UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington , D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
 
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013
OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 0-3722

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Georgia
 
58-1027114
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E.,
   
Atlanta, Georgia
 
30319
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(404) 266-5500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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   þ    No o

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   þ    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.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer ¨   Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company þ

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

The total number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $1 par value, outstanding on May 7, 2013, was 21,381,797.
 
 
 
 

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Part I.   Financial Information
Page No.
   
Item 1. 
   
 
2
   
 
3
   
 
4
   
 
5
   
 
6
   
 
7
   
Item 2.
17
   
Item 4.
23
     
Part II.  Other Information  
   
Item 2.
24
     
Item 6.
25
   
Signatures
26

 
 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.     Financial St atements

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOL IDA TED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS
 
   
Unaudited
       
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 18,777     $ 18,951  
Investments:
               
Fixed maturities (cost: $199,555 and $201,986)
    223,539       230,508  
Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks (cost: $10,477 and $10,477)
    13,819       12,205  
Other invested assets (cost: $617 and $565)
    617       565  
Policy loans
    2,289       2,338  
Real estate
    38       38  
Investment in unconsolidated trusts
    1,238       1,238  
Total investments
    241,540       246,892  
Receivables:
               
Reinsurance
    16,666       18,768  
Insurance premiums and other (net of allowance for doubtful accounts: $364 and $379)
    6,868       6,330  
Deferred acquisition costs
    26,610       26,133  
Other assets
    959       975  
Goodwill
    2,128       2,128  
Total assets
  $ 313,548     $ 320,177  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Insurance reserves and policyholder funds:
               
Future policy benefits
  $ 67,603     $ 66,932  
Unearned premiums
    21,620       22,637  
Losses and claims
    60,124       62,873  
Other policy liabilities
    1,628       2,116  
Total insurance reserves and policyholder funds
    150,975       154,558  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    11,031       11,481  
Deferred income taxes, net
    6,277       7,164  
Junior subordinated debenture obligations
    41,238       41,238  
Total liabilities
    209,521       214,441  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $1 par, 4,000,000 shares authorized; Series D preferred, 70,000 shares issued and outstanding; $7,000 redemption value
    70       70  
Common stock, $1 par, 50,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued: 22,400,894; shares outstanding: 21,135,574 and 21,216,542
    22,401       22,401  
Additional paid-in capital
    57,180       57,180  
Retained earnings
    8,993       8,621  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    17,762       19,571  
Treasury stock, at cost: 1,265,320 and 1,184,352 shares
    (2,379 )     (2,107 )
Total shareholders’ equity
    104,027       105,736  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 313,548     $ 320,177  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STA TEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Revenue:
           
Insurance premiums
  $ 33,019     $ 30,681  
Investment income
    2,905       2,883  
Realized investment gains, net
    678       958  
Other income
    48       29  
Total revenue
    36,650       34,551  
                 
Benefits and expenses:
               
Insurance benefits and losses incurred
    23,362       22,672  
Commissions and underwriting expenses
    9,283       7,033  
Interest expense
    577       657  
Other expense
    2,417       2,469  
Total benefits and expenses
    35,639       32,831  
Income before income taxes
    1,011       1,720  
Income tax expense
    89       63  
Net income
    922       1,657  
Preferred stock dividends
    (127 )     (127 )
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 795     $ 1,530  
                 
Earnings per common share (basic and diluted)
  $ .04     $ .07  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net income
  $ 922     $ 1,657  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Available-for-sale securities:
               
Gross unrealized holding loss arising in the period
    (2,246 )     (1,446 )
Related income tax effect
    786       506  
Less: reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net income (1)
    (678 )     (958 )
Related income tax effect (2)
    237       336  
Net effect on other comprehensive loss
    (1,901 )     (1,562 )
Derivative financial instrument:
               
Fair value adjustment to derivative financial instrument
    141       153  
Related income tax effect
    (49 )     (54 )
Net effect on other comprehensive income
    92       99  
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (1,809 )     (1,463 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (887 )   $ 194  

 
(1)
Realized gains on available-for-sale securities recognized in realized investment gains, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
 
(2)
Income tax effect on reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in income tax expense on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
Preferred
Stock
   
Common
Stock
   
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   
Retained
Earnings
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Treasury
Stock
   
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2012
  $ 70     $ 22,401     $ 57,180     $ 8,621     $ 19,571     $ (2,107 )   $ 105,736  
Net income
    -       -       -       922       -       -       922  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    -       -       -       -       (1,809 )     -       (1,809 )
Dividends declared on common stock
    -       -       -       (423 )     -       -       (423 )
Dividends accrued on preferred stock
    -       -       -       (127 )     -       -       (127 )
Purchase of shares for treasury
    -       -       -       -       -       (272 )     (272 )
Balance, March 31, 2013
  $ 70     $ 22,401     $ 57,180     $ 8,993     $ 17,762     $ (2,379 )   $ 104,027  
                                                         
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
                                                       
Balance, December 31, 2011
  $ 70     $ 22,401     $ 57,136     $ 6,179     $ 12,244     $ (1,753 )   $ 96,277  
Net income
    -       -       -       1,657       -       -       1,657  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    -       -       -       -       (1,463 )     -       (1,463 )
Dividends declared on common stock
    -       -       -       (426 )     -       -       (426 )
Dividends accrued on preferred stock
    -       -       -       (127 )     -       -       (127 )
Balance, March 31, 2012
  $ 70     $ 22,401     $ 57,136     $ 7,283     $ 10,781     $ (1,753 )   $ 95,918  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income
  $ 922     $ 1,657  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
    2,796       2,960  
Acquisition costs deferred
    (3,273 )     (3,431 )
Realized investment gains
    (678 )     (958 )
(Decrease) increase in insurance reserves
    (3,583 )     2,688  
Depreciation and amortization
    142       112  
Deferred income tax expense  (benefit)
    87       (33 )
Decrease (increase) in receivables, net
    1,564       (761 )
Decrease in other liabilities
    (858 )     (2,937 )
Other, net
    48       (21 )
Net cash used in operating activities
    (2,833 )     (724 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Proceeds from investments sold, called or matured
    13,521       16,864  
Investments purchased
    (10,510 )     (18,808 )
Additions to property and equipment
    (80 )     (72 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    2,931       (2,016 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Payment of dividends on Series D Preferred Stock
    -       (508 )
Purchase of shares for treasury
    (272 )     -  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (272 )     (508 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (174 )     (3,248 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    18,951       21,285  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 18,777     $ 18,037  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 643     $ 659  
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 310     $ -  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 

  ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLID ATE D FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 (Unaudited; Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 1.     Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Atlantic American Corporation (the “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with the Parent, the “Company”).  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for audited annual financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein and these related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The Company’s results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other future period.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Note 2.     Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). The main objective of ASU 2013-02 is to enhance disclosures for reclassification adjustments including changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI. ASU 2013-02 does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, the ASU requires an entity to provide enhanced disclosures to present separately by component reclassifications out of AOCI. In addition, an entity is also required to provide a tabular disclosure of the effect of items reclassified out of AOCI on the respective line items of net income but only if the item reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety. For other reclassification items that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified directly to net income in their entirety, the new disclosure would only require a cross-reference to other disclosures currently required under GAAP for those items. ASU 2013-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted ASU 2013-02 on January 1, 2013.  Since ASU 2013-02 was a disclosure only update, its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.  See Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Note 11 for expanded disclosures.
 

Note 3.     Segment Information

The Company’s primary operating subsidiaries, American Southern Insurance Company and American Safety Insurance Company (together known as “American Southern”) and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company (“Bankers Fidelity”) operate in two principal business units, each focusing on specific products.  American Southern operates in the property and casualty insurance market, while Bankers Fidelity operates in the life and health insurance market.  Each business unit is managed independently and is evaluated on its individual performance.  The following sets forth the revenue and income before income taxes for each business unit for the three month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Revenues
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
American Southern
  $ 10,490     $ 11,264  
Bankers Fidelity
    25,938       23,081  
Corporate and Other
    222       206  
Total revenue
  $ 36,650     $ 34,551  

Income Before Income Taxes
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
American Southern
  $ 1,442     $ 715  
Bankers Fidelity
    1,037       2,616  
Corporate and Other
    (1,468 )     (1,611 )
Income before income taxes
  $ 1,011     $ 1,720  

Note  4.      Credit Arrangements

Junior Subordinated Debentures

The Company has two unconsolidated Connecticut statutory business trusts, which exist for the exclusive purposes of: (i) issuing trust preferred securities (“Trust Preferred Securities”) representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trusts; (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Preferred Securities in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (“Junior Subordinated Debentures”) of Atlantic American; and (iii) engaging in only those activities necessary or incidental thereto.

The financial structure of each of Atlantic American Statutory Trust I and II as of March 31, 2013 was as follows:

   
Atlantic American
Statutory Trust I
   
Atlantic American
Statutory Trust II
 
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES (1) (2)
           
Principal amount owed
  $ 18,042     $ 23,196  
Balance March 31, 2013
    18,042       23,196  
Balance December 31, 2012
    18,042       23,196  
Coupon rate
 
LIBOR + 4.00%
   
LIBOR + 4.10%
 
Interest payable
 
Quarterly
   
Quarterly
 
Maturity date
 
December 4, 2032
   
May 15, 2033
 
Redeemable by issuer
 
Yes
   
Yes
 
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
               
Issuance date
 
December 4, 2002
   
May 15, 2003
 
Securities issued
    17,500       22,500  
Liquidation preference per security
  $ 1     $ 1  
Liquidation value
    17,500       22,500  
Coupon rate
 
LIBOR + 4.00%
   
LIBOR + 4.10%
 
Distribution payable
 
Quarterly
   
Quarterly
 
Distribution guaranteed by (3)
 
Atlantic American Corporation
   
Atlantic American Corporation
 


 
(1)
For each of the respective debentures, the Company has the right at any time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters up to the debentures’ respective maturity dates.  During any such period, interest will continue to accrue and the Company may not declare or pay any cash dividends or distributions on, or purchase, the Company’s common stock nor make any principal, interest or premium payments on or repurchase any debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures.  The Company has the right at any time to dissolve each of the trusts and cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
 
(2)
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to all senior debt of the Parent and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries.
 
(3)
The Parent has guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, all of the obligations under the Trust Preferred Securities, including payment of the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the extent of available funds and upon dissolution, winding up or liquidation.
 
Note 5.     Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company’s zero cost interest rate collar with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association terminated on March 4, 2013, the stated maturity date, by its terms. There were no balances outstanding under the zero cost interest rate collar at that time.

Note 6.     Earnings Per Common Share

A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the earnings per common share calculations is as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2013
 
   
Income
   
Shares
(In thousands)
   
Per Share Amount
 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
                 
Net income
  $ 922       21,182        
Less preferred stock dividends
    (127 )              
Net income applicable to common shareholders
    795       21,182     $ .04  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
                       
Effect of dilutive stock options
            40          
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 795       21,222     $ .04  

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2012
 
   
Income
   
Shares
(In thousands)
   
Per Share Amount
 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
                 
Net income
  $ 1,657       21,274        
Less preferred stock dividends
    (127 )              
Net income applicable to common shareholders
    1,530       21,274     $ .07  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
                       
Effect of dilutive stock options
            77          
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 1,530       21,351     $ .07  

The assumed conversion of the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock was excluded from the earnings per common share calculation for all periods presented since its impact would have been antidilutive.
 
 
Note 7.     Income Taxes

A reconciliation of the differences between income taxes computed at the federal statutory income tax rate and income tax expense is as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Federal income tax provision at statutory rate of 35%
  $ 354     $ 602  
Dividends received deduction
    (37 )     (44 )
Small life insurance company deduction
    -       (205 )
Other permanent differences
    9       8  
Change in asset valuation allowance due to change in judgment relating to realizability of deferred tax assets
    (237 )     (298 )
Income tax expense
  $ 89     $ 63  

The components of income tax expense were:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Current - Federal
  $ 2     $ 96  
Deferred - Federal
    324       265  
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance
    (237 )     (298 )
Total
  $ 89     $ 63  

The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 resulted from the dividends received deduction (“DRD”) and the change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  The current estimated DRD is adjusted as underlying factors change and can vary from the estimates based on, but not limited to, actual distributions from investments as well as the amount of the Company’s taxable income.   The change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance was due to the unanticipated utilization of certain capital loss carryforward benefits that had been previously reduced to zero through an existing valuation allowance reserve.

The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 resulted from the DRD, the small life insurance company deduction (“SLD”) and the change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  The SLD varies in amount and is determined at a rate of 60 percent of the tentative life insurance company taxable income (“LICTI”).  The SLD for any taxable year is reduced (but not below zero) by 15 percent of the tentative LICTI for such taxable year as it exceeds $3,000 and is ultimately phased out at $15,000.  The change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance was also due to the utilization of certain capital loss carryforward benefits.

Note 8.     Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company is involved in various claims and lawsuits incidental to and in the ordinary course of its businesses.  In the opinion of management, any such known claims are not expected to have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
 

Note 9.     Investments

The following tables set forth the carrying value, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and amortized cost of the Company’s investments, aggregated by type and industry, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
Investments were comprised of the following:
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Carrying
 Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Amortized
Cost
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
Bonds:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities
  $ 23,614     $ 3,682     $ -     $ 19,932  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    17,630       2,390       -       15,240  
Corporate securities:
                               
Utilities and telecom
    20,141       2,928       9       17,222  
Financial services
    44,054       3,909       330       40,475  
Other business – diversified
    59,964       5,637       440       54,767  
Other consumer – diversified
    54,391       6,363       188       48,216  
Total corporate securities
    178,550       18,837       967       160,680  
Redeemable preferred stocks:
                               
Financial services
    3,552       42       -       3,510  
Other consumer – diversified
    193       -       -       193  
Total redeemable preferred stocks
    3,745       42       -       3,703  
Total fixed maturities
    223,539       24,951       967       199,555  
Equity securities:
                               
Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks:
                               
Utilities and telecom
    1,474       510       -       964  
Financial services
    8,724       944       9       7,789  
Other business – diversified
    156       109       -       47  
Other consumer – diversified
    3,465       1,788       -       1,677  
Total equity securities
    13,819       3,351       9       10,477  
Other invested assets
    617       -       -       617  
Policy loans
    2,289       -       -       2,289  
Real estate
    38       -       -       38  
Investments in unconsolidated trusts
    1,238       -       -       1,238  
Total investments
  $ 241,540     $ 28,302     $ 976     $ 214,214  


   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Amortized
Cost
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
Bonds:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities
  $ 27,512     $ 4,618     $ -     $ 22,894  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    17,761       2,514       -       15,247  
Corporate securities:
                               
Utilities and telecom
    17,921       3,128       -       14,793  
Financial services
    43,695       3,957       415       40,153  
Other business – diversified
    66,741       7,172       12       59,581  
Other consumer – diversified
    52,910       7,665       120       45,365  
Total corporate securities
    181,267       21,922       547       159,892  
Redeemable preferred stocks:
                               
Financial services
    3,775       18       3       3,760  
Other consumer – diversified
    193       -       -       193  
Total redeemable preferred stocks
    3,968       18       3       3,953  
Total fixed maturities
    230,508       29,072       550       201,986  
Equity securities:
                               
Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks:
                               
Utilities and telecom
    1,298       334       -       964  
Financial services
    8,607       857       39       7,789  
Other business – diversified
    134       87       -       47  
Other consumer – diversified
    2,166       489       -       1,677  
Total equity securities
    12,205       1,767       39       10,477  
Other invested assets
    565       -       -       565  
Policy loans
    2,338       -       -       2,338  
Real estate
    38       -       -       38  
Investments in unconsolidated trusts
    1,238       -       -       1,238  
Total investments
  $ 246,892     $ 30,839     $ 589     $ 216,642  
 
The amortized cost and carrying value of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities at March 31, 2013 by contractual maturity were as follows.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Amortized
Cost
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 501     $ 500  
Due after one year through five years
    6,836       6,150  
Due after five years through ten years
    32,739       29,929  
Due after ten years
    182,292       161,982  
Varying maturities
    1,171       994  
Totals
  $ 223,539     $ 199,555  


The following table sets forth the carrying value, amortized cost, and net unrealized gains of the Company’s investments aggregated by industry as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Unrealized
Gains
   
Carrying
Value
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Unrealized
Gains
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities
  $ 23,614     $ 19,932     $ 3,682     $ 27,512     $ 22,894     $ 4,618  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    17,630       15,240       2,390       17,761       15,247       2,514  
Utilities and telecom
    21,615       18,186       3,429       19,219       15,757       3,462  
Financial services
    56,330       51,774       4,556       56,077       51,702       4,375  
Other business – diversified
    60,120       54,814       5,306       66,875       59,628       7,247  
Other consumer – diversified
    58,049       50,086       7,963       55,269       47,235       8,034  
Other investments
    4,182       4,182       -       4,179       4,179       -  
Investments
  $ 241,540     $ 214,214     $ 27,326     $ 246,892     $ 216,642     $ 30,250  

The following tables present the Company’s unrealized loss aging for securities by type and length of time the security was in a continuous unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
Corporate securities
  $ 17,607     $ 647     $ 1,680     $ 320     $ 19,287     $ 967  
Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks
    2,007       9       -       -       2,007       9  
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 19,614     $ 656     $ 1,680     $ 320     $ 21,294     $ 976  

   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
Corporate securities
  $ 8,806     $ 147     $ 1,600     $ 400     $ 10,406     $ 547  
Redeemable preferred stocks
    1,216       3       -       -       1,216       3  
Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks
    3,494       39       -       -       3,494       39  
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 13,516     $ 189     $ 1,600     $ 400     $ 15,116     $ 589  

 
The evaluation for an other than temporary impairment is a quantitative and qualitative process, which is subject to risks and uncertainties in the determination of whether declines in the fair value of investments are other than temporary. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things, changes in general economic conditions, an issuer’s financial condition or near term recovery prospects and the effects of changes in interest rates. In evaluating a potential impairment, the Company considers, among other factors, management’s intent and ability to hold these securities until price recovery, the nature of the investment and the expectation of prospects for the issuer and its industry, the status of an issuer’s continued satisfaction of its obligations in accordance with their contractual terms, and management’s expectation as to the issuer’s ability and intent to continue to do so, as well as ratings actions that may affect the issuer’s credit status.

As of March 31, 2013, securities in an unrealized loss position primarily included certain of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities within the other diversified business and financial services sectors. The Company does not currently intend to sell nor does it expect to be required to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position. Based upon the Company’s expected continuation of receipt of contractually required principal and interest payments and its intent and ability to retain the securities until price recovery, as well as the Company’s evaluation of other relevant factors, including those described above, the Company has deemed these securities to be temporarily impaired as of March 31, 2013.

The following describes the fair value hierarchy and provides information as to the extent to which the Company uses fair value to measure the value of its financial instruments and information about the inputs used to value those financial instruments. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

Level 1
Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 1 criteria include cash equivalents and exchange traded common stocks.

Level 2
Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, for an asset or liability or prices for similar assets or liabilities. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 2 criteria include substantially all of its fixed maturities, which consist of U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and certain corporate fixed maturities, as well as its non-redeemable preferred stocks. In determining fair value measurements using Level 2 criteria, the Company utilizes various external pricing sources.

Level 3
Valuations that are derived from techniques in which one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk).  Fair value is based on criteria that use assumptions or other data that are not readily observable from objective sources. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 3 criteria consist of a limited number of fixed maturities. As of March 31, 2013, the value of the Company’s fixed maturities valued using Level 3 criteria was $2,092. The use of different criteria or assumptions regarding data may have yielded materially different valuations.
 
 
As of March 31, 2013, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:

   
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
for Identical
Assets
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
       
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Fixed maturities
  $ -     $ 221,447     $ 2,092     $ 223,539  
Equity securities
    5,321       8,498       -       13,819  
Cash equivalents
    19,237       -       -       19,237  
Total
  $ 24,558     $ 229,945     $ 2,092     $ 256,595  

As of December 31, 2012, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:

   
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
for Identical
Assets
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
       
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Fixed maturities
  $ -     $ 228,384     $ 2,124     $ 230,508  
Equity securities
    3,805       8,400       -       12,205  
Cash equivalents
    15,326       -       -       15,326  
Total
  $ 19,131     $ 236,784     $ 2,124     $ 258,039  
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative financial instrument
  $ -     $ -     $ 141     $ 141  

The following is a roll-forward of the financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three month period ended March 31, 2013.

   
Fixed
Maturities
   
Derivative
(Liability)
 
Balance, December 31, 2012
  $ 2,124     $ (141 )
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    (32 )     141  
Balance, March 31, 2013
  $ 2,092     $ -  

The Company’s fixed maturities valued using Level 3 inputs consist solely of issuances of pooled debt obligations of multiple, smaller financial services companies. They are not actively traded and valuation techniques used to measure fair value are based on future estimated cash flows (based on current cash flows) discounted at reasonable estimated rates of interest.  There are no assumed prepayments and/or default probability assumptions as a majority of these instruments contain certain U.S. government agency strips to support repayment of the principal.  Other qualitative and quantitative information received from the original underwriter of the pooled offerings is also considered, as applicable.  The Company’s derivative financial instrument was an interest rate collar which terminated on March 4, 2013, the stated maturity date, by its terms.
 
 
Note 10.   Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values have been determined by the Company using available market information from various market sources and appropriate valuation methodologies as of the respective dates.  However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and to develop the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts which the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
 
The following table sets forth the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
         
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Level in Fair
Value
Hierarchy (1)
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Assets:
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Level 1
    $ 18,777     $ 18,777     $ 18,951     $ 18,951  
Fixed maturities
    (1)       223,539       223,539       230,508       230,508  
Equity securities
    (1)       13,819       13,819       12,205       12,205  
Other invested assets
 
Level 3
      617       617       565       565  
Policy loans
 
Level 2
      2,289       2,289       2,338       2,338  
Real estate
 
Level 2
      38       38       38       38  
Investment in unconsolidated trusts
 
Level 2
      1,238       1,238       1,238       1,238  
                                       
Liabilities:
                                       
Junior subordinated debentures
 
Level 2
      41,238       41,238       41,238       41,238  
Derivative financial instrument
 
Level 3
      -       -       141       141  

 
(1)
See Note 9 for a description of the fair value hierarchy as well as a disclosure of levels for classes of these financial assets.

The fair value estimates as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were based on pertinent information available to management as of the respective dates.  Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from amounts that might ultimately be realized in a market exchange on any subsequent date.

Note 11.   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table sets forth the balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and the changes in the balance of each component thereof during the three month period ended March 31, 2013, net of taxes.

   
Unrealized Gains
on Available-for-
Sale Securities
   
Derivative
Financial
Instrument
   
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2012
  $ 19,663     $ (92 )   $ 19,571  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
    (1,460 )     92       (1,368 )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
    (441 )     -       (441 )
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
    (1,901 )     92       (1,809 )
Balance, March 31, 2013
  $ 17,762     $ -     $ 17,762  


It em 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
 AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Atlantic American Corporation (“Atlantic American” or the “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with the Parent, the “Company”) as of and for the three month period ended March 31, 2013. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein, as well as with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Atlantic American is an insurance holding company whose operations are conducted primarily through its insurance subsidiaries: American Southern Insurance Company and American Safety Insurance Company (together known as “American Southern”) and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company (“Bankers Fidelity”).  Each operating company is managed separately, offers different products and is evaluated on its individual performance.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures.   Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.  The Company has identified certain estimates that involve a higher degree of judgment and are subject to a significant degree of variability. The Company’s critical accounting policies and the resultant estimates considered most significant by management are disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the three month period ended March 31, 2013, there were no changes to the critical accounting policies or related estimates from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards

For a discussion of recently issued accounting standards applicable to the Company, see Note 2 of the accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Overall Corporate Results

The following presents the Company’s revenue, expenses and net income for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the comparable period in 2012:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Insurance premiums
  $ 33,019     $ 30,681  
Investment income
    2,905       2,883  
Realized investment gains, net
    678       958  
Other income
    48       29  
Total revenue
    36,650       34,551  
Insurance benefits and losses incurred
    23,362       22,672  
Commissions and underwriting expenses
    9,283       7,033  
Other expense
    2,417       2,469  
Interest expense
    577       657  
Total benefits and expenses
    35,639       32,831  
Income before income taxes
  $ 1,011     $ 1,720  
Net income
  $ 922     $ 1,657  

 
Management evaluates operating income and believes it is a useful metric for investors, potential investors, securities analysts and others because it isolates the “core” results of the Company before considering certain items that are either beyond the control of management (such as taxes, which are subject to timing, regulatory and rate changes depending on the timing of the associated revenues and expenses) or are not expected to regularly impact the Company’s operational results (such as any realized investment gains, which are not a part of the Company’s primary operations and are, to an extent, subject to discretion in terms of timing of realization).

A reconciliation of net income to operating income for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the comparable period in 2012 is as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Reconciliation of Net Income to non-GAAP Measurement
 
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Net income
  $ 922     $ 1,657  
Income tax expense
    89       63  
Realized investment gains, net
    (678 )     (958 )
Operating income
  $ 333     $ 762  

On a consolidated basis, the Company had net income of $0.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the three month period ended March 31, 2012. The decrease in net income during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 was primarily attributable to increased losses in the life and health operations, increases in advertising expense for television commercials and social media initiatives as well as a decrease in realized investment gains. Operating income decreased to $0.3 million in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from $0.8 million in the comparable period of 2012.  Premium revenue for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 increased $2.3 million, or 7.6%, to $33.0 million. The increase in premium revenue was primarily due to an increase in Medicare supplement business in the life and health operations.  While premiums in the property and casualty operations decreased, profitability increased due to a more favorable loss experience in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012.

A more detailed analysis of the individual operating companies and other corporate activities is provided below.

American Southern

The following summarizes American Southern’s premiums, losses, expenses and underwriting ratios for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the comparable period in 2012:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross written premiums
  $ 8,876     $ 9,549  
Ceded premiums
    (1,897 )     (1,915 )
Net written premiums
  $ 6,979     $ 7,634  
Net earned premiums
  $ 8,927     $ 9,812  
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses
    5,322       8,019  
Underwriting expenses
    3,726       2,529  
Underwriting loss
  $ (121 )   $ (736 )
Loss ratio
    59.6 %     81.7 %
Expense ratio
    41.8       25.8  
Combined ratio
    101.4 %     107.5 %

 
Gross written premiums at American Southern decreased $0.7 million, or 7.0%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from the comparable period in 2012.  The decrease in gross written premiums was primarily attributable to a decrease of $1.5 million in commercial automobile written premiums resulting from the cancellation by the company of two agencies and a trucking liability program in 2012 due to unfavorable loss experience.  Partially offsetting the decrease in gross written premiums was an increase of $0.8 million in commercial automobile business written by an existing agency attributable to new business and rate increases on renewal business.

Ceded premiums decreased slightly during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from the comparable period in 2012.  The decrease in ceded premiums was primarily due to the decrease in related earned premiums.  As American Southern’s ceded premiums are determined as a percentage of earned premiums, a decrease in ceded premiums occurs when earned premiums decrease.

The following presents American Southern’s net earned premiums by line of business for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the comparable period in 2012 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Commercial automobile
  $ 5,862     $ 6,320  
General liability
    750       1,163  
Property
    599       442  
Surety
    1,716       1,887  
Total
  $ 8,927     $ 9,812  

Net earned premiums decreased $0.9 million, or 9.0%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from the comparable period in 2012.  The decrease in net earned premiums was primarily attributable to the decline in commercial automobile and general liability earned premiums resulting from the cancellation by the company of two agencies and a trucking liability program as discussed previously as well as the cancellation of certain general liability programs in 2012.  Premiums are earned ratably over their respective policy terms, and therefore premiums earned in the current year are related to policies written during both the current year and immediately preceding year.

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses at American Southern decreased $2.7 million, or 33.6%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from the comparable period in 2012.  As a percentage of premiums, net loss and loss adjustment expenses were 59.6% in the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to 81.7% in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  The decrease in the loss ratio was primarily due to more favorable loss experience in all lines of business during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period of 2012.  During the three month period ended March 31 2012, American Southern experienced significant increases in the frequency and severity of claims in the commercial automobile, general liability and surety lines of business which did not recur in the comparable 2013 period.  The improvement in the current year loss ratio was primarily attributable to the rationalization of American Southern’s book of business and strengthening of the underwriting guidelines with respect to such business.

Underwriting expenses increased $1.2 million, or 47.3%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  As a percentage of premiums, underwriting expenses were 41.8% in the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to 25.8% in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  The increase in the expense ratio was primarily due to American Southern’s variable commission structure, which compensates the company’s agents in relation to the loss ratios of the business they write.  During periods in which the loss ratio decreases, commissions and underwriting expenses will generally increase, and conversely, during periods in which the loss ratio increases, commissions and underwriting expenses will generally decrease. During the three month period ended March 31, 2013, these commissions at American Southern increased $1.2 million from the comparable period in 2012 due to the more favorable loss experience.
 

Bankers Fidelity

The following summarizes Bankers Fidelity’s earned premiums, losses, expenses and underwriting ratios for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the comparable period in 2012:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Medicare supplement
  $ 20,197     $ 16,874  
Other health products
    1,145       1,118  
Life insurance
    2,750       2,877  
Total earned premiums
    24,092       20,869  
Insurance benefits and losses
    18,040       14,653  
Underwriting expenses
    6,861       5,813  
Total expenses
    24,901       20,466  
Underwriting income (loss)
  $ (809 )   $ 403  
Loss ratio
    74.9 %     70.2 %
Expense ratio
    28.5       27.9  
Combined ratio
    103.4 %     98.1 %

Premium revenue at Bankers Fidelity increased $3.2 million, or 15.4%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  Premiums from the Medicare supplement line of business increased $3.3 million, or 19.7%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013, due primarily to an increase in business generated from the company’s core producers and newly appointed general agents, an increase in business issued in the state of Missouri as a result of favorable pricing compared to competitors, and active management and implementation of rate increases on renewal business, as appropriate.  Other health product premiums increased slightly during the same comparable period, primarily as a result of new sales of the company’s short-term care products. Premiums from the life insurance line of business decreased $0.1 million, or 4.4%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 due to redemption and settlement of existing policy obligations exceeding the level of new sales activity.

Benefits and losses increased $3.4 million, or 23.1%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  As a percentage of premiums, benefits and losses were 74.9% in the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to 70.2% in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  The increase in the loss ratio was primarily attributable to unfavorable loss experience in the Medicare supplement line of business during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012.  During the three month period ended March 31, 2013, Bankers Fidelity experienced an increase in losses in the Medicare supplement line of business resulting from a disproportionate number of first quarter deductible reimbursements.  As the company’s Medicare supplement product generally reimburses the annual Part B deductible of an insured, annual deductible reimbursements are generally incurred disproportionately at the beginning of a calendar year as opposed to the end of a calendar year.  Such trends were even more pronounced in the first quarter of 2013.  Bankers Fidelity continues to implement rate increases on its Medicare supplement business to help mitigate the impact of higher medical costs.

Underwriting expenses increased $1.0 million, or 18.0%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  As a percentage of premiums, underwriting expenses were 28.5% in the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to 27.9% in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  The increase in the expense ratio was primarily attributable to increases in advertising and agency related expenses.  Advertising expenses increased $0.5 million in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012 and included charges for television commercials and social media initiatives.
 

INVESTMENT INCOME AND REALIZED GAINS

Investment income increased slightly during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  The increase in investment income was primarily attributable to a higher average balance of fixed maturities held by the Company in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period of 2012.

The Company had net realized investment gains of $0.7 million during the three month period ended March 31, 2013, compared to net realized investment gains of $1.0 million in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.   The net realized investment gains in the three month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 resulted from the disposition of several of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities.  Management continually evaluates the Company’s investment portfolio and, as may be determined to be appropriate, makes adjustments for impairments and/or will divest investments.

INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest expense decreased $0.1 million, or 12.2%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from the comparable period in 2012 due primarily to the termination of the Company’s zero cost interest rate collar with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) on March 4, 2013, the stated maturity date, by its terms.  The interest rate collar had a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) floor of 4.77%.  As a result of interest rates remaining below the LIBOR floor, the Company was required to make payments to Wells Fargo under the interest rate collar for all periods presented, through the maturity date.

OTHER EXPENSES

Other expenses (commissions, underwriting expenses, and other expenses) increased $2.2 million, or 23.1%, during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012.  The increase in other expenses was primarily attributable to increased commission accruals at American Southern due to recent favorable loss experience.  During the three month period ended March 31, 2013, these commissions at American Southern increased $1.2 million over the comparable period in 2012.  The majority of American Southern’s business is structured in a way that agents are compensated based upon the loss ratios of the business they place with the company.  During periods in which the loss ratio decreases, commissions and underwriting expenses will generally increase, and conversely, during periods in which the loss ratio increases, commissions and underwriting expenses will generally decrease.  Also contributing to the increase in other expenses was an increase in commission and underwriting costs in the life and health operations associated with the higher volume of business as well as increases in advertising and agency related expenses.  On a consolidated basis, as a percentage of earned premiums, other expenses increased to 35.4% in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 from 31.0% in the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  The increase in the expense ratio was primarily attributable to the increase in commission accruals and advertising expenses discussed previously.

INCOME TAXES

The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 resulted from the dividends received deduction (“DRD”) and the change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  The current estimated DRD is adjusted as underlying factors change and can vary from the estimates based on, but not limited to, actual distributions from investments as well as the amount of the Company’s taxable income.  The change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance was due to the unanticipated utilization of certain capital loss carryforward benefits that had been previously reduced to zero through an existing valuation allowance reserve.  The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 resulted from the DRD, the small life insurance company deduction (“SLD”) and the change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  The SLD varies in amount and is determined at a rate of 60 percent of the tentative life insurance company taxable income (“LICTI”).  The SLD for any taxable year is reduced (but not below zero) by 15 percent of the tentative LICTI for such taxable year as it exceeds $3.0 million and is ultimately phased out at $15.0 million. The change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance was also due to the utilization of certain capital loss carryforward benefits.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The primary cash needs of the Company are for the payment of claims and operating expenses, maintaining adequate statutory capital and surplus levels, and meeting debt service requirements.  Current and expected patterns of claim frequency and severity may change from period to period but generally are expected to continue within historical ranges.  The Company’s primary sources of cash are written premiums, investment income and proceeds from the sale and maturity of its invested assets.  The Company believes that, within each operating company, total invested assets will be sufficient to satisfy all policy liabilities and that cash inflows from investment earnings, future premium receipts and reinsurance collections will be adequate to fund the payment of claims and expenses as needed.

Cash flows at the Parent are derived from dividends, management fees, and tax-sharing payments, as described below, from the subsidiaries.  The cash needs of the Parent are for the payment of operating expenses, the acquisition of capital assets and debt service requirements, as well as the repurchase of shares and payments of any dividends as may be authorized and approved by the Company’s board of directors from time to time.  At March 31, 2013, the Parent had approximately $27.9 million of unrestricted cash and investments.

The Parent’s insurance subsidiaries reported statutory net income of $2.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 compared to statutory net income of nil for the three month period ended March 31, 2012.  Statutory results are impacted by the recognition of all costs of acquiring business.  In a scenario in which the Company is growing, statutory results are generally lower than results determined under GAAP.  Statutory results for the Company’s property and casualty operations may differ from the Company’s results of operations under GAAP due to the deferral of acquisition costs for financial reporting purposes.  The Company’s life and health operations’ statutory results may differ from GAAP results primarily due to the deferral of acquisition costs for financial reporting purposes, as well as the use of different reserving methods.

Over 90% of the invested assets of the Parent’s insurance subsidiaries are invested in marketable securities that can be converted into cash, if required; however, the use of such assets by the Company is limited by state insurance regulations.  Dividend payments to a parent corporation by its wholly owned insurance subsidiaries are subject to annual limitations and are restricted to the greater of 10% of statutory surplus or statutory earnings before recognizing realized investment gains of the individual insurance subsidiaries.  At March 31, 2013, American Southern had $37.5 million of statutory surplus and Bankers Fidelity had $34.2 million of statutory surplus. In 2013, dividend payments by the Parent’s insurance subsidiaries in excess of $9.6 million would require prior approval.

The Parent provides certain administrative and other services to each of its insurance subsidiaries.  The amounts charged to and paid by the subsidiaries include reimbursements for various shared services and other expenses incurred directly on behalf of the subsidiaries by the Parent.  In addition, there is in place a formal tax-sharing agreement between the Parent and its insurance subsidiaries.  It is anticipated that this agreement will provide the Parent with additional funds from profitable subsidiaries due to the subsidiaries' use of the Parent’s tax loss carryforwards, which totaled approximately $4.7 million at March 31, 2013.

The Company has two statutory trusts which exist for the exclusive purpose of issuing trust preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trusts and investing the gross proceeds of the trust preferred securities in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (“Junior Subordinated Debentures”).  The outstanding $18.0 million and $23.2 million of Junior Subordinated Debentures mature on December 4, 2032 and May 15, 2033, respectively, are callable quarterly, in whole or in part, only at the option of the Company, and have an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus an applicable margin.  The margin ranges from 4.00% to 4.10%.  At March 31, 2013, the effective interest rate was 4.4%.  The obligations of the Company with respect to the issuances of the trust preferred securities represent a full and unconditional guarantee by the Parent of each trust’s obligations with respect to the trust preferred securities.  Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Company may elect from time to time to defer Junior Subordinated Debenture interest payments, which would result in a deferral of distribution payments on the related trust preferred securities.  The Company has not made such an election.

The Company intends to pay its obligations under the Junior Subordinated Debentures using existing cash balances, dividend and tax-sharing payments from the operating subsidiaries, or from potential future financing arrangements.

The Company had a zero cost interest rate collar with Wells Fargo, which terminated on March 4, 2013, the stated maturity date, by its terms.  There were no balances outstanding under the zero cost interest rate collar at that time.
 

At March 31, 2013, the Company had 70,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) outstanding.  All of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock are held by an affiliate of the Company’s controlling shareholder. The outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock have a stated value of $100 per share; accrue annual dividends at a rate of $7.25 per share (payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock at the option of the board of directors of the Company) and are cumulative.  In certain circumstances, the shares of the Series D Preferred Stock may be convertible into an aggregate of approximately 1,754,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain adjustments and provided that such adjustments do not result in the Company issuing more than approximately 2,703,000 shares of common stock without obtaining prior shareholder approval; and are redeemable solely at the Company’s option.  The Series D Preferred Stock is not currently convertible.  At March 31, 2013, the Company had accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock totaling $0.1 million.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased from $19.0 million at December 31, 2012 to $18.8 million at March 31, 2013. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the three month period ended March 31, 2013 was primarily attributable to net cash used in operating activities of $2.8 million and the purchase of shares for treasury for $0.3 million.  Partially offsetting the decrease was net cash provided by investing activities of $2.9 million resulting from the sale and maturity of securities exceeding investment purchases.

The Company believes that existing cash balances as well as the dividends, fees, and tax-sharing payments it receives from its subsidiaries and, if needed, additional borrowings from financial institutions, will enable the Company to meet its liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future. Management is not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities, which, if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity, capital resources or operations.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management necessarily applies its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control objectives.  The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures can prevent all possible errors or fraud.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  There are inherent limitations in all control systems, including the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes.  Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of one or more persons.  The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and, while our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to be effective under circumstances where they should reasonably be expected to operate effectively, there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.  Because of the inherent limitations in any control system, misstatements due to possible errors or fraud may occur and may not be detected.  An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act).  Based on that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains and references certain information that constitutes forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the federal securities laws.  Those statements, to the extent they are not historical facts, should be considered forward-looking statements, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties.  Such forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current assessments of various risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions made in accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties, including those identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the other filings made by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of subsequent developments, changes in underlying assumptions or facts, or otherwise.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Secur ities and Use of Proceeds

On October 30, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a plan that allows for the repurchase of up to 750,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Repurchase Plan") on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, as determined by an authorized officer of the Company.  Any such repurchases can be made from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws and other requirements.

Other than pursuant to the Repurchase Plan, no purchases of common stock of the Company were made by or on behalf of the Company during the periods described below.

The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases by the Company of shares of its common stock on a monthly basis during the three month period ended March 31, 2013.

Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
Average
Price Paid
per Share
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 
January 1 – January 31, 2013
    10,968     $ 3.32       10,968       733,137  
February 1 – February 28, 2013
    40,000       3.29       40,000       693,137  
March 1 – March 31, 2013
    30,000       3.46       30,000       663,137  
Total
    80,968     $ 3.36       80,968          


Item 6 .  Exhibits

10.1
Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.
   
10.2
Form of Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan Director Restricted Stock Agreement.
   
10.3
Form of Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan Employee Restricted Stock Agreement.
   
31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document. *
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. *
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. *
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. *
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. *
   
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. *

* Furnished herewith (not filed).  Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
 

SIG NA TURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
 
 
(Registrant)
     
Date: May 14, 2013
By:
/s/ John G. Sample, Jr.
   
John G. Sample, Jr.
   
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
Number
Title
   
Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.
   
Form of Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan Director Restricted Stock Agreement.
   
Form of Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan Employee Restricted Stock Agreement.
   
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document. *
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. *
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. *
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. *
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. *
   
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. *

* Furnished herewith (not filed).  Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
 
 
EXHIBIT 10.1

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.             Purpose. The purpose of this Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan is to attract and retain non-employee Directors, consultants, officers and other employees of Atlantic American Corporation, a Georgia corporation, and its Subsidiaries and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for performance.

2.             Definitions. As used in this Plan,

(a)           “Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 or Section 9 of this Plan, and will include both Free-Standing Appreciation Rights and Tandem Appreciation Rights.

(b)          “Base Price” means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Free-Standing Appreciation Right or a Tandem Appreciation Right.

(c)           “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d)           “Committee” means a committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan consisting solely of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, initially the Company’s Stock Option and Compensation Committee.

(e)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(f)            “Common Stock” means shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, or any security into which such Common Stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 12 of this Plan.

(g)           “Company” means Atlantic American Corporation, a Georgia corporation.

(h)           “Covered Employee” means a Participant who is, or is determined by the Committee to be likely to become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor provision).

(i)            “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units or other awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or other awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).

(j)            “Detrimental Activity” means:

 
(i)
Engaging in any activity as an employee, principal, agent, or consultant for another entity that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Company in any actual, researched, or prospective product, service, system, or business activity for which the Participant has had any direct or indirect responsibility during the last two years of his or her employment with, or having acted as a consultant to, the Company or a Subsidiary (or such other period specified in an Evidence of Award), in any territory in which the Company or a Subsidiary sells, markets, services, or utilizes such product, service, or system, or engages in such business activity (or any portion of such territory or such other territory specified in the Evidence of Award).
 
 
1
 
 
 
(ii)
Soliciting any employee of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate his or her employment with the Company or a Subsidiary.

 
(iii)
The disclosure to anyone outside the Company or a Subsidiary, or the use in other than the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s business, without prior written authorization from the Company, of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information or material relating to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, acquired by the Participant during his or her employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries or while acting as a director of or consultant for the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 
(iv)
The failure or refusal to disclose promptly and to assign to the Company upon request all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the Participant during employment by, or while consulting with, the Company or any Subsidiary, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or development work of the Company or any Subsidiary or the failure or refusal to do anything reasonably necessary to enable the Company or any Subsidiary to secure a patent where appropriate in the United States and in other countries.

 
(v)
Activity that results in Termination for Cause. For the purposes of this Section, “Termination for Cause” will mean a termination:

 
(A)
due to the Participant’s willful and continuous gross neglect of his or her duties for which he or she is employed; or

 
(B)
due to an act of dishonesty on the part of the Participant resulting or intended to result, directly or indirectly, in his or her gain for personal enrichment at the expense of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 
(vi)
Any other conduct or act determined to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any significant interest of the Company or any Subsidiary unless the Participant acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

(k)           “Director” means a member of the Board.

(l)            “Effective Date” means the date this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company.

(m)          “Evidence of Award” means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the awards granted under the Plan. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

(n)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

(o)           “Free-Standing Appreciation Right” means an Appreciation Right granted pursuant to Section 5 or Section 9 of this Plan that is not granted in tandem with an Option Right.

(p)          “Incentive Stock Options” means Option Rights that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

 
2
 

(q)          “Management Objectives” means the measurable performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Shares or Performance Units or, when so determined by the Committee, Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, dividend credits or other awards pursuant to this Plan. Management Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or of the Subsidiary, division, department, region, function or other organizational unit within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Participant is employed. The Management Objectives may be made relative to the performance of other companies or subsidiaries, divisions, departments, regions, functions or other organizational units within such other companies, and may be made relative to an index or one or more of the performance criteria themselves. The Committee may grant awards subject to Management Objectives that are either Qualified Performance-Based Awards or are not Qualified Performance-Based Awards. The Management Objectives applicable to any Qualified Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee will be based on one or more, or a combination, of the following metrics:

 
(i)
Profits (e.g. , operating income, underwriting income, EBIT, EBT, net income, earnings per share, residual or economic earnings, economic profit — these profitability metrics could be, but are not required to be, measured or subject to GAAP definition);

 
(ii)
Cash Flow ( e.g. , EBITDA, free cash flow, free cash flow with or without specific capital expenditure target or range, including or excluding divestments and/or acquisitions, total cash flow, cash flow in excess of cost of capital or residual cash flow or cash flow return on investment);

 
(iii)
Returns ( e.g. , Profits or Cash Flow returns on: assets, invested capital, net capital employed, and equity);

 
(iv)
Liquidity Measures ( e.g. , debt-to-capital, debt-to-EBITDA, total debt ratio);

 
(v)
Premium Growth, Underwriting Margin Growth, Cost Initiative and Stock Price Metrics ( e.g. , premiums earned, total revenues, revenue growth, underwriting margin and underwriting margin growth, material margin and material margin growth, stock price appreciation, and total return to shareholders); and

 
(vi)
Strategic Initiative Key Deliverable Metrics consisting of one or more of the following: product development, strategic partnering, research and development, vitality index, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures.

If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable, except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than in connection with a Change in Control) where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code. In such case, the Committee will not make any modification of the Management Objectives or minimum acceptable level of achievement with respect to such Covered Employee.

(r)           “Market Value per Share” means, as of any particular date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported for that date on the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, on any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, or if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred. If there is no regular public trading market for the Common Stock, then the Market Value per Share shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method provided such method is stated in the Evidence of Award and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code.
 
 
3
 
 
(s)          “Non-Employee Director” means a person who is a “Non-Employee Director” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

(t)            “Optionee” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Option Right.

(u)           “Option Price” means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.

(v)           “Option Right” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 or Section 9 of this Plan.

(w)          “Participant” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time a consultant, an officer, or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or who has agreed to commence serving in any of such capacities within 90 days of the Date of Grant, and will also include each non-employee Director who receives an award under this Plan. The term “Participant” will also include any person who provides services to the Company or a Subsidiary that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee.

(x)           “Performance Period” means, in respect of a Performance Share or Performance Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Performance Share or Performance Unit are to be achieved.

(y)           “Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(z)           “Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.

(aa)         “Plan” means this Atlantic American Corporation 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

(bb)        “Qualified Performance-Based Award” means any award of Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other awards contemplated under Section 10 of this Plan, or portion of such award, to a Covered Employee that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(cc)         “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 or Section 9 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers has expired.

(dd)        “Restriction Period” means the period of time during which Restricted Stock Units are subject to restrictions, as provided in Section 7 or Section 9 of this Plan.

(ee)         “Restricted Stock Unit” means an award made pursuant to Section 7 or Section 9 of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock or cash at the end of a specified period.

 
4
 

(ff)          “Spread” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised, or on the date when Option Rights are surrendered in payment of the Option Price of other Option Rights, over the Option Price or Base Price provided for in the related Option Right or Free-Standing Appreciation Right, respectively.

(gg)        “Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50 percent of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or unincorporated association), but more than 50 percent of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which at the time the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

(hh)        “Tandem Appreciation Right” means an Appreciation Right granted pursuant to Section 5 or Section 9 of this Plan that is granted in tandem with an Option Right.

3.              Shares Available Under the Plan.

(a)            Maximum Shares Available Under Plan .

 
(i)
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred (A) upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (B) as Restricted Stock and released from substantial risks of forfeiture thereof, (C) in payment of Restricted Stock Units, (D) in payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned, (E) as awards to non-employee Directors, (F) as awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan, or (G) in payment of dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under the Plan will not exceed in the aggregate 2,000,000. Such shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.

 
(ii)
Shares of Common Stock covered by an award granted under this Plan will not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant and, therefore, the total number of shares available under this Plan as of a given date will not be reduced by any shares relating to prior awards that have expired or have been forfeited or cancelled. Upon payment in cash of the benefit provided by any award granted under the Plan, any shares of Common Stock that were covered by that award will again be available for issue or transfer hereunder. Upon the payment of any Option Price by the transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock or upon satisfaction of any withholding amounts by means of transfer or relinquishment of shares of Common Stock, there shall be deemed to have been issued or transferred under the Plan only the net number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company. If, under this Plan, a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation otherwise payable in cash in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate plan share limit described above or any of the share limits described below.

(b)            Life of Plan Limits . Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3, or elsewhere in this Plan, to the contrary and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan,

 
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(i)
the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

 
(ii)
the number of shares issued as Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units and other awards under Section 10 of this Plan (after taking into account any forfeitures and cancellations) will not during the life of the Plan in the aggregate exceed 1,000,000   shares of Common Stock.

(c)            Individual Participant Limits; Other Limits . Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3, or elsewhere in this Plan to the contrary, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan:

 
(i)
No Participant will be granted Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, in the aggregate, for more than 400,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.

 
(ii)
No Participant will be granted Qualified Performance-Based Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or other awards under Section 10 of this Plan, in the aggregate, for more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.

 
(iii)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event will any Participant in any calendar year receive a Qualified Performance Based Award of Performance Units having an aggregate maximum value as of their respective Date of Grants in excess of $1,000,000.

4.              Option Rights. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)           Each grant will specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of this Plan.

(b)           Each grant will specify an Option Price per share, which may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

(c)           Each grant will specify whether the Option Price will be payable (i) in cash or by check acceptable to the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee (or other consideration authorized pursuant to Section 4(d) of this Plan) having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (iii) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (iv) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

(d)           To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the shares to which such exercise relates.

(e)           Successive grants may be made to the same Participant whether or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain unexercised.

(f)            Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary that is necessary before the Option Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. A grant of Option Rights may provide for the earlier exercise of such Option Rights in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant, or in the event of a change in control.

 
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(g)          Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights; provided, however, that Option Rights that become exercisable upon the achievement of Management Objectives may not become exercisable sooner than one-year from the Date of Grant.

(h)           Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including, without limitation, Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended so to qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code.

(i)            The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant of any Option Rights (other than Incentive Stock Options), provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the Optionee on either a current or deferred or contingent basis.

(j)            The exercise of an Option Right will result in the cancellation on a share- for-share basis of any Tandem Appreciation Right authorized under Section 5 of this Plan.

(k)            No Option Right will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.
 
(l)             Each grant of Option Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

5.              Appreciation Rights.

(a)           The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting (i) to any Optionee, of Tandem Appreciation Rights in respect of Option Rights granted hereunder, and (ii) to any Participant, of Free-Standing Appreciation Rights. A Tandem Appreciation Right will be a right of the Optionee, exercisable by surrender of the related Option Right, to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise. Tandem Appreciation Rights may be granted at any time prior to the exercise or termination of the related Option Rights; provided , however , that a Tandem Appreciation Right awarded in relation to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted concurrently with such Incentive Stock Option. A Free-Standing Appreciation Right will be a right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise.

(b)           Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations contained in the following provisions:

 
(i)
Each grant will specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right will be paid by the Company in cash, shares of Common Stock or in any combination thereof.

 
(ii)
Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.

 
(iii)
Any grant may specify waiting periods before exercise and permissible exercise dates or periods.

 
(iv)
Each grant may specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary that is necessary before the Appreciation Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. A grant of Appreciation Rights may provide for the earlier exercise of such Appreciation Rights in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant, or in the event of a change in control.

 
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(v)
Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan may provide for dividend equivalents thereon, on either a current or deferred or contingent basis.

 
(vi)
Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the exercise of such Appreciation Rights.

 
(vii)
Each grant of Appreciation Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which Evidence of Award will describe such Appreciation Rights, identify the related Option Rights (if applicable), and contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

(c)           Any grant of Tandem Appreciation Rights will provide that such Tandem Appreciation Rights may be exercised only at a time when the related Option Right is also exercisable and at a time when the Spread is positive, and by surrender of the related Option Right for cancellation. Successive grants of Tandem Appreciation Rights may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Tandem Appreciation Rights previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised.

(d)           Regarding Free-Standing Appreciation Rights only:

 
(i)
Each grant will specify in respect of each Free-Standing Appreciation Right a Base Price, which may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant;

 
(ii)
Successive grants may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Free-Standing Appreciation Rights previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised; and

 
(iii)
No Free-Standing Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.

6.              Restricted Stock. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Stock to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)           Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to.

(b)           Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.

(c)           Each such grant or sale will provide that the Restricted Stock covered by such grant or sale that vests upon the passage of time will be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant or upon achievement of Management Objectives referred to in subparagraph (e) below.

(d)           Each such grant or sale will provide that during or after the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee at the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee).

 
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(e)           Any grant of Restricted Stock may specify Management Objectives that, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock; provided , however , that, notwithstanding subparagraph (c) above, restrictions relating to Restricted Stock that vests upon the achievement of Management Objectives may not terminate sooner than one year from the Date of Grant. Each grant may specify in respect of such Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of shares of Restricted Stock on which restrictions will terminate if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level or levels, or is at or above the target level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The grant of a Qualified Performance-Based Award of Restricted Stock will specify that, before the termination or early termination of restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, the Committee must determine that the Management Objectives have been satisfied.

(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, any grant or sale of Restricted Stock may provide for the earlier termination of restrictions on such Restricted Stock in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant, or in the event of a change in control.

(g)          Any such grant or sale of Restricted Stock may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award; provided , however , that dividends or other distributions on Restricted Stock with restrictions that lapse as a result of the achievement of Management Objectives will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the achievement of the applicable Management Objectives.

(h)           Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, (i) all certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock will be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon will have lapsed, together with a stock power or powers executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such shares, or (ii) all shares of Restricted Stock will be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such shares of Restricted Stock.

7.              Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Restricted Stock Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)            Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock or cash to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify. Each grant may specify in respect of such Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Restricted Stock Units on which restrictions will terminate if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level or levels, or is at or above the target level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The grant of Qualified Performance-Based Awards of Restricted Stock Units will specify that, before the termination or early termination of restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock Units or the earning of such Restricted Stock Units, the Committee must determine that the Management Objectives have been satisfied.

(b)           Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.

 
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(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, any grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units may provide for the earlier lapse or other modification of the Restriction Period in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant, or in the event of a change in control.

(d)           During the Restriction Period, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the Restricted Stock Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock; provided , however , that dividends or other distributions on shares of Common Stock underlying Restricted Stock Units with restrictions that lapse as a result of the achievement of Management Objectives will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the achievement of the applicable Management Objectives.

(e)            Each grant or sale will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Stock Units that have been earned. Each grant or sale will specify that the amount payable with respect thereto will be paid by the Company in shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof.

(f)            Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

8.              Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of Performance Shares and Performance Units that will become payable to a Participant upon achievement of specified Management Objectives during the Performance Period. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)           Each grant will specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors; provided , however , that no such adjustment will be made in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than in connection with the death or disability of the Participant or a Change in Control) where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b)           The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Share or Performance Unit will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, which may be subject to earlier lapse or other modification in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant, or in the event of a Change in Control; provided , however , that no such adjustment will be made in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than in connection with the death or disability of the Participant or a Change in Control) where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code. In such event, the Evidence of Award will specify the time and terms of delivery.

(c)           Any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment or early payment of the award, and each grant may specify in respect of such specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level or levels of achievement and will set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level or levels, or is at or above the target level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The grant of a Qualified Performance-Based Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify that, before the Performance Shares or Performance Units will be earned and paid, the Committee must determine that the Management Objectives have been satisfied.
 
 
10
 

(d)           Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned. Any grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company in cash, in shares of Common Stock, in Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or in any combination thereof.

(e)           Any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units may specify that the amount payable or the number of shares of Common Stock, shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.

(f)           The Committee may, at the Date of Grant of Performance Shares, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, subject in all cases to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the Participant’s earning of the Performance Shares with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.

(g)           Each grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

9.              Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Subject to the limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to non-employee Directors of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights or other awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan and may also authorize the grant or sale of shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to non-employee Directors. Each grant of an award to a non-employee Director will be upon such terms and conditions as approved by the Committee, will not be required to be subject to any minimum vesting period, and will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award in such form as will be approved by the Committee. Each grant will specify in the case of an Option Right an Option Price per share, and in the case of a Free-Standing Appreciation Right, a Base Price per share, which will not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant. Each Option Right and Free-Standing Appreciation Right granted under the Plan to a non-employee Director will expire not more than 10 years from the Date of Grant and will be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided. If a non-employee Director subsequently becomes an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary while remaining a member of the Board, any award held under this Plan by such individual at the time of such commencement of employment will not be affected thereby. Non-employee Directors, pursuant to this Section 9, may be awarded, or may be permitted to elect to receive, pursuant to procedures established by the Committee, all or any portion of their annual retainer, meeting fees or other fees in shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other awards under the Plan in lieu of cash.

10.            Other Awards.

(a)           Subject to applicable law and the limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may grant to any Participant such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

 
11
 

(b)           The Committee may grant shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may grant other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as will be determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, any grant of an award under this Section 10 may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier elimination of restrictions applicable to, such award in the event of the retirement, death or disability of the Participant, or in the event of a change in control.

11.            Administration of the Plan.

(a)           This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee.

(b)           The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant of awards under this Plan and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document will be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith.

(c)           The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, or to one or more agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, the subcommittee, or any person to whom duties or powers have been delegated as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee, the subcommittee or such person may have under the Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as the Committee: (i) designate employees to be recipients of awards under this Plan; (ii) determine the size of any such awards; provided , however , that (A) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for awards granted to an employee who is an officer, Director, or more than 10% beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or any Covered Employee; (B) the resolution providing for such authorization sets forth the total number of shares of Common Stock such officer(s) may grant; and (C) the officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

12.            Adjustments. The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units granted hereunder and, if applicable, in the number of shares of Common Stock covered by other awards granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, and in the kind of shares covered thereby, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants or Optionees that otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a change in control, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each Option Right or Appreciation Right with an Option Price or Base Price greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or change in control, the Committee may in its sole discretion elect to cancel such Option Right or Appreciation Right without any payment to the person holding such Option Right or Appreciation Right. The Committee will also make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, may determine is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 12; provided , however , that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(b) will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option Right intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

 
12
 

13.            Detrimental Activity and Recapture Provisions . Any Evidence of Award may provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, if a Participant, either during employment by the Company or a Subsidiary or within a specified period after termination of such employment, shall engage in any Detrimental Activity. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any Evidence of Award may also provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee or under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or national securities association on which the Common Stock may be traded.

14.            Non U.S. Participants. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan (including, without limitation, sub-plans) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the shareholders of the Company.

15.            Transferability.

(a)           Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Option Right, Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, award contemplated by Section 9 or 10 of this Plan or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and in no event will any such award granted under the Plan be transferred for value . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.

(b)           The Committee may specify at the Date of Grant that part or all of the shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Restriction Period applicable to Restricted Stock Units or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer.

 
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16.            Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this Plan, and the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a Participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of Common Stock, and such Participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of tax, the Company will withhold such shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a Participant is required to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable income and employment tax laws, the Participant may elect to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by electing to have withheld, from the shares required to be delivered to the Participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld (except in the case of Restricted Stock where an election under Section 83(b) of the Code has been made), or by delivering to the Company other shares of Common Stock held by such Participant. The shares used for tax withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the Market Value per Share of such shares of Common Stock on the date the benefit is to be included in Participant’s income. In no event will the Market Value per Share of the shares of Common Stock to be withheld and delivered pursuant to this Section to satisfy applicable withholding taxes in connection with the benefit exceed the minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of Option Rights.

17.            Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

(a)           To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

(b)           Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by a Participant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(c)           If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it, without interest, on the tenth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service.

(d)           Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

 
14
 

18.            Amendments.

(a)           The Board may at any time and from time to time amend this Plan in whole or in part; provided , however , that if an amendment to this Plan (i) would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under this Plan, (ii) would materially increase the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under this Plan, (iii) would materially modify the requirements for participation in this Plan,   or (iv) must otherwise be approved by the shareholders of the Company in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the principal national securities exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted, then, such amendment will be subject to shareholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

(b)           Except in connection with a corporate transaction or event described in Section 12 of this Plan, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Option Rights or the Base Price of outstanding Appreciation Rights, or cancel outstanding Option Rights or Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other awards or Option Rights or Appreciation Rights with an Option Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the original Option Rights or Base Price of the original Appreciation Rights, as applicable, without shareholder approval. This Section 18(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 12 of this Plan.

(c)            If permitted by Section 409A of the Code and Section 162(m) of the Code, but subject to the paragraph that follows, in the case of termination of employment by reason of death, disability or retirement, or in the event of a Change in Control, to the extent a Participant holds an Option Right or Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any shares of Restricted Stock as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Stock Units as to which the Restriction Period has not been completed, or any Performance Shares or Performance Units which have not been fully earned, or any other awards made pursuant to Section 9 or 10 subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds shares of Common Stock subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 15(b) of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which such Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award may be exercised or the time at which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse or the time when such Restriction Period will end or the time at which such Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have been fully earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award, except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Subject to Section 18(b) hereof, the Committee may amend the terms of any award theretofore granted under this Plan prospectively or retroactively, except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than in connection with the Participant’s death or disability, or a Change in Control) where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code. In such case, the Committee will not make any modification of the Management Objectives or the level or levels of achievement with respect to such Qualified Performance-Based Award. Subject to Section 12 above, no such amendment will impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Plan at any time. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.

 
15
 
 
19.            Governing Law. This Plan and all grants and awards and actions taken hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Georgia.

20.            Effective Date/Termination. This Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No grant will be made under this Plan more than 10 years after the date on which this Plan is first approved by the shareholders of the Company, but all grants made on or prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan.

21.            Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)           The Company will not be required to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

(b)           This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

(c)           To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such, that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option Right. Such provision, however, will remain in effect for other Option Rights and there will be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.

(d)           No award under this Plan may be exercised by the holder thereof if such exercise, and the receipt of stock thereunder, would be, in the opinion of counsel selected by the Company, contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over this Plan.

(e)           Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of this Plan or awards granted hereunder.

(f)             No Participant will have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares subject to awards granted to him or her under this Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is actually recorded as the holder of such shares upon the stock records of the Company.

(g)           The Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.

(h)           Except with respect to Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan and which are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts.

(i)             If any provision of this Plan is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify this Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it will be stricken and the remainder of this Plan will remain in full force and effect.
 
 
16
EXHIBIT 10.2
 
Director Award Form
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
 
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
 
This AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of [*] (the "Date of Grant") by and between ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION (the "Corporation"), and [*] (the "Grantee").
 
1.
Grant of Restricted Shares .  Subject to and upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Corporation's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), the Corporation as of the Date of Grant hereby grants to the Grantee [*] restricted   shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”).  The Restricted Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable and shall be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such shares.
 
2.
Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Shares.   The Restricted Shares may not be transferred, sold, pledged, exchanged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee, except to the Corporation, until they have become nonforfeitable in accordance with Section 3.  Any purported transfer, encumbrance or other disposition of the Restricted Shares that is in violation of this Section 2 shall be null and void, and the other party to any such purported transaction shall not obtain any rights to or interest in the Restricted Shares.
 
3.
Vesting of Restricted Shares .
 
(a)           The Restricted Shares specified in this Agreement shall become nonforfeitable on [*]
 
(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a), all of the Restricted Shares shall immediately become nonforfeitable in the event of (a) the Grantee's death or disability or (b) a Change in Control of the Corporation that shall occur while the Grantee is a director of the Corporation.  "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:
 
(i)            the Corporation merges into, or is merged or consolidated with, another entity and as a result of such merger or consolidation less than 51% of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity immediately after such transaction are directly or indirectly beneficially owned in the aggregate by the persons or entities who constituted the shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction; or
 
(ii)           all or substantially all the assets accounted for on the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation are sold or transferred to one or more corporations or persons, and as a result of such sale or transfer less than 51% of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity or person immediately after such sale or transfer is directly or indirectly beneficially held in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.
 
4.
Forfeiture of Restricted Shares .  Subject to Section 3(b), any Restricted Shares that have not theretofore become nonforfeitable shall be forfeited if the Grantee ceases to be a director of the Corporation at any time prior to the applicable vesting date.
 
 
 
 
 
5.
Dividend, Voting and Other Rights .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Grantee shall have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such shares and receive any dividends that may be paid thereon; provided, however, that any additional Common Stock or other securities that the Grantee may become entitled to receive pursuant to a stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, separation or reorganization or any other change in the capital structure of the Corporation shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Shares.
 
6.
Compliance with Law .  The Corporation shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any restricted or unrestricted Common Stock or other securities pursuant to this Agreement if the issuance thereof would result in a violation of any such law.
 
7.
Amendments .  Any amendment to the Plan shall be deemed to be an amendment to this Agreement to the extent that the amendment is applicable hereto; provided, however, that no amendment shall adversely affect the rights of the Grantee under this Agreement without the Grantee's consent.
 
8.
Severability .  In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.
 
9.
Relation to Plan .  This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  In the event of any inconsistent provisions between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan.
 
10.
Successors and Assigns .  The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns of the Grantee, and the successors and assigns of the Corporation.
 
11.
Governing Law .  The interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.
 
This Agreement is executed as of the Date of Grant.
 
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
 
Title:

The undersigned Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed original of this Restricted Stock Agreement and accepts the right to receive the Restricted Shares or other securities covered hereby, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.

   
 
Grantee:
 
 
EXHIBIT 10.3
 
Employee Award Form
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
 
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
 
This AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of [*] (the "Date of Grant") by and between ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION (the "Corporation"), and [*] (the "Grantee").
 
1.
Grant of Restricted Shares .  Subject to and upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Corporation's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), the Corporation as of the Date of Grant hereby grants to the Grantee [*] restricted   shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”).  The Restricted Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable and shall be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such shares.
 
2.
Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Shares.   The Restricted Shares may not be transferred, sold, pledged, exchanged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee, except to the Corporation, until they have become nonforfeitable in accordance with Section 3.  Any purported transfer, encumbrance or other disposition of the Restricted Shares that is in violation of this Section 2 shall be null and void, and the other party to any such purported transaction shall not obtain any rights to or interest in the Restricted Shares.
 
3.
Vesting of Restricted Shares .
 
(a)           The Shares covered by this Agreement will become nonforfeitable, provided that the Grantee remains in the continuous employ of the Corporation or a Subsidiary [*] .  For the purposes of this Agreement, the continuous employment of the Grantee with the Corporation or a Subsidiary shall not be deemed to have been interrupted, and the Grantee will not be deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, by reason of (i) the transfer of his employment among the Corporation and its Subsidiaries or (ii) an approved leave of absence.
 
(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section, the Shares covered by this Agreement will become nonforfeitable in the event of the Grantee's Retirement.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section, all of the Shares covered by this Agreement will become immediately nonforfeitable in the event of the Grantee's death, disability or termination from employment by the Company or a Subsidiary for reasons other than for Cause, or upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Corporation that shall occur while the Grantee is an employee of the Corporation.
 
4.
Forfeiture of Shares .  Any of the Restricted Shares that have not vested in accordance with Section 3 will be forfeited.  In the event of a forfeiture, all of the Shares covered by this Agreement that have not vested in accordance with Section 3 shall be cancelled.
 
5.
Dividend, Voting and Other Rights .  The Grantee will have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such shares and receive any dividends that may be paid thereon; provided, however, that any additional Common Stock or other securities that the Grantee may become entitled to receive pursuant to a stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, separation or reorganization or any other change in the capital structure of the Corporation shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Shares.
 
 
 
 
 
6.
Compliance with Law .  The Corporation will make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any restricted or unrestricted Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if the issuance thereof would result in a violation of any such law.
 
7.
Withholding .  To the extent that the Corporation is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any issuance of restricted or unrestricted Shares or other securities pursuant to this Agreement, and the amounts available to the Corporation for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such Shares that the Grantee make arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation for payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld.  If necessary, the Committee may require relinquishment of a portion of such Shares.
 
8.
Employment Rights .  The Plan and this Agreement will not confer upon the Grantee any right with respect to the continuance of employment or other service with the Corporation or any Subsidiary and will not interfere in any way with any right that the Corporation or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any employment or other service of the Grantee at any time.
 
9.
Relation to Other Benefits .  Any economic or other benefit to the Grantee under this Agreement will not be taken into account in determining any benefits to which the Grantee may be entitled under any profit-sharing, retirement or other benefit or compensation plan maintained by the Corporation or a Subsidiary and shall not affect the amount of any life insurance coverage available to any beneficiary under any life insurance plan covering employees of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.
 
10.
Agreement Subject to the Plan .  The Shares granted under this Agreement and all of the terms and conditions hereof are subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.  In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will govern.
 
11.
Certain Defined Terms .  In addition to the terms defined elsewhere herein, when used in this Agreement, terms with initial capital letters have the meaning given such terms under the Plan, as in effect from time to time.
 
12.
Amendments .  Any amendment to the Plan will be deemed to be an amendment to this Agreement to the extent that the amendment is applicable hereto; provided, however, that no amendment will adversely affect the rights of the Grantee under this Agreement without the Grantee's consent.
 
13.
Severability .  In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement is invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof will continue to be valid and fully enforceable.
 
14.
Governing Law .  This Agreement will be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without reference to the principle of conflicts of laws.
 
15.
Definitions .  Where the following words appear in this Agreement, they shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
 
(a)            "Cause" means termination of the Grantee's employment with the Corporation because of: (i) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other material violation of law in connection with the Grantee's duties or in the course of the Grantee's employment; (ii) intentional wrongful damage to material assets of the Corporation; (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of material confidential information of the Corporation; (iv) intentional wrongful engagement in any competitive activity that would constitute a material breach of the duty of loyalty; or (v) intentional breach of any stated material employment policy of the Corporation.
 
(b)            "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Corporation merges into itself, or is merged or consolidated with, another entity and as a result of such merger or consolidation less than 51% of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity immediately after such transaction are directly or indirectly beneficially owned in the aggregate by the persons or entities who constituted the shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction; or (ii) all or substantially all the assets accounted for on the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation are sold or transferred to one or more corporations or persons, and immediately after such sale or transfer less than 51% of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity or person is directly or indirectly beneficially held in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.
 
 
 
 
 
(c)            "Retirement" means termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries on or after (i) attainment of age 65 or (ii) attainment of the age and service the Company deems necessary to qualify for early retirement.
 
This Agreement is executed as of the Date of Grant.
 
 
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
 
Title:
 
The undersigned Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed original of this Restricted Stock Agreement and accepts the right to receive the Restricted Shares subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.
 
   
 
Grantee
 
 
EXHIBIT 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic American Corporation;

 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  May 14, 2013
 
/s/ Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
 
     
Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
 
     
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
EXHIBIT 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John G. Sample, Jr., certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic American Corporation;

 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  May 14, 2013
 
/s/ John G. Sample, Jr.
 
     
John G. Sample, Jr.
 
     
Senior Vice President and
 
     
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
EXHIBIT 32.1
 
Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic American Corporation (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies, that, to such officer’s knowledge:

 
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Report.
 
Date: May 14, 2013
 
/s/ Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
 
   
Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
 
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
       
Date: May 14, 2013
 
/s/ John G. Sample, Jr.
 
   
John G. Sample, Jr.
 
   
Senior Vice President and
 
   
Chief Financial Officer
 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.