-looking statements within this document.  Many of these statements contain risk factors as well.  In addition, certain statements in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by us or with the approval of the Company, which are not statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:  (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure, and other financial items, (ii) statements of our plans and objectives by our management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services, (iii) statements of future economic performance and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements.  Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "assumes," "estimates," "plans," "projects," "could," "expects," "intends," "targeted," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from expected results include, but are not limited to:

 
·
Changes in foreign and U.S. general economic, market, and political conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates;
 
·
Changes in consumer behavior, which may affect the Company's ability to sell its products and retain business;
 
·
The timely development of and acceptance of new products of the Company and perceived overall value of these products and services by existing and potential customers;
 
·
Fluctuations in experience regarding current mortality, morbidity, persistency and interest rates relative to expected amounts used in pricing the Company's products;
 
·
The performance of our investment portfolio, which may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, adverse developments and ratings of issuers whose debt securities we may hold, and other adverse macroeconomic events;
 
·
Results of litigation we may be involved in;
 
·
Changes in assumptions related to deferred acquisition costs and the value of any businesses we may acquire;
 
·
Regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or the demand for, the Company's products or services;
 
·
Our concentration of business from persons residing in Latin America and the Pacific Rim;
 
·
Our success at managing risks involved in the foregoing;
 
·
Changes in tax laws;
 
·
Effects of acquisitions and restructuring, including possible difficulties in integrating and realizing the projected results of acquisitions;
 
·
Changes in statutory or U.S. GAAP accounting principles, policies or practices; and
 
·
The risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 under the heading "Part II. - Item 1A - Risk Factors."

Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

We make available, free of charge, through our Internet website (http://www.citizensinc.com), our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 Reports filed by officers and directors, news releases, and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such reports to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We are not including any of the information contained on our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
 
25

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Overview

Citizens is an insurance holding company serving the life insurance needs of individuals in the United States since 1969 and internationally since 1975.  Through our insurance subsidiaries, we pursue a strategy of offering traditional insurance products in niche markets where we believe we are able to achieve competitive advantages.  As of March 31, 2012, we had approximately $1.1 billion of total assets and approximately $5.3 billion of insurance in force.  Our core insurance operations include issuing and servicing:

 
·
U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies predominantly to high net worth, high income foreign residents, principally in Latin America and the Pacific Rim through independent marketing consultants;
 
·
ordinary whole life insurance policies to middle income households concentrated in the Midwest and southern United States through independent marketing consultants; and
 
·
final expense and limited liability property policies to middle and lower income households in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi through employee and independent agents in our home service distribution channel.

We were formed in 1969 by our Chairman, Harold E. Riley.  Prior to our formation, Mr. Riley had many years of experience in the international and domestic life insurance business.  Our Company has experienced significant growth through acquisitions in the domestic market and through market expansion in the international market.  We seek to capitalize on the experience of our management team in marketing and operations as we strive to generate bottom line return using knowledge of our niche markets and our well-established distribution channels.  We believe our underwriting processes, policy terms, pricing practices and proprietary administrative systems enable us to be competitive in our current markets, while protecting our shareholders and servicing our policyholders.

Current Financial Highlights

Financial highlights for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 were:

 
·
Insurance revenues rose 5.0% for the three month period to $39.1 million in 2012 from $37.2 million in 2011, primarily from sales in our life insurance segment.

 
·
Net investment income increased 3.8%.  The average yield on the consolidated portfolio decreased to 3.76% for the quarter ended in 2012.  For the three month period, the increase in the invested assets due to premium revenue growth offset the decrease in yield.

 
·
Claims and surrenders expense decreased slightly, as a result of a release of incurred but not reported liability of $0.5 million related to home service claims offsetting an increase in reported claims in the life segment.
 
 
26

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Our Operating Segments

Our business is comprised of three operating business segments, as detailed below.

 
·
Life Insurance
 
·
Home Service Insurance
 
·
Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

Our insurance operations are the primary focus of the Company, as those operations generate the majority of our income.  See the discussion under Segment Operations for detailed analysis.  The amount of insurance, number of policies, and average face amounts of policies issued during the periods indicated are shown below.

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
Amount of
Insurance
Issued
   
Number of
Policies
Issued
   
Average Policy
Face Amount
Issued
   
Amount of
Insurance
Issued
   
Number of
Policies
Issued
   
Average Policy
Face Amount
Issued
 
                                     
Life
  $ 69,701,843       1,236     $ 56,393     $ 87,595,557       1,363     $ 64,267  
Home Service
    58,398,514       8,250       7,079       59,463,098       8,065       7,221  

Note:  All discussions below compare or state results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Consolidated Results of Operations

A discussion of consolidated results is presented below, followed by a discussion of segment operations and financial results by segment.

Revenues

Revenues are generated primarily by insurance premiums and investment income on invested assets.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Revenues:
       
 
 
Premiums:
           
Life insurance
  $ 37,406       35,611  
Accident and health insurance
    413       372  
Property insurance
    1,277       1,245  
Net investment income
    7,577       7,300  
Realized investment gains, net
    98       19  
Decrease in fair value of warrants
    36       399  
Other income
    98       123  
Total revenues
    46,905       45,069  
Exclude fair value adjustments
    (36 )     (399 )
Total revenues excluding fair value adjustments
  $ 46,869       44,670  

 
27


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Premium Income.  Premium income derived from life, accident and health, and property insurance sales increased 5.0% in 2012 for the three months compared to March 31, 2011, primarily resulting from the life segment as discussed below.

Net investment income performance is summarized as follows.

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands, except for %)
 
                   
Net investment income, annualized
  $ 30,309       30,099       29,200  
Average invested assets, at amortized cost
    806,472       767,079       740,549  
Annualized yield on average invested assets
    3.76 %     3.92 %     3.94 %

Yields on invested assets vary between segment operations due to different portfolio mixes in the segments.  The life segment invests more in U.S. government securities while the home service segment has a larger investment in the corporate and municipal sectors.

Investment income from debt securities accounted for approximately 81.6% of total investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  We continue to hold investments in bonds of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), which comprised 35.3% of the total fixed maturity portfolio based on amortized cost at March 31, 2012.  We have increased our investment purchases of corporate and municipal securities over the past several quarters, focusing on utility service sectors in corporate securities.  In addition, we have reinvested proceeds from bond calls in the last two quarters of 2011 into bond mutual funds.  These securities offer a competitive yield with a shorter duration.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Gross investment income:
       
 
 
Fixed maturity securities
  $ 6,542       6,517  
Equity securities
    558       197  
Mortgage loans
    27       27  
Policy loans
    810       710  
Long-term investments
    65       53  
Other investment income
    20       75  
Total investment income
    8,022       7,579  
Investment expenses
    (445 )     (279 )
Net investment income
  $ 7,577       7,300  

The additional income from the purchase of bond mutual funds in the last half of 2011 resulted in increased dividend income in the current three month period.  In addition, the increase in the asset balance of policy loans, which represents policyholders utilizing their accumulated policy cash value, contributed to the increase to investment income.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants.  The Company adjusts the liability related to its outstanding warrants to purchase shares of Class A common stock at each reporting date to reflect the current fair value of the warrants computed based on the Class A common stock value calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  As the Class A common stock value increases and decreases, the change in the warrant liability also increases and decreases in inverse order.  The adjustment to fair value is recorded as an increase or decrease in the fair value of the warrants in the consolidated statement of operations.  The remaining warrants expire at various dates during 2012.  See Note 8 - Convertible Preferred Stock:  Warrants of the accompanying financial statements for further discussion.
 
 
28


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012

Benefits and Expenses

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Benefits and expenses:
       
 
 
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
           
Claims and surrenders
  $ 14,754       14,879  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
    14,141       12,318  
Policyholders' dividends
    1,874       1,662  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
    30,769       28,859  
                 
Commissions
    8,664       9,072  
Other general expenses
    6,616       6,403  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (5,939 )     (6,641 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    4,126       4,238  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    576       647  
Total benefits and expenses
  $ 44,812       42,578  
 
Claims and Surrenders.  A detail of claims and surrender benefits is provided below.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
         
 
 
Death claims
  $ 5,725       6,026  
Surrender benefits
    4,633       4,362  
Endowments
    3,480       3,401  
Property claims
    364       553  
Accident and health benefits
    75       105  
Other policy benefits
    477       432  
Total claims and surrenders
  $ 14,754       14,879  

Increase in Future Policy Benefit Reserves.  Reserves as of March 31, 2012, were impacted by an increase in international sales of endowment policies that produce a faster reserve build-up than whole life products.

Policyholder Dividends.  All of our international policies are participating, and the dividends are factored into the premium rates charged.  As policy provisioned dividend rates increase each year that a policy is in force, dividend expense is expected to increase as this block of insurance becomes more seasoned.

Commissions.  Commission expense is directly related to new and renewal insurance premium fluctuations and production levels by agents and associates.  Commission expense decreased from the prior year, as renewal premiums, which have lower commission rates, comprised a larger portion of revenues in the current year.
 
 
29

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Capitalized and Amortized Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Costs capitalized under current accounting guidance include certain commissions, policy issuance costs, and underwriting and agency expenses that relate to successful sales efforts for insurance contracts.  The decrease for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 is the result of a decrease in first year premium production in the current year.  Though premium revenue increased in the current year, it was related to an increase in renewal premiums compared to the prior year.  Commissions paid on renewal premiums are significantly lower than that paid on first year business.  Amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2011, included a computer system adjustment to refine estimates that decreased amortization by $0.3 million which affects current year comparability.  Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs is impacted by persistency and may fluctuate from year to year.

Federal Income Tax.  The effective rates for the three months ended March 31, 2012, was 27.8% versus 34.9% for the same period in 2011.  Differences between our effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate result from income and expense items that are treated differently for financial reporting and tax purposes.  See Note 9 - Income Taxes in the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Segment Operations

The Company has three reportable segments:  Life Insurance, Home Service Insurance and Other Non-Insurance Enterprises.  These segments are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The Company evaluates profit and loss performance of its segments based on net income before income taxes.

   
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
         
 
 
Life Insurance
  $ 89       622  
Home Service Insurance
    2,392       1,820  
Other Non-Insurance Enterprises
    (388 )     49  
Total
  $ 2,093       2,491  

Life Insurance

Our Life Insurance segment issues ordinary whole life insurance domestically and U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole-life policies to foreign residents.  These contracts are designed to provide a fixed amount of insurance coverage over the life of the insured.  Additionally, the Company issues endowment contracts, which are principally accumulation contracts that incorporate an element of life insurance protection.  For the majority of our business, we retain only the first $100,000 of risk on any one life.  We operate this segment through CICA and CNLIC insurance subsidiaries.
 
 
30

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
International Sales

We focus our sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies to high net worth, high income residents in Latin America and the Pacific Rim.  We have successfully participated in the foreign marketplace since 1975, and we continue to seek opportunities for expansion of our foreign operations.  We believe positive attributes of our international insurance business include:

 
·
larger face amount policies typically issued when compared to our U.S. operations, which results in lower underwriting and administrative costs per unit of coverage;
 
·
premiums typically paid annually rather than monthly or quarterly, which reduces our administrative expenses, accelerates cash flow and results in lower policy lapse rates than premiums with more frequently scheduled payments; and
 
·
favorable persistency levels and mortality rates compared to U.S. policies.

International Products

We offer several ordinary whole life insurance and endowment products designed to meet the needs of our non-U.S. policyowners.  These policies have been structured to provide:

 
·
U.S. Dollar-denominated cash values that accumulate, beginning in the first policy year, to a policyholder during his or her lifetime;
 
·
premium rates that are competitive with or better than most foreign local companies;
 
·
a hedge against local currency inflation;
 
·
protection against devaluation of foreign currency;
 
·
capital investment in the United States’ more secure economic environment; and
 
·
lifetime income guarantees for an insured or for surviving beneficiaries.

Our international products have living benefit features.  Every policy contains guaranteed cash values and is participating (i.e., provides for cash dividends as apportioned by the board of directors).  Once a policyowner pays the annual premium and the policy is issued, we immediately pay a cash dividend as well as an annual guaranteed endowment, if elected, to the owner.  The policyowner has several options with regard to the dividend, including the right to assign dividends to our stock investment plan, registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and administered in the United States by our unaffiliated transfer agent.

The following table sets forth, by country, our direct premiums from our international life insurance business for the periods indicated.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Country
       
 
 
Colombia
  $ 5,592       4,945  
Venezuela
    5,057       4,504  
Taiwan
    3,820       3,855  
Ecuador
    3,172       2,983  
Argentina
    1,905       1,861  
Other Non-U.S.
    6,693       6,527  
Total
  $ 26,239       24,675  

 
31

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Domestic Sales

In the Midwest and the southern United States, we seek to serve middle income households through the sale of cash accumulation ordinary whole life insurance products.  The majority of our inforce business results from blocks of business of insurance companies we have acquired over the past 15 years.

Domestic Products

Our domestic life insurance products focus primarily on living needs and provide benefits focused toward accumulating money for living benefits while providing a modest death benefit for the policyowner.  The features of our domestic life insurance products include:

 
·
cash accumulation/living benefits;
 
·
tax-deferred interest earnings;
 
·
guaranteed lifetime income or monthly income options for the policyowner or surviving family members;
 
·
accidental death benefit coverage options; and
 
·
an option to waive premium payments in the event of disability.

Our life insurance products are principally designed to address the insured's concern about outliving his or her monthly income, while at the same time providing death benefits.  The primary purpose of our product portfolio is to help the insured create capital for needs such as retirement income, children's higher education funds, business opportunities, emergencies and health care needs.

The following table sets forth our direct premiums by state for the periods indicated.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
State
       
 
 
Texas
  $ 1,230       1,253  
Indiana
    417       499  
Mississippi
    191       284  
Oklahoma
    191       257  
Missouri
    161       208  
Other States
    729       752  
Total
  $ 2,919       3,253  

A number of domestic life insurance companies we acquired had blocks of accident and health insurance policies, which we did not consider to be a core part of our business.  We have ceded this business to an unaffiliated insurance company under a coinsurance agreement, under which it assumes substantially all of our accident and health policies.  The premium amounts ceded under the coinsurance agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $1.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
 
 
32

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
The results of operations for the life insurance segment for the periods indicated are as follows.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Revenue:
       
 
 
Premiums
  $ 28,169       26,520  
Net investment income
    4,158       3,867  
Realized investment gains, net
    2       -  
Other income
    57       87  
Total revenue
    32,386       30,474  
Benefits and expenses:
               
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
               
Claims and surrenders
    9,927       9,401  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
    13,218       11,809  
Policyholders' dividends
    1,862       1,643  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
    25,007       22,853  
                 
Commissions
    5,022       5,342  
Other general expenses
    2,920       2,854  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (4,512 )     (5,065 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    3,651       3,652  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    209       216  
Total benefits and expenses
    32,297       29,852  
Income before income tax expense
  $ 89       622  

Premiums.  Premium revenues increased for the three month period ended March 31, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011 due to international renewal business, which experienced strong persistency as this block of insurance ages.

Life insurance premium breakout is detailed below.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
Premiums:
       
 
 
First year
  $ 3,339       4,098  
Renewal
    24,830       22,422  
Total premiums
  $ 28,169       26,520  
 
 
33


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Net Investment Income.  Net investment income was negatively impacted by the low interest rate environment, which has resulted in declining portfolio yields.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
Year Ended
December 31,
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands, except for %)
 
                   
Net investment income, annualized
  $ 16,635       16,401       15,468  
Average invested assets, at amortized cost
  $ 473,922       443,707       424,226  
Annualized yield on average invested assets
    3.51 %     3.70 %     3.65 %
 
Claims and Surrenders.  These amounts fluctuate from period to period but were within anticipated ranges based upon management's expectations.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
         
 
 
Death claims
  $ 1,980       1,848  
Surrender benefits
    4,038       3,746  
Endowment benefits
    3,473       3,395  
Accident and health benefits
    55       71  
Other policy benefits
    381       341  
Total claims and surrenders
  $ 9,927       9,401  

 
·
Death claims expense was higher for the three months in 2012 due to more reported claims. Mortality experience is closely monitored by the Company as a key performance indicator and these amounts were within expected levels.

 
·
The majority of policy surrender benefits paid is attributable to our international business and was related to policies that have been in force over fifteen years, where surrender charges are no longer applicable.

 
·
Endowment benefit expense results from the election by policyholders of a product feature that provides an annual benefit.  This is a fixed benefit over the life of the contract, and this expense will increase with new sales and improved persistency.

 
·
Other policy benefits result primarily from interest paid on premium deposits and dividend accumulations on policyholder liability accounts.

Increase in Future Policy Benefit Reserves.   Policy benefit reserves increased for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, primarily due to increased sales of endowment products, which build up reserve balances more quickly compared to other life product sales.  Endowment sales have become more popular relative to our international sales in the past few years, representing approximately 80% and 75% of total new first year premium through the three months in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Commissions.  Commission expense decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to the same periods in 2011.  This expense fluctuates directly with new premium revenues, which were lower in the three months ended 2012 compared to 2011, despite the rise in total premiums for the current year.  Commission rates paid to agents are higher on first year premium sales, which were down 18.5% in 2012 compared to 2011.  Renewal premiums for the three months ended, which pay commissions at lower rates, are up $2.4 million in 2012.
 
 
34

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Other General Expenses.  The expenses are allocated by segment, based upon an annual expense study performed by the Company, and remained flat period to period.

Capitalization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ("DAC").  Capitalized costs decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2012, due to a decrease in first year premiums and an increase in renewal commissions paid during the period, which have a lower commission rate than first year business.  DAC capitalization is directly correlated to fluctuations in first year commissions.

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Amortization for the three months ended in 2012 was up compared to 2011, as DAC asset balances are higher causing amortization to trend upward.

Home Service Insurance

We operate in the Home Service market through our subsidiaries Security Plan Life Insurance Company ("SPLIC") and Security Plan Fire Insurance Company ("SPFIC"), and focus on the life insurance needs of the middle and lower income markets, primarily in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  Our policies are sold and serviced through a home service marketing distribution system of employee-agents who work full time on a route system and through funeral homes that sell policies, collect premiums and service policyholders.

The following table sets forth our premiums by state for the periods indicated.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
State
       
 
 
Louisiana
  $ 10,326       10,142  
Arkansas
    527       521  
Mississippi
    110       92  
Other States
    238       250  
Total
  $ 11,201       11,005  

Home Service Insurance Products

Our home service insurance products consist primarily of small face amount ordinary whole life and pre-need policies, which are designed to fund final expenses for the insured, primarily consisting of funeral and burial costs.  To a much lesser extent, our home service insurance segment sells limited-liability, named-peril property policies covering dwellings and contents.  We provide $30,000 maximum coverage on any one dwelling and contents, while content only coverage and dwelling only coverage is limited to $20,000, respectively.

We provide final expense ordinary life insurance and annuity products primarily to middle and lower income individuals primarily in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  New products were approved for sale in Mississippi since the beginning of 2012 and we expect to increase sales as we expand our marketing force in this state.
 
 
35

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012

The results of operations for the home service insurance segment for the periods indicated are as follows.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Revenue:
       
 
 
Premiums
  $ 10,927       10,708  
Net investment income
    3,155       3,237  
Realized investment gains, net
    87       19  
Other income
    6       8  
Total revenue
    14,175       13,972  
Benefits and expenses:
               
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
               
Claims and surrenders
    4,827       5,478  
Increase in future policy benefit reserves
    923       509  
Policyholders' dividends
    12       19  
Total insurance benefits paid or provided
    5,762       6,006  
                 
Commissions
    3,642       3,730  
Other general expenses
    2,964       2,975  
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (1,427 )     (1,576 )
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    475       586  
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired
    367       431  
Total benefits and expenses
    11,783       12,152  
Income before income tax expense
  $ 2,392       1,820  

Premiums.  The premium increases of 2.0% were due to ongoing home service marketing efforts, in addition to a small block of policies acquired in the latter part of 2011 that were reflected in the current year.

Net Investment Income.  Net investment income for our home service insurance segment portfolio yields are as follows.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
Year Ended
December 31,
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands, except for %)
 
                   
Net investment income, annualized
  $ 12,620       12,861       12,948  
Average invested assets, at amortized cost
    291,074       287,553       284,171  
Annualized yield on average invested assets
    4.34 %     4.47 %     4.56 %
 
Realized Gains, Net.  Net realized gains for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were due to calls of debt securities.
 
 
36

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Claims and Surrenders.  Claims and surrenders decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, and were within expected ranges.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(In thousands)
 
         
 
 
Death claims
  $ 3,745       4,178  
Surrender benefits
    595       616  
Endowment benefits
    7       6  
Property claims
    364       553  
Accident and health benefits
    20       34  
Other policy benefits
    96       91  
Total claims and surrenders
  $ 4,827       5,478  

 
·
Death claims expense was lower for the three months in 2012 due to a release of incurred but not reported liability of $0.5 million related to our claim experience calculation.  Mortality experience is closely monitored by the Company as a key performance indicator and these amounts were within expected levels.

 
·
Property claims decreased for the three months of 2012 compared to the same periods in 2011, resulting from fewer reported claims.

Other General Expenses.  The expenses are allocated by segment based upon an annual expense study performed by the Company and remained relatively flat between 2012 and 2011.

Capitalization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ("DAC").  Capitalized costs decreased slightly for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as commissions paid also decreased during the period.  DAC capitalization is directly correlated to fluctuations in commissions.

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.  Amortization for the three month period of 2011 includes an adjustment that resulted in an increase of $0.3 million due to a refinement in an estimate using system generated information related to SPLIC assumptions.

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

Overall, other non-insurance operations are immaterial to the consolidated results, except for the fair value adjustment related to the Company's warrants to purchase Class A common stock.  These amounts fluctuate due to the movement in the stock price and fair value calculation using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

Investments

The administration of our investment portfolios is handled by our management, pursuant to board-approved investment guidelines, with all trading activity approved by a committee of the respective boards of directors of our insurance company subsidiaries.  The guidelines used require that fixed maturities, both government and corporate, are of high quality and comprise a majority of the investment portfolio.  State insurance statutes prescribe the quality and percentage of the various types of investments that may be made by insurance companies and generally permit investment in qualified state, municipal, federal and foreign government obligations, high quality corporate bonds, preferred and common stock, mortgage loans and real estate within certain specified percentages.  The assets are intended to mature in accordance with the average maturity of the insurance products and to provide the cash flow for our insurance company subsidiaries to meet their respective policyholder obligations.

 
37


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012

The following table shows the carrying value of our investments by investment category and cash and cash equivalents, and the percentage of each to total invested cash, cash equivalents and investments.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
   
(In thousands)
         
(In thousands)
       
                         
Marketable securities:
 
 
   
 
             
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 265,475       29.6     $ 321,186       36.8  
Corporate
    238,839       26.6       195,374       22.4  
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states
    224,178       25.0       216,202       24.8  
Mortgage-backed (1)
    8,387       0.9       8,849       1.0  
Foreign governments
    138       -       142       -  
Short-term investments
    2,030       0.2       2,048       0.2  
Total marketable securities
    739,047       82.3       743,801       85.2  
                                 
Cash and cash equivalents
    61,096       6.8       33,255       3.8  
Other investments:
                               
Policy loans
    40,170       4.5       39,090       4.5  
Equity securities
    46,723       5.2       46,137       5.3  
Mortgage loans
    1,546       0.2       1,557       0.2  
Real estate
    8,574       1.0       8,539       1.0  
Other long-term investments
    112       -       105       -  
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments
  $ 897,268       100.0     $ 872,484       100.0  
 
 (1)  Includes $7.2 million and $8.1 million of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises at March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively.

The Company increased holdings in investment grade corporate securities during the first three months of 2012.  Cash and cash equivalents increased as of March 31, 2012, due to timing of cash inflows and investment into marketable securities.

The held-to-maturity portfolio as of March 31, 2012, represented 32.4% of the total fixed maturity securities owned based upon carrying values, with the remaining 67.6% classified as available-for-sale.  Held-to-maturity securities are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost and available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value.

The following table sets forth the distribution of the credit ratings of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities by carrying value as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
% of Total
Carrying Value
 
   
(In thousands)
         
(In thousands)
       
                         
AAA
  $ 46,577       6.3     $ 46,663       6.3  
AA
    435,713       59.1       482,869       65.1  
A     121,954       16.6       99,266       13.4  
BBB
    111,109       15.1       95,558       12.9  
BB and other
    21,664       2.9       17,397       2.3  
Totals
  $ 737,017       100.0     $ 741,753       100.0  

 
38

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
The Company made new investments in the A and BBB credit categories of corporate bonds, primarily public utility issuers.

Credit ratings reported for the periods indicated are assigned by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) such as Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch Ratings.  A credit rating assigned by an NRSRO is a quality based rating, with AAA representing the highest quality and D the lowest, with BBB and above being considered investment grade.  In addition, the Company may use credit ratings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) as assigned, if there is no NRSRO rating.  Securities rated by the SVO are grouped in the equivalent NRSRO category as stated by the SVO and securities that are not rated by an NRSRO are included in the “other” category.

The Company has no direct sovereign European debt exposure as of March 31, 2012.  We do have indirect exposure in one bond mutual fund holding, but the amount is deemed immaterial to the current investment holdings and consolidated financials.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company held municipal securities that include third party guarantees.  Detailed below is a presentation by NRSRO rating of our municipal holdings by funding type.

Municipals shown including third party guarantees

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
General Obligation
   
Special Revenue
   
Total
   
% Based on
 
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
 
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
 
   
(In thousands)
       
                                           
AAA
  $ 19,727       17,643       9,506       8,844       29,233       26,487       12.4  
AA
    51,859       47,976       97,441       90,721       149,300       138,697       65.2  
A     3,091       3,112       35,946       34,240       38,587       37,352       17.5  
BBB
    512       516       4,746       4,798       5,258       5,314       2.5  
BB and other
    -       -       4,579       5,190       4,579       5,190       2.4  
Total
  $ 75,189       69,247       151,768       143,793       226,957       213,040       100.0  
 
Municipals shown excluding third party guarantees
 
    March 31, 2012  
   
General Obligation
   
Special Revenue
   
Total
   
% Based on
 
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
 
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
 
   
(In thousands)
       
 
                                         
AAA
  $ 1,479       1,442       9,506       8,844       10,985       10,286       4.8  
AA
    51,157       47,035       72,882       67,606       124,039       114,641       53.8  
A     5,921       5,820       58,770       56,083       64,691       61,903       29.1  
BBB
    512       516       6,031       6,070       6,543       6,586       3.1  
BB and other
    16,120       14,434       4,579       5,190       20,699       19,624       9.2  
Total
  $ 75,189       69,247       151,768       143,793       226,957       213,040       100.0  

 
39

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
The Company held investments in special revenue bonds that had a greater than 10% exposure based upon activity as noted in the table below.

   
 
   
Amortized
   
% of Total
 
   
Fair Value
   
Cost
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
       
                   
Electricity power improvements
  $ 27,120       25,854       11.9  
Public improvements
    27,349       25,859       12.1  

The tables below represent the Company's exposure of municipal holdings in Louisiana and Texas, which exceed 10% of the total municipal portfolio as of March 31, 2012.

    March 31, 2012  
    General Obligation     Special Revenue     Total  
    Fair
Value
    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
    Amortized
Cost
 
    (In thousands)  
Louisiana securities including third party guarantees
                                   
                                     
AA
  $ 10,647       10,009       18,126       17,215       28,773       27,224  
A     126       120       14,301       13,654       14,427       13,774  
BBB
    512       516       4,746       4,798       5,258       5,314  
BB and other
    -       -       4,579       5,190       4,579       5,190  
Total
  $ 11,285       10,645       41,752       40,857       53,037       51,502  
                                                 
Louisiana securities excluding third party guarantees
                                               
                                                 
AA
  $ 9,534       8,964       12,583       12,041       22,117       21,005  
A     1,239       1,165       18,559       17,556       19,798       18,721  
BBB
    512       516       6,031       6,070       6,543       6,586  
BB and other
    -       -       4,579       5,190       4,579       5,190  
Total
  $ 11,285       10,645       41,752       40,857       53,037       51,502  
                                                 
Texas securities including third party guarantees
                                               
                                                 
AAA
  $ 19,727       17,643       5,040       4,607       24,767       22,250  
AA
    6,481       6,052       10,681       10,417       17,162       16,469  
A     1,315       1,310       3,286       3,277       4,601       4,587  
Total
  $ 27,523       25,005       19,007       18,301       46,530       43,306  
                                                 
Texas securities excluding third party guarantees
                                               
                                                 
AAA
  $ 1,479       1,442       5,041       4,606       6,520       6,048  
AA
    22,922       20,545       7,034       6,780       29,956       27,325  
A     1,315       1,310       6,932       6,915       8,247       8,225  
BB and other
    1,807       1,708       -       -       1,807       1,708  
Total
  $ 27,523       25,005       19,007       18,301       46,530       43,306  
 
 
40


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
The Company invests in municipal securities of issuers in the state of Louisiana and receives a credit that reduces its premium tax liability in that state.  At March 31, 2012, total holdings of municipal securities in Louisiana represented 23.4% of all municipal holdings based upon fair value.  The Company also holds 20.5% of its municipal holdings in Texas issuers.  There were no other states or individual issuer holdings that represented or exceeded 10% of the total municipal portfolio as of March 31, 2012.

Valuation of Investments

We evaluate the carrying value of our fixed maturity and equity securities at least quarterly.  The Company monitors all debt and equity securities on an on-going basis relative to changes in credit ratings, market prices, earnings trends and financial performance, in addition to specific region or industry reviews.  The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on a case-by-case evaluation of underlying reasons for the decline in fair value.  The Company determines other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing all relevant evidence related to the specific security issuer as well as the Company's intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost.

When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.  If the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date.  If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into the following:  a) the amount representing the credit loss; and b) the amount related to all other factors.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings.  The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  The previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment.  The new amortized cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments for the three months ended 2012 or 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity refers to a company's ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the needs of its operations.  Liquidity is managed on insurance operations and seeks to ensure stable and reliable sources of cash flows to meet obligations provided by a variety of sources.

Liquidity requirements of the Company are met primarily by funds provided from operations.  Premium deposits and revenues, investment income and investment maturities are the primary sources of funds, while investment purchases, policy benefits, and operating expenses are the primary uses of funds.  We historically have not had to liquidate investments to provide cash flow and did not do so during the first three months of 2012.  Our investments as of March 31, 2012, consist of 59.6% of marketable debt securities classified as available-for-sale that could be readily converted to cash for liquidity needs.

A primary liquidity concern is the risk of an extraordinary level of early policyholder withdrawals.  We include provisions within our insurance policies, such as surrender charges, that help limit and discourage early withdrawals.  Since these contractual withdrawals, as well as the level of surrenders experienced, were largely consistent with our assumptions in asset liability management, our associated cash outflows have, to date, not had an adverse impact on our overall liquidity.  Individual life insurance policies are less susceptible to withdrawal than annuity reserves and deposit liabilities because policyholders may incur surrender charges and undergo a new underwriting process in order to obtain a new insurance policy.  Cash flow projections and cash flow tests under various market interest rate scenarios are also performed annually to assist in evaluating liquidity needs and adequacy.  We currently anticipate that available liquidity sources and future cash flows will be adequate to meet our needs for funds.
 
 
41


CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Cash flows from our insurance operations have been sufficient to meet current needs.  Cash flows from operating activities were $15.2 million and $14.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  We have traditionally also had significant cash flows from both scheduled and unscheduled investment security maturities, redemptions, and prepayments.  These cash flows, for the most part, are reinvested in fixed income securities.  Net cash inflows from investing activities totaled $11.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, with net cash outflows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 of $27.2 million.  The 2012 net cash inflows from investing activities resulted primarily from an increase in cash balances of $27.8 million that was awaiting investment in suitable long-term securities.
 
The NAIC has established minimum capital requirements in the form of Risk-Based Capital ("RBC").  RBC factors the type of business written by an insurance company, the quality of its assets, and various other aspects of an insurance company's business to develop a minimum level of capital called "authorized control level risk-based capital" and compares this level to adjusted statutory capital that includes capital and surplus as reported under statutory accounting principles, plus certain investment reserves.  Should the ratio of adjusted statutory capital to control level RBC fall below 200%, a series of remedial actions by the affected company would be required.

All insurance subsidiaries were above the RBC minimums at December 31, 2011.  The ratios of adjusted statutory capital to control level RBC are shown below.

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
 
       
CICA
    628 %
CNLIC
    4,066 %
SPFIC
    408 %
SPLIC
    1,298 %
 
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes in contractual obligations from those reported in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The Company does not have off-balance sheet arrangements at March 31, 2012, and does not expect any future effects on the Company's financial condition related to any such arrangements.  We do not utilize special purpose entities as investment vehicles, nor are there any such entities in which we have an investment that engage in speculative activities of any nature, and we do not use such investments to hedge our investment positions.

Parent Company Liquidity and Capital Resources

Citizens is a holding company and has had minimal operations of its own.  Its assets consist primarily of the capital stock of its subsidiaries, cash, fixed income securities, mutual funds and investment real estate.  Accordingly, Citizens' cash flows depend upon the availability of statutorily permissible payments, primarily payments under management agreements from its two primary life insurance subsidiaries, CICA and SPLIC.  The ability to make payments is limited by applicable laws and regulations of Colorado, CICA's state of domicile, and Louisiana, SPLIC's state of domicile, which subject insurance operations to significant regulatory restriction.  These laws and regulations require, among other things, that these insurance subsidiaries maintain minimum solvency requirements and limit the amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the holding company.  Citizens historically has not relied upon dividends from subsidiaries for its cash flow needs.  However, CICA and SPLIC do dividend available funds from time to time in relation to new acquisition target strategies.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have prepared a current assessment of our critical accounting policies and estimates in connection with preparing our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. We believe that the accounting policies set forth in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 continue to describe the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements except as specifically noted below.

 
42

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Acquisition costs, consisting of commissions and policy issuance, underwriting and agency expenses that relate to the successful issuance of an insurance policy, are deferred.  These deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized primarily over the estimated premium paying period of the related policies in proportion to the ratio of the annual premium recognized to the total premium revenue anticipated, using the same assumptions as were used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits.

Item 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

General

The nature of our business exposes us to market risk relative to our invested assets and policy liabilities.  Market risk is the risk of loss that may occur when changes in interest rates and public equity prices adversely affect the value of our invested assets.  Interest rate risk is our primary market risk exposure.  Substantial and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can affect the fair value of our investments.  The fair value of our fixed maturity portfolio generally increases when interest rates decrease and decreases when interest rates increase.

The following table summarizes net unrealized gains and losses for the periods indicated.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
   
Net
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
   
Net
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                     
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
  $ 466,828       497,977       31,149       484,809       514,253       29,444  
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity
    239,040       242,383       3,343       227,500       230,093       2,593  
Total fixed maturities
  $ 705,868       740,360       34,492       712,309       744,346       32,037  
Total equity securities
  $ 45,397       46,723       1,326       45,599       46,137       538  
 
Market Risk Related to Interest Rates

Our exposure to interest rate changes results from our significant holdings of fixed maturity investments, which comprised 88.1% of our investment portfolio based on carrying value as of March 31, 2012.  These investments are mainly exposed to changes in U.S. Treasury rates.  Our fixed maturities investments include U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, U.S. Government bonds, securities issued by government agencies, municipal bonds and corporate bonds.  Approximately 36.0% of the fixed maturities at carrying value on March 31, 2012, were invested in U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises.

To manage interest rate risk, we perform periodic projections of asset and liability cash flows to evaluate the potential sensitivity of our investments and liabilities.  We assess interest rate sensitivity annually with respect to our available-for-sale fixed maturities investments using hypothetical test scenarios that assume either upward or downward shifts in the prevailing interest rates.  The changes in fair values of our debt and equity securities as of March 31, 2012, were within the expected range of this analysis.

Changes in interest rates typically have a sizable effect on the fair values of our debt and equity securities.  The interest rate of the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond increased to 2.2% during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from 1.9% at December 31, 2011.  Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities totaled $34.5 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $32.0 million at December 31, 2011.
 
 
43

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012

The fixed maturity portfolio is exposed to call risk, as a significant portion of the current bond holdings are callable.  A decreasing interest rate environment can result in increased call activity as experienced over the past several years, and an increasing rate environment will likely result in securities being paid at their stated maturity.

There are no fixed maturities or other investments classified as trading instruments.  Approximately 67.3% of fixed maturities were held in available-for-sale and 32.7% in held-to-maturity based upon fair value at March 31, 2012.  At March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, we had no investments in derivative instruments, nor did we have any subprime or collateralized debt obligation risk.

Market Risk Related to Equity Prices

Changes in the level or volatility of equity prices affect the value of equity securities we hold as investments.  Our equity investments portfolio represented 5.6% of our total investments at March 31, 2012, with 96.2% invested in diversified equity and bond mutual funds.  We believe that significant decreases in the equity markets would not have a material adverse impact on our total investment portfolio.

Item 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure, among other things, that material information relating to our Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to our officers who certify our financial reports and to the other members of our senior management and the Board of Directors.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")).  Based upon an evaluation at the end of the period, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, there were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that materially affect or are reasonably likely to affect the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a defendant in a lawsuit filed on August 6, 1999, in the Texas District Court, Austin, Texas, now styled Delia Bolanos Andrade, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Citizens Insurance Company of America, et al., Defendants in which a class was originally certified by the trial court and reversed by the Texas Supreme Court in 2007 with an order to the trial court to conduct further proceedings consistent with its ruling.  The underlying lawsuit alleged that certain life insurance policies CICA made available to non-U.S. residents, when combined with a policy feature that allowed certain cash benefits to be assigned to two non-U.S. trusts for the purpose of accumulating ownership of our Class A common stock, along with allowing the policyholders to make additional contributions to the trusts, were actually offers and sales of securities that occurred in Texas by unregistered dealers in violation of the Texas securities laws.  The remedy sought was rescission and return of the insurance premium payments.  On December 9, 2009, the trial court denied the recertification of the class after conducting additional proceedings in accordance with the Texas Supreme Court's ruling.  The remaining plaintiffs must now proceed individually, and not as a class, if they intend to pursue their claims against us.  Since the December 9, 2009 trial court ruling, no individual cases have been further pursued by the plaintiffs.  The probability of the plaintiffs further pursuing their cases individually is unknown.  An estimate of any possible loss or range of losses cannot be made at this time in regard to individuals pursuing claims.  However, should the plaintiffs further pursue their claims individually, we intend to vigorously defend any proceedings.
 
 
44

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
SPFIC is a defendant in a lawsuit in Louisiana styled The State of Louisiana v. AAA Insurance (the "Road Home Litigation"), which was filed in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans on August 23, 2007.  The Louisiana Attorney General initially filed the Road Home Litigation as a putative class action lawsuit in state court against SPFIC and approximately 200 other insurers on behalf of the State of Louisiana, as assignee, and on behalf of a class of Road Home fund recipients alleging that SPFIC and the other insurers have failed to pay all damages owed under their policies. The insurers removed the matter to federal court.  The defendants filed a motion to dismiss, and in March 2009, the district court granted part of the defendants’ motion, dismissing all of the extra-contractual claims, including the bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty claims.  As a result, the remaining claims are for breach of contract and declaratory relief on the alleged underpayment of claims by the insurers.  The defendants also had moved to dismiss the complaint on grounds that the State had no standing to bring the lawsuit as an assignee of insureds because of anti-assignment language in the insurers’ policies.  The court denied the defendants’ motion for reconsideration on the assignment issue but found the matter was ripe for consideration by the federal appellate court.  The defendants filed a petition for permission to appeal to the Fifth Circuit.  The Fifth Circuit accepted review.  On July 20, 2011, the Fifth Circuit ruled there was no public policy which precludes an anti-assignment clause from applying to post loss assignments, but the anti-assignment language must be evaluated on a policy by policy basis and unambiguously express that the non-assignment clause applies to post-loss assignments. In October 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied the State’s motion to remand to state court.  The Road Home Litigation remains pending in federal district court, but all class allegations have now been dismissed.  The State has yet to identify the specific claims it intends to pursue against SPFIC, or the alleged deficiencies in adjusting those claims. The United States District for the Eastern District of Louisiana has recently established a deadline of May 31, 2012 for the State to identify the claims it intends to pursue against SPFIC.  Each individual claim at issue will require an individual analysis. A number of the claims may be subject to individual defenses and many may not be covered by the SPFIC policies at issue.  To date, there has been no discovery in the Road Home Litigation.  We anticipate the State will vigorously pursue the matter in the district court and are uncertain as to the impact a case by case analysis of claims will have on SPFIC.  An estimate of possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time as a result of the Fifth Circuit or federal district court's rulings in the Road Home Litigation.  SPFIC intends to vigorously defend any remaining proceedings.

SPFIC is vigorously defending a number of matters in various stages of development filed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in addition to the Road Home Litigation, including a number of individual lawsuits, which are immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

Item 1A. 
RISK FACTORS

There are no updates to our risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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

None.

Item 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. 
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.
 
Item 5.
OTHER INFORMATION

On May 7, 2012, the Company issued a news release (the "Release") reporting, among things, results of operations for its first quarter of 2012.  A copy of the Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Citizens also announced that it would hold a conference call to discuss its financial results at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
 
 
45

 
CITIZENS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2012
 
Item 6.
EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
   
3.1
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation (a)
   
3.2
Bylaws (b)
   
4.1
Amendment to State Series A-1 and A-2 Senior Convertible Preferred Stock (c)
   
11
Statement re:  Computation of per share earnings (see financial statements)
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
   
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
   
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
   
News Release reporting first quarter results issued on May 7, 2012 (furnished herewith)
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document (furnished herewith)
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (furnished herewith)
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase (furnished herewith)
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase (furnished herewith)
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase (furnished herewith)
   
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase (furnished herewith)
 
__________________
* Filed herewith.
 
   
(a)
Filed on March 15, 2004 with the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2003 as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
(b)
Filed on March 31, 1999 with the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1998, as Exhibit 3.2, and incorporated herein by reference.
(c)
Filed on July 15, 2004, with the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

 
46

 
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.
 
 
CITIZENS, INC.
   
     
 
By:
/s/ Harold E. Riley
   
Harold E. Riley
   
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
  By: /s/ Kay E. Osbourn
    Kay E. Osbourn
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
     
Date:  May 7, 2012    
 
 
47