CNO FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., 10-Q filed on 11/8/2010
Quarterly Report
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (USD $)
In Millions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2010
Year Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
Investments:
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: September 30, 2010 - $19,664.5; December 31, 2009 - $18,998.0)
$ 21,008 
$ 18,528 
Equity securities at fair value (cost: September 30, 2010 - $40.7; December 31, 2009 - $30.7)
41 
31 
Mortgage loans
1,826 
1,966 
Policy loans
291 
295 
Trading securities
390 
293 
Investments held by variable interest entities
455 
Securities lending collateral
180 
Other invested assets
190 
237 
Total investments
24,199 
21,530 
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted
549 
523 
Cash and cash equivalents held by variable interest entities
18 
Accrued investment income
345 
309 
Present value of future profits
1,028 
1,176 
Deferred acquisition costs
1,613 
1,791 
Reinsurance receivables
3,316 
3,559 
Income tax assets, net
537 
1,124 
Assets held in separate accounts
17 
17 
Other assets
352 
311 
Total assets
31,974 
30,344 
Liabilities for insurance products:
 
 
Interest-sensitive products
13,218 
13,219 
Traditional products
10,253 
10,064 
Claims payable and other policyholder funds
939 
994 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
17 
17 
Other liabilities
834 
610 
Investment borrowings
654 
684 
Borrowings related to variable interest entities
425 
Securities lending payable
186 
Notes payable - direct corporate obligations
1,030 
1,037 
Total liabilities
27,369 
26,811 
Commitments and Contingencies
 
 
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 8,000,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding: September 30, 2010 - 251,046,412; December 31, 2009 - 250,786,216)
Additional paid-in capital
4,422 
4,409 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
688 
(264)
Accumulated deficit
(508)
(615)
Total shareholders' equity
4,604 
3,532 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 31,974 
$ 30,344 
PARENTHETICAL DATA TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data
Sep. 30, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Investments:
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost
$ 19,665 
$ 18,998 
Available for sale equity secuities cost
41 
31 
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
Common stock, par value
$ 0.01 
$ 0.01 
Common stock, shares authorized
8,000,000,000 
8,000,000,000 
Common stock, shares issued
251,046,412 
250,786,216 
Common stock, shares outstanding
251,046,412 
250,786,216 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30,
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30,
2010
2009
2010
2009
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
Insurance policy income
$ 675 
$ 772 
$ 2,007 
$ 2,346 
Net investment income (loss):
 
 
 
 
General account assets
327 
306 
963 
924 
Policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special- purpose portfolios
43 
57 
45 
47 
Realized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains, excluding impairment losses
28 
15 
55 
121 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses:
 
 
 
 
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
(23)
(162)
(70)
(324)
Change in other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(2)
127 
(3)
160 
Net impairment losses recognized
(25)
(36)
(73)
(164)
Total realized gains (losses)
(20)
(18)
(44)
Fee revenue and other income
12 
10 
Total revenues
1,053 
1,119 
3,008 
3,284 
Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 
 
Insurance policy benefits
700 
783 
2,050 
2,317 
Interest expense
28 
32 
85 
88 
Amortization
119 
113 
318 
336 
Loss on extinguishment or modification of debt
10 
Other operating costs and expenses
128 
127 
371 
377 
Total benefits and expenses
975 
1,055 
2,826 
3,128 
Income before income taxes
77 
64 
182 
156 
Income tax expense:
 
 
 
 
Tax expense on period income
28 
22 
66 
55 
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
27 
34 
Net income
49 
15 
116 
68 
Basic:
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
251,045,000 
184,886,000 
250,942,000 
184,820,000 
Net income
0.20 
0.08 
0.46 
0.37 
Diluted:
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
306,040,000 
185,846,000 
300,256,000 
185,277,000 
Net income
$ 0.17 
$ 0.08 
$ 0.42 
$ 0.36 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)
In Millions
Common stock and additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008
$ 4,106 
$ (1,771)
$ (705)
$ 1,630 
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
68 
68 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (net of applicable income tax benefit (expense))
 
1,711 
 
1,711 
Noncredit component of impairment losses on fixed maturities, available for sale (net of applicable income tax benefit (expense))
 
(82)
 
(82)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
1,697 
Stock option and restricted stock plans
 
 
Effect of reclassifying noncredit component of previously recognized impairment losses on fixed maturities, available for sale (net of applicable income tax benefit of $2.6) -
 
 
(5)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2009
4,113 
(146)
(633)
3,334 
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009
4,411 
(264)
(615)
3,532 
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
116 
116 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (net of applicable income tax benefit (expense))
 
902 
 
902 
Noncredit component of impairment losses on fixed maturities, available for sale (net of applicable income tax benefit (expense))
 
57 
 
57 
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
1,075 
Cumulative effect of accounting change
 
(6)
(10)
(16)
Beneficial conversion feature related to the issuance of convertible debentures
 
 
Stock option and restricted stock plans
 
 
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010
$ 4,424 
$ 688 
$ (508)
$ 4,604 
PARENTHETICAL DATA TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)
In Millions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30,
2010
2009
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:
 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments, applicable income tax expense
$ 497 
$ 950 
Noncredit component of impairment losses on fixed maturities, available for sale, applicable income tax expense (benefit)
32 
(41)
Effect of reclassifying noncredit component of previously recognized impairment losses on fixed maturities, available for sale, applicable income tax (benefit)
 
(3)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)
In Millions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30,
2010
2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
Insurance policy income
$ 1,773 
$ 2,075 
Net investment income
981 
861 
Fee revenue and other income
12 
10 
Insurance policy benefits
(1,510)
(1,782)
Interest expense
(76)
(77)
Policy acquisition costs
(316)
(310)
Other operating costs
(334)
(353)
Taxes
(4)
(6)
Net cash provided by operating activities
525 
419 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
Sales of investments
6,631 
8,140 
Maturities and redemptions of investments
640 
780 
Purchases of investments
(7,847)
(9,614)
Net sales (purchases) of trading securities
(52)
55 
Change in cash and cash equivalents held by variable interest entities
(11)
(7)
Other
(15)
(17)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
(654)
(663)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
Issuance of notes payable, net
111 
Payments on notes payable
(117)
(62)
Expenses related to debt modification and extinguishment of debt
(10)
Amounts received for deposit products
1,335 
1,339 
Withdrawals from deposit products
(1,287)
(1,334)
Investment borrowings and borrowings related to variable interest entities
113 
(53)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
155 
(119)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
25 
(362)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
523 
895 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$ 549 
$ 532 
BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION


BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The following notes should be read together with the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

CNO Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CNO”), (formerly known as Conseco, Inc. prior to its name change in May 2010) is a holding company for a group of insurance companies operating throughout the United States that develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance products.  CNO became the successor to Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (our “Predecessor”), in connection with our bankruptcy reorganization which became effective on September 10, 2003 (the “Effective Date”).  The terms “CNO Financial Group, Inc.”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” as used in this report refer to CNO and its subsidiaries or, when the context requires otherwise, our Predecessor and its subsidiaries.  We focus on serving the senior and middle-income markets, which we believe are attractive, underserved, high growth markets.  We sell our products through three distribution channels: career agents, professional independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing.

Our unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.  As permitted by rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, we have condensed or omitted certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  We have reclassified certain amounts from the prior periods to conform to the 2010 presentation.  These reclassifications have no effect on net income or shareholders’ equity.  Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2009, presented herein, has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP in the United States for complete financial statements.

When we prepare financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that significantly affect reported amounts of various assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  For example, we use significant estimates and assumptions to calculate values for deferred acquisition costs, the present value of future profits, certain investments (including derivatives), assets and liabilities related to income taxes, liabilities for insurance products, liabilities related to litigation and guaranty fund assessment accruals.  If our future experience differs from these estimates and assumptions, our financial statements would be materially affected.

Our consolidated financial statements exclude the results of material transactions between us and our consolidated affiliates, or among our consolidated affiliates.

OUT-OF-PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS
OUT-OF-PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS

OUT-OF-PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS

We recorded the net effects of certain out-of-period adjustments which:  (i) increased our net income by $.3 million (or nil cents per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2010; and (ii) decreased our net income by $2.9 million (or one cent per diluted share) in the first nine months of 2010.  We evaluated these errors taking into account both qualitative and quantitative factors and considered the impact of these errors in relation to the 2010 periods, as well as the materiality to the periods in which they originated.  The impact of correcting these errors in prior years was not significant to any individual period.  Management believes these errors are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.

INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS

INVESTMENTS

We classify our fixed maturity securities into one of three categories: (i) “available for sale” (which we carry at estimated fair value with any unrealized gain or loss, net of tax and related adjustments, recorded as a component of shareholders’ equity); (ii) “trading” (which we carry at estimated fair value with changes in such value recognized as net investment income (classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios)); or (iii) “held to maturity” (which we carry at amortized cost).  We had no fixed maturity securities classified as held to maturity during the periods presented in these financial statements.

Certain of our trading securities are held in an effort to offset the portion of the income statement volatility caused by the effect of interest rate fluctuations on the value of the embedded derivatives related to our fixed index annuity products and certain modified coinsurance agreements.  See the note entitled “Accounting for Derivatives” for further discussion regarding embedded derivatives and the trading accounts.  In addition, the trading account includes investments backing the market strategies of our multibucket annuity products.  The change in fair value of these securities, which is recognized currently in income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios (a component of investment income), is substantially offset by the change in insurance policy benefits for these products.  Our trading securities totaled $389.7 million and $293.3 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is primarily comprised of the net effect of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on our investments.  These amounts, included in shareholders’ equity as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were as follows (dollars in millions):

   
September 30,
  
December 31,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
        
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on fixed maturity securities, available for sale,
     on which an other-than-temporary impairment loss has been recognized
 $(24.5) $(133.5)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on all other investments
  1,351.7   (339.9)
Adjustment to present value of future profits (a)
  (31.5)  10.7 
Adjustment to deferred acquisition costs
  (217.7)  59.8 
Unrecognized net loss related to deferred compensation plan
  (7.9)  (8.2)
Deferred income tax asset (liability)
  (382.0)  146.8 
          
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 $688.1  $(264.3)
 

_________
(a)  
The present value of future profits is the value assigned to the right to receive future cash flows from contracts existing at September 10, 2003 (the date our Predecessor emerged from bankruptcy).



At September 30, 2010, the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, other-than-temporary impairments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and estimated fair value of fixed maturities, available for sale, were as follows (dollars in millions):

               
Other-than-
               
temporary
               
impairments
               
included in
      
Gross
  
Gross
     
accumulated other
   
Amortized
  
unrealized
  
unrealized
  
Estimated
  
comprehensive
   
cost
  
gains
  
losses
  
fair value
  
income (loss)
                
Corporate securities
 $14,437.7  $1,329.5  $(116.1) $15,651.1  $- 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  100.8   8.0   -   108.8   - 
States and political subdivisions
  1,444.3   62.5   (32.5)  1,474.3   - 
Debt securities issued by foreign
governments                                                 
  .8   .1   -   .9   - 
Asset-backed securities
  606.7   12.2   (6.7)  612.2   - 
Collateralized debt obligations
  222.8   1.8   (2.2)  222.4   - 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  1,306.2   84.9   (20.8)  1,370.3   - 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  32.1   1.6   (.1)  33.6   - 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  1,513.1   63.2   (42.4)  1,533.9   (44.7)
                      
Total fixed maturities, available for sale
 $19,664.5  $1,563.8  $(220.8) $21,007.5  $(44.7)

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value of those fixed maturities, available for sale, at September 30, 2010, by contractual maturity.  Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.  In addition, structured securities (such as asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, collectively referred to as “structured securities”) frequently permit periodic unscheduled payments throughout their lives.

      
Estimated
 
   
Amortized
  
fair
 
   
cost
  
value
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
        
Due in one year or less                                                                             
 $146.3  $147.5 
Due after one year through five years                                                                             
  1,105.3   1,175.0 
Due after five years through ten years                                                                             
  4,441.6   4,855.0 
Due after ten years                                                                             
  10,290.4   11,057.6 
          
Subtotal                                                                       
  15,983.6   17,235.1 
          
Structured securities                                                                             
  3,680.9   3,772.4 
          
Total                                                                       
 $19,664.5  $21,007.5 



 
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

During the first nine months of 2010, we recognized net realized investment losses of $18.0 million, which were comprised of $54.7 million of net gains from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities) with proceeds of $6.6 billion, and $72.7 million of writedowns of investments for other than temporary declines in fair value recognized through net income ($69.8 million, prior to the $(2.9) million of impairment losses recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)).

During the first nine months of 2009, we recognized net realized investment losses of $43.5 million, which were comprised of $120.8 million of net gains from the sales of investments (primarily fixed maturities) with proceeds of $8.1 billion, and $164.3 million of writedowns of investments for other than temporary declines in fair value recognized through net income ($324.2 million, prior to the $159.9 million of impairment losses recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)).

At September 30, 2010, fixed maturity securities in default or considered nonperforming had an aggregate amortized cost of $.6 million and a carrying value of $.7 million.

Our fixed maturity investments are generally purchased in the context of a long-term strategy to fund insurance liabilities, so we do not generally seek to purchase and sell such securities to generate short-term realized gains.  In certain circumstances, including those in which securities are selling at prices which exceed our view of their underlying economic value, and it is possible to reinvest the proceeds to better meet our long-term asset-liability objectives, we may sell certain securities.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we sold $1.2 billion of fixed maturity investments which resulted in gross investment losses (before income taxes) of $135.6 million.  We sell securities at a loss for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:  (i) changes in the investment environment; (ii) expectation that the market value could deteriorate further; (iii) desire to reduce our exposure to an asset class, an issuer or an industry; (iv) changes in credit quality; or (v) changes in expected liability cash flows.

The following summarizes the investments (excluding investments held by the variable interest entities (“VIEs”)) sold at a loss during the first nine months of 2010 which had been continuously in an unrealized loss position exceeding 20 percent of the amortized cost basis prior to the sale for the period indicated (dollars in millions):

   
At date of sale
 
   
Number
  
Amortized
  
Fair
 
   
of issuers
  
cost
  
value
 
           
Less than 6 months prior to sale                                                                               
  6  $51.5  $38.9 
Greater than 12 months prior to sale                                                                               
  22   162.5   85.6 
              
    28  $214.0  $124.5 

We regularly evaluate our investments for possible impairment.  Our assessment of whether unrealized losses are “other than temporary” requires significant judgment.  Factors considered include:  (i) the extent to which fair value is less than the cost basis; (ii) the length of time that the fair value has been less than cost; (iii) whether the unrealized loss is event driven, credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates or risk premium; (iv) the near-term prospects for specific events, developments or circumstances likely to affect the value of the investment; (v) the investment’s rating and whether the investment is investment-grade and/or has been downgraded since its purchase; (vi) whether the issuer is current on all payments in accordance with the contractual terms of the investment and is expected to meet all of its obligations under the terms of the investment; (vii) whether we intend to sell the investment or it is more likely than not that circumstances will require us to sell the investment before recovery occurs; (viii) the underlying current and prospective asset and enterprise values of the issuer and the extent to which the recoverability of the carrying value of our investment may be affected by changes in such values; (ix) projections of, and unfavorable changes in, cash flows on structured securities including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; and (x) other objective and subjective factors.
 
Future events may occur, or additional information may become available, which may necessitate future realized losses of securities in our portfolio.  Significant losses in the estimated fair values of our investments could have a material adverse effect on our earnings in future periods.

Impairment losses on equity securities are recognized in net income.  The manner in which impairment losses on fixed maturity securities, available for sale, are recognized in the financial statements is dependent on the facts and circumstances related to the specific security.  If we intend to sell a security or it is more likely than not that we would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the security is other-than-temporarily impaired and the full amount of the impairment is recognized as a loss through earnings.  If we do not expect to recover the amortized cost basis, we do not plan to sell the security, and if it is not more likely than not that we would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, less any current period credit loss, the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated.  We recognize the credit loss portion in net income and the noncredit loss portion in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

We estimate the amount of the credit loss component of a fixed maturity security impairment as the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the expected cash flows of the security.  The present value is determined using the best estimate of future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security.  The methodology and assumptions for establishing the best estimate of future cash flows vary depending on the type of security.

For most structured securities, cash flow estimates are based on bond specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity, prepayment speeds and structural support, including excess spread, subordination and guarantees.  For corporate bonds, cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected corporate restructurings or the disposition of assets using bond specific facts and circumstances including timing, secured interest and loss severity.  The previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in net income becomes the security’s new cost basis.  We accrete the new cost basis to the estimated future cash flows over the expected remaining life of the security.

The remaining non-credit impairment, which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), is the difference between the security’s estimated fair value and our best estimate of future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate prior to impairment.  The remaining non-credit impairment typically represents changes in the market interest rates, current market liquidity and risk premiums.  As of September 30, 2010, other-than-temporary impairments included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $44.7 million (before taxes and related amortization) relate to structured securities.
 
The following table summarizes the amount of credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities, available for sale, held at the beginning of the period, for which a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment was also recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (dollars in millions):

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
              
Credit losses on fixed maturity securities, available for sale, beginning of period
 $(24.0) $(10.0) $(27.2) $(.6)
Add:  credit losses on other-than-temporary impairments not previously recognized
  -   (9.8)  (1.3)  (18.2)
Less:  credit losses on securities sold
  14.5   1.8   28.0   1.8 
Less:  credit losses on securities impaired due to intent to sell (a)
  -   -   1.1   - 
Add:  credit losses on previously impaired securities
  (1.7)  (1.2)  (11.8)  (2.2)
Less:  increases in cash flows expected on previously impaired securities
  -   -   -   - 
                  
Credit losses on fixed maturity securities, available for sale, end of period
 $(11.2) $(19.2) $(11.2) $(19.2)
__________
(a)  
Represents securities for which the amount previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) was recognized in earnings because we intend to sell the security or we more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

Our investment strategy is to maximize, over a sustained period and within acceptable parameters of quality and risk, investment income and total investment return through active investment management.  Accordingly, we may sell securities at a gain or a loss to enhance the projected income or total return of the portfolio as market opportunities change, to reflect changing perceptions of risk, or to better match certain characteristics of our investment portfolio with the corresponding characteristics of our insurance liabilities.
 
The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair values of our investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that such securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at September 30, 2010 (dollars in millions):

   
Less than 12 months
  
12 months or greater
  
Total
 
   
Estimated fair
  
Unrealized
  
Estimated fair
  
Unrealized
  
Estimated fair
  
Unrealized
 
Description of securities
 
value
  
losses
  
value
  
losses
  
value
  
losses
 
                    
Corporate securities
 $492.7  $(10.0) $1,252.2  $(106.1) $1,744.9  $(116.1)
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  10.0   -   .3   -   10.3   - 
States and political subdivisions
  82.2   (.2)  258.0   (32.3)  340.2   (32.5)
Asset-backed securities
  170.2   (1.5)  61.0   (5.2)  231.2   (6.7)
Collateralized debt obligations
  117.7   (2.2)  -   -   117.7   (2.2)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  37.6   (.2)  126.3   (20.6)  163.9   (20.8)
Mortgage pass-through securities
  .3   -   3.6   (.1)  3.9   (.1)
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  106.3   (1.0)  321.5   (41.4)  427.8   (42.4)
                          
Total fixed maturities, available for sale
 $1,017.0  $(15.1) $2,022.9  $(205.7) $3,039.9  $(220.8)

Based on management’s current assessment of investments with unrealized losses at September 30, 2010, the Company believes the issuers of the securities will continue to meet their obligations (or with respect to equity-type securities, the investment value will recover to its cost basis).  While we do not have the intent to sell securities with unrealized losses and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell securities with unrealized losses prior to their anticipated recovery, our intent on an individual security may change, based upon market or other unforeseen developments.  In such instances, if a loss is recognized from a sale subsequent to a balance sheet date due to these unexpected developments, the loss is recognized in the period in which we had the intent to sell the security before its anticipated recovery.
 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
EARNINGS PER SHARE

 
EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of net income and shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows (dollars in millions and shares in thousands):

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
              
Net income for basic earnings per share
 $49.4  $15.4  $116.4  $67.5 
                  
Add:  interest expense on 7.0% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2016 (the “7.0% Debentures”), net of income taxes
  3.7   -   9.7   - 
                  
Net income for diluted earnings per share
 $53.1  $15.4  $126.1  $67.5 
                  
Shares:
                
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share
  251,045   184,886   250,942   184,820 
                  
Effect of dilutive securities on weighted average shares:
                
7% Debentures
  53,364   -   47,563   - 
Stock option and restricted stock plans
  1,631   960   1,751   457 
                  
Dilutive potential common shares
  54,995   960   49,314   457 
                  
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share
  306,040   185,846   300,256   185,277 

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Restricted shares (including our performance shares) are not included in basic earnings per share until vested.  Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options were exercised and restricted stock was vested.  The dilution from options and restricted shares is calculated using the treasury stock method.  Under this method, we assume the proceeds from the exercise of the options (or the unrecognized compensation expense with respect to restricted stock) will be used to purchase shares of our common stock at the average market price during the period, reducing the dilutive effect of the exercise of the options (or the vesting of the restricted stock).

BUSINESS SEGMENTS
BUSINESS SEGMENTS

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Beginning July 1, 2010, management changed the manner in which it disaggregates the Company’s operations for making operating decisions and assessing performance.  As a result, the Company manages its business through the following operating segments: Bankers Life, Colonial Penn and Washington National, which are defined on the basis of product distribution; Other CNO Business, comprised primarily of closed blocks; and corporate operations, comprised of holding company activities and certain noninsurance company businesses.  All prior period segment disclosures have been revised to conform to management’s current view of the Company’s operating segments.

We measure segment performance by excluding realized investment gains (losses) because we believe that this performance measure is a better indicator of the ongoing business and trends in our business.  Our primary investment focus is on investment income to support our liabilities for insurance products as opposed to the generation of realized investment gains (losses), and a long-term focus is necessary to maintain profitability over the life of the business.  Realized investment gains (losses) depend on market conditions and do not necessarily relate to the underlying business of our segments.  Realized investment gains (losses) may affect future earnings levels since our underlying business is long-term in nature and changes in our investment portfolio may impact our ability to earn the assumed interest rates needed to maintain the profitability of our business.

 
Operating information by segment was as follows (dollars in millions):

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
Revenues:
            
Bankers Life:
            
Insurance policy income:
            
Annuities
 $11.7  $13.1  $30.7  $33.9 
Health
  343.9   423.6   1,032.2   1,298.8 
Life
  49.5   56.4   139.1   149.5 
Net investment income (a)
  208.5   199.6   554.9   505.4 
Fee revenue and other income (a)
  3.6   2.4   8.6   5.4 
                  
Total Bankers Life revenues
  617.2   695.1   1,765.5   1,993.0 
                  
Washington National:
                
Insurance policy income:
                
Health
  139.6   140.1   418.6   421.8 
Life
  4.0   8.2   12.7   25.1 
Other
  1.3   1.4   3.7   4.1 
Net investment income (a)
  46.4   48.0   137.7   144.4 
Fee revenue and other income (a)
  .3   .5   .8   1.6 
                  
Total Washington National revenues
  191.6   198.2   573.5   597.0 
                  
Colonial Penn:
                
Insurance policy income:
                
Health
  1.8   2.1   5.2   6.2 
Life
  47.0   46.3   141.1   142.0 
Net investment income (a)
  9.9   9.5   29.3   29.1 
Fee revenue and other income (a)
  .2   .2   .5   .6 
                  
Total Colonial Penn revenues
  58.9   58.1   176.1   177.9 
                  
Other CNO Business:
                
Insurance policy income:
                
Annuities
  3.8   3.1   8.7   26.1 
Health
  7.5   7.9   22.7   24.3 
Life
  63.9   69.1   190.4   212.1 
Other
  .5   .7   1.9   2.2 
Net investment income (a)
  96.5   102.2    269.5   281.2 
                  
Total Other CNO Business revenues
   172.2   183.0    493.2   545.9 
                  
Corporate operations:
                
Net investment income
  8.5   3.5   16.0   10.8 
Fee and other income
  .5   1.0   1.8   2.6 
                  
Total corporate revenues
  9.0   4.5   17.8   13.4 
                  
Total revenues
  1,048.9   1,138.9   3,026.1   3,327.2 

(continued on next page)



 
(continued from previous page)

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
Expenses:
            
Bankers Life:
            
Insurance policy benefits
 $402.1  $488.0  $1,201.3  $1,442.3 
Amortization
  76.4   74.5   214.0   213.2 
Other operating costs and expenses
  43.2   47.2   137.5   144.1 
                  
Total Bankers Life expenses
  521.7   609.7   1,552.8   1,799.6 
                  
Washington National:
                
Insurance policy benefits
  112.4   115.6   341.6   350.9 
Amortization
  14.4   12.9   42.3   42.1 
Other operating costs and expenses
  37.6   40.6   113.7   116.1 
                  
Total Washington National expenses
  164.4   169.1   497.6   509.1 
                  
Colonial Penn:
                
Insurance policy benefits
  36.4   35.0   108.5   107.6 
Amortization
  7.0   8.4   24.5   24.8 
Other operating costs and expenses
  7.7   7.3   22.4   22.0 
                  
Total Colonial Penn expenses
  51.1    50.7   155.4   154.4 
                  
Other CNO Business:
                
Insurance policy benefits
  149.1   144.1   398.6   416.5 
Amortization
  20.7   18.9   36.5   60.3 
Interest expense on investment borrowings
  5.1   5.1   15.1   15.5 
Other operating costs and expenses
  21.7   22.4   60.5   67.5 
                  
Total Other CNO Business expenses
  196.6   190.5   510.7   559.8 
                  
Corporate operations:
                
Interest expense on corporate debt
  20.0   24.0   59.3   61.6 
Interest expense on borrowings of variable interest entities
  3.3   2.8   10.2   10.7 
Loss on extinguishment or modification of debt
  -   -   2.7   9.5 
Other operating costs and expenses
  18.0   9.1   36.7   27.6 
                  
Total corporate expenses
  41.3   35.9   108.9   109.4 
                  
Total expenses
  975.1   1,055.9   2,825.4   3,132.3 
                  
Income (loss) before net realized investment losses (net of related amortization) and income taxes:
                
Bankers Life
  95.5   85.4   212.7   193.4 
Washington National
  27.2   29.1   75.9   87.9 
Colonial Penn
  7.8   7.4   20.7   23.5 
Other CNO Business
  (24.4)  (7.5)  (17.5)  (13.9)
Corporate operations
  (32.3)  (31.4)  (91.1)  (96.0)
                  
Income before net realized investment losses (net of related amortization) and income taxes
 $73.8  $83.0  $200.7  $194.9 
___________________
(a)
It is not practicable to provide additional components of revenue by product or services.

 
A reconciliation of segment revenues and expenses to consolidated revenues and expenses is as follows (dollars in millions):

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
              
Total segment revenues                                                                    
 $1,048.9  $1,138.9  $3,026.1  $3,327.2 
Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                                    
  3.6   (20.3)  (18.0)  (43.5)
                  
Consolidated revenues                                                               
 $1,052.5  $1,118.6  $3,008.1  $3,283.7 
                  
Total segment expenses                                                                    
 $975.1  $1,055.9  $2,825.4  $3,132.3 
Amortization related to net realized investment gains (losses)
  .1   (1.4)  .5   (4.5)
                  
Consolidated expenses                                                               
 $975.2  $1,054.5  $2,825.9  $3,127.8 

ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES

ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES

Our fixed index annuity products provide a guaranteed minimum rate of return and a higher potential return that is based on a percentage (the “participation rate”) of the amount of increase in the value of a particular index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, over a specified period.  Typically, on each policy anniversary date, a new index period begins.  We are generally able to change the participation rate at the beginning of each index period during a policy year, subject to contractual minimums.  We typically buy call options (including call spreads) referenced to the applicable indices in an effort to hedge potential increases in policyholder benefits resulting from increases in the particular index to which the policy’s return is linked.  We reflect changes in the estimated fair value of these options in net investment income (classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios).  Net investment gains (losses) related to fixed index products were $(9.7) million and $32.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These amounts were substantially offset by a corresponding change to insurance policy benefits.  The estimated fair value of these options was $51.8 million and $114.9 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  We classify these instruments as other invested assets.

The Company accounts for the options attributed to the policyholder for the estimated life of the annuity contract as embedded derivatives.  The expected future cost of options on fixed index annuity products is used to determine the value of embedded derivatives.  The Company purchases options to hedge liabilities for the next policy year on each policy anniversary date and must estimate the fair value of the forward embedded options related to the policies.  These accounting requirements often create volatility in the earnings from these products.  We record the changes in the fair values of the embedded derivatives in current earnings as a component of policyholder benefits.  The fair value of these derivatives, which are classified as “liabilities for interest-sensitive products”, was $519.6 million at September 30, 2010 and $494.4 million at December 31, 2009.  We maintain a specific block of investments in our trading securities account, which we carry at estimated fair value with changes in such value recognized as investment income (classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios).  The change in value of these trading securities attributable to interest fluctuations is intended to offset a portion of the change in the value of the embedded derivative.

If the counterparties for the call options we hold fail to meet their obligations, we may have to recognize a loss.  We limit our exposure to such a loss by diversifying among several counterparties believed to be strong and creditworthy.  At September 30, 2010, substantially all of our counterparties were rated “BBB+” or higher by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”).
 
Certain of our reinsurance payable balances contain embedded derivatives.  Such derivatives had an estimated fair value of $1.6 million at both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  We record the change in the fair value of these derivatives as a component of investment income (classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios).  We maintain a specific block of investments related to these agreements in our trading securities account, which we carry at estimated fair value with changes in such value recognized as investment income (also classified as investment income from policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special-purpose portfolios).  The change in value of these trading securities attributable to interest fluctuations is intended to offset the change in value of the embedded derivatives.  However, differences will occur as corporate spreads change.

REINSURANCE
REINSURANCE

REINSURANCE

The cost of reinsurance ceded totaled $62.9 million and $45.0 million in the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $194.6 million and $131.7 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  We deduct this cost from insurance policy income.  Reinsurance recoveries netted against insurance policy benefits totaled $118.7 million and $102.0 million in the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $352.2 million and $366.8 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

From time to time, we assume insurance from other companies.  Any costs associated with the assumption of insurance are amortized consistent with the method used to amortize deferred acquisition costs.  Reinsurance premiums assumed totaled $25.0 million and $115.4 million in the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $75.8 million and $373.2 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Reinsurance premiums included amounts assumed pursuant to marketing and quota-share agreements with Coventry Health Care (“Coventry”) of $18.8 million and $108.1 million in the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $56.1 million and $349.6 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Coventry decided to cease selling Private-Fee-For-Service (“PFFS”) plans effective January 1, 2010.  In July 2009, Bankers Life and Casualty Company (“Bankers Life”) entered into an agreement with Humana, Inc. (“Humana”) under which it offers Humana’s Medicare Advantage/PFFS plans to its policyholders and consumers nationwide through its career agency force and receives marketing fees based on sales.  Effective January 1, 2010, the Company no longer assumes the underwriting risk related to PFFS business.

See the note entitled “Accounting for Derivatives” for a discussion of the derivative embedded in the payable related to certain modified coinsurance agreements.

In September 2009, we completed a transaction under which Washington National Insurance Company (“Washington National”) and Conseco Insurance Company coinsured, with an effective date of January 1, 2009, about 104,000 non-core life insurance policies in the Other CNO Business segment with Wilton Reassurance Company (“Wilton Re”).  In the transaction, Wilton Re paid a ceding commission of $55.8 million and coinsures and administers 100 percent of these policies.  The CNO insurance companies transferred to Wilton Re $401.6 million in cash and policy loans and $457.4 million of policy and other reserves.  Most of the policies involved in the transaction were issued by companies prior to their acquisition by CNO.  We recorded a deferred gain of approximately $26 million in 2009 which is being recognized over the remaining life of the block of insurance policies coinsured with Wilton Re.  We also increased our deferred tax valuation allowance by $20 million in the third quarter of 2009 as a result of reassessing the recovery of our deferred tax assets upon completion of the transaction.

In November 2009, we entered into a transaction under which Bankers Life coinsured, with an effective date of October 1, 2009, about 234,000 life insurance policies with Wilton Re.  In the transaction, Wilton Re paid a ceding commission of $44 million and is 50% coinsuring these policies, which continue to be administered by Bankers Life.  In the transaction, Bankers Life transferred to Wilton Re $73 million in investment securities and policy loans and $117 million of policy and other reserves.  We also recorded a pre-tax deferred cost of reinsurance of $32 million in 2009, which, in accordance with GAAP, is being amortized over the life of the block.

INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES

 
INCOME TAXES

The components of income tax expense were as follows (dollars in millions):

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
  
2010
  
2009
 
              
Current tax expense                                                                       
 $3.0  $-  $5.5  $3.5 
Deferred tax provision                                                                       
  24.9   22.0   60.3   51.2 
                  
Income tax expense on period income                                                                
  27.9   22.0   65.8   54.7 
                  
Valuation allowance                                                                       
  -   26.7   -   33.7 
                  
Total income tax expense                                                                
 $27.9  $48.7  $65.8  $88.4 

A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate to the effective rate reflected in the consolidated statement of operations is as follows:

   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
        
U.S. statutory corporate rate
  35.0 %  35.0 %
Valuation allowance
  -   21.6 
Other nondeductible expenses (benefit)
  (.2 )  (1.7 )
State taxes
  .9   .9 
Provision for tax issues, tax credits and other
  .4   .9 
          
Effective tax rate                                                       
  36.1 %  56.7 %



 
The components of the Company’s income tax assets and liabilities were as follows (dollars in millions):

   
September 30,
  
December 31,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
Deferred tax assets:
      
Net federal operating loss carryforwards attributable to:
      
Life insurance subsidiaries
 $701.4  $745.3 
Non-life companies
  872.4   883.9 
Net state operating loss carryforwards
  18.1   19.1 
Tax credits
  22.2   18.5 
Capital loss carryforwards
  379.9   393.8 
Deductible temporary differences:
        
Insurance liabilities
  750.1   782.1 
Unrealized depreciation of investments
  -   146.8 
Other
  60.2   44.0 
          
Gross deferred tax assets
  2,804.3   3,033.5 
          
Deferred tax liabilities:
        
Investments
  (20.7)  (38.1)
Present value of future profits and deferred acquisition costs
  (686.1)  (694.0)
Unrealized appreciation on investments
  (382.0)  - 
          
Gross deferred tax liabilities 
  (1,088.8)  (732.1)
          
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
  1,715.5   2,301.4 
          
Valuation allowance
  (1,176.4)  (1,176.4)
          
Net deferred tax assets
  539.1   1,125.0 
          
Current income taxes accrued
  (2.4)  (1.0)
          
Income tax assets, net
 $536.7  $1,124.0 

Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, capital loss carryforwards and net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”).  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.  The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.

A reduction of the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets by establishing a valuation allowance is required if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.  We evaluate the need to establish a valuation allowance for our deferred income tax assets on an ongoing basis.  In evaluating our deferred income tax assets, we consider whether the deferred income tax assets will be realized, based on the more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion.  The ultimate realization of our deferred income tax assets depends upon generating sufficient future taxable income during the periods in which our temporary differences become deductible and before our capital loss carryforwards and NOLs expire.  This assessment requires significant judgment.  In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets.  This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, excess appreciated asset value over the tax basis of net assets, the duration of carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.
 
Concluding that a valuation allowance is not required is difficult when there has been significant negative evidence, such as cumulative losses in recent years.  We utilize a three year rolling calculation of actual income before income taxes as our primary measure of cumulative losses in recent years.  Our analysis of whether there needs to be further increases to the deferred tax valuation allowance recognizes that as of September 30, 2010, we have incurred a cumulative loss over the evaluation period, resulting from the substantial loss during the year ended December 31, 2008 primarily related to the transfer of Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (“Senior Health”) to an independent trust.  As a result of the cumulative losses recognized in recent years, our evaluation of the need to increase the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was primarily based on our historical earnings.  However, because a substantial portion of the cumulative losses for the three-year period ended September 30, 2010, relates to transactions to dispose of blocks of businesses, we have adjusted the three-year cumulative results for the income and losses from the blocks of business disposed of in the past and the business transferred in 2008.  In addition, we have adjusted the three-year cumulative results for a significant litigation settlement and the worthlessness of certain loans made by our Predecessor.  We consider these to be non-recurring matters and have reflected our best estimates of when temporary differences will reverse over the carryforward periods.

At September 30, 2010, our valuation allowance for our net deferred tax assets was $1.2 billion, as we have determined that it is more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.  This determination was made by evaluating each component of the deferred tax asset and assessing the effects of limitations and/or interpretations on the value of such component to be fully recognized in the future.  We have also evaluated the likelihood that we will have sufficient taxable income to offset the available deferred tax assets based on evidence which we consider to be objective and verifiable.  Based upon our analysis completed at September 30, 2010, we believe that we will, more likely than not, recover $.5 billion of our deferred tax assets through reductions of our tax liabilities in future periods.  There were no changes to our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Recovery of our deferred tax assets is dependent on achieving the projections of future taxable income embedded in our analysis and failure to do so would result in an increase in the valuation allowance in a future period.  Any future increase in the valuation allowance may result in additional income tax expense and reduce shareholders’ equity, and such an increase could have a significant impact upon our earnings in the future.  In addition, the use of the Company’s NOLs is dependent, in part, on whether the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) does not take an adverse position in the future regarding the tax position we have taken in our tax returns with respect to the allocation of cancellation of indebtedness income.

The Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) limits the extent to which losses realized by a non-life entity (or entities) may offset income from a life insurance company (or companies) to the lesser of:  (i) 35 percent of the income of the life insurance company; or (ii) 35 percent of the total loss of the non-life entities (including NOLs of the non-life entities).  There is no similar limitation on the extent to which losses realized by a life insurance entity (or entities) may offset income from a non-life entity (or entities).

Section 382 imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to use its NOLs when the company undergoes an ownership change.  Future transactions and the timing of such transactions could cause an ownership change for Section 382 income tax purposes.  Such transactions may include, but are not limited to, additional repurchases or issuances of common stock (including upon conversion of our outstanding 7.0% Debentures), or acquisitions or sales of shares of CNO stock by certain holders of our shares, including persons who have held, currently hold or may accumulate in the future five percent or more of our outstanding common stock for their own account.  Many of these transactions are beyond our control.  If an additional ownership change were to occur for purposes of Section 382, we would be required to calculate an annual restriction on the use of our NOLs to offset future taxable income.  The annual restriction would be calculated based upon the value of CNO’s equity at the time of such ownership change, multiplied by a federal long-term tax exempt rate (3.99 percent at September 30, 2010), and the annual restriction could effectively eliminate our ability to use a substantial portion of our NOLs to offset future taxable income.  We regularly monitor ownership change (as calculated for purposes of Section 382) and, as of September 30, 2010, we were below the 50 percent ownership change level that would trigger further impairment of our ability to utilize our NOLs.
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had $4.5 billion of federal NOLs and $1.1 billion of capital loss carryforwards, which expire as follows (dollars in millions):

Year of expiration
 
Net operating loss carryforwards (a)
 
Capital loss
  
Total loss
 
   
Life
 
Non-life
 
carryforwards
  
carryforwards
 
                  
2010
 $-    $.1    $-  $.1 
2011
  -     .1     -   .1 
2012
  -     -     22.7   22.7 
2013
  -     -     1,034.2   1,034.2 
2014
  -     -     28.6   28.6 
2018
  1,770.4 
(a)
  -     -   1,770.4 
2021
  29.6     -     -   29.6 
2022
  204.1     -     -   204.1 
2023
  -     2,003.5 
(a)
  -   2,003.5 
2024
  -     3.2     -   3.2 
2025
  -     118.8     -   118.8 
2026
  -     .8     -   .8 
2027
  -     216.3     -   216.3 
2028
  -     1.2     -   1.2 
2029
  -     148.7     -   148.7 
                      
Total
 $2,004.1    $2,492.7    $1,085.5  $5,582.3 
____________________
(a)  
The allocation of the NOLs summarized above assumes the IRS does not take an adverse position in the future regarding the tax position we plan to take in our tax returns with respect to the allocation of cancellation of indebtedness income.  If the IRS disagrees with the tax position we plan to take with respect to the allocation of cancellation of indebtedness income, and their position prevails, approximately $631 million of the NOLs expiring in 2018 would be characterized as non-life NOLs.

We had deferred tax assets related to NOLs for state income taxes of $18.1 million and $19.1 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The related state NOLs are available to offset future state taxable income in certain states through 2015.

Tax years 2007 through 2009 are open to examination by the IRS, and tax year 2002 remains open only for potential adjustments related to certain partnership investments.  The Company does not anticipate any material adjustments related to these partnership investments.  The Company’s various state income tax returns are generally open for tax years 2007 through 2009 based on the individual state statutes of limitation.

NOTES PAYABLE - DIRECT CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS
NOTES PAYABLE - DIRECT CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS

 
NOTES PAYABLE - DIRECT CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS

The following notes payable were direct corporate obligations of the Company as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (dollars in millions):

   
September 30,
  
December 31,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
        
3.5% Convertible Debentures due September 30, 2035 (the “3.5% Debentures”)
 $-  $116.5 
7.0% Debentures
  293.0   176.5 
Secured credit agreement
  652.1   652.1 
Senior Note due November 12, 2013 (the “Senior Note”)
  100.0   100.0 
Unamortized discount on 3.5% Debentures
  -   (3.3)
Unamortized discount on 7.0% Debentures
  (15.3)  (4.4)
          
Direct corporate obligations
 $1,029.8  $1,037.4 

In February 2010, we repurchased $64.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 3.5% Debentures in a privately-negotiated transaction.  In connection with the repurchase of the 3.5% Debentures, we completed a second closing of $64 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.0% Debentures as part of our previously-announced private offering of 7.0% Debentures.  The first closing of $176.5 million of the 7.0% Debentures was completed on November 13, 2009, upon settlement of a tender offer for the 3.5% Debentures.

The purchase price for the $64.0 million of 3.5% Debentures was equal to 100 percent of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.  As a result of the repurchase, we realized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $1.8 million, representing the write-off of unamortized discount and issuance costs associated with 3.5% Debentures that were repurchased.

The issuance of the $64.0 million of 7.0% Debentures was made pursuant to the purchase agreement that we entered into in October 2009 relating to the private offering of up to $293 million of 7.0% Debentures.  We received aggregate net proceeds of $61.4 million in the second closing of the 7.0% Debentures (after taking into account the discounted offering price less the initial purchaser’s discounts and commissions, but before expenses).

In May 2010, we repurchased $52.5 million aggregate principal amount of our 3.5% Debentures in a privately-negotiated transaction.  In connection with the repurchase of the 3.5% Debentures, we completed a third closing of $52.5 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.0% Debentures as part of our previously-announced private offering of 7.0% Debentures.

The purchase price for the $52.5 million of 3.5% Debentures was equal to 100 percent of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.  As a result of the repurchase, we realized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $.9 million, representing the write-off of unamortized discount and issuance costs associated with 3.5% Debentures that were repurchased.

The issuance of the $52.5 million of 7.0% Debentures was made pursuant to the purchase agreement that we entered into in October 2009 relating to the private offering of up to $293 million of 7.0% Debentures.  We received aggregate net proceeds of $49.4 million in the third closing of the 7.0% Debentures (after taking into account the discounted offering price less the initial purchaser’s discounts and commissions, but before expenses).
 
In accordance with GAAP, we are required to consider on each issuance date whether the 7.0% Debentures issued on such date are issued with a beneficial conversion feature.  A beneficial conversion feature will exist if the 7.0% Debentures may be convertible into common stock at an effective conversion price (calculated by dividing the proceeds from the issuance of 7.0% Debentures issued on that date (per $1,000 principal amount of debentures) by the then effective conversion rate) that is lower than the market price of a share of common stock on the date of issuance.  When a beneficial conversion feature exists, we are required to separately recognize the beneficial conversion feature at issuance by allocating a portion of the proceeds to the intrinsic value of that feature.  The value of the beneficial conversion feature is recorded, net of taxes, as an increase to additional paid-in capital.  If a beneficial conversion feature exists on the actual date(s) of issuance, a discount equal to the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature will be recorded against the carrying value of the 7.0% Debentures.  Such discount will be amortized from the actual date(s) of issuance to the stated maturity date of the 7.0% Debentures using the effective interest method.  Accordingly, the interest expense we recognize related to the 7.0% Debentures will be dependent upon whether a beneficial conversion feature exists on the actual date(s) of issuance and the amount by which the market price(s) of our common stock exceeds the effective conversion price on such actual date(s) of issuance.

The closing market price of our common stock on May 4, 2010 (the last closing price prior to the issuance of $52.5 million of the 7.0% Debentures) was $5.81.  Because this amount was higher than the effective conversion price of $5.17 on that date, a beneficial conversion feature existed with respect to the 7.0% Debentures we issued.  The beneficial conversion feature related to the 7% Debentures issued on May 5, 2010 of $4.0 million, net of tax, was recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital.

Our secured credit agreement (“Senior Credit Agreement”) contains various restrictive covenants and certain financial ratios and balances that we must maintain.  As of September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants under our Senior Credit Agreement.

The scheduled repayment of our direct corporate obligations was as follows at September 30, 2010 (dollars in millions):

Remainder of 2010                                                                         
 $25.0 
2011                                                                         
  60.0 
2012                                                                         
  65.0 
2013                                                                         
  602.1 
2016                                                                         
  293.0 
      
   $1,045.1 

INVESTMENT BORROWINGS
INVESTMENT BORROWINGS

INVESTMENT BORROWINGS

Two of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries (Conseco Life Insurance Company, “Conseco Life” and Bankers Life) are members of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”).  As members of the FHLB, Conseco Life and Bankers Life have the ability to borrow on a collateralized basis from FHLB.  Conseco Life and Bankers Life are required to hold certain minimum amounts of FHLB common stock as a requirement of membership in the FHLB, and additional amounts based on the amount of the borrowings.  At September 30, 2010, the carrying value of the FHLB common stock was $32.5 million.  As of September 30, 2010, collateralized borrowings from the FHLB totaled $650.0 million (of which, $200.0 million was borrowed in the third quarter of 2010), and the proceeds were used to purchase fixed maturity securities.  The borrowings are classified as investment borrowings in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.  The borrowings are collateralized by investments with an estimated fair value of $914.9 million at September 30, 2010, which are maintained in a custodial account for the benefit of the FHLB.  In early October 2010, Bankers Life borrowed an additional $250.0 million from the FHLB.  A portion of the collateral for the additional borrowings had been deposited in the custodial account for the benefit of the FHLB at September 30, 2010.  Such investments are classified as fixed maturities, available for sale, in our consolidated balance sheet.  Interest expense of $14.9 million and $15.3 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively, was recognized related to the borrowings.
 
The following summarizes the terms of the borrowings (dollars in millions):

Amount
 
Maturity
 
Interest rate
borrowed
 
date
 
at September 30, 2010
      
$54.0 
May 2012
 
Variable rate – 0.339%
 37.0 
July 2012
 
Fixed rate – 5.540%
 13.0 
July 2012
 
Variable rate – 0.588%
 100.0 
September 2015
 
Variable rate – 0.606%
 100.0 
September 2015
 
Variable rate – 0.557%
 146.0 
November 2015
 
Fixed rate – 5.300%
 100.0 
November 2015
 
Fixed rate – 4.890%
 100.0 
December 2015
 
Fixed rate – 4.710%

The variable rate borrowings are pre-payable on each interest reset date without penalty.  The fixed rate borrowings are pre-payable subject to payment of a yield maintenance fee based on current market interest rates.  At September 30, 2010, the aggregate fee to prepay all fixed rate borrowings was $71 million.

At September 30, 2010, investment borrowings consisted of:  (i) collateralized borrowings from the FHLB of $650.0 million; and (ii) other borrowings of $3.9 million.

At December 31, 2009, investment borrowings consisted of:  (i) collateralized borrowings of $450.0 million; (ii) $229.1 million of securities issued to other entities by a VIE which is consolidated in our financial statements; and (iii) other borrowings of $4.8 million.

CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK
CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK

CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK

Changes in the number of shares of common stock outstanding were as follows (shares in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2009                                                                                         
  250,786  
       
Shares issued under employee benefit compensation plans
  260 
(a)
       
Balance at September 30, 2010                                                                                         
  251,046  
________
(a)  
Such amount was reduced by 72 thousand shares which were tendered for the payment of federal and state taxes owed on the issuance of restricted stock.

SALES INDUCEMENTS
SALES INDUCEMENTS

SALES INDUCEMENTS

Certain of our annuity products offer sales inducements to contract holders in the form of enhanced crediting rates or bonus payments in the initial period of the contract.  Certain of our life insurance products offer persistency bonuses credited to the contract holders balance after the policy has been outstanding for a specified period of time.  These enhanced rates and persistency bonuses are considered sales inducements in accordance with GAAP.  Such amounts are deferred and amortized in the same manner as deferred acquisition costs.  Sales inducements deferred totaled $13.8 million and $20.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Amounts amortized totaled $20.6 million and $26.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The unamortized balance of deferred sales inducements at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $170.8 million and $177.6 million, respectively.  The balance of insurance liabilities for persistency bonus benefits was $96.0 million and $136.2 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Pending Accounting Standards

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that modifies the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts.  The guidance specifies that an insurance entity shall only capitalize incremental direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts.  The guidance also states that advertising costs should be included in deferred acquisition costs only if the capitalization criteria in the direct-response advertising guidance are met.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The guidance should be applied prospectively upon adoption.  Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption also is permitted, but not required.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on how investments held through separate accounts affect an insurer’s consolidation analysis of those investments.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which requires additional disclosures related to purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward of Level 3 fair value measurements.  This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010.  We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance clarifying the scope exception for embedded credit derivatives and when those features would be bifurcated from the host contract.  Under the new guidance, only embedded credit derivative features that are in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another would not be subject to the bifurcation requirements.  Accordingly, entities will be required to bifurcate any embedded credit derivative features that no longer qualify under the amended scope exception, or, for certain investments, an entity can elect the fair value option and record the entire investment at fair value.  This guidance is effective for fiscal quarters beginning after June 15, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which requires new disclosures and clarifies existing disclosure requirements related to fair value.  An entity is also required to disclose significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  In addition, the guidance amends the fair value disclosure requirement for pension and postretirement benefit plan assets to require this disclosure at the investment class level.  The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009.  Such disclosures are included in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled “Fair Value Measurements”.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that is intended to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets; the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any, in transferred financial assets.  The guidance must be applied as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter.  The guidance must be applied to transfers occurring on or after the effective date.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires an entity to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether a primary beneficiary interest is held in a VIE.  Under the new qualitative model, the primary beneficiary must have both the power to direct the activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb either losses or gains that could be significant to the VIE.  The guidance also requires ongoing reassessments to determine whether a primary beneficiary interest is held and additional disclosures, including the financial statement effects of the entity’s involvement with VIEs.  The guidance is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter.  The impact of adoption of this guidance is as follows (dollars in millions):

   
January 1, 2010
 
   
Amounts prior to effect of adoption of authoritative
  
Effect of adoption of authoritative
  
As
 
   
guidance
  
guidance
  
adjusted
 
           
Total investments
 $21,530.2  $247.6  $21,777.8 
              
Cash and cash equivalents held by variable interest entities
  3.4   3.8   7.2 
Accrued investment income
  309.0   .9   309.9 
Income tax assets, net
  1,124.0   8.6   1,132.6 
Other assets
  310.7   14.2   324.9 
Total assets
  30,343.8   275.1   30,618.9 
              
Other liabilities
  610.4   8.8   619.2 
Borrowings related to variable interest entities
  229.1   282.2   511.3 
Total liabilities
  26,811.4   291.0   27,102.4 
              
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
  (264.3)  (6.2)  (270.5)
Accumulated deficit
  (614.6)  (9.7)  (624.3)
Total shareholders’ equity
  3,532.4   (15.9)  3,516.5 
              
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  30,343.8   275.1   30,618.9 

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the recognition and presentation of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires additional disclosures.  The recognition provision within this guidance applies only to fixed maturity investments that are subject to the other-than-temporary impairments.  If an entity intends to sell or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell an impaired security prior to recovery of its cost basis, the security is other-than-temporarily impaired and the full amount of the impairment is recognized as a loss through earnings.  Otherwise, losses on securities which are other-than-temporarily impaired are separated into:  (i) the portion of loss which represents the credit loss; and (ii) the portion which is due to other factors.  The credit loss portion is recognized as a loss through earnings while the loss due to other factors is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes and related amortization.  The guidance requires a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit and a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to reclassify the non-credit portion of previously other-than-temporarily impaired securities which were held at the beginning of the period of adoption and for which we do not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell such securities before recovery of the amortized cost basis.  We adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2009.  The cumulative effect of adopting this guidance was a $4.9 million net decrease to accumulated deficit and a corresponding increase to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

The following disclosures supplement our consolidated statement of cash flows.

The following reconciles net income to net cash provided by operating activities (dollars in millions):

   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
      
Net income
 $116.4  $67.5 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
        
Amortization and depreciation
  339.1   364.1 
Income taxes
  61.6   82.1 
Insurance liabilities
  305.8   264.3 
Accrual and amortization of investment income
  (26.9)  (110.2)
Deferral of policy acquisition costs
  (315.8)  (309.5)
Net realized investment losses
  18.0   43.5 
Loss on extinguishment or modification of debt
  2.7   9.5 
Other
  23.7   7.9 
          
Net cash provided by operating activities
 $524.6  $419.2 

Non-cash items not reflected in the investing and financing activities sections of the consolidated statement of cash flows (dollars in millions):

   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
  
2009
 
        
Stock option and restricted stock plans                                                                      
 $8.8  $6.6 
Change in securities lending collateral                                                                      
  103.7   196.1 
Change in securities lending payable                                                                      
  (103.7)  (196.1)

INVESTMENTS IN VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
INVESTMENTS IN VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

INVESTMENTS IN VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted authoritative guidance that requires an entity to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether a primary beneficiary interest is held in a VIE.  The guidance also requires ongoing reassessments to determine whether a primary beneficiary interest is held.  Based on our assessment, we concluded that we were the primary beneficiary with respect to two VIEs which are consolidated in our financial statements.  One of the VIEs was consolidated prior to 2010.  The following is a description of our significant investments in VIEs:
 
Fall Creek CLO Ltd. (“Fall Creek”) and Eagle Creek CLO Ltd. (“Eagle Creek”) are collateralized loan trusts that were established to issue securities and use the proceeds to principally invest in corporate loans and other permitted investments.  The assets held by the trusts are legally isolated and not available to the Company.  The liabilities of Fall Creek and Eagle Creek are expected to be satisfied from the cash flows generated by the underlying loans, not from the assets of the Company.  Repayment of the remaining principal balance of the borrowings of Fall Creek and Eagle Creek are based on available cash flows from the assets and such borrowings mature in 2017 and 2018, respectively.  The Company has no further commitments to Fall Creek or Eagle Creek.

Certain of our subsidiaries are noteholders of the VIEs and, as a result, could absorb part of the losses of the VIEs.  Another subsidiary of the Company is the investment manager for both Fall Creek and Eagle Creek.  As such, it has the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIEs which materially impacts the economic performance of the VIEs.

The following table provides supplemental information about the assets and liabilities of Fall Creek and Eagle Creek which have been consolidated in accordance with authoritative guidance (dollars in millions):

   
September 30, 2010
 
           
   
Fall Creek
     
Net effect on
 
   
and
     
consolidated
 
   
Eagle Creek
  
Eliminations
  
balance sheet
 
           
Assets:
         
Investments held by variable interest entities
 $454.8  $-  $454.8 
Notes receivable of VIEs held by insurance subsidiaries
  -   (96.8)  (96.8)
Cash and cash equivalents held by variable interest entities
  18.3   -   18.3 
Accrued investment income
  1.5   (4.3)  (2.8)
Income tax assets, net
  24.6   (6.5)  18.1 
Other assets
  13.8   -   13.8 
              
Total assets                                                                  
 $513.0  $(107.6) $405.4 
              
Liabilities:
            
Other liabilities
 $18.2  $(4.2) $14.0 
Borrowings related to variable interest entities
  425.0   -   425.0 
Notes payable of VIEs held by insurance subsidiaries
  115.6   (115.6)  - 
              
Total liabilities                                                                  
 $558.8  $(119.8) $439.0 


 

   
December 31, 2009
 
           
         
Net effect on
 
         
consolidated
 
   
Fall Creek
  
Eliminations
  
balance sheet
 
           
Assets:
         
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 $268.0  $-  $268.0 
Notes receivable of VIE held by insurance subsidiaries
  -   (81.9)  (81.9)
Cash and cash equivalents – restricted
  3.4   -   3.4 
Accrued investment income
  1.2   (3.0)  (1.8)
Income tax assets, net
  19.3   (5.3)  14.0 
Other assets
  8.0   -   8.0 
              
Total assets                                                                  
 $299.9  $(90.2) $209.7 
              
Liabilities:
            
Other liabilities
 $7.7  $(3.2) $4.5 
Investment borrowings
  229.1   -   229.1 
Notes payable of VIE held by insurance subsidiaries
  99.2   (99.2)  - 
              
Total liabilities                                                                  
 $336.0  $(102.4) $233.6 

The investment portfolio held by the VIEs is primarily comprised of corporate fixed maturity securities which are almost entirely rated as below-investment grade securities.  At September 30, 2010, such securities had an amortized cost of $471.7 million; gross unrealized gains of $2.5 million; gross unrealized losses of $19.4 million; and an estimated fair value of $454.8 million.

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value of the investments held by the VIEs at September 30, 2010, by contractual maturity.  Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

      
Estimated
 
   
Amortized
  
fair
 
   
cost
  
value
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
        
Due in one year or less                                                                             
 $19.8  $19.4 
Due after one year through five years                                                                             
  371.2   355.5 
Due after five years through ten years                                                                             
  80.7   79.9 
          
Total                                                                       
 $471.7  $454.8 

During the first nine months of 2010, we recognized net realized investment losses on the VIE investments of $4.1 million, which were comprised of $.9 million of net losses from the sales of fixed maturities, and $3.2 million of writedowns of investments for other than temporary declines in fair value recognized through net income.  During the first nine months of 2009, we recognized net realized investment losses on the VIE investments of $14.8 million, which were comprised of $1.3 million of net losses from the sales of fixed maturities, and $13.5 million of writedowns of investments for other than temporary declines in fair value recognized through net income.

At September 30, 2010, investments held by the VIEs that were in default had an aggregate amortized cost and carrying value of $5.9 million and $6.1 million, respectively.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, $33.4 million of investments held by the VIEs were sold which resulted in gross investment losses (before income taxes) of $6.1 million.  The following summarizes the investments sold at a loss during the first nine months of 2010 which had been continuously in an unrealized loss position exceeding 20 percent of the amortized cost basis prior to the sale for the period indicated (dollars in millions):

   
At date of sale
 
   
Number
  
Amortized
  
Fair
 
   
of issuers
  
cost
  
value
 
           
Less than six months prior to sale                                                                               
  1  $-  $- 
Greater than or equal to 6 and less than 12 months prior to sale
  2   .3   .1 
Greater than 12 months prior to sale                                                                               
  5   3.0   1.5 
              
    8  $3.3  $1.6 

At September 30, 2010, the VIEs held:  (i) investments with a fair value of $63.8 million and gross unrealized losses of $1.4 million that had been in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months; and (ii) investments with a fair value of $283.9 million and gross unrealized losses of $18.0 million that had been in an unrealized loss position for greater than twelve months.

The investments held by the VIEs are evaluated for other-than-temporary declines in fair value in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s fixed maturities, available for sale.

In addition, the Company, in the normal course of business, makes passive investments in structured securities issued by VIEs for which the Company is not the investment manager.  These structured securities include asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.  Our maximum exposure to loss on these securities is limited to our cost basis in the investment.  We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of these structured securities due to the relative size of our investment in comparison to the total principal amount of the individual structured securities and the level of credit subordination which reduces our obligation to absorb gains or losses.

At September 30, 2010, we hold investments in various limited partnerships, in which we are not the primary beneficiary, totaling $29.9 million (classified as other invested assets).  At September 30, 2010, we had unfunded commitments to these partnerships of $14.8 million.  Our maximum exposure to loss on these investments is limited to the amount of our investment.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Definition of Fair Value

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and, therefore, represents an exit price, not an entry price.  We hold fixed maturities, equity securities, derivatives, separate account assets and embedded derivatives, which are carried at fair value.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments is largely dependent on the level to which pricing is based on observable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information.  Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices would be considered to have fair values based on the highest level of observable inputs, and little judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value.  Financial instruments that rarely trade would be considered to have fair value based on a lower level of observable inputs, and more judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value.
 
Valuation Hierarchy

There is a three-level hierarchy for valuing assets or liabilities at fair value based on whether inputs are observable or unobservable.

·  
Level 1 – includes assets and liabilities valued using inputs that are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  Our Level 1 assets include exchange traded securities.

·  
Level 2 – includes assets and liabilities valued using inputs that are quoted prices for similar assets in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in a market that is not active, observable inputs, or observable inputs that can be corroborated by market data.  Level 2 assets and liabilities include those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services using models or other valuation methodologies.  These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs such as interest rate, credit spread, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads and other inputs that are observable or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.  Financial instruments in this category primarily include:  certain public and private corporate fixed maturity securities; certain government or agency securities; certain mortgage and asset-backed securities; and non-exchange-traded derivatives such as call options to hedge liabilities related to our fixed index annuity products.

·  
Level 3 – includes assets and liabilities valued using unobservable inputs that are used in model-based valuations that contain management assumptions.  Level 3 assets and liabilities include those financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices or internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, readily available market information.  Financial instruments in this category include certain corporate securities (primarily private placements), certain mortgage and asset-backed securities, and other less liquid securities.  Additionally, the Company’s liabilities for embedded derivatives (including embedded derivatives related to our fixed index annuity products and to a modified coinsurance arrangement) are classified in Level 3 since their values include significant unobservable inputs including actuarial assumptions.

At each reporting date, we classify assets and liabilities into the three input levels based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value for each asset and liability reported at fair value.  This classification is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new to the market and not yet established, the characteristics specific to the transaction and overall market conditions.  Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement and the ultimate classification of each asset and liability requires judgment.

The vast majority of our fixed maturity securities and separate account assets use Level 2 inputs for the determination of fair value.  These fair values are obtained primarily from independent pricing services, which use Level 2 inputs for the determination of fair value.  Substantially all of our Level 2 fixed maturity securities and separate account assets were valued from independent pricing services.  Third party pricing services normally derive the security prices through recently reported trades for identical or similar securities making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable information.  If there are no recently reported trades, the third party pricing services may use matrix or model processes to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed and discounted at an estimated risk-adjusted market rate.  The number of prices obtained is dependent on the Company’s analysis of such prices as further described below.
For securities that are not priced by pricing services and may not be reliably priced using pricing models, we obtain broker quotes.  These broker quotes are non-binding and represent an exit price, but assumptions used to establish the fair value may not be observable and therefore represent Level 3 inputs.  Approximately 8 percent and 1 percent of our Level 3 fixed maturity securities were valued using broker quotes or independent pricing services, respectively.  The remaining Level 3 fixed maturity investments do not have readily determinable market prices and/or observable inputs.  For these securities, we use internally developed valuations.  Key assumptions used to determine fair value for these securities may include risk-free rates, risk premiums, performance of underlying collateral and other factors involving significant assumptions which may not be reflective of an active market.  For certain investments, we use a matrix or model process to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed and discounted at an estimated market rate.  The pricing matrix utilizes a spread level to determine the market price for a security.  The credit spread generally incorporates the issuer’s credit rating and other factors relating to the issuer’s industry and the security’s maturity.  In some instances issuer-specific spread adjustments, which can be positive or negative, are made based upon internal analysis of security specifics such as liquidity, deal size, and time to maturity.

Privately placed securities comprise approximately 74 percent of our fixed maturities, available for sale, classified as Level 3.  Privately placed securities are classified as Level 3 when their valuation is based on internal valuation models which rely on significant inputs that are not observable in the market.  Our model applies spreads above the risk-free rate which are determined based on comparison to securities with similar ratings, maturities and industries that are rated by independent third party rating agencies.  Our process also considers the ratings assigned by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC”) to the Level 3 securities on an annual basis.  Each quarter, a review is performed to determine the reasonableness of the initial valuations from the model.  If an initial valuation appears unreasonable based on our knowledge of a security and current market conditions, we make appropriate adjustments to our valuation inputs.  The remaining securities classified as Level 3 are primarily valued based on internally developed models using estimated future cash flows.  We recognized other-than-temporary impairments on securities classified as Level 3 investments of $.2 million during the first nine months of 2010.

As the Company is responsible for the determination of fair value, we perform monthly quantitative and qualitative analysis on the prices received from third parties to determine whether the prices are reasonable estimates of fair value.  The Company’s analysis includes:  (i) a review of the methodology used by third party pricing services; (ii) a comparison of pricing services’ valuation to other pricing services’ valuations for the same security; (iii) a review of month to month price fluctuations; (iv) a review to ensure valuations are not unreasonably stale; and (v) back testing to compare actual purchase and sale transactions with valuations received from third parties.  As a result of such procedures, the Company may conclude the prices received from third parties are not reflective of current market conditions.  In those instances, we may request additional pricing quotes or apply internally developed valuations.  However, the number of instances is insignificant and the aggregate change in value of such investments is not materially different from the original prices received.

The categorization of the fair value measurements of our investments priced by independent pricing services was based upon the Company’s judgment of the inputs or methodologies used by the independent pricing services to value different asset classes.  Such inputs include:  benchmark yields, reported trades, broker dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.  The Company categorizes such fair value measurements based upon asset classes and the underlying observable or unobservable inputs used to value such investments.

The classification of fair value measurements for derivative instruments, including embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation, is determined based on the consideration of several inputs including closing exchange or over-the-counter market price quotations; time value and volatility factors underlying options; market interest rates; and non-performance risk.  For certain embedded derivatives, we may use actuarial assumptions in the determination of fair value.

The categorization of fair value measurements, by input level, for our fixed maturity securities, equity securities, trading securities, certain other invested assets, assets held in separate accounts and embedded derivative instruments included in liabilities for insurance products at September 30, 2010 is as follows (dollars in millions):

   
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
(Level 1)
  
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)
    
Significant unobservable inputs 
(Level 3)
    
Total
 
Assets:
                
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                
Corporate securities
 $-  $13,167.8    $2,483.3    $15,651.1 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  -   106.6     2.2     108.8 
States and political subdivisions
  -   1,464.6     9.7     1,474.3 
Debt securities issued by foreign governments
  -   .9     -     .9 
Asset-backed securities
  -   606.4     5.8     612.2 
Collateralized debt obligations
  -   12.4     210.0     222.4 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  -   1,363.7     6.6     1,370.3 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  29.9   -     3.7     33.6 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  -   1,454.4     79.5     1,533.9 
Total fixed maturities, available for sale 
  29.9   18,176.8     2,800.8     21,007.5 
                      
Equity securities
  -   10.0     31.1     41.1 
                      
Trading securities:
                    
Corporate securities
  5.7   53.1     4.1     62.9 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  -   305.6     -     305.6 
States and political subdivisions
  -   12.9     -     12.9 
Asset-backed securities
  -   .6     -     .6 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  -   5.4     -     5.4 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  .4   -     -     .4 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  -   1.9     -     1.9 
Total trading securities
  6.1   379.5     4.1     389.7 
                   
Investments held by variable interest entities
  -   448.6     6.2     454.8 
                   
Other invested assets
  -   133.9 
(a)
  -     133.9 
Assets held in separate accounts
  -   16.7     -     16.7 
                      
Liabilities:
                    
Liabilities for insurance products:
                    
Interest-sensitive products
  -   -     521.2 
(b)
  521.2 
_____________
(a)  
Includes company-owned life insurance and derivatives.
(b)  
Includes $519.6 million of embedded derivatives associated with our fixed index annuity products and $1.6 million of embedded derivatives associated with a modified coinsurance agreement.

 
The categorization of fair value measurements, by input level, for our fixed maturity securities, equity securities, trading securities, certain other invested assets, assets held in separate accounts and embedded derivative instruments included in liabilities for insurance products at December 31, 2009 is as follows (dollars in millions):

   
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1)
  
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)
    
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
    
Total
 
Assets:
                
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                
Corporate securities
 $-  $12,044.3    $2,247.1    $14,291.4 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  19.4   248.0     2.2     269.6 
States and political subdivisions
  -   842.9     10.7     853.6 
Debt securities issued by foreign governments
  -   5.1     -     5.1 
Asset-backed securities
  -   176.3     15.8     192.1 
Collateralized debt obligations
  -   -     92.8     92.8 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  -   752.3     13.7     766.0 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  37.1   1.3     4.2     42.6 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  -   2,003.8     11.4     2,015.2 
Total fixed maturities, available for sale 
  56.5   16,074.0     2,397.9     18,528.4 
                      
Equity securities
  .1   -     30.9     31.0 
                      
Trading securities:
                    
Corporate securities
  3.8   49.4     3.7     56.9 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  -   220.3     -     220.3 
States and political subdivisions
  -   4.4     -     4.4 
Asset-backed securities
  -   .6     -     .6 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  -   4.9     -     4.9 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  .5   -     -     .5 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  -   5.7     -     5.7 
Total trading securities
  4.3   285.3     3.7     293.3 
                      
Securities lending collateral:
                    
Corporate securities
  -   81.0     13.7     94.7 
Asset-backed securities
  -   16.2     22.9     39.1 
Total securities lending collateral
  -   97.2     36.6     133.8 
                      
Other invested assets
  -   192.6 
(a)
  2.4 
(b)
  195.0 
Assets held in separate accounts
  -   17.3     -     17.3 
                      
Liabilities:
                    
Liabilities for insurance products:
                    
Interest-sensitive products
  -   -     496.0 
(c)
  496.0 


 
 
____________
(a)  
Includes company-owned life insurance and derivatives.
(b)  
Includes equity-like holdings in special-purpose entities.
(c)  
Includes $494.4 million of embedded derivatives associated with our fixed index annuity products and $1.6 million of embedded derivatives associated with a modified coinsurance agreement.

 
The following tables presents additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 (dollars in millions):

                          
   
September 30, 2010
    
   
Beginning
balance
as of
June 30,
2010
  
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
  
Total
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income
  
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)
  
Transfers
into
Level 3
  
Transfers
out of
Level 3 (b)
  
Ending
balance
as of
September 30,
2010
  
Amount of total gains (losses) for the three months ended
September 30, 2010 included
in our net
income relating
to assets and liabilities still held as of the reporting date
 
Assets:
                        
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                        
Corporate securities
 $2,453.6  $16.5  $(1.7) $51.0  $-  $(36.1) $2,483.3  $- 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  2.1   -   -   .1   -   -   2.2   - 
States and political subdivisions
  10.0   -   -   (.3)  -   -   9.7   - 
Asset-backed securities
  6.1   (.4)  -   .1   -   -   5.8   - 
Collateralized debt obligations
  136.8   69.7   .1   3.4   -   -   210.0   - 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  10.5   (2.2)  -   (.3)  -   (1.4)  6.6   - 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  3.9   (.2)  -   -   -   -   3.7   - 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  24.1   53.3   -   2.1   -   -   79.5   - 
Total fixed maturities,
    available for sale 
  2,647.1   136.7   (1.6)  56.1   -   (37.5)  2,800.8   - 
Equity securities
  31.0   -   -   .1   -   -   31.1   - 
Trading securities:
                                
Corporate securities
  4.1   (.5)  .5   -   -   -   4.1   .5 
Investments held by variable interest  entities:
                                
   Corporate securities
  7.2   (1.0)  -   -   -   -   6.2   - 
Securities lending collateral:
                                
Asset-backed securities
  4.9   (4.9)  -   -   -   -   -   - 
                                  
Liabilities:
                                
Liabilities for insurance products:
                                
Interest-sensitive products
  (500.5)  (1.9)  (18.8)  -   -   -   (521.2)  (18.8)



 
                              
   
September 30, 2010
 
Amount of total gains (losses) for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010 included
in our net
income relating
to assets and liabilities still held as of the reporting date
   
Beginning
balance
as of
December 31,
2009
  
Cumulative
effect of
accounting
change (a)
  
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
  
Total
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income
  
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)
  
Transfers
Into
Level 3
  
Transfers
out of
Level 3 (b)
  
Ending
balance
as of
September 30,
2010
 
Assets:
                            
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                            
Corporate securities
 $2,247.1  $(5.9) $84.2  $(2.2) $172.5  $19.6  $(32.0) $2,483.3    $-  
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  2.2   -   (.1)  -   .1   -   -   2.2     -  
States and political subdivisions
  10.7   -   -   -   .7   -   (1.7)  9.7     -  
Asset-backed securities
  15.8   -   (11.9)  (11.3)  13.2   -   -   5.8     -  
Collateralized debt obligations
  92.8   (5.7)  119.8   (.1)  3.2   -   -   210.0     -  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  13.7   -   (2.8)  -   1.6   -   (5.9)  6.6     -  
Mortgage pass-through securities
  4.2   -   (.5)  -   -   -   -   3.7     -  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  11.4   -   77.1   -   2.1   -   (11.1)  79.5     -  
Total fixed maturities, available for sale
  2,397.9   (11.6)  265.8   (13.6)  193.4   19.6   (50.7)  2,800.8     -  
Equity securities
  30.9   -   .1   -   .1   -   -   31.1     -  
Trading securities:
                                       
Corporate
   securities
  3.7   -   -   .4   -   -   -   4.1     .4  
Investments held by variable interest entities:
                                       
  Corporate
     securities
  -   6.9   (1.0)  -   .3   -   -   6.2     -  
Securities lending collateral:
                                       
Corporate securities
  13.7   -   (13.7)  -   -   -   -   -     -  
Asset-backed securities
  22.9   -   (20.9)  -   -   -   (2.0)  -     -  
Total securities lending collateral
  36.6   -   (34.6)  -   -   -   (2.0)  -     -  
Other invested
    assets
  2.4   (2.4)  -   -   -   -   -   -     -  
Liabilities:
                                       
Liabilities for insurance products:
                                       
Interest-sensitive products
  (496.0)  -   33.1   (58.3)  -   -   -   (521.2 
)
 
  (58.3 )
 

________
(a)  
Amounts represent adjustments to investments related to a variable interest entity that was required to be consolidated effective January 1, 2010, as well as the reclassification of investments of a variable interest entity which was consolidated at December 31, 2009.
(b)  
Transfers out of Level 3 are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the period.

The following tables presents additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (dollars in millions):

 
   
September 30, 2009
    
   
Beginning
balance
as of
June 30,
2009
  
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
  
Total
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income
  
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)
  
Transfers
into
Level 3
  
Transfers
out of
Level 3
  
Ending
balance
as of
September 30,
2009
  
Amount of total gains (losses) for the three months ended
September 30, 2009 included
in our net
income relating
to assets and liabilities still held as of the reporting date
 
Assets:
                        
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                        
Corporate securities
 $1,852.5  $117.8  $(1.5) $244.0  $22.3  $-  $2,235.1  $- 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  2.3   -   -   -   -   -   2.3   - 
States and political subdivisions
  8.9   (.1)  -   .1   -   -   8.9   - 
Asset-backed securities
  23.2   (.6)  -   1.9   -   -   24.5   - 
Collateralized debt obligations
  104.9   (.7)  -   13.6   -   -   117.8   - 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  -   (.8)  -   .2   8.8   -   8.2   - 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  4.4   (.1)  -   -   -   -   4.3   - 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  .3   -   -   -   -   -   .3   - 
Total fixed maturities, available for sale
  1,996.5   115.5   (1.5)  259.8   31.1   -   2,401.4   - 
Equity securities
  30.4   -   -   .3   -   -   30.7   - 
Trading securities:
                                
Corporate securities
  2.7   -   -   .9   .5   -   4.1   .9 
Securities lending collateral:
                                
Corporate securities
  23.5   (10.0)  -   .1   -   -   13.6   - 
Asset-backed securities
  18.5   -   (.7)  (1.4)  8.5   -   24.9   (.7)
Total securities lending collateral
  42.0   (10.0)  (.7)  (1.3)  8.5   -   38.5   (.7)
Other invested assets
  .9   -   -   .2   -   -   1.1   - 
Liabilities:
                                
Liabilities for insurance products:
                                
Interest-sensitive products
  (406.6)  (30.2)  (13.8)  -   -   -   (450.6)  (13.8)


 

                            
   
September 30, 2009
     
   
Beginning
balance
as of
December 31,
2008
  
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
  
Total
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income
  
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)
  
Transfers
into
Level 3
  
Transfers
out of
Level 3
  
Ending
balance
as of
September 30,
2009
   
Amount of total gains (losses) for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009 included
in our net
income relating
to assets and liabilities still held as of the reporting date
 
Assets:
                          
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
                          
Corporate securities
 $1,715.6  $204.1  $(5.5) $299.4  $27.5  $(6.0) $2,235.1    $- 
United States Treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies
  2.6   (.1)  -   (.2)  -   -   2.3     - 
States and political subdivisions
  10.5   (.4)  -   (1.2)  -   -   8.9     - 
Asset-backed securities
  27.5   (2.2)  -   1.9   -   (2.7)  24.5     - 
Collateralized debt obligations
  96.7   (2.9)  (2.7)  26.7   -   -   117.8     (2.7)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  9.6   (6.5)  (.6)  5.7   -   -   8.2     - 
Mortgage pass-through securities
  4.9   (.6)  -   -   -   -   4.3     - 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  8.7   (.1)  -   -   -   (8.3)  .3     - 
Total fixed maturities, available for sale
  1,876.1   191.3   (8.8)  332.3   27.5   (17.0)  2,401.4     (2.7)
Equity securities
  32.4   (.3)  -   (1.4)  -   -   30.7     - 
Trading securities:
                                  
Corporate securities
  2.7   -   -   .9   .5   -   4.1     .9 
Securities lending collateral:
                                  
Corporate securities
  34.9   (17.0)  -   .1   -   (4.4)  13.6     - 
Equity securities
  .1   (.1)  (.3)  .3   -   -   -     (.3)
Asset-backed securities
   13.1   -   (.6)  (8.0)  20.4   -   24.9     (.6)
Total securities lending collateral
  48.1   (17.1)  (.9)  (7.6)  20.4   (4.4)  38.5     (.9)
Other invested assets
  2.3   -   (3.4)  2.2   -   -   1.1     (3.4)
Liabilities:
                                  
Liabilities for insurance products:
                                  
Interest-sensitive products
  (437.2)  (11.1)  (2.3)  -   -   -   (450.6 
)
 
  (2.3)

At September 30, 2010, 92 percent of our Level 3 fixed maturities, available for sale, were investment grade and 75 percent of our Level 3 fixed maturities, available for sale, consisted of corporate securities.

Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses presented in the preceding tables represent gains and losses during the time the applicable financial instruments were classified as Level 3.

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets are primarily reported in either net investment income for policyholder and reinsurer accounts and other special purpose portfolios, net realized investment gains (losses) or insurance policy benefits within the consolidated statement of operations or accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity based on the appropriate accounting treatment for the instrument.
 
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net, represent the activity that occurred during the period that results in a change of the asset or liability but does not represent changes in fair value for the instruments held at the beginning of the period.  Such activity primarily consists of purchases and sales of fixed maturity, equity and trading securities, purchases and settlements of derivative instruments, and changes to embedded derivative instruments related to insurance products resulting from the issuance of new contracts, or changes to existing contracts.

We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 in the first nine months of 2010 were primarily due to changes in the observability of the valuation attributes resulting in a reclassification of certain financial assets or liabilities.  Such reclassifications are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.  There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 in the first nine months of 2010.

The amount presented for gains (losses) included in our net loss for assets and liabilities still held as of the reporting date primarily represents impairments for fixed maturities, available for sale, changes in fair value of trading securities and certain derivatives and changes in fair value of embedded derivative instruments included in liabilities for insurance products that exist as of the reporting date.

We use the following methods and assumptions to determine the estimated fair values of other financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents.  The carrying amount for these instruments approximates their estimated fair value.

Mortgage loans and policy loans.  We discount future expected cash flows for loans included in our investment portfolio based on interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings.  We aggregate loans with similar characteristics in our calculations.  The fair value of policy loans approximates their carrying value.

Other invested assets.  We use quoted market prices, where available.  When quotes are not available, we estimate the fair value based on discounted future expected cash flows or independent transactions which establish a value for our investment.  Investments in limited partnerships are accounted for under the equity method which approximates estimated fair value.

Insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products.  We discount future expected cash flows based on interest rates currently being offered for similar contracts with similar maturities.

Investment borrowings, notes payable and borrowings related to variable interest entities.  For publicly traded debt, we use current fair values.  For other notes, we use discounted cash flow analyses based on our current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 
The estimated fair values of our financial instruments at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were as follows (dollars in millions):

   
September 30, 2010
  
December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
  
Estimated fair
  
Carrying
  
Estimated fair
 
   
amount
  
value
  
amount
  
value
 
              
Financial assets:
            
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 $21,007.5  $21,007.5  $18,528.4  $18,528.4 
Equity securities                                                
  41.1   41.1   31.0   31.0 
Mortgage loans                                                
  1,825.6   1,848.5   1,965.5   1,756.8 
Policy loans                                                
  290.9   290.9   295.2   295.2 
Trading securities                                                
  389.7   389.7   293.3   293.3 
Investments held by securitization entities
  454.8   454.8   -   - 
Securities lending collateral                                                
  -   -   180.0   180.0 
Other invested assets                                                
  189.5   189.5   236.8   236.8 
Cash and cash equivalents                                                
  567.1   567.1   526.8   526.8 
                  
Financial liabilities:
                
Insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products (a)
 $13,217.6  $13,217.6  $13,219.2  $13,219.2 
Investment borrowings                                                
  653.9   724.9   683.9   677.6 
Borrowings related to securitization entities 
  425.0   378.3   -   - 
Notes payable – direct corporate obligations
  1,029.8   1,106.0   1,037.4   1,041.7 
____________________
(a)  
The estimated fair value of insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products was approximately equal to its carrying value at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  This was because interest rates credited on the vast majority of account balances approximate current rates paid on similar products and because these rates are not generally guaranteed beyond one year.

Document Information
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2010
Document Type
10-Q 
Amendment Flag
FALSE 
Document Period End Date
2010-09-30 
Entity Information
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2010
Oct. 27, 2010
Jun. 30, 2009
Entity Registrant Name
CNO Financial Group, Inc. 
 
 
Entity Central Index Key
0001224608 
 
 
Current Fiscal Year End Date
12/31 
 
 
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
No 
 
 
Entity Voluntary Filers
No 
 
 
Entity Current Reporting Status
Yes 
 
 
Entity Filer Category
Accelerated Filer 
 
 
Entity Public Float
 
 
430,000,000 
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding
 
251,046,412 
 
Document Fiscal Year Focus
2010 
 
 
Document Fiscal Period Focus
Q3