SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
December 18, 1997
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
FBL Financial Group, Inc.
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Iowa
1-11917
42-1411715
(Address of Principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
5400 University Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(515) 225-5400
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) N/A
Item 5. Other Events.
On December 18, 1997, FBL Financial Group, Inc. (the
"Company") announced the formation of an alliance with Berthel
Fisher & Company, a privately held financial services firm, for
the marketing and administration of variable annuity and variable
universal life insurance products to be sold by its broker-dealer
subsidiary, Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc.
Also announced was an $8,000,000 cash investment in Berthel
Fisher by the Company. The press release announcing these
matters is included as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
FBL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: December 23, 1997
By: /s/ James W. Noyce
James W. Noyce, Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBITS TO FORM 8-K
99.1 Press Release dated December 18, 1997
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1997
FBL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY ANNOUNCE
MARKETING AGREEMENT; INVESTMENT IN BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY
West Des Moines, Iowa - FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) and
Berthel Fisher & Company today announced a planned marketing
arrangement whereby FBL Financial Group will underwrite and
administer variable universal life insurance and variable annuity
products for sale by Berthel Fisher & Company. Also announced is
a planned investment by FBL Financial Group in Berthel Fisher &
Company.
The companies will enter into a marketing agreement under which
Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc., a wholly-owned
broker/dealer subsidiary of Berthel Fisher & Company, will sell
variable life insurance and variable annuity products for FBL
Financial Group on a non-exclusive basis. The variable products to
be marketed through Berthel Fisher will be sold by a second tier
life insurance subsidiary of FBL Financial Group.
FBL Financial Group will register the variable products with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. FBL Financial Group's existing
administrative and financial systems and personnel will be utilized
to process the new variable business. It is anticipated variable
products will be marketed through Berthel Fisher & Company no later
than June 1998.
Berthel Fisher & Company, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is
privately held and operates a full-service broker/dealer,
investment banking firm and leasing company. Berthel Fisher has
approximately 140 full-time registered representatives that are
licensed to sell variable life insurance, variable annuity and
other investment products throughout the Midwest. Sales of
variable and other investment products by Berthel Fisher totaled
$20,000,000 and $275,000,000, respectively, during the eleven month
period ended November 30, 1997.
Tom Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of FBL Financial Group stated,
"Distribution of insurance products through alternative channels is
an important part of our strategic plan to grow top line revenues
and increase the volume of business over which we spread our fixed
costs. FBL has the system resources and personnel to expand its
business and the arrangement with Berthel Fisher helps utilize some
of this capacity."
Gibson added, "FBL remains committed to its traditional Farm Bureau
customer base and its dedicated Farm Bureau agency force.
Expanding business through alternative distribution systems will
make FBL more efficient which, in turn, benefits all constituents."
In connection with the planned marketing arrangement, FBL Financial
Group will acquire 5,000,000 shares of Berthel Fisher & Company's
6 percent convertible redeemable cumulative preferred stock for
$5,000,000. In addition, FBL Financial Group will acquire a 20
percent interest in the common stock of Berthel Fisher & Company
Financial Services, Inc. for $2,000,000 and $1,000,000 of
convertible debentures issued by Berthel Fisher & Company Financial
Services, Inc. With these investments, FBL Financial Group will
name two members each to the Board of Directors of Berthel Fisher
& Company and Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc.
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock and subordinated
debentures will be used by Berthel Fisher for expansion and
development of its sales force and other corporate purposes. This
expansion is expected to be obtained through increased recruiting
efforts and acquisitions. Proceeds from the issuance of the
convertible preferred stock will be used for repayment of
indebtedness, recapitalization and other corporate purposes.
The statements in this release concerning the outlook on FBL
Financial Group's growth opportunities and potential for
profitability are forward-looking statements that involve certain
risks and uncertainties, including the acceptance of current and
future products by customers and agents, and the success of
marketing efforts. These forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions which FBL Financial Group believe to be reasonable. No
assurance can be given that the assumptions will prove to be
correct, and the difference between assumptions and actual results
could be material.
FBL Financial Group is a holding company whose primary operating
subsidiaries include Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, Western
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and Utah Farm Bureau Insurance
Company. It currently underwrites, markets and distributes life
insurance, annuities, property-casualty insurance and mutual funds
to individuals and small businesses in 15 Midwestern and Western
states, including approximately 700,000 Farm Bureau member
families, through an exclusive agency force.
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