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Quotes & Info
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| CI > SEC Filings for CI > Form 10-Q on 5-Nov-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
5-Nov-2009
Quarterly Report
INDEX
Introduction 45
Consolidated Results of Operations 47
Critical Accounting Estimates 51
Segment Reporting 55
Health Care 55
Disability and Life 60
International 62
Run-off Reinsurance 64
Other Operations 67
Corporate 68
Discontinued Operations 68
Industry Developments and Other Matters 69
Liquidity and Capital Resources 70
Investment Assets 76
Market Risk 81
Cautionary Statement 82
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INTRODUCTION
In this filing and in other marketplace communications, CIGNA Corporation and
its subsidiaries (the Company) make certain forward-looking statements relating
to the Company's financial condition and results of operations, as well as to
trends and assumptions that may affect the Company. Generally, forward-looking
statements can be identified through the use of predictive words (e.g., "Outlook
for 2009"). Actual results may differ from the Company's predictions. Some
factors that could cause results to differ are discussed throughout Management's
Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), including in the Cautionary Statement beginning
on page 82. The forward-looking statements contained in this filing represent
management's current estimate as of the date of this filing. Management does not
assume any obligation to update these estimates.
The following discussion addresses the financial condition of the Company as of
September 30, 2009, compared with December 31, 2008, and its results of
operations for the third quarter of 2009 and nine months ended September 30,
2009 compared with the same periods last year. This discussion should be read in
conjunction with MD&A included in the Company's 2008 Form 10-K, to which the
reader is directed for additional information.
The preparation of interim consolidated financial statements necessarily relies
heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal
nature of portions of the health care and related benefits business as well as
competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full
year results based on interim results of operations.
Certain reclassifications and restatements have been made to prior period
amounts to conform to the current presentation. In addition, certain amounts
have been restated as a result of the adoption of new accounting pronouncements.
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Overview
The Company constitutes one of the largest investor-owned health service
organizations in the United States. Its subsidiaries are major providers of
health care and related benefits, the majority of which are offered through the
workplace. In addition, the Company has an international operation that offers
life, accident and supplemental health insurance products as well as
international health care products and services to businesses and individuals in
selected markets. The Company also has certain inactive businesses, including a
Run-off Reinsurance segment.
Ongoing Operations
The Company's ability to increase revenue, shareholders' net income and
operating cash flow from ongoing operations is directly related to progress on
the execution of its strategic initiatives, the success of which is measured by
certain key factors, including the Company's ability to:
• profitably price products and services at competitive levels that reflect
emerging experience;
• maintain and grow its customer base;
• cross sell its various health and related benefit products;
• invest available cash at attractive rates of return for appropriate durations;
• effectively manage other operating expenses; and
• effectively deploy capital.
Run-off Operations
Effectively managing the various exposures of its run-off operations is
important to the Company's ongoing profitability, operating cash flows and
available capital. The results are influenced by a range of economic factors,
especially movements in equity markets and interest rates. In order to
substantially reduce the impact of equity market movements on the liability for
guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB), the Company operates an equity hedge
program. The Company actively monitors the performance of the hedge program, and
evaluates the cost/benefit of hedging other risks. Results are also influenced
by behavioral factors, including future partial surrender election rates for
GMDB contracts, annuity election rates for guaranteed minimum income benefits
(GMIB) contracts, annuitant lapse rates, as well as the collection of amounts
recoverable from retrocessionaires. The Company actively studies policyholder
behavior experience and adjusts future expectations based on the results of the
studies, as warranted. The Company also performs regular audits of ceding
companies to ensure that premiums received and claims paid properly reflect the
underlying risks, and to maximize the probability of subsequent collection of
claims from retrocessionaires. Finally, the Company monitors the financial
strength and credit standing of the retrocessionaires and establishes or
collects collateral when warranted.
Summary
The Company's overall results are influenced by a range of economic and other
factors, especially:
• cost trends and inflation for medical and related services;
• utilization patterns of medical and other services;
• employment levels;
• the tort liability system;
• developments in the political environment both domestically and internationally, including efforts to reform the U.S. health care system;
• interest rates, equity market returns, foreign currency fluctuations and credit market volatility, including the availability and cost of credit in the future; and
• federal and state regulation.
The Company regularly monitors the trends impacting operating results from the
above mentioned key factors and economic and other factors affecting its
operations. The Company develops strategic and tactical plans designed to
improve performance and maximize its competitive position in the markets it
serves. The Company's ability to achieve its financial objectives is dependent
upon its ability to effectively execute these plans and to appropriately respond
to emerging economic and company-specific trends.
The Company seeks to improve the performance of and profitably grow its ongoing
businesses and manage the risks associated with the run-off reinsurance
operations.
Acquisition of Great-West Healthcare
On April 1, 2008, the Company acquired the Healthcare division of Great-West
Life and Annuity, Inc. ("Great-West Healthcare" or the "acquired business")
through 100% indemnity reinsurance agreements and the acquisition of certain
affiliates and other assets and liabilities of Great-West Healthcare. The
purchase price was approximately $1.5 billion and consisted of a payment to the
seller of approximately $1.4 billion for the net assets acquired and the
assumption of net liabilities under the reinsurance agreement of approximately
$0.1 billion. Great-West Healthcare primarily sells medical plans on a
self-funded basis with stop loss coverage to select and regional employer
groups. Great-West Healthcare's offerings also include the following specialty
products: stop loss, life, disability, medical, dental, vision, prescription
drug coverage, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. The
acquisition, which was accounted for as a purchase, was financed through a
combination of cash and the issuance of both short and long-term debt.
See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Initiatives to Lower Operating Expenses
During 2009, the Company continued its previously announced comprehensive review
to reduce the operating expenses of its ongoing businesses. As a result, the
Company recognized severance related charges in other operating expenses as
follows:
• during the third quarter of 2009, a charge of $10 million pre-tax ($7 million
after-tax), for severance resulting from reductions of approximately 230
positions in its workforce; and
• during the second quarter of 2009, a charge of $14 million pre-tax ($9 million after-tax), for severance resulting from reductions of approximately 480 positions in its workforce.
Substantially all of these charges were recorded in the Health Care segment, and are expected to be paid in cash by June 30, 2010. As a result of these actions, the Company expects annualized after-tax savings of approximately $30 million in 2010 and beyond. A portion of the savings is being realized in 2009.
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