SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: July 23, 1998
Date of earliest event reported: July 23, 1998
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
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(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana 1-6028 35-1140070
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(State of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
200 East Berry Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802-2706
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
219-455-2000
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(Registrant's telephone number)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Set forth below is the text of a press release issued by the Registrant on
July 23, 1998.
LNC REPORTS ANOTHER RECORD QUARTER
18% Increase in Operating Earnings Per Share
Life Insurance Earnings Triple
34% Growth in Annuity Earnings
FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 23, 1998--Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:
LNC) today reported record income from operations of $132.2 million, or $1.30
per diluted share, for its second quarter ended June 30, 1998. These earnings
exceeded the published FirstCall analysts' consensus. By comparison, income
from operations in the second quarter of 1997 was $114.5 million, or $1.10 per
diluted share, excluding a $130 million after-tax charge to strengthen reserves
for disability income insurance.
Excluding charges for amortization of goodwill and similar
intangibles, income from operations in the second quarter of 1998 was $144.5
million, or $1.41 per diluted share, up 22 percent over the 1997 second quarter.
"This was another quarter of record operating earnings for Lincoln
National, and our results were accompanied by clear signals of positive trends
and increasing momentum in key businesses," said Jon A. Boscia, president and
chief executive officer.
"While the financial services landscape continues to rapidly evolve,
we believe we are in the right businesses and have outstanding distribution,
marketing and product capabilities to succeed in the future."
Boscia pointed out that retail deposits, which include annuities,
mutual funds and other personal wealth accumulation products and are a key
measure of future success, were up 15 percent to $2.5 billion for the quarter.
Other highlights of the quarter were:
Total life insurance in-force increased 38 percent over the year
before, reaching $340 billion as of June 30, 1998;
Total assets managed were $132 billion as of June 30, 1998, a 14
percent increase over the year before;
Net income rose to $148.7 million, or $1.46 per diluted share. Net
income for the second quarter of 1997, excluding special charges,
was $122.2 million, or $1.18 per share; and
LNC entered into an agreement to purchase the domestic life insurance
business of Aetna for $1 billion. This transaction, when combined
with the earlier acquisition of CIGNA Corp.'s individual life
insurance business, will strengthen LNC's position as the provider
of choice for the affluent market in the United States, Boscia
said. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter
of 1998.
Information on the business segments follows:
Life Insurance and Annuities
Earnings in this segment were $102.7 million versus $61.3 million in
the second quarter of 1997. Annuity earnings were $63.6 million, a 34 percent
increase over last year's second quarter earnings of $47.3 million. Annuity
account values reached a record $49.9 billion in the 1998 second quarter, up 24
percent over the $40.2 billion in last year's second quarter.
"We are determined to remain at the forefront of the annuities industry
and we will place continuing emphasis on improving our annuity products and
expanding our distribution channels," Boscia said.
Life insurance earnings were $34.6 million, three times higher than
earnings in the second quarter of 1997. The significant increase in life
insurance earnings is reflective, in part, of the added product portfolio and
agency force acquired from CIGNA. On a "same store" basis, first-year premiums
were up 16 percent over the prior year. Similarly, life brokerage sales, when
measured by first-year premium, were $17 million, compared with $6.1 million.
"We are devoting substantial energy and resources to achieving
significant scale and profitability in our life insurance business," Boscia
said. "Our second quarter results are indicative of the progress we are making
toward that goal."
Lincoln (UK)
The Lincoln UK segment reported earnings of $17.2 million, slightly
higher than 1997 second quarter earnings of $17 million. "Lincoln UK is about
to relaunch 'Financial Foundations,' its flagship unit-linked life insurance
product with improved features in the third quarter," Boscia said. "These
features will make this product -- which already accounts for nearly 25 percent
of Lincoln's new business -- much more competitive in its market."
Reinsurance
The Reinsurance segment reported income from operations of $21.8
million versus $19.6 million, excluding the special charge for strengthening
disability income reserves, in the second quarter of 1997. Sales of individual
life reinsurance for the quarter continued at near-record levels, up 23 percent
from last year. Life reinsurance in-force grew 20 percent and now exceeds $200
billion.
"The recent growth in this business is impressive," Boscia said. "We
reached the $100 billion mark of life reinsurance in-force in 1990. By 1996,
we were up to $150 billion, and, now, just 18 months later, we have passed
$200 billion."
Investment Management
The Investment Management segment reported record income from
operations of $5.5 million for the quarter. Investment advisory fees and other
revenue totaled $76 million in the quarter, a 24 percent increase over the year
before. Retail sales at Delaware Investments were $860 million, nearly double
the sales reported in the second quarter 1997. A total of 21 funds held four-
and five-star ratings by Morningstar, Inc. as of June 30, 1998. These funds
represent 64 percent of the retail fund assets under management.
"Delaware's London-based investment division has seen assets rise 71
percent to $10.7 billion since June 30, 1997. This dramatic increase is the
result of a competitive investment performance track record and a strong
institutional sales operation to take advantage of an industry-wide trend toward
the globalization of pension investments," Boscia said. Delaware's London
operation provides global and international equity and fixed-income investment
products to largely U.S.-based clients.
"We purchased Delaware Investments just over three years ago," Boscia
said. "Over the past 18 months, institutional sales were 78 percent higher than
they were in the first 18 months we owned the company."
As of June 30, the book value of LNC stock with securities at cost was
$46.44, compared with $38.90 a year ago. Book value with securities valued at
market was $51.10, compared with $43.00 a year ago.
LNC is a prominent financial services holding company whose wealth
accumulation and protection businesses provide annuities, life insurance, 401(k)
plans, life-health reinsurance, mutual funds, institutional investment
management and advisory services and financial planning. With headquarters in
Fort Wayne, LNC has assets of $88 billion and annual revenues of $6 billion.
For further information, please contact:
Media Analysts
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Scott M. Bushnell Daniel W. Weber
Director, Media Relations Director,Investor Relations
(219) 455-7512 (219) 455-2336
[email protected] [email protected]
<PAGE>
Signature Page
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
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.
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
BY: /S/ RICHARD C. VAUGHAN
Richard C. Vaughan
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: July 23, 1998
