Independence Holding Company Reports Second-Quarter and Six Months Results


STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC) today reported 2009 second-quarter and six months results. This press release contains both GAAP and non-GAAP financial information for which reconciliations can be found at the end of this release.

Financial Results

Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to IHC increased to $.13 per share, diluted, or $1,976,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $(.43) per share, diluted, or $(6,693,000), for the three months ended June 30, 2008. Included in the prior year's net loss is a realized loss for other than temporary impairments in preferred stocks of $(11,145,000) or $(.72) per share, diluted, net of tax, which (net of gains) yielded a net realized loss of $(9,764,000) or $(.63) per share, diluted, net of tax.

Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to IHC increased to $.35 per share, diluted, or $5,332,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $(.24) per share, diluted, or $(3,621,000), for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Included in the prior year's net loss for the six months is a realized loss for other than temporary impairments in preferred stocks of $(11,197,000) or $(.73) per share, diluted, net of tax, which (net of gains) yielded a net realized loss of $(9,785,000) or $(.64) per share, diluted, net of tax.

IHC reported operating income(1) per share of $.08 per share, diluted, or $1,162,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $.20 per share, diluted, or $3,071,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2008. IHC reported operating income per share of $.23 per share, diluted, or $3,565,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $.40 per share, diluted, or $6,164,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Revenues increased 13% to $100,599,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008 of $89,318,000. Revenues increased 3% to $199,970,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 of $193,736,000.

Chief Executive Officer's Comments

Roy Thung, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our operating income was adversely impacted by unexpectedly large health claims and unusually large legal and other expenses in connection with employment matters and the closing of a branch office. As a result of recessionary pressures and tighter underwriting guidelines, our premiums have decreased 6.0% for the first six months of 2009 compared to the first six months of 2008. In response to the decrease in premiums, we have initiated significant cost reductions in the fully insured division, which will be largely realized beginning in 2010."

Mr. Thung continued, "Even in the current challenging economy, our financial condition remains strong. Our insurance companies' statutory surplus at June 30, 2009 is at an all-time high. The Company recorded an increase in book value per share to $12.70 at June 30, 2009 from $10.56 at December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of a reduction in unrealized losses due to mark-to-market accounting on our available-for-sale securities. The adjusted book value per share(2) was $14.49 at June 30, 2009."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides non-GAAP financial measures to complement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP: (i) Operating income is income from continuing operations net of losses attributable to non-controlling interests and excluding net realized gains or losses, net of applicable income taxes, (ii) Operating income per share is operating income (loss) on a per share basis, and (iii) Adjusted book value per share represents IHC's book value per share excluding the per share value of net unrealized investment gains and losses (per SFAS 115), after taxes. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement the user's overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. Specifically, the Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding realized gains or losses, net of taxes, that, when excluded from the GAAP results, may provide additional understanding of the Company's core operating results or business performance. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to supersede or replace the Company's GAAP results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP results to the GAAP results is provided in the "Reconciliation of GAAP Income from Continuing Operations to Non-GAAP Income from Continuing Operations" and "Reconciliation of GAAP Book Value Per Share to Non-GAAP Adjusted Book Value Per Share" schedules below.

About Independence Holding Company

IHC is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business and the acquisition of blocks of policies through its insurance company subsidiaries (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York and Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.), its affiliate (American Independence Corp. (Nasdaq:AMIC)), and its managing general underwriters, third-party administrators, and marketing affiliates. Standard Security Life markets medical stop-loss, small group major medical, short-term medical, major medical for individuals and families, limited medical, group long and short-term disability and life, dental, vision and managed health care products. Madison Life sells group life and disability, employer medical stop-loss, small group major medical, major medical for individuals and families, short-term medical, dental, vision, and individual life insurance. AMIC is a holding company principally engaged in the insurance and reinsurance business through Independence American Insurance Company and its agencies and managing general underwriter division.

Certain statements in this news release may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to management's views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which IHC operates, new federal or state governmental regulation, IHC's ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic acquisition, and other factors which can be found in IHC's other news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1) Operating income is a non-GAAP measure representing income from continuing operations net of losses attributable to non-controlling interests and excluding net realized investment gains (losses), net of applicable income tax. The Company believes that the presentation of operating income may offer a better understanding of the core operating results of the Company. A reconciliation of income from continuing operations to operating income is included in this press release.

(2) Adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP measure which represents IHC's book value per share and excludes the per share value of net unrealized investment gains and losses (per SFAS 115), after taxes. A reconciliation of book value per share to adjusted book value per share is included in this press release.



                     INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
                         SECOND QUARTER REPORT
                             JUNE 30, 2009
                 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                                Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,            June 30,
                                  2009      2008      2009      2008
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 REVENUES
 Premiums earned                $ 77,081  $ 81,684  $153,514  $163,338
 Net investment income            11,428    11,156    22,147    21,801
 Fee income                        8,486    10,218    17,521    21,417
 Net realized investment gains     1,262     2,306     2,927     2,501
 Total other-than-temporary
  impairment losses                   --   (17,393)     (271)  (17,474)
 Equity income from AMIC             235       389       928       790
 Other income                      2,107       958     3,204     1,363
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
                                 100,599    89,318   199,970   193,736
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 EXPENSES
 Insurance benefits, claims and
  reserves                        60,423    61,615   116,619   122,399
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses         35,607    35,915    72,661    72,752
 Amortization of deferred
  acquisition costs                1,300     1,955     2,350     3,409
 Interest expense on debt            761       909     1,531     1,895
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
                                  98,091   100,394   193,161   200,455
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income (loss) from continuing
  operations before income taxes
  (benefits)                       2,508   (11,076)    6,809    (6,719)
 Income taxes (benefits)             545    (4,409)    1,497    (3,056)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Income (loss) from continuing
  operations                       1,963    (6,667)    5,312    (3,663)

 Discontinued operations:
 Loss from discontinued
  operations                        (117)       --      (354)       --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Net Income (loss)                 1,846    (6,667)    4,958    (3,663)
 (Income) loss from non-
  controlling interests in
  subsidiaries                        13       (26)       20        42
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

   NET INCOME (LOSS)
    ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC         $  1,859  $ (6,693) $  4,978  $ (3,621)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Basic income (loss) per common
  share:
   Income (loss) from continuing
    operations                  $    .13  $   (.43) $    .35  $   (.24)
   Loss from discontinued
    operations                      (.01)       --      (.03)       --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
     Basic income (loss) per
      common share              $    .12  $   (.43) $    .32  $   (.24)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
  OUTSTANDING                     15,419    15,388    15,413    15,359
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Diluted income(loss) per common
  share
   Income (loss) from continuing
    operations                  $    .13  $   (.43) $    .35  $   (.24)
   Loss from discontinued
    operations                      (.01)       --      (.03)       --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
     Diluted income (loss) per
      common share              $    .12  $   (.43) $    .32  $   (.24)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED
  SHARES OUTSTANDING              15,419    15,388    15,415    15,359
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 As of August 7, 2009, there were 15,423,175 common shares outstanding,
 net of treasury shares.


       RECONCILIATION OF GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
            TO NON-GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                                Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,            June 30,
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                  2009      2008      2009      2008
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Income (loss) from continuing
  operations                    $  1,963  $ (6,667) $  5,312  $ (3,663)

 (Income) loss from non-
  controlling interest in
  subsidiaries                        13       (26)       20        42
 Realized (gains) losses net of
  taxes                             (814)   (1,381)   (1,939)   (1,412)
 Other-than temporary impairment
  losses, net of taxes                --    11,145       172    11,197
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Operating income from
    continuing operations       $  1,162  $  3,071  $  3,565  $  6,164
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Non - GAAP basic income per
  common share:
     Operating income from
      continuing operations     $    .08  $    .20  $    .23  $    .40
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Non - GAAP diluted income per
  common share:
     Operating income from
      continuing operations     $    .08  $    .20  $    .23  $    .40
                                ========  ========  ========  ========



 Included in the realized gains (losses), net of taxes, above are IHC's
 proportionate share of AMIC's realized gains (losses) net of taxes.
 The other-than-temporary impairment losses are primarily due to the
 write down in value of preferred stocks of certain financial
 institutions.


            RECONCILIATION OF GAAP BOOK VALUE PER SHARE TO
                NON-GAAP ADJUSTED BOOK VALUE PER SHARE

                                                              June 30,
                                                                2009
                                                              --------

 Book Value per share                                         $  12.70

 Net unrealized losses, after tax, per share                      1.79
                                                              --------

 Adjusted book value per share                                $  14.49
                                                              ========


            

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