UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

__________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

[X]

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016.

[   ]

Transition Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from: ________ to _________  

Commission File Number: 001-32244

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		58-1407235
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT                      06902

                                  (Address of principal executive offices)                                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 358-8000

NOT APPLICABLE

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   [ ]   No [ X ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes   [X]   No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer [    ]	Accelerated Filer   [ X  ]
Non-Accelerated Filer   [  ]	Smaller Reporting Company   [     ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes   [  ]   No   [X]

Class	Outstanding at July 30, 2016
Common stock, $ 1.00  par value	17,170,933 Shares

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

INDEX

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION				PAGE
					NO.
		Item 1. Financial Statements
			Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	4
			Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income	5
			Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6
			Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity	7
			Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	8
			Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	9
		Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
			and Results of Operations	28
		Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		38
		Item 4. Controls and Procedures		38
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
		Item 1.    Legal Proceedings		39
		Item 1A. Risk Factors		39
		Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		39
		Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities		40
		Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures		40
		Item 5.    Other Information		40
		Item 6.    Exhibits		41
	Signatures			43

Copies of the Company’s SEC filings can be found on its website at www.ihcgroup.com.

2

Forward-Looking Statements

This report on Form 10−Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Our forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated by reference in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as the growth of our business and operations, our business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, plans, future capital expenditures and references to future successes may be considered forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.

Numerous risks and uncertainties may impact the matters addressed by our forward-looking statements, any of which could negatively and materially affect our future financial results and performance.  We describe some of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of IHC’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and, therefore, also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this report, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any forward-looking event discussed in this report may not occur.

3

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

    

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

8

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1.  

Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

(A)

Business and Organization

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“IHC”), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life"),  Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"), Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc. and IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc. IHC also owns a significant equity interest in: (i) Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), an administration exchange for health and pet insurance; and (ii) a managing general underwriter (“MGU”) that writes medical stop-loss. On March 31, 2016, the Company sold IHC Risk Solutions, LLC (“Risk Solutions”), its managing general underwriter of excess or stop-loss insurance. In addition, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is 100% co-insured as of January 1, 2016 and IHC’s block of Medical Stop-Loss business is in run-off.  Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”.  

Geneve Corporation, a diversified financial holding company, and its affiliated entities, held approximately 53% of IHC's outstanding common stock at March 31, 2016.

 

(B)

Consolidation

American Independence Corp.

At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company owned approximately 92%, respectively, of the outstanding common stock of American Independence Corp. ("AMIC"). In June 2016, IHC started the necessary proceedings to take AMIC private. AMIC is an insurance holding company engaged in the insurance and reinsurance business.  

Effects of Ownership Changes in Subsidiaries

The following table summarizes the effects of changes in the Company’s ownership interests in its subsidiaries on IHC’s equity for the periods indicated (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2016			2015
Changes in IHC’s paid-in capital:
Purchases of AMIC shares		$	-		$	(199)
Net transfers from noncontrolling interests		$	-		$	(199)

 (C)

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the

9

information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect:  (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. IHC’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

On March 31, 2016, the Company sold Risk Solutions, its managing general underwriter of excess or stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups that desire to manage the risk of large medical claims (“Medical Stop-Loss”). In addition, under the purchase and sale agreement, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is 100% co-insured as of January 1, 2016. IHC’s block of Medical Stop-Loss business is in run-off. The sale of Risk Solutions and exit from the medical stop-loss business represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The disposal transaction qualified for reporting as a discontinued operation in the first quarter of 2016 as a result of the Board of Directors commitment to a plan for its disposal in January 2016. The assets, liabilities, and related income and expenses associated with the disposal group are presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto. See Note 3 for more information.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods have been included. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year.

(D)

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation, primarily for the effects of discontinued operations.  

(E)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In September 2015, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination and eliminate the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments. The adoption of this guidance is did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance that modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities or voting interest entities for the purpose of consolidation. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued explicit guidance for entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award include a performance target that affects vesting and could be achieved after the requisite service period.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost basis

10

to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected with changes in the allowance recorded in earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than a write-down, which would be limited to the amount by which fair value is below the amortized cost. Certain existing requirements used to evaluate credit losses have been removed. For public entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments in this Update should be applied through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance that simplify several aspects of accounting for sharebased payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement for retroactive adjustments on the date that a previously held investment qualifies for the equity method of accounting as a result of an increase in ownership interest or degree of influence. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 and should be applied prospectively upon their effective date. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases, on the statement of financial position. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, using a modified retrospective approach. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values as trading or available-for-sale. The guidance requires equity securities (including other ownership interests, such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income, simplifies the impairment assessment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values and requires changes in disclosure requirements. For public entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in certain circumstances. The amendments in this Update should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values (including disclosure requirements) should be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as of the date of adoption of the Update. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet or IHC’s stockholders’ equity.

In May 2015, the FASB issued guidance requiring additional disclosures for short-duration contracts regarding the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. For public entities, the guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued revenue recognition guidance for entities that either enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enter into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial

11

assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards such as insurance contracts or lease contracts. The amendment provides specific steps that an entity should apply in order to achieve its main objective which is recognizing revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In 2016, additional guidance was issued to clarify certain aspects of the implementation guidance and to clarify the identification of performance obligations. In August 2015, the effective date of this guidance has been deferred. For public entities, this guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and requires one of two specified retrospective methods of application. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Management has not yet determined the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 2.

Income Per Common Share

Diluted income per share was computed using the treasury stock method and includes incremental common shares, primarily from the dilutive effect of share-based payment awards, amounting to 206,000 and 167,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

The following is a reconciliation of income available to common shareholders used to calculate income per share for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Note 3.

Discontinued Operations

On March 31, 2016, IHC and its subsidiary Independence American sold the stock of Risk Solutions to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a division of Swiss Re (“Swiss Re”).  In addition, under the purchase and sale agreement, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is co-insured by Westport Insurance Corporation (“Westport”), Swiss Re’s largest US carrier, as of January 1, 2016.  The aggregate purchase price was $152,500,000 in cash, subject to adjustments and settlements. Approximately 89% of the purchase price was allocated to AMIC, with the balance being paid to Standard Security Life and other IHC subsidiaries. The Company recorded a gain of $99,793,000, net of taxes and amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests, as a result of the transaction. The aforementioned transaction, which includes the sale of Risk Solutions and the corresponding coinsurance agreement, is collectively referred to as the “Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction”.  IHC’s block of Medical Stop-Loss business is in run-off. The sale of Risk Solutions and exit from the medical stop-loss business represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s

12

operations and financial results. The disposal transaction qualified for reporting as a discontinued operation in the first quarter of 2016 as a result of the Board of Directors commitment to a plan for its disposal in January 2016. Aside from reinsurance and marketing of Westport small group stop-loss, there will be no further involvement with the discontinued operation.

The following is a reconciliation of the major line items constituting the pretax profit of discontinued operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):

The following is a reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities for discontinued operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Total operating cash flows from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $339,000 and $116,000, respectively. The Company elected to classify the proceeds received from the sale of discontinued operations in the investing activities section of the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In connection with the Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction in March 2016, AMIC utilized a significant amount of its Federal NOL carryforwards and made a corresponding adjustment to its valuation allowance (see Note 9). On a consolidated basis, the Company recorded income taxes on discontinued operations of $7,866,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, consisting of $5,799,000 of state taxes and $2,067,000 of Federal taxes, net of a $38,565,000 decrease in AMIC’s valuation allowance.

13

Note  4.

Investment Securities

The cost (amortized cost with respect to certain fixed maturities), gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of investment securities are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

(1)

Collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

(2)

Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”).

(3)

Government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) are private enterprises established and chartered by the Federal Government or its various insurance and lease programs which carry the full faith and credit obligation of the U.S. Government.

14

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale at March 31, 2016, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. CMOs and MBSs are shown separately, as they are not due at a single maturity.

			AMORTIZED			FAIR
			COST			VALUE
Due in one year or less		$	23,979		$	23,519
Due after one year through five years			180,141			180,071
Due after five years through ten years			126,709			128,460
Due after ten years			176,959			174,997
CMOs and MBSs			13,732			13,591
		$	521,520		$	520,638

The following tables summarize, for all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities that have continuously been in an unrealized loss position for the periods indicated (in thousands):

15

Substantially all of the unrealized losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 relate to investment grade securities and are attributable to changes in market interest rates. Because the Company does not intend to sell, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will have to sell such investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2016.

Net realized investment gains are as follows for periods indicated (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2016		2015
Available-for-sale securities:
Fixed maturities	$	628	$	1,300
Common stocks		-		1,465
Total sales of available-for-sale securities		628		2,765
Trading securities		-		(507)
Total realized gains		628		2,258
Unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities:
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities		(70)		(251)
Total unrealized gains (losses)  on trading securities		(70)		(251)
Gains (losses) on other investments		2		(7)
Net realized investment gains	$	560	$	2,000

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities were $31,494,000 and $106,415,000, respectively, and the Company realized gross gains of $615,000 and $3,114,000, respectively, and gross losses of $17,000 and $182,000, respectively, on those