UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2)
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
CITIZENS, INC.
----------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
__________________________________________________________________
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
__________________________________________________________________
3) Per unit price or other underlying value or transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
__________________________________________________________________
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
__________________________________________________________________
5) Total fee paid:
__________________________________________________________________
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid: ________________________
2) Form, Schedule or
Registration Statement No.: ________________________
3) Filing Party: ________________________
4) Date Filed: ________________________
[CITIZENS, INC. LOGO]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF CITIZENS, INC.
A COLORADO CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE OFFICE: 400 EAST ANDERSON LANE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF CITIZENS, INC.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Citizens, Inc.
will be held Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Executive
Office of the Company, 400 East Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas, for the following
purposes:
(1) To elect the members of the Board of Directors of the Company;
(2) To ratify the appointment of the independent auditor; and
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
It is important, regardless of the number of shares you hold, that your stock be
represented at the Meeting by a signed proxy card or personal attendance.
SHAREHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. PLEASE
COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY TO THE TRANSFER
AGENT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED. IF YOU ATTEND THE
MEETING YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON. IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN
STREET OR NOMINEE NAME, PLEASE RESPOND TO THE RECORD HOLDER'S COMMUNICATION WITH
YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT YOUR SHARES CAN BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ MARCIA F. EMMONS
------------------------------------
APRIL 30, 2004 MARCIA F. EMMONS, SECRETARY
CITIZENS, INC.
400 EAST ANDERSON LANE
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752
APRIL 30, 2004
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 1, 2004
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Citizens, Inc., for use at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, (the "Meeting") at our Executive Office located at 400 East Anderson
Lane, Austin, Texas. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card were sent
to our shareholders on or about April 30, 2004.
The following matters will be acted on at our Meeting:
- ELECT THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS;
- RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR; AND
- TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
You are requested to complete the enclosed proxy card, sign where indicated, and
return it to the Transfer Agent in the envelope provided, which requires no
postage if mailed in the United States. Solicitation of proxies will be
primarily through the mail. Proxies may also be solicited by personal
solicitation, telephone or telegram, by our directors, officers and employees at
no additional cost to us. We will also request banking institutions, brokerage
firms, custodians, trustees, nominees and fiduciaries to forward soliciting
material to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by such
persons, firms, or institutions, and we will reimburse the forwarding expense.
The cost of this solicitation will be borne by us.
PROXIES
Shares represented by properly executed proxies received by us prior to the
Meeting will be voted as specified thereon. If a proxy fails to specify how it
is to be voted on any proposal it will be voted FOR the director nominees listed
in this proxy statement, FOR the ratification of the appointment of the
independent directors, and at the discretion of the proxy holder with respect to
any other business as may properly come before the meeting. A person giving a
proxy shall have the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted by
notifying our Secretary in writing or by personally withdrawing such proxy at
the Meeting. With regard to election of directors, votes may be cast in favor or
withheld; votes that are withheld will be excluded
entirely from the vote and will have no effect. Brokers who have not received
instructions from their customers in uncontested elections may vote in the
election of directors shares held in street name.
RECORD DATE
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 23, 2004 are
entitled to vote at the Meeting. As of the record date, we had outstanding and
entitled to vote 34,935,419 Class A shares of common stock and 874,935 Class B
shares of common stock.
QUORUM AND VOTING
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each class of our common stock entitled to vote at the
Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum for that particular class of common
stock at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes
of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of
business. If a quorum is not present or represented at the Meeting, the
Shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, have the power to adjourn or recess the Meeting from time to time for up
to thirty (30) days without notice, other than announcement at the Meeting,
until a quorum is present or represented. At such reconvened Meeting at which a
quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted which might
have been transacted at the Meeting as originally noticed.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
We have two classes of common stock. Both classes of common stock are equal in
all respects, except that (i) Class B common shareholders elect a simple
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company and Class A common
shareholders elect the remaining directors; and (ii) Class A shareholders are
entitled to receive, on a per-share basis, twice the cash dividends paid on a
per-share basis to Class B shareholders. Each outstanding share of common stock
has one vote in all matters to be considered at the Meeting. In the election of
directors, the nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast in their
favor will be elected to our board, subject to the right of the Class B
shareholders to elect a simple majority of the directors.
At the Special Meeting of Shareholders on March 4, 2004, shareholders approved
an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to create an authorized class of
25,000,000 shares of preferred stock available for future issuance in series
with terms and preferences designated by our Board of Directors. Such preferred
stock has been authorized but not issued.
Management knows of no matters to be submitted at the Meeting with respect to
which the shareholders are entitled to vote, other than the proposals described
in this proxy statement. In the event other matters properly come before the
Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote according to their best
judgment.
The following table shows, as of April 23, 2004, certain information with regard
to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock:
- by each of our executive officers and directors,
- by all of our executive officers and directors as a group, and
- by each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5%
of our outstanding common stock.
SHARES OWNED AND PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS NATURE OF OWNERSHIP(1) CLASS
---------------- ---------------------- -----
Harold E. Riley 4,466,635 Class A(2) 12.8%
400 E. Anderson Lane 874,935 Class B (2) 100.0%
Austin, TX 78752
Rick D. Riley 703,670 Class A(3) 2.0%
400 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Ray A. Riley 434,941 Class A(4) 1.2%
400 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Timothy T. Timmerman 7,937 Class A (5)
Commerce Properties, Inc.
P. O. Box 163061
Austin, TX 78716
Steven F. Shelton 2,654 Class A (5)
7359 Road X
Lamar, Colorado 81052
Mark A. Oliver 8,482 Class A (5)
400 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Marcia F. Emmons 39 Class A (5)
400 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Dr. E. Dean Gage 1,086 Class A (5)
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary
Medicine
College Station, Texas 77843
Dr. Richard C. Scott 1,074 Class A (5)
Baylor University
University Development
Robinson Tower, 8th Floor
Waco, Texas 76798
All executive officers 5,626,518 Class A 16.1%
and directors as
a group (nine persons) 874,935 Class B 100.0%
--------------
(1) Except as otherwise indicated, each person named in the table has sole
voting and investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned,
subject to applicable community property law.
(2) Owns 4,106,699 Class A shares directly and spouse owns 359,936 Class A
shares. The Harold E. Riley Trust, of which Mr. Riley is the controlling
Trustee, owns all of the 874,935 issued and outstanding shares of Class B
common stock.
(3) Owns 414,881 Class A shares directly, 24,944 Class A shares as joint
tenant with spouse, and 241,304 and 22,541 Class A shares indirectly as
trustee for minor children and spouse, respectively.
(4) Owns 256,394 Class A shares directly, 23,687 Class A shares as joint
tenant with spouse, and 151,846 and 3,014 Class A shares indirectly as
trustee for minor children and spouse, respectively.
(5) Owns less than one percent (1%).
We are not aware of any arrangement, including any pledge by any person, of our
common stock, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change
of control of the company.
CONTROL OF THE COMPANY
Harold E. Riley is deemed to be the "controlling shareholder" of our company.
Mr. Riley owns, directly and indirectly, 4,466,635 shares (12.8%) of the
outstanding Class A common stock and 874,935 shares (100%) of the Class B common
stock, which stock elects a majority of our Board of Directors.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Harold E. Riley has advised us that he intends to vote all of his Class A shares
in favor of the Class A nominees and all of the Class B shares owned by the
Harold E. Riley Trust in favor of the Class B nominees. Class A nominees
receiving the highest number of votes cast in their favor will be elected to the
Board of Directors. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not
permitted. The Class B nominees will be elected directors upon affirmative vote
of the Class B shares by Harold E. Riley as controlling trustee of the Harold E.
Riley Trust. If for any reason any nominee herein named is not a candidate when
the election takes place (which is not
expected), the proxy will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee at
the discretion of the persons named in the proxy.
Listed below are the persons who have been nominated for election as our
directors to serve for one year until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Class A
Shareholders will vote on the nominees indicated below for election by Class A
Shareholders, and Class B Shareholders will vote on the Class B nominees.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION BY CLASS A SHAREHOLDERS
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR
NAME AGE OCCUPATION SINCE
---- --- ---------- -----
Dr. E. Dean Gage 61 Associate Dean for 2000
Professional Programs
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Steven F. Shelton 48 Farmer/Rancher 1993
Lamar, Colorado
Timothy T. Timmerman 43 President 1989
Commerce Properties,
Inc.; Partner, Realcom
Management
Austin, Texas
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION BY CLASS B SHAREHOLDERS
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR
NAME AGE OCCUPATION SINCE
---- --- ---------- -----
Mark A. Oliver 45 President of the 1997
Company
Austin, Texas
Harold E. Riley 75 Chairman of the Board 1987
of the Company
Austin, Texas
Rick D. Riley ** 50 Vice Chairman and CEO 1989
of the Company;
Chairman of the Board
and CEO of Citizens
Insurance Company of
America and subsidiaries
Austin, Texas
Dr. Richard C. Scott 69 Vice President, 2000
Development Baylor
University
Waco, Texas
Grant Teaff 70 Executive Director,
American Football
Coaches Association
Waco, Texas
-----------------
** Son of Harold E. Riley, brother of Ray A. Riley. There are no other
family relationships between or among the nominees to our Board and
the Executive Officers.
Information concerning the nominees is set forth below:
Dr. E. Dean Gage, Associate Dean of Professional Programs, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 2001 to present;
President Men's Leadership Ministries, Bryan, Texas, from 1996 to 2000;
Executive Director, Center for Executive Development College of Business, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas, from 1994 to 1996; President, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas from 1993 to 1994; Executive Vice President
and Provost, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas from 1989 to 1993.
Mark A. Oliver, our President, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer from
February 2004 to present; President and Vice Chairman of our affiliates from
February 1999 to present; President of us and our affiliates from March 1997 to
February 1999; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
Treasurer of us and our affiliates from 1990 to 1997; Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer of us and our affiliates from 1988 to 1990; Treasurer and
Controller of us and our affiliates from 1984 to 1988.
Harold E. Riley, controlling stockholder; our Chairman of the Board from 1987 to
present; Chairman of the Board of us and our affiliates from 1994 to 1999;
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of us from 1992 to 2000;
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of us and our affiliates from
1992 to 1999; President of us and our affiliates from November 1996 to March
1997; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of us and our
affiliates from 1987 to 1992; Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Continental Investors Life Insurance Company from 1989 to
1992.
Rick D. Riley, our Vice Chairman and CEO from October 2000 to present; Vice
Chairman since 2000; Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Citizens
Insurance Company of America and its affiliates, our subsidiary, from February
2004 to present. Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO of
Citizens Insurance Company of America and its affiliates, our subsidiary, from
February 1999 to January 2004; our Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary
from October 1998 to February 1999; our Executive Vice President from September
1995 to 1998; our Chief Operating Officer from September 1995 to March 1997; our
Chief Administrative Officer from 1994 to June 1995, and President thereafter
until September 1995; our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
from 1990 to 1991 and 1992 to 1994; President, Computing Technology, Inc. our
subsidiary from 1991 to 1992; our Executive Vice President, Data Processing,
from 1987 to 1991; Executive Vice President, Continental Investors Life
Insurance Company from 1989 to 1992.
Dr. Richard C. Scott, Vice President, Development Baylor University, Waco, Texas
from 1996 to present; 1977 to 1996, Dean of Hankamer School of Business, Baylor
University; 1972 to 1977, Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Studies,
Professor of Management, Hankamer
School of Business, Baylor University; 1971 to 1972, Acting Dean while Dean was
on leave; 1968 to 1971, Associate Professor of Management, Director of Special
Programs, Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University; 1964 to present,
Consultant to various firms and governmental agencies in the areas of planning,
management strategy, acquisition and sale of business and business evaluations;
1997 to January 2004, Director of Winnebago Industries; 1994 to 1997, Chairman
of the Board of Trustees of Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention;
1990 to 1997, Member of Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the
Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; 1990 to 1994 Chairman of the
Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Annuity Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention; 1989 to 1994, Member of Investment Committee of the
Board of Trustees of the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; 1988
to 1989, Member of the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Annuity
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; 1980 to 1987, Member of the Board of
Directors of the Central National Bank; 1976 to present, Owner of controlling
interest (with partner) in Trumas, Inc., a closely held corporation; 1976 to
present, General partner of S&T Financial.
Steven F. Shelton, Rancher/Farmer from 1974 to present; Director, First
Centennial Corporation, from January to October 1989 and August 1990 to 1992.
Timothy T. Timmerman, President, Commerce Properties, Inc., from 1990 to
present; Partner, Realcom Management from 1990 to present.
Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association from 1994
to present.
None of our directors is a director of any other company with a class of
securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR
ELECTION BY CLASS A SHAREHOLDERS. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES AS INDICATED ABOVE UNLESS INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN
TO THE CONTRARY.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our business affairs are conducted under the direction of our Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors held four (4) meetings during 2003, at which
all directors were present except for Timothy T. Timmerman who missed one
meeting. We do not have an "attendance policy," although our directors are
expected to attend Board Meetings.
To assist it in carrying out its duties, the Board has delegated certain
authority to four separately-designated standing committees whose functions are
described below:
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Members at December 31, 2003: Directors Scott, Gage and Timmerman
Number of Meetings in 2003: four
Functions:
- Assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities as they
relate to the Company's accounting policies, internal controls, financial
reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance;
- Hires the independent auditors;
- Monitors the independence and performance of the Company's independent
auditors and internal auditors;
- Maintains, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of communication
between the Board and the Company's financial management, internal
auditors and independent auditors; and
- Oversees compliance with the Company's policies for conducting business,
including ethical business standards.
The Board of Directors adopted a restated Audit Committee Charter in November
2002 and subsequently amended and restated the charter on April 22, 2004. The
charter as in effect is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A and is
posted on our website at www.citizensinc.com.
Our Board of Directors has determined that Dr. Richard C. Scott is qualified as
an "audit committee financial expert" as that term is defined in the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dr. Scott served as Dean of Hankamer
School of Business of Baylor University from 1972 to 1977; from 1971 to 1972 he
was the Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of Management,
Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University. He also has been Associate
Professor of Management, Director of Special Programs, Hankamer School of
Business, Baylor University, since 1964.
Our Class A common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Pursuant to NYSE rules, the Audit Committee is to be comprised of three or more
directors as determined by the Board of Directors, each of whom shall be
"independent". Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of
the Audit Committee are independent, as defined in the listing standards of the
NYSE and the rules of the SEC.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Members at December 31, 2003: Directors Scott, Shelton and Timmerman
Number of Meetings in 2003: One
Functions:
- Assisting the Board in overseeing the management of the Company's human
resources including:
- compensation and benefits programs;
- Chief Executive Officer performance and compensation; and
- executive development and succession and diversity efforts.
- Oversees the evaluation of management; and
- Prepares the report of the Committee on executive compensation.
The Compensation Committee's policy is to offer the executive officers
competitive compensation packages that will permit us to attract and retain
individuals with superior abilities and to motivate and reward such individuals
in an appropriate fashion in the long-term interests of the company and its
shareholders. Currently, executive compensation is comprised of salary and a
qualified profit-sharing plan.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Members at December 31, 2003: Directors Harold E. Riley, Gage and Timmerman
Number of Meetings in 2003: 10
Functions:
- Authority to manage the business affairs of the company;
- May not take action when majority of all members of the Board is required
by law or by our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; and
- Material actions by the committee are subsequently reviewed by the Board.
NOMINATING/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FUNCTIONS
Our Board of Directors does not maintain a nominating/corporate governance
committee with respect to (i) identifying, evaluating or recommending candidates
for our Board of Directors, and (ii) shaping the corporate governance of the
company. Instead, these functions are performed by the full Board of Directors.
Our Board does not maintain a nominating committee for the following reasons:
- We are considered to be a "controlled" company since the majority of the
members on our Board of Directors are elected by our Chairman, Harold E.
Riley, through his beneficial ownership of all of our outstanding Class B
common shares. Under NYSE rules, "controlled" companies are not required
to maintain a nominating committee.
- We are a mid-size company and we do not maintain a large number of
directors as do many larger public companies; thus, we do not require a
special committee whose sole purpose is to identify and evaluate a large
director candidate pool or prepare corporate governance rules.
- A majority of the directors on our Board of Directors are considered to be
independent; thus, we believe that the nominating duties and corporate
governance rules with respect to the Class A directors can be accomplished
in a disinterested manner by our entire Board of Directors.
Our Board of Directors will consider a candidate for a Class A director position
proposed by a shareholder. A candidate must be highly qualified in terms of
business experience and be both willing and expressly interested in serving on
the Board. A shareholder wishing to propose a candidate for the Board's
consideration should forward the candidate's name and information about the
candidate's qualifications to Citizens, Inc., Board of Directors, 400 East
Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752, Attn.: Mark A. Oliver. Submissions must
include sufficient biographical information concerning the recommended
individual, including age, employment history for at least the past five years
indicating employer's names and description of the employer's business,
educational background and any other biographical information that would assist
the Board in determining the qualifications of the individual. The Board will
consider recommendations received by a date not later than 120 calendar days
before the date our proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection
with the prior year's annual meeting for nomination at that annual meeting. The
Board will consider nominations received beyond that date at the annual meeting
subsequent to the next annual meeting.
The Board evaluates nominees for directors recommended by shareholders in the
same manner in which it evaluates other nominees for directors. Minimum
qualifications include the factors discussed above.
CODE OF ETHICS
Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
("Code"), which we have posted on our web site located at www.citizensinc.com.
You may also obtain a copy of our Code by requesting a copy in writing at 400
East Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752 or by calling us at 512-837-7100.
Our Code provides general statements of our expectations regarding ethical
standards that we expect our directors, officers and employees to adhere to
while acting on our behalf. Among other things, the Code provides that:
- We will comply with all laws, rules and regulations;
- Our directors, officers and employees are to avoid conflicts of interest
and are prohibited from competing with us or personally exploiting our
corporate opportunities;
- Our directors, officers and employees are to protect our assets and
maintain our confidentiality;
- We are committed to promoting values of integrity and fair dealing; and
- We are committed to accurately maintaining our accounting records under
generally accepted accounting principles and timely filing our periodic
reports.
Our Code also contains procedures for our employees to report, anonymously or
otherwise, violations of the Code.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee, which is composed of three outside directors, makes
recommendations to the Board concerning the compensation of our company's
executive officers. In order to make such recommendations, toward the end of
each year, the Committee evaluates our company's performance relative to its
business plan and similar companies. Additionally, each executive officer's
contribution to the company's achievements during the year is evaluated.
The goal of the Compensation Committee is to ensure that the company employs
qualified, experienced executive officers whose financial interest is aligned
with that of the shareholders. The Committee considers general industry
practice, tax effects and other factors in structuring executive compensation
awards.
Salaries for each of the company's executive officers are determined by taking
into consideration performance, length of tenure with the company, compensation
by industry competitors for comparable positions and career achievements. These
items were used as bases for compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer in
2003, although no one factor was specifically used in reviewing any relationship
of our performance to our Chief Executive Officer's compensation for 2003.
Salaries paid within the industry are weighted more heavily in setting base
salary levels. No bonus or stock option plans exist; however, there is a profit
sharing plan, where distribution is based on tenure. In the recommendation for
their compensation for the coming year, other factors considered were the
operating results of the company during 2003, as well as the general state of
the economy and wages and salaries in general. The Committee also believes that
the cash compensation paid to the company's Chairman and its Chief Executive
Officer is designed to closely align their interests with those of the
shareholders and that their compensation is related directly to their
performance as individuals with considerable experience and ability in the
insurance industry.
Harold E. Riley was elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in
1987, although as the founder of the company, his tenure begins in 1968. In
October 2000, he relinquished the position of Chief Executive Officer to Rick D.
Riley, while remaining as Chairman. Harold Riley and Rick Riley are currently
employed by the company on an "at-will" basis. In evaluating the performance
during the last three fiscal years and using the above criteria, the Committee
considered the significant role Harold Riley has played in the development of
the company's various operating and marketing programs, as well as his
experience in the merger and acquisition area and his overall management
expertise. Additionally, Rick Riley's significant industry experience was
considered. The Compensation Committee noted that during 2003 the acquisitions
of First Alliance Corporation and Mid-American Alliance Corporation were
successfully negotiated and concluded. After discussing and considering all of
these factors, it was the recommendation of this committee that these
individuals' salaries, along with those of other members of executive management
of the company remain unchanged for 2004.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Richard C. Scott
Steven F. Shelton
Timothy T. Timmerman
CERTAIN REPORTS
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that our directors,
executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered
class of our equity securities file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based solely upon a
review of such reports and amendments thereto furnished to us, we believe that
during 2003, all reports were filed on a timely basis, accept that Ray A. Riley
failed to report stock investment plan purchases in a Form 4 filed by him in
December 2003. Those purchases were subsequently reported in a timely filed Form
5.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information concerning our executive
officers who are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting
of the Board following our Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Harold E. Riley (1) 75 Chairman of the Board
Rick D. Riley (2) 50 Vice Chairman and CEO
Mark A. Oliver (3) 45 President, Chief Investment
Officer and Treasurer
Marcia F. Emmons(4) 48 Vice President, Secretary and
Corporate Counsel
Ray A. Riley(5) 43 Executive Vice President, Chief
Operations Officer
------------------
(1) Mr. Harold E. Riley has served since 1987.
(2) Rick D. Riley became Vice Chairman in December 1999 and Chief Executive
Officer in 2000. He has served in various capacities for the company and
its affiliates since 1976.
(3) Mark A. Oliver has served since 1987. Prior to becoming President in March
1997, Mr. Oliver served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary/Treasurer.
(4) Marcia F. Emmons assumed the position of Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary of the company in October 2002. Prior to that Mrs. Emmons
provided legal services to various clients and she spent over 16 years as
in house counsel with Sun Company, Inc. and its operating subsidiaries.
Mrs. Emmons is a member of the Texas Bar Association and the Pennsylvania
Bar Association.
(5) Ray A. Riley has served in various capacities for the company since 1995.
********
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table presents the aggregate compensation that was earned by our
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for each of the past three years and, our
four most highly compensated officers other than the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. There has been no compensation awarded to, earned by or paid
to any employee required to be reported in any table or column in any fiscal
year, other than what is set forth in the table below.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation
NAME AND OTHER ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harold E. Riley, 2003 $ 550,008 -0- (2) $ 21,256
Chairman 2002 $ 571,164 $ 32,765
2001 $ 519,436 $ 34,395
Clayton D. Dunham, 2003 $ 255,000 -0- $ 200
Executive Vice 2002 $ 276,062 $ 4,587
President and 2001 $ 250,127 $ 4,829
International
Marketing Officer (3)
Rick D. Riley, Vice 2003 $ 247,500 -0- (2) $ 11,519
Chairman and Chief 2002 $ 233,655 $ 32,765
Executive Officer 2001 $ 202,701 $ 34,495
Mark A. Oliver, 2003 $ 225,000 -0- (2) $ 8,854
President, Chief 2002 $ 193,662 $ 22,280
Investment Officer 2001 $ 173,474 $ 23,456
And Treasurer
David Mehle, 2003 $ 175,008 -0- (4) $ 25,000
Executive Vice
President, CFO and
Treasurer (4)
Ron Mullen, Senior 2003 $ 163,790 -0- (4) $ -0-
Vice President,
Marketing Director (4)
Ray A. Riley, 2003 $ 155,000 -0- $ 2,277
Executive Vice 2002 $ 103,916 -0-
President and Chief 2001 $ 96,739 $ 200
Operations Officer
(1) Company contribution to qualified profit-sharing plan. The 2003 amounts
are estimates.
(2) Includes the use of a company automobile, the incremental cost of which is
less than the lower of 10% of the total annual cash compensation or
$50,000.
(3) Mr. Dunham served as an officer of the company until February 1999, and
continues to serve as an officer of the company's subsidiaries.
(4) Messrs. Mehle and Mullen are no longer employees of the company. The
employment of Mr. Mehle was terminated in February 2004. The employment of
Mr. Mullen was terminated in January 2004.
Our employees are covered under a non-contributory profit-sharing plan. Under
the terms of the Plan, all employees who have completed one year of service are
eligible to participate. Vesting begins following completion of three years'
service and employees become fully vested after seven years' service. We made a
$250,000 contribution in 2001, a $300,000 contribution in 2002 and a $300,000
contribution in 2003. Messrs. H. E. Riley, R. D. Riley, and M. A. Oliver had,
$277,655, $309,669 and $138,838, respectively, vested under the Plan as of
December 31,2002, the last year for which allocations are complete. Messrs. R.
A. Riley and C. D. Dunham had $21,655 and $26,111 vested in the Plan as of
December 31, 2002, respectively.
During 2003, the members of Board of Directors who are not employees were paid
$10,200 per year, and Committee members who are not employees were paid $500 per
physical Committee meeting attended. Committee fees remain unchanged. Total
directors' fees paid by the company during 2003 were $45,300.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We are not aware of any transaction, or series of transactions, since January 1,
2003, or any currently proposed transactions, or series of transactions, to
which we or any of our subsidiaries was to be a party, in which the amount
involved exceeds $60,000 and in which any director, nominee for director,
executive officer, more than 5% shareholder or any member of the immediate
family of the foregoing persons had, or will have, a direct or indirect material
interest.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee of the Company considered the performance and qualifications
of KPMG LLP, Certified Public Accountants, and has reappointed the firm as our
independent auditors for the year 2004.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
During 2003 and 2002, we paid the following fees to our principal
accountants:
2003 2002
---------- ----------
Audit Fees $ 344,387 $ 149,500
Audit Related Fees -0- -0-
Tax Fees 85,125 170,741
All Other Fees -0- -0-
--------- ---------
$ 429,512 $ 320,241
========= =========
To help assure independence of the independent auditors, the Audit committee has
established a policy whereby all audit, review, attest and non-audit engagements
of the principal auditor or other firms must be approved in advance by the Audit
Committee; provided, however, that de minimis non-audit services may instead be
approved in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
This policy is set forth in our Amended Audit Committee charter, a copy of which
is attached to this proxy statement. Of the fees shown in the table which were
paid to our principal accountants in 2003, 100% were approved by the Audit
Committee. SEC regulations and company policy did not require pre-approval for
non-audit services prior to 2003.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Our Audit Committee reports to and acts on behalf of the Board of
Directors by providing oversight of our financial management, independent
auditors and financial reporting procedures. The Audit Committee Charter was
adopted in 2000. The Audit Committee Charter was updated in November 2002 and
restated in April 2004 in order to meet the new requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
Management is responsible for preparing our financial statements and the
independent auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements.
The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of these
activities by the Company's management and the independent auditors. The Audit
Committee is also responsible for establishing procedures to address complaints
regarding accounting, internal control or auditing issues, as well as the
anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing
matters. In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with
management and the independent auditors. Management represented to the Audit
Committee that our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
("GAAP"), and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated
financial statements with management and the independent auditors.
Dr. Richard C. Scott, the financial expert of the Audit Committee, as well
as the other members of the Audit Committee, are independent directors as
defined in the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The members of the Audit
Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or
accounting and are not experts in the fields of accounting or auditing,
including auditor independence. The members of the Audit Committee rely without
independent verification on the information provided to them and on the
representations made by our management and the independent accountants.
Accordingly, the Audit Committee's oversight does not provide an independent
basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and
financial reporting principles or appropriate internal controls and procedures
designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee's considerations and discussions
referred to above do not assure that the audit of our financial statements has
been carried out in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States of America, that the financial statements are presented in
accordance with GAAP, or that our auditors are in fact "independent".
The Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP, the independent auditor's
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees). In addition, the independent auditors
provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures required by Independent
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees),
and the Committee and the independent auditors have discussed the auditors'
independence from us and our management, including the matters in those written
disclosures. Additionally, the Committee considered the financial information
systems services and other non-audit services provided by the independent
auditors and the fees and costs billed and expected to be billed by the
independent auditors for those services (as shown below). The Committee has
discussed with management the procedures for selection of consultants and the
related competitive
bidding practices and fully considered whether those services provided by the
independent auditors are compatible with maintaining auditor independence.
The Committee has discussed with our independent auditors their
evaluations of our internal accounting controls and the overall quality of our
financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions with management and the
independent auditors referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the
Board of Directors and the Board has approved, the inclusion of the audited
financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Audit Committee also recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has
approved the selection of KPMG LLP, as our independent auditors for 2004. A
member of KPMG LLP, is expected to attend the Meeting and will have the
opportunity to make a statement, if desired. Such member will also be available
to respond to appropriate questions of Shareholders.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Dr. Richard C. Scott
Dr. E. Dean Gage
Timothy T. Timmerman
COMPARATIVE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG CITIZENS, INC.,
NYSE MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
The following graph represents a comparison of our preceding five-year
cumulative total return, along with the total return of our peer group and a
broad market index. The broad market index chosen was the NYSE Market Index. The
peer group, which includes life, accident and health companies, was compiled by
Media General Financial Services.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG CITIZENS, INC.,
NYSE MARKET INDEX AND MG GROUP INDEX
[LINE GRAPH]
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JAN. 01, 1999
ASSUMES DIVIDENDS REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN OF ONE OR MORE COMPANIES, PEER GROUPS,
INDUSTRY INDEXES AND/OR BROAD MARKETS
COMPANY 12/31/1998 12/31/1999 12/31/2000 12/31/2001 12/31/2002 12/31/2003
------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Citizens, Inc. 100.00 131.91 133.09 240.52 163.91 206.09
Life Insurance 100.00 90.72 107.22 79.89 54.39 76.48
NYSE Market Index 100.00 109.50 112.11 102.12 83.42 108.07
Source: Media General Financial Services
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, Virginia 23293
OTHER BUSINESS
Should any other business come before the Meeting, and management is not aware
of any at this time and does not expect any, the persons named in the proxy will
vote on such business as their best judgment and discretion indicates.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
KPMG LLP, 717 North Harwood Street, Suite 3100, Dallas, Texas 75201, is our
principal independent auditor. A representative of KPMG LLP, will be present at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to answer questions and make any desired
statement.
ANNUAL REPORT AND OTHER MATERIAL
A copy of our Annual Report to Shareholders has been mailed under separate
cover. A copy of the report of the Compensation Committee and the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors and a Performance Graph regarding
stockholder return accompany this Proxy Statement. NO PART OF SUCH MATERIAL IS
INCORPORATED HEREIN AND NO PART THEREOF IS TO BE CONSIDERED PROXY-SOLICITING
MATERIAL.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Under the rules of the SEC, if a shareholder wants us to include a proposal in
our Proxy Statement and form of proxy for presentation at our 2005 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, the proposal must be received by us at our principal
executive offices at 400 East Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752 by January 2,
2005. The proposal should be sent to the attention of our Secretary.
The SEC also sets forth procedures under which shareholders may make proposals
outside of the process described above or to introduce an item of business at an
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These procedures require that shareholders must
submit items of business in writing to our Secretary at our principal executive
offices. We must receive the notice of your intention to propose an item of
business at our 2005 Annual Meeting no later than 45 days in advance of the 2005
Annual Meeting if it is being held within 30 days preceding the anniversary date
(June 1, 2004) of this year's meeting.
For any other meeting, the item of business must be received by the tenth day
following the date of public disclosure of the date of the meeting. These
requirements are separate from and in addition to the SEC's requirements
described in the first paragraph of this section relating to including a
proposal in our proxy statements.
Our Annual Meeting of Shareholders is generally held on the first Tuesday in
June. Assuming that our 2005 Annual Meeting is held on schedule, we must receive
notice of your intention to introduce a nomination or other item of business at
that meeting by April 8, 2005.
In order to curtail controversy as to the date on which a proposal was received
by us, it is suggested that proponents submit their proposals by certified
mail-return receipt requested. Such proposals must also meet the other
requirements established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for
shareholder proposals.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Because of we are a mid-size company, to date we have not developed formal
processes by which shareholders may communicate directly with directors.
Instead, we believe that our informal process by which any communication sent to
the Board of Directors either generally or in care of a corporate officer, has
served the shareholders' needs. In view of recently adopted SEC disclosure
requirements related to this issue, the Board of Directors expects to review in
the coming months whether more specific procedures are required. Until any other
procedures are developed and posted on our web site at www.citizensinc.com, any
communication to the Board of Directors may be mailed to:
Citizens, Inc.
Board of Directors (or committee name or Director's name as appropriate)
400 East Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78752
Shareholders should clearly note on the mailing envelope that the letter is a
"Shareholder-Board Communication." All such communications should identify the
author as a shareholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are
all members of the Board of Directors or just certain specified individual
directors.
BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AUSTIN, TEXAS MARCIA F. EMMONS, SECRETARY
CITIZENS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
ADOPTED APRIL 22, 2004
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors'
oversight of:
- the integrity of the Company's financial statements;
- the Company's financial reporting process;
- the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements;
- the independent auditor's qualifications and
independence; and
- the performance of the Company's internal audit function
and independent auditors.
B. STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP
1. Number. The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three members
of the Board of Directors.
2. Independence. Except as otherwise permitted by the applicable rules
of the NYSE, each member of the Audit Committee shall be independent
as defined by such rules.
3. Financial Literacy. Each member of the Audit Committee must be able
to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including
the Company's balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow
statement, at the time of his or her appointment to the Audit
Committee. In addition, at least one member must have past
employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite
professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable
experience or background which results in the individual's financial
sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive
officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with
financial oversight responsibilities. Unless otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors (in which case disclosure of such
determination shall be made in the Company's annual report filed
with the SEC), at least one member of the Audit Committee shall be
an "audit committee financial expert" (as defined by applicable SEC
rules).
4. Chair. Unless the Board of Directors elects a Chair of the Audit
Committee, the Audit Committee shall elect a Chair by majority vote.
5. Compensation. The compensation of Audit Committee members shall be
as determined by the Board of Directors. No member of the Audit
Committee may receive, directly or indirectly, any consulting,
advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, other than fees paid in his or her capacity as a
member of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board.
6. Selection and Removal. Members of the Audit Committee shall be
appointed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
remove members of the Audit Committee from such committee, with or
without cause.
C. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General
The Audit Committee shall discharge its responsibilities, and shall assess
the information provided by the Company's management and the independent
auditor, in accordance with its business judgment. Management is
responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the
Company's financial statements and for the appropriateness of the
accounting principles and reporting policies that are used by the Company.
The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the Company's
financial statements and for reviewing the Company's unaudited interim
financial statements. The authority and responsibilities set forth in this
Charter do not reflect or create any duty or obligation of the Audit
Committee to plan or conduct any audit, to determine or certify that the
Company's financial statements are complete, accurate, fairly presented,
or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or
applicable law, or to guarantee the independent auditor's report.
Oversight of Independent Auditors
1. Selection. The Audit Committee shall be solely and directly
responsible for appointing, evaluating, retaining and, when
necessary, terminating the engagement of the independent auditor. In
its evaluation of the independent auditor, the Audit Committee shall
present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to
the full Board of Directors. The Audit Committee shall also, with
respect to its review of the independent auditor, review and
evaluate the lead partner and other senior members of the
independent auditor. The Audit Committee shall take into account the
opinions of management and the Company's internal auditors. The
Audit Committee may, in its discretion, seek stockholder
ratification of the independent auditor it appoints.
2. Independence. The Audit Committee shall take, or recommend that the
full Board of Directors take, appropriate action to oversee the
independence of the independent auditor. In connection with this
responsibility, the Audit Committee shall obtain and review a formal
written statement from the independent auditor describing all
relationships between the independent auditor and the Company,
including the disclosures required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1. The Audit Committee shall actively engage in
dialogue with the independent auditor concerning any disclosed
relationships or services that might impact the objectivity and
independence of the auditor.
3. Additional Independence Procedures. The Audit Committee shall:
- confirm the regular rotation of the lead audit partner
and reviewing partner as required by Section 203 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
- confirm that the CEO, controller, CFO, and CAO (or other
persons serving in similar capacities) were not employed
by the independent auditor, or if employed, did not
participate in any capacity in the audit of the Company,
in each case, during the one-audit-year period preceding
the date of initiation of the audit, as required by
Section 206 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and
- annually consider whether, in order to assure continuing
auditor independence, there should be regular rotation
of the independent audit firm.
4. Quality Control Review. Obtain and review a report from the
independent auditor at least annually regarding (a) the auditor's
internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised
by the most recent quality-control review, or peer review, of the
firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and (d) all
relationships between the independent auditor and the Company.
Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the
independent auditor, including considering whether the auditor's
quality controls are adequate and whether the types of non-audit
services provided are compatible with maintaining the auditor's
independence.
5. Compensation. The Audit Committee shall have sole and direct
responsibility for setting the compensation of the independent
auditor. The Audit Committee is empowered, without further action by
the Board of Directors, to cause the Company to pay the compensation
of the independent auditor established by the Audit Committee. As
part of its evaluation of compensation for the independent auditor,
the Audit Committee shall compare the fees paid for audit services
to those paid by peer companies as a means of assessing whether the
scope of audit work is sufficient.
6. Preapproval of Services. The Audit Committee shall preapprove all
audit services to be provided to the Company, whether provided by
the principal auditor or other firms, and all other services
(review, attest and non-audit) to be provided to the Company by the
independent auditor; provided, however, that de minimis non-audit
services may instead be approved in accordance with applicable SEC
rules.
7. Oversight. The independent auditor shall report directly to the
Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee shall have sole and direct
responsibility for overseeing the work of the independent auditor,
including resolution of disagreements between Company management and
the independent auditor regarding financial reporting. In connection
with its oversight role, the Audit Committee shall, from time to
time as appropriate, receive and consider the reports required to be
made by the independent auditor regarding:
- critical accounting policies and practices;
- alternative treatments within generally accepted
accounting principles for policies and practices related
to material items that have been discussed with Company
management, including ramifications of the use of such
alternative disclosures and treatments, and the
treatment preferred by the independent auditor; and
- other material written communications between the
independent auditor and Company management.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. Review and Discussion. The Audit Committee shall review and discuss
with the Company's management and independent auditor the Company's
audited financial statements, including the matters about which
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements
on Auditing Standards, AU Section 380) requires discussion and the
disclosure under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
9. Recommendation to Board Regarding Financial Statements. The Audit
Committee shall consider whether it will recommend to the Board of
Directors that the Company's audited financial statements be
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
10. Audit Committee Report. The Audit Committee shall prepare an annual
committee report for inclusion where necessary in the proxy
statement of the Company relating to its annual meeting of security
holders.
REVIEW OF OTHER FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
11. Independent Auditor Review of Interim Financial Statements. The
Audit Committee shall direct the independent auditor to use its best
efforts to perform all reviews of interim financial information
prior to disclosure by the Company of such information and to
discuss promptly with the Audit Committee and the Chief Financial
Officer any matters identified in connection with the auditor's
review of interim financial information which are required to be
discussed by applicable auditing standards. The Audit Committee
shall direct management to advise the Audit Committee in the event
that the Company proposes to disclose interim financial information
prior to completion of the independent auditor's review of interim
financial information.
12. Earnings Release and Other Financial Information. The Audit
Committee shall discuss generally the types of information to be
disclosed in the Company's earnings press releases, as well as in
financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts,
rating agencies and others.
13. Quarterly Financial Statements. The Audit Committee shall discuss
with the Company's management and independent auditor the Company's
quarterly financial statements, including the Company's disclosures
under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
14. Oversight. The Audit Committee shall coordinate the Board of
Directors' oversight of the Company's internal controls over
financial reporting, the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures and the Company's code of conduct. The Audit Committee
shall receive and review the reports of the CEO and CFO required by
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (and the applicable
rules thereunder) and Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act.
15. Procedures for Complaints. The Audit Committee shall establish
procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
16. Related-Party Transactions. The Audit Committee shall review all
related party transactions on an ongoing basis, and all such
transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee.
17. Additional Powers. The Audit Committee shall have such other duties
as may be delegated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
D. PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION
1. Meetings. The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it deems
necessary in order to perform its responsibilities. The Audit
Committee may also act by unanimous written consent in lieu of a
meeting. The Audit Committee shall keep such records of its meetings
as it shall deem appropriate.
2. Reports to Board. The Audit Committee shall report regularly to the
Board of Directors.
3. Charter. At least annually, the Audit Committee shall review and
reassess the adequacy of this Charter.
4. Independent Advisors. The Audit Committee is authorized, without
further action by the Board of Directors, to engage such independent
legal, accounting and other advisors as it deems necessary or
appropriate to carry out its responsibilities. Such independent
advisors may be the regular advisors to the Company. The Audit
Committee is empowered, without further action by the Board of
Directors, to cause the Company to pay the compensation of such
advisors as established by the Audit Committee.
5. Investigations. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to
conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the
scope of its responsibilities as it shall deem appropriate,
including the authority to request any officer, employee or advisor
of the Company to meet with the Audit Committee or any advisors
engaged by the Audit Committee.
6. Funding. The Audit Committee is empowered, without further action by
the Board of Directors, to cause the Company to pay the ordinary
administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or
appropriate in carrying out its duties.
7. Annual Self-Evaluation. At least annually, the Audit Committee shall
evaluate its own performance and report its findings to the Board of
Directors.
Please Mark Here for [ ]
Address Change or
Comments
SEE REVERSE SIDE
FOR all nominees listed WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
below (except as indicated to vote for all nominees
to the contrary) listed below
1. Election of Directors. [ ] [ ]
CLASS A NOMINEES: 01 Dr. E. Dean Gage,
02 Steven F. Shelton,
03 Timothy T. Timmerman.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors. [ ] [ ] [ ]
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee,
write that nominee's name on the line below.)
___________________________________________________
SIGNATURE(S) _____________________ SIGNATURE IF HELD JOINTLY ___________________
DATED ________________ 2004
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS HEREON. WHEN SIGNING AS ATTORNEY,
EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE FULL TITLE AS SUCH.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL YOUR
PROXY CARD BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
CITIZENS, INC.
JUNE 1, 2004
CITIZENS, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Mark A. Oliver, Rick D. Riley, Marcia F.
Emmons or any of them with full power of substitution, as proxies to vote at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Citizens, Inc. (the "Company"), to be held on
June 1, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, hereby revoking any proxies heretofore given, to vote all shares of
common stock of the Company held or owned by the undersigned as directed on the
reverse side and in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly
come before the meeting.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
(TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
ADDRESS CHANGE/COMMENTS (MARK THE CORRESPONDING BOX ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
[CITIZENS, LOGO]