Unum Group Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results

• Net income of $231.1 million ($1.13 per diluted common share) for the third quarter of 2020; after-tax adjusted operating income was $245.9 million ($1.21 per diluted common share).
• Results reflect operating income stability despite continued impact of elevated mortality and high levels of unemployment.
• Strong balance sheet and liquidity with holding company cash of $1.2 billion; weighted average risk-based capital ratio of approximately 380 percent.
• Book value per common share of $53.50 grew 14.6 percent over the year-ago quarter.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (October 27, 2020) - Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) today reported net income of $231.1 million ($1.13 per diluted common share) for the third quarter of 2020, compared to net income of $242.0 million ($1.16 per diluted common share) for the third quarter of 2019.

Included in net income for the third quarter of 2020 are after-tax costs related to an organizational design update of $18.6 million ($0.09 per diluted common share), as well as a net after-tax realized investment gain on the Company’s investment portfolio of $3.8 million ($0.01 per diluted common share).  Included in net income for the third quarter of 2019 are after-tax costs related to the early retirement of debt of $19.9 million ($0.10 per diluted common share), as well as a net after-tax realized investment loss on the Company's investment portfolio of $20.8 million ($0.10 per diluted common share).  Excluding the items above, after-tax adjusted operating income was $245.9 million ($1.21 per diluted common share) in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $282.7 million ($1.36 per diluted common share) in the third quarter of 2019.

"Financial performance remained solid in the third quarter, despite pressure from elevated mortality rates and unemployment levels" said Richard P. McKenney, president and chief executive officer.  "Our team continues to deliver solid operational performance, adapting to best serve our customers in this extraordinary time. This environment reinforces the fundamental purpose for what we do in protecting employees and their families in time of need. We continue to be well-positioned to benefit from better business conditions as the economy improves and will continue to effectively manage through today’s challenges."

RESULTS BY SEGMENT

We measure and analyze our segment performance on the basis of "adjusted operating income" or "adjusted operating loss", which differ from income before income tax as presented in our consolidated statements of income due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses and certain other items.  These performance measures are in accordance with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, but they should not be viewed as a substitute for income before income tax or net income. 

Unum US Segment

Unum US reported adjusted operating income of $188.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 28.0 percent from $261.4 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income for the segment decreased 1.2 percent to $1,483.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to premium income of $1,501.9 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Net investment income for the segment increased 3.5 percent to $190.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $184.2 million in the third quarter of 2019.

Within the Unum US operating segment, the group disability line of business reported a 12.0 percent decrease in adjusted operating income to $73.0 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $83.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income for the group disability line of business was $646.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, which was generally consistent with the $648.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Net investment income increased 5.9 percent to $105.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $99.5 million in the third quarter of 2019, driven by higher miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a lower yield on invested assets.  The benefit ratio of 74.1 percent for the third quarter of 2020 was generally consistent with the 74.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019, due to higher claim recoveries in our group long-term disability product line, mostly offset by higher claims incidence in the short term disability product line.  Group long-term disability sales were $29.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 25.2 percent from $23.8 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Group short-term disability sales were $15.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 25.9 percent from $20.5 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Persistency in the group long-term disability product line was 90.3 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 90.7 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the group short-term disability product line was 87.5 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 89.9 percent for the first nine months of 2019.

The group life and accidental death and dismemberment line of business reported adjusted operating income of $13.9 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 79.7 percent from $68.4 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income for this line of business decreased 2.3 percent to $446.0 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $456.5 million in the third quarter of 2019, driven primarily by lower year-to-date sales and persistency.  Net investment income decreased 6.7 percent to $25.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $27.0 million in the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to decline in both the yield and level of invested assets, partially offset by higher miscellaneous investment income.  The benefit ratio in the third quarter of 2020 was 83.5 percent, compared to 72.0 percent in the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to higher claims incidence in the group life product line, likely resulting from the impacts of COVID-19.  Sales of group life and accidental death and dismemberment products increased 1.3 percent in the third quarter of 2020 to $31.3 million, compared to $30.9 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Persistency in the group life product line was 88.6 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 90.8 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the accidental death and dismemberment product line was 87.8 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 90.1 percent for the first nine months of 2019.

The supplemental and voluntary line of business reported a decrease of 7.9 percent in adjusted operating income to $101.3 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $110.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income for the supplemental and voluntary line of business decreased 1.7 percent to $390.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $397.4 million in the third quarter of 2019, with declines in the voluntary benefits and dental and vision product lines, partially offset by growth in the individual disability product line.  Net investment income increased 4.2 percent to $60.1 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $57.7 million in the third quarter of 2019, due to a higher miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a decline in the yield on invested assets. The benefit ratio for the individual disability product line was 48.6 percent for the third quarter of 2020, compared to 49.5 percent for the third quarter of 2019, due to favorable claim recoveries. The benefit ratio for the voluntary benefits product line was 45.6 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to 44.2 percent for the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to higher claims incidence in the life product line, likely resulting from the impacts of COVID-19.  The benefit ratio for the dental and vision product line was 76.8 percent for the third quarter of 2020, compared to 74.0 percent for the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to higher claims incidence.  Relative to the third quarter of 2019, sales in the individual disability product line declined 37.3 percent in the third quarter of 2020 to $17.0 million.  Sales in the voluntary benefits product line declined 35.8 percent in the third quarter of 2020 to $29.9 million.  Sales in the dental and vision product line totaled $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 33.1 percent compared to the third quarter of 2019.  Persistency in the individual disability product line was 89.8 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 90.1 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the voluntary benefits product line was 72.7 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 72.5 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the dental and vision product line was 82.4 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 84.1 percent for the first nine months of 2019. 

Unum International

The Unum International segment reported adjusted operating income of $21.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 11.6 percent from $24.2 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income increased 8.6 percent to $165.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $152.3 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Net investment income increased 8.2 percent to $26.3 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $24.3 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Sales decreased 9.7 percent to $17.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $19.6 million in the third quarter of 2019.

The Unum UK line of business reported adjusted operating income, in local currency, of £15.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 18.7 percent from £18.7 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income was £112.1 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 2.8 percent from £109.0 million in the third quarter of 2019, driven by growth in the in-force block and the impact of rate increases in the group long-term disability product line.  Net investment income was £18.9 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 3.3 percent from £18.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, due to higher investment income from inflation index-linked bonds, partially offset by a lower yield on fixed-rate bonds.  The benefit ratio in the third quarter of 2020 was 77.1 percent, compared to 73.4 percent in the third quarter of 2019, due to lower claim resolutions in the group long-term disability product line resulting from the continued disruption in claim processes related to COVID-19 and overall higher claims incidence.  Sales decreased 20.7 percent to £10.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to £13.5 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Persistency in the group long-term disability product line was 87.2 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 88.9 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the group life product line was 81.0 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 88.3 percent for the first nine months of 2019.  Persistency in the supplemental product line was 90.3 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 92.3 percent for the first nine months of 2019.

Colonial Life Segment

Colonial Life reported a 5.7 percent increase in adjusted operating income to $92.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $87.2 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income was $419.9 million in the third quarter of 2020, which was consistent with the $419.9 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Net investment income increased 18.4 percent to $43.7 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the $36.9 million in the third quarter of 2019, due to higher miscellaneous investment income and an increase in the level of invested assets, partially offset by a decline in the yield on invested assets.  The benefit ratio was 52.2 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to 51.4 percent in the third quarter of 2019, with unfavorable experience in the life product line, likely resulting from the impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by favorable experience in both the cancer and critical illness and accident, sickness, and disability lines of business.

Sales decreased 27.6 percent to $87.3 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $120.6 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Persistency in Colonial Life was 77.6 percent for the first nine months of 2020, compared to 77.2 percent for the first nine months of 2019.

Closed Block Segment

The Closed Block segment reported adjusted operating income of $70.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 163.2 percent from $26.9 million in the third quarter of 2019.  Premium income for this segment declined 3.0 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to the third quarter of 2019, due to continued policy terminations and maturities in the individual disability line of business, partially offset by premium rate increases on certain in-force business in the long-term care line of business.  Net investment income increased 1.1 percent to $351.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $347.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to improved net asset values on our private equity partnerships and a higher level of invested assets, partially offset by a decrease in the yield on invested assets.

The interest adjusted loss ratio for the long-term care line of business was 67.4 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to an interest adjusted loss ratio of 89.8 percent in the third quarter of 2019, driven primarily by higher claimant mortality.  The interest adjusted loss ratio for long-term care for the rolling twelve months ended September 30, 2020 was 75.6 percent which is below our long-term expected range.  The interest adjusted loss ratio for the individual disability line of business was 86.6 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to 79.0 percent in the third quarter of 2019, driven by overall unfavorable claims activity.