We care about Aflac’s policyholders affected by recent weather:
To help provide relief for Indiana policyholders residing in Delaware, Jefferson, and Randolph counties affected by the recent tornadoes, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting March 13, 2024, and ending May 13, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
We care about Aflac’s policyholders affected by recent weather:
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Alameda, Butte, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Sutter Counties affected by the winter storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Feb. 3, 2024, and ending May 21, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
On Feb. 21, 2024, the cyber event reported by Change Healthcare, a company that assists healthcare providers with claims submissions and payments, has created a significant impact to health care providers, including hospitals, individual practitioners, practice groups, diagnostic centers, laboratories, and pharmacies. We have determined Aflac’s primary operations are not impacted. Further, Aflac and its subsidiaries do not have any direct connection to Change Healthcare systems in any of Aflac’s systems or applications. At this time, we are not aware of any impact to customer data but we are monitoring for any communications from our critical third-party suppliers. While Change Healthcare’s cyber event was not directed at Aflac, we will provide flexibility with claims submissions related to this incident should it be needed. If you believe you have a claim impacted by Change Healthcare’s event, please contact Aflac at 800-992-3522.
We care about Aflac’s policyholders affected by recent weather:
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties affected by the winter storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Feb. 3, 2024, and ending May 21, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
AFLAC Incorporated
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO)
Net earnings were $163 million, or $.31 per diluted share, compared with $166 million, or $.30 per share, a year ago. Fourth quarter net earnings reflected a loss of $18 million, or $.03 per share, from the change in fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps related to the company's debt, as required by SFAS 133. Total revenues in the fourth quarter were $2.4 billion.
For the year, total revenues were $9.6 billion. Operating earnings for the year were $720 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, compared with $657 million, or $1.20 per share, in 2000. Net earnings were $687 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared with $687 million, or $1.26 per share, in 2000. In addition to a $1 million gain from SFAS 133 for the year, net earnings reflected realized investment losses of $34 million, or $.06 per diluted share. Comparisons of net earnings were also affected by two items in 2000: a one-time benefit of $99 million, or $.18 per diluted share, related to the termination of a retirement liability, and realized investment losses of $69 million, or $.12 per diluted share.
The board of directors declared the first quarter cash dividend of $.05 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2002, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2002.
Commenting on the company's results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: "I am very pleased that we met or exceeded all of our financial objectives in 2001, including producing record operating earnings per diluted share, which increased 17.5% excluding the impact of currency translation. Although AFLAC Japan's sales were weaker than expected during the year, sales at AFLAC U.S. were extremely strong.
"AFLAC U.S. built on its incredible sales momentum and in the process surpassed 200,000 payroll accounts that make our products available to their workers. We also experienced very strong growth of our distribution system and further gains in name and brand recognition. At the same time, AFLAC Japan had its share of accomplishments. Our alliance with Dai-ichi Mutual Life has been an unqualified success. We also significantly outsold all of our competitors in a market that remains challenging because of Japan's continued economic weakness. As a result, we clearly retained our leadership in Japan's newly deregulated insurance market. We were also honored to be number one in the list of Japan's most reliable life insurers published by The Weekly Economist, a leading Japanese financial publication.
"As we look to 2002, we expect another strong year for AFLAC Incorporated and its insurance operations. We look for renewed sales growth in Japan and another record year for U.S. sales. With the strength of our insurance businesses, we believe that AFLAC is well positioned to achieve its objective of a 15% to 17% increase in operating earnings per share, excluding currency fluctuations, in 2002 and 2003."
AFLAC Incorporated is an international holding company. A Fortune 500® company, AFLAC insures more than 40 million people worldwide. It is the leading writer of supplemental insurance marketed at the worksite in the United States, offering policies to employees at more than 200,000 payroll accounts. The company is also the largest foreign life insurer in Japan in terms of profits, insuring one out of four Japanese households. In January 2002, AFLAC was the number one insurance company in Fortune magazine's list of "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" and was included in the overall listing for the fourth consecutive year. In February 2001, Fortune magazine also named AFLAC as the fifth most admired company in the life and health insurance sector in its annual listing of "America's Most Admired Companies." AFLAC's Internet address is aflac.com.
AFLAC Incorporated will webcast a fourth-quarter analyst presentation on the investor relations page of aflac.com at 7:10 p.m. (EST), Monday, February 4.
AFLAC INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED -- IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER-SHARE AMOUNTS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 % Change
Total revenues $2,404 $2,480 (3.1)%
Operating earnings * 182 168 8.6
Operating earnings per
share (basic) * .35 .32 9.4
Operating earnings per
share (diluted) * .34 .31 9.7
Net earnings 163 166 (2.3)
Net earnings per share (basic) .31 .31 ---
Net earnings per share (diluted) .31 .30 3.3
Cash dividends paid per share .05 .043 16.3
Shares used to compute earnings
per share (000):
Basic 522,233 529,917 (1.5)
Diluted 532,643 545,859 (2.4)
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
Total revenues $9,598 $9,703 (1.1)%
Operating earnings * 720 657 9.7
Operating earnings per
share (basic) * 1.37 1.24 10.5
Operating earnings per
share (diluted) * 1.34 1.20 11.7
Net earnings 687 687 ---
Net earnings per share (basic) 1.31 1.30 .8
Net earnings per share (diluted) 1.28 1.26 1.6
Cash dividends paid per share .193 .167 15.6
Shares used to compute earnings
per share (000):
Basic 525,098 530,607 (1.0)
Diluted 537,383 544,906 (1.4)
* Excludes realized investment gains/losses, the impact of SFAS 133 and
in the second quarter of 2000, the termination of a retirement
liability.
Share and per-share amounts reflect the two-for-one stock split paid on March 16, 2001.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to current period reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on operating or net earnings.
Forward looking information: Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the company believes that these statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct because they are prospective in nature. Actual future results may differ materially from those discussed herein. We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially: regulatory developments, assessments for insurance company insolvencies, competitive conditions, new products, ability to repatriate profits from Japan, general economic conditions in the United States and Japan, changes in U.S. and/or Japanese tax laws or accounting requirements, adequacy of reserves, credit and other risks associated with AFLAC's investment activities, significant changes in interest rates, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Analyst and investor contact - Kenneth S. Janke Jr., (800) 235-2667 - option 3, FAX: (706) 324-6330, orkjanke@aflac.com Media contact - Mitzi K. Clayton, (706) 596-3493, FAX: (706) 320-2288, ormclayton@aflac.com
SOURCE: AFLAC Incorporated
Contact: investors, Kenneth S. Janke Jr., 800-235-2667, option 3, or
fax, +1-706-324-6330, or
+1-706-596-3493, or fax, +1-706-320-2288, or
AFLAC Incorporated
Website: http://www.aflac.com/
