0000004977 us-gaap:FixedMaturitiesMember us-gaap:PublicUtilityBondsMember 2016-12-31000.280P364DP364DP5YP5YP364DP364D690000000080000000013400000013400000010.700.720.970false--12-31FY20190000004977falsefalse7300700000012090000007606300000015060000000.871.041.080.100.100.100.10190000000019000000001900000000190000000013475400001349309000are generally entitled to one vote per share until they have been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of 48 months, at which time they become entitled to 10 votes per share.14800000014800000037400000037400000056000000002027-10-23 These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024.bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin152000000002930000000089000000006000000000060000000000250000000005000000000152000000002930000000089000000006000000000060000000000250000000005000000000152000000002930000000089000000006000000000060000000000250000000005000000000152000000002930000000089000000006000000000030000000000600000000002500000000050000000000.04750.040.040.014880.011590.01750.009320.06450.0690.036250.036250.03250.028750.021080.00470.00320.04750.040.040.014880.011590.01750.009320.06450.06900.036250.036250.03250.028750.021080.00470.00320.04750.040.040.014880.011590.01750.009320.06450.0690.036250.036250.03250.028750.021080.00570.00420.04750.040.040.014880.011590.011220.01750.008430.005000.009340.009320.06450.06900.036250.036250.03250.028750.009630.021080.00570.0042The debentures bear interest at an initial rate of 2.108% per annum through October 22, 2027, or earlier redemption. Thereafter, the rate of the interest of the debentures will be reset every five years at a rate of interest equal to the then-current JPY 5-year Swap Offered Rate plus 205 basis points.These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the treasury rate plus 20 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.P3MP3MP3MP3MP3M150000000015000000000180000000.00710.00180.02840.02750.00710.00180.02840.02750.01200.00190.00430.00120.02090.01890.00430.00120.02090.01890.01000.00100.00710.00180.02840.02750.00710.00180.02840.02750.02110.00280.00430.00120.02090.01890.00430.00120.02090.01890.01590.00130.21310000003100000000000.06750.0700.0060.0300.0450.0600.0100.0250.02000000000.002250.00500.000850.00305000000000050000000000500000001000000000100000000000100000000250000000P20Y0.002600000000210000000010000001000000
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
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ý☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019
or
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¨☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-07434
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| Aflac Incorporated |
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
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| Georgia | | | | 58-1167100 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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1932 Wynnton Road Columbus, Georgia | | Columbus | Georgia | 31999 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | | | (ZIP Code) |
706.323.3431706.323.3431Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of each class | | Trading Symbols(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, $.10 Par Value | | New York Stock Exchange |
| AFL | | TokyoNew York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes þ No
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. þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. |
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| Large accelerated filer | þ | | | Accelerated filer | ¨☐
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| Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | | | Smaller reporting company | ¨☐ |
| | | | | Emerging growth company | ¨☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨☐ Yes þ No
The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2018,28, 2019, was $33,002,565,252.$40,396,253,541.
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at February 12, 2019,2020, with $.10 par value, was 750,332,375.722,520,700.
Documents Incorporated By Reference
Certain information contained in the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Company’s 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
Aflac Incorporated
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 20182019
Table of Contents
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| PART I | | | Page |
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| PART III | | | |
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| PART IV | | | |
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESSFORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the(the Company) prepare financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).desire to take advantage of these provisions. This report includes certain forward-looking informationcontains cautionary statements identifying important factors that is based on current expectationscould cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and is subject to a number of risksin any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and uncertainties. For details on forward-looking information, see Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), Part II, Item 7, of this report.
Aflac Incorporated qualifies as a large accelerated filer within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the Exchange Act). The Company's Internet address is aflac.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by referencecontained in this annual report on Form 10-K. The Company makes available, free of charge on the Investors portion of its website, the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after those forms have been electronicallydocuments filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as the ones listed below or similar words, as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
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| • expect | • anticipate | • believe | • goal | • objective |
| • may | • should | • estimate | • intends | • projects |
| • will | • assumes | • potential | • target | • outlook |
General DescriptionThe Company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:
ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners
events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters
competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends
deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions
ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems
defaults and credit downgrades of investments
exposure to significant interest rate risk
concentration of business in Japan
limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments
failure to comply with restrictions on policyholder privacy and information security
interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems
catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events
difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy
ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation
extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities
foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate
tax rates applicable to the Company may change
decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions
significant valuation judgments in determination of amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments
U.S. tax audit risk related to conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary
subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company
decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings
inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures
concentration of the Company's investments in any particular single-issuer or sector
differing judgments applied to investment valuations
ability to effectively manage key executive succession
changes in accounting standards
level and outcome of litigation
allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) was incorporated in 1973 under the laws of the state of Georgia. Aflac Incorporated is a general business holding companyThe Parent Company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its(collectively, the Company) provide financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. The Company’s principal business is voluntary supplemental health and life insurance which is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)products with the goal to provide customers the best value in supplemental insurance products in the United States (Aflac U.S.(U.S.) and effective April 1, 2018, through Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. in Japan (Aflac Japan). Prior to April 1, 2018, the Company's insurance business was marketed in Japan asJapan. When a branch of Aflac. American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac. Most of Aflac's policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance. The Company's insurance operations in the United States and Japan service the two markets for the Company's insurance business.
Effective April 1, 2018,policyholder or insured gets sick or hurt, the Company converted Aflac Japan from a branchpays cash benefits fairly and promptly for eligible claims, directly to a subsidiary incorporated as a Japanese stock corporation. The transaction was accounted for as tax-neutral and didthe insured (unless assigned otherwise). For more than sixty years, the Company’s supplemental insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not have a material impact on the daily operations of either Aflac Japan or Aflac U.S. In addition, the Company obtained and expects to continue to obtain enhanced flexibility in capital management and business development as a result of the conversion.financial stress.
The Company offers voluntary insurance policiesCompany's strategy for growth in the U.S. and Japan has remained straightforward and the United States that provide a layer of financial protection against income and asset loss.consistent for many years. The Company continues to diversify its product offerings in both Japan and the United States. Aflac Japan sells voluntarydevelops relevant supplemental insurance products including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells voluntary supplementalthem through expanded distribution channels. To help promote its insurance products, including products designedthe Company’s marketing campaigns feature the Aflac Duck.
In 1999, the Company had been running commercials for nearly a decade, but its brand awareness was hovering at about 10%. An innovative marketing campaign with something unique and memorable that would build brand awareness was needed. The Aflac Duck’s first commercial in the U.S., “Park Bench,” aired on January 1, 2000 and taught consumers how to protect individuals from depletionpronounce “Aflac.” The Aflac Duck made his international debut in Japan in 2003. In the two decades since his U.S. debut, the Aflac Duck has become one of assets (accident, cancer, critical illness/care, hospital indemnity, fixed-benefit dental,the most familiar advertising icons in the world, appearing in several commercials and vision care plans)countless print ads in both the U.S. and loss-of-income products (lifeJapan. Today, the Aflac Duck is a helpmate who increases brand knowledge and short-term disability plans).connection.
The Company is authorized to conduct insurance business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S. territories and Japan. The Company’s website is: www.aflac.com. Information included on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into this filing. The Company makes available free of charge through its website, its annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Reporting SegmentsREPORTING SEGMENTS
The Company's insurance business consists of two reporting segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Parent Company’s primary insurance subsidiaries are Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. in Japan (Aflac Japan) and American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac); Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance (AGI); American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York) and Tier One Insurance Company (TOIC) in the U.S. (collectively, Aflac U.S.).
Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to the Parent Company’s consolidated earnings. Aflac Japan's revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 70%69% of the Company's total revenues in 2018,2019, compared with 70% in 2017both 2018 and 71% in 2016.2017. The percentage of the Company's total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 84%83% and 83%84% at December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. The conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary structure in April 2018 did not affect the Company's segment reporting structure.
Effective January 1, 2018, investments of Aflac U.S. as well as certain sub-advised assets of Aflac Japan, are managed by the Company’s U.S. asset management subsidiary, Aflac Asset Management LLC (AAM), and investments of Aflac Japan are managed pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between Aflac Japan and the Company's asset management subsidiary in Japan, Aflac Asset Management Japan Ltd. (AAMJ). AAMJ is licensed as a discretionary asset manager under the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is subject to rules of the Japan Investment Advisors Association, a self-regulatory organization with mandatory membership for Japan investment managers. AAM and AAMJ are reported in the "Corporate and other segment" category; however, the assets that they manage are reported in the respective Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. business segments.
In November 2019, the Company acquired Argus Holdings, LLC and its subsidiary Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), a benefits management organization and national network dental and vision company, which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision. The Company paid $75 million at closing and made an additional commitment of up to $21 million in contingent consideration payable over three years based on the achievement by Argus of certain performance targets. Argus is an addition to the Aflac U.S. segment.
Revenues derived from any customer did not exceed 10% of consolidated premiums and other revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. For information on the Company's results of operations and financial information by segment, see MD&AItem 7. Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
AFLAC JAPAN
1
Aflac Japan is the largest insurer in Japan in terms of cancer and medical (third sector insurance products) policies in force. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan exceeded 24 million individual policies in force in Japan. Aflac Japan continued to be the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan throughout 2019, with more than 15 million cancer policies in force as of December 31, 2019.
Insurance Products
Aflac Japan's third sector insurance products are designed to help consumers pay for medical and nonmedical costs that are not reimbursed under Japan's national health insurance system. Changes in Japan's economy and an aging population have put increasing pressure on Japan's national health care system. As a result, more costs have been shifted to Japanese consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs. Aflac Japan has responded to this consumer need by enhancing existing products and developing new products. The focus at Aflac Japan remains on maintaining leadership in third sector insurance products that are less interest rate sensitive and have strong and stable margins. At the same time, Aflac Japan complements this core business with similarly profitable first sector protection products as outlined below.
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| THIRD SECTOR INSURANCE | FIRST SECTOR INSURANCE |
| | Life insurance products include: |
| Protection type: | | Savings type: |
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Cancer InsuranceAflac Japan pioneered the cancer insurance market in Japan in 1974, and remains the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan today. Aflac Japan's cancer insurance products provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of cancer and fixed daily benefits for subsequent hospitalization and outpatient treatments due to cancer, as well as cancer-related surgical and convalescent care benefits.
Certain Performance MeasuresMedical Insurance Aflac Japan's medical insurance products provide benefits for hospitalization, surgeries and outpatient treatment of various illnesses, as well as lump sum benefits related to three critical illnesses: cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
Income Support Insurance Aflac Japan's Income Support Insurance provides fixed-benefit amounts in the event that a policyholder is unable to work due to significant illness or injury and was developed to supplement the disability coverage within Japan’s social security system.
Whole Life Aflac Japan launched Prepare Smart Whole-Life Insurance in 2018, a whole life insurance product with low cash surrender value, which offers non-smoking policyholders further discounted premiums, and it provides beneficiaries, typically a designated family member, with a pre-determined benefit payment upon the death of the insured.
GIFT GIFT is a term life insurance product that provides a designated family member with a fixed amount of money every month upon a breadwinner’s death or serious disability as family support.
WAYS and Child Endowment Beginning in 2013, Aflac Japan began to curtail sales of WAYS and Child Endowment, first sector savings-type products, due to persistent low interest rates in Japan and, in particular, the relatively large capital commitment required by such products and their lower profitability, in such an environment.
Distribution Channels
Traditional Sales ChannelThis distribution channel includes individual agencies, independent corporate agencies and affiliated corporate agencies. Aflac Japan was represented by more than 9,000 sales agencies at the end of 2019, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies, including individual agencies.
BanksConsumers in Japan rely on banks to provide not only traditional bank services, but also as one key source to provide insurance solutions and other services. By the end of 2019, Aflac Japan had agreements with approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan to sell its products.
Dai-ichi LifeAflac Japan's alliance with Dai-ichi Life was launched in 2001, and approximately 40,000 Dai-ichi Life representatives offer Aflac's cancer products.
Japan Post GroupAflac Japan's alliance with Japan Post Group was launched in 2008. After the alliance strengthened in 2013, the number of postal outlets of Japan Post Co. Ltd. (JPC) selling Aflac Japan's cancer product increased to more than 20,000 since 2015. Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI) offers Aflac Japan cancer products through its 76 directly managed sales offices. In 2018, the Company’ entered a strategic alliance with Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan Post Holdings), the parent company of Japan Post Co. Ltd (JPC) and Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI). See the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of MD&A for more about this alliance.
Daido LifeIn 2013, Aflac Japan and Daido Life Insurance entered into an agreement for Daido to sell Aflac Japan's cancer insurance products specifically to the Hojinkai market, which is an association of small businesses. Currently, Daido also sells Aflac Japan's cancer insurance products to the market in the tax payment association, which is a not-for-profit association for small businesses to support tax related matters.
Competition
The Company evaluates its premium growthcompetes with other insurance carriers through policyholder service, price, product design and sales efforts, using the following performance measures:
Annualized premiums in force is defined as the amountnumber of gross premium that a policyholder must pay over a full yearinsurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the deregulation of the Japan market in order to keep coverage. The2001. However, based on Aflac Japan's growth of net premiums (defined below) is directly affected by the change inannualized premiums in force and diversified distribution network, the Company does not believe that Aflac Japan's market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, the Company believes the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow Aflac Japan to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers. The Company believes Aflac Japan will remain a leading provider of cancer and medical insurance coverage in Japan, principally due to its experience in the market, well-known brand, low-cost operations, expansive marketing system and product expertise.
Regulation
Financial Services Agency (FSA) The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are subject to examination by Japan's FSA. Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for the Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that differ materially from U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Capital and surplus of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, was $7.8 billion at December 31, 2019, compared with $6.4 billion at December 31, 2018. Two FSA regulations applicable to Aflac Japan are outlined below.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities. The FSA updated its guidelines regarding cybersecurity in October 2018.
FSA Solvency Standard
The FSA maintains a solvency standard, the solvency margin ratio (SMR), which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 1,043%, compared with 965% at December 31, 2018. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread and foreign exchange rate changes. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of the MD&A for a discussion of measures the Company has taken to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR.
Japan Company LawAs abranch of Aflac prior to April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan repatriated a portion of its accumulated earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, to Aflac U.S. provided that Aflac Japan had determined that it adequately protected policyholders' interests as measured by its SMR. After the conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary structure on April 1, 2018 and starting in the fourth quarter of 2018, Aflac Japan distributes dividends to the Parent Company. Such dividends are subject to permitted dividend capacity under the Japan Company Law.
Policyholder ProtectionThe Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information, see the policyholder protection section of the MD&A.
For additional information regarding Aflac Japan's operations and regulations, see the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
AFLAC U.S.
The Company designs its U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage, as Aflac U.S. insurance policies pay benefits regardless of other insurance. Aflac U.S. products are distributed in the individual and group supplemental insurance markets. Aflac's individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or affiliation with a group, generally at the same premium. Individual policies are typically guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 75 for short-term disability policies).
Insurance Products
Cancer InsuranceAflac U.S.'s cancer insurance products provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of cancer and subsequent benefits for treatment received due to cancer. Aflac U.S. offers cancer insurance on an individual basis.
Accident InsuranceAflac U.S. offers accident coverage on both an individual and group basis. These policies pay cash benefits in the event of a covered injury. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. Additional benefits are also available for home modifications, wellness and increased benefits for injuries related to participations in an organized sporting activity.
Short-Term Disability InsuranceAflac U.S. offers short-term disability benefits on both an individual and group basis. The individual short-term disability product offers an Aflac Value Rider that pays a benefit, less claims, for every consecutive five-year term that the policy is in force.
Critical Illness InsuranceAflac U.S. offers coverage for critical illness plans on both an individual and group basis. These policies are designed to pay cash benefits in the event of critical illnesses such as heart attack, stroke or cancer.
Hospital Indemnity InsuranceAflac U.S. offers hospital indemnity coverage on both an individual and group basis. Hospital indemnity products provide policyholders fixed dollar benefits triggered by hospitalization due to accident or sickness. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic events, are also available. Aflac U.S. also offers a lump sum rider for a range of critical illness events that can be added to its individual accident, short-term disability and hospital indemnity products.
Dental and Vision Insurance Aflac U.S. now offers network dental and vision products on a group basis. Aflac U.S. offers fixed-benefit dental coverage on both an individual and group basis. Aflac U.S. offers Vision NowSM, an individually issued policy which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight as well as coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.
Life (Term and Whole)Aflac U.S. offers term- and whole-life policies on both an individual and group basis.
Distribution Channels
Independent Associates/Career AgentsThe career agent channel in Aflac U.S. focuses on marketing Aflac to the small business market, defined as employers of between three and 99 employees. Sales associates in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions and other variable compensation based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
BrokersThe broker channel of Aflac U.S. focuses on selling to the mid- and large-case market, which is comprised of employers with 100 or more employees and typically an average size of 1,000 employees or more. Brokers in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
Aflac U.S. concentrates on marketing its insurance products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Aflac U.S. believes that worksite marketing enables sales associates and brokers to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business. Aflac U.S. is also expanding its distribution strategy to reach consumers outside of the traditional worksite through digital lead generation.
Competition
Aflac U.S. competes against several supplemental insurance carriers on a national and regional basis. Aflac U.S. believes its policies, premium rates, platforms, value-added services and sales commissions are competitive by product type. Moreover, Aflac U.S. believes that its products are distinct from competitive offerings given its product focus (including features, benefits and claims service model), distribution capabilities and brand awareness.
Since Aflac products provide an additional level of financial protection for policyholders, the Company believes the increased financial exposure some employees may face creates a favorable opportunity for Aflac U.S. products. However, given the profitability erosion some major medical carriers are facing in their core lines of business, the Company has seen a more competitive landscape as these carriers seek entry into Aflac's supplemental product segments and leverage their core benefit offerings by bundling and discounting products in order to gain market share.
One Day PaySM is a claims initiative that Aflac U.S. has focused on to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just one day. The Company believes that this claims practice enhances the Aflac U.S. brand reputation and the trust policyholders have in Aflac, and it helps Aflac stand out from competitors.
Regulation
Insurance RegulationThe Parent Company and its U.S. insurance subsidiaries, Aflac, CAIC, TOIC (Nebraska-domiciled insurance companies) and Aflac New York (a New York-domiciled insurance company) are subject to state regulations in the U.S. as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries and certain transactions between companies within the system, including management fees, loans and advances are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities. These laws generally require, among other things, the insurance holding company and each insurance company directly owned by the holding company to register with the insurance departments of their respective domiciliary states and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system.
Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC and TOIC are subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:
granting and revoking licenses to transact business
regulating trade and claims practices
licensing of insurance agents and brokers
approval of policy forms and premium rates
standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements
capital requirements
limitations on dividends to shareholders
the nature of and limitations on investments
deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders
filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities
periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies
The insurance laws of Nebraska that govern Aflac's activities provide that the acquisition or change of “control” of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI). A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a domestic insurance company or of any person controlling a domestic insurance company (in the case of Aflac, CAIC and TOIC, the Parent Company) must generally file with the NDOI an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy to Aflac. In Nebraska, control is generally presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, acquires 10% or more of an insurance company or of any other person or entity controlling the insurance company. The 10% presumption is not conclusive and control may be found to exist at less than 10%. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac's New York insurance subsidiary.
State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In 2016, full-scope, risk-focused financial examinations were conducted by the NDOI, New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) on their state domiciled insurance entities Aflac, Aflac New York, and CAIC, respectively. There were no material findings contained in the final exam reports. CAIC redomiciled to Nebraska as of December 2016 and TOIC redomiciled to Nebraska effective March 11, 2019. The NDOI and NYDFS are scheduled to conduct a full-scope comprehensive financial examination covering years 2016-2019 in 2020.
NAIC Risk-Based CapitalThe NAIC continually reviews regulatory matters, such as risk-based capital (RBC) modernization, group capital calculations, liquidity risk assessment and principle-based reserving. The NAIC has adopted a valuation manual containing a principle-based approach to calculation of life insurance reserves. The valuation manual became effective January 1, 2017. There is a three-year transition period, beginning January 1, 2017, during which companies can choose on a product by product basis to implement principle-based reserving for new business. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this manual will not cause a material impact on the statutory reserves of Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC or TOIC. The NAIC uses an RBC formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer's operations. The formulas for determining the amount of RBC specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company's regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. As of December 31, 2019, based on year-end statutory accounting results, Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 539%. The 2018 RBC as filed is lower than Aflac U.S. stand-alone RBC due to the inclusion of Aflac Japan for the first quarter of 2018. The RBC charge reflects the business risk without any total adjusted capital (TAC). Aflac's NAIC RBC ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position.
Guaranty Association and Similar ArrangementsUnder state insurance guaranty association laws and similar laws in international jurisdictions, the Company is subject to assessments, based on the share of business the Company writes in the relevant jurisdiction, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. In the U.S., some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. The Company's policy is to accrue assessments when the entity for which the insolvency relates has met its state of domicile's statutory
definition of insolvency, the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable and the related premium upon which the assessment is based is written. In most states, the definition is met with a declaration of financial insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Federal InitiativesFederal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including health care reform legislation, financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation, can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. Federal regulations applicable to Aflac U.S. are outlined below.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The ACA, federal health care reform legislation, gave the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. The reform included major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. The ACA, as enacted, does not require material changes in the design of the Company's insurance products. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and regulations could present challenges that could potentially have an impact on the Company's sales model, financial condition and results of operations. The U.S. Congress has considered and may continue to consider legislation that would repeal and replace key provisions of the ACA. There can be no assurance that any legislation affecting the ACA will be passed by Congress, nor as to the ultimate timing or provisions of any such legislation, nor as to the effect of any such legislation on the design or marketability of the Company's insurance products. Further, certain provisions of the ACA have been and may continue to be subject to challenge through litigation, the ultimate effects of which on the ACA are uncertain.
Dodd-Frank Act
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank) and regulations issued thereunder, in particular rules to require central clearing for certain types of derivatives, may have an impact on the Company's derivative activity, including activity on behalf of Aflac Japan. In addition, in 2015 and 2016, six U.S. financial regulators, including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), issued final rules regarding the exchange of initial margin (IM) and variation margin (VM) for uncleared swaps that impose greater obligations on swap dealers regarding uncleared swaps with certain counterparties, such as the Company. The requirements of such rules with respect to IM are currently being phased in and will be fully implemented by September 1, 2020, although an extension to September 1, 2021 is expected for covered entities with an aggregate average notional amount below $50 billion. The margin requirements are expected to result in more stringent collateral requirements and to affect other aspects of the Company's derivative activity.
The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office (FIO) under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Traditionally, U.S. insurance companies have been regulated primarily by state insurance departments. The FIO does not directly regulate the insurance industry, but under Dodd-Frank it has the power to preempt state insurance regulations that are inconsistent with international agreements reached by the federal government, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. The FIO and certain federal agencies must achieve consensus positions with the state insurance regulators when taking positions on insurance proposals by certain international forums. The President and Congress have stated proposals to reform or repeal certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, some of which have been implemented. The Company cannot predict with any degree of certainty what impact, if any, such proposals might have on Aflac's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act became effective January 1, 2020 and requires businesses to provide California consumers rights to access, delete, and restrict certain uses of their personal information. Under the law, the California Attorney General may not bring an enforcement action prior to July 1, 2020. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations).
Cybersecurity also continues to be an area of evolving focus for U.S. legislation and regulatory activity. In March 2017, new cybersecurity regulation issued by the NYDFS went into effect that requires covered entities, including Aflac New York, to maintain an information security program meeting certain security, data disposal, audit, activity
monitoring, and data encryption requirements. In October 2017, the NAIC adopted an Insurance Data Security Model Law that may be adopted in whole or in part by U.S. states in which the Company’s subsidiaries are licensed. Other states have adopted and, the Company expects, will continue to pass legislation and issue regulations related to cybersecurity. The Company anticipates, assesses and if necessary modifies its information security program to accommodate such changes.
For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, see the "Aflac U.S. Segment" subsection of the MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
The Company's other operations include the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries, results of reinsurance retrocession activities and a printing subsidiary. For additional information on the Company's other operations, see the "Corporate and Other" subsection of the MD&A and Note 8 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had 6,178 employees, Aflac U.S. had 4,799 employees, and the Company's other operations had 752 employees.
Information about the Company's Executive Officers
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| NAME | PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(1) | AGE |
| Daniel P. Amos | Chairman, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2001; Chief Executive Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 1990; President, Aflac, since 2017; President, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2020 | 68 |
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| Koji Ariyoshi | Executive Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing, Aflac Japan, since 2012 | 66 |
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| Steven K. Beaver | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac U.S., since 2019; Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2019; Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Projects, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2017 until 2018; Vice President, Deputy Chief Accounting Officer, Tax Department, Aflac Incorporated, from 2015 until 2016; Vice President, Corporate Tax, Aflac Incorporated, from 2012 until 2014 | 55 |
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| Max K. Broden | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Aflac Incorporated, from 2017 until 2020; Senior Portfolio Manager, Norges Bank, from 2007 until 2017 | 41 |
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| Frederick J. Crawford | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, from 2015 until 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, CNO Financial Group, from 2012 until 2015 | 56 |
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| J. Todd Daniels | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Japan, since 2018; Executive Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, from 2016 until 2018; Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac, from 2015 until 2016; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary and Global Chief Risk Officer, Aflac, from 2014 until 2015; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2012 until 2014 | 49 |
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| June Howard | Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Treasurer, Aflac, from 2011 until 2015 | 53 |
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| Eric M. Kirsch | Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, since 2012; President, Aflac Asset Management LLC, since 2017 | 59 |
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| Masatoshi Koide | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan since 2017; Deputy President, Aflac Japan from 2016 until 2017; Executive Vice President, Aflac Japan from 2015 until 2016; First Senior Vice President, Aflac Japan, from 2013 until 2015 | 59 |
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| Charles D. Lake, II | President, Aflac International, since 2014; Chairman, Aflac Japan, since 2008 | 58 |
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| Albert A. Riggieri | Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, since 2018; Senior Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2016 until 2018; Group Chief Actuary, Unum Group, until 2016 | 64 |
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| Audrey B. Tillman | Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2014; Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, from 2008 until 2014 | 55 |
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| Teresa L. White | President, Aflac U.S., since 2014 | 53 |
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| Richard L. Williams Jr. | Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer, Aflac since 2017; Senior Vice President and General Manager, Stop Loss, Unum, U.S. in 2017; Senior Vice President, Growth Markets, Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company from 2013 until 2017 | 48 |
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(1)Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Company faces a wide range of risks, and its continued success depends on its ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect its business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.
Sales of the Company's products and services are dependent on its ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates, brokers and employees in the U.S. and sales associates and other distribution partners in Japan.
The Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if its sales networks deteriorate or if the Company does not adequately provide support, training and education for its existing network of sales associates, brokers, other distribution partners and employees. In the U.S., competition exists for sales associates and brokers with demonstrated ability. In Japan, the Company's sales results are dependent upon its relationship with sales associates and other distribution partners, including its strategic partner, Japan Post.
The Company competes with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of its products, compensation, support services and financial rating. The Company's sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners are independent contractors and may sell products of its competitors. If the Company's competitors offer products that are more attractive, or pay higher commissions than the Company does, any or all of these distribution partners may concentrate their efforts on selling the Company's competitors' products instead of the Company's. In addition to the Company's commissioned sales force in the U.S., Aflac has expanded its sales leadership team to include a salaried sales force of over 200 market directors and broker sales professionals. The Company's inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, as the Japan and U.S. employment markets continue to evolve, there is risk that the Company's practices regarding attracting, developing, and retaining employees may not be fully effective. Failure to successfully meet and maintain sufficient levels of employees may diminish the Company's ability to achieve its financial and compliance objectives, both of which are time consuming and personnel-intensive.
For more information on the strategic partnership with Japan Post, see the risk factor below entitled, " Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations."
Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations
As previously disclosed, in the second half of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 there have been news reports and public comments regarding improper sales practices relating to sales of JPI products by JPI and JPC, each an affiliate of Japan Post Holdings (together with JPI and JPC, the Japan Post Group). JPC and JPI are important distribution and alliance partners of the Company, which in 2018 collectively accounted for approximately 25% of Aflac Japan’s third sector sales. On July 24, 2019, after such news reports and other public comments, the Japan Post Group announced that they had established a Special Investigative Committee comprised of independent former prosecutors to determine whether JPC and JPI sales practices with respect to JPI products had caused disadvantages to customers holding such policies that were not otherwise the result of honoring such customers’ intentions.
On December 18, 2019, the Japan Post Group issued a release discussing results of the investigation and stating that JPI had identified a number of cases involving potential violation of laws and regulations or internal rules. On the same date, the Japan Post Group stated that it would continue the investigation with a goal of completing it by March 2020. On December 27, 2019, the Japanese FSA issued three-month business suspension orders to JPC and JPI for the sale of JPI insurance products, and the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also issued a three-month business suspension order to JPC for the sale of JPI insurance products. Also on December 27, 2019, the Japan Post Group announced the resignation of the chief executives of Japan Post Holdings, JPC and JPI, to be effective January 5, 2020. On January 31,
2020, the Japan Post Group announced that its internal investigation had been expanded to additional policyholders and the investigation would continue with a goal of completing it by the end of June 2020. The Japan Post Group stated they could not comment on the expected timing for it to re-initiate sales of JPI insurance products.
Notwithstanding the JPI investigation and the three-month suspension orders promulgated by the FSA and the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the sale of Aflac Japan cancer policies has continued through JPC and JPI. However, while the sale of Aflac Japan cancer insurance products is not within the scope of the suspension orders, beginning in August 2019 the Company has experienced a material decrease of sales in the Japan Post Group channel. This decline has continued into 2020. The Company believes that sales of Aflac Japan cancer insurance through JPC and JPI are unlikely to return to 2018 levels in the near term. It is uncertain what long-term effect these developments will have on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition, but any such effects could be material. See the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Competition could adversely affect the Company's ability to increase or maintain its market share or profitability.
The Company operates in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require the Company to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate the Company's products and services from those of its competitors. The Company also faces the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the U.S. and Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry, but some of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than the Company does. Further, some of these potential competitors could introduce new means of product development and delivery that disrupt the Company’s business model. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate the Company's products and services can affect the Company's ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business. Further, as employers and brokers are increasingly requesting a full-suite of products from one insurance provider, a failure to react and adapt to these demands could result in decreased sales or market share.
The insurance market is undergoing rapid changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The Company's future success will depend, in part, on its ability to keep pace with the technological changes and to use technology to satisfy and grow customer demand for the Company's products and services and to create additional efficiencies in its operations. The Company expects that it will need to continue making substantial investments in its technology and information systems to compete effectively and to stay current with technological changes. The Company may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. A failure to meet evolving customer demands through innovative product development, effective distribution channels, and continuous investment in the Company's technology could result in lower revenues and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could adversely affect the Company's operating results. As a result, the Company's ability to effectively compete to retain or acquire new business may be impaired, and its business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, the Company's financial results would be adversely affected.
The Company establishes premiums for many of its policies on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, longevity and persistency. The Company also establishes and carries, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims on its policies. The Company calculates these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums the Company will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets the Company purchases with a portion of its net cash flow from operations.
The assumptions and estimates that the Company uses in establishing premiums and reserves depend on the Company's judgment regarding the likelihood of future events and are inherently uncertain. Many factors can cause actual outcomes to deviate from these assumptions and estimates, such as changes in incidence rates, economic conditions, changes in government healthcare policy, advances in medical technology, changes in treatment patterns, and changes in average lifespan. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that it will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level the Company assumes prior to payment of benefits or claims. If the Company's actual experience is different from its assumptions or estimates, the Company's reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, the Company would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which it determines such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Generally, lower mortality decreases the profitability of third sector products in Japan, as more policyholders will survive into ages where they have a higher rate of claim incidence. This assumption can impact pricing and reserving. For instance, Japan FSA periodically requires updates to their Standard mortality tables for FSA reserves. An update to the Standard mortality tables was performed in April 2018 applicable to all business issued after that date. For business that is inforce prior to the update, the change in weighted-averagemortality table would not have an impact. For new issues, the updated mortality tables would be included in the Company's reserve assumptions, and slow the emergence of FSA earnings for third sector products and therefore will have an impact on pricing returns. The Company adjusts pricing assumptions as new products are developed to adjust for these mortality assumptions.
The success of the Company's business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology.
The Company's business depends in large part on its technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders, sales associates, and brokers, and the Company's business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs and ensuring employees have the technology in place to support those needs. Some of the Company's information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards including adequate business continuity procedures. The Company is in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing its business systems; however, these changes tend to challenge the Company's complex integrated environment. The Company's success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support its business processes in a cost-efficient manner. If the Company does not maintain the effectiveness of its systems, the Company's operations and reputation could be adversely affected and it could be exposed to litigation as well as to regulatory proceedings and fines or penalties.
Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and loan receivables in the Company's investment portfolio may reduce the Company's earnings and capital position.
The Company is subject to the risk that the issuers and/or guarantors of fixed maturity securities and loan receivables the Company owns may default on principal or interest. A significant portion of the Company's portfolio represents an unsecured obligation of the issuer, including some that may be subordinated to other debt in the issuer’s capital structure. In these cases, many factors can influence the overall creditworthiness of the issuer and ultimately its ability to service and repay the Company's holdings. This can include changes in the global economy, the company's assets, strategy, or management, shifts in the dynamics of the industries in which they compete, their access to additional funding, and the overall health of the credit markets. Factors unique to the Company's securities including contractual protections such as financial covenants or relative position in the issuer's capital structure also influence the value of the Company's holdings.
Most of the Company's investments carry a rating by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs or rating agencies). Any change in the rating agencies' approach to evaluating credit and assigning an opinion could negatively impact the fair value of the Company's portfolio. The Company employs a team of credit analysts to monitor the creditworthiness of the issuers in its portfolio. Any credit-related declines in the fair value of positions held in the Company's portfolio believed to be not temporary in nature will negatively impact the Company's net income and capital position through impairment and other credit related losses. These losses would also affect the Company's solvency ratios in the U.S. and Japan. Aflac Japan has certain regulatory accounting requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by credit-related losses, which may be different from U.S. GAAP and statutory requirements. These impairment losses could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings, and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
The Company is also subject to the risk that any collateral providing credit enhancement to the Company's positions could deteriorate. These instruments may include senior secured first lien loans, such as commercial mortgage loans, bank loans, middle market loans, and loan-backed securities where the underlying loan or collateral notes may default on principal, interest, or other payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows to the positions held in the Company's investment portfolio.
The Company is exposed to sovereign credit risk through instruments issued directly by governments and government entities as well as banks and other institutions that rely in part on the strength of the underlying government for their credit quality. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, many governments, especially in Europe, have been subject to rating downgrades due to the need for fiscal and budgetary remediation and structural reforms, reduced economic activity, and investment needed to support banks or other systemically important entities. Additional downgrades or default of the Company's sovereign issuers will have a negative impact on its portfolio and could reduce the Company's earnings and capital.
In addition to the Company's exposure to the underlying fundamental credit strength of the issuers of its fixed maturity securities and the underlying risk of default, the Company is also exposed to the general movement in credit market spreads. A widening of credit spreads could reduce the value of the Company's existing portfolio, create unrealized losses on its investment portfolio, and reduce the Company's adjusted capital position which is used in determining the SMR in Japan. This widening of credit spreads could, however, increase the net investment income on new credit investments. Conversely, a tightening of credit spreads could increase the value of the Company's existing portfolio and create unrealized gains on its investment portfolio. This tightening of credit spreads could also reduce the net investment income available to the Company on new credit investments. Increased market volatility also makes it difficult to value certain of the Company's investment holdings (see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, of this Form 10-K).
For more information regarding credit risk, see the Credit Risk subsection of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
The Company is exposed to significant interest rate risk, which may adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
The Company has substantial investment portfolios that support its policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments experienced in Japan and the U.S. over the last decade have reduced the level of investment income earned by the Company. The Company's overall level of investment income will be negatively impacted in a persistent low-interest-rate environment. While the Company generally seeks to maintain a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the cash flow and duration characteristics of the liabilities it supports, the Company may not be able to fully mitigate the interest rate risk of its assets relative to its liabilities. The Company's exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the ability to invest future cash flows to support the interest rate assumption made at the time the Company's products were priced and the related reserving assumptions were established. A sustained decline in interest rates could hinder the Company's ability to earn the returns assumed in the pricing and the reserving for its products at the time they were sold and issued. Due to low interest rates, the Company's ability to earn the returns it expects may also influence the Company's ability to develop and price attractive new products and could impact its overall sales levels. The Company's first sector products are more interest rate sensitive than third sector products. As discussed in Item 1. Business, beginning in 2013, Aflac Japan began to curtail sales of first sector savings-type products due to persistent low interest rates in Japan. The continuing negative interest rate imposed by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on excess bank reserves could continue to have a negative impact on the distribution and pricing of these products.
A rise in interest rates could improve the Company's ability to earn higher rates of return on future investments, as well as floating rate investments held in its investment portfolio. However, an increase in the differential of short-term U.S. and Japan interest rates would increase the cost of hedging a portion of the U.S. dollar-denominated assets in the Aflac Japan segment into yen, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company’s floating rate investments typically bear interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Regulatory and industry initiatives to eliminate LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in the valuation of LIBOR-based loans, as well as for other LIBOR-based derivatives and assets. This may adversely impact both pricing and liquidity in such instruments. The Company is unable to predict with certainty how LIBOR elimination may impact markets, pricing, liquidity and other factors or the Company's activities.
Changes in interest rates impact unrealized gains and losses of fixed income securities in the Company's investment portfolio; however, they do not have a direct impact on the related valuation of the corresponding liabilities. Prolonged periods of low interest rates, as have been experienced in recent years, heighten the risk associated with future increases in interest rates because an increasing proportion of the Company's investment portfolio includes investments that bear lower rates of return than the embedded book yield of the investment portfolio. A rise in interest rates could decrease the fair value of the Company's debt securities. Some of the insurance products that Aflac sells in the U.S. and Japan provide cash surrender values. A rise in interest rates could trigger significant policy surrenders, which might require the Company to sell investment assets and recognize unrealized losses. This situation is commonly referred to as disintermediation risk. The Company generally invests its assets to match the duration and cash flow characteristics of its policy liabilities, and therefore would not expect to realize most of these gains or losses, however, the Company's risk is that unforeseen events or economic conditions, such as changes in interest rates resulting from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond the Company's control will reduce the effectiveness of this strategy. These events or economic conditions could either cause the Company to dispose of some or all of these investments prior to their maturity, or increase the risk that the issuers of these securities may default or may require impairment, which could result in the Company having to recognize such gains or losses.
Rising interest rates also negatively impact the SMR since unrealized losses on the available-for-sale investment portfolio factor into the ratio. For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Further, interest rate risk is still an inherent portfolio, business and capital risk for the Company, and significant changes in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, changes in unrealized positions, and liquidity.
For more information regarding interest rate risk, see the Interest Rate Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in this report.
The Company's concentration of business in Japan poses risks to its operations.
The Company's operations in Japan, including realized gains and losses on Aflac Japan's investment portfolio, accounted for 69% of the Company's total revenues in 2019, and 70% in both 2018 and 2017. The Japanese operations accounted for 83% of the Company's total assets at December 31, 2019, compared with 84% at December 31, 2018.
Further, because of the concentration of the Company's business in Japan and its need for long-dated yen-denominated assets, the Company has a substantial concentration of Japan Government Bond (JGBs) in its investment portfolio. As such the Company has material exposure to the Japanese economy, geo-political climate, political regime, and other factors that generally determine a country's creditworthiness. Specifically, the NRSROs, credit rating agencies registered with the SEC, have placed increased scrutiny on JGBs, which are a significant component of the Company’s overall investment portfolio, resulting in downgrades as discussed later in this Risk Factors section.
The Company seeks to match investment currency and interest rate risk to its yen liabilities. The low level of interest rates available on yen-denominated securities has a negative effect on overall net investment income. A large portion of the cash available for reinvestment each year is deployed in yen-denominated instruments and subject to the low level of yen interest rates.
Any potential deterioration in Japan's credit quality, market access, the overall economy of Japan, or Japanese market volatility could adversely impact the business of Aflac in general and specifically Aflac Japan and its related results of operations and financial condition.
Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
The Company attempts to match both the duration and currency of its assets with its liabilities. This is very difficult for Aflac Japan due to the lack of available long-dated yen-denominated fixed income instruments beyond JGBs.
Prior to the onset of the financial crisis of 2008, the Company was focused on investing cash flows in JGBs, which had relatively low yields, and utilizing private placement and perpetual securities to gain additional yield, extend the duration of the investment portfolio, and maintain yen exposure. Given call activity with respect to certain of the Company's legacy private placement investments, the Company has added a modest amount of yen-denominated private placements to its investment portfolio in recent periods. The investment in private placements carries risk associated with illiquidity, which is managed and monitored by the Company.
Starting in 2012, Aflac Japan augmented its investment strategy to include U.S. dollar-denominated investments, some of which could then be hedged back to yen. Initially this program focused on public investment-grade bonds but has evolved over time to include U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade commercial mortgage loans, middle market loans, infrastructure debt, as well as other loan types, high yield bond and public and private equities. The Company plans to continue adding other instruments denominated in U.S. dollars, including floating rate investments, to improve the portfolio diversification and/or return profile. Some of the U.S. dollar-denominated asset classes that the Company has added, and anticipates continuing to add, have less liquidity than investment-grade corporate bonds. These strategies will continue to increase the Company's exposure to U.S. interest rates, credit spreads and other risks. The Company has increased foreign exchange risk exposure as the comprehensive hedging program may not always correlate to the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated assets, thereby increasing earnings volatility. These risks can significantly impact the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Investing in U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan also creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and related SMR volatility, as Aflac Japan’s insurance liabilities are yen-denominated. Although the Company engages in certain foreign exchange hedging activities to partially mitigate this risk, and such hedged assets may be used to satisfy yen-denominated insurance liabilities and other business obligations, important risks remain.
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. Cumulative net cash settlements on derivatives hedging currency exposure of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments are associated with existing U.S. dollar-denominated investments that continue to be hedged, previously hedged investments that continue to be held but are no longer hedged, as well as, investments previously hedged that have since been sold, matured or redeemed and may or may not have not been converted to yen. The Company’s foreign exchange derivatives are typically shorter-dated than the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated investments being hedged, which creates roll-over risks within the hedging program that could increase the cost of such derivatives. If the Company reduces the notional amount of foreign exchange derivatives prior to the maturity of the hedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, the foreign exchange gains or losses on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments remain economically unrealized. These foreign currency gains or losses on the investments are only economically realized, or monetized, through sale, maturity or redemption of the investments and concurrent conversion to yen. However, the Company may not realize the benefit of offsetting adverse cash settlements on hedging derivatives with cash receipts on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments if the currency exchange rates move in an adverse direction before the investments are converted to yen, or if the investments are never converted to yen. As an example of the latter, if the Company’s actual insurance risk experience in Japan is as expected or more favorable than expected, the need for yen to pay expenses and claims would correspondingly remain at or below expected levels, thereby diminishing operational requirements to convert U.S. dollar-denominated investments to yen. The settlement of the foreign exchange derivatives is reported in the investing activities section of the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows in the line item “Settlement of derivatives, net.”
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor entitled, “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rates.rate.” For more information regarding Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments and hedging activities, see the "Hedging Activities"subsection within the MD&A of this report, and for more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the "Currency Risk" subsection within the Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk section in this report.
New annualized premium
If the Company fails to comply with restrictions on customer privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that its third-party service providers and business associates who access, store, process or transmit sensitive customer information maintain its security, integrity, confidentiality and availability, the Company's reputation and business operations could be materially adversely affected.
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal GLBA and in the HIPAA. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the APPI and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities.
The Company relies on third parties, and in some cases subcontractors, to provide information technology and data services. It also relies on various parties in its distribution channels including agencies, banks and Japan Post in Japan, as well as sales (sometimes referredassociates and brokers in the U.S., to provide services to prospective and existing customers. Although the Company provides for appropriate protections through its contracts and performs information security risk assessments of its third-party service providers and business associates, the Company still has limited control over their actions and practices. In addition, despite the security measures the Company has in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules, the Company's facilities and systems, and those of the Company's third-party providers and participants in its distribution channels may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. In such cases, notification to affected individuals, state and federal regulators, state attorneys general and media may be required, depending upon the number of affected individuals and whether personal information including health or financial data was subject to unauthorized access.
The U.S. Congress and many states are considering new privacy and security requirements that would apply to the Company's business. Compliance with new privacy and security laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost
increases due to necessary systems changes, new limitations or constraints on the Company's business models, the development of new administrative processes, and the effects of potential noncompliance by the Company's business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on the Company's collection, disclosure and use of customer identifiable data that are housed in one or more of the Company's administrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss, theft or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential customer information, whether by the Company or by one of its third parties, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, reputation, brand and results of operations, including: material fines and penalties; compensatory, special, punitive and statutory damages; consent orders regarding the Company's privacy and security practices; adverse actions against the Company's licenses to do business; and injunctive relief.
In addition, under Japanese laws and regulations, including the APPI, if a leak or loss of personal information by Aflac Japan or its business associates should occur, depending on factors such as the volume of personal data involved and the likelihood of other secondary damage, Aflac Japan may be required to file reports to the FSA; issue public releases explaining such incident to the public; or become subject to an FSA business improvement order, which could pose a risk to the Company's reputation.
Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, could harm the Company's business.
The Company stores confidential policyholder, employee, agent, and other proprietary information on its information technology systems. In addition, the Company depends heavily on its telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data it uses to run its businesses and service its customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond the Company's control. Additionally, design flaws may exist in certain systems, processes, software, or configurations that in turn may result in system failure, data corruption, or compromise. Despite the Company's implementation of a variety of security measures to defend against threats incurred on a daily basis, its information technology and other systems, as well as those of third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been and will likely continue to be subject to physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks, that may result in the failure to adequately maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity, or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to customers and prospective customers, or in the misappropriation of the Company's intellectual property or proprietary information.
From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. Although the minor data leakage issues the Company has experienced to date have not had a material effect on its business, there is no assurance that the Company's security systems or processes will prevent or mitigate future break-ins, tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks. Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, whether due to actions by the Company or others, including third party providers and participants in the company’s distribution channels, could delay or disrupt the Company's ability to do business and service its customers, seriously harm the Company's brand and reputation as well as the Company's ability to compete effectively, subject it to regulatory sanctions and other claims, lead to a loss of customers and revenues and otherwise adversely affect the Company's business. In addition, the costs to address or remediate system interruptions or security threats and vulnerabilities, whether before or after an incident, could be significant.
While the Company continues to invest in the infrastructure of its data security programs, the Company, as well as its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been, and will likely continue to be, the target of unauthorized access, social engineering, phishing, cyber-attacks, web application attacks, computer viruses or other malicious codes, or other computer-related penetrations. Although the Company attempts to manage its exposure to such events through the purchase of cyber liability insurance, such events are inherently unpredictable and insurance may not be sufficient to protect the Company against all losses. As a result, events such as these could adversely affect the Company's financial condition or results of operation.
Catastrophic events could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations as well as the availability of the Company’s infrastructure and systems.
The Company's insurance operations are exposed to the risk of catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, and terrorism or other acts of violence. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Certain events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and man-made catastrophes could cause substantial damage or loss of life in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Claims resulting from natural or man−made catastrophic events could cause substantial volatility in the Company's financial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce its profitability or harm the Company's financial condition, as well as affect its ability to write new salesbusiness.
Additionally, the Company's business operations may be adversely affected by such catastrophic events to the extent they disrupt the Company's physical infrastructure, human resources or sales) issystems that support its businesses and customers. Although the Company has a global crisis management framework to minimize the business disruption from a catastrophic event, such framework may not be effective to avoid an adverse impact to the Company from such an event.
Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business.
The Company's results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the global economy generally, including in its two primary operating measuremarkets of the U.S. and Japan. Weak global financial markets impact the value of the Company's existing investment portfolio, influence opportunities for new investments, and may contribute to generally weak economic fundamentals, which can have a negative impact on its operating activities.
In recent years, global capital markets have been severely impacted by several major events. The financial crisis that began in the latter part of 2008 saw dramatic declines in investment values and weak economic conditions as the global financial system came under extreme pressure. Although U.S. markets began recovering in late 2009 and 2010, Europe continued to struggle under a severely weakened banking system and investor concerns with sovereign debt levels. Following a period of unprecedented intervention by governments and central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB), financial conditions improved from the dire conditions of the global financial crisis, global recession, and European debt crisis. More recently, global markets have experienced bouts of volatility due to uncertainty surrounding a British exit from the European Union, Japan’s continued recovery amidst assorted policy changes, volatility in global commodity prices including oil, divergent monetary policies in the U.S. versus many other developed economies, heightened concerns surrounding the Chinese economy and increasing protectionism in U.S. foreign trade policy. While capital and market conditions have been generally favorable in the last year, the prospect for increased volatility remains.
A shift in the global trading policies by the U.S. and subsequent trade conflict with China has raised concerns about a slowdown of the Chinese economy and the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and China left tariffs in place and many trade issues unresolved. In addition, the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan resulted in tariff reductions on some products but left tariffs on other products in place. While it is not reflectedexpected that the Company's products would be directly impacted by tariffs, any resulting economic downturn could adversely affect the Company.
Activity by the government of North Korea in 2018 was the subject of increasing focus for a number of other governments, including those of the U.S. and Japan. Although hostile rhetoric decreased in 2019, there is a possibility of renewed hostility between their governments. In addition, in January 2020, hostility between the government of the U.S. and the government of Iran increased, ultimately culminating in a number of missile strikes. Such activity and related geopolitical risk could have a significant impact on financial market conditions across the world. Under certain circumstances, government actions taken in response to these or similar situations could have a material impact on the Company's operations and financial performance, including the indirect impact of potentially severe and prolonged capital market volatility and disruption.
As the Company holds a significant amount of fixed maturity securities issued by borrowers located in many different parts of the world, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions, sovereigns, and other corporate borrowers in the U.S. and Europe, its financial results are directly influenced by global financial markets. A retrenchment of the recent strength of the capital markets could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, including its capital position and overall profitability. Market volatility and recessionary pressures could result in significant realized or unrealized losses due to severe price declines driven by increases in interest rates or credit spreads, defaults in payment of principal or interest, or credit rating downgrades.
Following the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in December 2012, the new administration adopted a new set of financial measures to stimulate the Japanese economy, including imposing negative interest rates on excess bank reserves. In December 2014 and October 2017 snap-elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won decisive victories further strengthening Mr. Abe's ability to continue with economic reforms and address key policy challenges. In September 2018, Mr. Abe won reelection to another three-year term as president of the LDP. Most recently, the BoJ signaled to hold its policy rate at zero and to continue yield curve control to maintain a targeted yield on the 10-year JGB. Prime Minister Abe’s election victories may result in the continuation of current monetary policy, but there can be no guarantee that this is the case.
Japan is the largest market for the Company's products, and the Company owns substantial holdings in JGBs. Government actions to stimulate the economy affect the value of the Company's existing holdings, its reinvestment rate on new investments in JGBs or other yen-denominated assets, and consumer behavior relative to the Company's suite of products. The additional government debt from fiscal stimulus actions could adversely impact the Japan sovereign credit profile, which could in turn lead to volatility in Japanese capital and currency markets.
The Company's investment portfolio has sizeable credit positions in many other geographic areas of the world including the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and other emerging markets. Deterioration in their underlying economies, sovereign credit worthiness, or financial market conditions could negatively impact the Company's financial position.
While the Company has continued to add floating rate investments to its investment portfolio, most of its investment portfolio holdings are income-producing bonds that provide a fixed level of income. Many of the Company's investments were made at the relatively low level of interest rates prevailing over the last decade. Any increase in the market yields of the Company's holdings due to an increase in interest rates could create substantial unrealized losses in the Company's portfolio, as discussed further in a separate risk factor in this section of the Form 10-K.
The Company needs liquidity to pay its operating expenses, dividends on its common stock, interest on its debt, and liabilities. For a further description of the Company's liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of MD&A in this report. In the event the Company's current resources do not meet its needs, the Company may need to seek additional financing. The Company's access to additional funding will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and its credit rating.
Should investors become concerned with any of the Company's investment holdings, including the concentration in JGBs, its access to market sources of funding could be negatively impacted. There is a possibility that lenders or debt investors may also become concerned if the Company incurs large investment losses or if the level of the Company's business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the U.S. or Japan, specifically, or generally in developed markets. Similarly, the Company's access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions. See more information on recent rating actions later in this Risk Factors section.
Broad economic factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of the Company's business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as Aflac that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires and total employees. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead the Company's customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect the Company's premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. The Company is unable to predict the course of the global financial markets or the recurrence, duration or severity of disruptions in such markets.
Events, including those external to the Company's operations, could damage the Company's reputation.
The Company has made significant investments in the Aflac brand over a long period of time. Because insurance products are intangible, the Company's ability to compete for and maintain policyholders relies to a large extent on consumer trust in the Company's business, including its alliance partners, sales associates and other distribution partners. The perception of unfavorable business practices or financial weakness with respect to the Company, its alliance partners, sales associates or other distribution partners could create doubt regarding the Company's ability to honor the commitments it has made to its policyholders. Such a perception could also negatively impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition. Maintaining the Company's stature as a trustworthy
insurer and responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strength of the Company's brand, is critical to the Company's reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect the Company's brand value, financial condition and results of operations. For example, negative publicity or allegations of unfavorable business practices or poor governance can be rapidly and widely shared over social or traditional media or other means, and could reduce demand for the Company's insurance products, reduce the Company's ability to recruit and retain employees, or lead to greater regulatory scrutiny of the Company's operations.
Extensive regulation and changes in legislation can impact profitability and growth.
Aflac's insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including the FSA and Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, and state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FIO, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the U.S. Treasury, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in the U.S., each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. In addition, proposals regarding the global regulation of insurance are under discussion, and changes to corporate form that attend the conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary may introduce new forms of regulation compared to those with which the Company has historically been subject. For example, AAMJ is licensed as a discretionary asset manager under the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is subject to rules of the Japan Investment Advisors Association, a self-regulatory organization with mandatory membership for Japan investment managers. Consequently, the Company is subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may not result in compliance with another regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to the Company's detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change the Company's views regarding the actions the Company needs to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to the Company's practices that may, in some cases, limit its ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of the Company's business.
The primary purpose of insurance company regulatory supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the U.S. and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:
standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof
standards of minimum capital and reserve requirements and solvency margins, including RBC measures
restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between the Company's insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements
restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments
restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that the Company can include in the insurance policies offered by its primary insurance operations
limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay
the existence and licensing status of a company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business
certain required methods of accounting
reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes
assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies
administrative practices requirements
imposition of fines and other sanctions
Regulatory authorities periodically re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements. New annualized premium salescondition and results of operations. If the Company's subsidiaries fail to meet the minimum capital or operational requirements established by its respective regulators, they could be subject to examination or corrective action, or the Company's financial strength ratings could be downgraded, or both.
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase the Company's direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus having a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Companyis exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the yen and the U.S. dollar can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan's premiums and approximately half of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when yen weakens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes fewer U.S. dollars to be reported. When yen strengthens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes more U.S. dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the U.S. dollar will generally represents annual premiums on policiesadversely affect the value of the Company's yen-denominated investments in U.S. dollar terms.
The Company engages in certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to its net investment in operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope, and the Company soldcannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective.
Unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities held by Aflac Japan are exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations, which impact SMR. In periods of yen strengthening, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments will experience unrealized foreign exchange losses, negatively impacting SMR. This impact increases when the size of the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio increases, which can occur due to the purchase of additional unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, or through termination or expiration of existing hedges. Unrealized currency gains and incremental increaseslosses on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities are monetized (or, in other words, are economically realized) only upon converting the proceeds from policy conversions, collected overthe sale, maturity or redemption of these securities to yen, which primarily occurs when yen are needed to satisfy policyholder obligations or other business expenses of Aflac Japan. To mitigate exposure to the foreign exchange risk from U.S. dollar-denominated investments and to reduce SMR volatility, the Company engages in certain currency hedging activities. However, these hedging activities are limited in scope and the Company cannot provide assurance that its hedging strategies will be effective. As a 12-month period, assumingresult, periods of unusually volatile currency exchange rates could result in limitations on dividends available to the policies remainParent Company.
As indicated in force. Forthe MD&A, the Company has determined that the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio acts as a natural economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company’s investment in Aflac Japan against erosion of economic value. However, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio at the same time creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and subjects Aflac Japan to volatility in regulatory capital and earnings, which may adversely impact Aflac Japan’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. The overall investment strategy in Aflac Japan is guided primarily by the objective of securing the long-term financial strength of Aflac Japan and funding of yen liabilities. As a result, the Company has historically maintained and currently maintains the size of the unhedged portfolio at levels below the economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan. However, there can be no assurance that this strategy will be successful.
Furthermore, for regulatory accounting purposes, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by changes in the rate of exchange between the yen and U.S. dollar and could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into U.S. dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in the Company's U.S. dollar-denominated cash flows and earnings when exchange gains or losses, respectively, are realized. This primarily occurs when the Company dividends funds from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company, but it also has an impact when cash in the form of yen is converted to U.S. dollars for investment into U.S. dollar-denominated assets. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of dividend payment may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. In 2018, the Parent Company began entering into forward contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by Aflac Japan, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. If the markets experience a significant strengthening of yen, this could cause cash strain at the Parent Company as a result of cash collateral and potentially cash settlement requirements. Based on the timing and severity of exchange rate fluctuations combined with the level of outstanding activity in this program, the cash strain at the Parent Company could be significant.
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor below entitled, “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial
position or liquidity”. For more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the Currency Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A.
Tax rates applicable to the Company may change.
The Company is subject to taxation in Japan, and in the U.S. under federal and numerous state and local tax jurisdictions. In preparing the Company's financial statements, the Company estimates the amount of tax that will become payable, but the Company's effective tax rate may be different than estimates due to numerous factors including accounting for income taxes, the mix of earnings from Japan and the U.S., the results of tax audits, adjustments to the value of uncertain tax positions, changes to estimates and other factors. Further, changes in U.S. or Japan tax laws or interpretations of such laws could increase the Company's corporate taxes and reduce earnings.
In addition, it remains difficult to predict the timing and effect that future tax law changes could have on the Company's earnings both in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. Any of these factors could cause the Company to experience an effective tax rate significantly different from previous periods or the Company's current estimates. If the Company's effective tax rate were to increase, the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
A decline in the creditworthiness of other financial institutions could adversely affect the Company.
The Company has exposure to and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including broker dealers, derivative counterparties, commercial banks and other institutions.
The Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate various risks associated with its investment portfolio, notes payable, and subsidiary dividends. The Company enters into a variety of agreements involving assorted instruments including foreign currency forward contracts; foreign currency options; foreign currency swaps; and interest rate swaps and swaptions. The Company's use of derivatives results in financial exposure to derivative counterparties. If the Company's counterparties fail or refuse to honor their obligations under derivative instruments, the Company's hedges of the risks will be ineffective, and the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company engages in derivative transactions directly with unaffiliated third parties under International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements and other documentation. Most of the ISDA agreements also include Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) provisions, which generally provide for two-way collateral postings at the first dollar of exposure. The Company mitigates the risk that counterparties to transactions might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring counterparty credit exposure and collateral value while generally requiring that collateral be posted at the outset of the transaction. In addition, a significant portion of the derivative transactions have provisions that give the counterparty the right to terminate the transaction upon a downgrade of Aflac’s financial strength rating. The actual amount of payments that the Company could be required to make, depends on market conditions, the fair value of outstanding affected transactions, and other factors prevailing at and after the time of the downgrade. If the Company is required to post collateral to support derivative contracts and/or pay cash to settle the contracts at maturity, the Company's liquidity could be strained. In addition, the Company's cleared swaps result in counterparty exposure to clearing brokers and central clearinghouses; while this exposure is mitigated in part by clearinghouse and clearing broker capital and regulation, no assurance can be provided that these counterparties will fulfill their obligations. The Company also has exposure to counterparties to securities lending transactions in the event they fail to return loaned securities. The Company is also exposed to the risk that there may be a decline in value of securities posted as collateral for securities lending programs or a decline in value of investments made with cash posted as collateral for such programs.
Further, the Company has agreements with various financial institutions for the distribution of its insurance products. For example, at December 31, 2019, the Company had agreements with 367 banks to market Aflac's products in Japan. Sales through these banks represented 4.3% of Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales are determined by applications submitted during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., new annualized premium sales are determined by applications that are issued during the reporting period. Conversions are defined as the positive difference in the annualized premium when a policy upgrades in the current reporting period.
Net premiums (sometimes referred to as net premium income2019. Any material adverse effect on these or net earned premiums) is aother financial measure that appearsinstitutions could also have an adverse effect on the Company's Consolidated Statementssales.
The Company has entered into significant reinsurance transactions with large, highly rated counterparties. Negative events or developments affecting any one of Earningsthese counterparties could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
All of these risks related to exposure to other financial institutions could adversely impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
The determination of the amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments is based on significant valuation judgments and could materially impact its results of operations or financial position.
An investment in a fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below book value. The Company regularly reviews its entire investment portfolio for declines in value. The majority of the Company's investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using the Company's debt impairment model.
The Company's debt impairment model includes emphasis on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.
For the Company's fixed maturity securities reported in the available-for-sale portfolio, the Company reports the investments at fair value in the statement of financial condition and records any unrealized gain or loss in the value of the asset in accumulated other comprehensive income. For the Company's held-to-maturity securities portfolio, the Company reports the investments at amortized cost. Under the debt impairment model, the determination of whether an impairment in value is other than temporary is based largely on the Company's evaluation of the issuer's creditworthiness. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. The Company also verifies whether it has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. If the Company determines it is unlikely to recover the book value of the instrument prior to disposal of the security, the Company will reduce the carrying value of the security to its fair value and recognize any associated impairment loss in the Company's consolidated statement of earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss.
For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, credit-related losses, or changes in foreign exchange, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividend and capital deployment.
The Company's management updates its evaluations regularly as conditions change and as new information becomes available and reflects impairment losses in the Company's income statement when considered necessary. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.
U.S. tax audit risk related to conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary could adversely impact the Company's financial position.
The conversion of the Japan branch to a legal subsidiary, which the Company executed in the second quarter of 2018, was a complex, tax-free transaction that is conditioned on the continued validity of a private letter ruling the Company received from the IRS. Notwithstanding the receipt of the private letter ruling, the IRS could determine that the Japan branch conversion should be treated as a taxable transaction. For example, the IRS could conclude that the representations, assumptions and covenants on which the private letter ruling is based are untrue, not accurate, or have not been fulfilled. If the IRS made such a conclusion, the Company could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities or litigation costs to defend the tax-free treatment of the transaction outlined by the private letter ruling. Such liabilities or costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
As a holding company, the Parent Company depends on the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to meet its debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock.
The Parent Company is a holding company and has no direct operations, and its most significant assets are the stock of its subsidiaries. Because the Parent Company conducts its operations through its operating subsidiaries, the Parent Company depends on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet its debt service and other obligations, to pay dividends on and conduct repurchases of its common stock, and to make investments into its subsidiaries or external investment opportunities.
Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to insurance regulations that impose certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve
service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. After the Japan branch conversion, the Nebraska insurance department and the FSA approved their respective domiciled insurance company service arrangements and transactions. The FSA does not allow dividends or other payments from Aflac Japan unless it meets certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary will be defined as retained earnings plus other capital reserve less net after-tax net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities.
The ability of Aflac and Aflac Japan to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could also be constrained by the Company's dependency on financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies. The Company's ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on Aflac's capitalization level. Any inability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
For the foregoing reasons, there is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, the Parent Company's operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to enable the Company to operate.
Any decrease in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings may have an adverse effect on its competitive position and access to liquidity and capital.
Financial strength ratings can play an important role in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. On an ongoing basis, NRSROs review the financial performance and condition of many insurers, including the Company and its competitors. They may assign multiple ratings including a financial strength rating, reflecting their view of the insurer’s ability to pay claims on a timely basis, and ratings on an insurer’s senior and subordinated debt obligations, indicating their view of an insurer’s ability to make timely payments on their debt obligations.
NRSROs may change their ratings or outlook on an insurer's ratings due to a variety of factors including the NRSRO’s assessment of the insurer’s strength of operations and overall financial condition. Some factors that may influence ratings include competitive position; profitability; cash generation and other sources of liquidity; capital levels; quality of the investment portfolio; and perception of management capabilities. The ratings assigned to the Company by the NRSROs are important factors in the Company's ability to access liquidity and capital from the bank market, debt capital markets or other available sources, such as reinsurance transactions. Downgrades to the Company's credit ratings could give its derivative counterparties the right to require early termination of derivatives transactions or delivery of additional collateral, thereby adversely affecting the Company's liquidity.
In view of the difficulties experienced after the financial crisis by many financial institutions, including those in the insurance industry, the NRSROs have heightened the level of scrutiny that they apply to such institutions. Steps taken by the NRSROs include an increase in the frequency and scope of their reviews, additional information requests from the companies that they rate, including additional information regarding the valuation of investment securities held, and, in certain cases, an increase in the capital and other requirements employed in their models for maintenance of certain rating levels.
On September 16, 2015, S&P downgraded their credit rating of Japan’s sovereign debt. Following this action, they also downgraded several other foreign insurers, including the Company. The Company's significant operations in Japan and corresponding regulation by the Japanese FSA, combined with its segment reporting. Thissignificant exposure to JGBs as outlined above, resulted in S&P downgrading the financial strength rating of Aflac's core insurance operations to A+ and the Parent Company's senior debt rating to A-, both with a stable outlook. While S&P made no further downgrades to the Company's ratings between 2016 and 2019, they state that a downgrade of Japan's sovereign rating could lead to a downgrade of the Company's financial strength rating. As a matter of policy, S&P rarely rates insurance companies above the sovereign long-term rating of the country of domicile because during times of stress, the sovereign’s regulatory and supervisory powers may restrict an insurer’s or financial system’s flexibility. Moody’s has also stated that the following factors could lead to a downgrade of the Company’s ratings: a downgrade of the U.S. or Japanese operating entities; or a downgrade of the Government of Japan sovereign debt rating.
In addition to the impact on the Company's access to liquidity, as mentioned above, a downgrade of the Company's ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness and the marketability of its products which could negatively impact the Company's liquidity, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, sales through the bank channel in Japan could be adversely affected as a result of their reliance and sensitivity to ratings levels.
The Company cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions the Company may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect the Company's business. As with other companies in the financial services industry, the Company's ratings could be downgraded at any time and without any notice by any NRSRO.
The Company's risk management policies and procedures may prove to be ineffective and leave the Company exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could adversely affect the Company's businesses or result in losses.
The Company has developed an enterprise-wide risk management and governance framework to mitigate risk and loss to the Company. The Company maintains policies, procedures and controls intended to identify, measure, reflects collectedmonitor, report and analyze the risks to which the Company is exposed.
However, there are inherent limitations to risk management strategies because risk may exist, or emerge in the future, that the Company has not appropriately anticipated or identified. If the Company's risk management framework proves ineffective, the Company may suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected. As the Company's businesses change and the markets in which it operates evolve, the Company's risk management framework may not evolve at the same pace as those changes. As a result, there is a risk that new products or new business strategies may present risks that are not appropriately identified, monitored or managed. In times of market stress, unanticipated market movements or unanticipated claims experience resulting from greater than expected morbidity, mortality, longevity, or persistency, the effectiveness of the Company's risk management strategies may be limited, resulting in losses to the Company. In addition, under difficult or less liquid market conditions, the Company's risk management strategies may not be effective because other market participants may be using the same or similar strategies to manage risk under the same challenging market conditions. In such circumstances, it may be difficult or more expensive for the Company to mitigate risk due premiumsto the activity of such other market participants.
Many of the Company's risk management strategies or techniques are based upon historical customer and market behavior and all such strategies and techniques are based to some degree on management’s subjective judgment. The Company cannot provide assurance that its risk management framework, including the underlying assumptions or strategies, will be accurate and effective.
Management of operational, legal and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies, procedures and controls to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and these policies, procedures and controls may not be fully effective. Models are utilized by the Company's businesses and corporate areas primarily to project future cash flows associated with pricing products, calculating reserves and valuing assets, as well as in evaluating risk and determining capital requirements, among other uses. These models are utilized under a risk management policy approved by the Company's executive risk management committees, however, the models may not operate properly and rely on assumptions and projections that are inherently uncertain. As the Company's businesses continue to grow and evolve, the number and complexity of models the Company utilizes expands, increasing the Company's exposure to error in the design, implementation or use of models, including the associated input data and assumptions.
Past or future misconduct by the Company's employees or employees of the Company's third parties (suppliers which are cost-based relationships and alliance partners which are revenue-generating relationships) could result in violations of law by the Company, regulatory sanctions and/or serious reputational or financial harm and the precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Despite the Company's published Supplier Code of Conduct, due diligence of the Company's alliance partners, and rigorous contracting procedures (including financial, legal, IT security, and risk reviews), there can be no assurance that controls and procedures that the Company employs, which are designed to assess third party viability and prevent the Company from taking excessive or inappropriate risks, will be effective. Additionally, the use of third parties also poses operational risks that could result in financial loss, operational disruption, brand damage, or compliance issues. Inadequate oversight of Aflac’s third party suppliers due to the lack of policies, procedures, training and governance may lead to financial loss or damage to the Aflac brand.
The concentration of the Company's investment portfolios in any particular single-issuer or sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Negative events or developments affecting any particular single issuer, industry, group of related industries, asset class or geographic sector may have an adverse impact on a particular holding or set of holdings, which may increase risk of loss from defaults due to non-payment of interest or principal. The Company seeks to minimize this risk by maintaining an appropriate level of diversification. To the extent the Company has concentrated positions, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial position. The Company's global investment guidelines establish
concentration limits for its investment portfolios.
For details on the concentrations within the Company's investment portfolios, see the Investments section of Item 7, MD&A, and the Credit Risk section of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
The valuation of the Company's investments and derivatives includes methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may adversely affect the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
The Company reports a significant amount of its fixed maturity securities and other financial instruments at fair value. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation as well as valuation methods which are more sophisticated, thereby resulting in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within the Company's consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly.
Valuations of the Company's derivatives fluctuate with changes in underlying market variables, such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. During periods of market turbulence created by political instability, economic uncertainty, government interventions or other factors, the Company may experience significant changes in the volatility of its derivative valuations. Extreme market conditions can also affect the liquidity of such instruments creating marked differences in transaction levels and counterparty valuations. Depending on the severity and direction of the movements in its derivative valuations, the Company will face increases in the amount of collateral required to be posted with its counterparties. Liquidity stresses to the Company may also occur if the required collateral amounts increase significantly over a very short period of time. Conversely, the Company may be exposed to an increase in counterparty credit risk for short periods of time while calling collateral from its counterparties.
Elimination of LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in valuation of loans, derivatives and other assets where valuation and interest rates are based on LIBOR, and may create uncertainty in the pricing of such assets in markets for their sale and disposition.
For further discussion on investment and derivative valuations, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and Notes 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.
The Company depends heavily on key management personnel, and the loss of services of one or more of its key executives could harm the Company's business.
The Company’s success depends to a significant extent upon the efforts and abilities of its key management personnel. The loss of the services of one or more of the Company's senior executives could significantly undermine its management expertise and the Company's business could be adversely affected.
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Boards (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company's financial statements.
The Company's financial statements are subject to the application of U.S. GAAP, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been earned ratablyissued but not yet implemented and are applicable to the Company is disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The pronouncements expected to have the most significant impact on policiesthe Company's financial position or results of operations are outlined below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this update require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented net of an allowance for current expected credit losses in order to reflect the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset(s). The Company currently estimates the after-tax net impact from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 at a $56 million decrease to retained earnings, which primarily relates to loans and loan receivables. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.
Additionally, in August 2018 the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. The amendments in this update will significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts. Among the issues addressed in the amendments is the requirement to review and, if there is a change, update cash flow assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly. The Company anticipates that the requirement to review and update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes, and controls, while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on the other comprehensive income component of its equity. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. See Critical Accounting Estimates section of Item 7. MD&A in this report.
Changes to accounting standards could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company's financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
The Company faces risks related to litigation, regulatory investigations and inquiry and other matters.
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and plaintiffs may seek very large amounts in class actions or other litigation. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, a substantial legal liability or a significant federal, state or other regulatory action against the Company, as well as regulatory inquiries or investigations, could harm the Company's reputation, result in changes in operations, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Without limiting the foregoing, the litigation and regulatory matters the Company is, has been, or may become, subject to include matters related to sales agent recruiting, policy sales practices, claim payments and procedures including denial or delay of benefits, material misstatements or omissions in the Company's financial reports or other public statements, and/or corporate governance, corporate culture or business ethics matters. Further, the Company may be subject to claims of or litigation regarding sexual or other forms of misconduct or harassment, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or other bases, notwithstanding that the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits such harassment and discrimination by its employees, the Company has ongoing training programs and provide opportunities to report claims of noncompliant conduct, and it investigates and may take disciplinary action regarding alleged harassment or discrimination. Any violations of or deviation from laws, regulations, internal or external codes or standards of normative behavior, or perceptions of such violations or deviations, by the Company's employees or by independent sales agents could adversely impact the Company's reputation and brand value, financial condition and results of operations.
Allegations or determinations of agent misclassification could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A majority of the Company's U.S. sales force is, and has historically been, comprised of independent agents. While the Company believes that it has properly classified such agents as independent contractors, the Company may be subject to claims, regulatory action by state or federal departments of labor or tax authorities or litigation asserting that such agents are employees. The laws and regulations governing the classification of workers in the U.S. may be changed or interpreted differently compared to past interpretations, including in states where the Company generates significant sales through independent agents. An allegation or determination that independent agents in the Company’s U.S. sales force have been misclassified as independent contractors could result in changes in the Company’s operations and U.S. business model, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operation, financial condition and liquidity.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
In the U.S., Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as the Company's worldwide headquarters and house administrative support and information technology functions for U.S. operations. Aflac leases office space in Columbia, South Carolina, which houses the Company's CAIC subsidiary (branded as Aflac Group Insurance). Aflac also leases office space in New York that houses the Company's Global Investment division. Aflac also leases administrative office space throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has three primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, the claims department, information technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses Aflac Japan's policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as Aflac Japan's headquarters and houses administrative and investment support functions. The third campus comprises leased space for the information technology departments. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of the Company's senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Aflac Incorporated's common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Until the beginning of October 2019, Aflac Incorporated's stock was also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under designator 8686.
Holders
As of February 12, 2020, there were 86,223 holders of record of the Company's common stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company's common stock to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Globe Life Inc., Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc. and Unum Group.
Performance Graphic Index
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 |
| | 2015 |
| | 2016 |
| | 2017 |
| | 2018 |
| | 2019 |
|
| Aflac Incorporated | 100.00 |
| | 100.52 |
| | 119.73 |
| | 154.45 |
| | 164.04 |
| | 194.48 |
|
| S&P 500 | 100.00 |
| | 101.38 |
| | 113.51 |
| | 138.29 |
| | 132.23 |
| | 173.86 |
|
| S&P Life & Health Insurance | 100.00 |
| | 93.69 |
| | 116.98 |
| | 136.20 |
| | 107.91 |
| | 132.92 |
|
Copyright© 2020 Standard & Poor’s, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased shares of Aflac common stock as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 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 | | 4,465,400 |
| | | | $ | 46.44 |
| | | | 4,465,400 |
| | | | 64,582,487 |
| | |
| February 1 - February 28 | | 4,170,417 |
| | | | 48.65 |
| | | | 3,624,583 |
| | | | 60,957,904 |
| | |
| March 1 - March 31 | | 2,162,830 |
| | | | 49.50 |
| | | | 2,147,500 |
| | | | 58,810,404 |
| | |
| April 1 - April 30 | | 2,177,000 |
| | | | 49.21 |
| | | | 2,177,000 |
| | | | 56,633,404 |
| | |
| May 1 - May 31 | | 2,813,277 |
| | | | 50.99 |
| | | | 2,812,850 |
| | | | 53,820,554 |
| | |
| June 1 - June 30 | | 1,964,259 |
| | | | 54.44 |
| | | | 1,952,000 |
| | | | 51,868,554 |
| | |
| July 1 - July 31 | | 1,360,017 |
| | | | 54.33 |
| | | | 1,360,017 |
| | | | 50,508,537 |
| | |
| August 1 - August 31 | | 2,491,225 |
| | | | 51.22 |
| | | | 2,483,400 |
| | | | 48,025,137 |
| | |
| September 1 - September 30 | | 2,111,075 |
| | | | 51.81 |
| | | | 2,103,600 |
| | | | 45,921,537 |
| | |
| October 1 - October 31 | | 2,476,152 |
| | | | 52.43 |
| | | | 2,476,100 |
| | | | 43,445,437 |
| | |
| November 1 - November 30 | | 1,938,000 |
| | | | 54.03 |
| | | | 1,938,000 |
| | | | 41,507,437 |
| | |
| December 1 - December 31 | | 4,456,463 |
| | | | 52.92 |
| | | | 4,453,824 |
| | | | 37,053,613 |
| | |
| Total | | 32,586,115 |
| | (1) | | $ | 50.82 |
| | | | 31,994,274 |
| | | | 37,053,613 |
| | |
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2019, 591,841 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the reporting period, reducedperiod.
As of December 31, 2019, a remaining balance of 37.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by premiums thatits Board of Directors.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums, principally supplemental
health insurance | $ | 18,780 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | $ | 17,570 |
|
| Net investment income | 3,578 |
| | 3,442 |
| | 3,220 |
| | 3,278 |
| | 3,135 |
|
| Realized investment gains (losses) | (135 | ) | | (430 | ) | | (151 | ) | | (14 | ) | | 106 |
|
| Other income | 84 |
| | 69 |
| | 67 |
| | 70 |
| | 61 |
|
| Total revenues | 22,307 |
| | 21,758 |
| | 21,667 |
| | 22,559 |
| | 20,872 |
|
| Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 11,942 |
| | 12,000 |
| | 12,181 |
| | 12,919 |
| | 11,746 |
|
| Expenses | 5,920 |
| | 5,775 |
| | 5,468 |
| | 5,573 |
| | 5,264 |
|
| Total benefits and expenses | 17,862 |
| | 17,775 |
| | 17,649 |
| | 18,492 |
| | 17,010 |
|
| Pretax earnings | 4,445 |
| | 3,983 |
| | 4,018 |
| | 4,067 |
| | 3,862 |
|
| Income taxes | 1,141 |
| | 1,063 |
| | (586 | ) | | 1,408 |
| | 1,329 |
|
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | $ | 2,533 |
|
| Share and Per-Share Amounts | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings (basic) | $ | 4.45 |
| | $ | 3.79 |
| | $ | 5.81 |
| | $ | 3.23 |
| | $ | 2.94 |
|
| Net earnings (diluted) | 4.43 |
| | 3.77 |
| | 5.77 |
| | 3.21 |
| | 2.92 |
|
| Cash dividends paid | 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
| Cash dividends declared | 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for basic
EPS (In thousands) | 742,414 |
| | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
| | 822,942 |
| | 861,307 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted
EPS (In thousands) | 746,430 |
| | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
| | 827,841 |
| | 866,344 |
|
| Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen/dollar exchange rate at year-end (yen) | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | 116.49 |
| | 120.61 |
|
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate (yen) | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
| | 120.99 |
|
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | |
| Investments and cash | $ | 138,091 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
| | $ | 123,659 |
| | $ | 116,361 |
| | $ | 105,897 |
|
| Other | 14,677 |
| | 14,163 |
| | 13,558 |
| | 13,458 |
| | 12,359 |
|
| Total assets | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | | |
| Policy liabilities | $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
| | $ | 93,726 |
| | $ | 87,631 |
|
| Income taxes | 5,370 |
| | 4,020 |
| | 4,745 |
| | 5,387 |
| | 4,340 |
|
Notes payable and lease obligations (1) | 6,569 |
| | 5,778 |
| | 5,289 |
| | 5,360 |
| | 4,971 |
|
| Other liabilities | 5,316 |
| | 3,958 |
| | 3,438 |
| | 4,864 |
| | 3,606 |
|
| Shareholders’ equity | 28,959 |
| | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| | 20,482 |
| | 17,708 |
|
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2019 related to leases.
Prior-year amounts have been cededadjusted for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2016 related to debt issuance costs.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Certain statements included in this section constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon the Company. The Company’s actual results may differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections herein.
MD&A OVERVIEW
The following financial review provides a discussion of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, as well as a summary of the Company’s critical accounting estimates. This section should be read in conjunction with Part I - Item 1. Business and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
The Company elected to omit discussion on the earliest of the three years covered by the consolidated financial statements presented in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Readers should refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on February 25, 2019, for reference to discussion of the year ended December 31, 2017, the earliest of the three years presented. Amounts reported in this MD&A may not add due to rounding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For the full year of 2019, total revenues were up 2.5% to $22.3 billion, compared with $21.8 billion for the full year of 2018. Net earnings were $3.3 billion, or $4.43 per diluted share, compared with $2.9 billion, or $3.77 per diluted share, for the full year of 2018.
Results for 2019 included pretax net realized investment losses of $135 million, compared with net realized investment losses of $430 million in 2018. Net investment losses in 2019 included $31 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses and changes in loan loss reserves; $236 million in net losses from certain derivatives and foreign currency gains or losses; $101 million of net gains on equity securities; and $31 million of net gains from sales and redemptions.
The average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) in 2019 was 109.07, or 1.2% stronger than the rate of 110.39 in 2018.
Adjusted earnings(2) for the full year of 2019 were $3.3 billion, or $4.44 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 billion, or $4.16 per diluted share, in 2018. The stronger yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per diluted share by $.02.
Total investments and cash at the end of December 2019 were $138.1 billion, compared with $126.2 billion at December 31, 2018. In 2019, Aflac Incorporated repurchased $1.6 billion, or 32.0 million of its common shares. At the end of December, the Company had 37.1 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase.
Shareholders’ equity was $29.0 billion, or $39.84 per share, at December 31, 2019, compared with $23.5 billion, or $31.06 per share, at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 included a net unrealized gain on investment securities and derivatives of $8.5 billion, compared with a net unrealized gain of $4.2 billion at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 also included an unrealized foreign currency translation lossof $1.6 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.8 billion at December 31, 2018. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity in 2019 was 12.6%.
Shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(2) (adjusted book value) was $22.3 billion, or $30.74 per share at December 31, 2019, compared with $21.3 billion, or $28.22 per share, at December 31, 2018. The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currencyimpact(2) in 2019 was 15.1%.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
The Company is impacted by financial markets, economic conditions, regulatory oversight and a variety of trends that affect the industries where it competes.
Financial and Economic Environment
The Company’s business and results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally. Stressed conditions, volatility and disruptions in global capital markets, particular markets, or financial asset classes can have an adverse effect on the Company, in part because the Company has a large investment portfolio and its insurance liabilities and derivatives are sensitive to changing market factors. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for the risk factor entitled, "Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business."
Demographics
Japan Business - With Japan’s aging population and the rise in healthcare costs, supplemental health care insurance products remain attractive. However, due to the aging population and decline in birthrate, new opportunities for customer demographics are not as readily available. Japan’s existing customers and potential customers seek products that are easily understood, cost-effective and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices.
(1) Yen/U.S. dollar exchange rates are based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).
(2) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for a definition of this non-U.S. GAAP financial measure.
U.S. Business - Customer demographics continue to evolve and new opportunities present themselves in different customer segments such as the millennial and multicultural markets. Customer expectations and preferences are changing. Trends indicate existing customers and potential customers seek cost-effective solutions that are easily understood and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices. Additionally, income protection and the health needs of retiring baby boomers are continuing to shape the insurance industry.
Regulatory Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Regulation and Aflac Japan Regulation for a discussion of regulatory developments that may impact the Company and the associated risks.
Competitive Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Competition and Aflac Japan Competition for a discussion of the competitive environment and the basis on which the Company competes in each of its segments.
2020 OUTLOOK
The Company’s strategy to drive long-term shareholder value is to pursue growth through product development, distribution expansion and digital advancements to improve the customer experience.
The Company's objectives in 2020 are to maintain strong pre-tax margins in its Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments through disciplined product pricing, stable investment returns and leveraging a period of favorable benefit ratios to invest in its platform for future growth and efficiency. The Company believes that its market-leading position, powerful brand recognition and diverse distribution in Japan and the U.S. will provide support toward these objectives.
The Company believes that its efforts will support its prudent strategies for capital deployment in the form of dividends, share repurchases, and opportunistic investments that enhance the Company’s business with a focus on digital distribution and leveraging the Company’s brand, distribution and scale. The Company has stated that the dividend payout ratio from its Aflac Japan segment is likely to be to 100% of FSA earnings from Aflac Japan and 100% of U.S. statutory earnings from Aflac U.S. In its Aflac U.S. segment, the Company plans to maintain a risk-based capital (RBC) ratio in the 500% range for 2020.
Aflac Japan Segment
In Japan, the Company anticipates that the shift in earned premium from first sector savings products to third partiessector cancer and increasedmedical products and first sector protection products, will continue to result in moderately lower benefit ratios in the Aflac Japan segment. The Company also expects this shift in business mix, plus continued investment in IT and digital advancements, to result in moderately higher expense ratios for Aflac Japan. The Company anticipates the Japan segment will face revenue challenges in 2020 due to the run-off and paid-up status of first sector savings and third sector products. The Company expects a decline in the range of .7% in third sector and first sector protection earned premium for 2020. In addition, net investment income is expected to decline modestly as compared to 2019, due in part to the low interest rate environment in Japan and de-risking of the portfolio, partially offset by premiums assumed through reinsurance.lower hedge cost as a result of a reduction in the hedge ratio in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Aflac U.S. Segment
The Company expects the profit margins for the Aflac U.S. segment to remain strong, providing a prudent opportunity to reinvest profits back into the U.S. business. The Company anticipates that in 2020, benefit ratios in the U.S. will remain stable and that expense ratios will continue to be elevated in light of investments into U.S. platforms in both the individual and group channels. The Company expects Aflac U.S. to generate earned premium growth in the range of 1% in 2020. Net investment income is expected to decline modestly, primarily as the result of the Company’s implemented U.S. capital and RBC draw-down plan.
Corporate and Other Segment
The Company expects corporate segment results to benefit from net investment income driven by increased capital and liquidity held at the Parent Company, as well as the increase in size of the Company’s enterprise currency hedging strategy. The anticipated increase in investment income is expected to be partially offset by increased costs associated with continued investment in Aflac Corporate Ventures initiatives.
For important disclosures applicable to statements made in this 2020 Outlook, please see the Risk Factors section and the statement on Forward-Looking Information at the beginning of Item 1. Business, the Risk Factors identified in Item 1A. and Item 7. Management Discussion and Analysis.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.
Yen–denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, except realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen–denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate.
The following discussion includes references to the Company's performance measures, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and amortized hedge costs/income, which are not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP (non-U.S. GAAP). These measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in the Company's insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with its insurance operations. The Company's management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of its insurance operations on a consolidated basis, and the Company believes that a presentation of these measures is vitally important to an understanding of its underlying profitability drivers and trends of its insurance business. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income, which are a component of adjusted earnings, measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income.
The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this filing as follows:
Adjusted earnings are the profits derived from operations.The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance.
Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share.
Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized in using foreign currency forward
contracts to hedge certain foreign exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment (costs) or in the Corporate and Other segment (income). These amortized hedge costs/income are derived from the difference between the foreign currency spot rate at time of trade inception and the contractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/income.
Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by yen-to-dollar currency rate changes.
Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders' equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. The Company considers adjusted book value important as it excludes AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management's control.
Adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact is calculated using adjusted earnings excluding the impact of the yen/dollar exchange rate, as reconciled with total U.S. GAAP net earnings, divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is return on average equity as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.
The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4.43 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
|
| Items impacting net earnings: | | | | | | | |
Realized investment (gains) losses (2),(3),(4),(5) | 15 |
| | 297 |
| | .02 |
| | .38 |
|
| Other and non-recurring (income) loss | 1 |
| | 75 |
| | .00 |
| | .10 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense on items
excluded from adjusted earnings | (3 | ) | | (83 | ) | | .00 |
| | (.11 | ) |
Tax reform adjustment (6) | (4 | ) | | 18 |
| | (.01 | ) | | .02 |
|
| Adjusted earnings | 3,314 |
| | 3,226 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 4.16 |
|
Current period foreign currency impact (7) | (15 | ) | | N/A |
| | (.02 | ) | | N/A |
|
Adjusted earnings excluding current period
foreign currency impact | $ | 3,299 |
| | $ | 3,226 |
| | $ | 4.42 |
| | $ | 4.16 |
|
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Amortized hedge costs of $257 in 2019 and $236 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a decrease to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(3)Amortized hedge income of $89 in 2019 and $36 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as an increase to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(4) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount for 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(5) A gain of $66 in 2019 and $67 in 2018, respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of interest expense.
(6) The impact of Tax Reform was adjusted in 2018 for return-to-provision adjustments, various amended returns filed by the company, and final true-ups of deferred tax liabilities. Further impacts were recorded in 2019 a result of additional guidance released by the IRS.
(7) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.
Reconciling Items
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s growth and profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products. Realized investment gains and
losses include securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, derivative and foreign currency activities and changes in fair value of equity securities.
Securities Transactions, Impairments, and Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities
Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Impairments include other-than-temporary-impairment losses on investment securities as well as changes in loan loss reserves for loan receivables. Starting in the first quarter of 2018, gains and losses from changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earnings.
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options on certain fixed maturity securities; foreign currency forwards and options that economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency swaps and credit defaults swaps held in consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs); interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and interest rate swaptions to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate changes for certain dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities. Gains and losses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company also excludes the accounting impacts of remeasurement associated with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate from adjusted earnings. Amortized hedge costs/ income related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies (see Amortized Hedge Cost/Income section below), and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies and notes payable are reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings.
Amortized hedge costs/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. Amortized hedge costs and income have fluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the previously mentioned factors. For additional information regarding foreign currency hedging, refer to Hedging Activities in the Investments section of this MD&A.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other and Non-recurring Items
The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company excludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.
In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.
Nonrecurring items also include conversion costs related to legally converting the Company's Japan business to a subsidiary; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These Japan branch conversion costs were an immaterial amount for the year-ended December 31, 2019 and $75 million for the year-ended December 31, 2018.
Income Taxes
The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 25.7% in 2019 and 26.7% in 2018. The decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 drove the reduction in the effective tax rate for 2019 and 2018. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in both 2019 and 2018. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense.
For further information, see "Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes" in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Foreign Currency Translation
Aflac Japan’s premiums and approximately half of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and most expenses are paid in yen, and the Company purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. For information regarding the effect of currency fluctuations on the Company's business, see the Hedging Activities subsection within the Analysis of Financial Condition section of MD&A, the Currency Risk subsection within Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, and Notes 1 and 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. For information regarding how the Company’s investment strategy supports management of foreign currency risk, refer to the Investments subsection below.Distribution Channels
Insurance Products(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | |
| Third Sector Insurance | | | | Accident | |
| | Cancer | | | | Short-Term Disability | |
| | Medical | | | | Critical Care (2)
| |
| | Income Support | | | | Hospital Indemnity | |
| First Sector Insurance | | | | Dental | |
| | Life | | | | Vision | |
| | | Protection | | | | Life (Term and Whole) | |
| | | | Term | | | | | |
| | | | Whole | | | | | |
| | | Savings | | | | | |
| | | | WAYS | | | | | |
| | | | Child Endowment | | | | | |
(1) Actively marketed as of December 31, 2018
(2)Traditional Sales Channel Includes cancer, critical illness,This distribution channel includes individual agencies, independent corporate agencies and hospital intensive care productsaffiliated corporate agencies. Aflac Japan was represented by more than 9,000 sales agencies at the end of 2019, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies, including individual agencies.
BanksConsumers in Japan rely on banks to provide not only traditional bank services, but also as one key source to provide insurance solutions and other services. By the end of 2019, Aflac Japan had agreements with approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan to sell its products.
Dai-ichi LifeAflac Japan's alliance with Dai-ichi Life was launched in 2001, and approximately 40,000 Dai-ichi Life representatives offer Aflac's cancer products.
Japan Post GroupAflac Japan's alliance with Japan Post Group was launched in 2008. After the alliance strengthened in 2013, the number of postal outlets of Japan Post Co. Ltd. (JPC) selling Aflac Japan's cancer product increased to more than 20,000 since 2015. Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI) offers Aflac Japan cancer products through its 76 directly managed sales offices. In 2018, the Company’ entered a strategic alliance with Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan Post Holdings), the parent company of Japan Post Co. Ltd (JPC) and Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI). See the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of MD&A for more about this alliance.
Daido LifeIn 2013, Aflac Japan and Daido Life Insurance entered into an agreement for Daido to sell Aflac Japan's cancer insurance products specifically to the Hojinkai market, which is an association of small businesses. Currently, Daido also sells Aflac Japan's cancer insurance products to the market in the tax payment association, which is a not-for-profit association for small businesses to support tax related matters.
Competition
The Company competes with other insurance carriers through policyholder service, price, product design and sales efforts, as the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the deregulation of the Japan market in 2001. However, based on Aflac Japan's growth of annualized premiums in force and diversified distribution network, the Company does not believe that Aflac Japan's market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, the Company believes the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow Aflac Japan to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers. The Company believes Aflac Japan will remain a leading provider of cancer and medical insurance coverage in Japan, principally due to its experience in the market, well-known brand, low-cost operations, expansive marketing system and product expertise.
Regulation
Financial Services Agency (FSA) The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are designedsubject to help consumers payexamination by Japan's FSA. Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for medical and nonmedical coststhe Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that are not reimbursed under Japan's national health insurance system. Changes in Japan's economy and an aging population have put increasing pressure on Japan's national health care system. As a result, more costs have been shifted to Japanesediffer materially from U.S. generally
consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs.accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Capital and surplus of Aflac Japan, has respondedbased on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, was $7.8 billion at December 31, 2019, compared with $6.4 billion at December 31, 2018. Two FSA regulations applicable to this consumer needAflac Japan are outlined below.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by enhancing existing productsthe Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and developing new products.guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities. The FSA updated its guidelines regarding cybersecurity in October 2018.
FSA Solvency Standard
The foundationFSA maintains a solvency standard, the solvency margin ratio (SMR), which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 1,043%, compared with 965% at December 31, 2018. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread and foreign exchange rate changes. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of the MD&A for a discussion of measures the Company has taken to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continuesSMR.
Japan Company LawAs abranch of Aflac prior to be, its third sector products, which include cancer, medical and income support insurance products. Aflac pioneered the cancer insurance market in Japan in 1974, and remains the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan today. Over the years, Aflac Japan has customized its cancer insurance product to respond to, and anticipate, the needs of its consumers and the advances in medical treatments. The cancer insurance plans the Company offers in Japan provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of internal cancer and benefits for treatment received due to internal cancer such as fixed daily benefits for hospitalization, outpatient services and convalescent care, surgical benefits, and outpatient treatments. Aflac Japan has a unique Aflac-branded cancer insurance product for Japan's postal system, Japan Post (see the Distribution - Japan section for background information). In April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan introducedrepatriated a new cancer insurance product, DAYS 1, with enhanced cancer benefits. In additionportion of its accumulated earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, to providing benefits for hospitalization, outpatient treatment, surgery, radiation therapy and anti-cancer drug treatment, this product was designed to provide benefits to improve quality of life and to cover out-of-pocket expenses not directly related to medical treatment. At the same time,Aflac U.S. provided that Aflac Japan introduced DAYS 1 Plus to provide existing holders with up-to-date coverage. Ashad determined that it adequately protected policyholders' interests as measured by its SMR. After the number one providerconversion of cancer insurance in Japan, the Company believes these products further strengthen its brand, and most importantly, provide valuable benefits to consumers who are looking for solutions to manage cancer-related costs.
Aflac Japan's EVER product is a stand-alone, whole-life medical insurance product which offers a basic level of hospitalization coverage with an affordable premium. The current version of this product includes riders to be associated with three critical illnesses (cancer, heart attack, and stroke) to better respond to consumers' needs for coverage of serious illnesses. These riders provide policyholders with a benefit upon the diagnosis for those three critical illnesses, waiver of premium payment thereafter and unlimited hospital days for such critical illnesses. Since its initial introduction, Aflac Japan has expanded its suiteto a subsidiary structure on April 1, 2018 and starting in the fourth quarter of EVER product offerings to appeal to specific types of Japanese consumers and achieve greater market penetration. In 2017, Aflac Japan revised the EVER product by introducing riders for lump-sum hospitalization benefits and surgeries for female-specific diseases as well as strengthening outpatient benefits and reducing premiums centered on the young- to middle-aged market segments. This product also offers a short-pay premium period to policyholders. Gentle EVER, Aflac Japan's non-standard medical insurance product, was designed to meet the needs of certain consumers who cannot qualify for the base EVER plan.
In October 2018, Aflac Japan launched a new type of medical product referreddistributes dividends to as Health Promotion Medical Insurance wherethe Parent Company. Such dividends are subject to permitted dividend capacity under the Japan Company Law.
Policyholder ProtectionThe Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder is entitled to a partial refundprotection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information, see the policyholder protection section of the premium if the policyholders' “health age” measured by certain health check items is lower than his or her actual age. This product is marketed exclusively online and targeted at younger generations.
The Company believes that the affordable cancer and medical insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its product portfolio. Nevertheless, as the Company continues its long history of product innovation, Aflac Japan's product portfolio has expanded beyond traditional health-related products.
Aflac Japan's Income Support Insurance provides fixed-benefit amounts in the event that a policyholder is unable to work due to significant illness or injury and was developed to supplement the disability coverage within Japan’s social security system. This product targets young to middle-aged consumers, and by focusing efforts on this demographic, Aflac Japan believes it is building relationships that lay the groundwork for the sale of its cancer and medical insurance later in life to the Income Support policyholders.
Beginning in 2013, Aflac Japan began to curtail sales of first sector savings-type products, such as WAYS, child endowment and fixed annuities, due to persistent low interest rates in Japan and, in particular, the relatively large capital commitment required by such products and their lower profitability, in such an environment. Aflac Japan continues to sell first sector protection-type products, which include term and whole life, to provide Aflac Japan’s traditional sales channels with a more comprehensive product portfolio to continue to cross-sell with third sector products. In July 2018, Aflac Japan introduced a first sector protection whole life product with low cash surrender value, which offers non-smoking policyholders further discounted premiums.MD&A.
For additional information onregarding Aflac Japan's productsoperations and composition of sales,regulations, see the Aflac"Aflac Japan SegmentSegment" subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
U.S.
The Company designs its U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Most of Aflac's U.S. policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, Aflac U.S. started to market and administer group insurance products in 2009.
coverage, as Aflac U.S. insurance policies pay benefits regardless of other insurance. MostAflac U.S. products are distributed in the individual and group supplemental insurance markets. Aflac's individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or affiliation with a group, generally at the same premium. Individual policies are typically guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the Aflac U.S. insurance benefits are paid in cash directly to policyholders; therefore, customers have the opportunity to use this cash to help with expenses of their choosing.policyholder (to age 75 for short-term disability policies).
Insurance Products
Cancer InsuranceAflac U.S.'s cancer insurance products provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of cancer and subsequent benefits for treatment received due to cancer. Aflac U.S. offers cancer insurance on an individual basis.
Accident InsuranceAflac U.S. offers accident coverage on both an individual and group basis. These policies pay cash benefits in the event of a covered injury. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. Additional benefits are also available for home modifications, wellness and increased benefits for injuries related to participations in an organized sporting activity.
Short-Term Disability InsuranceAflac U.S. offers short-term disability benefits on both an individual and group basis. The individual short-term disability product hasoffers an Aflac Value Rider that pays a benefit, less claims, for every consecutive five-year term that the policy is in force.
Critical Illness InsuranceAflac U.S. offers coverage for critical careillness plans on both an individual and group basis. These policies are designed to pay cash benefits in the event of critical illnesses such as heart attack, stroke or cancer. On an individually underwritten basis, Aflac U.S. offers cancer plans, critical illness plans, and critical care and recovery plans (formerly called specified health event). On a group basis Aflac U.S. offers critical illness plans.
Hospital Indemnity InsuranceAflac U.S. offers hospital indemnity coverage on both an individual and group basis. Hospital indemnity products provide policyholders fixed dollar benefits triggered by hospitalization due to accident or sickness, or just sickness alone.sickness. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic events, are also available. Aflac U.S. also offers a lump sum rider for a range of critical illness events that can be added to its individual accident, short-term disability and hospital indemnity products. This rider, where available, provides a lump sum payment for a range of critical illness events including traumatic brain injury, Type 1 diabetes, advanced Alzheimer’s disease and many more. In January 2016, a new group hospital indemnity plan was introduced that includes 11 new benefits, including telemedicine and health screening. This plan provides flexibility, allowing the Company's clients to personalize their plan designs to complement the underlying medical coverage that is offered to employees.
Dental and Vision InsuranceAflac U.S. now offers additional coverages to those listed above, includingnetwork dental and vision and life policies.products on a group basis. Aflac U.S. offers fixed-benefit dental coverage on both an individual and group basis. Aflac U.S. offers Vision NowSM, an individually issued policy which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight as well as coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.
Life (Term and Whole)Aflac U.S. also offers term- and whole-life policies on both an individual and group basis.
Distribution Channels
Independent Associates/Career AgentsThe career agent channel in Aflac U.S. focuses on marketing Aflac to the small business market, defined as employers of between three and 99 employees. Sales associates in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions and other variable compensation based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
BrokersThe broker channel of Aflac U.S. focuses on selling to the mid- and large-case market, which is comprised of employers with 100 or more employees and typically an average size of 1,000 employees or more. Brokers in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
Aflac U.S. concentrates on marketing its insurance products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Aflac U.S. believes that worksite marketing enables sales associates and brokers to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business. Aflac U.S. is also expanding its distribution strategy to reach consumers outside of the traditional worksite through digital lead generation.
Competition
Aflac U.S. competes against several supplemental insurance carriers on a national and regional basis. Aflac U.S. believes its policies, premium rates, platforms, value-added services and sales commissions are competitive by product type. Moreover, Aflac U.S. believes that its products are distinct from competitive offerings given its product focus (including features, benefits and claims service model), distribution capabilities and brand awareness.
Since Aflac products provide an additional level of financial protection for policyholders, the Company believes the increased financial exposure some employees may face creates a favorable opportunity for Aflac U.S. products. However, given the profitability erosion some major medical carriers are facing in their core lines of business, the Company has seen a more competitive landscape as these carriers seek entry into Aflac's supplemental product segments and leverage their core benefit offerings by bundling and discounting products in order to gain market share.
One Day PaySM is a claims initiative that Aflac U.S. has focused on to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just one day. The Company believes that this claims practice enhances the Aflac U.S. brand reputation and the trust policyholders have in Aflac, and it helps Aflac stand out from competitors.
Regulation
Insurance RegulationThe Parent Company and its U.S. insurance subsidiaries, Aflac, CAIC, TOIC (Nebraska-domiciled insurance companies) and Aflac New York (a New York-domiciled insurance company) are subject to state regulations in the U.S. as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries and certain transactions between companies within the system, including management fees, loans and advances are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities. These laws generally require, among other things, the insurance holding company and each insurance company directly owned by the holding company to register with the insurance departments of their respective domiciliary states and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system.
Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC and TOIC are subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:
granting and revoking licenses to transact business
regulating trade and claims practices
licensing of insurance agents and brokers
approval of policy forms and premium rates
standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements
capital requirements
limitations on dividends to shareholders
the nature of and limitations on investments
deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders
filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities
periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies
The insurance laws of Nebraska that govern Aflac's activities provide that the acquisition or change of “control” of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI). A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a domestic insurance company or of any person controlling a domestic insurance company (in the case of Aflac, CAIC and TOIC, the Parent Company) must generally file with the NDOI an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy to Aflac. In Nebraska, control is generally presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, acquires 10% or more of an insurance company or of any other person or entity controlling the insurance company. The 10% presumption is not conclusive and control may be found to exist at less than 10%. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac's New York insurance subsidiary.
State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In 2016, full-scope, risk-focused financial examinations were conducted by the NDOI, New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) on their state domiciled insurance entities Aflac, Aflac New York, and CAIC, respectively. There were no material findings contained in the final exam reports. CAIC redomiciled to Nebraska as of December 2016 and TOIC redomiciled to Nebraska effective March 11, 2019. The NDOI and NYDFS are scheduled to conduct a full-scope comprehensive financial examination covering years 2016-2019 in 2020.
NAIC Risk-Based CapitalThe NAIC continually reviews regulatory matters, such as risk-based capital (RBC) modernization, group capital calculations, liquidity risk assessment and principle-based reserving. The NAIC has adopted a valuation manual containing a principle-based approach to calculation of life insurance reserves. The valuation manual became effective January 1, 2017. There is a three-year transition period, beginning January 1, 2017, during which companies can choose on a product by product basis to implement principle-based reserving for new business. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this manual will not cause a material impact on the statutory reserves of Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC or TOIC. The NAIC uses an RBC formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer's operations. The formulas for determining the amount of RBC specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company's regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. As of December 31, 2019, based on year-end statutory accounting results, Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 539%. The 2018 RBC as filed is lower than Aflac U.S. stand-alone RBC due to the inclusion of Aflac Japan for the first quarter of 2018. The RBC charge reflects the business risk without any total adjusted capital (TAC). Aflac's NAIC RBC ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position.
Guaranty Association and Similar ArrangementsUnder state insurance guaranty association laws and similar laws in international jurisdictions, the Company is subject to assessments, based on the share of business the Company writes in the relevant jurisdiction, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. In the U.S., some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. The Company's policy is to accrue assessments when the entity for which the insolvency relates has met its state of domicile's statutory
definition of insolvency, the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable and the related premium upon which the assessment is based is written. In most states, the definition is met with a declaration of financial insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Federal InitiativesFederal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including health care reform legislation, financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation, can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. Federal regulations applicable to Aflac U.S. are outlined below.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The ACA, federal health care reform legislation, gave the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. The reform included major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. The ACA, as enacted, does not require material changes in the design of the Company's insurance products. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and regulations could present challenges that could potentially have an impact on the Company's sales model, financial condition and results of operations. The U.S. Congress has considered and may continue to consider legislation that would repeal and replace key provisions of the ACA. There can be no assurance that any legislation affecting the ACA will be passed by Congress, nor as to the ultimate timing or provisions of any such legislation, nor as to the effect of any such legislation on the design or marketability of the Company's insurance products. Further, certain provisions of the ACA have been and may continue to be subject to challenge through litigation, the ultimate effects of which on the ACA are uncertain.
Dodd-Frank Act
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank) and regulations issued thereunder, in particular rules to require central clearing for certain types of derivatives, may have an impact on the Company's derivative activity, including activity on behalf of Aflac Japan. In addition, in 2015 and 2016, six U.S. financial regulators, including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), issued final rules regarding the exchange of initial margin (IM) and variation margin (VM) for uncleared swaps that impose greater obligations on swap dealers regarding uncleared swaps with certain counterparties, such as the Company. The requirements of such rules with respect to IM are currently being phased in and will be fully implemented by September 1, 2020, although an extension to September 1, 2021 is expected for covered entities with an aggregate average notional amount below $50 billion. The margin requirements are expected to result in more stringent collateral requirements and to affect other aspects of the Company's derivative activity.
The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office (FIO) under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Traditionally, U.S. insurance companies have been regulated primarily by state insurance departments. The FIO does not directly regulate the insurance industry, but under Dodd-Frank it has the power to preempt state insurance regulations that are inconsistent with international agreements reached by the federal government, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. The FIO and certain federal agencies must achieve consensus positions with the state insurance regulators when taking positions on insurance proposals by certain international forums. The President and Congress have stated proposals to reform or repeal certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, some of which have been implemented. The Company cannot predict with any degree of certainty what impact, if any, such proposals might have on Aflac's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act became effective January 1, 2020 and requires businesses to provide California consumers rights to access, delete, and restrict certain uses of their personal information. Under the law, the California Attorney General may not bring an enforcement action prior to July 1, 2020. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations).
Cybersecurity also continues to be an area of evolving focus for U.S. legislation and regulatory activity. In March 2017, new cybersecurity regulation issued by the NYDFS went into effect that requires covered entities, including Aflac New York, to maintain an information security program meeting certain security, data disposal, audit, activity
monitoring, and data encryption requirements. In October 2017, the NAIC adopted an Insurance Data Security Model Law that may be adopted in whole or in part by U.S. states in which the Company’s subsidiaries are licensed. Other states have adopted and, the Company expects, will continue to pass legislation and issue regulations related to cybersecurity. The Company anticipates, assesses and if necessary modifies its information security program to accommodate such changes.
For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, see the "Aflac U.S. Segment" subsection of the MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
The Company's other operations include the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries, results of reinsurance retrocession activities and a printing subsidiary. For additional information on Aflac'sthe Company's other operations, see the "Corporate and Other" subsection of the MD&A and Note 8 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had 6,178 employees, Aflac U.S. had 4,799 employees, and the Company's other operations had 752 employees.
Information about the Company's Executive Officers
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| NAME | PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(1) | AGE |
| Daniel P. Amos | Chairman, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2001; Chief Executive Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 1990; President, Aflac, since 2017; President, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2020 | 68 |
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| Koji Ariyoshi | Executive Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing, Aflac Japan, since 2012 | 66 |
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| Steven K. Beaver | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac U.S., since 2019; Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2019; Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Projects, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2017 until 2018; Vice President, Deputy Chief Accounting Officer, Tax Department, Aflac Incorporated, from 2015 until 2016; Vice President, Corporate Tax, Aflac Incorporated, from 2012 until 2014 | 55 |
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| Max K. Broden | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Aflac Incorporated, from 2017 until 2020; Senior Portfolio Manager, Norges Bank, from 2007 until 2017 | 41 |
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| Frederick J. Crawford | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, from 2015 until 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, CNO Financial Group, from 2012 until 2015 | 56 |
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| J. Todd Daniels | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Japan, since 2018; Executive Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, from 2016 until 2018; Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac, from 2015 until 2016; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary and Global Chief Risk Officer, Aflac, from 2014 until 2015; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2012 until 2014 | 49 |
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| June Howard | Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Treasurer, Aflac, from 2011 until 2015 | 53 |
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| Eric M. Kirsch | Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, since 2012; President, Aflac Asset Management LLC, since 2017 | 59 |
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| Masatoshi Koide | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan since 2017; Deputy President, Aflac Japan from 2016 until 2017; Executive Vice President, Aflac Japan from 2015 until 2016; First Senior Vice President, Aflac Japan, from 2013 until 2015 | 59 |
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| Charles D. Lake, II | President, Aflac International, since 2014; Chairman, Aflac Japan, since 2008 | 58 |
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| Albert A. Riggieri | Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, since 2018; Senior Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2016 until 2018; Group Chief Actuary, Unum Group, until 2016 | 64 |
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| Audrey B. Tillman | Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2014; Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, from 2008 until 2014 | 55 |
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| Teresa L. White | President, Aflac U.S., since 2014 | 53 |
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| Richard L. Williams Jr. | Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer, Aflac since 2017; Senior Vice President and General Manager, Stop Loss, Unum, U.S. in 2017; Senior Vice President, Growth Markets, Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company from 2013 until 2017 | 48 |
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(1)Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Company faces a wide range of risks, and its continued success depends on its ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect its business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.
Sales of the Company's products and compositionservices are dependent on its ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates, brokers and employees in the U.S. and sales associates and other distribution partners in Japan.
The Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if its sales networks deteriorate or if the Company does not adequately provide support, training and education for its existing network of sales associates, brokers, other distribution partners and employees. In the U.S., competition exists for sales associates and brokers with demonstrated ability. In Japan, the Company's sales results are dependent upon its relationship with sales associates and other distribution partners, including its strategic partner, Japan Post.
The Company competes with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of its products, compensation, support services and financial rating. The Company's sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners are independent contractors and may sell products of its competitors. If the Company's competitors offer products that are more attractive, or pay higher commissions than the Company does, any or all of these distribution partners may concentrate their efforts on selling the Company's competitors' products instead of the Company's. In addition to the Company's commissioned sales force in the U.S., Aflac has expanded its sales leadership team to include a salaried sales force of over 200 market directors and broker sales professionals. The Company's inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, as the Japan and U.S. employment markets continue to evolve, there is risk that the Company's practices regarding attracting, developing, and retaining employees may not be fully effective. Failure to successfully meet and maintain sufficient levels of employees may diminish the Company's ability to achieve its financial and compliance objectives, both of which are time consuming and personnel-intensive.
For more information on the strategic partnership with Japan Post, see the risk factor below entitled, " Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations."
Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations
As previously disclosed, in the second half of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 there have been news reports and public comments regarding improper sales practices relating to sales of JPI products by JPI and JPC, each an affiliate of Japan Post Holdings (together with JPI and JPC, the Japan Post Group). JPC and JPI are important distribution and alliance partners of the Company, which in 2018 collectively accounted for approximately 25% of Aflac Japan’s third sector sales. On July 24, 2019, after such news reports and other public comments, the Japan Post Group announced that they had established a Special Investigative Committee comprised of independent former prosecutors to determine whether JPC and JPI sales practices with respect to JPI products had caused disadvantages to customers holding such policies that were not otherwise the result of honoring such customers’ intentions.
On December 18, 2019, the Japan Post Group issued a release discussing results of the investigation and stating that JPI had identified a number of cases involving potential violation of laws and regulations or internal rules. On the same date, the Japan Post Group stated that it would continue the investigation with a goal of completing it by March 2020. On December 27, 2019, the Japanese FSA issued three-month business suspension orders to JPC and JPI for the sale of JPI insurance products, and the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also issued a three-month business suspension order to JPC for the sale of JPI insurance products. Also on December 27, 2019, the Japan Post Group announced the resignation of the chief executives of Japan Post Holdings, JPC and JPI, to be effective January 5, 2020. On January 31,
2020, the Japan Post Group announced that its internal investigation had been expanded to additional policyholders and the investigation would continue with a goal of completing it by the end of June 2020. The Japan Post Group stated they could not comment on the expected timing for it to re-initiate sales of JPI insurance products.
Notwithstanding the JPI investigation and the three-month suspension orders promulgated by the FSA and the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the sale of Aflac Japan cancer policies has continued through JPC and JPI. However, while the sale of Aflac Japan cancer insurance products is not within the scope of the suspension orders, beginning in August 2019 the Company has experienced a material decrease of sales in the Japan Post Group channel. This decline has continued into 2020. The Company believes that sales of Aflac Japan cancer insurance through JPC and JPI are unlikely to return to 2018 levels in the near term. It is uncertain what long-term effect these developments will have on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition, but any such effects could be material. See the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Competition could adversely affect the Company's ability to increase or maintain its market share or profitability.
The Company operates in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require the Company to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate the Company's products and services from those of its competitors. The Company also faces the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the U.S. Segmentand Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry, but some of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than the Company does. Further, some of these potential competitors could introduce new means of product development and delivery that disrupt the Company’s business model. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate the Company's products and services can affect the Company's ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business. Further, as employers and brokers are increasingly requesting a full-suite of products from one insurance provider, a failure to react and adapt to these demands could result in decreased sales or market share.
The insurance market is undergoing rapid changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The Company's future success will depend, in part, on its ability to keep pace with the technological changes and to use technology to satisfy and grow customer demand for the Company's products and services and to create additional efficiencies in its operations. The Company expects that it will need to continue making substantial investments in its technology and information systems to compete effectively and to stay current with technological changes. The Company may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. A failure to meet evolving customer demands through innovative product development, effective distribution channels, and continuous investment in the Company's technology could result in lower revenues and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could adversely affect the Company's operating results. As a result, the Company's ability to effectively compete to retain or acquire new business may be impaired, and its business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, the Company's financial results would be adversely affected.
The Company establishes premiums for many of its policies on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, longevity and persistency. The Company also establishes and carries, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims on its policies. The Company calculates these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums the Company will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets the Company purchases with a portion of its net cash flow from operations.
The assumptions and estimates that the Company uses in establishing premiums and reserves depend on the Company's judgment regarding the likelihood of future events and are inherently uncertain. Many factors can cause actual outcomes to deviate from these assumptions and estimates, such as changes in incidence rates, economic conditions, changes in government healthcare policy, advances in medical technology, changes in treatment patterns, and changes in average lifespan. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that it will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level the Company assumes prior to payment of benefits or claims. If the Company's actual experience is different from its assumptions or estimates, the Company's reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, the Company would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which it determines such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Generally, lower mortality decreases the profitability of third sector products in Japan, as more policyholders will survive into ages where they have a higher rate of claim incidence. This assumption can impact pricing and reserving. For instance, Japan FSA periodically requires updates to their Standard mortality tables for FSA reserves. An update to the Standard mortality tables was performed in April 2018 applicable to all business issued after that date. For business that is inforce prior to the update, the change in mortality table would not have an impact. For new issues, the updated mortality tables would be included in the Company's reserve assumptions, and slow the emergence of FSA earnings for third sector products and therefore will have an impact on pricing returns. The Company adjusts pricing assumptions as new products are developed to adjust for these mortality assumptions.
The success of the Company's business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology.
The Company's business depends in large part on its technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders, sales associates, and brokers, and the Company's business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs and ensuring employees have the technology in place to support those needs. Some of the Company's information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards including adequate business continuity procedures. The Company is in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing its business systems; however, these changes tend to challenge the Company's complex integrated environment. The Company's success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support its business processes in a cost-efficient manner. If the Company does not maintain the effectiveness of its systems, the Company's operations and reputation could be adversely affected and it could be exposed to litigation as well as to regulatory proceedings and fines or penalties.
Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and loan receivables in the Company's investment portfolio may reduce the Company's earnings and capital position.
The Company is subject to the risk that the issuers and/or guarantors of fixed maturity securities and loan receivables the Company owns may default on principal or interest. A significant portion of the Company's portfolio represents an unsecured obligation of the issuer, including some that may be subordinated to other debt in the issuer’s capital structure. In these cases, many factors can influence the overall creditworthiness of the issuer and ultimately its ability to service and repay the Company's holdings. This can include changes in the global economy, the company's assets, strategy, or management, shifts in the dynamics of the industries in which they compete, their access to additional funding, and the overall health of the credit markets. Factors unique to the Company's securities including contractual protections such as financial covenants or relative position in the issuer's capital structure also influence the value of the Company's holdings.
Most of the Company's investments carry a rating by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs or rating agencies). Any change in the rating agencies' approach to evaluating credit and assigning an opinion could negatively impact the fair value of the Company's portfolio. The Company employs a team of credit analysts to monitor the creditworthiness of the issuers in its portfolio. Any credit-related declines in the fair value of positions held in the Company's portfolio believed to be not temporary in nature will negatively impact the Company's net income and capital position through impairment and other credit related losses. These losses would also affect the Company's solvency ratios in the U.S. and Japan. Aflac Japan has certain regulatory accounting requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by credit-related losses, which may be different from U.S. GAAP and statutory requirements. These impairment losses could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings, and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
The Company is also subject to the risk that any collateral providing credit enhancement to the Company's positions could deteriorate. These instruments may include senior secured first lien loans, such as commercial mortgage loans, bank loans, middle market loans, and loan-backed securities where the underlying loan or collateral notes may default on principal, interest, or other payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows to the positions held in the Company's investment portfolio.
The Company is exposed to sovereign credit risk through instruments issued directly by governments and government entities as well as banks and other institutions that rely in part on the strength of the underlying government for their credit quality. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, many governments, especially in Europe, have been subject to rating downgrades due to the need for fiscal and budgetary remediation and structural reforms, reduced economic activity, and investment needed to support banks or other systemically important entities. Additional downgrades or default of the Company's sovereign issuers will have a negative impact on its portfolio and could reduce the Company's earnings and capital.
In addition to the Company's exposure to the underlying fundamental credit strength of the issuers of its fixed maturity securities and the underlying risk of default, the Company is also exposed to the general movement in credit market spreads. A widening of credit spreads could reduce the value of the Company's existing portfolio, create unrealized losses on its investment portfolio, and reduce the Company's adjusted capital position which is used in determining the SMR in Japan. This widening of credit spreads could, however, increase the net investment income on new credit investments. Conversely, a tightening of credit spreads could increase the value of the Company's existing portfolio and create unrealized gains on its investment portfolio. This tightening of credit spreads could also reduce the net investment income available to the Company on new credit investments. Increased market volatility also makes it difficult to value certain of the Company's investment holdings (see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, of this Form 10-K).
For more information regarding credit risk, see the Credit Risk subsection of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
The Company is exposed to significant interest rate risk, which may adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
The Company has substantial investment portfolios that support its policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments experienced in Japan and the U.S. over the last decade have reduced the level of investment income earned by the Company. The Company's overall level of investment income will be negatively impacted in a persistent low-interest-rate environment. While the Company generally seeks to maintain a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the cash flow and duration characteristics of the liabilities it supports, the Company may not be able to fully mitigate the interest rate risk of its assets relative to its liabilities. The Company's exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the ability to invest future cash flows to support the interest rate assumption made at the time the Company's products were priced and the related reserving assumptions were established. A sustained decline in interest rates could hinder the Company's ability to earn the returns assumed in the pricing and the reserving for its products at the time they were sold and issued. Due to low interest rates, the Company's ability to earn the returns it expects may also influence the Company's ability to develop and price attractive new products and could impact its overall sales levels. The Company's first sector products are more interest rate sensitive than third sector products. As discussed in Item 1. Business, beginning in 2013, Aflac Japan began to curtail sales of first sector savings-type products due to persistent low interest rates in Japan. The continuing negative interest rate imposed by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on excess bank reserves could continue to have a negative impact on the distribution and pricing of these products.
A rise in interest rates could improve the Company's ability to earn higher rates of return on future investments, as well as floating rate investments held in its investment portfolio. However, an increase in the differential of short-term U.S. and Japan interest rates would increase the cost of hedging a portion of the U.S. dollar-denominated assets in the Aflac Japan segment into yen, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company’s floating rate investments typically bear interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Regulatory and industry initiatives to eliminate LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in the valuation of LIBOR-based loans, as well as for other LIBOR-based derivatives and assets. This may adversely impact both pricing and liquidity in such instruments. The Company is unable to predict with certainty how LIBOR elimination may impact markets, pricing, liquidity and other factors or the Company's activities.
Changes in interest rates impact unrealized gains and losses of fixed income securities in the Company's investment portfolio; however, they do not have a direct impact on the related valuation of the corresponding liabilities. Prolonged periods of low interest rates, as have been experienced in recent years, heighten the risk associated with future increases in interest rates because an increasing proportion of the Company's investment portfolio includes investments that bear lower rates of return than the embedded book yield of the investment portfolio. A rise in interest rates could decrease the fair value of the Company's debt securities. Some of the insurance products that Aflac sells in the U.S. and Japan provide cash surrender values. A rise in interest rates could trigger significant policy surrenders, which might require the Company to sell investment assets and recognize unrealized losses. This situation is commonly referred to as disintermediation risk. The Company generally invests its assets to match the duration and cash flow characteristics of its policy liabilities, and therefore would not expect to realize most of these gains or losses, however, the Company's risk is that unforeseen events or economic conditions, such as changes in interest rates resulting from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond the Company's control will reduce the effectiveness of this strategy. These events or economic conditions could either cause the Company to dispose of some or all of these investments prior to their maturity, or increase the risk that the issuers of these securities may default or may require impairment, which could result in the Company having to recognize such gains or losses.
Rising interest rates also negatively impact the SMR since unrealized losses on the available-for-sale investment portfolio factor into the ratio. For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Further, interest rate risk is still an inherent portfolio, business and capital risk for the Company, and significant changes in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, changes in unrealized positions, and liquidity.
For more information regarding interest rate risk, see the Interest Rate Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in this report.
The Company's concentration of business in Japan poses risks to its operations.
The Company's operations in Japan, including realized gains and losses on Aflac Japan's investment portfolio, accounted for 69% of the Company's total revenues in 2019, and 70% in both 2018 and 2017. The Japanese operations accounted for 83% of the Company's total assets at December 31, 2019, compared with 84% at December 31, 2018.
Further, because of the concentration of the Company's business in Japan and its need for long-dated yen-denominated assets, the Company has a substantial concentration of Japan Government Bond (JGBs) in its investment portfolio. As such the Company has material exposure to the Japanese economy, geo-political climate, political regime, and other factors that generally determine a country's creditworthiness. Specifically, the NRSROs, credit rating agencies registered with the SEC, have placed increased scrutiny on JGBs, which are a significant component of the Company’s overall investment portfolio, resulting in downgrades as discussed later in this Risk Factors section.
The Company seeks to match investment currency and interest rate risk to its yen liabilities. The low level of interest rates available on yen-denominated securities has a negative effect on overall net investment income. A large portion of the cash available for reinvestment each year is deployed in yen-denominated instruments and subject to the low level of yen interest rates.
Any potential deterioration in Japan's credit quality, market access, the overall economy of Japan, or Japanese market volatility could adversely impact the business of Aflac in general and specifically Aflac Japan and its related results of operations and financial condition.
Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
The Company attempts to match both the duration and currency of its assets with its liabilities. This is very difficult for Aflac Japan due to the lack of available long-dated yen-denominated fixed income instruments beyond JGBs.
Prior to the onset of the financial crisis of 2008, the Company was focused on investing cash flows in JGBs, which had relatively low yields, and utilizing private placement and perpetual securities to gain additional yield, extend the duration of the investment portfolio, and maintain yen exposure. Given call activity with respect to certain of the Company's legacy private placement investments, the Company has added a modest amount of yen-denominated private placements to its investment portfolio in recent periods. The investment in private placements carries risk associated with illiquidity, which is managed and monitored by the Company.
Starting in 2012, Aflac Japan augmented its investment strategy to include U.S. dollar-denominated investments, some of which could then be hedged back to yen. Initially this program focused on public investment-grade bonds but has evolved over time to include U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade commercial mortgage loans, middle market loans, infrastructure debt, as well as other loan types, high yield bond and public and private equities. The Company plans to continue adding other instruments denominated in U.S. dollars, including floating rate investments, to improve the portfolio diversification and/or return profile. Some of the U.S. dollar-denominated asset classes that the Company has added, and anticipates continuing to add, have less liquidity than investment-grade corporate bonds. These strategies will continue to increase the Company's exposure to U.S. interest rates, credit spreads and other risks. The Company has increased foreign exchange risk exposure as the comprehensive hedging program may not always correlate to the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated assets, thereby increasing earnings volatility. These risks can significantly impact the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Investing in U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan also creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and related SMR volatility, as Aflac Japan’s insurance liabilities are yen-denominated. Although the Company engages in certain foreign exchange hedging activities to partially mitigate this risk, and such hedged assets may be used to satisfy yen-denominated insurance liabilities and other business obligations, important risks remain.
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. Cumulative net cash settlements on derivatives hedging currency exposure of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments are associated with existing U.S. dollar-denominated investments that continue to be hedged, previously hedged investments that continue to be held but are no longer hedged, as well as, investments previously hedged that have since been sold, matured or redeemed and may or may not have not been converted to yen. The Company’s foreign exchange derivatives are typically shorter-dated than the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated investments being hedged, which creates roll-over risks within the hedging program that could increase the cost of such derivatives. If the Company reduces the notional amount of foreign exchange derivatives prior to the maturity of the hedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, the foreign exchange gains or losses on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments remain economically unrealized. These foreign currency gains or losses on the investments are only economically realized, or monetized, through sale, maturity or redemption of the investments and concurrent conversion to yen. However, the Company may not realize the benefit of offsetting adverse cash settlements on hedging derivatives with cash receipts on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments if the currency exchange rates move in an adverse direction before the investments are converted to yen, or if the investments are never converted to yen. As an example of the latter, if the Company’s actual insurance risk experience in Japan is as expected or more favorable than expected, the need for yen to pay expenses and claims would correspondingly remain at or below expected levels, thereby diminishing operational requirements to convert U.S. dollar-denominated investments to yen. The settlement of the foreign exchange derivatives is reported in the investing activities section of the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows in the line item “Settlement of derivatives, net.”
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor entitled, “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.” For more information regarding Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments and hedging activities, see the "Hedging Activities"subsection within the MD&A of this report, and for more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the "Currency Risk" subsection within the Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk section in this report.
If the Company fails to comply with restrictions on customer privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that its third-party service providers and business associates who access, store, process or transmit sensitive customer information maintain its security, integrity, confidentiality and availability, the Company's reputation and business operations could be materially adversely affected.
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal GLBA and in the HIPAA. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the APPI and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities.
The Company relies on third parties, and in some cases subcontractors, to provide information technology and data services. It also relies on various parties in its distribution channels including agencies, banks and Japan Post in Japan, as well as sales associates and brokers in the U.S., to provide services to prospective and existing customers. Although the Company provides for appropriate protections through its contracts and performs information security risk assessments of its third-party service providers and business associates, the Company still has limited control over their actions and practices. In addition, despite the security measures the Company has in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules, the Company's facilities and systems, and those of the Company's third-party providers and participants in its distribution channels may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. In such cases, notification to affected individuals, state and federal regulators, state attorneys general and media may be required, depending upon the number of affected individuals and whether personal information including health or financial data was subject to unauthorized access.
The U.S. Congress and many states are considering new privacy and security requirements that would apply to the Company's business. Compliance with new privacy and security laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost
increases due to necessary systems changes, new limitations or constraints on the Company's business models, the development of new administrative processes, and the effects of potential noncompliance by the Company's business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on the Company's collection, disclosure and use of customer identifiable data that are housed in one or more of the Company's administrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss, theft or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential customer information, whether by the Company or by one of its third parties, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, reputation, brand and results of operations, including: material fines and penalties; compensatory, special, punitive and statutory damages; consent orders regarding the Company's privacy and security practices; adverse actions against the Company's licenses to do business; and injunctive relief.
In addition, under Japanese laws and regulations, including the APPI, if a leak or loss of personal information by Aflac Japan or its business associates should occur, depending on factors such as the volume of personal data involved and the likelihood of other secondary damage, Aflac Japan may be required to file reports to the FSA; issue public releases explaining such incident to the public; or become subject to an FSA business improvement order, which could pose a risk to the Company's reputation.
Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, could harm the Company's business.
The Company stores confidential policyholder, employee, agent, and other proprietary information on its information technology systems. In addition, the Company depends heavily on its telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data it uses to run its businesses and service its customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond the Company's control. Additionally, design flaws may exist in certain systems, processes, software, or configurations that in turn may result in system failure, data corruption, or compromise. Despite the Company's implementation of a variety of security measures to defend against threats incurred on a daily basis, its information technology and other systems, as well as those of third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been and will likely continue to be subject to physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks, that may result in the failure to adequately maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity, or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to customers and prospective customers, or in the misappropriation of the Company's intellectual property or proprietary information.
From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. Although the minor data leakage issues the Company has experienced to date have not had a material effect on its business, there is no assurance that the Company's security systems or processes will prevent or mitigate future break-ins, tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks. Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, whether due to actions by the Company or others, including third party providers and participants in the company’s distribution channels, could delay or disrupt the Company's ability to do business and service its customers, seriously harm the Company's brand and reputation as well as the Company's ability to compete effectively, subject it to regulatory sanctions and other claims, lead to a loss of customers and revenues and otherwise adversely affect the Company's business. In addition, the costs to address or remediate system interruptions or security threats and vulnerabilities, whether before or after an incident, could be significant.
While the Company continues to invest in the infrastructure of its data security programs, the Company, as well as its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been, and will likely continue to be, the target of unauthorized access, social engineering, phishing, cyber-attacks, web application attacks, computer viruses or other malicious codes, or other computer-related penetrations. Although the Company attempts to manage its exposure to such events through the purchase of cyber liability insurance, such events are inherently unpredictable and insurance may not be sufficient to protect the Company against all losses. As a result, events such as these could adversely affect the Company's financial condition or results of operation.
Catastrophic events could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations as well as the availability of the Company’s infrastructure and systems.
The Company's insurance operations are exposed to the risk of catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, and terrorism or other acts of violence. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Certain events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and man-made catastrophes could cause substantial damage or loss of life in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Claims resulting from natural or man−made catastrophic events could cause substantial volatility in the Company's financial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce its profitability or harm the Company's financial condition, as well as affect its ability to write new business.
Additionally, the Company's business operations may be adversely affected by such catastrophic events to the extent they disrupt the Company's physical infrastructure, human resources or systems that support its businesses and customers. Although the Company has a global crisis management framework to minimize the business disruption from a catastrophic event, such framework may not be effective to avoid an adverse impact to the Company from such an event.
Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business.
The Company's results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the global economy generally, including in its two primary operating markets of the U.S. and Japan. Weak global financial markets impact the value of the Company's existing investment portfolio, influence opportunities for new investments, and may contribute to generally weak economic fundamentals, which can have a negative impact on its operating activities.
In recent years, global capital markets have been severely impacted by several major events. The financial crisis that began in the latter part of 2008 saw dramatic declines in investment values and weak economic conditions as the global financial system came under extreme pressure. Although U.S. markets began recovering in late 2009 and 2010, Europe continued to struggle under a severely weakened banking system and investor concerns with sovereign debt levels. Following a period of unprecedented intervention by governments and central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB), financial conditions improved from the dire conditions of the global financial crisis, global recession, and European debt crisis. More recently, global markets have experienced bouts of volatility due to uncertainty surrounding a British exit from the European Union, Japan’s continued recovery amidst assorted policy changes, volatility in global commodity prices including oil, divergent monetary policies in the U.S. versus many other developed economies, heightened concerns surrounding the Chinese economy and increasing protectionism in U.S. foreign trade policy. While capital and market conditions have been generally favorable in the last year, the prospect for increased volatility remains.
A shift in the global trading policies by the U.S. and subsequent trade conflict with China has raised concerns about a slowdown of the Chinese economy and the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and China left tariffs in place and many trade issues unresolved. In addition, the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan resulted in tariff reductions on some products but left tariffs on other products in place. While it is not expected that the Company's products would be directly impacted by tariffs, any resulting economic downturn could adversely affect the Company.
Activity by the government of North Korea in 2018 was the subject of increasing focus for a number of other governments, including those of the U.S. and Japan. Although hostile rhetoric decreased in 2019, there is a possibility of renewed hostility between their governments. In addition, in January 2020, hostility between the government of the U.S. and the government of Iran increased, ultimately culminating in a number of missile strikes. Such activity and related geopolitical risk could have a significant impact on financial market conditions across the world. Under certain circumstances, government actions taken in response to these or similar situations could have a material impact on the Company's operations and financial performance, including the indirect impact of potentially severe and prolonged capital market volatility and disruption.
As the Company holds a significant amount of fixed maturity securities issued by borrowers located in many different parts of the world, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions, sovereigns, and other corporate borrowers in the U.S. and Europe, its financial results are directly influenced by global financial markets. A retrenchment of the recent strength of the capital markets could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, including its capital position and overall profitability. Market volatility and recessionary pressures could result in significant realized or unrealized losses due to severe price declines driven by increases in interest rates or credit spreads, defaults in payment of principal or interest, or credit rating downgrades.
Following the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in December 2012, the new administration adopted a new set of financial measures to stimulate the Japanese economy, including imposing negative interest rates on excess bank reserves. In December 2014 and October 2017 snap-elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won decisive victories further strengthening Mr. Abe's ability to continue with economic reforms and address key policy challenges. In September 2018, Mr. Abe won reelection to another three-year term as president of the LDP. Most recently, the BoJ signaled to hold its policy rate at zero and to continue yield curve control to maintain a targeted yield on the 10-year JGB. Prime Minister Abe’s election victories may result in the continuation of current monetary policy, but there can be no guarantee that this is the case.
Japan is the largest market for the Company's products, and the Company owns substantial holdings in JGBs. Government actions to stimulate the economy affect the value of the Company's existing holdings, its reinvestment rate on new investments in JGBs or other yen-denominated assets, and consumer behavior relative to the Company's suite of products. The additional government debt from fiscal stimulus actions could adversely impact the Japan sovereign credit profile, which could in turn lead to volatility in Japanese capital and currency markets.
The Company's investment portfolio has sizeable credit positions in many other geographic areas of the world including the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and other emerging markets. Deterioration in their underlying economies, sovereign credit worthiness, or financial market conditions could negatively impact the Company's financial position.
While the Company has continued to add floating rate investments to its investment portfolio, most of its investment portfolio holdings are income-producing bonds that provide a fixed level of income. Many of the Company's investments were made at the relatively low level of interest rates prevailing over the last decade. Any increase in the market yields of the Company's holdings due to an increase in interest rates could create substantial unrealized losses in the Company's portfolio, as discussed further in a separate risk factor in this section of the Form 10-K.
The Company needs liquidity to pay its operating expenses, dividends on its common stock, interest on its debt, and liabilities. For a further description of the Company's liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of MD&A in this report. In the event the Company's current resources do not meet its needs, the Company may need to seek additional financing. The Company's access to additional funding will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and its credit rating.
Should investors become concerned with any of the Company's investment holdings, including the concentration in JGBs, its access to market sources of funding could be negatively impacted. There is a possibility that lenders or debt investors may also become concerned if the Company incurs large investment losses or if the level of the Company's business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the U.S. or Japan, specifically, or generally in developed markets. Similarly, the Company's access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions. See more information on recent rating actions later in this Risk Factors section.
Broad economic factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of the Company's business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as Aflac that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires and total employees. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead the Company's customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect the Company's premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. The Company is unable to predict the course of the global financial markets or the recurrence, duration or severity of disruptions in such markets.
Events, including those external to the Company's operations, could damage the Company's reputation.
The Company has made significant investments in the Aflac brand over a long period of time. Because insurance products are intangible, the Company's ability to compete for and maintain policyholders relies to a large extent on consumer trust in the Company's business, including its alliance partners, sales associates and other distribution partners. The perception of unfavorable business practices or financial weakness with respect to the Company, its alliance partners, sales associates or other distribution partners could create doubt regarding the Company's ability to honor the commitments it has made to its policyholders. Such a perception could also negatively impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition. Maintaining the Company's stature as a trustworthy
insurer and responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strength of the Company's brand, is critical to the Company's reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect the Company's brand value, financial condition and results of operations. For example, negative publicity or allegations of unfavorable business practices or poor governance can be rapidly and widely shared over social or traditional media or other means, and could reduce demand for the Company's insurance products, reduce the Company's ability to recruit and retain employees, or lead to greater regulatory scrutiny of the Company's operations.
Extensive regulation and changes in legislation can impact profitability and growth.
Aflac's insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including the FSA and Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, and state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FIO, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the U.S. Treasury, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in the U.S., each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. In addition, proposals regarding the global regulation of insurance are under discussion, and changes to corporate form that attend the conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary may introduce new forms of regulation compared to those with which the Company has historically been subject. For example, AAMJ is licensed as a discretionary asset manager under the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is subject to rules of the Japan Investment Advisors Association, a self-regulatory organization with mandatory membership for Japan investment managers. Consequently, the Company is subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may not result in compliance with another regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to the Company's detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change the Company's views regarding the actions the Company needs to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to the Company's practices that may, in some cases, limit its ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of the Company's business.
The primary purpose of insurance company regulatory supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the U.S. and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:
standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof
standards of minimum capital and reserve requirements and solvency margins, including RBC measures
restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between the Company's insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements
restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments
restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that the Company can include in the insurance policies offered by its primary insurance operations
limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay
the existence and licensing status of a company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business
certain required methods of accounting
reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes
assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies
administrative practices requirements
imposition of fines and other sanctions
Regulatory authorities periodically re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. If the Company's subsidiaries fail to meet the minimum capital or operational requirements established by its respective regulators, they could be subject to examination or corrective action, or the Company's financial strength ratings could be downgraded, or both.
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase the Company's direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus having a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Companyis exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the yen and the U.S. dollar can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan's premiums and approximately half of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when yen weakens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes fewer U.S. dollars to be reported. When yen strengthens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes more U.S. dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the U.S. dollar will generally adversely affect the value of the Company's yen-denominated investments in U.S. dollar terms.
The Company engages in certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to its net investment in operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope, and the Company cannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective.
Unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities held by Aflac Japan are exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations, which impact SMR. In periods of yen strengthening, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments will experience unrealized foreign exchange losses, negatively impacting SMR. This impact increases when the size of the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio increases, which can occur due to the purchase of additional unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, or through termination or expiration of existing hedges. Unrealized currency gains and losses on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities are monetized (or, in other words, are economically realized) only upon converting the proceeds from the sale, maturity or redemption of these securities to yen, which primarily occurs when yen are needed to satisfy policyholder obligations or other business expenses of Aflac Japan. To mitigate exposure to the foreign exchange risk from U.S. dollar-denominated investments and to reduce SMR volatility, the Company engages in certain currency hedging activities. However, these hedging activities are limited in scope and the Company cannot provide assurance that its hedging strategies will be effective. As a result, periods of unusually volatile currency exchange rates could result in limitations on dividends available to the Parent Company.
As indicated in the MD&A, the Company has determined that the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio acts as a natural economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company’s investment in Aflac Japan against erosion of economic value. However, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio at the same time creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and subjects Aflac Japan to volatility in regulatory capital and earnings, which may adversely impact Aflac Japan’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. The overall investment strategy in Aflac Japan is guided primarily by the objective of securing the long-term financial strength of Aflac Japan and funding of yen liabilities. As a result, the Company has historically maintained and currently maintains the size of the unhedged portfolio at levels below the economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan. However, there can be no assurance that this strategy will be successful.
Furthermore, for regulatory accounting purposes, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by changes in the rate of exchange between the yen and U.S. dollar and could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into U.S. dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in the Company's U.S. dollar-denominated cash flows and earnings when exchange gains or losses, respectively, are realized. This primarily occurs when the Company dividends funds from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company, but it also has an impact when cash in the form of yen is converted to U.S. dollars for investment into U.S. dollar-denominated assets. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of dividend payment may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. In 2018, the Parent Company began entering into forward contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by Aflac Japan, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. If the markets experience a significant strengthening of yen, this could cause cash strain at the Parent Company as a result of cash collateral and potentially cash settlement requirements. Based on the timing and severity of exchange rate fluctuations combined with the level of outstanding activity in this program, the cash strain at the Parent Company could be significant.
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor below entitled, “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial
position or liquidity”. For more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the Currency Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A.
Tax rates applicable to the Company may change.
The Company is subject to taxation in Japan, and in the U.S. under federal and numerous state and local tax jurisdictions. In preparing the Company's financial statements, the Company estimates the amount of tax that will become payable, but the Company's effective tax rate may be different than estimates due to numerous factors including accounting for income taxes, the mix of earnings from Japan and the U.S., the results of tax audits, adjustments to the value of uncertain tax positions, changes to estimates and other factors. Further, changes in U.S. or Japan tax laws or interpretations of such laws could increase the Company's corporate taxes and reduce earnings.
In addition, it remains difficult to predict the timing and effect that future tax law changes could have on the Company's earnings both in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. Any of these factors could cause the Company to experience an effective tax rate significantly different from previous periods or the Company's current estimates. If the Company's effective tax rate were to increase, the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
A decline in the creditworthiness of other financial institutions could adversely affect the Company.
The Company has exposure to and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including broker dealers, derivative counterparties, commercial banks and other institutions.
The Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate various risks associated with its investment portfolio, notes payable, and subsidiary dividends. The Company enters into a variety of agreements involving assorted instruments including foreign currency forward contracts; foreign currency options; foreign currency swaps; and interest rate swaps and swaptions. The Company's use of derivatives results in financial exposure to derivative counterparties. If the Company's counterparties fail or refuse to honor their obligations under derivative instruments, the Company's hedges of the risks will be ineffective, and the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company engages in derivative transactions directly with unaffiliated third parties under International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements and other documentation. Most of the ISDA agreements also include Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) provisions, which generally provide for two-way collateral postings at the first dollar of exposure. The Company mitigates the risk that counterparties to transactions might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring counterparty credit exposure and collateral value while generally requiring that collateral be posted at the outset of the transaction. In addition, a significant portion of the derivative transactions have provisions that give the counterparty the right to terminate the transaction upon a downgrade of Aflac’s financial strength rating. The actual amount of payments that the Company could be required to make, depends on market conditions, the fair value of outstanding affected transactions, and other factors prevailing at and after the time of the downgrade. If the Company is required to post collateral to support derivative contracts and/or pay cash to settle the contracts at maturity, the Company's liquidity could be strained. In addition, the Company's cleared swaps result in counterparty exposure to clearing brokers and central clearinghouses; while this exposure is mitigated in part by clearinghouse and clearing broker capital and regulation, no assurance can be provided that these counterparties will fulfill their obligations. The Company also has exposure to counterparties to securities lending transactions in the event they fail to return loaned securities. The Company is also exposed to the risk that there may be a decline in value of securities posted as collateral for securities lending programs or a decline in value of investments made with cash posted as collateral for such programs.
Further, the Company has agreements with various financial institutions for the distribution of its insurance products. For example, at December 31, 2019, the Company had agreements with 367 banks to market Aflac's products in Japan. Sales through these banks represented 4.3% of Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales in 2019. Any material adverse effect on these or other financial institutions could also have an adverse effect on the Company's sales.
The Company has entered into significant reinsurance transactions with large, highly rated counterparties. Negative events or developments affecting any one of these counterparties could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
All of these risks related to exposure to other financial institutions could adversely impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
The determination of the amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments is based on significant valuation judgments and could materially impact its results of operations or financial position.
An investment in a fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below book value. The Company regularly reviews its entire investment portfolio for declines in value. The majority of the Company's investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using the Company's debt impairment model.
The Company's debt impairment model includes emphasis on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.
For the Company's fixed maturity securities reported in the available-for-sale portfolio, the Company reports the investments at fair value in the statement of financial condition and records any unrealized gain or loss in the value of the asset in accumulated other comprehensive income. For the Company's held-to-maturity securities portfolio, the Company reports the investments at amortized cost. Under the debt impairment model, the determination of whether an impairment in value is other than temporary is based largely on the Company's evaluation of the issuer's creditworthiness. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. The Company also verifies whether it has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. If the Company determines it is unlikely to recover the book value of the instrument prior to disposal of the security, the Company will reduce the carrying value of the security to its fair value and recognize any associated impairment loss in the Company's consolidated statement of earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss.
For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, credit-related losses, or changes in foreign exchange, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividend and capital deployment.
The Company's management updates its evaluations regularly as conditions change and as new information becomes available and reflects impairment losses in the Company's income statement when considered necessary. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.
U.S. tax audit risk related to conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary could adversely impact the Company's financial position.
The conversion of the Japan branch to a legal subsidiary, which the Company executed in the second quarter of 2018, was a complex, tax-free transaction that is conditioned on the continued validity of a private letter ruling the Company received from the IRS. Notwithstanding the receipt of the private letter ruling, the IRS could determine that the Japan branch conversion should be treated as a taxable transaction. For example, the IRS could conclude that the representations, assumptions and covenants on which the private letter ruling is based are untrue, not accurate, or have not been fulfilled. If the IRS made such a conclusion, the Company could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities or litigation costs to defend the tax-free treatment of the transaction outlined by the private letter ruling. Such liabilities or costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
As a holding company, the Parent Company depends on the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to meet its debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock.
The Parent Company is a holding company and has no direct operations, and its most significant assets are the stock of its subsidiaries. Because the Parent Company conducts its operations through its operating subsidiaries, the Parent Company depends on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet its debt service and other obligations, to pay dividends on and conduct repurchases of its common stock, and to make investments into its subsidiaries or external investment opportunities.
Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to insurance regulations that impose certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve
service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. After the Japan branch conversion, the Nebraska insurance department and the FSA approved their respective domiciled insurance company service arrangements and transactions. The FSA does not allow dividends or other payments from Aflac Japan unless it meets certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary will be defined as retained earnings plus other capital reserve less net after-tax net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities.
The ability of Aflac and Aflac Japan to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could also be constrained by the Company's dependency on financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies. The Company's ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on Aflac's capitalization level. Any inability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
For the foregoing reasons, there is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, the Parent Company's operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to enable the Company to operate.
Any decrease in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings may have an adverse effect on its competitive position and access to liquidity and capital.
Financial strength ratings can play an important role in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. On an ongoing basis, NRSROs review the financial performance and condition of many insurers, including the Company and its competitors. They may assign multiple ratings including a financial strength rating, reflecting their view of the insurer’s ability to pay claims on a timely basis, and ratings on an insurer’s senior and subordinated debt obligations, indicating their view of an insurer’s ability to make timely payments on their debt obligations.
NRSROs may change their ratings or outlook on an insurer's ratings due to a variety of factors including the NRSRO’s assessment of the insurer’s strength of operations and overall financial condition. Some factors that may influence ratings include competitive position; profitability; cash generation and other sources of liquidity; capital levels; quality of the investment portfolio; and perception of management capabilities. The ratings assigned to the Company by the NRSROs are important factors in the Company's ability to access liquidity and capital from the bank market, debt capital markets or other available sources, such as reinsurance transactions. Downgrades to the Company's credit ratings could give its derivative counterparties the right to require early termination of derivatives transactions or delivery of additional collateral, thereby adversely affecting the Company's liquidity.
In view of the difficulties experienced after the financial crisis by many financial institutions, including those in the insurance industry, the NRSROs have heightened the level of scrutiny that they apply to such institutions. Steps taken by the NRSROs include an increase in the frequency and scope of their reviews, additional information requests from the companies that they rate, including additional information regarding the valuation of investment securities held, and, in certain cases, an increase in the capital and other requirements employed in their models for maintenance of certain rating levels.
On September 16, 2015, S&P downgraded their credit rating of Japan’s sovereign debt. Following this action, they also downgraded several other foreign insurers, including the Company. The Company's significant operations in Japan and corresponding regulation by the Japanese FSA, combined with its significant exposure to JGBs as outlined above, resulted in S&P downgrading the financial strength rating of Aflac's core insurance operations to A+ and the Parent Company's senior debt rating to A-, both with a stable outlook. While S&P made no further downgrades to the Company's ratings between 2016 and 2019, they state that a downgrade of Japan's sovereign rating could lead to a downgrade of the Company's financial strength rating. As a matter of policy, S&P rarely rates insurance companies above the sovereign long-term rating of the country of domicile because during times of stress, the sovereign’s regulatory and supervisory powers may restrict an insurer’s or financial system’s flexibility. Moody’s has also stated that the following factors could lead to a downgrade of the Company’s ratings: a downgrade of the U.S. or Japanese operating entities; or a downgrade of the Government of Japan sovereign debt rating.
In addition to the impact on the Company's access to liquidity, as mentioned above, a downgrade of the Company's ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness and the marketability of its products which could negatively impact the Company's liquidity, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, sales through the bank channel in Japan could be adversely affected as a result of their reliance and sensitivity to ratings levels.
The Company cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions the Company may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect the Company's business. As with other companies in the financial services industry, the Company's ratings could be downgraded at any time and without any notice by any NRSRO.
The Company's risk management policies and procedures may prove to be ineffective and leave the Company exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could adversely affect the Company's businesses or result in losses.
The Company has developed an enterprise-wide risk management and governance framework to mitigate risk and loss to the Company. The Company maintains policies, procedures and controls intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the risks to which the Company is exposed.
However, there are inherent limitations to risk management strategies because risk may exist, or emerge in the future, that the Company has not appropriately anticipated or identified. If the Company's risk management framework proves ineffective, the Company may suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected. As the Company's businesses change and the markets in which it operates evolve, the Company's risk management framework may not evolve at the same pace as those changes. As a result, there is a risk that new products or new business strategies may present risks that are not appropriately identified, monitored or managed. In times of market stress, unanticipated market movements or unanticipated claims experience resulting from greater than expected morbidity, mortality, longevity, or persistency, the effectiveness of the Company's risk management strategies may be limited, resulting in losses to the Company. In addition, under difficult or less liquid market conditions, the Company's risk management strategies may not be effective because other market participants may be using the same or similar strategies to manage risk under the same challenging market conditions. In such circumstances, it may be difficult or more expensive for the Company to mitigate risk due to the activity of such other market participants.
Many of the Company's risk management strategies or techniques are based upon historical customer and market behavior and all such strategies and techniques are based to some degree on management’s subjective judgment. The Company cannot provide assurance that its risk management framework, including the underlying assumptions or strategies, will be accurate and effective.
Management of operational, legal and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies, procedures and controls to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and these policies, procedures and controls may not be fully effective. Models are utilized by the Company's businesses and corporate areas primarily to project future cash flows associated with pricing products, calculating reserves and valuing assets, as well as in evaluating risk and determining capital requirements, among other uses. These models are utilized under a risk management policy approved by the Company's executive risk management committees, however, the models may not operate properly and rely on assumptions and projections that are inherently uncertain. As the Company's businesses continue to grow and evolve, the number and complexity of models the Company utilizes expands, increasing the Company's exposure to error in the design, implementation or use of models, including the associated input data and assumptions.
Past or future misconduct by the Company's employees or employees of the Company's third parties (suppliers which are cost-based relationships and alliance partners which are revenue-generating relationships) could result in violations of law by the Company, regulatory sanctions and/or serious reputational or financial harm and the precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Despite the Company's published Supplier Code of Conduct, due diligence of the Company's alliance partners, and rigorous contracting procedures (including financial, legal, IT security, and risk reviews), there can be no assurance that controls and procedures that the Company employs, which are designed to assess third party viability and prevent the Company from taking excessive or inappropriate risks, will be effective. Additionally, the use of third parties also poses operational risks that could result in financial loss, operational disruption, brand damage, or compliance issues. Inadequate oversight of Aflac’s third party suppliers due to the lack of policies, procedures, training and governance may lead to financial loss or damage to the Aflac brand.
The concentration of the Company's investment portfolios in any particular single-issuer or sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Negative events or developments affecting any particular single issuer, industry, group of related industries, asset class or geographic sector may have an adverse impact on a particular holding or set of holdings, which may increase risk of loss from defaults due to non-payment of interest or principal. The Company seeks to minimize this risk by maintaining an appropriate level of diversification. To the extent the Company has concentrated positions, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial position. The Company's global investment guidelines establish
concentration limits for its investment portfolios.
For details on the concentrations within the Company's investment portfolios, see the Investments section of Item 7, MD&A, and the Credit Risk section of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
The valuation of the Company's investments and derivatives includes methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may adversely affect the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
The Company reports a significant amount of its fixed maturity securities and other financial instruments at fair value. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation as well as valuation methods which are more sophisticated, thereby resulting in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within the Company's consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly.
Valuations of the Company's derivatives fluctuate with changes in underlying market variables, such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. During periods of market turbulence created by political instability, economic uncertainty, government interventions or other factors, the Company may experience significant changes in the volatility of its derivative valuations. Extreme market conditions can also affect the liquidity of such instruments creating marked differences in transaction levels and counterparty valuations. Depending on the severity and direction of the movements in its derivative valuations, the Company will face increases in the amount of collateral required to be posted with its counterparties. Liquidity stresses to the Company may also occur if the required collateral amounts increase significantly over a very short period of time. Conversely, the Company may be exposed to an increase in counterparty credit risk for short periods of time while calling collateral from its counterparties.
Elimination of LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in valuation of loans, derivatives and other assets where valuation and interest rates are based on LIBOR, and may create uncertainty in the pricing of such assets in markets for their sale and disposition.
For further discussion on investment and derivative valuations, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and Notes 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.
The Company depends heavily on key management personnel, and the loss of services of one or more of its key executives could harm the Company's business.
The Company’s success depends to a significant extent upon the efforts and abilities of its key management personnel. The loss of the services of one or more of the Company's senior executives could significantly undermine its management expertise and the Company's business could be adversely affected.
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Boards (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company's financial statements.
The Company's financial statements are subject to the application of U.S. GAAP, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented and are applicable to the Company is disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The pronouncements expected to have the most significant impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations are outlined below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this update require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented net of an allowance for current expected credit losses in order to reflect the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset(s). The Company currently estimates the after-tax net impact from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 at a $56 million decrease to retained earnings, which primarily relates to loans and loan receivables. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.
Additionally, in August 2018 the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. The amendments in this update will significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts. Among the issues addressed in the amendments is the requirement to review and, if there is a change, update cash flow assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly. The Company anticipates that the requirement to review and update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes, and controls, while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on the other comprehensive income component of its equity. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. See Critical Accounting Estimates section of Item 7. MD&A in this report.
Changes to accounting standards could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company's financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
The Company faces risks related to litigation, regulatory investigations and inquiry and other matters.
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and plaintiffs may seek very large amounts in class actions or other litigation. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, a substantial legal liability or a significant federal, state or other regulatory action against the Company, as well as regulatory inquiries or investigations, could harm the Company's reputation, result in changes in operations, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Without limiting the foregoing, the litigation and regulatory matters the Company is, has been, or may become, subject to include matters related to sales agent recruiting, policy sales practices, claim payments and procedures including denial or delay of benefits, material misstatements or omissions in the Company's financial reports or other public statements, and/or corporate governance, corporate culture or business ethics matters. Further, the Company may be subject to claims of or litigation regarding sexual or other forms of misconduct or harassment, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or other bases, notwithstanding that the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits such harassment and discrimination by its employees, the Company has ongoing training programs and provide opportunities to report claims of noncompliant conduct, and it investigates and may take disciplinary action regarding alleged harassment or discrimination. Any violations of or deviation from laws, regulations, internal or external codes or standards of normative behavior, or perceptions of such violations or deviations, by the Company's employees or by independent sales agents could adversely impact the Company's reputation and brand value, financial condition and results of operations.
Allegations or determinations of agent misclassification could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A majority of the Company's U.S. sales force is, and has historically been, comprised of independent agents. While the Company believes that it has properly classified such agents as independent contractors, the Company may be subject to claims, regulatory action by state or federal departments of labor or tax authorities or litigation asserting that such agents are employees. The laws and regulations governing the classification of workers in the U.S. may be changed or interpreted differently compared to past interpretations, including in states where the Company generates significant sales through independent agents. An allegation or determination that independent agents in the Company’s U.S. sales force have been misclassified as independent contractors could result in changes in the Company’s operations and U.S. business model, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operation, financial condition and liquidity.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
In the U.S., Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as the Company's worldwide headquarters and house administrative support and information technology functions for U.S. operations. Aflac leases office space in Columbia, South Carolina, which houses the Company's CAIC subsidiary (branded as Aflac Group Insurance). Aflac also leases office space in New York that houses the Company's Global Investment division. Aflac also leases administrative office space throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has three primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, the claims department, information technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses Aflac Japan's policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as Aflac Japan's headquarters and houses administrative and investment support functions. The third campus comprises leased space for the information technology departments. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of the Company's senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Aflac Incorporated's common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Until the beginning of October 2019, Aflac Incorporated's stock was also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under designator 8686.
Holders
As of February 12, 2020, there were 86,223 holders of record of the Company's common stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company's common stock to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Globe Life Inc., Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc. and Unum Group.
Performance Graphic Index
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 |
| | 2015 |
| | 2016 |
| | 2017 |
| | 2018 |
| | 2019 |
|
| Aflac Incorporated | 100.00 |
| | 100.52 |
| | 119.73 |
| | 154.45 |
| | 164.04 |
| | 194.48 |
|
| S&P 500 | 100.00 |
| | 101.38 |
| | 113.51 |
| | 138.29 |
| | 132.23 |
| | 173.86 |
|
| S&P Life & Health Insurance | 100.00 |
| | 93.69 |
| | 116.98 |
| | 136.20 |
| | 107.91 |
| | 132.92 |
|
Copyright© 2020 Standard & Poor’s, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased shares of Aflac common stock as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 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 | | 4,465,400 |
| | | | $ | 46.44 |
| | | | 4,465,400 |
| | | | 64,582,487 |
| | |
| February 1 - February 28 | | 4,170,417 |
| | | | 48.65 |
| | | | 3,624,583 |
| | | | 60,957,904 |
| | |
| March 1 - March 31 | | 2,162,830 |
| | | | 49.50 |
| | | | 2,147,500 |
| | | | 58,810,404 |
| | |
| April 1 - April 30 | | 2,177,000 |
| | | | 49.21 |
| | | | 2,177,000 |
| | | | 56,633,404 |
| | |
| May 1 - May 31 | | 2,813,277 |
| | | | 50.99 |
| | | | 2,812,850 |
| | | | 53,820,554 |
| | |
| June 1 - June 30 | | 1,964,259 |
| | | | 54.44 |
| | | | 1,952,000 |
| | | | 51,868,554 |
| | |
| July 1 - July 31 | | 1,360,017 |
| | | | 54.33 |
| | | | 1,360,017 |
| | | | 50,508,537 |
| | |
| August 1 - August 31 | | 2,491,225 |
| | | | 51.22 |
| | | | 2,483,400 |
| | | | 48,025,137 |
| | |
| September 1 - September 30 | | 2,111,075 |
| | | | 51.81 |
| | | | 2,103,600 |
| | | | 45,921,537 |
| | |
| October 1 - October 31 | | 2,476,152 |
| | | | 52.43 |
| | | | 2,476,100 |
| | | | 43,445,437 |
| | |
| November 1 - November 30 | | 1,938,000 |
| | | | 54.03 |
| | | | 1,938,000 |
| | | | 41,507,437 |
| | |
| December 1 - December 31 | | 4,456,463 |
| | | | 52.92 |
| | | | 4,453,824 |
| | | | 37,053,613 |
| | |
| Total | | 32,586,115 |
| | (1) | | $ | 50.82 |
| | | | 31,994,274 |
| | | | 37,053,613 |
| | |
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2019, 591,841 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the period.
As of December 31, 2019, a remaining balance of 37.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its Board of Directors.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums, principally supplemental
health insurance | $ | 18,780 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | $ | 17,570 |
|
| Net investment income | 3,578 |
| | 3,442 |
| | 3,220 |
| | 3,278 |
| | 3,135 |
|
| Realized investment gains (losses) | (135 | ) | | (430 | ) | | (151 | ) | | (14 | ) | | 106 |
|
| Other income | 84 |
| | 69 |
| | 67 |
| | 70 |
| | 61 |
|
| Total revenues | 22,307 |
| | 21,758 |
| | 21,667 |
| | 22,559 |
| | 20,872 |
|
| Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 11,942 |
| | 12,000 |
| | 12,181 |
| | 12,919 |
| | 11,746 |
|
| Expenses | 5,920 |
| | 5,775 |
| | 5,468 |
| | 5,573 |
| | 5,264 |
|
| Total benefits and expenses | 17,862 |
| | 17,775 |
| | 17,649 |
| | 18,492 |
| | 17,010 |
|
| Pretax earnings | 4,445 |
| | 3,983 |
| | 4,018 |
| | 4,067 |
| | 3,862 |
|
| Income taxes | 1,141 |
| | 1,063 |
| | (586 | ) | | 1,408 |
| | 1,329 |
|
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | $ | 2,533 |
|
| Share and Per-Share Amounts | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings (basic) | $ | 4.45 |
| | $ | 3.79 |
| | $ | 5.81 |
| | $ | 3.23 |
| | $ | 2.94 |
|
| Net earnings (diluted) | 4.43 |
| | 3.77 |
| | 5.77 |
| | 3.21 |
| | 2.92 |
|
| Cash dividends paid | 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
| Cash dividends declared | 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for basic
EPS (In thousands) | 742,414 |
| | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
| | 822,942 |
| | 861,307 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted
EPS (In thousands) | 746,430 |
| | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
| | 827,841 |
| | 866,344 |
|
| Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen/dollar exchange rate at year-end (yen) | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | 116.49 |
| | 120.61 |
|
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate (yen) | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
| | 120.99 |
|
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | |
| Investments and cash | $ | 138,091 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
| | $ | 123,659 |
| | $ | 116,361 |
| | $ | 105,897 |
|
| Other | 14,677 |
| | 14,163 |
| | 13,558 |
| | 13,458 |
| | 12,359 |
|
| Total assets | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | | |
| Policy liabilities | $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
| | $ | 93,726 |
| | $ | 87,631 |
|
| Income taxes | 5,370 |
| | 4,020 |
| | 4,745 |
| | 5,387 |
| | 4,340 |
|
Notes payable and lease obligations (1) | 6,569 |
| | 5,778 |
| | 5,289 |
| | 5,360 |
| | 4,971 |
|
| Other liabilities | 5,316 |
| | 3,958 |
| | 3,438 |
| | 4,864 |
| | 3,606 |
|
| Shareholders’ equity | 28,959 |
| | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| | 20,482 |
| | 17,708 |
|
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2019 related to leases.
Prior-year amounts have been adjusted for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2016 related to debt issuance costs.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Certain statements included in this section constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon the Company. The Company’s actual results may differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections herein.
MD&A OVERVIEW
The following financial review provides a discussion of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, as well as a summary of the Company’s critical accounting estimates. This section should be read in conjunction with Part I - Item 1. Business and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
The Company elected to omit discussion on the earliest of the three years covered by the consolidated financial statements presented in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Readers should refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on February 25, 2019, for reference to discussion of the year ended December 31, 2017, the earliest of the three years presented. Amounts reported in this MD&A may not add due to rounding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For the full year of 2019, total revenues were up 2.5% to $22.3 billion, compared with $21.8 billion for the full year of 2018. Net earnings were $3.3 billion, or $4.43 per diluted share, compared with $2.9 billion, or $3.77 per diluted share, for the full year of 2018.
Results for 2019 included pretax net realized investment losses of $135 million, compared with net realized investment losses of $430 million in 2018. Net investment losses in 2019 included $31 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses and changes in loan loss reserves; $236 million in net losses from certain derivatives and foreign currency gains or losses; $101 million of net gains on equity securities; and $31 million of net gains from sales and redemptions.
The average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) in 2019 was 109.07, or 1.2% stronger than the rate of 110.39 in 2018.
Adjusted earnings(2) for the full year of 2019 were $3.3 billion, or $4.44 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 billion, or $4.16 per diluted share, in 2018. The stronger yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per diluted share by $.02.
Total investments and cash at the end of December 2019 were $138.1 billion, compared with $126.2 billion at December 31, 2018. In 2019, Aflac Incorporated repurchased $1.6 billion, or 32.0 million of its common shares. At the end of December, the Company had 37.1 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase.
Shareholders’ equity was $29.0 billion, or $39.84 per share, at December 31, 2019, compared with $23.5 billion, or $31.06 per share, at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 included a net unrealized gain on investment securities and derivatives of $8.5 billion, compared with a net unrealized gain of $4.2 billion at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 also included an unrealized foreign currency translation lossof $1.6 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.8 billion at December 31, 2018. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity in 2019 was 12.6%.
Shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(2) (adjusted book value) was $22.3 billion, or $30.74 per share at December 31, 2019, compared with $21.3 billion, or $28.22 per share, at December 31, 2018. The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currencyimpact(2) in 2019 was 15.1%.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
The Company is impacted by financial markets, economic conditions, regulatory oversight and a variety of trends that affect the industries where it competes.
Financial and Economic Environment
The Company’s business and results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally. Stressed conditions, volatility and disruptions in global capital markets, particular markets, or financial asset classes can have an adverse effect on the Company, in part because the Company has a large investment portfolio and its insurance liabilities and derivatives are sensitive to changing market factors. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for the risk factor entitled, "Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business."
Demographics
Japan Business - With Japan’s aging population and the rise in healthcare costs, supplemental health care insurance products remain attractive. However, due to the aging population and decline in birthrate, new opportunities for customer demographics are not as readily available. Japan’s existing customers and potential customers seek products that are easily understood, cost-effective and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices.
(1) Yen/U.S. dollar exchange rates are based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).
(2) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for a definition of this non-U.S. GAAP financial measure.
U.S. Business - Customer demographics continue to evolve and new opportunities present themselves in different customer segments such as the millennial and multicultural markets. Customer expectations and preferences are changing. Trends indicate existing customers and potential customers seek cost-effective solutions that are easily understood and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices. Additionally, income protection and the health needs of retiring baby boomers are continuing to shape the insurance industry.
Regulatory Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Regulation and Aflac Japan Regulation for a discussion of regulatory developments that may impact the Company and the associated risks.
Competitive Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Competition and Aflac Japan Competition for a discussion of the competitive environment and the basis on which the Company competes in each of its segments.
2020 OUTLOOK
The Company’s strategy to drive long-term shareholder value is to pursue growth through product development, distribution expansion and digital advancements to improve the customer experience.
The Company's objectives in 2020 are to maintain strong pre-tax margins in its Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments through disciplined product pricing, stable investment returns and leveraging a period of favorable benefit ratios to invest in its platform for future growth and efficiency. The Company believes that its market-leading position, powerful brand recognition and diverse distribution in Japan and the U.S. will provide support toward these objectives.
The Company believes that its efforts will support its prudent strategies for capital deployment in the form of dividends, share repurchases, and opportunistic investments that enhance the Company’s business with a focus on digital distribution and leveraging the Company’s brand, distribution and scale. The Company has stated that the dividend payout ratio from its Aflac Japan segment is likely to be to 100% of FSA earnings from Aflac Japan and 100% of U.S. statutory earnings from Aflac U.S. In its Aflac U.S. segment, the Company plans to maintain a risk-based capital (RBC) ratio in the 500% range for 2020.
Aflac Japan Segment
In Japan, the Company anticipates that the shift in earned premium from first sector savings products to third sector cancer and medical products and first sector protection products, will continue to result in moderately lower benefit ratios in the Aflac Japan segment. The Company also expects this shift in business mix, plus continued investment in IT and digital advancements, to result in moderately higher expense ratios for Aflac Japan. The Company anticipates the Japan segment will face revenue challenges in 2020 due to the run-off and paid-up status of first sector savings and third sector products. The Company expects a decline in the range of .7% in third sector and first sector protection earned premium for 2020. In addition, net investment income is expected to decline modestly as compared to 2019, due in part to the low interest rate environment in Japan and de-risking of the portfolio, partially offset by lower hedge cost as a result of a reduction in the hedge ratio in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Aflac U.S. Segment
The Company expects the profit margins for the Aflac U.S. segment to remain strong, providing a prudent opportunity to reinvest profits back into the U.S. business. The Company anticipates that in 2020, benefit ratios in the U.S. will remain stable and that expense ratios will continue to be elevated in light of investments into U.S. platforms in both the individual and group channels. The Company expects Aflac U.S. to generate earned premium growth in the range of 1% in 2020. Net investment income is expected to decline modestly, primarily as the result of the Company’s implemented U.S. capital and RBC draw-down plan.
Corporate and Other Segment
The Company expects corporate segment results to benefit from net investment income driven by increased capital and liquidity held at the Parent Company, as well as the increase in size of the Company’s enterprise currency hedging strategy. The anticipated increase in investment income is expected to be partially offset by increased costs associated with continued investment in Aflac Corporate Ventures initiatives.
For important disclosures applicable to statements made in this 2020 Outlook, please see the Risk Factors section and the statement on Forward-Looking Information at the beginning of Item 1. Business, the Risk Factors identified in Item 1A. and Item 7. Management Discussion and Analysis.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.
Yen–denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, except realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen–denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate.
The following discussion includes references to the Company's performance measures, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and amortized hedge costs/income, which are not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP (non-U.S. GAAP). These measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in the Company's insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with its insurance operations. The Company's management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of its insurance operations on a consolidated basis, and the Company believes that a presentation of these measures is vitally important to an understanding of its underlying profitability drivers and trends of its insurance business. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income, which are a component of adjusted earnings, measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income.
The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this filing as follows:
Adjusted earnings are the profits derived from operations.The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance.
Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share.
Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized in using foreign currency forward
contracts to hedge certain foreign exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment (costs) or in the Corporate and Other segment (income). These amortized hedge costs/income are derived from the difference between the foreign currency spot rate at time of trade inception and the contractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/income.
Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by yen-to-dollar currency rate changes.
Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders' equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. The Company considers adjusted book value important as it excludes AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management's control.
Adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact is calculated using adjusted earnings excluding the impact of the yen/dollar exchange rate, as reconciled with total U.S. GAAP net earnings, divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is return on average equity as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.
The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4.43 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
|
| Items impacting net earnings: | | | | | | | |
Realized investment (gains) losses (2),(3),(4),(5) | 15 |
| | 297 |
| | .02 |
| | .38 |
|
| Other and non-recurring (income) loss | 1 |
| | 75 |
| | .00 |
| | .10 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense on items
excluded from adjusted earnings | (3 | ) | | (83 | ) | | .00 |
| | (.11 | ) |
Tax reform adjustment (6) | (4 | ) | | 18 |
| | (.01 | ) | | .02 |
|
| Adjusted earnings | 3,314 |
| | 3,226 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 4.16 |
|
Current period foreign currency impact (7) | (15 | ) | | N/A |
| | (.02 | ) | | N/A |
|
Adjusted earnings excluding current period
foreign currency impact | $ | 3,299 |
| | $ | 3,226 |
| | $ | 4.42 |
| | $ | 4.16 |
|
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Amortized hedge costs of $257 in 2019 and $236 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a decrease to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(3)Amortized hedge income of $89 in 2019 and $36 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as an increase to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(4) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount for 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(5) A gain of $66 in 2019 and $67 in 2018, respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of interest expense.
(6) The impact of Tax Reform was adjusted in 2018 for return-to-provision adjustments, various amended returns filed by the company, and final true-ups of deferred tax liabilities. Further impacts were recorded in 2019 a result of additional guidance released by the IRS.
(7) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.
Reconciling Items
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s growth and profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products. Realized investment gains and
losses include securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, derivative and foreign currency activities and changes in fair value of equity securities.
Securities Transactions, Impairments, and Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities
Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Impairments include other-than-temporary-impairment losses on investment securities as well as changes in loan loss reserves for loan receivables. Starting in the first quarter of 2018, gains and losses from changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earnings.
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options on certain fixed maturity securities; foreign currency forwards and options that economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency swaps and credit defaults swaps held in consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs); interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and interest rate swaptions to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate changes for certain dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities. Gains and losses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company also excludes the accounting impacts of remeasurement associated with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate from adjusted earnings. Amortized hedge costs/ income related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies (see Amortized Hedge Cost/Income section below), and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies and notes payable are reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings.
Amortized hedge costs/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. Amortized hedge costs and income have fluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the previously mentioned factors. For additional information regarding foreign currency hedging, refer to Hedging Activities in the Investments section of this MD&A.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other and Non-recurring Items
The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company excludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.
In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.
Nonrecurring items also include conversion costs related to legally converting the Company's Japan business to a subsidiary; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These Japan branch conversion costs were an immaterial amount for the year-ended December 31, 2019 and $75 million for the year-ended December 31, 2018.
Income Taxes
The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 25.7% in 2019 and 26.7% in 2018. The decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 drove the reduction in the effective tax rate for 2019 and 2018. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in both 2019 and 2018. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense.
For further information, see "Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes" in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Distribution Channels
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| Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | |
| Individual/ Independent Corporate Agencies
| | Independent Associates
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| Affiliated Corporate Agencies | | Brokers | |
| Banks | | | |
Japan
The traditional channels through which Aflac Japan has sold its products consist ofTraditional Sales ChannelThis distribution channel includes individual agents/agencies, independent corporate agencies and affiliated corporate agencies. The individual agencies and independent corporate agencies that sell Aflac Japan's products give better access to workers at a vast number of small businesses in Japan. Agents' activities are primarily focused on insurance sales, with customer service support provided by the Aflac Contact Center. Affiliated corporate agencies are initially formed when companies establish subsidiary businesses to sell Aflac Japan's insurance products to employees as part of a benefit package, and in some cases expand to sell Aflac Japan products to other parties such as suppliers and customers.Thesewas represented by more than 9,000 sales agencies help Aflac Japan reach employees at largethe end of 2019, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies, including individual agencies.
worksites, and some of them are also successfulConsumers in approaching customers outside their business groups. The Company believes that new agencies will continue to be attracted to Aflac Japan's competitive commissions, attractive products, superior customer service and strong brand image.
The Company has sold products to employees of banks since its entry into Japan in 1974. However, December 2007 marked the first time it was permissible forrely on banks to sell Aflac Japan's type ofprovide not only traditional bank services, but also as one key source to provide insurance products to their customers.solutions and other services. By the end of 2018,2019, Aflac Japan had agreements with approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan to sell its products. The Company believes
Dai-ichi LifeAflac Japan's alliance with Dai-ichi Life was launched in 2001, and approximately 40,000 Dai-ichi Life representatives offer Aflac's cancer products.
Japan Post GroupAflac Japan's alliance with Japan Post Group was launched in 2008. After the alliance strengthened in 2013, the number of postal outlets of Japan Post Co. Ltd. (JPC) selling Aflac Japan's cancer product increased to more than 20,000 since 2015. Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI) offers Aflac Japan has more banks selling its supplemental health insurancecancer products than any of its competitors. Japanese consumers rely on banks to provide traditional bank services, and also to provide insurance solutions and other services. The Company believes Aflac Japan's long-standing and strong relationships within the Japanese banking sector, along with its strategic preparations, have proven to be an advantage, particularly starting when this channel opened up for its products. Aflac Japan's partnerships throughout the banking sector provide Aflac Japan with a wider demographic of potential customers than it would otherwise have been able to reach, and it also allows banks to expand their product and service offerings to consumers.
In 2005, legislation aimed at privatizing Japan's postal system (Japan Post) was enacted into law. The privatization laws split Japan Post into four operating entities that began operating in October 2007. In 2007, one of these entities selected Aflac Japan as its provider of cancer insurance to be sold through its post offices, and, in 2008, Aflac Japan began selling cancer insurance through these post76 directly managed sales offices. Japan Post has historically beenIn 2018, the Company’ entered a popular place for consumers to purchase insurance products. Legislation to reform the postal system passed Japan’s legislature, the Diet, in April 2012 and resulted in the merger of two of the postal operating entities (the one that delivers the mail and the one that runs the post offices) in October 2012. In July 2013, Aflac Japan entered into a new agreementstrategic alliance with Japan Post Holdings to further expandCo., Ltd. (Japan Post Holdings), the partnership that was established in 2008. In June 2014,parent company of Japan Post Co. Ltd (JPC) and Japan Post Insurance (Kampo) received approval from Japan’s primary insurance regulator,Co., Ltd. (JPI). See the Financial Services Agency (FSA), to enter"Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of MD&A for more about this alliance.
Daido LifeIn 2013, Aflac Japan and Daido Life Insurance entered into an agency contract withagreement for Daido to sell Aflac Japan. Under this contract, Aflac Japan currently distributes itsJapan's cancer insurance products through 76specifically to the Hojinkai market, which is an association of Kampo's directly managed sales offices.small businesses. Currently, Daido also sells Aflac Japan has developed a unique Aflac-branded cancer insurance product for Japan Post and Kampo that was introduced in October 2014. In 2015, Japan Post expanded the number of post offices that offer Aflac'sJapan's cancer insurance products to more than 20,000 postal outlets.the market in the tax payment association, which is a not-for-profit association for small businesses to support tax related matters.
Competition
The Company believes this alliancecompetes with Japan Post, which is included in Aflac Japan's affiliated corporate agencies distribution channel, has benefited and will continue to benefit Aflac Japan's cancerother insurance sales. For example, sales of cancer insurance policies by Japan Post constituted approximately 25% of Aflac Japan's third sector sales during the 2018 calendar year. In December 2018, the Company announced that in a further strengthening of this alliance. Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd, a Japanese corporation, (Japan Post Holdings) plans to purchase approximately 7% of the Parent Company's outstanding common sharescarriers through a trust using open market and private block purchases. Like all common shares in the Parent Company, the shares purchased by the trust will be eligible for 10-for-1 voting rights after being held for 48 consecutive months. In connection with this announcement, on December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into a Basic Agreement regarding the "Strategic Alliance Based on Capital Relationship" with Japan Post Holdings (Basic Agreement), and the Parent Company entered into a letter agreement with Japan Post Holdings (Letter Agreement). Under the Letter Agreement, Japan Post Holdings agreed (i) to establish and fund a voting trust in accordance with a trust agreement (Trust Agreement) by no later than February 28, 2019, (ii) upon establishment of the trust, to instruct the trustee and the sole shareholder of the trust to enter into, and to itself enter into, a shareholders agreement with the Parent Company (Shareholders Agreement) providing for, among other things, a cap on share ownership, a minimum holding period and a standstill provision and voting restrictions that effectively limit the trustee's voting rights to no more than 20% of the voting rights of the Parent Company and further restrict the trustee's voting rights with respect to certain change in control transactions. The terms of the investment do not provide Japan Post Holdings with a right to a board seat on the Parent Company's board of directors or with any other rights to control, manage or intervene in the management of the Parent Company. This strategic investment is subject to certain regulatory approvals in Japan, and the U.S. The Company anticipates that regulatory approvals will be received in the second half of 2019. The foregoing summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Basic Agreement and Letter Agreement, including the forms of Trust Agreement and Shareholders Agreement attached to the Letter Agreement, copies of which are included as Exhibits 10.47 and 10.48 attached hereto and the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
For additional information on Aflac Japan's distribution, see the Aflac Japan Segment subsection of MD&A in this report.
U.S.
As of December 31, 2018, the U.S. sales force was composed of sales associates and brokers who are licensed to sell accident and health insurance. Many are also licensed to sell life insurance. Aflac U.S. utilizes dual-channel distribution to market its insurance products to businesses of all sizes. The career agent channel focuses on marketing Aflac to the small business market, which consists of employers with less than 100 employees. As such, Aflac U.S. has aligned its recruiting, training, compensation, marketing and incentives for its career agents to encourage specific activitypolicyholder service, price, product design and sales of individual policies in this market. The broker channel focuses on selling to the mid- and large-case market, which is comprised of employers with more than 100 employees and typically an average size of 1,000 employees or more. Since regional and national brokers have traditionally served the mid- and large-case market, the sales professionals in the broker channel are assigned a geographic market to strengthen relationships with the top brokers and sell Aflac products to their clients. As a result, Aflac U.S. is represented on 160 benefit administration platforms, sometimes referred toefforts, as exchanges, of various brokers.
Sales associates and brokers are independent contractors and are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products. In addition to receiving commissions on personal production, district and regional sales coordinators may also receive override commissions and incentive bonuses.
Aflac U.S. has continued to evolve its career and broker management infrastructure to drive growth in sales. In 2017, Aflac hired a Chief Distribution Officer to align the strategies of career and broker channels and to further expand U.S. distribution. All Aflac U.S. sales channels are now within the organizational structure of the Chief Distribution Officer. Prior to this change, the broker and career channels were part of separate organizational structures. Aflac U.S. believes the addition of this role will enhance performance management and augment its long-term sales strategy.
Aflac U.S. concentrates on marketing its insurance products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Historically, Aflac U.S. policies have been individually underwritten, however over the past several years, guaranteed issue options have become available. Premiums are generally paid by the employee. Additionally, Aflac's individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or such affiliation, generally at the same premium. Individual policies are typically guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 75 for short-term disability policies). Aflac U.S. collects a major portion of premiums on such sales through payroll deduction or other forms of centralized billing. With Aflac U.S. brokerage sales expansion and CAIC, branded as Aflac Group Insurance, Aflac U.S. offers group voluntary insurance products desired by many large employers. These products are sold on a group basis and often have some element of guaranteed issue. Worksite marketing enables sales associates and brokers to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business.
For additional information on Aflac's U.S. distribution, see the Aflac U.S. Segment subsection of MD&A in this report.
Competition
Japan
In 1974, Aflac was granted an operating license to sell life insurance in Japan, making Aflac the second non-Japanese life insurance company to gain direct access to the Japanese insurance market. Through 1981, Aflac Japan faced limited competition for cancer insurance policy sales. However, Japan has experienced two periods of deregulation since Aflac Japan entered the market. The first came in the early 1980s, when nine mid-sized insurers, including domestic and foreign companies, were allowed to sell cancer insurance products for the first time. The second period began in 2001 when all life and non-life insurers were allowed to sell stand-alone cancer and medical insurance products as well as other stand-alone health insurance products. As a result, the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the deregulation of the Japan market was deregulated in 2001. However, based on Aflac Japan's growth of annualized premiums in force and diversified distribution network, the Company does not believe that Aflac Japan's market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, the Company believes the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow Aflac Japan to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers. Aflac Japan is the largest life insurer in Japan in terms of cancer and medical policies in force. As of December 31, 2018, Aflac Japan exceeded 24 million individual policies in force in Japan.
Aflac Japan has experienced substantial success selling cancer policies in Japan, with more than 15 millioncancer policies in force as of December 31, 2018. Aflac Japan continued to be the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan throughout 2018. The Company believes Aflac Japan will remain a leading provider of cancer and medical insurance
coverage in Japan, principally due to its experience in the market, well-known brand, low-cost operations, expansive marketing system and product expertise. Further, the Company believes that its alliance with Japan Post will continue to benefit Aflac Japan's sales of cancer insurance in Japan. (See Distribution-Japan above for more information on Aflac Japan's marketing system and its alliance with Japan Post.)
Aflac Japan has also experienced substantial success selling medical insurance in Japan. While other companies have recognized the opportunities that Aflac Japan has seen in the medical insurance market and are frequently offering new products, Aflac Japan endeavors to keep its products attractive to consumers by revising benefits of medical insurance products more frequently than cancer insurance.
U.S.
Aflac U.S. competes against several voluntary supplemental insurance carriers on a national and regional basis. Aflac U.S. believes its policies, premium rates, platforms, value-added services and sales commissions are competitive by product type. Moreover, Aflac U.S. believes that its products are distinct from competitive offerings given its product focus (including features, benefits, and its claims service model), distribution capabilities, and brand awareness. For many companies with which Aflac U.S. competes, voluntary supplemental insurance products are sold as a secondary business. A growing number of major medical and life insurance carriers are also entering into the voluntary supplemental insurance market. For Aflac U.S., supplemental insurance products are its primary business and are sold via a distribution network of independent sales associates and brokers (see U.S. Distribution above). In addition, the Company believes that advertising campaigns for Aflac U.S. have increased name awareness and understanding among consumers and businesses of the value its products provide.
Both private and publicly-traded insurers offer major medical insurance for hospitalization and medical expenses. Much of this insurance is sold on a group basis to accounts that are both fully and self-insured. The federal and state governments also pay substantial costs of medical treatment through various programs. Major medical insurance generally covers a substantial portion of the medical expenses incurred by an insured. Aflac policies are designed to provide coverage that supplements major medical insurance by paying cash directly to the policyholder to use for expenses their major medical insurance is not designed to cover, or for any other uses that the policyholder chooses. Thus, Aflac U.S. does not compete directly with major medical insurers except those who sell supplemental insurance products as a secondary business. Any reduction of coverage, increase in employee participation costs, or increased deductibles and copayments by major medical commercial or government insurance carriers could favorably affect Aflac U.S. business opportunities. Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)beginning in 2010, some employers have shifted a larger burden of the cost of care to their employees, primarily through increases in premiums, copays, and/or deductibles, such as through the use of high-deductible health plans. In addition, the Company believes that some employers have made increasing use of supplemental insurance product offerings in order to improve their competitiveness in employee recruitment and retention.
Since Aflac products provide an additional level of financial protection for policyholders, the Company believes the increased financial exposure some employees may face creates a favorable opportunity for Aflac U.S. products. However, given the profitability erosion some major medical carriers are facing in their core lines of business, the Company has seen a more competitive landscape as they seek entry into Aflac's supplemental product segments and leverage their core benefit offerings by bundling and discounting products in order to gain voluntary market share.
One Day PaySM is a claims initiative that Aflac U.S. introduced in 2015 to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just one day. The Company believes that along with its brand and relevant products, this claims practice has helped Aflac stand out from competitors.
Investments
Effective January 1, 2018, investments of Aflac U.S. as well as certain sub-advised assets of Aflac Japan, are managed by the Company’s U.S. asset management subsidiary, Aflac Asset Management LLC (AAM), and investments of Aflac Japan are managed pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between Aflac Japan and the Company's asset management subsidiary in Japan, Aflac Asset Management Japan Ltd. (AAMJ). AAMJ is licensed as a discretionary asset manager under the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is subject to rules of the Japan Investment Advisors Association, a self-regulatory organization with mandatory membership for Japan investment managers. Beginning with the first quarter of 2018, AAM and AAMJ are reported in the "Corporate and other segment" category; however, the assets that they manage will be reported in the respective Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. business segments.
Japan
The Company’s investment strategy with respect to Aflac Japan utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking diversification, long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives, as well as preserving shareholder value in the Aflac Japan business.
In attempting to optimally balance these objectives, the Company seeks to maintain on behalf of Aflac Japan a diversified portfolio of yen-denominated investment assets, U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio hedged back to yen and a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated assets. Each of these portfolios presents unique benefits and risks to the Company.
Yen-denominated investments included in Aflac Japan’s portfolio primarily consist of Japan Government Bonds (JGB), other public bonds and private placement fixed income instruments. The Company attempts to match both the duration and currency of these assets with Aflac Japan’s liabilities. This poses a difficulty in Aflac Japan due to the lack of suitable long-dated yen-denominated fixed income instruments. In 2012, the Company initiated a strategic approach to include U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan’s portfolio with the initial intent that they would be coupled with foreign exchange hedges. Today, this hedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio is mainly invested in long-term fixed and floating-rate loans and long-term investment-grade fixed income securities. The primary goals of the yen-denominated and hedged U.S. dollar portfolios are to provide sufficient yen cash flows to support the insurance liabilities and other yen-denominated obligations of Aflac Japan, and to seek appropriate long-term risk-adjusted investment returns supportive of solvency margin ratio (SMR) levels that provide sufficient dividend flows to the Parent Company. The hedges supporting this portion of the U.S. dollar portfolio pose derivative rollover risk that could amplify hedge costs in unfavorable market conditions, risk of counterparty default, and may require the Company to post collateral. In a declining yen environment, these hedges could result in negative cash settlements that may significantly increase liquidity requirements, thereby shifting funds away from other capital management opportunities including loss of investment income. If the combined yen-denominated and hedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolios are larger than Aflac Japan's yen obligations, the economic value of these portfolios may be eroded under a long-term scenario of weakening yen due to foreign currency translation risk, one result of which may be to reduce the Company's dividend capacity.
The Company also maintains an unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio with the objectives of generating enhanced investment returns and mitigating certain of the risks posed by the yen and hedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolios as outlined above. Further, the Company has determined that the unhedged portfolio acts as a natural economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company’s investment in Aflac Japan against erosion of economic value. However, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and subjects Aflac Japan to volatility in regulatory capital and earnings, which may adversely impact Aflac Japan’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. The Company’s approach to sizing the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio seeks to balance the unique risks presented by each of the three portfolios outlined above, but the overall investment strategy in Aflac Japan is guided primarily by the objective of securing the long-term financial strength of Aflac Japan and funding of yen liabilities. As a result, the Company has historically maintained and currently maintains the size of the unhedged portfolio at levels below the stressed economic surplus in Aflac Japan.
The determination of stressed economic surplus in Aflac Japan involves multiple models using multiple statistical approaches and assuming various economic and operating scenarios that are stressed to arrive at a range of potential outcomes. This range does not account for all economic scenarios, some of which may result in values outside of the range. The Company periodically assesses the stressed economic surplus in Aflac Japan, which fluctuates over time, and adjusts the size of the unhedged portfolio accordingly. The portfolio may include medium-term and long-term fixed-rate government and corporate (investment-grade and high-yield) bonds, floating-rate loans, public equities, and alternative asset classes. In determining the composition of the portfolio, the Company also considers diversification, hedge cost, investment returns relative to yen-denominated investment yields, and Aflac Japan capital requirements. At December 31, 2018, this unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was approximately $14.4 billion, compared with approximately $13.0 billion at December 31, 2017. For additional discussion of business and market risks associated with the Company’s investment strategy in Japan, refer to the Risk Factors and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk sections.
U.S.
The Company’s investment strategy with respect to Aflac U.S. utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives. As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed-maturity investments and growth assets, including public equities and alternative investments in limited partnerships.
Aflac U.S. has been investing in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loans.
For further information on the Company's investments and investment results, see the Insurance Operations and Analysis of Financial Condition sections of MD&A and Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Regulation
Japan
Financial Services Agency (FSA)The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are subject to examination by Japan's FSA. Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for the Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that differ materially from U.S. GAAP. For example, under Japanese regulatorygenerally
accepted accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are expensed immediately; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; premium income is recognized on a cash basis; different consolidation criteria apply to variable interest entities (VIEs); different accounting applies to reinsurance; and investments can have a separate accounting classification and treatment referred to as policy reserve matching bonds (PRM), which are recorded at amortized cost.principles (U.S. GAAP). Capital and surplus of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, was $7.8 billion at December 31, 2019, compared with $6.4 billion at December 31, 2018, compared with $6.7 billion at December 31, 2017.2018. Two FSA regulations applicable to Aflac Japan are outlined below.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities. The FSA updated its guidelines regarding cybersecurity in October 2018.
FSA Solvency Standard
The FSA maintains a solvency standard, the solvency margin ratio (SMR), which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 965%1,043%, compared with 1,064%965% at December 31, 2017.2018. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread and foreign exchange rate changes. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources and Liquidity Sectionsection of the MD&A for a discussion of measures the Company has taken to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR.
PriorJapan Company LawAs abranch of Aflac prior to April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan repatriated a portion of its accumulated earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, to Aflac U.S. provided that Aflac Japan hashad determined that it adequately protected policyholders' interests as measured by its SMR. StartingAfter the conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary structure on April 1, 2018 and starting in the fourth quarter of 2018, Aflac Japan distributes dividends to the Parent Company. Such dividends are subject to permitted dividend capacity under the Japan Company Law.
Policyholder ProtectionThe Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information, regardingsee the policyholder protection fund, seesection of the Policyholder Protection subsection of MD&A in this report.
In June 2013, a revision to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act established a post-funded Orderly Resolution Regime for financial institutions to prevent a financial crisis in the event of a financial institution’s failure. This regime came into effect in March 2014 and has not had, and is not expected to have, a material impact on the Company's operations in Japan.&A.
For additional information regarding Aflac Japan's operations and regulations, see the Aflac"Aflac Japan SegmentSegment" subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
AFLAC U.S.
General
The Company designs its U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage, as Aflac U.S. insurance policies pay benefits regardless of other insurance. Aflac U.S. products are distributed in the individual and group supplemental insurance markets. Aflac's individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or affiliation with a group, generally at the same premium. Individual policies are typically guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 75 for short-term disability policies).
Insurance Products
Cancer InsuranceAflac U.S.'s cancer insurance products provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of cancer and subsequent benefits for treatment received due to cancer. Aflac U.S. offers cancer insurance on an individual basis.
Accident InsuranceAflac U.S. offers accident coverage on both an individual and group basis. These policies pay cash benefits in the event of a covered injury. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. Additional benefits are also available for home modifications, wellness and increased benefits for injuries related to participations in an organized sporting activity.
Short-Term Disability InsuranceAflac U.S. offers short-term disability benefits on both an individual and group basis. The individual short-term disability product offers an Aflac Value Rider that pays a benefit, less claims, for every consecutive five-year term that the policy is in force.
Critical Illness InsuranceAflac U.S. offers coverage for critical illness plans on both an individual and group basis. These policies are designed to pay cash benefits in the event of critical illnesses such as heart attack, stroke or cancer.
Hospital Indemnity InsuranceAflac U.S. offers hospital indemnity coverage on both an individual and group basis. Hospital indemnity products provide policyholders fixed dollar benefits triggered by hospitalization due to accident or sickness. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic events, are also available. Aflac U.S. also offers a lump sum rider for a range of critical illness events that can be added to its individual accident, short-term disability and hospital indemnity products.
Dental and Vision Insurance Aflac U.S. now offers network dental and vision products on a group basis. Aflac U.S. offers fixed-benefit dental coverage on both an individual and group basis. Aflac U.S. offers Vision NowSM, an individually issued policy which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight as well as coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.
Life (Term and Whole)Aflac U.S. offers term- and whole-life policies on both an individual and group basis.
Distribution Channels
Independent Associates/Career AgentsThe career agent channel in Aflac U.S. focuses on marketing Aflac to the small business market, defined as employers of between three and 99 employees. Sales associates in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions and other variable compensation based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
BrokersThe broker channel of Aflac U.S. focuses on selling to the mid- and large-case market, which is comprised of employers with 100 or more employees and typically an average size of 1,000 employees or more. Brokers in the U.S. are independent contractors and are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products.
Aflac U.S. concentrates on marketing its insurance products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Aflac U.S. believes that worksite marketing enables sales associates and brokers to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business. Aflac U.S. is also expanding its distribution strategy to reach consumers outside of the traditional worksite through digital lead generation.
Competition
Aflac U.S. competes against several supplemental insurance carriers on a national and regional basis. Aflac U.S. believes its policies, premium rates, platforms, value-added services and sales commissions are competitive by product type. Moreover, Aflac U.S. believes that its products are distinct from competitive offerings given its product focus (including features, benefits and claims service model), distribution capabilities and brand awareness.
Since Aflac products provide an additional level of financial protection for policyholders, the Company believes the increased financial exposure some employees may face creates a favorable opportunity for Aflac U.S. products. However, given the profitability erosion some major medical carriers are facing in their core lines of business, the Company has seen a more competitive landscape as these carriers seek entry into Aflac's supplemental product segments and leverage their core benefit offerings by bundling and discounting products in order to gain market share.
One Day PaySM is a claims initiative that Aflac U.S. has focused on to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just one day. The Company believes that this claims practice enhances the Aflac U.S. brand reputation and the trust policyholders have in Aflac, and it helps Aflac stand out from competitors.
Regulation
Insurance RegulationThe Parent Company and its U.S. insurance subsidiaries, Aflac, (a Nebraska-domiciledCAIC, TOIC (Nebraska-domiciled insurance company), American Family Life Assurance Company ofcompanies) and Aflac New York (Aflac New York, a(a New York-domiciled insurance company), CAIC (redomiciled from South Carolina to Nebraska effective December 2016) and Tier One Insurance Company (TOIC, an Oklahoma-domiciled shell insurance company acquired by the Parent Company in 2017 with no operations) are subject to state regulations in the United StatesU.S. as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries and materialcertain transactions between companies within the system, including management fees, loans and advances are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities. These laws generally require, among other things, the insurance holding company and each insurance company directly owned by the holding company to register with the insurance departments of their respective domiciliary states and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system.
operations of companies within the holding company system.
Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC and TOIC are subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:
granting and revoking licenses to transact business
regulating trade and claims practices
licensing of insurance agents and brokers
approval of policy forms and premium rates
standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements
capital requirements
limitations on dividends to shareholders
the nature of and limitations on investments
deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders
filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities
periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies
The insurance laws of Nebraska that govern Aflac's activities provide that the acquisition or change of “control” of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance.Insurance (NDOI). A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a domestic insurance company or of any person controlling a domestic insurance company (in the case of Aflac, CAIC and TOIC, the Parent Company) must generally file with the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI)NDOI an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy to Aflac. In Nebraska, control is generally presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, acquires 10% or more of an insurance company or of any other person or entity controlling the insurance company. The 10% presumption is not conclusive and control may be found to exist at less than 10%. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac's New York insurance subsidiary.
State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In 2016, full-scope, risk-focused financial examinations were conducted by the NDOI, New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) on their state domiciled insurance entities American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, American Family Life Assurance Company ofAflac, Aflac New York, and Continental American Insurance Company,CAIC, respectively. The NDOI and NYDFS exams covered a four-year period ending December 31, 2015, whereas the SCDOI exam covered a five-year period ending December 31, 2015. There were no material findings contained in the NDOI, NYDFS and SCDOI final exam reports. CAIC redomiciled to Nebraska as of December 2016 and TOIC redomiciled to Nebraska effective March 11, 2019. The NDOI and NYDFS are scheduled to conduct a full-scope comprehensive financial examination covering years 2016-2019 in 2020.
NAIC Risk-Based CapitalThe NAIC continually reviews regulatory matters,, such as risk-based capital (RBC) modernization, group capital calculations, liquidity risk assessment and principle-based reserving. The NAIC has adopted a valuation manual containing a principle-based approach to calculation of life insurance reserves. The valuation manual became effective January 1, 2017. There is a three-year transition period, beginning January 1, 2017, during which companies can choose on a product by product basis to implement principle-based reserving for new business. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this manual will not cause a material impact on the statutory reserves of Aflac, Aflac New York, CAIC or CAIC.TOIC. The NAIC uses an RBC formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer's operations. The formulas for determining the amount of RBC specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company's regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. As of December 31, 2018,2019, based on year-end statutory accounting results, Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 560%539%. The 2018 RBC as filed is lower than Aflac U.S. stand-alone RBC due to the inclusion of Aflac Japan for the first quarter of 2018. The RBC charge reflects the business risk without any total adjusted capital (TAC). Aflac's NAIC RBC ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position.
Under state insurance guaranty association laws and similar laws in international jurisdictions, the Company is subject to assessments, based on the share of business the Company writes in the relevant jurisdiction, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. In the United States,U.S., some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. The Company's policy is to accrue assessments when the entity for which the insolvency relates has met its state of domicile's statutory
definition of insolvency, the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable and the related premium upon which the assessment is based is written. In most states, the definition is met with a declaration of financial insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction. For additional information regarding state insurance guaranty assessments, see the U.S. Regulatory Environment subsection of MD&A in this report.
Healthcare Reform Legislation
Federal InitiativesFederal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including health care reform legislation, financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation, can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. For example, theFederal regulations applicable to Aflac U.S. are outlined below.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The ACA, federal health care reform legislation, gave the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. The reform included major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Among other changes, the reform legislation included an individual medical insurance coverage mandate (which has since been repealed effective 2019 by the Tax Act, discussed below), provided for penalties on certain employers for failing to provide adequate coverage, created health insurance exchanges, and addressed coverage and exclusions as well as medical loss ratios. It also imposed an excise tax on certain high cost plans, known as the “Cadillac tax,” that is currently scheduled to begin in 2022. The legislation also included changes in government reimbursements and tax credits for individuals and employers and altered federal and state regulation of health insurers. The ACA, as enacted, does not require material changes in the design of the Company's insurance products. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and regulations could present challenges that could potentially have an impact on the Company's sales model, financial condition and results of operations. The United StatesU.S. Congress has considered and may continue to consider legislation that would repeal and replace key provisions of the ACA. There can be no assurance that any legislation affecting the ACA will be passed by Congress, nor as to the ultimate timing or provisions of any such legislation, nor as to the effect of any such legislation on the design or marketability of the Company's insurance products. Further, certain provisions of the ACA have been and may continue to be subject to challenge through litigation, the ultimate effects of which on the ACA are uncertain.
Tax Reform Legislation
A budget reconciliation act commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Job Act (Tax Act) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Among other things, effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, eliminated or reduced certain deductions and credits, and limited the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation.
The Tax Act also transitions international corporate taxation from a worldwide system to a modified territorial system, which in light of the current tax treatment of Aflac Japan has the effect of subjecting the earnings of Aflac Japan to Japan taxation and subjecting the Company’s other earnings, including the consolidated earnings of the Parent Company, to U.S. taxation.
These changes were effective on January 1, 2018. Because changes to tax rates are accounted for in the period of enactment, during the period ended December 31, 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded, as the Company’s reasonable estimate, a net deferred tax liability reduction of $1.9 billion as of that date. As of the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an immaterial adjustment to the provisional amount of deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) related to the Japan tax computation and no valuation allowance adjustment related to anticipatory foreign tax credit asset, rendering final values for the Company's deferred tax liability. See Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report. For information on the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary, see General Business under this Business section, above.
Dodd-Frank Act
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank) and regulations issued thereunder, in particular rules to require central clearing for certain types of derivatives, may have an impact on Aflac'sthe Company's derivative activity, including activity on behalf of Aflac Japan. In addition, in 2015 and 2016, six U.S. financial regulators, including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), issued final rules regarding the exchange of initial margin (IM) and variation margin (VM) for uncleared swaps that impose greater obligations on swap dealers regarding uncleared swaps with certain counterparties, such as Aflac. The requirements of such rules with respect to VM, as well as similar regulations in Europe, became effective on March 1, 2017. Full compliance with respect to all counterparties was required by September 1, 2017.the Company. The requirements of such rules with respect to IM are currently being phased in and will be fully implemented by September 1, 2020. In October of 2017, the CFTC and the European Commission each finalized comparability determinations that permit certain swap dealers who are subject2020, although an extension to both regulatory margin regimes to take advantage of substituted compliance by complyingSeptember 1, 2021 is expected for covered entities with one set of margin requirements.an aggregate average notional amount below $50 billion. The margin requirements are expected to result in more stringent collateral requirements and to affect other aspects of Aflac's derivativesthe Company's derivative activity.
The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office (FIO) under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business lines other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Traditionally, U.S. insurance companies have been regulated primarily by state insurance departments. The FIO does not directly regulate the insurance industry, but under Dodd-Frank it has the power to preempt state insurance regulations that are inconsistent with international agreements reached by the federal government, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. The FIO and certain federal agencies must achieve consensus positions with the state insurance regulators when taking positions on insurance proposals by certain international forums. In December 2013, the FIO released a report entitled "How To Modernize And Improve The System Of Insurance Regulation In The United States." The report was required by the Dodd-Frank Act, and included 18 recommended areas of near-term reform for the states, including addressing capital adequacy and safety/soundness issues, reform of insurer resolution practices, and reform of marketplace regulation. The report also listed nine recommended areas for direct federal involvement in insurance regulation. Some of the recommendations outlined in the FIO report released in December 2013 have been implemented. The National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act, signed into law in January 2015, simplifies the agent and broker licensing process across state lines. The FIO has also engaged with the supervisory colleges to monitor financial stability and identify regulatory gaps for large national and internationally active insurers.
The current U.S. presidential administrationPresident and Congress have made recent attemptsstated proposals to reform or repeal certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, some of which have been implemented. For example, in 2018, President Trump signed into law the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.” Members of Congress have also introduced multiple bills that would impact or eliminate the FIO. The Federal Reserve is developing a rulemaking regarding the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (the Council) ability to designate nonbank financial companies as Systemically Important Financial Institutions, and, pursuant to an Executive Order, the Treasury Department released a report on the Council’s designation authority. The Company cannot predict with any degree of certainty what impact, if any, such proposals willmight have on Aflac's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Further Information
For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, regulation, change of control and dividend restrictions, see the Aflac U.S. Segment subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Privacy and Cybersecurity
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). For example, in June 2018,the California passed a data privacy law, scheduled to becomeConsumer Privacy Act became effective January 1, 2020 thatand requires businesses to provide California consumers rights to access, delete, and restrict certain uses of their personal information. Under the law, the California Attorney General may not bring an enforcement action prior to July 1, 2020. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is
regulated in Japan by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities. The FSA updated its guidelines regarding cybersecurity in October 2018.
Cybersecurity also continues to be an area of evolving focus for U.S. legislation and regulatory activity. In March 2017, new cybersecurity regulation issued by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)NYDFS went into effect that requires covered entities, including Aflac New York, to maintain an information security program meeting certain security, data disposal, audit, activity
monitoring, and data encryption requirements. In October 2017, the NAIC adopted an Insurance Data Security Model Law that may be adopted in whole or in part by U.S. states in which the Company’s subsidiaries are licensed. Other states have adopted and, the Company expects, will continue to pass legislation and issue regulations related to cybersecurity. The Company anticipates, assesses and if necessary modifies its information security program to accommodate such changes.
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted anFor further information security policy directing management to establish and operate an information security program withconcerning Aflac U.S. operations, see the goal of ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected. The Board has delegated oversight"Aflac U.S. Segment" subsection of the Company’s information security programMD&A and Notes 2 and 13 of the Notes to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of the information security program and regularly communicate with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to the state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changesConsolidated Financial Statements in the information security program. The information security program also includes a cybersecurity incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the Audit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Lead Non-Management Director.this report.
Other OperationsCORPORATE AND OTHER
The Company's other operations include the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries, results of reinsurance retrocession activities and a printing subsidiary. For additional information on the Company's other operations, see the Corporate"Corporate and OtherOther" subsection of the MD&A and Note 8 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
EmployeesEMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan had 6,1216,178 employees, Aflac U.S. had 4,7124,799 employees, and the Company's other operations had 557752 employees.
Information about the Company's Executive Officers of the Registrant
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| NAME | PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(1) | AGE |
| Daniel P. Amos | Chairman, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2001; Chief Executive Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 19901990; President, Aflac, since 2017; President, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2020 | 6768 |
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| Koji Ariyoshi | Executive Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing, Aflac Japan, since 2012 | 6566 |
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| Steven K. Beaver | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac U.S., since 2019; Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2018 until 2019; Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Projects, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac Incorporated, from 2017 until 2018; Vice President, Deputy Chief Accounting Officer, Tax Department, Aflac Incorporated, from 2015 until 2016; Vice President, Corporate Tax, Aflac Incorporated, from 2012 until 2014 | 55 |
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| Max K. Broden | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2017;from 2017 until 2020; Senior Portfolio Manager, Norges Bank, from 2007 until 2017 | 4041 |
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| Frederick J. Crawford | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since 2015;from 2015 until 2020; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, CNO Financial Group, from 2012 until 2015; Executive Vice President, Head of Investment and Corporate Development, Lincoln Financial Group from 2010 until 20122015 | 5556 |
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| J. Todd Daniels | Executive Vice President, and PrincipalChief Financial Officer, Aflac Japan, since 2018; Executive Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, from 2016 until 2018; Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac, from 2015 until 2016; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary and Global Chief Risk Officer, Aflac, from 2014 until 2015; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2012 until 2014; Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, Aflac, from 2011 until 2012
2014 | 4849 |
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| June Howard | Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2010; Treasurer, Aflac, from 2011 until 2015 | 5253 |
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| Eric M. Kirsch | Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, since 2012; President, Aflac Asset Management LLC, since 2017; First Senior Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, from 2011 until 20122017 | 5859 |
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| Masatoshi Koide | President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan since 2017; Deputy President, Aflac Japan from 2016 until 2017; Executive Vice President, Aflac Japan from 2015 until 2016; First Senior Vice President, Aflac Japan, from 2013 until 2015; Senior Vice President, Aflac Japan from 2012 until 20132015 | 5859 |
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| Charles D. Lake, II | President, Aflac International, since 2014; Chairman, Aflac Japan, since 2008 | 5758 |
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| Albert A. Riggieri | Senior Vice President, Global Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary, Aflac Incorporated, since 2018; Senior Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from 2016 until 2018; Group Chief Actuary, Unum Group, until 2016 | 6364 |
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| Audrey B. Tillman | Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since 2014; Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, from 2008 until 2014 | 5455 |
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| Teresa L. White | President, Aflac U.S., since 2014; Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Aflac, from 2013 until 2014; Executive Vice President, Chief Service Officer, Aflac, from 2012 until 2013; Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac, from 2008 until 20132014 | 5253 |
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| Richard L. Williams Jr. | Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer, Aflac since 2017; Senior Vice President and General Manager, Stop Loss, Unum, U.S. in 2017; Senior Vice President, Growth Markets, Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company from 2013 until 2017 | 4748 |
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(1)Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Company faces a wide range of risks, and its continued success depends on its ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect its business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.
Difficult conditionsSales of the Company's products and services are dependent on its ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates, brokers and employees in global capital marketsthe U.S. and sales associates and other distribution partners in Japan.
The Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if its sales networks deteriorate or if the economyCompany does not adequately provide support, training and education for its existing network of sales associates, brokers, other distribution partners and employees. In the U.S., competition exists for sales associates and brokers with demonstrated ability. In Japan, the Company's sales results are dependent upon its relationship with sales associates and other distribution partners, including its strategic partner, Japan Post.
The Company competes with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of its products, compensation, support services and financial rating. The Company's sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners are independent contractors and may sell products of its competitors. If the Company's competitors offer products that are more attractive, or pay higher commissions than the Company does, any or all of these distribution partners may concentrate their efforts on selling the Company's competitors' products instead of the Company's. In addition to the Company's commissioned sales force in the U.S., Aflac has expanded its sales leadership team to include a salaried sales force of over 200 market directors and broker sales professionals. The Company's inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business.
The Company'ssales, results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the global economy generally, including in its two primary operating markets of the United States and Japan. Weak global financial markets impact the value of the Company's existing investment portfolio, influence opportunities for new investments, and may contribute to generally weak economic fundamentals, which can have a negative impact on its operating activities.condition.
In recent years, global capital markets have been severely impacted by several major events. The financial crisis that began in the latter part of 2008 saw dramatic declines in investment values and weak economic conditionsAdditionally, as the global financial system came under extreme pressure. AlthoughJapan and U.S. employment markets began recovering in late 2009 and 2010, Europe continuedcontinue to struggle under a severely weakened banking system and investor concerns with sovereign debt levels. Following a period of unprecedented intervention by governments and central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB), financial conditions improved from the dire conditions of the global financial crisis, global recession, and European debt crisis. More recently, global markets have experienced bouts of volatility due to uncertainty surrounding a British exit from the European Union, Japan’s continued recovery amidst assorted policy changes, volatility in global commodity prices including oil, divergent monetary policies in the United States versus many other developed economies, heightened concerns surrounding the Chinese economy and increasing protectionism in U.S. foreign trade policy. While capital and market conditions have been generally favorable in the last year, volatility increased in the fourth quarter and the prospect for increased volatility remains.
A recent shift in the global trading policies by the U.S. and subsequent trade conflict with China has raised concerns about a slowdown of the Chinese economy. In addition, the U.S. and Japan are engaged in discussions regarding changes to tariffs and trade agreements. While itevolve, there is not expectedrisk that the Company's products wouldpractices regarding attracting, developing, and retaining employees may not be directly impacted by tariff, any resulting economic downturn could adversely affectfully effective. Failure to successfully meet and maintain sufficient levels of employees may diminish the Company.Company's ability to achieve its financial and compliance objectives, both of which are time consuming and personnel-intensive.
ActivityFor more information on the strategic partnership with Japan Post, see the risk factor below entitled, " Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations."
Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations
As previously disclosed, in the second half of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 there have been news reports and public comments regarding improper sales practices relating to sales of JPI products by JPI and JPC, each an affiliate of Japan Post Holdings (together with JPI and JPC, the governmentJapan Post Group). JPC and JPI are important distribution and alliance partners of North Koreathe Company, which in 2018 wascollectively accounted for approximately 25% of Aflac Japan’s third sector sales. On July 24, 2019, after such news reports and other public comments, the subjectJapan Post Group announced that they had established a Special Investigative Committee comprised of increasing focus forindependent former prosecutors to determine whether JPC and JPI sales practices with respect to JPI products had caused disadvantages to customers holding such policies that were not otherwise the result of honoring such customers’ intentions.
On December 18, 2019, the Japan Post Group issued a release discussing results of the investigation and stating that JPI had identified a number of other governments, including thosecases involving potential violation of laws and regulations or internal rules. On the same date, the Japan Post Group stated that it would continue the investigation with a goal of completing it by March 2020. On December 27, 2019, the Japanese FSA issued three-month business suspension orders to JPC and JPI for the sale of JPI insurance products, and the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also issued a three-month business suspension order to JPC for the sale of JPI insurance products. Also on December 27, 2019, the Japan Post Group announced the resignation of the United States and Japan. Although hostile rhetoric has decreased, such North Korean activity and related geopolitical risk could have a significant impact on financial market conditions across the world. Under certain circumstances, government actions taken in response to the North Korean situation could have a material impact on the Company's Japan and U.S. operations and financial performance, including the indirect impact of potentially severe and prolonged capital market volatility and disruption.
As the Company holds a significant amount of fixed maturity securities issued by borrowers located in many different parts of the world, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions, sovereigns, and other corporate borrowers in the United States and Europe, its financial results are directly influenced by global financial markets. A retrenchment of the recent strength of the capital markets could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, including its capital position and overall profitability. Market volatility and recessionary pressures could result in significant realized or unrealized losses due to severe price declines driven by increases in interest rates or credit spreads, defaults in payment of principal or interest, or credit rating downgrades.
Following the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Ministerchief executives of Japan in December 2012, the new administration adopted a new set of financial measuresPost Holdings, JPC and JPI, to stimulate the Japanese economy, including imposing negative interest rates on excess bank reserves. In December 2014 and October 2017 snap-elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won decisive victories further strengthening Mr. Abe's ability to continue with economic reforms and address key policy challenges. In September 2018, Mr. Abe won reelection to another three-year term as president of the LDP. Most recently, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) signaled to hold its policy rate at zero and to continue yield curve control to maintain a targetedbe effective January 5, 2020. On January 31,
yield2020, the Japan Post Group announced that its internal investigation had been expanded to additional policyholders and the investigation would continue with a goal of completing it by the end of June 2020. The Japan Post Group stated they could not comment on the 10-yearexpected timing for it to re-initiate sales of JPI insurance products.
Notwithstanding the JPI investigation and the three-month suspension orders promulgated by the FSA and the Japan Government Bond (JGB). Prime Minister Abe’s election victories mayMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the sale of Aflac Japan cancer policies has continued through JPC and JPI. However, while the sale of Aflac Japan cancer insurance products is not within the scope of the suspension orders, beginning in August 2019 the Company has experienced a material decrease of sales in the Japan Post Group channel. This decline has continued into 2020. The Company believes that sales of Aflac Japan cancer insurance through JPC and JPI are unlikely to return to 2018 levels in the near term. It is uncertain what long-term effect these developments will have on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition, but any such effects could be material. See the "Aflac Japan Segment" subsection of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Competition could adversely affect the Company's ability to increase or maintain its market share or profitability.
The Company operates in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require the Company to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate the Company's products and services from those of its competitors. The Company also faces the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the U.S. and Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry, but some of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than the Company does. Further, some of these potential competitors could introduce new means of product development and delivery that disrupt the Company’s business model. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate the Company's products and services can affect the Company's ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business. Further, as employers and brokers are increasingly requesting a full-suite of products from one insurance provider, a failure to react and adapt to these demands could result in the continuation of current monetary policy, but there can be no guarantee that this is the case.decreased sales or market share.
JapanThe insurance market is undergoing rapid changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The Company's future success will depend, in part, on its ability to keep pace with the largest markettechnological changes and to use technology to satisfy and grow customer demand for the Company's products and services and to create additional efficiencies in its operations. The Company expects that it will need to continue making substantial investments in its technology and information systems to compete effectively and to stay current with technological changes. The Company may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. A failure to meet evolving customer demands through innovative product development, effective distribution channels, and continuous investment in the Company's technology could result in lower revenues and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could adversely affect the Company's operating results. As a result, the Company's ability to effectively compete to retain or acquire new business may be impaired, and its business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, the Company's financial results would be adversely affected.
The Company establishes premiums for many of its policies on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, longevity and persistency. The Company also establishes and carries, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims on its policies. The Company calculates these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums the Company will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets the Company purchases with a portion of its net cash flow from operations.
The assumptions and estimates that the Company uses in establishing premiums and reserves depend on the Company's judgment regarding the likelihood of future events and are inherently uncertain. Many factors can cause actual outcomes to deviate from these assumptions and estimates, such as changes in incidence rates, economic conditions, changes in government healthcare policy, advances in medical technology, changes in treatment patterns, and changes in average lifespan. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that it will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level the Company assumes prior to payment of benefits or claims. If the Company's actual experience is different from its assumptions or estimates, the Company's reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, the Company would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which it determines such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Generally, lower mortality decreases the profitability of third sector products in Japan, as more policyholders will survive into ages where they have a higher rate of claim incidence. This assumption can impact pricing and reserving. For instance, Japan FSA periodically requires updates to their Standard mortality tables for FSA reserves. An update to the Standard mortality tables was performed in April 2018 applicable to all business issued after that date. For business that is inforce prior to the update, the change in mortality table would not have an impact. For new issues, the updated mortality tables would be included in the Company's reserve assumptions, and slow the emergence of FSA earnings for third sector products and therefore will have an impact on pricing returns. The Company adjusts pricing assumptions as new products are developed to adjust for these mortality assumptions.
The success of the Company's business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology.
The Company's business depends in large part on its technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders, sales associates, and brokers, and the Company's business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs and ensuring employees have the technology in place to support those needs. Some of the Company's information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards including adequate business continuity procedures. The Company is in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing its business systems; however, these changes tend to challenge the Company's complex integrated environment. The Company's success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support its business processes in a cost-efficient manner. If the Company does not maintain the effectiveness of its systems, the Company's operations and reputation could be adversely affected and it could be exposed to litigation as well as to regulatory proceedings and fines or penalties.
Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and loan receivables in the Company's investment portfolio may reduce the Company's earnings and capital position.
The Company is subject to the risk that the issuers and/or guarantors of fixed maturity securities and loan receivables the Company owns substantial holdingsmay default on principal or interest. A significant portion of the Company's portfolio represents an unsecured obligation of the issuer, including some that may be subordinated to other debt in JGBs. Government actionsthe issuer’s capital structure. In these cases, many factors can influence the overall creditworthiness of the issuer and ultimately its ability to stimulateservice and repay the Company's holdings. This can include changes in the global economy, the company's assets, strategy, or management, shifts in the dynamics of the industries in which they compete, their access to additional funding, and the overall health of the credit markets. Factors unique to the Company's securities including contractual protections such as financial covenants or relative position in the issuer's capital structure also influence the value of the Company's holdings.
Most of the Company's investments carry a rating by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs or rating agencies). Any change in the rating agencies' approach to evaluating credit and assigning an opinion could negatively impact the fair value of the Company's portfolio. The Company employs a team of credit analysts to monitor the creditworthiness of the issuers in its portfolio. Any credit-related declines in the fair value of positions held in the Company's portfolio believed to be not temporary in nature will negatively impact the Company's net income and capital position through impairment and other credit related losses. These losses would also affect the Company's solvency ratios in the U.S. and Japan. Aflac Japan has certain regulatory accounting requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by credit-related losses, which may be different from U.S. GAAP and statutory requirements. These impairment losses could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings, and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
The Company is also subject to the risk that any collateral providing credit enhancement to the Company's positions could deteriorate. These instruments may include senior secured first lien loans, such as commercial mortgage loans, bank loans, middle market loans, and loan-backed securities where the underlying loan or collateral notes may default on principal, interest, or other payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows to the positions held in the Company's investment portfolio.
The Company is exposed to sovereign credit risk through instruments issued directly by governments and government entities as well as banks and other institutions that rely in part on the strength of the underlying government for their credit quality. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, many governments, especially in Europe, have been subject to rating downgrades due to the need for fiscal and budgetary remediation and structural reforms, reduced economic activity, and investment needed to support banks or other systemically important entities. Additional downgrades or default of the Company's sovereign issuers will have a negative impact on its portfolio and could reduce the Company's earnings and capital.
In addition to the Company's exposure to the underlying fundamental credit strength of the issuers of its fixed maturity securities and the underlying risk of default, the Company is also exposed to the general movement in credit market spreads. A widening of credit spreads could reduce the value of the Company's existing holdings, its reinvestment rateportfolio, create unrealized losses on new investments in JGBs or other yen-denominated assets, and consumer behavior relative to the Company's suite of products. The additional government debt from fiscal stimulus actions could adversely impact the Japan sovereign credit profile, which could in turn lead to volatility in Japanese capital and currency markets.
The Company's investment portfolio has sizeable credit positions in many other geographic areas of the world including the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and other emerging markets. Deterioration in their underlying economies, sovereign credit worthiness, or financial market conditions could negatively impact the Company's financial position.
While the Company has continued to add floating rate investments to its investment portfolio, mostand reduce the Company's adjusted capital position which is used in determining the SMR in Japan. This widening of itscredit spreads could, however, increase the net investment portfolio holdings are income-producing bonds that provideincome on new credit investments. Conversely, a fixed leveltightening of income. Manycredit spreads could increase the value of the Company's investments were made at the relatively low level of interest rates prevailing over the last decade. Any increase in the market yields of the Company's holdings due to an increase in interest rates couldexisting portfolio and create substantial unrealized losses in the Company's portfolio, as discussed further in a separate risk factor in this section of the Form 10-K.
The Company needs liquidity to pay its operating expenses, dividendsgains on its common stock, interest on its debt, and liabilities. For a further descriptioninvestment portfolio. This tightening of credit spreads could also reduce the Company's liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of MD&A in this report. In the event the Company's current resources do not meet its needs,net investment income available to the Company may needon new credit investments. Increased market volatility also makes it difficult to seek additional financing. The Company's access to additional funding will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and its credit rating.
Should investors become concerned with anyvalue certain of the Company's investment holdings including(see the concentrationCritical Accounting Estimates section in JGBs, its access to market sourcesItem 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, of funding could be negatively impacted. There is a possibility that lenders or debt investors may also become concerned if the Company incurs large investment losses or if the level of the Company's business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the United States or Japan, specifically, or generally in developed markets. Similarly, the Company's access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions. Seethis Form 10-K).
For more information on recent rating actions later inregarding credit risk, see the Credit Risk subsection of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Risk Factors section.
Broad economic factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of the Company's business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as Aflac that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires and total employees. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead the Company's customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect the Company's premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. The Company is unable to predict the course of the global financial markets or the recurrence, duration or severity of disruptions in such markets.Form 10-K.
The Company is exposed to significant interest rate risk, which may adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
The Company has substantial investment portfolios that support its policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments experienced in Japan and the United StatesU.S. over the last decade have reduced the level of investment income earned by the Company. The Company's overall level of investment income will be negatively impacted in a persistent low-interest-rate environment. While the Company generally seeks to maintain a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the cash flow and duration characteristics of the liabilities it supports, the Company may not be able to fully mitigate the interest rate risk of its assets relative to its liabilities. The Company's exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the ability to invest future cash flows to support the interest rate assumption made at the time the Company's products were priced and the related reserving assumptions were established. A sustained decline in interest rates could hinder the Company's ability to earn the returns assumed in the pricing and the reserving for its products at the time they were sold and issued. Due to low interest rates, the Company's ability to earn the returns it expects may also influence the Company's ability to develop and price attractive new products and could impact its overall
sales levels. The Company's first sector products are more interest rate sensitive than third sector products. As discussed in Item 1. Business, beginning in 2013, Aflac Japan began to curtail sales of first sector savings-type products due to persistent low interest rates in Japan. The continuing negative interest rate imposed by the BoJBank of Japan (BoJ) on excess bank reserves could continue to have a negative impact on the distribution and pricing of these products.
A rise in interest rates could improve the Company's ability to earn higher rates of return on future investments, as well as floating rate investments held in its investment portfolio. However, an increase in the differential of short-term U.S. and Japan interest rates would increase the cost of hedging a portion of the U.S. dollar-denominated assets in the Aflac Japan segment into yen, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. TheThe Company’s floating rate investments typically bear interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Regulatory and industry initiatives to eliminate LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in the valuation of LIBOR-based loans, as well as for other LIBOR-based derivatives and assets. This may adversely impact both pricing and liquidity in such instruments. The Company is unable to predict with certainty how LIBOR elimination may impact markets, pricing, liquidity and other factors or the Company's activities.
Changes in interest rates impact unrealized gains and losses of fixed income securities in the Company's investment portfolio; however, they do not have a direct impact on the related valuation of the corresponding liabilities. Prolonged periods of low interest rates, as have been experienced in recent years, heighten the risk ofassociated with future increases in interest rates because an increasing proportion of the Company's investment portfolio includes investments that bear lower rates of return than the embedded book yield of the investment portfolio. A rise in interest rates could decrease the fair value of the Company's debt securities. Some of the insurance products that Aflac sells in the United StatesU.S. and Japan provide cash surrender values. A rise in interest rates could trigger significant policy surrenders, which might require the Company to sell investment assets and recognize unrealized losses. This situation is commonly referred to as disintermediation risk. The Company generally invests its assets to match the duration and cash flow characteristics of its policy liabilities, and therefore would not expect to realize most of these gains or losses, however, the Company's risk is that unforeseen events or economic conditions, such as changes in interest rates resulting from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond the Company's control will reduce the effectiveness of this strategy. These events or economic conditions could either cause the Company to dispose of some or all of these investments prior to their maturity, or increase the risk that the issuers of these securities may default or may require impairment, which could result in the Company having to recognize such gains or losses.
Rising interest rates also negatively impact the SMR since unrealized losses on the available-for-sale investment portfolio factor into the ratio. For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Further, interest rate risk is still an inherent portfolio, business and capital risk for the Company, and significant changes in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, changes in unrealized positions, and liquidity.
For more information regarding interest rate risk, see the Interest Rate Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in this report.
The Company's concentration of business in Japan poses risks to its operations.
The Company's operations in Japan, including realized gains and losses on Aflac Japan's investment portfolio, accounted for 70%69% of the Company's total revenues forin 2019, and 70% in both 2018 and 2017, compared with 71% in 2016.2017. The Japanese operations accounted for 84%83% of the Company's total assets at December 31, 2018,2019, compared with 83%84% at December 31, 2017.2018.
Further, because of the concentration of the Company's business in Japan and its need for long-dated yen-denominated assets, the Company has a substantial concentration of JGBsJapan Government Bond (JGBs) in its investment portfolio. As such the Company has material exposure to the Japanese economy, geo-political climate, political regime, and other factors that generally determine a country's creditworthiness. Specifically, the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs, or "rating agencies"), credit rating agencies registered with the SEC, have placed increased scrutiny on JGBs, which are a significant component of the Company’s overall investment portfolio, resulting in downgrades as discussed later in this Risk Factors section.
The Company seeks to match investment currency and interest rate risk to its yen liabilities. The low level of interest rates available on yen-denominated securities has a negative effect on overall net investment income. A large portion of
the cash available for reinvestment each year is deployed in yen-denominated instruments and subject to the low level of yen interest rates.
Any potential deterioration in Japan's credit quality, market access, the overall economy of Japan, or Japanese market volatility could adversely impact the business of Aflac in general and specifically Aflac Japan and its related results of operations and financial condition.
The Companyis exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the yen and the U.S. dollar can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan's premiums and approximately half of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when yen weakens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes fewer U.S. dollars to be reported. When yen strengthens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes more U.S. dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the U.S. dollar will generally adversely affect the value of the Company's yen-denominated investments in U.S. dollar terms.
The Company engages in certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to its net investment in operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope, and the Company cannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective.
Unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities held by Aflac Japan are exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations, which impact SMR. In periods of yen strengthening, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments will experience unrealized foreign exchange losses, negatively impacting SMR. This impact increases when the size of the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio increases, which can occur due to the purchase of additional unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, or through termination or expiration of existing hedges. Unrealized currency gains and losses on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities are monetized (or, in other words, are economically realized) only upon converting the proceeds from the sale, maturity or redemption of these securities to yen, which primarily occurs when yen are needed to satisfy policyholder obligations or other business expenses of Aflac Japan. To mitigate exposure to the foreign exchange risk from U.S. dollar-denominated investments and to reduce SMR volatility, the Company engages in certain currency hedging activities. However, these hedging activities are limited in scope and the Company cannot provide assurance that its hedging strategies will be effective. As a result, periods of unusually volatile currency exchange rates could result in limitations on dividends available to the Parent Company.
As indicated in the Item 1, Business, the Company has determined that the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio acts as a natural economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company’s investment in Aflac Japan against erosion of economic value. However, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio at the same time creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and subjects Aflac Japan to volatility in regulatory capital and earnings, which may adversely impact Aflac Japan’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. The overall investment strategy in Aflac Japan is guided primarily by the objective of securing the long-term financial strength of Aflac Japan and funding of yen liabilities. As a result, the Company has historically maintained and currently maintains the size of the unhedged portfolio at levels below the stressed economic surplus in Aflac Japan. However, there can be no assurance that this strategy will be successful.
Furthermore, for regulatory accounting purposes, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by changes in the rate of exchange between the yen and U.S. dollar and could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into U.S. dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in the Company's U.S. dollar-denominated cash flows and earnings when exchange gains or losses, respectively, are realized. This primarily occurs when the Company dividends funds from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company, but it also has an impact when cash in the form of yen is converted to U.S. dollars for investment into U.S. dollar-denominated assets. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of dividend payment may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. In 2018, the Parent Company entered into forward contracts to
accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by Aflac Japan, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. If the markets experience a significant strengthening of yen, this could cause cash strain at the Parent Company as a result of cash collateral and potentially cash settlement requirements. Based on the timing and severity of exchange rate fluctuations combined with the level of outstanding activity in this program, the cash strain at the Parent Company could be significant.
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor below entitled, “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity”. For more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the Currency Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A.
Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
The Company attempts to match both the duration and currency of its assets with its liabilities. This is very difficult for Aflac Japan due to the lack of available long-dated yen-denominated fixed income instruments beyond JGBs.
Prior to the onset of the financial crisis of 2008, the Company was focused on investing cash flows in JGBs, which had relatively low yields, and utilizing private placement and perpetual securities to gain additional yield, extend the duration of the investment portfolio, and maintain yen exposure. Given call activity with respect to certain of the Company's legacy private placement investments, the Company has added a modest amount of yen-denominated private placements to its investment portfolio in recent periods. The investment in private placements carries risk associated with illiquidity, which is managed and monitored by the Company.
Starting in 2012, Aflac Japan augmented its investment strategy to include U.S. dollar-denominated investments, some of which could then be hedged back to yen. Initially this program focused on public investment-grade bonds but has evolved over time to include U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade commercial mortgage loans, middle market loans, infrastructure debt, as well as other loan types, high yield bondsbond and U.S. equity securities.public and private equities. The Company plans to continue adding other instruments denominated in U.S. dollars, including floating rate investments, to improve the portfolio diversification and/or return profile. Some of the U.S. dollar-denominated asset classes that the Company has added, and anticipates continuing to add, have less liquidity than investment-grade corporate bonds. These strategies will continue to increase the Company's exposure to U.S. interest rates, credit spreads and other risks. The Company has increased foreign exchange risk exposure as the comprehensive hedging program may not always correlate to the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated assets, thereby increasing earnings volatility. These risks can significantly impact the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Investing in U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan also creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and related SMR volatility, as Aflac Japan’s insurance liabilities are yen-denominated. Although the Company engages in certain foreign exchange hedging activities to partially mitigate this risk, and such hedged assets may be used to satisfy yen-denominated insurance liabilities and other business obligations, important risks remain.
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. Cumulative net cash settlements on derivatives hedging currency exposure of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments are associated with existing U.S. dollar-denominated investments that continue to be hedged, previously hedged investments that continue to be held but are no longer hedged, as well as, investments previously hedged that have since been sold, matured or redeemed and may or may not have not been converted to yen. The Company’s foreign exchange derivatives are typically shorter-dated than the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated investments being hedged, which creates roll-over risks within the hedging program that could increase the cost of such derivatives. If the Company reduces the notional amount of foreign exchange derivatives prior to the maturity of the hedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, the foreign exchange gains or losses on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments remain economically unrealized. These foreign currency gains or losses on the investments are only economically realized, or monetized, through sale, maturity or redemption of the investments and concurrent conversion to yen. However, the Company may not realize the benefit of offsetting adverse cash settlements on hedging derivatives with cash receipts on the U.S. dollar-denominated investments if the currency exchange rates move in an adverse direction before the investments are converted to yen, or if the investments are never converted to yen. As an example of the latter, if the Company’s actual insurance risk experience in Japan is as expected or more favorable than expected, the need for yen to pay expenses and claims would correspondingly remain at or below expected levels, thereby diminishing operational requirements to convert U.S. dollar-denominated investments to yen. Since 2012, the cumulative net cash settlements on derivatives hedging currency exposure of Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investments were an outflow of $3.9 billion as of December 31, 2018. These outflows or cumulative net negative settlements are associated with foreign exchange derivatives on existing U.S. dollar-denominated investments and hedged investments that have since been sold, matured or redeemed and may or may have not been converted to yen. Furthermore, the settlements include instances where the initial foreign exchange derivative notional amounts were reduced prior to the maturity of the hedged
investments. The settlement of the foreign exchange derivatives is reported in the investing activities section of the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows in the line item “Settlement of derivatives, net.”
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor above entitled, “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.” For more information regarding Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments and hedging activities, see the Hedging Activities "Hedging Activities"subsection within the Item 7. MD&A section inof this report, and for more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the Currency Risk"Currency Risk" subsection within the Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk section in this report.
U.S. tax audit risk relatedIf the Company fails to conversion of the Japan branchcomply with restrictions on customer privacy and information security, including taking steps to a subsidiary could adversely impactensure that its third-party service providers and business associates who access, store, process or transmit sensitive customer information maintain its security, integrity, confidentiality and availability, the Company's financial position.
The conversion of the Japan branch to a legal subsidiary, which the Company executed in the second quarter of 2018, was a complex, tax-free transaction that is conditioned on the continued validity of a private letter ruling the Company received from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Notwithstanding the receipt of the private letter ruling, the IRSreputation and business operations could determine that the Japan branch conversion should be treated as a taxable transaction. For example, the IRS could conclude that the representations, assumptions and covenants on which the private letter ruling is based are untrue, not accurate, or have not been fulfilled. If the IRS made such a conclusion, the Company could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities or litigation costs to defend the tax-free treatment of the transaction outlined by the private letter ruling. Such liabilities or costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, the Company's financial results would bematerially adversely affected.
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal GLBA and in the HIPAA. HIPAA also requires that the Company establishes premiums for many of its policies on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, longevityimposes privacy and persistency. The Company also establishes and carries, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claimssecurity requirements on its policies. The Company calculates these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiumsbusiness associates (as such term is defined in the Company will receive overHIPAA regulations). With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events coveredinsured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the insurance policy;APPI and the investment returns on the assets the Company purchases with a portion of its net cash flow from operations.guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities.
The assumptionsCompany relies on third parties, and estimates that the Company uses in establishing premiumssome cases subcontractors, to provide information technology and reserves dependdata services. It also relies on the Company's judgment regarding the likelihood of future eventsvarious parties in its distribution channels including agencies, banks and are inherently uncertain. Many factors can cause actual outcomes to deviate from these assumptions and estimates, such as changes in economic conditions, changes in government healthcare policy, advances in medical technology, changes in treatment patterns, and changes in average lifespan. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that it will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level the Company assumes prior to payment of benefits or claims. If the Company's actual experience is different from its assumptions or estimates, the Company's reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, the Company would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which it determines such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Generally, lower mortality decreases the profitability of third sector productsJapan Post in Japan, as more policyholders will survive into ages where they have a higher rate of claim incidence. This assumption can impact pricing and reserving. For instance, Japan FSA periodically requires updates to their Standard mortality tables for FSA reserves. An update to the Standard mortality tables was performed in April 2018 applicable to all business issued after that date. For business that is inforce prior to the update, the change in mortality table would not have an impact. For new issues, the updated mortality tables would be included in our reserve assumptions, and slow the emergence of FSA earnings for third sector products and therefore will have an impact on pricing returns. The Company adjusts pricing assumptionswell as new products are developed to adjust for these mortality assumptions.
The success of the Company's business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology.
The Company's business depends in large part on its technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders, sales associates and brokers in the U.S., to provide services to prospective and existing customers. Although the Company'sCompany provides for appropriate protections through its contracts and performs information security risk assessments of its third-party service providers and business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meetassociates, the Company still has limited control over their needsactions and ensuring employees havepractices. In addition, despite the technologysecurity measures the Company has in place to supportensure compliance with applicable laws and rules, the Company's facilities and systems, and those needs. Some of the Company's third-party providers and participants in its distribution channels may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. In such cases, notification to affected individuals, state and federal regulators, state attorneys general and media may be required, depending upon the number of affected individuals and whether personal information technology systemsincluding health or financial data was subject to unauthorized access.
The U.S. Congress and softwaremany states are older, legacy-type systemsconsidering new privacy and security requirements that are less efficientwould apply to the Company's business. Compliance with new privacy and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards includingsecurity laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost
adequate business continuity procedures. The Company is in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing its business systems; however, theseincreases due to necessary systems changes, tend to challengenew limitations or constraints on the Company's complex integrated environment. The Company's success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improvingbusiness models, the effectivenessdevelopment of existing systemsnew administrative processes, and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support its business processes in a cost-efficient manner. If the Company does not maintain the effectivenesseffects of its systems,potential noncompliance by the Company's operations and reputation could be adversely affected and it could be exposed to litigation as well as to regulatory proceedings and fines or penalties.
Competition could adversely affectbusiness associates. They also may impose further restrictions on the Company's ability to increasecollection, disclosure and use of customer identifiable data that are housed in one or maintain its market share or profitability.
The Company operates in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require the Company to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate the Company's products and services from those of its competitors. The Company also faces the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the United States and Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry, but some of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than the Company does. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate the Company's products and services can affect the Company's ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business.
Further, as employers and brokers are increasingly requesting a full-suite of products from one insurance provider, a failure to react and adapt to these demands could result in decreased sales or market share. Similarly, a failure to meet evolving customer demands through innovative product development, effective distribution channels, and continuous investment in the Company's technology could result in lower revenues and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could adversely affect the Company's operating results.
Events, including those external to the Company's operations, could damage the Company's reputation.
The Company has made significant investments in the Aflac brand over a long period of time. Because insurance products are intangible, the Company's ability to compete for and maintain policyholders relies to a large extent on consumer trust in the Company's business. The perception of unfavorable business practices or financial weakness could create doubt regarding the Company's ability to honor the commitments it has made to its policyholders. Maintaining the Company's stature as a trustworthy insurer and responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strengthmore of the Company's brand, is critical toadministrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the Company's reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect the Company's brand value, financial condition and results of operations. For example, negative publicity or allegations of unfavorable business practices or poor governance can be rapidly and widely shared over social or traditional mediamisappropriation, loss, theft or other means, and could reduce demand for the Company's insurance products, reduce the Company's ability to recruit and retain employees,unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or lead to greater regulatory scrutiny of the Company's operations.
Sales of the Company's products and services are dependent on its ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates, brokers and employees in the United States and sales associates and other distribution partners in Japan.
The Company's sales could be adversely affected if its sales networks deteriorate or ifconfidential customer information, whether by the Company does not adequately provide support, training and education for its existing network. In the United States, competition exists for sales associates and brokers with demonstrated ability. In Japan, the Company's sales results are dependent upon its relationship with sales associates and other distribution partners, including its alliance partner, Japan Post, which in recent periods has accounted for approximately 25% of Aflac Japan's third sector sales. The Company competes with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basisor by one of its products, compensation, support services and financial rating. The Company's inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan,third parties, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales,business, reputation, brand and results of operations, including: material fines and financial condition.penalties; compensatory, special, punitive and statutory damages; consent orders regarding the Company's privacy and security practices; adverse actions against the Company's licenses to do business; and injunctive relief.
The Company's salesIn addition, under Japanese laws and regulations, including the APPI, if a leak or loss of personal information by Aflac Japan or its business associates should occur, depending on factors such as the volume of personal data involved and brokers are independent contractors andthe likelihood of other secondary damage, Aflac Japan may sell products of its competitors. Ifbe required to file reports to the Company's competitors offer products that are more attractive,FSA; issue public releases explaining such incident to the public; or pay higher commissions than the Company does, any or all of these distribution partners may concentrate their efforts on selling the Company's competitors' products instead of the Company's. In additionbecome subject to an FSA business improvement order, which could pose a risk to the Company's commissioned sales force in the United States, Aflac has expanded its sales leadership team to include a salaried sales force of over 200 market directors and broker sales professionals. The Company's ability to attract and retain top talent in these salaried roles has a material impact on its sales success.
Additionally, as the Japan and U.S. employment markets continue to evolve, there is risk that the Company's practices regarding attracting, developing, and retaining employees may not be fully effective. Failure to successfully meet and maintain sufficient levels of employees may diminish the Company's ability to achieve its financial and compliance objectives, both of which are time consuming and personnel-intensive.reputation.
Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, could harm the Company's business.
The Company stores confidential policyholder, employee, agent, and other proprietary information on its information technology systems. In addition, the Company depends heavily on its telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data it uses to run its businesses and service its customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond the Company's control. Additionally, design flaws may exist in certain systems, processes, software, or configurations that in turn may result in system failure, data corruption, or compromise. Despite the Company's implementation of a variety of security measures to defend against threats incurred on a daily basis, its information technology and other systems, as well as those of third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been and will likely continue to be subject to physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks, that may result in the failure to adequately maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity, or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to customers and prospective customers, or in the misappropriation of the Company's intellectual property or proprietary information.
From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. Although the minor data leakage issues the Company has experienced to date have not had a material effect on its business, there is no assurance that the Company's security systems or processes will prevent or mitigate future break-ins, tampering, security breaches or other cyber-attacks. Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, whether due to actions by the Company or others, including third party providers and participants in the company’s distribution channels, could delay or disrupt the Company's ability to do business and service its customers, seriously harm the Company's brand and reputation as well as the Company's ability to compete effectively, subject it to regulatory sanctions and other claims, lead to a loss of customers and revenues and otherwise adversely affect the Company's business. In addition, the costs to address or remediate system interruptions or security threats and vulnerabilities, whether before or after an incident, could be significant.
While the Company continues to invest in the infrastructure of its data security programs, the Company, as well as its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels, have been, and will likely continue to be, the target of unauthorized access, social engineering, phishing, cyber-attacks, web application attacks, computer viruses or other malicious codes, or other computer-related penetrations. Although the Company attempts to manage its exposure to such events through the purchase of cyber liability insurance, such events are inherently unpredictable and insurance may not be sufficient to protect the Company against all losses. As a result, events such as these could adversely affect the Company's financial condition or results of operation.
If the Company fails to comply with restrictions on customer privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that its third-party service providers and business associates who access, store, process or transmit sensitive customer information maintain its security, integrity, confidentiality and availability, the Company's reputation and business operations could be materially adversely affected.
The collection, maintenance, use, protection, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by the Company's businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the unauthorized access and acquisition of personal information and the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal GLBA and in the HIPAA. HIPAA also requires that the Company imposes privacy and security requirements on its business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). With regard to personal information obtained from policyholders, the insured, or others, Aflac Japan is regulated in Japan by the APPI and guidelines issued by FSA and other governmental authorities.
The Company relies on third parties, and in some cases subcontractors, to provide information technology and data services. It also relies on various parties in its distribution channels including agencies, banks and Japan Post in Japan, as well as sales associates and brokers in the United States, to provide services to prospective and existing customers.
Although the Company provides for appropriate protections through its contracts and performs information security risk assessments of its third-party service providers and business associates, the Company still has limited control over their actions and practices. In addition, despite the security measures the Company has in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules,Catastrophic events could adversely affect the Company's facilitiesfinancial condition and systems, and thoseresults of operations as well as the availability of the Company's third-party providersCompany’s infrastructure and participants in its distribution channels may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. From time to time, the Company, its third party providers and participants in the Company’s distribution channels have experienced and will likely continue to experience such events. In such cases, notification to affected individuals, state and federal regulators, state attorneys general and media may be required, depending upon the number of affected individuals and whether personal information including health or financial data was subject to unauthorized access.systems.
The U.S. Congress and many statesCompany's insurance operations are considering new privacy and security requirements that would applyexposed to the risk of catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, and terrorism or other acts of violence. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Certain events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and man-made catastrophes could cause substantial damage or loss of life in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Claims resulting from natural or man−made catastrophic events could cause substantial volatility in the Company's business. Compliance withfinancial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce its profitability or harm the Company's financial condition, as well as affect its ability to write new privacy and security laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost increases due to necessary systems changes, new limitations or constraints onbusiness.
Additionally, the Company's business models,operations may be adversely affected by such catastrophic events to the development of new administrative processes,extent they disrupt the Company's physical infrastructure, human resources or systems that support its businesses and customers. Although the Company has a global crisis management framework to minimize the business disruption from a catastrophic event, such framework may not be effective to avoid an adverse impact to the Company from such an event.
Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the effects of potential noncompliance by the Company's business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on the Company's collection, disclosure and use of customer identifiable data that are housed in one or more of the Company's administrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss, theft or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential customer information, whether by the Company or by one of its third parties,economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business.
The Company's results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the global economy generally, including in its two primary operating markets of the U.S. and Japan. Weak global financial markets impact the value of the Company's existing investment portfolio, influence opportunities for new investments, and may contribute to generally weak economic fundamentals, which can have a negative impact on its operating activities.
In recent years, global capital markets have been severely impacted by several major events. The financial crisis that began in the latter part of 2008 saw dramatic declines in investment values and weak economic conditions as the global financial system came under extreme pressure. Although U.S. markets began recovering in late 2009 and 2010, Europe continued to struggle under a severely weakened banking system and investor concerns with sovereign debt levels. Following a period of unprecedented intervention by governments and central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB), financial conditions improved from the dire conditions of the global financial crisis, global recession, and European debt crisis. More recently, global markets have experienced bouts of volatility due to uncertainty surrounding a British exit from the European Union, Japan’s continued recovery amidst assorted policy changes, volatility in global commodity prices including oil, divergent monetary policies in the U.S. versus many other developed economies, heightened concerns surrounding the Chinese economy and increasing protectionism in U.S. foreign trade policy. While capital and market conditions have been generally favorable in the last year, the prospect for increased volatility remains.
A shift in the global trading policies by the U.S. and subsequent trade conflict with China has raised concerns about a slowdown of the Chinese economy and the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and China left tariffs in place and many trade issues unresolved. In addition, the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan resulted in tariff reductions on some products but left tariffs on other products in place. While it is not expected that the Company's products would be directly impacted by tariffs, any resulting economic downturn could adversely affect the Company.
Activity by the government of North Korea in 2018 was the subject of increasing focus for a number of other governments, including those of the U.S. and Japan. Although hostile rhetoric decreased in 2019, there is a possibility of renewed hostility between their governments. In addition, in January 2020, hostility between the government of the U.S. and the government of Iran increased, ultimately culminating in a number of missile strikes. Such activity and related geopolitical risk could have a significant impact on financial market conditions across the world. Under certain circumstances, government actions taken in response to these or similar situations could have a material impact on the Company's operations and financial performance, including the indirect impact of potentially severe and prolonged capital market volatility and disruption.
As the Company holds a significant amount of fixed maturity securities issued by borrowers located in many different parts of the world, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions, sovereigns, and other corporate borrowers in the U.S. and Europe, its financial results are directly influenced by global financial markets. A retrenchment of the recent strength of the capital markets could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, including its capital position and overall profitability. Market volatility and recessionary pressures could result in significant realized or unrealized losses due to severe price declines driven by increases in interest rates or credit spreads, defaults in payment of principal or interest, or credit rating downgrades.
Following the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in December 2012, the new administration adopted a new set of financial measures to stimulate the Japanese economy, including imposing negative interest rates on excess bank reserves. In December 2014 and October 2017 snap-elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won decisive victories further strengthening Mr. Abe's ability to continue with economic reforms and address key policy challenges. In September 2018, Mr. Abe won reelection to another three-year term as president of the LDP. Most recently, the BoJ signaled to hold its policy rate at zero and to continue yield curve control to maintain a targeted yield on the 10-year JGB. Prime Minister Abe’s election victories may result in the continuation of current monetary policy, but there can be no guarantee that this is the case.
Japan is the largest market for the Company's products, and the Company owns substantial holdings in JGBs. Government actions to stimulate the economy affect the value of the Company's existing holdings, its reinvestment rate on new investments in JGBs or other yen-denominated assets, and consumer behavior relative to the Company's suite of products. The additional government debt from fiscal stimulus actions could adversely impact the Japan sovereign credit profile, which could in turn lead to volatility in Japanese capital and currency markets.
The Company's investment portfolio has sizeable credit positions in many other geographic areas of the world including the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and other emerging markets. Deterioration in their underlying economies, sovereign credit worthiness, or financial market conditions could negatively impact the Company's financial position.
While the Company has continued to add floating rate investments to its investment portfolio, most of its investment portfolio holdings are income-producing bonds that provide a fixed level of income. Many of the Company's investments were made at the relatively low level of interest rates prevailing over the last decade. Any increase in the market yields of the Company's holdings due to an increase in interest rates could create substantial unrealized losses in the Company's portfolio, as discussed further in a separate risk factor in this section of the Form 10-K.
The Company needs liquidity to pay its operating expenses, dividends on its common stock, interest on its debt, and liabilities. For a further description of the Company's liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of MD&A in this report. In the event the Company's current resources do not meet its needs, the Company may need to seek additional financing. The Company's access to additional funding will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and its credit rating.
Should investors become concerned with any of the Company's investment holdings, including the concentration in JGBs, its access to market sources of funding could be negatively impacted. There is a possibility that lenders or debt investors may also become concerned if the Company incurs large investment losses or if the level of the Company's business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the U.S. or Japan, specifically, or generally in developed markets. Similarly, the Company's access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions. See more information on recent rating actions later in this Risk Factors section.
Broad economic factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of the Company's business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as Aflac that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires and total employees. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead the Company's customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect the Company's premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. The Company is unable to predict the course of the global financial markets or the recurrence, duration or severity of disruptions in such markets.
Events, including those external to the Company's operations, could damage the Company's reputation.
The Company has made significant investments in the Aflac brand over a long period of time. Because insurance products are intangible, the Company's ability to compete for and maintain policyholders relies to a large extent on consumer trust in the Company's business, including its alliance partners, sales associates and other distribution partners. The perception of unfavorable business practices or financial weakness with respect to the Company, its alliance partners, sales associates or other distribution partners could create doubt regarding the Company's ability to honor the commitments it has made to its policyholders. Such a perception could also negatively impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners, including its alliance partners in Japan, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, results of operations and financial condition. Maintaining the Company's stature as a trustworthy
insurer and responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strength of the Company's brand, is critical to the Company's reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect the Company's brand value, financial condition and results of operations, including: material finesoperations. For example, negative publicity or allegations of unfavorable business practices or poor governance can be rapidly and penalties; compensatory, special, punitivewidely shared over social or traditional media or other means, and statutory damages; consent orders regardingcould reduce demand for the Company's privacy and security practices; adverse actions againstinsurance products, reduce the Company's licensesability to do business;recruit and injunctive relief.
In addition, under Japanese laws and regulations, including the APPI, if a leakretain employees, or losslead to greater regulatory scrutiny of personal information by Aflac Japan or its business associates should occur, depending on factors such as the volume of personal data involved and the likelihood of other secondary damage, Aflac Japan may be required to file reports to the FSA; issue public releases explaining such incident to the public; or become subject to an FSA business improvement order, which could pose a risk to the Company's reputation.operations.
Extensive regulation and changes in legislation can impact profitability and growth.
Aflac's insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including the FSA and Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, and state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FIO, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the U.S. Treasury, including the IRS,Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in the United States,U.S., each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. In addition, proposals regarding the global regulation of insurance are under discussion, and changes to corporate form that attend the conversion of Aflac Japan to a subsidiary may introduce new forms of regulation compared to those with which the Company has historically been subject. For example, AAMJ is licensed as a discretionary asset manager under the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is subject to rules of the Japan Investment Advisors Association, a self-regulatory organization with mandatory membership for Japan investment managers. Consequently, the Company is subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may not result in compliance with another regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to the Company's detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator's or enforcement authority's interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change the Company's views regarding the actions the Company needs to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to the Company's practices that may, in some cases, limit its ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of the Company's business.
The primary purpose of insurance company regulatory supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the United StatesU.S. and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:
standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof
standards of minimum capital and reserve requirements and solvency margins, including RBC measures
restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between the Company's insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements
restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments
restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that the Company can include in the insurance policies offered by its primary insurance operations
limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay
the existence and licensing status of a company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business
certain required methods of accounting
reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes
assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies
administrative practices requirements
imposition of fines and other sanctions
Regulatory authorities periodically re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. If the Company's subsidiaries fail to meet the minimum capital or operational requirements established by its respective regulators, they could be subject to examination or corrective action, or the Company's financial strength ratings could be downgraded, or both.
Various forms of federal oversight and regulation of insurance were signed into law by the prior U.S. presidential administration. For example, the ACA gave the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance and made significant changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace, including the imposition of an individual medical insurance coverage mandate (which has since been repealed effective 2019 by the Tax Act), penalties on certain employers for failing to provide adequate coverage, the creation of health insurance exchanges, and proscriptions regarding coverage and exclusions as well as medical loss ratios. The legislation also includes changes in government reimbursements and tax credits for individuals and employers and alters federal and state regulation of health insurers. The ACA, as enacted, does not require material changes in the design of the Company's insurance products. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and regulations could present challenges that could potentially have an impact on the Company's sales model, financial condition and results of operations. The United States Congress may continue to consider legislation that would repeal and replace key provisions of the ACA. There can be no assurance that any legislation affecting the ACA will be passed by Congress, nor as to the ultimate timing or provisions of any such legislation, nor as to the effect of any such legislation on the design or marketability of the Company's insurance products.
In addition, Dodd-Frank intended to reduce risk of a financial crisis, contains multiple provisions that could impact the Company's business as rules are finalized and implemented. While it is difficult to isolate the impact of Dodd Frank from other government and central bank actions and general market conditions since the financial crisis, the Company believes that the Dodd-Frank Act, in particular bank capital requirements, limits on proprietary trading and derivatives regulation, has affected the value of its holdings in banks and other financial institutions, and impacted pricing, liquidity, and the Company's general ability to conduct financial and capital market transactions. Dodd Frank is expansive in scope and, among other things, requires the adoption of extensive regulations and numerous regulating decisions, many of which have been adopted. The presidential administration in the United States and Congress have stated proposals to reform or repeal certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, some of which have been implemented. The Company cannot predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate effects (if any) that Dodd Frank, or subsequent implementation of regulations and decisions, will have on its U.S. business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase the Company's direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus having a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Companyis exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the yen and the U.S. dollar can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan's premiums and approximately half of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when yen weakens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes fewer U.S. dollars to be reported. When yen strengthens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes more U.S. dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the U.S. dollar will generally adversely affect the value of the Company's yen-denominated investments in U.S. dollar terms.
The Company engages in certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to its net investment in operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope, and the Company cannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective.
Unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities held by Aflac Japan are exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations, which impact SMR. In periods of yen strengthening, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments will experience unrealized foreign exchange losses, negatively impacting SMR. This impact increases when the size of the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio increases, which can occur due to the purchase of additional unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments, or through termination or expiration of existing hedges. Unrealized currency gains and losses on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities are monetized (or, in other words, are economically realized) only upon converting the proceeds from the sale, maturity or redemption of these securities to yen, which primarily occurs when yen are needed to satisfy policyholder obligations or other business expenses of Aflac Japan. To mitigate exposure to the foreign exchange risk from U.S. dollar-denominated investments and to reduce SMR volatility, the Company engages in certain currency hedging activities. However, these hedging activities are limited in scope and the Company cannot provide assurance that its hedging strategies will be effective. As a result, periods of unusually volatile currency exchange rates could result in limitations on dividends available to the Parent Company.
As indicated in the MD&A, the Company has determined that the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio acts as a natural economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company’s investment in Aflac Japan against erosion of economic value. However, the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio at the same time creates an unmatched foreign currency exposure and subjects Aflac Japan to volatility in regulatory capital and earnings, which may adversely impact Aflac Japan’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. The overall investment strategy in Aflac Japan is guided primarily by the objective of securing the long-term financial strength of Aflac Japan and funding of yen liabilities. As a result, the Company has historically maintained and currently maintains the size of the unhedged portfolio at levels below the economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan. However, there can be no assurance that this strategy will be successful.
Furthermore, for regulatory accounting purposes, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by changes in the rate of exchange between the yen and U.S. dollar and could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into U.S. dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in the Company's U.S. dollar-denominated cash flows and earnings when exchange gains or losses, respectively, are realized. This primarily occurs when the Company dividends funds from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company, but it also has an impact when cash in the form of yen is converted to U.S. dollars for investment into U.S. dollar-denominated assets. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of dividend payment may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. In 2018, the Parent Company began entering into forward contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by Aflac Japan, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. If the markets experience a significant strengthening of yen, this could cause cash strain at the Parent Company as a result of cash collateral and potentially cash settlement requirements. Based on the timing and severity of exchange rate fluctuations combined with the level of outstanding activity in this program, the cash strain at the Parent Company could be significant.
For more information regarding unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, see the risk factor below entitled, “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial
position or liquidity”. For more information regarding foreign currency risk, see the Currency Risk subsection within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A.
Tax rates applicable to the Company may change.
The Company is subject to taxation in Japan, and in the U.S. under federal and numerous state and local tax jurisdictions. In preparing the Company's financial statements, the Company estimates the amount of tax that will become payable, but the Company's effective tax rate may be different than estimates due to numerous factors including accounting for income taxes, the mix of earnings from Japan and the U.S., the results of tax audits, adjustments to the value of uncertain tax positions, changes to estimates and other factors. Further, changes in U.S. or Japan tax laws or interpretations of such laws could increase the Company's corporate taxes and reduce earnings.
The Tax Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Among other things, effective January 1, 2018 the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, eliminated or reduced certain deductions and credits, and limited the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation.
The Tax Act also transitions international corporate taxation from a worldwide system to a modified territorial system, which in light of the current tax treatment of Aflac Japan has the effect of subjecting the earnings of Aflac Japan to Japan taxation and subjecting the Company’s other earnings, including the consolidated earnings of the Parent Company, to U.S. taxation.
These changes became effective on January 1, 2018. Because changes to tax rates are accounted for in the period of enactment, during the period ended December 31, 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded a net deferred tax liability reduction of $1.9 billion benefit in 2017. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an immaterial adjustment to the provisional amount of deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) related to the Japan tax computation and no valuation allowance adjustment related to anticipatory foreign tax credit asset, rendering final values for the Company's deferred tax liability. The impact of the Tax Act, including the preliminary estimate for the change in tax rate that was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017, adjustments booked during the fourth quarter of 2018 which rendered final values related to the tax rate, and the Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate, may be adjusted in future periods, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, tax guidance that may be issued and actions the Company make take as a result of the Tax Act. Without limiting the foregoing, additional forthcoming guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and/or the U.S. IRS related to the Tax Act could significantly impact the level of valuation allowance respecting the amount of foreign tax credits claimed by the Company with regard to the operations of Aflac Japan.
In addition, it remains difficult to predict the timing and effect that future tax law changes could have on the Company's earnings both in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. Any of these factors could cause the Company to experience an effective tax rate significantly different from previous periods or ourthe Company's current estimates. If the Company's effective tax rate were to increase, the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and loan receivables in the Company's investment portfolio may reduce the Company's earnings and capital position.
The Company is subject to the risk that the issuers and/or guarantors of fixed maturity securities and loan receivables the Company owns may default on principal or interest. A significant portion of the Company's portfolio represents an unsecured obligation of the issuer, including some that may be subordinated to other debt in the issuer’s capital structure. In these cases, many factors can influence the overall creditworthiness of the issuer and ultimately its ability to service and repay the Company's holdings. This can include changes in the global economy, the company's assets, strategy, or management, shifts in the dynamics of the industries in which they compete, their access to additional funding, and the overall health of the credit markets. Factors unique to the Company's securities including contractual protections such as financial covenants or relative position in the issuer's capital structure also influence the value of the Company's holdings.
Most of the Company's investments carry a rating by one or more of the NRSROs. Any change in the rating agencies' approach to evaluating credit and assigning an opinion could negatively impact the fair value of the Company's portfolio. The Company employs a team of credit analysts to monitor the creditworthiness of the issuers in its portfolio. Any credit-related declines in the fair value of positions held in the Company's portfolio believed to be not temporary in nature will negatively impact the Company's net income and capital position through impairment and other credit related losses. These losses would also affect the Company's solvency ratios in the United States and Japan. Aflac Japan has certain regulatory accounting requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by credit-related losses, which may be different from U.S. GAAP and statutory requirements. These impairment losses could negatively impact Aflac Japan's earnings, and the corresponding dividends and capital deployment.
The Company is also subject to the risk that any collateral providing credit enhancement to the Company's positions could deteriorate. These instruments may include senior secured first lien loans, such as commercial mortgage loans, bank loans, middle market loans, and loan-backed securities where the underlying loan or collateral notes may default on principal, interest, or other payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows to the positions held in the Company's investment portfolio.
The Company is exposed to sovereign credit risk through instruments issued directly by governments and government entities as well as banks and other institutions that rely in part on the strength of the underlying government
for their credit quality. In addition to the United States and Japan, many governments, especially in Europe, have been subject to rating downgrades due to the need for fiscal and budgetary remediation and structural reforms, reduced economic activity, and investment needed to support banks or other systemically important entities. Additional downgrades or default of the Company's sovereign issuers will have a negative impact on its portfolio and could reduce the Company's earnings and capital.
In addition to the Company's exposure to the underlying fundamental credit strength of the issuers of its fixed maturity securities and the underlying risk of default, the Company is also exposed to the general movement in credit market spreads. A widening of credit spreads could reduce the value of the Company's existing portfolio, create unrealized losses on its investment portfolio, and reduce the Company's adjusted capital position which is used in determining the SMR in Japan. This widening of credit spreads could, however, increase the net investment income on new credit investments. Conversely, a tightening of credit spreads could increase the value of the Company's existing portfolio and create unrealized gains on its investment portfolio. This tightening of credit spreads could also reduce the net investment income available to the Company on new credit investments. Increased market volatility also makes it difficult to value certain of the Company's investment holdings (see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, of this Form 10-K).
For more information regarding credit risk, see the Credit Risk subsection of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
A decline in the creditworthiness of other financial institutions could adversely affect the Company.
The Company has exposure to and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including broker dealers, derivative counterparties, commercial banks and other institutions.
The Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate various risks associated with its investment portfolio, notes payable, and subsidiary dividends. The Company enters into a variety of agreements involving assorted instruments including foreign currency forward contracts; foreign currency options; foreign currency swaps; and interest rate swaps and swaptions. The Company's use of derivatives results in financial exposure to derivative counterparties. If the Company's counterparties fail or refuse to honor their obligations under derivative instruments, the Company's hedges of the risks will be ineffective, and the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company engages in derivative transactions directly with unaffiliated third parties under International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements and other documentation. Most of the ISDA agreements also include Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) provisions, which generally provide for two-way collateral postings at the first dollar of exposure. The Company mitigates the risk that counterparties to transactions might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring counterparty credit exposure and collateral value while generally requiring that collateral be posted at the outset of the transaction. In addition, a significant portion of the derivative transactions have provisions that give the counterparty the right to terminate the transaction upon a downgrade of Aflac’s financial strength rating. The actual amount of payments that the Company could be required to make, depends on market conditions, the fair value of outstanding affected transactions, and other factors prevailing at and after the time of the downgrade. If the Company is required to post collateral to support derivative contracts and/or pay cash to settle the contracts at maturity, the Company's liquidity could be strained. In addition, the Company's cleared swaps result in counterparty exposure to clearing brokers and central clearinghouses; while this exposure is mitigated in part by clearinghouse and clearing broker capital and regulation, no assurance can be provided that these counterparties will fulfill their obligations. The Company also has exposure to counterparties to securities lending transactions in the event they fail to return loaned securities. The Company is also exposed to the risk that there may be a decline in value of securities posted as collateral for securities lending programs or a decline in value of investments made with cash posted as collateral for such programs.
Further, the Company has agreements with various financial institutions for the distribution of its insurance products. For example, at December 31, 2018,2019, the Company had agreements with 371367 banks to market Aflac's products in Japan. Sales through these banks represented 4.6%4.3% of Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales in 2018.2019. Any material adverse effect on these or other financial institutions could also have an adverse effect on the Company's sales.
The Company has entered into significant reinsurance transactions with large, highly rated counterparties. Negative events or developments affecting any one of these counterparties could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
All of these risks related to exposure to other financial institutions could adversely impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
The determination of the amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments is based on significant valuation judgments and could materially impact its results of operations or financial position.
An investment in a fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below book value. The Company regularly reviews its entire investment portfolio for declines in value. The majority of the Company's investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using the Company's debt impairment model.
The Company's debt impairment model includes emphasis on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.
For the Company's fixed maturity securities reported in the available-for-sale portfolio, the Company reports the investments at fair value in the statement of financial condition and records any unrealized gain or loss in the value of the asset in accumulated other comprehensive income. For the Company's held-to-maturity securities portfolio, the Company reports the investments at amortized cost. Under the debt impairment model, the determination of whether an impairment in value is other than temporary is based largely on the Company's evaluation of the issuer's creditworthiness. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. The Company also verifies whether it has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. If the Company determines it is unlikely to recover the book value of the instrument prior to disposal of the security, the Company will reduce the carrying value of the security to its fair value and recognize any associated impairment loss in the Company's consolidated statement of earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss.
For regulatory accounting purposes for Aflac Japan, there are certain requirements for realizing impairments that could be triggered by rising interest rates, credit-related losses, or changes in foreign exchange, negatively impacting Aflac Japan's earnings and corresponding dividend and capital deployment.
The Company's management updates its evaluations regularly as conditions change and as new information becomes available and reflects impairment losses in the Company's income statement when considered necessary. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.
U.S. tax audit risk related to conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary could adversely impact the Company's financial position.
The conversion of the Japan branch to a legal subsidiary, which the Company executed in the second quarter of 2018, was a complex, tax-free transaction that is conditioned on the continued validity of a private letter ruling the Company received from the IRS. Notwithstanding the receipt of the private letter ruling, the IRS could determine that the Japan branch conversion should be treated as a taxable transaction. For example, the IRS could conclude that the representations, assumptions and covenants on which the private letter ruling is based are untrue, not accurate, or have not been fulfilled. If the IRS made such a conclusion, the Company could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities or litigation costs to defend the tax-free treatment of the transaction outlined by the private letter ruling. Such liabilities or costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
As a holding company, the Parent Company depends on the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to meet its debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock.
The Parent Company is a holding company and has no direct operations, and its most significant assets are the stock of its subsidiaries. Because the Parent Company conducts its operations through its operating subsidiaries, the Parent Company depends on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet its debt service and other obligations, to pay dividends on and conduct repurchases of its common stock, and to make investments into its subsidiaries or external investment opportunities.
Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to insurance regulations that impose certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve
service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. After the Japan branch conversion, the Nebraska insurance department and the FSA approved their respective domiciled insurance company service arrangements and transactions. The FSA does not allow dividends or other payments from Aflac Japan unless it meets certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary will be defined as retained earnings plus other capital reserve less net after-tax net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities.
The ability of Aflac and Aflac Japan to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could also be constrained by the Company's dependency on financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies. The Company's ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on Aflac's capitalization level. Any inability of Aflac to pay
dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
For the foregoing reasons, there is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, the Parent Company's operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to enable the Company to operate.
Any decrease in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings may have an adverse effect on its competitive position and access to liquidity and capital.
Financial strength ratings can play an important role in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. On an ongoing basis, NRSROs review the financial performance and condition of many insurers, including Aflacthe Company and its competitors. They may assign multiple ratings including a financial strength rating, reflecting their view of the insurer’s ability to pay claims on a timely basis, and ratings on an insurer’s senior and subordinated debt obligations, indicating their view of an insurer’s ability to make timely payments on their debt obligations.
NRSROs may change their ratings or outlook on an insurer's ratings due to a variety of factors including the NRSRO’s assessment of the insurer’s strength of operations and overall financial condition. Some factors that may influence ratings include competitive position; profitability; cash generation and other sources of liquidity; capital levels; quality of the investment portfolio; and perception of management capabilities. The ratings assigned to Aflacthe Company by the NRSROs are important factors in the Company's ability to access liquidity and capital from the bank market, debt capital markets or other available sources, such as reinsurance transactions. Downgrades to Aflac'sthe Company's credit ratings could give its derivative counterparties the right to require early termination of derivatives transactions or delivery of additional collateral, thereby adversely affecting the Company's liquidity.
In view of the difficulties experienced after the financial crisis by many financial institutions, including those in the insurance industry, the NRSROs have heightened the level of scrutiny that they apply to such institutions. Steps taken by the NRSROs include an increase in the frequency and scope of their reviews, additional information requests from the companies that they rate, including additional information regarding the valuation of investment securities held, and, in certain cases, an increase in the capital and other requirements employed in their models for maintenance of certain rating levels.
On September 16, 2015, S&P downgraded their credit rating of Japan’s sovereign debt. Following this action, they also downgraded several other foreign insurers, including Aflac. Although Aflac is a U.S.-based insurer, Aflac'sthe Company. The Company's significant operations in Japan and corresponding regulation by the Japanese FSA, combined with its significant exposure to JGBs as outlined above, resulted in S&P downgrading the financial strength rating of Aflac's core insurance operations to A+ and itsthe Parent Company's senior debt rating to A-, both with a stable outlook. While S&P made no further downgrades to Aflac'sthe Company's ratings between 2016 and 2018,2019, they have stated in the paststate that a downgrade of Japan's sovereign rating could lead to a downgrade of Aflac'sthe Company's financial strength rating. As a matter of policy, S&P rarely rates insurance companies above the sovereign long-term rating of the country of domicile because during times of stress, the sovereign’s regulatory and supervisory powers may restrict an insurer’s or financial system’s flexibility. Moody’s has also stated that the following factors could lead to a downgrade of the Company’s ratings: a downgrade of the U.S. or Japanese operating entities; or a downgrade of the Government of Japan sovereign debt rating.
In addition to the impact on Aflac'sthe Company's access to liquidity, as mentioned above, a downgrade of Aflac'sthe Company's ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness and the marketability of its products which could negatively impact Aflac'sthe Company's liquidity, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, sales through the bank channel in Japan could be adversely affected as a result of their reliance and sensitivity to ratings levels.
The Company cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions the Company may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect Aflac'sthe Company's business. As with other companies in the financial services industry, Aflac'sthe Company's ratings could be downgraded at any time and without any notice by any NRSRO.
The Company's risk management policies and procedures may prove to be ineffective and leave the Company exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could adversely affect the Company's businesses or result in losses.
The Company has developed an enterprise-wide risk management and governance framework to mitigate risk and loss to the Company. The Company maintains policies, procedures and controls intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the risks to which the Company is exposed.
However, there are inherent limitations to risk management strategies because risk may exist, or emerge in the future, that the Company has not appropriately anticipated or identified. If the Company's risk management framework proves ineffective, the Company may suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected. As the Company's businesses change and the markets in which it operates evolve, the Company's risk management framework may not evolve at the same pace as those changes. As a result, there is a risk that new products or new business strategies may present risks that are not appropriately identified, monitored or managed. In times of market stress, unanticipated market movements or unanticipated claims experience resulting from greater than expected morbidity, mortality, longevity, or persistency, the effectiveness of the Company's risk management strategies may be limited, resulting in losses to the Company. In addition, under difficult or less liquid market conditions, the Company's risk management strategies may not be effective because other market participants may be using the same or similar strategies to manage risk under the same challenging market conditions. In such circumstances, it may be difficult or more expensive for the Company to mitigate risk due to the activity of such other market participants.
Many of the Company's risk management strategies or techniques are based upon historical customer and market behavior and all such strategies and techniques are based to some degree on management’s subjective judgment. The Company cannot provide assurance that its risk management framework, including the underlying assumptions or strategies, will be accurate and effective.
Management of operational, legal and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies, procedures and controls to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and these policies, procedures and controls may not be fully effective. Models are utilized by the Company's businesses and corporate areas primarily to project future cash flows associated with pricing products, calculating reserves and valuing assets, as well as in evaluating risk and determining capital requirements, among other uses. These models are utilized under a risk management policy approved by the Company's executive risk management committees, however, the models may not operate properly and rely on assumptions and projections that are inherently uncertain. As the Company's businesses continue to grow and evolve, the number and complexity of models the Company utilizes expands, increasing the Company's exposure to error in the design, implementation or use of models, including the associated input data and assumptions.
Past or future misconduct by the Company's employees or employees of the Company's third parties (suppliers which are cost-based relationships and alliance partners which are revenue-generating relationships) could result in violations of law by the Company, regulatory sanctions and/or serious reputational or financial harm and the precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Despite the Company's published Supplier Code of Conduct, due diligence of the Company's alliance partners, and rigorous contracting procedures (including financial, legal, IT security, and risk reviews), there can be no assurance that controls and procedures that the Company employs, which are designed to assess third party viability and prevent the Company from taking excessive or inappropriate risks, will be effective. Additionally, the use of third parties also poses operational risks that could result in financial loss, operational disruption, brand damage, or compliance issues. Inadequate oversight of Aflac’s third party suppliers due to the lack of policies, procedures, training and governance may lead to financial loss or damage to the Aflac brand.
The concentration of the Company's investment portfolios in any particular single-issuer or sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Negative events or developments affecting any particular single issuer, industry, group of related industries, asset class or geographic sector may have an adverse impact on a particular holding or set of holdings, which may increase risk of loss from defaults due to non-payment of interest or principal. The Company seeks to minimize this risk by maintaining an appropriate level of diversification. To the extent the Company has concentrated positions, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial position. The Company's global investment guidelines establish concentration limits for its investment portfolios.
concentration limits for its investment portfolios.
For details on the concentrations within the Company's investment portfolios, see the Analysis of Financial ConditionInvestments section of Item 7, MD&A, and the Credit Risk section of Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of this Form 10-K.
The valuation of the Company's investments and derivatives includes methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may adversely affect the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
The Company reports a significant amount of its fixed maturity securities and other financial instruments at fair value. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation as well as valuation methods which are more sophisticated, thereby resulting in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within the Company's consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly.
Valuations of the Company's derivatives fluctuate with changes in underlying market variables, such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. During periods of market turbulence created by political instability, economic uncertainty, government interventions or other factors, the Company may experience significant changes in the volatility of its derivative valuations. Extreme market conditions can also affect the liquidity of such instruments creating marked differences in transaction levels and counterparty valuations. Depending on the severity and direction of the movements in its derivative valuations, the Company will face increases in the amount of collateral required to be posted with its counterparties. Liquidity stresses to the Company may also occur if the required collateral amounts increase significantly over a very short period of time. Conversely, the Company may be exposed to an increase in counterparty credit risk for short periods of time while calling collateral from its counterparties.
Elimination of LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in valuation of loans, derivatives and other assets where valuation and interest rates are based on LIBOR, and may create uncertainty in the pricing of such assets in markets for their sale and disposition.
For further discussion on investment and derivative valuations, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and Notes 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.
ManagingThe Company depends heavily on key executive succession is critical tomanagement personnel, and the loss of services of one or more of its key executives could harm the Company's success.business.
The Company would be adversely affected if it failsCompany’s success depends to adequately plan for successiona significant extent upon the efforts and abilities of its seniorkey management and other key executives. While the Company has succession plans and employment arrangements with certain key executives, these plans cannot guarantee thatpersonnel. The loss of the services of theseone or more of the Company's senior executives will be available tocould significantly undermine its management expertise and the Company, and its operationsCompany's business could be adversely affected if they are not.
Catastrophic events could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations as well as the availability of the Company’s infrastructure and systems.
The Company's insurance operations are exposed to the risk of catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, and terrorism or other acts of violence. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Certain events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and man-made catastrophes could cause substantial damage or loss of life in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Claims resulting from natural or man−made catastrophic events could cause substantial volatility in the Company's financial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce its profitability or harm the Company's financial condition, as well as affect its ability to write new business.
Additionally, the Company's business operations may be adversely affected by such catastrophic events to the extent they disrupt the Company's physical infrastructure and systems that support its businesses and customers. Although the Company has a global crisis management framework to minimize the business disruption from a catastrophic event, such framework may not be effective to avoid an adverse impact to the Company from such an event.
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Boards (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company's financial statements.
The Company's financial statements are subject to the application of U.S. GAAP, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented and are applicable to the Company is disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The pronouncements expected to have the most significant impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations are outlined below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASUAccounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this update require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented net of an allowance for current expected credit losses in order to reflect the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset(s). The Company currently expectsestimates the after-tax net impact from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 at a $56 million decrease to retained earnings, which primarily relates to loans and loan receivables and held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities to be the asset classes most significantly impacted upon adoption of the guidance.receivables. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.
Additionally, in August 2018 the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. The amendments in this update will significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts. Among the issues addressed in the amendments is the requirement to review and, if there is a change, update cash flow assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly. The frequency of the reviews and updates varies according to the assumptions but will be at least annually in all cases. The Company anticipates that the requirement to review and update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes, and controls, while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on the other comprehensive income component of its equity. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020.2021. See Critical Accounting Estimates section of Item 7. MD&A in this report.
TheChanges to accounting treatment that the Company applies to its consolidated financial statements will change due to new standards and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company's financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Changes in the Company's discount rate, expected rate of return, life expectancy, health care cost and expected compensation increase assumptions for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans may result in increased expenses and reduce the Company's profitability.
The Company determines its pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs based on assumed discount rates, expected rates of return on plan assets, life expectancy of plan participants and expected increases in compensation levels and trends in health care costs. Changes in these assumptions, including from the impact of a sustained low interest rate environment, may result in increased expenses and reduce the Company's profitability.
The Company faces risks related to litigation, regulatory investigations and inquiry and other matters.
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and plaintiffs may seek very large amounts in class actions or other litigation. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, a substantial legal liability or a significant federal, state or other regulatory action against us,the Company, as well as regulatory inquiries or investigations, could harm ourthe Company's reputation, result in changes in operations, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on ourthe Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Without limiting the foregoing, the litigation and regulatory matters we are, havethe Company is, has been, or may become, subject to include matters related to sales agent recruiting, policy sales practices, claim payments and procedures including denial or delay of benefits, material misstatements or omissions in ourthe Company's financial reports or other public statements, and/or corporate governance, corporate culture or business ethics matters. Further, the Company may be subject to claims of or litigation regarding sexual or other forms of misconduct or harassment, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or other bases, notwithstanding that ourthe Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits such harassment and discrimination by ourits employees, we havethe Company has ongoing training programs and provide opportunities to report claims of noncompliant conduct, and
we investigate it investigates and may take disciplinary action regarding alleged harassment or discrimination. Any violations of or deviation from laws, regulations, internal or external codes or standards of normative behavior, or perceptions of such violations or deviations, by ourthe Company's employees or by independent sales agents could adversely impact the Company's reputation and brand value, financial condition and results of operations.
Allegations or determinations of agent misclassification could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A majority of ourthe Company's U.S. sales force is, and has historically been, comprised of independent agents. While we believethe Company believes that we haveit has properly classified such agents as independent contractors, wethe Company may be subject to claims, regulatory action by state or federal departments of labor or tax authorities or litigation asserting that such agents are employees. The laws and regulations governing the classification of workers in the United StatesU.S. may be changed or interpreted differently compared to past interpretations, including in states where the Company generates significant sales through independent agents. An allegation or determination that independent agents in the Company’s U.S. sales force have been misclassified as independent contractors could result in changes in the Company’s operations and U.S. business model, result in material fines or penalties, result in significant costs due to legal fees, settlements or judgments against the Company, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on ourthe Company's business, results of operation, financial condition and liquidity.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
In the United States,U.S., Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as the Company's worldwide headquarters and house administrative support and information technology functions for U.S. operations. Aflac leases office space in Columbia, South Carolina, which houses the Company's CAIC subsidiary (branded as Aflac Group Insurance). Aflac also leases office space in New York that houses the Company's Global Investment division. Aflac also leases administrative office space in Georgia, South Carolina, New York, Nebraska, and in 39 additional states throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the United States, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.Kingdom.
In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has three primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, the claims department, information technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses Aflac Japan's policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as Aflac Japan's headquarters and houses administrative and investment support functions. The third campus comprises leased space for the information technology departments. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On December 14, 2017, three former independent sales contractors filed a shareholders derivative complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York naming the Parent Company as nominal defendant and the Parent Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, several of its directors, and a former officer and director as defendants. The complaint alleges breaches of fiduciary duty, misstatements and omissions in the Company’s public disclosures, and insider trading. The Company’s Board of Directors had previously established a special litigation committee (SLC) in July 2017 to investigate certain allegations underlying the derivative action. The SLC issued a report of its investigation in September 2017 and another report in February 2018, each of which determined that it was not in the best interests of the Company to pursue the action demanded by the shareholders. An amended complaint was filed on January 31, 2018. On February 12, 2018, this litigation was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The SLC issued a third report of its investigation in May 2018 regarding certain additional allegations raised in the amended complaint, in which the SLC also determined that it was not in the best interests of the Company to pursue the action demanded by the shareholders. On August 31, 2018, the District Court granted the Company's motion and the amended complaint was dismissed. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The Company believes the outcome of this litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operation or cash flows.
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of the Company's senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Aflac Incorporated's common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Until the beginning of October 2019, Aflac Incorporated's stock iswas also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under designator 8686.
Stock Split
On February 13, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Parent Company declared a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend payable on March 16, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2018. The stock split was payable in the form of one additional common stock share for every share of common stock held. All equity and share-based data, including the number of shares outstanding and per share amounts, have been adjusted to reflect the stock split for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Holders
As of February 12, 2019,2020, there were 86,62186,223 holders of record of the Company's common stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company's common stock to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Brighthouse FinancialGlobe Life Inc., Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc., Torchmark Corporation and Unum Group.
Performance Graphic Index
December 31,
| | | | 2013 |
| | 2014 |
| | 2015 |
| | 2016 |
| | 2017 |
| | 2018 |
| 2014 |
| | 2015 |
| | 2016 |
| | 2017 |
| | 2018 |
| | 2019 |
|
| Aflac Incorporated | 100.00 |
| | 93.72 |
| | 94.20 |
| | 112.20 |
| | 144.74 |
| | 153.73 |
| 100.00 |
| | 100.52 |
| | 119.73 |
| | 154.45 |
| | 164.04 |
| | 194.48 |
|
| S&P 500 | 100.00 |
| | 113.69 |
| | 115.26 |
| | 129.05 |
| | 157.22 |
| | 150.33 |
| 100.00 |
| | 101.38 |
| | 113.51 |
| | 138.29 |
| | 132.23 |
| | 173.86 |
|
| S&P Life & Health Insurance | 100.00 |
| | 101.95 |
| | 95.51 |
| | 119.26 |
| | 138.85 |
| | 110.01 |
| 100.00 |
| | 93.69 |
| | 116.98 |
| | 136.20 |
| | 107.91 |
| | 132.92 |
|
Copyright© 20192020 Standard & Poor’s, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the year ended December 31, 20182019, wethe Company repurchased shares of Aflac common stock as follows:
| | | 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 | | 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 | | 2,370,284 |
| | $ | 44.31 |
| | 2,370,284 |
| | 95,626,488 |
| | | 4,465,400 |
| | $ | 46.44 |
| | 4,465,400 |
| | 64,582,487 |
| |
| February 1 - February 28 | | 2,349,600 |
| | 44.70 |
| | 2,349,600 |
| | 93,276,888 |
| | | 4,170,417 |
| | 48.65 |
| | 3,624,583 |
| | 60,957,904 |
| |
| March 1 - March 31 | | 1,937,161 |
| | 44.49 |
| | 1,920,400 |
| | 91,356,488 |
| | | 2,162,830 |
| | 49.50 |
| | 2,147,500 |
| | 58,810,404 |
| |
| April 1 - April 30 | | 2,082,500 |
| | 44.62 |
| | 2,082,500 |
| | 89,273,988 |
| | | 2,177,000 |
| | 49.21 |
| | 2,177,000 |
| | 56,633,404 |
| |
| May 1 - May 31 | | 2,558,472 |
| | 45.17 |
| | 2,542,900 |
| | 86,731,088 |
| | | 2,813,277 |
| | 50.99 |
| | 2,812,850 |
| | 53,820,554 |
| |
| June 1 - June 30 | | 2,175,100 |
| | 44.99 |
| | 2,175,100 |
| | 84,555,988 |
| | | 1,964,259 |
| | 54.44 |
| | 1,952,000 |
| | 51,868,554 |
| |
| July 1 - July 31 | | 2,008,123 |
| | 43.52 |
| | 1,994,900 |
| | 82,561,088 |
| | | 1,360,017 |
| | 54.33 |
| | 1,360,017 |
| | 50,508,537 |
| |
| August 1 - August 31 | | 2,358,317 |
| | 46.64 |
| | 2,352,500 |
| | 80,208,588 |
| | | 2,491,225 |
| | 51.22 |
| | 2,483,400 |
| | 48,025,137 |
| |
| September 1 - September 30 | | 2,668,990 |
| | 47.20 |
| | 2,654,401 |
| | 77,554,187 |
| | | 2,111,075 |
| | 51.81 |
| | 2,103,600 |
| | 45,921,537 |
| |
| October 1 - October 31 | | 2,817,600 |
| | 44.78 |
| | 2,817,600 |
| | 74,736,587 |
| | | 2,476,152 |
| | 52.43 |
| | 2,476,100 |
| | 43,445,437 |
| |
| November 1 - November 30 | | 2,337,607 |
| | 44.44 |
| | 2,336,400 |
| | 72,400,187 |
| | | 1,938,000 |
| | 54.03 |
| | 1,938,000 |
| | 41,507,437 |
| |
| December 1 - December 31 | | 3,382,043 |
| | 44.03 |
| | 3,352,300 |
| | 69,047,887 |
| | | | 4,456,463 |
| | 52.92 |
| | 4,453,824 |
| | 37,053,613 |
| | |
| Total | | 29,045,797 |
| | (1) | | $ | 44.93 |
| | 28,948,885 |
| | 69,047,887 |
| | | 32,586,115 |
| | (1) | | $ | 50.82 |
| | 31,994,274 |
| | 37,053,613 |
| |
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2018, 96,9122019, 591,841 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the period.
As of December 31, 2018,2019, a remaining balance of 69.037.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its Board of Directors.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
| | | (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums, principally supplemental
health insurance | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | $ | 17,570 |
| | $ | 19,072 |
| $ | 18,780 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | $ | 17,570 |
|
| Net investment income | 3,442 |
| | 3,220 |
| | 3,278 |
| | 3,135 |
| | 3,319 |
| 3,578 |
| | 3,442 |
| | 3,220 |
| | 3,278 |
| | 3,135 |
|
| Realized investment gains (losses) | (430 | ) | | (151 | ) | | (14 | ) | | 106 |
| | 282 |
| (135 | ) | | (430 | ) | | (151 | ) | | (14 | ) | | 106 |
|
| Other income | 69 |
| | 67 |
| | 70 |
| | 61 |
| | 55 |
| 84 |
| | 69 |
| | 67 |
| | 70 |
| | 61 |
|
| Total revenues | 21,758 |
| | 21,667 |
| | 22,559 |
| | 20,872 |
| | 22,728 |
| 22,307 |
| | 21,758 |
| | 21,667 |
| | 22,559 |
| | 20,872 |
|
| Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 12,000 |
| | 12,181 |
| | 12,919 |
| | 11,746 |
| | 12,937 |
| 11,942 |
| | 12,000 |
| | 12,181 |
| | 12,919 |
| | 11,746 |
|
| Expenses | 5,775 |
| | 5,468 |
| | 5,573 |
| | 5,264 |
| | 5,300 |
| 5,920 |
| | 5,775 |
| | 5,468 |
| | 5,573 |
| | 5,264 |
|
| Total benefits and expenses | 17,775 |
| | 17,649 |
| | 18,492 |
| | 17,010 |
| | 18,237 |
| 17,862 |
| | 17,775 |
| | 17,649 |
| | 18,492 |
| | 17,010 |
|
| Pretax earnings | 3,983 |
| | 4,018 |
| | 4,067 |
| | 3,862 |
| | 4,491 |
| 4,445 |
| | 3,983 |
| | 4,018 |
| | 4,067 |
| | 3,862 |
|
| Income taxes | 1,063 |
| | (586 | ) | | 1,408 |
| | 1,329 |
| | 1,540 |
| 1,141 |
| | 1,063 |
| | (586 | ) | | 1,408 |
| | 1,329 |
|
| Net earnings | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | $ | 2,533 |
| | $ | 2,951 |
| $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | $ | 2,533 |
|
| Share and Per-Share Amounts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings (basic) | $ | 3.79 |
| | $ | 5.81 |
| | $ | 3.23 |
| | $ | 2.94 |
| | $ | 3.27 |
| $ | 4.45 |
| | $ | 3.79 |
| | $ | 5.81 |
| | $ | 3.23 |
| | $ | 2.94 |
|
| Net earnings (diluted) | 3.77 |
| | 5.77 |
| | 3.21 |
| | 2.92 |
| | 3.25 |
| 4.43 |
| | 3.77 |
| | 5.77 |
| | 3.21 |
| | 2.92 |
|
| Cash dividends paid | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
| | .75 |
| 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
| Cash dividends declared | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
| | .75 |
| 1.08 |
| | 1.04 |
| | .87 |
| | .83 |
| | .79 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for basic
EPS (In thousands) | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
| | 822,942 |
| | 861,307 |
| | 902,408 |
| 742,414 |
| | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
| | 822,942 |
| | 861,307 |
|
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted
EPS (In thousands) | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
| | 827,841 |
| | 866,344 |
| | 907,999 |
| 746,430 |
| | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
| | 827,841 |
| | 866,344 |
|
| Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen/dollar exchange rate at year-end (yen) | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | 116.49 |
| | 120.61 |
| | 120.55 |
| 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | 116.49 |
| | 120.61 |
|
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate (yen) | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
| | 120.99 |
| | 105.46 |
| 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
| | 120.99 |
|
Prior-year amounts have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock in March 2018.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
December 31,
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investments and cash | $ | 126,243 |
| | $ | 123,659 |
| | $ | 116,361 |
| | $ | 105,897 |
| | $ | 107,341 |
| $ | 138,091 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
| | $ | 123,659 |
| | $ | 116,361 |
| | $ | 105,897 |
|
| Other | 14,163 |
| | 13,558 |
| | 13,458 |
| | 12,359 |
| | 12,386 |
| 14,677 |
| | 14,163 |
| | 13,558 |
| | 13,458 |
| | 12,359 |
|
| Total assets | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
| | $ | 119,727 |
| $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Policy liabilities | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
| | $ | 93,726 |
| | $ | 87,631 |
| | $ | 83,933 |
| $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
| | $ | 93,726 |
| | $ | 87,631 |
|
| Income taxes | 4,020 |
| | 4,745 |
| | 5,387 |
| | 4,340 |
| | 5,293 |
| 5,370 |
| | 4,020 |
| | 4,745 |
| | 5,387 |
| | 4,340 |
|
| Notes payable | 5,778 |
| | 5,289 |
| | 5,360 |
| | 4,971 |
| | 5,242 |
| |
Notes payable and lease obligations (1) | | 6,569 |
| | 5,778 |
| | 5,289 |
| | 5,360 |
| | 4,971 |
|
| Other liabilities | 3,958 |
| | 3,438 |
| | 4,864 |
| | 3,606 |
| | 6,912 |
| 5,316 |
| | 3,958 |
| | 3,438 |
| | 4,864 |
| | 3,606 |
|
| Shareholders’ equity | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| | 20,482 |
| | 17,708 |
| | 18,347 |
| 28,959 |
| | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| | 20,482 |
| | 17,708 |
|
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
| | $ | 119,727 |
| $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | $ | 129,819 |
| | $ | 118,256 |
|
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2019 related to leases.
Prior-year amounts have been adjusted for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2016 related to debt issuance costs.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
TheCertain statements included in this section constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational1995. Forward-looking statements are identified asmade based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon the Company. The Company’s actual results may differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifyingstatements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those includedexpectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements can be found in the forward-looking statements. “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections herein.
MD&A OVERVIEW
The Company desires to take advantagefollowing financial review provides a discussion of these provisions. This report contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actualthe Company’s results to differ materially from those projected herein,of operations and in any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as the following or similar wordscondition, as well as specific projectionsa summary of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.the Company’s critical accounting estimates. This section should be read in conjunction with Part I - Item 1. Business and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
|
| |
| | Page |
• expect | • anticipate | • believe | • goal | • objective |
• may | • should | • estimate | • intends | • projects |
• will | • assumes |
| • potential |
| • target |
| • outlook |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The Company cautions readers thatelected to omit discussion on the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplatedearliest of the three years covered by the forward-looking statements:
difficult conditionsconsolidated financial statements presented in global capital marketsItem 8. Financial Statements and the economy
exposureSupplementary Data. Readers should refer to significant interest rate risk
concentrationItem 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of business in Japan
foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate
limited availabilityFinancial Condition and Results of acceptable yen-denominated investments
U.S. tax audit risk related to conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary
deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions
ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems
competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends
ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation
ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners
interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems
failure to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security
extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities
tax rates applicable to the Company may change
defaults and credit downgrades of investments
decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions
significant valuation judgments in determination of amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments
subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company
decreasesOperations located in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings
concentrationdiscussion of the Company's investmentsyear ended December 31, 2017, the earliest of the three years presented. Amounts reported in any particular single-issuer or sector
differing judgments appliedthis MD&A may not add due to investment valuations
ability to effectively manage key executive succession
catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events
changes in accounting standards
increased expenses and reduced profitability resulting from changes in assumptions for pension and other postretirement benefit plans
level and outcome of litigation
allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States
MD&A OVERVIEWEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For the full year of 2019, total revenues were up 2.5% to $22.3 billion, compared with $21.8 billion for the full year of 2018. Net earnings were $3.3 billion, or $4.43 per diluted share, compared with $2.9 billion, or $3.77 per diluted share, for the full year of 2018.
Results for 2019 included pretax net realized investment losses of $135 million, compared with net realized investment losses of $430 million in 2018. Net investment losses in 2019 included $31 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses and changes in loan loss reserves; $236 million in net losses from certain derivatives and foreign currency gains or losses; $101 million of net gains on equity securities; and $31 million of net gains from sales and redemptions.
The average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) in 2019 was 109.07, or 1.2% stronger than the rate of 110.39 in 2018.
Adjusted earnings(2) for the full year of 2019 were $3.3 billion, or $4.44 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 billion, or $4.16 per diluted share, in 2018. The stronger yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per diluted share by $.02.
Total investments and cash at the end of December 2019 were $138.1 billion, compared with $126.2 billion at December 31, 2018. In 2019, Aflac Incorporated repurchased $1.6 billion, or 32.0 million of its common shares. At the end of December, the Company had 37.1 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase.
Shareholders’ equity was $29.0 billion, or $39.84 per share, at December 31, 2019, compared with $23.5 billion, or $31.06 per share, at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 included a net unrealized gain on investment securities and derivatives of $8.5 billion, compared with a net unrealized gain of $4.2 billion at December 31, 2018. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 also included an unrealized foreign currency translation lossof $1.6 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.8 billion at December 31, 2018. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity in 2019 was 12.6%.
Shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(2) (adjusted book value) was $22.3 billion, or $30.74 per share at December 31, 2019, compared with $21.3 billion, or $28.22 per share, at December 31, 2018. The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currencyimpact(2) in 2019 was 15.1%.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
The Company is impacted by financial markets, economic conditions, regulatory oversight and a variety of trends that affect the industries where it competes.
Financial and Economic Environment
The Company’s business and results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally. Stressed conditions, volatility and disruptions in global capital markets, particular markets, or financial asset classes can have an adverse effect on the Company, in part because the Company has a large investment portfolio and its insurance liabilities and derivatives are sensitive to changing market factors. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for the risk factor entitled, "Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on the Company's investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm the Company's business."
Demographics
Japan Business - With Japan’s aging population and the rise in healthcare costs, supplemental health care insurance products remain attractive. However, due to the aging population and decline in birthrate, new opportunities for customer demographics are not as readily available. Japan’s existing customers and potential customers seek products that are easily understood, cost-effective and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices.
(1) Yen/U.S. dollar exchange rates are based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).
(2) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for a definition of this non-U.S. GAAP financial measure.
U.S. Business - Customer demographics continue to informevolve and new opportunities present themselves in different customer segments such as the reader about matters affectingmillennial and multicultural markets. Customer expectations and preferences are changing. Trends indicate existing customers and potential customers seek cost-effective solutions that are easily understood and can be accessed through technology-enabled devices. Additionally, income protection and the financial conditionhealth needs of retiring baby boomers are continuing to shape the insurance industry.
Regulatory Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Regulation and resultsAflac Japan Regulation for a discussion of operationsregulatory developments that may impact the Company and the associated risks.
Competitive Environment
See Item 1. Business - Aflac U.S. Competition and Aflac Japan Competition for a discussion of Aflac Incorporatedthe competitive environment and the basis on which the Company competes in each of its subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2018. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements and notes. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS2020 OUTLOOK
The Company’s strategy to drive long-term shareholder value is to pursue growth through product development, distribution expansion and digital advancements to improve the customer experience.
The Company's objectives in 2020 are to maintain strong pre-tax margins in its Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments through disciplined product pricing, stable investment returns and leveraging a period of favorable benefit ratios to invest in its platform for future growth and efficiency. The Company believes that its market-leading position, powerful brand recognition and diverse distribution in Japan and the U.S. will provide support toward these objectives.
The Company believes that its efforts will support its prudent strategies for capital deployment in the form of dividends, share repurchases, and opportunistic investments that enhance the Company’s business with a focus on digital distribution and leveraging the Company’s brand, distribution and scale. The Company has stated that the dividend payout ratio from its Aflac Japan segment is likely to be to 100% of FSA earnings from Aflac Japan and 100% of U.S. statutory earnings from Aflac U.S. In its Aflac U.S. segment, the Company plans to maintain a risk-based capital (RBC) ratio in the 500% range for 2020.
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company)Japan Segment
In Japan, the Company anticipates that the shift in earned premium from first sector savings products to third sector cancer and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental healthmedical products and life insurancefirst sector protection products, will continue to result in moderately lower benefit ratios in the United StatesAflac Japan segment. The Company also expects this shift in business mix, plus continued investment in IT and digital advancements, to result in moderately higher expense ratios for Aflac Japan. The Company's insurance business is marketedCompany anticipates the Japan segment will face revenue challenges in 2020 due to the run-off and administered through American Family Life Assurancepaid-up status of first sector savings and third sector products. The Company of Columbus (Aflac)expects a decline in the United States (Aflac U.S.)range of .7% in third sector and effective April 1, 2018, through Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd.first sector protection earned premium for 2020. In addition, net investment income is expected to decline modestly as compared to 2019, due in part to the low interest rate environment in Japan (Aflac Japan). Prior to April 1, 2018,and de-risking of the Company's insurance business was marketed in Japanportfolio, partially offset by lower hedge cost as a branchresult of Aflac. (For more information abouta reduction in the conversionhedge ratio in the fourth quarter of Aflac Japan to a legal subsidiary, see the Insurance Operations subsection of this MD&A). American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac. Most of Aflac's policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, 2019.
Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American InsuranceSegment
The Company (CAIC), branded asexpects the profit margins for the Aflac Group Insurance.U.S. segment to remain strong, providing a prudent opportunity to reinvest profits back into the U.S. business. The Company's insurance operationsCompany anticipates that in 2020, benefit ratios in the United StatesU.S. will remain stable and Japan servicethat expense ratios will continue to be elevated in light of investments into U.S. platforms in both the two markets forindividual and group channels. The Company expects Aflac U.S. to generate earned premium growth in the Company's insurance business.range of 1% in 2020. Net investment income is expected to decline modestly, primarily as the result of the Company’s implemented U.S. capital and RBC draw-down plan.
Corporate and Other Segment
The Company expects corporate segment results to benefit from net investment income driven by increased capital and liquidity held at the Parent Company, as well as the increase in size of the Company’s enterprise currency hedging strategy. The anticipated increase in investment income is expected to be partially offset by increased costs associated with continued investment in Aflac Corporate Ventures initiatives.
For more informationimportant disclosures applicable to statements made in this 2020 Outlook, please see the Risk Factors section and the statement on Forward-Looking Information at the Company's business, seebeginning of Item 1. Business, Part I,the Risk Factors identified in Item 1 of this report.1A. and Item 7. Management Discussion and Analysis.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTSRESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Yen-denominatedThe Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.
Yen–denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted-averageweighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, while yen-denominatedexcept realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen–denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate(1)rate.
The following discussion includes references to the Company's performance measures, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and amortized hedge costs/income, which are not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP (non-U.S. GAAP). These measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in the Company's insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with its insurance operations. The Company's management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of its insurance operations on a consolidated basis, and the Company believes that a presentation of these measures is vitally important to an understanding of its underlying profitability drivers and trends of its insurance business. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income, which are a component of adjusted earnings, measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income.
The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this filing as follows:
Adjusted earnings are the profits derived from operations.The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance.
Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share.
Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized in using foreign currency forward
contracts to hedge certain foreign exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment (costs) or in the Corporate and Other segment (income). These amortized hedge costs/income are derived from the difference between the foreign currency spot yen/dollar exchange rate at December 31, 2018 was 111.00, or 1.8% stronger thantime of trade inception and the spot yen/dollar exchangecontractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of 113.00 at December 31, 2017. The weighted-averagethe hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/income.
Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior year ended December 31, 2018 was 110.39, or 1.6% stronger thanperiod, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by yen-to-dollar currency rate changes.
Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the weighted-averageaverage dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders' equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. The Company considers adjusted book value important as it excludes AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management's control.
Adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact is calculated using adjusted earnings excluding the impact of the yen/dollar exchange rate, of 112.16 for the same period in 2017.as reconciled with total U.S. GAAP net earnings, divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is return on average equity as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.
Total revenues increased .4% to $21.8 billion in 2018, compared with $21.7 billion in 2017. NetThe following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings in 2018 were $2.9 billion, or $3.77and adjusted earnings per diluted share compared with $4.6 billion, or $5.77 per diluted share, in 2017. In 2017,to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4.43 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
|
| Items impacting net earnings: | | | | | | | |
Realized investment (gains) losses (2),(3),(4),(5) | 15 |
| | 297 |
| | .02 |
| | .38 |
|
| Other and non-recurring (income) loss | 1 |
| | 75 |
| | .00 |
| | .10 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense on items
excluded from adjusted earnings | (3 | ) | | (83 | ) | | .00 |
| | (.11 | ) |
Tax reform adjustment (6) | (4 | ) | | 18 |
| | (.01 | ) | | .02 |
|
| Adjusted earnings | 3,314 |
| | 3,226 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 4.16 |
|
Current period foreign currency impact (7) | (15 | ) | | N/A |
| | (.02 | ) | | N/A |
|
Adjusted earnings excluding current period
foreign currency impact | $ | 3,299 |
| | $ | 3,226 |
| | $ | 4.42 |
| | $ | 4.16 |
|
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Amortized hedge costs of $257 in 2019 and $236 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a decrease to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(3)Amortized hedge income of $89 in 2019 and $36 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as an increase to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(4) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount for 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(5) A gain of $66 in 2019 and $67 in 2018, respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of interest expense.
(6) The impact of Tax Reform was adjusted in 2018 for return-to-provision adjustments, various amended returns filed by the estimated $1.9 billion,company, and final true-ups of deferred tax liabilities. Further impacts were recorded in 2019 a result of additional guidance released by the IRS.
(7) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.
Reconciling Items
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s growth and profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or $2.42 per diluted share, benefitlosses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the U.S. Tax Act. Infinancial markets and the fourth quartercreditworthiness of 2018,specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the Company recorded an immaterial adjustment to the provisional Japan deferred tax balancesunderwriting and no valuation allowance adjustment related to anticipatory foreign tax credit asset, rendering final values foradministration of the Company's deferred tax liability.insurance products. Realized investment gains and
losses of $430 million, compared with net realized investment losses of $151 million in 2017. Net investment losses in 2018 included $81 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses andinclude securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, and $234 million in net losses from derivativesderivative and foreign currency activities and changes in fair value of equity securities.
Securities Transactions, Impairments, and Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities
Securities transactions include gains or losses. Effective January 1,and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Impairments include other-than-temporary-impairment losses on investment securities as well as changes in loan loss reserves for loan receivables. Starting in the first quarter of 2018, upon the adoption of new accounting guidance,gains and losses from changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earningsearnings.
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options on certain fixed maturity securities; foreign currency forwards and options that economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency swaps and credit defaults swaps held in consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs); interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and interest rate swaptions to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate changes for certain dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities. Gains and losses are recognized as a componentresult of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company also excludes the accounting impacts of remeasurement associated with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate from adjusted earnings. Amortized hedge costs/ income related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies (see Amortized Hedge Cost/Income section below), and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies and notes payable are reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings.
Amortized hedge costs/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. Amortized hedge costs and income have fluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the previously mentioned factors. For additional information regarding foreign currency hedging, refer to Hedging Activities in the Investments section of this MD&A.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses.losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other and Non-recurring Items
The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company reported net lossesexcludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.
In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on equity securities of $131 million in 2018.
(1) Nonrecurring items also include conversion costs related to legally converting the Company's Japan business to a subsidiary; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These Japan branch conversion costs were an immaterial amount for the year-ended December 31, 2019 and $75 million for the year-ended December 31, 2018.Yen/ U.S
Income Taxes
The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 25.7% in 2019 and 26.7% in 2018. The decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 drove the reduction in the effective tax rate for 2019 and 2018. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in both 2019 and 2018. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense.
For further information, see "Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes" in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Foreign Currency Translation
Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. The Company translates Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated income statement into dollars using the average exchange rate for the reporting period, and the Company translates its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, whose functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rates are basedrate can have a significant effect on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM)Company's reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current period results in relation to the comparable prior period, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current period results in relation to the comparable prior period. Management evaluates the Company's financial performance both including and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation to monitor, respectively, cumulative currency impacts on book value and the currency-neutral operating performance over time.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT
U.S. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual and interim period financial statements. Furthermore, the Company is required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets. Aflac's insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. Businesses that are not individually reportable, such as the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries and business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities are included in the Corporate and other segment. See the Item 1. Business section of this Form 10-K for a summary of each segment's products and distribution channels, and a discussion of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary and the creation of asset management subsidiaries in 2018. Consistent with U.S. GAAP guidance for segment reporting, pretax adjusted earnings is the Company's U.S. GAAP measure of segment performance. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of segment results to the Company's consolidated U.S. GAAP results and additional information.
AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
Aflac Japan Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac Japan's pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 12,772 |
| | $ | 12,762 |
| |
| Net investment income: | | | | |
| Yen-denominated investment income | 1,307 |
| | 1,283 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated investment income | 1,446 |
| | 1,356 |
| |
| Net investment income | 2,753 |
| | 2,639 |
| |
Amortized hedge costs related to certain foreign currency
exposure management strategies | 257 |
| | 236 |
| |
| Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 2,496 |
| | 2,403 |
| |
| Other income (loss) | 45 |
| | 41 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 15,313 |
| | 15,206 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 8,877 |
| | 8,913 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 709 |
| | 710 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 731 |
| | 735 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,734 |
| | 1,640 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 3,174 |
| | 3,085 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 12,051 |
| | 11,998 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 3,261 |
| | $ | 3,208 |
| |
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | | In Yen |
| Percentage change over previous period: | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | .1 | % |
| .1 | % |
| (1.1 | )% | | (1.5 | )% | |
Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 3.9 |
| | 7.5 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | .7 |
| | 1.2 |
| | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 1.7 |
| | 5.0 |
| | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| |
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550yen terms, Aflac Japan's net premium income decreased in 2019, primarily due to limited-pay products reaching paid-up status. Net investment income, net of amortized hedge costs, increased in 2019 primarily due to increased investments in U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate assets and $25 million of senior notes and 53.4 billionincome related to a partial call of a concentrated yen-denominated exposure.
Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2019, were ¥1.49 trillion, compared with ¥1.53 trillion in 2018. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen of senior notes through public2.5% in 2019and 1.6% in 2018 was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching paid up status. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $13.6 billion in 2019 and $13.8 billion in 2018.
Aflac Japan's investment portfolios include U.S. dollar-denominated securities and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt offerings under itssecurities with dollar coupon payments). In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan's U.S. shelf registration statement.dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms. In November 2018,years when the Parentyen weakens, translating U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms.
The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had dollar/yen exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year. Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. See non-U.S. GAAP financial measures defined above.
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year
(Yen Operating Results)
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Including Foreign
Currency Changes | | Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Net investment income, less
amortized hedge costs | 2.2 | % | | 5.5 | % | | | 2.9 | % | | 6.4 | % | |
| Total adjusted revenues | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | | | (.5 | ) | | (.3 | ) | |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| | | .7 |
| | 3.7 |
| |
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios in yen terms for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 58.0 | % | | 58.6 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 4.6 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 4.8 |
| | 4.8 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 11.3 |
| | 10.8 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 20.7 |
| | 20.3 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 21.3 |
| | 21.1 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 69.5 | % | | 69.9 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 5.5 |
| | 5.6 |
| |
In 2019, the benefit ratio decreased, compared to the prior year, primarily due to the continued change in mix of first and third sector business as first sector products become paid-up. In 2019, the adjusted expense ratio increased mainly due to lower premium income from paid-up first sector products and higher expenses for advanced technology implementation. In total for 2019, the pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) increased reflecting continued strength in benefit ratios and favorable net investment income. For 2020, the Company usedanticipates the net proceeds of the $550 million senior notesAflac Japan pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) to redeem the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.remain stable. For further information, regarding these transactions, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Capital Resources and Liquidity2020 Outlook section of this MD&A.
On February 13, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Parent Company declared a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend payable on March 16, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2018. The stock split was paid in the form of one additional common stock share for every share of common stock held. All equity and share-based data, including the number of shares outstanding and per share amounts, have been adjusted to reflect the stock split for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.Aflac Japan Sales
The following table presents Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | In Yen |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 731 |
| | $ | 869 |
| | ¥ | 79.7 |
| | ¥ | 95.9 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | (15.9 | )% | | 2.7 | % | | (16.9 | )% | | 1.1 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Cancer | 59.2 | % |
| 65.8 | % |
|
| Medical | 31.0 |
| | 25.0 |
| |
| Income support | 1.2 |
| | 1.8 |
| |
| Ordinary life: | | | | |
| WAYS | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Child endowment | .2 |
| | .3 |
| |
Other ordinary life (1) | 7.4 |
| | 6.1 |
| |
| Other | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | |
(1) Includes term and whole life
The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, third sector products, which include cancer, medical and income support insurance products. Aflac Japan has been focusing more on promotion of cancer and medical insurance products in this low-interest-rate environment. These products are less interest-rate sensitive and more profitable compared to first sector savings products. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, the Company repurchased 28.9 million sharesexpects the need for third sector products will continue to rise in the future and that the medical and cancer insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its common stockproduct portfolio.
Sales of protection-type first sector and third sector products on a yen basis decreased 16.8% in 2019, compared with 2018. Earned premium growth for third and first sector protection products was 1.3%, which was consistent with the Company's expectation. The decline in sales primarily reflected reduced sales of cancer insurance through the Japan Post channel following the 2018 launch of Aflac Japan's revised cancer insurance product. In addition, the approach to refreshing the medical insurance product in 2019 took a rider versus whole policy approach. This was designed for improved economics but naturally resulted in lower reported sales. Additional factors include a change in corporate tax law, which slowed the pace of certain third sector medical products and some cancer products in both our associate channel and the bank channel, as well as increased competition from large life insurers who are increasing their focus on the third sector.
Sales of Aflac Japan cancer products in the open market for $1.3 billion under its share repurchase programJapan Post Group channel experienced a material decline beginning in 2018,August 2019 which has continued into 2020. For 2019, sales in the Japan Post Group channel declined by approximately 50.0% compared with 2018. The Company expects very little sales production in the repurchaseJapan Post channel during the first half of 35.5 million shares2020 and is uncertain with regard to production during the second half of the year. See the 2020 Outlook section of this MD&A for $1.35 billion in 2017.information on Aflac Japan earned premium expectations.
Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 45.7% of total new annualized premium sales for Aflac Japan in 2019, compared with 40.1% in 2018. Affiliated corporate agencies, which include Japan Post, contributed 50.0% of total new annualized premium sales in 2019, compared with 55.3% in 2018. Japan Post offers Aflac's cancer insurance products in more than 20,000 postal outlets. Notwithstanding the recent reduction in sales of Aflac Japan's cancer products in the Japan Post channel, the Company believes this alliance with Japan Post has and will benefit its cancer insurance sales over the long term. In 2019, Aflac Japan recruited 77 new sales agencies. At December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 9,000 sales agencies, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies.
At December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had agreements to sell its products at 367 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan. Bank channel sales accounted for 4.3% of new annualized premium sales in 2019 for Aflac Japan, compared with 4.6% in 2018.
Strategic Alliance with Japan Post Holdings
On December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into thea Basic Agreement with Japan Post Holdings.Holdings a Japanese corporation. Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, Japan Post Holdings agreed to form a capital relationship with the Parent Company, and Japan Post Holdings and Aflac Japan agreed to reconfirm existing initiatives regarding cancer insurance and to consider new joint initiatives, including leveraging digital technology in various processes, cooperation in new product development to promote customer-centric business management, cooperation in domestic and/or overseas business expansion and joint investment in third party entities and cooperation regarding asset management.
On February 28, 2019, the Parent Company entered a Shareholders Agreement with Japan Post Holdings, J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation, solely in its capacity as trustee of J&A Alliance Trust, a New York voting trust (Trust), and General Incorporated Association J&A Alliance, a Japanese general incorporated association. Pursuant to the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, a voting trust established and funded by Japan Post Holdings (Trust)the Trust will use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire, through open market or private block purchases in the U.S., beneficial ownership of approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of the Parent Company’s outstanding common stock within a year afterperiod of 12 months following the date the Trust begins acquiring such stock. On May 7, 2019, a press release issued by Japan Post Holdings announced that purchases of shares of the Parent Company’s common stock commenced on April 29, 2019 through the Trust and that it planned to complete such purchases within Japan Post’s fiscal year 2019 (which ends March 31, 2020).
The Trust has agreed not to own more than 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares for a period expiring on the earlier of four years after the Trust acquires 7% of such shares, five years after it acquires 5% of such shares, or ten years after the Trust begins acquiring the Parent Company’s stock. After expiration of such period, the Trust has agreed not to own more than the greater of 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares or such shares representing 22.5% of the voting rights in the Parent Company.
In light of the fact that the shares acquired by the Trust, like all Aflac Incorporated common shares, will be eligible for 10-for-1 voting rights after being held for 48 consecutive months, the Shareholders Agreement further provides for voting restrictions that effectively limit the trustee’s voting rights to no more than 20% of the voting rights in the Parent Company and further restrict the trustee’s voting rights with respect to certain change in control transactions. Japan Post Holdings will not have a Board seat on the Parent Company’s Board of Directors and will not have rights to control, manage or intervene in the management of the Parent Company.
This strategic investment is subject to certainAs of December 31, 2019, all regulatory approvals in Japan and the U.S. The Company anticipates that regulatory approvals will be receivedexpressly set forth in the second halfShareholders Agreement have been obtained. The Shareholders Agreement requires the parties to use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in connection with any ongoing regulatory matters related to or arising from the Trust’s acquisition or ownership or control of 2019.
the shares of Company Common Stock, including any applications or filings in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition of control of or merger with an insurer by the Company or its affiliates. The foregoing summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Basic Agreement and Letter Agreement, including the forms of Trust Agreement and Shareholders Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.50 to the Letter Agreement, copies of which are included as Exhibits 10.47 and 10.48 heretoCompany’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed April 26, 2019, and the terms of which exhibit are incorporated herein by reference.
Aflac Japan Investments
The level of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac Japan invests in yen and U.S. dollar-denominated investments. Yen-denominated investments primarily consist of JGBs and public and private fixed maturity securities. Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments include fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Aflac Japan has been investing in both publicly-traded and privately originated U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, and has entered into foreign currency forwards and options to hedge the currency risk on the fair value of a portion of the U.S. dollar investments.
The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 583 |
| | $ | 3,895 |
| |
| Private placements | | 1,122 |
| | 1,185 |
| |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 542 |
| | 796 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 212 |
| | 221 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | $ | 2,459 |
| | $ | 6,097 |
| |
| | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 2,767 |
| | $ | 1,299 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 66 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Bank loans | | 0 |
| | 346 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 58 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 1,846 |
| | 3,168 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 565 |
| | 13 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 1,442 |
| | 839 |
| |
| Other investments | | 145 |
| | 314 |
| |
| Total dollar-denominated | | $ | 6,889 |
| | $ | 6,099 |
| |
| Total Aflac Japan purchases | | $ | 9,348 |
| | $ | 12,196 |
| |
See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of these investment programs, and see Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding loans and loan receivables.
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, securities lending, and other securities transactions. Securities lending is also used from time to time to accelerate the availability of funds for investment. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan's investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31, 2018,31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for the period (in millions) (1) | $ | 9,203 |
| | $ | 11,882 |
| |
New money yield (1),(2) | 3.83 | % | | 3.06 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 2.33 |
| | 2.33 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, including U.S. dollar-denominated investments, end of period (1) | 2.64 | % | | 2.61 | % | |
(1)Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2)Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses, external management fees, and amortized hedge costs
(3)Net of investment expenses and amortized hedge costs, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
The increase in the Trust owned no sharesAflac Japan new money yield in 2019 was primarily due to decreased allocations to lower yielding yen-denominated asset classes.
See Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Parent Company’s outstanding stock.
AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
Aflac U.S. Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 5,808 |
| | $ | 5,708 |
| |
| Net investment income | 720 |
| | 727 |
| |
| Other income | 22 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 6,550 |
| | 6,443 |
| |
| Benefits and claims | 2,871 |
| | 2,887 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 573 |
| | 534 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 590 |
| | 585 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,244 |
| | 1,152 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 2,407 |
| | 2,271 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 5,279 |
| | 5,158 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 1,272 |
| | $ | 1,285 |
| |
| Percentage change over previous period: | | | | |
| Net premium income | 1.8 | % | | 2.6 | % | |
| Net investment income | (1.0 | ) | | .8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 1.7 |
| | 2.4 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | (1.0 | ) | | 3.2 |
| |
Annualized premiums in force increased 1.1% in 2019and 3.0% in 2018. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 were $6.3 billion in 2019, compared with $6.2 billion in 2018.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims | 43.8 | % | | 44.8 | % |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 8.7 |
| | 8.3 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 9.0 |
| | 9.1 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 19.0 |
| | 17.9 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 36.7 |
| | 35.2 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 19.4 |
| | 19.9 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims | 49.4 |
| | 50.6 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 9.9 |
| | 9.4 |
| |
The benefit ratio decreased in 2019, compared with 2018, primarily due to somewhat elevated lapses and a change in business mix from higher loss ratio, reserve building products to lower loss ratio, guaranteed issue products. The adjusted expense ratio increased in 2019, compared with 2018, primarily due to deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) capitalization related to lower than anticipated sales as well as anticipated spending increases reflecting ongoing investments in the U.S. platform, distribution, and customer experience. Both the lower benefit and higher DAC amortization ratios were also impacted by increases in lapses as a result of large case volatility and replacement of an administrative partner. These items impacted persistency in the short-term but are expected to drive profitable earned premium growth in future periods. The pretax adjusted
profit margin declined in 2019 when compared with 2018, due to higher expense ratios, offset somewhat by lower benefit ratios. For expectations for 2020, see the 2020 Outlook section of this MD&A.
Aflac U.S. Sales
The following table presents Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 1,580 |
| | $ | 1,601 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | (1.3 | )% | | 3.2 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Accident | 28.5 | % | | 29.2 | % | |
| Short-term disability | 22.5 |
| | 22.7 |
| |
Critical care (1) | 21.9 |
| | 22.1 |
| |
| Hospital indemnity | 16.6 |
| | 15.8 |
| |
| Dental/vision | 4.4 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Life | 6.1 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0% | |
(1) Includes cancer, critical illness and hospital intensive care products
New annualized premium sales for accident insurance, the Aflac U.S. leading product category, decreased 3.8%, short-term disability sales decreased 2.4%, critical care insurance sales (including cancer insurance) decreased 2.4%, and hospital indemnity insurance sales increased 3.7% in 2019, compared with 2018. While overall sales decreased in 2019, net earned premium increased 1.8%.
In 2019, the Aflac U.S. sales forces included an average of approximately 8,200 U.S. agents, including brokers, who were actively producing business on a weekly basis. The Company believes that this average weekly producer equivalent metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs.
In November 2019, the Company acquired Argus Holdings, LLC and its subsidiary Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), a benefits management organization and national network dental and vision company, which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision. This transaction represents a commitment of $75 million in capital at closing and an additional $21 million in consideration paid over three years based on the achievement by Argus of certain performance targets. Tampa, Florida will serve as the home for Aflac Dental and Vision. This acquisition is a strategic entry point into the network dental and vision market and is expected to provide opportunities for sales growth, improved account penetration and distribution productivity.
Aflac U.S. Investments
The level of investment income is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. has been investing in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables.
The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac U.S. as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 1,032 |
| | $ | 1,068 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 119 |
| | 97 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 58 |
| | 76 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 423 |
| | 610 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 104 |
| | 163 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 99 |
| | 141 |
| |
| Other investments | | 16 |
| | 44 |
| |
| Total Aflac U.S. Purchases | | $ | 1,851 |
| | $ | 2,199 |
| |
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, and other securities transactions. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives, including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac's U.S. investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for period (in millions) (1) | $ | 1,835 |
| | $ | 2,155 |
| |
New money yield (1), (2) | 4.51 | % | | 4.55 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 5.07 |
| | 5.16 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, end of period (1) | 5.40 | % | | 5.55 | % | |
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses and external management fees
(3)Net of investment expenses, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk subsection of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of the Company's investments.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
Changes in the pretax adjusted earnings of Corporate and other are primarily affected by investment income. The following table presents a summary operating results for Corporate and other for the years ended December 31.
Corporate and Other Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Premium income | $ | 200 |
| | $ | 208 |
| |
| Net investment income | 88 |
| | 77 |
| |
Amortized hedge income related to certain foreign currency management strategies | 89 |
| | 36 |
| |
| Net investment income, including amortized hedge income | 177 |
| | 113 |
| |
| Other income | 15 |
| | 18 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 393 |
| | 339 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 194 |
| | 199 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Interest expense | 133 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Other adjusted expenses | 137 |
| | 159 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 270 |
| | 279 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 464 |
| | 478 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (139 | ) | |
Net investment income benefited from the Company’s enterprise corporate hedging program for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. See the Hedging Activities subsection of this MD&A for further information on the enterprise corporate hedging program.
In December 2018, the Parent Company invested $20 million in Singapore Life Pte. Ltd. (Singapore Life), a digitally-focused life insurance company based in Singapore. The Parent Company made an additional investment of $16 million in the second quarter of 2019, bringing the total investment to $36 million. As part of the relationship, Aflac entered into a reinsurance agreement on certain protection products with Singapore Life in September 2019. However, the Company does not currently expect the equity investment or the reinsurance agreement to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
INVESTMENTS
The Company’s investment strategy utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives, and preserving shareholder value. In attempting to optimally balance these objectives, the Company seeks to maintain on behalf of Aflac Japan a diversified portfolio of yen-denominated investment assets, a U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio hedged back to yen and a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated assets. As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. invests in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loans.
For additional information concerning the Company's investments, see Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following tables detail investments by segment as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Segment
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | $ | 75,780 |
| | $ | 13,703 |
| | $ | 1,779 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities, at amortized cost | 30,085 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,085 |
|
| Equity securities | 657 |
| | 67 |
| | 78 |
| | 802 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 4,507 |
| | 943 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,450 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 1,308 |
| | 399 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,707 |
|
| Middle market loans | 2,141 |
| | 271 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,412 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 234 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 250 |
|
Short-term investments (1) | 386 |
| | 242 |
| | 1 |
| | 629 |
|
| Limited partnerships | 496 |
| | 55 |
| | 17 |
| | 568 |
|
| Other | 0 |
| | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
|
| Total investments | 115,594 |
| | 15,726 |
| | 1,875 |
| | 133,195 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,674 |
| | 417 |
| | 2,805 |
| | 4,896 |
|
| Total investments and cash | $ | 117,268 |
| | $ | 16,143 |
| | $ | 4,680 |
| | $ | 138,091 |
|
(1) Includes securities lending collateral
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | $ | 69,409 |
| | $ | 12,132 |
| | $ | 1,354 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities, at amortized cost | 30,318 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,318 |
|
| Equity securities | 806 |
| | 137 |
| | 44 |
| | 987 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 3,621 |
| | 756 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,377 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 763 |
| | 301 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,064 |
|
| Middle market loans | 1,144 |
| | 334 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,478 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 219 |
| | 13 |
| | 0 |
| | 232 |
|
Short-term investments (1) | 0 |
| | 141 |
| | 11 |
| | 152 |
|
| Limited partnerships | 333 |
| | 37 |
| | 7 |
| | 377 |
|
| Other | 0 |
| | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
|
| Total investments | 106,613 |
| | 13,877 |
| | 1,416 |
| | 121,906 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,779 |
| | 641 |
| | 1,917 |
| | 4,337 |
|
| Total investments and cash | $ | 108,392 |
| | $ | 14,518 |
| | $ | 3,333 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
|
(1) Includes securities lending collateral
The ratings of the Company's securities referenced in the table below are based on the ratings designations provided by major NRSROs or, if not rated, are determined based on the Company's internal analysis of such securities. When the ratings issued by the rating agencies differ, the Company utilizes the second lowest rating when three or more rating agency ratings are available or the lowest rating when only two rating agency ratings are available.
The distributions of fixed maturity securities the Company owns, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Fixed Securities Portfolio by Credit Rating
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2019 | | | | 2018 | |
| | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| AAA | | 1.1 | % | | | | 1.0 | % | | | | 1.0 | % | | | | .9 | % | |
| AA | | 4.3 |
| | | | 4.4 |
| | | | 3.9 |
| | | | 4.0 |
| |
| A | | 68.6 |
| | | | 69.8 |
| | | | 67.9 |
| | | | 69.9 |
| |
| BBB | | 23.1 |
| | | | 22.1 |
| | | | 23.2 |
| | | | 21.6 |
| |
| BB or lower | | 2.9 |
| | | | 2.7 |
| | | | 4.0 |
| | | | 3.6 |
| |
| Total | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | |
As of December 31, 2019, the Company's direct and indirect exposure to securities in its investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.
The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in the Company's portfolio as of December 31, 2019.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Loss |
| Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. | | CCC | | | | $ | 64 |
| | | | $ | 32 |
| | | | $ | (32 | ) | |
| AXA | | BBB | | | | 296 |
| | | | 271 |
| | | | (25 | ) | |
| Transocean Inc. | | CCC | | | | 50 |
| | | | 37 |
| | | | (13 | ) | |
| Intesa Sanpaolo Spa | | BBB | | | | 142 |
| | | | 132 |
| | | | (10 | ) | |
| Baker Hughes Inc. | | A | | | | 123 |
| | | | 114 |
| | | | (9 | ) | |
| Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP) | | BBB | | | | 137 |
| | | | 129 |
| | | | (8 | ) | |
| Mirvac Group Finance Ltd. | | A | | | | 91 |
| | | | 84 |
| | | | (7 | ) | |
| Autostrade Per Litalia Spa | | BBB | | | | 182 |
| | | | 175 |
| | | | (7 | ) | |
| Downer Group Finance Pty LTD | | BBB | | | | 91 |
| | | | 85 |
| | | | (6 | ) | |
| Chevron Corp. | | AA | | | | 148 |
| | | | 142 |
| | | | (6 | ) | |
Generally, declines in fair values can be a result of changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rate, and changes in net spreads driven by a broad market move or a change in the issuer's underlying credit quality. As the Company believes these issuers have the ability to continue making timely payments of principal and interest, the Company views these changes in fair value to be temporary. See the Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses section in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions of unrealized losses related to financial institutions and other corporate investments.
Below-Investment-Grade Securities
The Company's portfolio of below-investment-grade securities includes debt securities purchased while the issuer was rated investment grade plus other loans and bonds purchased as part of an allocation to that segment of the market. The following is the Company's below-investment-grade exposure.
Below-Investment-Grade Investments |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2019 | |
| (In millions) | Par Value | | Amortized Cost | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
| Investcorp Capital Limited | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 452 |
| | $ | 64 |
| |
| Republic of South Africa | 365 |
| | 365 |
| | 372 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Barclays Bank PLC | 183 |
| | 115 |
| | 157 |
| | 42 |
| |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 183 |
| | 136 |
| | 143 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Telecom Italia SpA | 183 |
| | 183 |
| | 241 |
| | 58 |
| |
| IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG | 118 |
| | 51 |
| | 102 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Arconic Inc. | 100 |
| | 85 |
| | 111 |
| | 26 |
| |
| EMC Corp. | 80 |
| | 80 |
| | 82 |
| | 2 |
| |
| Generalitat de Catalunya | 73 |
| | 27 |
| | 80 |
| | 53 |
| |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals | 68 |
| | 66 |
| | 61 |
| | (5 | ) | |
| Other Issuers | 456 |
| | 436 |
| | 420 |
| | (16 | ) | |
Subtotal (1) | 2,197 |
| | 1,932 |
| | 2,221 |
| | 289 |
| |
| Senior secured bank loans | 462 |
| | 480 |
| | 459 |
| | (21 | ) | |
| High yield corporate bonds | 726 |
| | 723 |
| | 755 |
| | 32 |
| |
Middle market loans, net of reserves (2) | 2,455 |
| | 2,412 |
| | 2,420 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Grand Total | $ | 5,840 |
| | $ | 5,547 |
| | $ | 5,855 |
| | $ | 308 |
| |
(1) Securities initially purchased as investment grade, but have subsequently been downgraded to below investment grade
(2) Middle market loans are carried at amortized cost
The Company invests in senior secured bank loans and middle market loans primarily to U.S. corporate borrowers, most of which have below-investment-grade ratings. The objectives of these programs include enhancing the yield on invested assets, achieving further diversification of credit risk, and mitigating the risk of rising interest rates and hedge costs through the acquisition of floating rate assets.
The Company maintains an allocation to higher yielding corporate bonds within the Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. portfolios. Most of these securities were rated below-investment-grade at the time of purchase, but the Company also purchased several that were rated investment grade which, because of market pricing, offer yields commensurate with below-investment-grade risk profiles. The objective of this allocation was to enhance the Company's yield on invested assets and further diversify credit risk. All investments in this program must have a minimum rating at purchase of low BB using the Company's above described rating methodology and are managed by the Company's internal credit portfolio management team.
Fixed Maturity Securities by Sector
The Company maintains diversification in investments by sector to avoid concentrations to any one sector, thus managing exposure risk. The following table shows the distribution of fixed maturities by sector classification as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | | Amortized
Cost | | | % of Total | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 53,463 | | | | | 48.8 | % | |
| Municipalities | | 2,414 | | | | | 2.2 | | |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 394 | | | | | .4 | | |
| Public utilities | | 8,194 | | | | | 7.5 | | |
| Electric | | 6,471 | | | | | 5.9 | | |
| Natural Gas | | 303 | | | | | .3 | | |
| Other | | 695 | | | | | .6 | | |
| Utility/Energy | | 725 | | | | | .7 | | |
| Sovereign and Supranational | | 2,042 | | | | | 1.9 | | |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 9,947 | | | | | 9.1 | | |
| Banking | | 6,029 | | | | | 5.5 | | |
| Insurance | | 1,948 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other | | 1,970 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other corporate | | 33,002 | | | | | 30.1 | | |
| Basic Industry | | 3,484 | | | | | 3.2 | | |
| Capital Goods | | 3,187 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Communications | | 4,057 | | | | | 3.7 | | |
| Consumer Cyclical | | 3,271 | | | | | 3.0 | | |
| Consumer Non-Cyclical | | 6,280 | | | | | 5.7 | | |
| Energy | | 4,281 | | | | | 3.9 | | |
| Other | | 1,464 | | | | | 1.3 | | |
| Technology | | 3,129 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Transportation | | 3,849 | | | | | 3.5 | | |
| Total fixed maturity securities | | $ | 109,456 | | | | | 100.0 | % | |
Securities by Type of Issuance
The Company has investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The Company's ability to sell either type of security is a function of overall market liquidity which is impacted by, among other things, the amount of outstanding securities of a particular issuer or issuance, trading history of the issue or issuer, overall market conditions, and idiosyncratic events affecting the specific issue or issuer.
The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Type of Issuance
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2019 | | | | 2018 | |
| (In millions) | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| Publicly issued securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 89,625 |
| | | | $ | 105,557 |
| | | | $ | 83,482 |
| | | | $ | 93,255 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 717 |
| | | | 717 |
| | | | 936 |
| | | | 936 |
| |
| Total publicly issued | | 90,342 |
| | | | 106,274 |
| | | | 84,418 |
| | | | 94,191 |
| |
Privately issued securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | 19,831 |
| (2 | ) | | | 23,299 |
| (2 | ) | | | 23,692 |
| | | | 26,362 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 85 |
| | | | 85 |
| | | | 51 |
| | | | 51 |
| |
| Total privately issued | | 19,916 |
| | | | 23,384 |
| | | | 23,743 |
| | | | 26,413 |
| |
| Total investment securities | | $ | 110,258 |
| | | | $ | 129,658 |
| | | | $ | 108,161 |
| | | | $ | 120,604 |
| |
(1) Primarily consists of securities owned by Aflac Japan
(2) Excludes Rule 144A securities starting in the first quarter of 2019
The following table details the Company's reverse-dual currency securities as of December 31.
Reverse-Dual Currency Securities(1)
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (Amortized cost, in millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Privately issued reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 4,993 |
| | $ | 5,120 |
| |
| Publicly issued collateral structured as reverse-dual currency securities | 1,678 |
| | 1,657 |
| |
| Total reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 6,671 |
| | $ | 6,777 |
| |
Reverse-dual currency securities as a percentage of total investment
securities | 6.1 | % | | 6.3 | % | |
Aflac Japan has a portfolio of privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds.Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers, are rated investment grade at purchase and have longer maturities, thereby allowing the Company to improve asset/liability matching and overall investment returns. These securities are generally either privately negotiated arrangements or issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings of the issuer, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants were required. Many of these investments have protective covenants appropriate to the specific investment. These may include a prohibition of certain activities by the borrower, maintenance of certain financial measures, and specific conditions impacting the payment of the Company's notes.
HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk. The Company uses various strategies, including derivatives, to manage these risks. See item “7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for more information about Market risk and the Company’s use of derivatives.
Derivatives are designed to reduce risk on an economic basis while minimizing the impact on financial results. The Company’s derivatives programs vary depending on the type of risk being hedged. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for:
| |
| • | A description of the Company's derivatives, hedging strategies and underlying risk exposure. |
Information about the notional amount and fair market value of the Company's derivatives.
| |
| • | The unrealized and realized gains and losses impact on adjusted earnings of derivatives in cash flow, fair value, net investments in foreign operations, or non-qualifying hedging relationships. |
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Hedge Program
The Company has deployed the following hedging strategies to mitigate exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk:
| |
| • | Aflac Japan hedges U.S. dollar-denominated investments back to yen (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
| • | Aflac Japan maintains certain unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
| • | The Parent Company designates yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and loans) as non-derivative hedging instruments and designates certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedges of the Company’s net investment in Aflac Japan (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
| |
| • | The Parent Company enters into forward and option contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by its subsidiary, ALIJ, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program
Aflac Japan buys U.S. dollar-denominated investments, typically corporate bonds, and hedges them back to yen with foreign currency forwards and options to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk. This economically creates yen assets that match yen liabilities during the life of the derivative and provides capital relief. The currency risk being hedged is generally based on fair value of hedged investments. The following table summarizes the U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value |
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities (excluding bank loans) | $ | 18,012 |
| $ | 19,542 |
| | $ | 17,101 |
| $ | 17,003 |
|
| Fixed maturity securities - bank loans (floating rate) | 677 |
| 649 |
| | 1,296 |
| 1,238 |
|
| Equity securities | 19 |
| 19 |
| | 177 |
| 177 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans (floating rate) | 4,507 |
| 4,543 |
| | 3,621 |
| 3,625 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 1,308 |
| 1,319 |
| | 763 |
| 736 |
|
| Middle market loans (floating rate) | 2,141 |
| 2,153 |
| | 1,144 |
| 1,146 |
|
| Other investments | 496 |
| 496 |
| | 333 |
| 333 |
|
| Total U.S. Dollar Program | 27,160 |
| 28,721 |
| | 24,435 |
| 24,258 |
|
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen | 1,700 |
| 2,608 |
| | 1,679 |
| 2,269 |
|
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan | $ | 28,860 |
| $ | 31,329 |
| | $ | 26,114 |
| $ | 26,527 |
|
U.S. Dollar Program includes all U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan other than the investments in certain consolidated VIEs where the instrument is economically converted to yen as a result of a derivative in the consolidated variable interest entity. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had $8.8 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency forwards and $21.1 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency options, of which none were in-the-money, hedging the U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The fair value of Aflac Japan's unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was $19.9 billion (excluding certain U.S. dollar-denominated assets shown in the table above as a result of consolidation that have been economically converted to yen using derivatives).
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. The Company had net cash outflows of $20 million in 2019, net cash inflows of $272 million in
2018 and net cash outflows of $747 million in 2017, associated with the currency derivatives used for hedging Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investments.
Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program
The Company has designated certain yen-denominated liabilities and foreign currency forwards and options of the Parent Company as accounting hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan. The Company's consolidated yen-denominated net asset position was partially hedged at $9.1 billion as of December 31, 2019, compared with $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2018.
The Company makes its accounting designation of net investment hedge at the beginning of each quarter. If the total of the designated Parent Company non-derivative and derivative notional is equal to or less than the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective, and the currency exchange effect on the yen-denominated liabilities and the change in estimated fair value of the derivatives are reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For additional information on the Company's net investment hedging strategy, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In order to economically mitigate risks associated with the enterprise-wide exposure to the yen and the level and volatility of hedge costs, the Parent Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts. By buying U.S. dollars and selling yen, the Parent Company is effectively lowering its overall economic exposure to the yen, while Aflac Japan's U.S dollar exposure remains reduced as a result of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated hedge program that economically creates yen assets. Among other objectives, this strategy is intended to offset the enterprise-wide amortized hedge costs by generating amortized hedge income. The portion of the enterprise-wide amortized hedge income contributed by this strategy was $89 million in 2019 and $36 million in 2018. This activity is reported in Corporate and Other. As this program evolves, the Company will continue to evaluate the program’s efficacy. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
The following table presents metrics related to Aflac Japan amortized hedge costs and the Parent Company amortized hedge income for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Hedge Cost Metrics(1)
|
| | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Aflac Japan: | | | |
FX forward (sell USD, buy yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $8.8 | | $9.9 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 8.5 | | 21.4 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $(257) | | $(236) |
| Parent Company: | | | |
FX forward (buy USD, sell yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $4.9 | | $2.5 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 13.7 | | 16.1 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $89 | | $36 |
(1) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
(2) Notional is reported net of any offsetting positions within Aflac Japan or the Parent Company, respectively.
(3) Tenor based on period reporting date to settlement date
Interest Rate Risk Hedge Program
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. use interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of investment income volatility for certain variable-rate investments. Additionally, to manage interest rate risk associated with its U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan, the Company utilizes interest rate swaptions.
For additional discussion of the risks associated with the foreign currency exposure refer to the Currency Risk section in Item 1A, specifically to the Risk Factors titled “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate“ and “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity."
See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's hedging activities.
POLICY LIABILITIES
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment and in total for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Japan segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 2,879 |
| | 2,857 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,452 |
| | 12,122 |
| |
| Total Japan policy liabilities | 95,793 |
| | 92,791 |
| |
| U.S. segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 9,405 |
| | 9,137 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 1,779 |
| | 1,727 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 111 |
| | 117 |
| |
| Total U.S. policy liabilities | 11,295 |
| | 10,981 |
| |
| Consolidated: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 90,335 |
| | 86,368 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,659 |
| | 4,584 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,560 |
| | 12,236 |
| |
Total consolidated policy liabilities (1) | $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| |
(1) The sum of the Japan and U.S. segments exceeds the total due to reinsurance and retrocession activity.
See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's policy liabilities.
BENEFIT PLANS
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on the Company's Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
POLICYHOLDER PROTECTION
Policyholder Protection Corporation
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. Legislation enacted regarding the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC. In November 2016, Japan's Diet passed legislation that again extends the government's fiscal support of the LIPPC through March 2022. Effective April 2014, the annual LIPPC contribution amount for the total life industry was lowered from ¥40 billion to ¥33 billion. Aflac Japan recognized an expense of ¥1.9 billion and ¥2.0 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for LIPPC assessments.
Guaranty Fund Assessments
Under U.S. state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business. The amount of the guaranty fund assessment that an insurer is assessed is based on its proportionate share of premiums in that state. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the assessment.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity refers to the ability to generate sufficient cash resources to meet the payment obligations of the Company. Capital refers to the long-term financial resources available to support the operations of the businesses, fund business growth and provide for an ability to withstand adverse circumstances. Financial leverage (leverage) refers to an investment strategy of using debt to increase the potential return on equity. The Company targets and actively manages liquidity, capital and leverage in the context of a number of considerations, including:
business investment and growth needs
strategic growth objectives
financial flexibility and obligations
capital support for hedging activity
a constantly evolving business and economic environment
a balanced approach to capital allocation and shareholder deployment.
The governance framework supporting liquidity, capital and leverage includes global senior management and board committees that review and approve all significant capital related decisions.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure. The target minimum amount for the Parent Company’s cash and cash equivalents is approximately $2.0 billion to provide available capital and liquidity support at the holding company.Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. provide the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through the payment of dividends and management fees. The following table presents the amounts provided to the Parent Company for the years ended December 31.
Liquidity Provided by Subsidiaries to Parent Company |
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends declared or paid by subsidiaries | $ | 3,466 |
|
| $ | 1,817 |
| |
| Management fees paid by subsidiaries | 151 |
| | 204 |
| |
The decline in dividends during 2018 was driven by a change in the dividend regulatory approval process subsequent to the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018. The Company resumed dividend payments from Aflac Japan in the fourth quarter of 2018. Management fees decreased during 2019 and 2018, compared to prior years, due to changes in the administration of intercompany expenses between legal entities subsequent to the conversion, as well.
Prior to the Aflac Japan branch conversion, Aflac Japan paid allocated expenses and profit remittances to Aflac U.S. The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Remittances
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 136 |
| |
| Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan (in dollars) | 4 |
| | 24 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in dollars) | 2,070 |
| | 808 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in yen) | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| |
In 2018, the Company announced a change in its internal dividend policy which allows the Company to increase the proportion of regulatory earnings transferred from Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan to the Parent Company. The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of capital and liquidity at the Parent Company with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the "Hedging Activity" subsection in this MD&A for more information.
In addition to cash and equivalents, the Company also maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2021. In August 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows the Parent Company to conduct public offerings of bonds in Japan, including yen-denominated Samurai notes, up to ¥200 billion or its equivalent through August 2020. The shelf registration statement is for possible public offerings in Japan, but the bonds issued under the shelf may be transferred by the bondholders to U.S. persons in compliance with U.S. law. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties and three intercompany lines of credit. For additional information, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.
Major Contractual Obligations
The following table presents the estimated payments by period of the Company's major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019. The Company translated its yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2019, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years |
Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)(2) | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 244,884 |
| | $ | 9,221 |
| | $ | 18,151 |
| | $ | 18,224 |
| | $ | 199,288 |
|
Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)(3) | 4,659 |
| | 4,660 |
| | 2,985 |
| | 980 |
| | 394 |
| | 301 |
|
Other policyholders' funds (Note 7)(3) | 7,317 |
| | 9,902 |
| | 341 |
| | 389 |
| | 706 |
| | 8,466 |
|
Long-term debt – principal (Note 9) | 6,408 |
| | 6,458 |
| | 0 |
| | 350 |
| | 1,450 |
| | 4,658 |
|
Long-term debt – interest (Note 9) | 44 |
| | 2,036 |
| | 171 |
| | 320 |
| | 262 |
| | 1,283 |
|
Cash collateral on loaned securities (Note 3) | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating service agreements (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 463 |
| | 179 |
| | 279 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating lease obligations (Note 9) | 149 |
| | 159 |
| | 49 |
| | 68 |
| | 20 |
| | 22 |
|
Finance lease obligations (Note 9) | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total contractual obligations | $ | 110,800 |
| | $ | 270,450 |
| | $ | 14,826 |
| | $ | 20,542 |
| | $ | 21,064 |
| | $ | 214,018 |
|
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $17 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
(1)Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.
(2)The estimated payments due by period reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and others for future policy benefits. These projected cash outflows are based on assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions comparable with the Company's experience, consider future premium receipts on current policies in force, and assume market growth and interest crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. These cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest and, as a result, the sum of the cash outflows shown for all years in the table of $244,884 exceeds the corresponding liability amount of $90,335. The Company has made significant assumptions to determine the future estimated cash outflows related to the underlying policies and contracts. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, actual cash outflow amounts and timing will differ, possibly materially, from these estimates.
(3)Includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above.
(4)Not applicable
For more information on the Company's major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the line items in the table above.
The Company's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards,
including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of a trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would likely result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
The Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan's yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Operating activities | $ | 5,455 |
| | $ | 6,014 |
| |
| Investing activities | (3,171 | ) | | (3,582 | ) | |
| Financing activities | (1,713 | ) | | (1,616 | ) | |
| Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents | (12 | ) | | 30 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 846 |
| |
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows for the Company's insurance activities come from insurance premiums and investment income. The principal cash outflows are the result of policy claims, operating expenses, income tax, as well as interest expense. As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments.
The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses. Consolidated cash flow from operations decreased 9.3% in 2019, compared with 2018. The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong cash flows provide the Company with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.
As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has announced an increase in its commitment to the Aflac Ventures Fund from $250 million to $400 million, as opportunities emerge. These investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets. The Aflac Ventures Fund is a subsidiary of Aflac Corporate Ventures which is reported in the Corporate and other segment. The central mission of Aflac Corporate Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value.
As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $217 million under this program during 2019. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac U.S. had outstanding borrowings of $403 million reported in its balance sheet.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.7 billion in 2019 and $1.6 billion in 2018.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued four series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a stated maturity date of April 16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling ¥53.4 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥29.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled ¥15.2 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥8.9 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of its senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019.
Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $2.4 billion in 2019, compared with $2.1 billion in 2018.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Treasury Stock Purchased
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Treasury stock purchases | $ | 1,627 |
| | $ | 1,301 |
| |
| Number of shares purchased: | | | | |
| Share repurchase program | 31,994 |
| | 28,949 |
| |
| Other | 592 |
| | 392 |
| |
| Total shares purchased | 32,586 |
| | 29,341 |
| |
Treasury Stock Issued
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Stock issued from treasury: | | | | |
| Cash financing | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 58 |
| |
| Noncash financing | 50 |
| | 17 |
| |
| Total stock issued from treasury | $ | 99 |
| | $ | 75 |
| |
| Number of shares issued | 2,324 |
| | 1,939 |
| |
Under share repurchase authorizations from the Company's board of directors, the Company purchased 32.0 million shares of its common stock in 2019, compared with 28.9 million shares in 2018. As of December 31, 2019, a remaining balance of 37.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors. The Company currently plans to repurchase $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion of its common stock in 2020, assuming stable capital conditions and absent compelling alternatives. See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Cash dividends paid to shareholders in 2019 of $1.08 per share increased 3.8% over 2018. The following table presents the dividend activity for the years ended December 31.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends paid in cash | $ | 771 |
| | $ | 793 |
| |
| Dividends through issuance of treasury shares | 30 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total dividends to shareholders | $ | 801 |
| | $ | 801 |
| |
In January 2020, the board of directors announced a 3.7% increase in the quarterly cash dividend, effective with the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter 2020 cash dividend of $.28 per share is payable on March 2, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2020.
Regulatory Restrictions
Aflac, CAIC and TOIC are domiciled in Nebraska and are subject to its regulations. Subsequent to the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, Aflac Japan is domiciled in Japan and subject to local regulations. The Nebraska Department of Insurance imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances to the Parent Company. Under Nebraska insurance law, prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance is required for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid to the Parent Company. (See below for discussion of restrictions imposed by Japanese insurance regulators.) A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York.
The continued long-term growth of the Company's business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of its insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings, capital contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings, or reinsurance transactions. The NAIC’s RBC formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations.
Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 539% as of December 31, 2019, compared with 560% at December 31, 2018. Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac's total adjusted capital of $2.2 billion exceeded the company action level required capital and surplus of $.4 billion by $1.8 billion. With the announcement of the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, we had announced our intention to remove excess capital out of Aflac, targeting a 500% RBC by the end of 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has completed the RBC drawdown plan and has moved $1.75 billion of capital from Aflac to the Parent Company, supporting the Company's capital deployment and risk management activities.
The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac, CAIC and TOIC without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2020 in excess of $864 million would be considered extraordinary and require such approval. Following the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, the Company used extraordinary dividends as needed to actively manage to appropriate RBC levels that are lower yet sufficient to maintain ratings and support prudent capital management. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on the Company's statutory capital and surplus.
The NAIC considers its Solvency Modernization Initiative (SMI) process relating to updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework to be ongoing. The SMI has focused on key issues such as capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, reinsurance, statutory accounting and financial reporting matters. Many of these key issues have been finalized and/or are near completion; however, the NAIC still has some ongoing initiatives related to SMI, such as monitoring the international efforts on group capital requirements as well as RBC.In addition, the NAIC is also considering changes to investment risk factors. Any negative developments by the NAIC in these areas could result in increased capital requirements for the Company.
Aflac is subject to the NAIC’s Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA). Through the ORSA requirements, Aflac is expected to regularly, no less than annually, conduct an ORSA to assess the adequacy of its risk management framework, and its current and estimated projected future solvency position; internally document the process and results of the assessment; and provide a confidential high-level ORSA Summary Report annually to the lead state commissioner if the insurer is a member of an insurance group. In November 2019, Aflac filed its ORSA report with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, after the Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, the new Japan subsidiary is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary is basically defined as total equity excluding common stock, accumulated other comprehensive income amounts, capital reserves (representing statutorily required amounts in Japan) but reduced for net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities. These dividend capacity requirements are generally aligned with the SMR. Japan's FSA maintains its own solvency standard which is quantified through the SMR. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rate changes, therefore the Company continues to evaluate alternatives for reducing this sensitivity. In the event of a rapid change in market risk conditions causing SMR to decline, the Company has one senior unsecured revolving credit facility in the amount of ¥100 billion and a committed reinsurance facility in the amount of approximately ¥110 billion as a capital contingency plan. Additionally, the Company could take action to enter into derivatives on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments with foreign currency options or forwards. See Notes 8 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Company has already undertaken various measures to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR. For example, the Company employs policy reserve matching (PRM) investment strategies, which is a Japan-specific accounting treatment that reduces SMR interest rate sensitivity since PRM-designated investments are carried at amortized cost consistent with corresponding liabilities. In order for a PRM-designated asset to be held at amortized cost, there are certain criteria that must be maintained. The primary criteria relates to maintaining the duration of designated assets and liabilities within a specified tolerance range. If the duration difference is not maintained within the specified range without rebalancing, then a certain
portion of the assets must be re-classified as available for sale and held at fair value with any associated unrealized gain or loss recorded in surplus. To rebalance, assets may need to be sold in order to maintain the duration with the specified range, resulting in realizing a gain or loss from the sale. For U.S. GAAP, PRM investments are categorized as available for sale. The Company also uses foreign currency derivatives to hedge a portion of its U.S. dollar-denominated investments.(See Notes 3, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's investment strategies, hedging activities, and reinsurance, respectively.)
Aflac's SMR ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 1,043%, compared with 965% at December 31, 2018. As part of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018, the Company experienced an accounting-driven decline in the SMR of approximately 130 points, compared with the SMR as of December 31, 2017. The Company expects to be able to pay dividends out of certain accounts, thus restoring this accounting impact over an estimated three-year period.
The FSA has been conducting field testing with the insurance industry concerning the introduction of an economic value-based solvency regime. The field testing will assist the FSA in determining if an economic value-based solvency regime in Japan will be appropriate for the insurance industry.
Privacy and Cybersecurity Governance
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted an information security policy directing management to establish and operate a global information security program with the goals of monitoring existing and emerging threats and ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected from loss or theft. The Board has delegated oversight of the Company’s information security program to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of the global information security program and regularly communicate with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to the state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changes in the information security program. The global information security program also includes a cybersecurity incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the Audit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Lead Non-Management Director.
Other
For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Additional Information
Investors should note that the Company announces material financial information in its SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. In accordance with SEC guidance, the Company may also use the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (http://investors.aflac.com) to communicate with investors about the Company. It is possible that the financial and other information the Company posts there could be deemed to be material information. The information on the Company's website is not part of this document. Further, the Company's references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the FASB. In this MD&A, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTMCodification™ (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that the Company deems to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac'sAflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments and derivatives, deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC),DAC, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management'smanagement’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 94% of the Company's assets and 81% of its liabilities are reported as
of December 31, 2018,2019, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders' equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Valuation of Investments, Including Derivatives, and DerivativesRecognition of Other-than-Temporary Impairments
Aflac's investments, primarily consisting of debt and equity securities, include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For publicly issued securities, the Company determines the fair values from quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets and price quotes and valuations from third party pricing vendors. For the majority of privately issued securities within the Company's investment portfolio, a third party pricing vendor has developed valuation models that the Company utilizes to determine fair values. For the remaining privately issued securities, the Company uses non-binding price quotes from outside brokers.
The Company estimates the fair values of its securities on a monthly basis. The Company monitors the estimated fair values obtained from its pricing vendors and brokers for consistency from month to month, while considering current market conditions. The Company also periodically discusses with its pricing brokers and vendors the pricing techniques they use to monitor the consistency of their approach and periodically assess the appropriateness of the valuation level assigned to the values obtained from them. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the Company will re-examine the inputs and assess the reasonableness of the pricing data with the vendor. Additionally, the Company may compare the inputs to relevant market indices and other performance measurements. Based on management's analysis, the valuation is confirmed or may be revised if there is evidence of a more appropriate estimate of fair value based on available market data. The Company has performed verification of the inputs and calculations in any valuation models to confirm that the valuations represent reasonable estimates of fair value. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility.
The Company also routinely reviews its investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. The identification of distressed investments, the determination of fair value if not publicly traded and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. This process requires consideration of risks, which can be controlled to a certain extent, such as credit risk, and risks which cannot be controlled, such as interest rate risk. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects impairment losses in the Company's net earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss, as such evaluations are revised.
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options used in hedging foreign exchange risk and interest rate swaps and options on interest rate swaps (or interest rate swaptions) used in hedging interest rate risk on U.S. dollar-denominated securities in Aflac Japan's portfolio; foreign currency forwards and options used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; and foreign currency and credit default swaps in variable interest entities (VIEs) that are consolidated. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility.
See Notes 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities
Insurance premiums for most of the Company's health and life policies, including cancer, accident, hospital, critical illness, dental, vision, term life, whole life, long-term care and disability, are recognized as revenue over the premium-
payingpremium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
Premiums from the Company's products with limited-pay features, including term life, whole life, WAYS, and child endowment, are collected over a significantly shorter period than the period over which benefits are provided. Premiums for these products are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. Any gross premium in excess of the net premium is deferred and recorded in earnings, such that profits are recognized in a constant relationship with insurance in force. Benefits are recorded as an expense when they are incurred. A liability for future policy benefits is recorded when premiums are recognized using the net premium method.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The calculation of DAC and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, the Company reviews its actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, the Company evaluates DAC by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues, and any amounts determined not to be recoverable are charged against net earnings. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a detail of the DAC activity for the past two years.
Policy Liabilities
The following table provides details of policy liabilities by segment and in total as of December 31.
Policy Liabilities
|
| | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Japan segment: | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 77,812 |
| | $ | 73,661 |
|
| Unpaid policy claims | 2,857 |
| | 2,692 |
|
| Other policy liabilities | 12,122 |
| | 12,779 |
|
| Total Japan policy liabilities | $ | 92,791 |
| | $ | 89,132 |
|
| U.S. segment: | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 9,137 |
| | $ | 8,806 |
|
| Unpaid policy claims | 1,727 |
| | 1,700 |
|
| Other policy liabilities | 117 |
| | 119 |
|
| Total U.S. policy liabilities | $ | 10,981 |
| | $ | 10,625 |
|
| Consolidated: | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 86,368 |
| | $ | 81,857 |
|
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,584 |
| | 4,392 |
|
| Other policy liabilities | 12,236 |
| | 12,898 |
|
Total consolidated policy liabilities(1) | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
|
(1) The sum of the Japan and U.S. segments exceeds the total due to reinsurance and retrocession activity.
The Company's policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with applicable guidelines as defined under U.S. GAAP and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two components that involve analysis and judgment: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 84%85% and 4% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2018,2019, respectively.
Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. The Company calculates future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely
related to those used in developing the gross premiums for a policy. As required by U.S. GAAP, the Company also includes a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.
Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to the Company. The Company computes unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The Company updates the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporates its historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding the Company's outstanding liability.
The Company's insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, the Company's business is widely dispersed in both the United StatesU.S. and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of the Company's benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac's policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. The Company's claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of its policyholders.
As a part of its established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, the Company performs detailed annual actuarial reviews of its policyholder liabilities (gross premium valuation GPV, analysis) and reflects the results of those reviews in its results of operations and financial condition as required by U.S. GAAP. For Aflac Japan, the Company'sCompany’s annual reviewreviews in 20162019 and 2018 indicated that it neededno need to strengthen the liabilityliabilities associated with a block of care policies primarily due to low investment yields. The Company strengthened its future policy benefits liability by $52 million in 2016 as a result of this review. Results of the Company’s annual review in 2018 and 2017 concluded that no further strengthening was required for these liabilities.Japan. For Aflac U.S., the Company's annual reviews in 2018, 20172019 and 20162018 indicated no need to strengthen liabilities associated with policies in the United States. In the U.S. and Japan, investment assumptions were reviewed in 2017 and the Company adopted expected forward rates in its GPV yield projections. In addition, in Japan, assets were allocated to blocks of business to align with yield and duration requirements of the businesses.
The table below reflects the growth of the future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.
Future Policy Benefits
| | | (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac U.S. | $ | 9,137 |
| | $ | 8,806 |
| | $ | 8,442 |
| | $ | 9,405 |
| | $ | 9,137 |
| |
| Growth rate | 3.8 | % |
| 4.3 | % |
| 4.4 | % |
| 2.9 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
| Aflac Japan | $ | 77,812 |
| | $ | 73,661 |
| | $ | 68,291 |
| | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Growth rate | 5.6 | % |
| 7.9 | % |
| 9.7 | % |
| 4.7 | % |
| 5.6 | % |
|
| Consolidated | $ | 86,368 |
| | $ | 81,857 |
| | $ | 76,106 |
| | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 86,368 |
| |
| Growth rate | 5.5 | % |
| 7.6 | % |
| 9.2 | % |
| 4.6 | % |
| 5.5 | % |
|
| Yen/dollar exchange rate (end of period) | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | 116.49 |
| | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| |
| Aflac Japan (in yen) | 8,637 |
| | 8,324 |
| | 7,955 |
| | |
| Aflac Japan | | ¥ | 8,925 |
| | ¥ | 8,637 |
| |
| Growth rate | 3.8 | % |
| 4.6 | % |
| 6.0 | % |
| 3.3 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
The growth of the future policy benefits liability in yen for Aflac Japan and in dollars for Aflac U.S. has been due to the aging of the Company's in-force block of business and the addition of new business.
In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, the Company considers many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. The Company monitors these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, the Company
does not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2018,2019, to changes in severity and frequency of claims.
Sensitivity of Unpaid Policy Claims Liability
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | Total Severity | |
| Total Frequency | Decrease
by 2% | | Decrease
by 1% | | Unchanged | | Increase
by 1% | | Increase
by 2% |
| Increase by 2% | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 25 |
| | | | $ | 50 |
| | | | $ | 75 |
| | | | $ | 101 |
| |
| Increase by 1% | | (24 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| | | | 50 |
| | | | 75 |
| |
| Unchanged | | (49 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| | | | 50 |
| |
| Decrease by 1% | | (73 | ) | | | | (49 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| |
| Decrease by 2% | | (97 | ) | | | | (73 | ) | | | | (49 | ) | | | | (24 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Other policy liabilities, which accountedThe Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for 12%anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2018, consisted primarily of annuityselling and unearned premium reserves, and discounted advance premiumsservicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on deposit from policyholders in conjunction with their purchase of certain Aflac Japanits ability to price its insurance products. These advanced premiums are deferred upon collection and recognized as premium revenueproducts at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the contractual premium payment period. Advanced premiums represented 29%costs associated with providing benefits and 34% ofadministering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the December 31, 2018Company's ability to attract and 2017 other policy liabilities balances, respectively. See the Aflac Japan segment subsection of this MD&A for further information.retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.
Income TaxesYen–denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, except realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen–denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate.
Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparingThe following discussion includes references to the Company's performance measures, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and amortized hedge costs/income, tax returns. Deferred income taxeswhich are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the Company expects the temporary differences to reverse. The evaluation of a tax positionnot calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP is a two-step process. Under(non-U.S. GAAP). These measures exclude items that the first step,Company believes may obscure the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The second step is measurement, whereby a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognizeunderlying fundamentals and trends in the financial statements. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that an amount will notCompany's insurance operations because they tend to be realized. The determination of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets requires management to make certain judgments and assumptions.
In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets, the Company's management considers all available evidence, including taxable income in open carry back years, the existence of cumulative losses in the most recent years, forecasted earnings, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, future taxable temporary difference reversals, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. In the event the Company determines it is not more likely than not that it will be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, a valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. Likewise, if it is later determined that it is more likely than not that those deferred tax assets would be realized, the previously provided valuation allowance would be reversed. Futuredriven by general economic conditions and market volatility, including increases in interest ratesevents or widening credit spreads, can adversely impact the Company’s tax planning strategies and in particular the Company’s abilityrelated to utilize tax benefits on previously recognized capital losses.infrequent activities not directly associated with its insurance operations. The Company's judgmentsmanagement uses adjusted earnings and assumptions are subjectadjusted earnings per diluted share to change givenevaluate the inherent uncertainty in predicting futurefinancial performance and specific industry and investment market conditions.
The Tax Act was signed into lawof its insurance operations on December 22, 2017. Among other things, effective January 1, 2018 the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, eliminated or reduced certain deductionsa consolidated basis, and credits, and limited the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation.
The Tax Act also transitions international corporate taxation from a worldwide system to a modified territorial system, which in light of the current tax treatment of Aflac Japan has the effect of subjecting the earnings of Aflac Japan to Japan taxation and subjecting the Company’s other earnings, including the consolidated earnings of the Parent Company, to U.S. taxation.
These changes became effective on January 1, 2018. Because changes to tax rates are accounted for in the period of enactment, during the period ended December 31, 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded, as its reasonable estimate, a net deferred tax liability reduction of $1.9 billion as of that date. While the Company believes that a presentation of these measures is vitally important to an understanding of its underlying profitability drivers and trends of its insurance business. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income, which are a component of adjusted earnings, measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income.
The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this estimate was reasonable, itfiling as follows:
Adjusted earnings are the profits derived from operations.The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is relying upon guidance providednet earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance.
Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are adjusted earnings for the period divided by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) that provided a measurementthe weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period of uppresented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share.
Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized in using foreign currency forward
contracts to one yearhedge certain foreign exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment (costs) or in the Corporate and Other segment (income). These amortized hedge costs/income are derived from the enactment datedifference between the foreign currency spot rate at time of December 22, 2017, in order to completetrade inception and the accountingcontractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/income.
Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the effects of the Tax Act. This estimate was subject to new andcomparable prior year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by yen-to-dollar currency rate changes.
changing regulations, interpretationsAmounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders' equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. The Company considers adjusted book value important as it excludes AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management's control.
Adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact is calculated using adjusted earnings excluding the impact of the yen/dollar exchange rate, as reconciled with total U.S. GAAP net earnings, divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is return on average equity as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.
The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Net earnings | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4.43 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
|
| Items impacting net earnings: | | | | | | | |
Realized investment (gains) losses (2),(3),(4),(5) | 15 |
| | 297 |
| | .02 |
| | .38 |
|
| Other and non-recurring (income) loss | 1 |
| | 75 |
| | .00 |
| | .10 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense on items
excluded from adjusted earnings | (3 | ) | | (83 | ) | | .00 |
| | (.11 | ) |
Tax reform adjustment (6) | (4 | ) | | 18 |
| | (.01 | ) | | .02 |
|
| Adjusted earnings | 3,314 |
| | 3,226 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 4.16 |
|
Current period foreign currency impact (7) | (15 | ) | | N/A |
| | (.02 | ) | | N/A |
|
Adjusted earnings excluding current period
foreign currency impact | $ | 3,299 |
| | $ | 3,226 |
| | $ | 4.42 |
| | $ | 4.16 |
|
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Amortized hedge costs of $257 in 2019 and $236 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a decrease to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(3)Amortized hedge income of $89 in 2019 and $36 in 2018, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as an increase to net investment income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(4) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount for 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(5) A gain of $66 in 2019 and $67 in 2018, respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of interest expense.
(6) The impact of Tax Reform was adjusted in 2018 for return-to-provision adjustments, various amended returns filed by the company, and final true-ups of deferred tax liabilities. Further impacts were recorded in 2019 a result of additional guidance released by the IRS.
(7) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.
Reconciling Items
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s growth and profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the future,financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products. Realized investment gains and
losses include securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, derivative and foreign currency activities and changes in fair value of equity securities.
Securities Transactions, Impairments, and Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities
Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Impairments include other-than-temporary-impairment losses on investment securities as well as further refinementchanges in loan loss reserves for loan receivables. Starting in the first quarter of 2018, gains and losses from changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earnings.
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options on certain fixed maturity securities; foreign currency forwards and options that economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company’s calculationsCompany's long-term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency swaps and credit defaults swaps held in consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs); interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and interest rate swaptions to hedge changes in the interpretationsfair value associated with interest rate changes for certain dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities. Gains and assumptions thatlosses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company had made. Inalso excludes the fourth quarteraccounting impacts of 2018,remeasurement associated with changes in the Company recorded an immaterial adjustment to the provisional Japan deferred tax balances and no valuation allowance adjustmentyen/dollar exchange rate from adjusted earnings. Amortized hedge costs/ income related to anticipatorycertain foreign tax credit asset, rendering final valuescurrency exposure management strategies (see Amortized Hedge Cost/Income section below), and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies and notes payable are reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings.
Amortized hedge costs/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. Amortized hedge costs and income have fluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the Company's deferred tax liability.previously mentioned factors. For additional information regarding foreign currency hedging, refer to Hedging Activities in the Investments section of this MD&A.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other and Non-recurring Items
The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company excludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.
In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.
Nonrecurring items also include conversion costs related to legally converting the Company's Japan business to a subsidiary; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These Japan branch conversion costs were an immaterial amount for the year-ended December 31, 2019 and $75 million for the year-ended December 31, 2018.
Income Taxes
The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 25.7% in 2019 and 26.7% in 2018. The decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 drove the reduction in the effective tax rate for 2019 and 2018. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in both 2019 and 2018. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense.
For further information, see "Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes" in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.for additional information.
Future AdoptionForeign Currency Translation
Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of Accounting Standardits investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into dollars for Long-Duration Insurance Contractsfinancial reporting purposes. The Company translates Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated income statement into dollars using the average exchange rate for the reporting period, and the Company translates its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, whose functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current period results in relation to the comparable prior period, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current period results in relation to the comparable prior period. Management evaluates the Company's financial performance both including and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation to monitor, respectively, cumulative currency impacts on book value and the currency-neutral operating performance over time.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT
U.S. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual and interim period financial statements. Furthermore, the Company is required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets. Aflac's insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. Businesses that are not individually reportable, such as the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries and business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities are included in the Corporate and other segment. See the Item 1. Business section of this Form 10-K for a summary of each segment's products and distribution channels, and a discussion of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary and the creation of asset management subsidiaries in 2018. Consistent with U.S. GAAP guidance for segment reporting, pretax adjusted earnings is the Company's U.S. GAAP measure of segment performance. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of segment results to the Company's consolidated U.S. GAAP results and additional information.
AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
Aflac Japan Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac Japan's pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 12,772 |
| | $ | 12,762 |
| |
| Net investment income: | | | | |
| Yen-denominated investment income | 1,307 |
| | 1,283 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated investment income | 1,446 |
| | 1,356 |
| |
| Net investment income | 2,753 |
| | 2,639 |
| |
Amortized hedge costs related to certain foreign currency
exposure management strategies | 257 |
| | 236 |
| |
| Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 2,496 |
| | 2,403 |
| |
| Other income (loss) | 45 |
| | 41 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 15,313 |
| | 15,206 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 8,877 |
| | 8,913 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 709 |
| | 710 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 731 |
| | 735 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,734 |
| | 1,640 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 3,174 |
| | 3,085 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 12,051 |
| | 11,998 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 3,261 |
| | $ | 3,208 |
| |
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | | In Yen |
| Percentage change over previous period: | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | .1 | % |
| .1 | % |
| (1.1 | )% | | (1.5 | )% | |
Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 3.9 |
| | 7.5 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | .7 |
| | 1.2 |
| | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 1.7 |
| | 5.0 |
| | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| |
In yen terms, Aflac Japan's net premium income decreased in 2019, primarily due to limited-pay products reaching paid-up status. Net investment income, net of amortized hedge costs, increased in 2019 primarily due to increased investments in U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate assets and $25 million of income related to a partial call of a concentrated yen-denominated exposure.
Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2019, were ¥1.49 trillion, compared with ¥1.53 trillion in 2018. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen of 2.5% in 2019and 1.6% in 2018 was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching paid up status. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $13.6 billion in 2019 and $13.8 billion in 2018.
Aflac Japan's investment portfolios include U.S. dollar-denominated securities and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms.
The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had dollar/yen exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year. Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. See non-U.S. GAAP financial measures defined above.
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year
(Yen Operating Results)
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Including Foreign
Currency Changes | | Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Net investment income, less
amortized hedge costs | 2.2 | % | | 5.5 | % | | | 2.9 | % | | 6.4 | % | |
| Total adjusted revenues | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | | | (.5 | ) | | (.3 | ) | |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| | | .7 |
| | 3.7 |
| |
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios in yen terms for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 58.0 | % | | 58.6 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 4.6 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 4.8 |
| | 4.8 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 11.3 |
| | 10.8 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 20.7 |
| | 20.3 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 21.3 |
| | 21.1 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 69.5 | % | | 69.9 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 5.5 |
| | 5.6 |
| |
In August 2018,2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-12, “Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvementsbenefit ratio decreased, compared to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts.” The update, which is expected to significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts, amends existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements applicableprior year, primarily due to the Company. Issues addressedcontinued change in mix of first and third sector business as first sector products become paid-up. In 2019, the new guidance include: 1) a requirementadjusted expense ratio increased mainly due to reviewlower premium income from paid-up first sector products and if there is a change, update assumptionshigher expenses for advanced technology implementation. In total for 2019, the liability for future policy benefits at least annually,pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) increased reflecting continued strength in benefit ratios and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly, 2) accounting for market risk benefits at fair value, 3) simplified amortization for deferred acquisition costs, and 4) enhanced financial statement presentation and disclosures. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application of the amendments is permitted, however,favorable net investment income. For 2020, the Company does not expectanticipates the Aflac Japan pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) to early adoptremain stable. For further information, see the updated standard.2020 Outlook section of this MD&A.
Aflac Japan Sales
The Company is thoroughly evaluatingfollowing table presents Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales for the impact of adoption of ASU 2018-12 and expects that the adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s reported financial position, results of operations, and disclosures under U.S. GAAP accounting. The Company anticipates that the requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on its accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and equity. There are two permitted transition methods upon adoption, full retrospective and modified retrospective. Under the full retrospective method, the Company would restate all historical periods based upon actual historical experience as of contract inception and its updated view of the contractual cash flow projections at transition. A cumulative catch-up adjustment to opening retained earnings would be recognized to reflect the actual experience and updated projections. The update of the discount rate would be recognized in AOCI. The Company will be permitted to apply a full retrospective transition approach if actual historical information is available for all contracts that will be affected by the new guidance. Under the modified retrospective method, the opening reserve balance at the transition date, January 1, 2019, would generally be the same as the closing balance before transition, updated for changes in the discount rate.years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | In Yen |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 731 |
| | $ | 869 |
| | ¥ | 79.7 |
| | ¥ | 95.9 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | (15.9 | )% | | 2.7 | % | | (16.9 | )% | | 1.1 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Cancer | 59.2 | % |
| 65.8 | % |
|
| Medical | 31.0 |
| | 25.0 |
| |
| Income support | 1.2 |
| | 1.8 |
| |
| Ordinary life: | | | | |
| WAYS | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Child endowment | .2 |
| | .3 |
| |
Other ordinary life (1) | 7.4 |
| | 6.1 |
| |
| Other | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | |
(1) Includes term and whole life
The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, third sector products, which include cancer, medical and income support insurance products. Aflac Japan has been focusing more on promotion of cancer and medical insurance products in this low-interest-rate environment. These products are less interest-rate sensitive and more profitable compared to first sector savings products. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, the Company expects the need for third sector products will continue to rise in the future and that under either transition method, the impactmedical and cancer insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its product portfolio.
Sales of protection-type first sector and third sector products on a yen basis decreased 16.8% in 2019, compared with 2018. Earned premium growth for third and first sector protection products was 1.3%, which was consistent with the Company's expectation. The decline in sales primarily reflected reduced sales of cancer insurance through the Japan Post channel following the 2018 launch of Aflac Japan's revised cancer insurance product. In addition, the approach to refreshing the medical insurance product in 2019 took a rider versus whole policy approach. This was designed for improved economics but naturally resulted in lower reported financial statements undersales. Additional factors include a change in corporate tax law, which slowed the pace of certain third sector medical products and some cancer products in both our associate channel and the bank channel, as well as increased competition from large life insurers who are increasing their focus on the third sector.
Sales of Aflac Japan cancer products in the Japan Post Group channel experienced a material decline beginning in August 2019 which has continued into 2020. For 2019, sales in the Japan Post Group channel declined by approximately 50.0% compared with 2018. The Company expects very little sales production in the Japan Post channel during the first half of 2020 and is uncertain with regard to production during the second half of the year. See the 2020 Outlook section of this MD&A for information on Aflac Japan earned premium expectations.
Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 45.7% of total new annualized premium sales for Aflac Japan in 2019, compared with 40.1% in 2018. Affiliated corporate agencies, which include Japan Post, contributed 50.0% of total new annualized premium sales in 2019, compared with 55.3% in 2018. Japan Post offers Aflac's cancer insurance products in more than 20,000 postal outlets. Notwithstanding the recent reduction in sales of Aflac Japan's cancer products in the Japan Post channel, the Company believes this alliance with Japan Post has and will benefit its cancer insurance sales over the long term. In 2019, Aflac Japan recruited 77 new sales agencies. At December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 9,000 sales agencies, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies.
At December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had agreements to sell its products at 367 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan. Bank channel sales accounted for 4.3% of new annualized premium sales in 2019 for Aflac Japan, compared with 4.6% in 2018.
Strategic Alliance with Japan Post Holdings
On December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into a Basic Agreement with Japan Post Holdings a Japanese corporation. Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, Japan Post Holdings agreed to form a capital relationship with the Parent Company, and Japan Post Holdings and Aflac Japan agreed to reconfirm existing initiatives regarding cancer insurance and to consider new joint initiatives, including leveraging digital technology in various processes, cooperation in new product development to promote customer-centric business management, cooperation in domestic and/or overseas business expansion and joint investment in third party entities and cooperation regarding asset management.
On February 28, 2019, the Parent Company entered a Shareholders Agreement with Japan Post Holdings, J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation, solely in its capacity as trustee of J&A Alliance Trust, a New York voting trust (Trust), and General Incorporated Association J&A Alliance, a Japanese general incorporated association. Pursuant to the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, the Trust will use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire, through open market or private block purchases in the U.S. GAAP, beneficial ownership of approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of the Parent Company’s common stock within a period of 12 months following the date the Trust begins acquiring such stock. On May 7, 2019, a press release issued by Japan Post Holdings announced that purchases of shares of the Parent Company’s common stock commenced on April 29, 2019 through the Trust and that it planned to complete such purchases within Japan Post’s fiscal year 2019 (which ends March 31, 2020).
The Trust has agreed not to own more than 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares for a period expiring on the earlier of four years after the Trust acquires 7% of such shares, five years after it acquires 5% of such shares, or ten years after the Trust begins acquiring the Parent Company’s stock. After expiration of such period, the Trust has agreed not to own more than the greater of 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares or such shares representing 22.5% of the voting rights in the Parent Company.
In light of the fact that the shares acquired by the Trust, like all Aflac Incorporated common shares, will be greatly influenced byeligible for 10-for-1 voting rights after being held for 48 consecutive months, the natureShareholders Agreement further provides for voting restrictions that effectively limit the trustee’s voting rights to no more than 20% of the Company’s business model. Adoption ofvoting rights in the new guidance under either method will reflectParent Company and further restrict the Company’s concentration in Japan third-sector business, in particular cancer insurance,trustee’s voting rights with respect to which the duration of liabilities is materially longer than asset durations. Dependingcertain change in control transactions. Japan Post Holdings will not have a Board seat on the transition method chosen upon adoption,Parent Company’s Board of Directors and will not have rights to control, manage or intervene in the impact of a low discount rate applied to long-duration third sector liabilities is recognized at adoption, while associated favorable morbidity margins are recognized over time thus driving a pronounced timing impact to U.S. GAAP equity. In addition, with respect to the Japan segment, the Company maintains a large portfolio of assets designated as held-to-maturity (HTM) as a strategy to reduce capital (solvency margin ratio or SMR) volatility. In a low interest rate environment, such as presently exists in Japan, assets designated as HTM that were purchased in a higher interest rate environment have significant embedded gains not reflected in AOCI, which serves as an economic offset to a low discount rate applied to policy liabilities. At December 31, 2018, the Company’s HTM portfolio was $30.3 billion at amortized cost and had $6.5 billion in net unrealized gains. After adoptionmanagement of the new guidance, the Company also expects net earnings and net earnings per share (which were $2.9 billion and $3.77 per diluted share, respectively, in 2018) to reflect larger quarterly fluctuations due to the new requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits.Parent Company.
As an exampleof December 31, 2019, all regulatory approvals expressly set forth in the Shareholders Agreement have been obtained. The Shareholders Agreement requires the parties to use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in connection with any ongoing regulatory matters related to or arising from the Trust’s acquisition or ownership or control of the potential impactshares of Company Common Stock, including any applications or filings in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition of control of or merger with an insurer by the Company or its affiliates. The foregoing is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Shareholders Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed April 26, 2019, and the terms of which exhibit are incorporated herein by reference.
Aflac Japan Investments
The level of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new guidance,investments, the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac Japan invests in yen and U.S. dollar-denominated investments. Yen-denominated investments primarily consist of JGBs and public and private fixed maturity securities. Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments include fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Aflac Japan has been investing in both publicly-traded and privately originated U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, and has entered into foreign currency forwards and options to hedge the currency risk on the fair value of a portion of the U.S. dollar investments.
The following table details the investment purchases for illustrative purposes only, underAflac Japan for the modified retrospective methodyears ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 583 |
| | $ | 3,895 |
| |
| Private placements | | 1,122 |
| | 1,185 |
| |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 542 |
| | 796 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 212 |
| | 221 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | $ | 2,459 |
| | $ | 6,097 |
| |
| | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 2,767 |
| | $ | 1,299 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 66 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Bank loans | | 0 |
| | 346 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 58 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 1,846 |
| | 3,168 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 565 |
| | 13 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 1,442 |
| | 839 |
| |
| Other investments | | 145 |
| | 314 |
| |
| Total dollar-denominated | | $ | 6,889 |
| | $ | 6,099 |
| |
| Total Aflac Japan purchases | | $ | 9,348 |
| | $ | 12,196 |
| |
See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of these investment programs, and see Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding loans and loan receivables.
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, securities lending, and other securities transactions. Securities lending is also used from time to time to accelerate the availability of funds for investment. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan's investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for the period (in millions) (1) | $ | 9,203 |
| | $ | 11,882 |
| |
New money yield (1),(2) | 3.83 | % | | 3.06 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 2.33 |
| | 2.33 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, including U.S. dollar-denominated investments, end of period (1) | 2.64 | % | | 2.61 | % | |
(1)Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2)Reported on a low interest rate environment,gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses, external management fees, and amortized hedge costs
(3)Net of investment expenses and amortized hedge costs, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
The increase in the Company would expect AOCI (whichAflac Japan new money yield in 2019 was $2.2 billionprimarily due to decreased allocations to lower yielding yen-denominated asset classes.
See Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Investments section of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments and hedging strategies.
AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
Aflac U.S. Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 5,808 |
| | $ | 5,708 |
| |
| Net investment income | 720 |
| | 727 |
| |
| Other income | 22 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 6,550 |
| | 6,443 |
| |
| Benefits and claims | 2,871 |
| | 2,887 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 573 |
| | 534 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 590 |
| | 585 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,244 |
| | 1,152 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 2,407 |
| | 2,271 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 5,279 |
| | 5,158 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 1,272 |
| | $ | 1,285 |
| |
| Percentage change over previous period: | | | | |
| Net premium income | 1.8 | % | | 2.6 | % | |
| Net investment income | (1.0 | ) | | .8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 1.7 |
| | 2.4 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | (1.0 | ) | | 3.2 |
| |
Annualized premiums in force increased 1.1% in 2019and 3.0% in 2018. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 2018) to significantly decline upon adoption and to thereafter reflect larger quarterly fluctuationswere $6.3 billion in 2019, compared with $6.2 billion in 2018.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims | 43.8 | % | | 44.8 | % |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 8.7 |
| | 8.3 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 9.0 |
| | 9.1 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 19.0 |
| | 17.9 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 36.7 |
| | 35.2 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 19.4 |
| | 19.9 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims | 49.4 |
| | 50.6 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 9.9 |
| | 9.4 |
| |
The benefit ratio decreased in 2019, compared with 2018, primarily due to the new requirementsomewhat elevated lapses and a change in business mix from higher loss ratio, reserve building products to quarterly adjust discount rates. Conversely,lower loss ratio, guaranteed issue products. The adjusted expense ratio increased in a higher interest rate environment, and again assuming adoption of the modified retrospective method for illustrative purposes, the Company would expect AOCI2019, compared with 2018, primarily due to decline less or even increase (depending on the specifics of the interest rate environment),deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) capitalization related to lower than anticipated sales as well as to reflect quarterly fluctuations. Underanticipated spending increases reflecting ongoing investments in the full retrospective method,U.S. platform, distribution, and customer experience. Both the Company would expect lesser declines orlower benefit and higher DAC amortization ratios were also impacted by increases in total equity upon adoptionlapses as a result of large case volatility and replacement of an administrative partner. These items impacted persistency in the short-term but are expected to drive profitable earned premium growth in future periods. The pretax adjusted
profit margin declined in 2019 when compared to the modified retrospective methodwith 2018, due to higher expense ratios, offset somewhat by lower benefit ratios. For expectations for 2020, see the potential offsetting effect from updating experience and cash flow projections2020 Outlook section of this MD&A.
Aflac U.S. Sales
The ultimate impactfollowing table presents Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 1,580 |
| | $ | 1,601 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | (1.3 | )% | | 3.2 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Accident | 28.5 | % | | 29.2 | % | |
| Short-term disability | 22.5 |
| | 22.7 |
| |
Critical care (1) | 21.9 |
| | 22.1 |
| |
| Hospital indemnity | 16.6 |
| | 15.8 |
| |
| Dental/vision | 4.4 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Life | 6.1 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0% | |
(1) Includes cancer, critical illness and hospital intensive care products
New annualized premium sales for accident insurance, the Aflac U.S. leading product category, decreased 3.8%, short-term disability sales decreased 2.4%, critical care insurance sales (including cancer insurance) decreased 2.4%, and hospital indemnity insurance sales increased 3.7% in 2019, compared with 2018. While overall sales decreased in 2019, net earned premium increased 1.8%.
In 2019, the Aflac U.S. sales forces included an average of approximately 8,200 U.S. agents, including brokers, who were actively producing business on these itemsa weekly basis. The Company believes that this average weekly producer equivalent metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs.
In November 2019, the Company acquired Argus Holdings, LLC and its subsidiary Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), a benefits management organization and national network dental and vision company, which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision. This transaction represents a commitment of $75 million in capital at closing and an additional $21 million in consideration paid over three years based on the achievement by Argus of certain performance targets. Tampa, Florida will serve as the home for Aflac Dental and Vision. This acquisition is a strategic entry point into the network dental and vision market and is expected to provide opportunities for sales growth, improved account penetration and distribution productivity.
Aflac U.S. Investments
The level of investment income is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. has been investing in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables.
The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac U.S. as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 1,032 |
| | $ | 1,068 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 119 |
| | 97 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 58 |
| | 76 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 423 |
| | 610 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 104 |
| | 163 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 99 |
| | 141 |
| |
| Other investments | | 16 |
| | 44 |
| |
| Total Aflac U.S. Purchases | | $ | 1,851 |
| | $ | 2,199 |
| |
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, and other securities transactions. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives, including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac's U.S. investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for period (in millions) (1) | $ | 1,835 |
| | $ | 2,155 |
| |
New money yield (1), (2) | 4.51 | % | | 4.55 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 5.07 |
| | 5.16 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, end of period (1) | 5.40 | % | | 5.55 | % | |
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses and external management fees
(3)Net of investment expenses, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk subsection of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of the Company's investments.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
Changes in the pretax adjusted earnings of Corporate and other are primarily affected by investment income. The following table presents a summary operating results for Corporate and other for the years ended December 31.
Corporate and Other Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Premium income | $ | 200 |
| | $ | 208 |
| |
| Net investment income | 88 |
| | 77 |
| |
Amortized hedge income related to certain foreign currency management strategies | 89 |
| | 36 |
| |
| Net investment income, including amortized hedge income | 177 |
| | 113 |
| |
| Other income | 15 |
| | 18 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 393 |
| | 339 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 194 |
| | 199 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Interest expense | 133 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Other adjusted expenses | 137 |
| | 159 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 270 |
| | 279 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 464 |
| | 478 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (139 | ) | |
Net investment income benefited from the Company’s implementationenterprise corporate hedging program for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. See the Hedging Activities subsection of this MD&A for further information on the enterprise corporate hedging program.
In December 2018, the Parent Company invested $20 million in Singapore Life Pte. Ltd. (Singapore Life), a digitally-focused life insurance company based in Singapore. The Parent Company made an additional investment of $16 million in the second quarter of 2019, bringing the total investment to $36 million. As part of the updated standard is subject to assessments that are dependentrelationship, Aflac entered into a reinsurance agreement on many variables, including but not limited to (i) the transition method selected by the Company, which the Company continues to evaluate, (ii) how certain aspects of the new standard will be interpreted and implemented by the Company and other similar companies, such as (but not limited to) amortization of deferred acquisition costs, as well as establishment of policies, processes and controls for setting, monitoring and periodically updating reserve assumptions, and (iii) changesprotection products with Singapore Life in the interest rate environment in the US and Japan.
The Company is in the early stages of reviewing transition methods and has only begun to assess the full impact of adoption; as such, the Company expects to provide periodic updates on its continuing assessment.September 2019. However, the Company expects that while the adoption of this new accounting guidance will affect the Company’s financial statements under U.S. GAAP, it will not impact financial statements for Aflac Japan under FSA requirements or for Aflac U.S. under applicable statutory requirements. Therefore, the Company does not currently expect adoption of the updated standardequity investment or the reinsurance agreement to have a material impact its subsidiaries’ dividend capacity or their ability to meet applicable regulatory capital standards, nor does the Company anticipate adoption to affect its strategies for capital deployment.
New Accounting Pronouncements
During the last three years, various accounting standard-setting bodies have been active in soliciting comments and issuing statements, interpretations and exposure drafts. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company'sits financial position or results of operations,operations.
INVESTMENTS
The Company’s investment strategy utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives, and preserving shareholder value. In attempting to optimally balance these objectives, the Company seeks to maintain on behalf of Aflac Japan a diversified portfolio of yen-denominated investment assets, a U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio hedged back to yen and a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated assets. As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. invests in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loans.
For additional information concerning the Company's investments, see Note 1Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following tables detail investments by segment as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Segment
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | $ | 75,780 |
| | $ | 13,703 |
| | $ | 1,779 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities, at amortized cost | 30,085 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,085 |
|
| Equity securities | 657 |
| | 67 |
| | 78 |
| | 802 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 4,507 |
| | 943 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,450 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 1,308 |
| | 399 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,707 |
|
| Middle market loans | 2,141 |
| | 271 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,412 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 234 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 250 |
|
Short-term investments (1) | 386 |
| | 242 |
| | 1 |
| | 629 |
|
| Limited partnerships | 496 |
| | 55 |
| | 17 |
| | 568 |
|
| Other | 0 |
| | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
|
| Total investments | 115,594 |
| | 15,726 |
| | 1,875 |
| | 133,195 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,674 |
| | 417 |
| | 2,805 |
| | 4,896 |
|
| Total investments and cash | $ | 117,268 |
| | $ | 16,143 |
| | $ | 4,680 |
| | $ | 138,091 |
|
(1) Includes securities lending collateral
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | $ | 69,409 |
| | $ | 12,132 |
| | $ | 1,354 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities, at amortized cost | 30,318 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,318 |
|
| Equity securities | 806 |
| | 137 |
| | 44 |
| | 987 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 3,621 |
| | 756 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,377 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 763 |
| | 301 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,064 |
|
| Middle market loans | 1,144 |
| | 334 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,478 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 219 |
| | 13 |
| | 0 |
| | 232 |
|
Short-term investments (1) | 0 |
| | 141 |
| | 11 |
| | 152 |
|
| Limited partnerships | 333 |
| | 37 |
| | 7 |
| | 377 |
|
| Other | 0 |
| | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
|
| Total investments | 106,613 |
| | 13,877 |
| | 1,416 |
| | 121,906 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,779 |
| | 641 |
| | 1,917 |
| | 4,337 |
|
| Total investments and cash | $ | 108,392 |
| | $ | 14,518 |
| | $ | 3,333 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
|
(1) Includes securities lending collateral
The ratings of the Company's securities referenced in the table below are based on the ratings designations provided by major NRSROs or, if not rated, are determined based on the Company's internal analysis of such securities. When the ratings issued by the rating agencies differ, the Company utilizes the second lowest rating when three or more rating agency ratings are available or the lowest rating when only two rating agency ratings are available.
The distributions of fixed maturity securities the Company owns, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Fixed Securities Portfolio by Credit Rating
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2019 | | | | 2018 | |
| | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| AAA | | 1.1 | % | | | | 1.0 | % | | | | 1.0 | % | | | | .9 | % | |
| AA | | 4.3 |
| | | | 4.4 |
| | | | 3.9 |
| | | | 4.0 |
| |
| A | | 68.6 |
| | | | 69.8 |
| | | | 67.9 |
| | | | 69.9 |
| |
| BBB | | 23.1 |
| | | | 22.1 |
| | | | 23.2 |
| | | | 21.6 |
| |
| BB or lower | | 2.9 |
| | | | 2.7 |
| | | | 4.0 |
| | | | 3.6 |
| |
| Total | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | 100.0 | % | |
As of December 31, 2019, the Company's direct and indirect exposure to securities in its investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.
The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in the Company's portfolio as of December 31, 2019.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Loss |
| Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. | | CCC | | | | $ | 64 |
| | | | $ | 32 |
| | | | $ | (32 | ) | |
| AXA | | BBB | | | | 296 |
| | | | 271 |
| | | | (25 | ) | |
| Transocean Inc. | | CCC | | | | 50 |
| | | | 37 |
| | | | (13 | ) | |
| Intesa Sanpaolo Spa | | BBB | | | | 142 |
| | | | 132 |
| | | | (10 | ) | |
| Baker Hughes Inc. | | A | | | | 123 |
| | | | 114 |
| | | | (9 | ) | |
| Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP) | | BBB | | | | 137 |
| | | | 129 |
| | | | (8 | ) | |
| Mirvac Group Finance Ltd. | | A | | | | 91 |
| | | | 84 |
| | | | (7 | ) | |
| Autostrade Per Litalia Spa | | BBB | | | | 182 |
| | | | 175 |
| | | | (7 | ) | |
| Downer Group Finance Pty LTD | | BBB | | | | 91 |
| | | | 85 |
| | | | (6 | ) | |
| Chevron Corp. | | AA | | | | 148 |
| | | | 142 |
| | | | (6 | ) | |
Generally, declines in fair values can be a result of changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rate, and changes in net spreads driven by a broad market move or a change in the issuer's underlying credit quality. As the Company believes these issuers have the ability to continue making timely payments of principal and interest, the Company views these changes in fair value to be temporary. See the Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses section in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions of unrealized losses related to financial institutions and other corporate investments.
Below-Investment-Grade Securities
The Company's portfolio of below-investment-grade securities includes debt securities purchased while the issuer was rated investment grade plus other loans and bonds purchased as part of an allocation to that segment of the market. The following is the Company's below-investment-grade exposure.
Below-Investment-Grade Investments |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2019 | |
| (In millions) | Par Value | | Amortized Cost | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
| Investcorp Capital Limited | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 452 |
| | $ | 64 |
| |
| Republic of South Africa | 365 |
| | 365 |
| | 372 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Barclays Bank PLC | 183 |
| | 115 |
| | 157 |
| | 42 |
| |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 183 |
| | 136 |
| | 143 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Telecom Italia SpA | 183 |
| | 183 |
| | 241 |
| | 58 |
| |
| IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG | 118 |
| | 51 |
| | 102 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Arconic Inc. | 100 |
| | 85 |
| | 111 |
| | 26 |
| |
| EMC Corp. | 80 |
| | 80 |
| | 82 |
| | 2 |
| |
| Generalitat de Catalunya | 73 |
| | 27 |
| | 80 |
| | 53 |
| |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals | 68 |
| | 66 |
| | 61 |
| | (5 | ) | |
| Other Issuers | 456 |
| | 436 |
| | 420 |
| | (16 | ) | |
Subtotal (1) | 2,197 |
| | 1,932 |
| | 2,221 |
| | 289 |
| |
| Senior secured bank loans | 462 |
| | 480 |
| | 459 |
| | (21 | ) | |
| High yield corporate bonds | 726 |
| | 723 |
| | 755 |
| | 32 |
| |
Middle market loans, net of reserves (2) | 2,455 |
| | 2,412 |
| | 2,420 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Grand Total | $ | 5,840 |
| | $ | 5,547 |
| | $ | 5,855 |
| | $ | 308 |
| |
(1) Securities initially purchased as investment grade, but have subsequently been downgraded to below investment grade
(2) Middle market loans are carried at amortized cost
The Company invests in senior secured bank loans and middle market loans primarily to U.S. corporate borrowers, most of which have below-investment-grade ratings. The objectives of these programs include enhancing the yield on invested assets, achieving further diversification of credit risk, and mitigating the risk of rising interest rates and hedge costs through the acquisition of floating rate assets.
The Company maintains an allocation to higher yielding corporate bonds within the Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. portfolios. Most of these securities were rated below-investment-grade at the time of purchase, but the Company also purchased several that were rated investment grade which, because of market pricing, offer yields commensurate with below-investment-grade risk profiles. The objective of this allocation was to enhance the Company's yield on invested assets and further diversify credit risk. All investments in this program must have a minimum rating at purchase of low BB using the Company's above described rating methodology and are managed by the Company's internal credit portfolio management team.
Fixed Maturity Securities by Sector
The Company maintains diversification in investments by sector to avoid concentrations to any one sector, thus managing exposure risk. The following table shows the distribution of fixed maturities by sector classification as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | | Amortized
Cost | | | % of Total | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 53,463 | | | | | 48.8 | % | |
| Municipalities | | 2,414 | | | | | 2.2 | | |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 394 | | | | | .4 | | |
| Public utilities | | 8,194 | | | | | 7.5 | | |
| Electric | | 6,471 | | | | | 5.9 | | |
| Natural Gas | | 303 | | | | | .3 | | |
| Other | | 695 | | | | | .6 | | |
| Utility/Energy | | 725 | | | | | .7 | | |
| Sovereign and Supranational | | 2,042 | | | | | 1.9 | | |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 9,947 | | | | | 9.1 | | |
| Banking | | 6,029 | | | | | 5.5 | | |
| Insurance | | 1,948 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other | | 1,970 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other corporate | | 33,002 | | | | | 30.1 | | |
| Basic Industry | | 3,484 | | | | | 3.2 | | |
| Capital Goods | | 3,187 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Communications | | 4,057 | | | | | 3.7 | | |
| Consumer Cyclical | | 3,271 | | | | | 3.0 | | |
| Consumer Non-Cyclical | | 6,280 | | | | | 5.7 | | |
| Energy | | 4,281 | | | | | 3.9 | | |
| Other | | 1,464 | | | | | 1.3 | | |
| Technology | | 3,129 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Transportation | | 3,849 | | | | | 3.5 | | |
| Total fixed maturity securities | | $ | 109,456 | | | | | 100.0 | % | |
Securities by Type of Issuance
The Company has investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The Company's ability to sell either type of security is a function of overall market liquidity which is impacted by, among other things, the amount of outstanding securities of a particular issuer or issuance, trading history of the issue or issuer, overall market conditions, and idiosyncratic events affecting the specific issue or issuer.
The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Type of Issuance
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2019 | | | | 2018 | |
| (In millions) | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| Publicly issued securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 89,625 |
| | | | $ | 105,557 |
| | | | $ | 83,482 |
| | | | $ | 93,255 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 717 |
| | | | 717 |
| | | | 936 |
| | | | 936 |
| |
| Total publicly issued | | 90,342 |
| | | | 106,274 |
| | | | 84,418 |
| | | | 94,191 |
| |
Privately issued securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | 19,831 |
| (2 | ) | | | 23,299 |
| (2 | ) | | | 23,692 |
| | | | 26,362 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 85 |
| | | | 85 |
| | | | 51 |
| | | | 51 |
| |
| Total privately issued | | 19,916 |
| | | | 23,384 |
| | | | 23,743 |
| | | | 26,413 |
| |
| Total investment securities | | $ | 110,258 |
| | | | $ | 129,658 |
| | | | $ | 108,161 |
| | | | $ | 120,604 |
| |
(1) Primarily consists of securities owned by Aflac Japan
(2) Excludes Rule 144A securities starting in the first quarter of 2019
The following table details the Company's reverse-dual currency securities as of December 31.
Reverse-Dual Currency Securities(1)
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (Amortized cost, in millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Privately issued reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 4,993 |
| | $ | 5,120 |
| |
| Publicly issued collateral structured as reverse-dual currency securities | 1,678 |
| | 1,657 |
| |
| Total reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 6,671 |
| | $ | 6,777 |
| |
Reverse-dual currency securities as a percentage of total investment
securities | 6.1 | % | | 6.3 | % | |
Aflac Japan has a portfolio of privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds.Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers, are rated investment grade at purchase and have longer maturities, thereby allowing the Company to improve asset/liability matching and overall investment returns. These securities are generally either privately negotiated arrangements or issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings of the issuer, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants were required. Many of these investments have protective covenants appropriate to the specific investment. These may include a prohibition of certain activities by the borrower, maintenance of certain financial measures, and specific conditions impacting the payment of the Company's notes.
HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk. The Company uses various strategies, including derivatives, to manage these risks. See item “7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for more information about Market risk and the Company’s use of derivatives.
Derivatives are designed to reduce risk on an economic basis while minimizing the impact on financial results. The Company’s derivatives programs vary depending on the type of risk being hedged. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for:
| |
| • | A description of the Company's derivatives, hedging strategies and underlying risk exposure. |
Information about the notional amount and fair market value of the Company's derivatives.
| |
| • | The unrealized and realized gains and losses impact on adjusted earnings of derivatives in cash flow, fair value, net investments in foreign operations, or non-qualifying hedging relationships. |
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Hedge Program
The Company has deployed the following hedging strategies to mitigate exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk:
| |
| • | Aflac Japan hedges U.S. dollar-denominated investments back to yen (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
| • | Aflac Japan maintains certain unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
| • | The Parent Company designates yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and loans) as non-derivative hedging instruments and designates certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedges of the Company’s net investment in Aflac Japan (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
| |
| • | The Parent Company enters into forward and option contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by its subsidiary, ALIJ, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program
Aflac Japan buys U.S. dollar-denominated investments, typically corporate bonds, and hedges them back to yen with foreign currency forwards and options to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk. This economically creates yen assets that match yen liabilities during the life of the derivative and provides capital relief. The currency risk being hedged is generally based on fair value of hedged investments. The following table summarizes the U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value |
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities (excluding bank loans) | $ | 18,012 |
| $ | 19,542 |
| | $ | 17,101 |
| $ | 17,003 |
|
| Fixed maturity securities - bank loans (floating rate) | 677 |
| 649 |
| | 1,296 |
| 1,238 |
|
| Equity securities | 19 |
| 19 |
| | 177 |
| 177 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans (floating rate) | 4,507 |
| 4,543 |
| | 3,621 |
| 3,625 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 1,308 |
| 1,319 |
| | 763 |
| 736 |
|
| Middle market loans (floating rate) | 2,141 |
| 2,153 |
| | 1,144 |
| 1,146 |
|
| Other investments | 496 |
| 496 |
| | 333 |
| 333 |
|
| Total U.S. Dollar Program | 27,160 |
| 28,721 |
| | 24,435 |
| 24,258 |
|
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen | 1,700 |
| 2,608 |
| | 1,679 |
| 2,269 |
|
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan | $ | 28,860 |
| $ | 31,329 |
| | $ | 26,114 |
| $ | 26,527 |
|
U.S. Dollar Program includes all U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan other than the investments in certain consolidated VIEs where the instrument is economically converted to yen as a result of a derivative in the consolidated variable interest entity. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan had $8.8 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency forwards and $21.1 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency options, of which none were in-the-money, hedging the U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The fair value of Aflac Japan's unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was $19.9 billion (excluding certain U.S. dollar-denominated assets shown in the table above as a result of consolidation that have been economically converted to yen using derivatives).
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. The Company had net cash outflows of $20 million in 2019, net cash inflows of $272 million in
2018 and net cash outflows of $747 million in 2017, associated with the currency derivatives used for hedging Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investments.
Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program
The Company has designated certain yen-denominated liabilities and foreign currency forwards and options of the Parent Company as accounting hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan. The Company's consolidated yen-denominated net asset position was partially hedged at $9.1 billion as of December 31, 2019, compared with $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2018.
The Company makes its accounting designation of net investment hedge at the beginning of each quarter. If the total of the designated Parent Company non-derivative and derivative notional is equal to or less than the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective, and the currency exchange effect on the yen-denominated liabilities and the change in estimated fair value of the derivatives are reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For additional information on the Company's net investment hedging strategy, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In order to economically mitigate risks associated with the enterprise-wide exposure to the yen and the level and volatility of hedge costs, the Parent Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts. By buying U.S. dollars and selling yen, the Parent Company is effectively lowering its overall economic exposure to the yen, while Aflac Japan's U.S dollar exposure remains reduced as a result of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated hedge program that economically creates yen assets. Among other objectives, this strategy is intended to offset the enterprise-wide amortized hedge costs by generating amortized hedge income. The portion of the enterprise-wide amortized hedge income contributed by this strategy was $89 million in 2019 and $36 million in 2018. This activity is reported in Corporate and Other. As this program evolves, the Company will continue to evaluate the program’s efficacy. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
The following table presents metrics related to Aflac Japan amortized hedge costs and the Parent Company amortized hedge income for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Hedge Cost Metrics(1)
|
| | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Aflac Japan: | | | |
FX forward (sell USD, buy yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $8.8 | | $9.9 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 8.5 | | 21.4 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $(257) | | $(236) |
| Parent Company: | | | |
FX forward (buy USD, sell yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $4.9 | | $2.5 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 13.7 | | 16.1 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $89 | | $36 |
(1) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
(2) Notional is reported net of any offsetting positions within Aflac Japan or the Parent Company, respectively.
(3) Tenor based on period reporting date to settlement date
Interest Rate Risk Hedge Program
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. use interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of investment income volatility for certain variable-rate investments. Additionally, to manage interest rate risk associated with its U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan, the Company utilizes interest rate swaptions.
For additional discussion of the risks associated with the foreign currency exposure refer to the Currency Risk section in Item 1A, specifically to the Risk Factors titled “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate“ and “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity."
See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's hedging activities.
POLICY LIABILITIES
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment and in total for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Japan segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 2,879 |
| | 2,857 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,452 |
| | 12,122 |
| |
| Total Japan policy liabilities | 95,793 |
| | 92,791 |
| |
| U.S. segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 9,405 |
| | 9,137 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 1,779 |
| | 1,727 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 111 |
| | 117 |
| |
| Total U.S. policy liabilities | 11,295 |
| | 10,981 |
| |
| Consolidated: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 90,335 |
| | 86,368 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,659 |
| | 4,584 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,560 |
| | 12,236 |
| |
Total consolidated policy liabilities (1) | $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| |
(1) The sum of the Japan and U.S. segments exceeds the total due to reinsurance and retrocession activity.
See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's policy liabilities.
BENEFIT PLANS
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on the Company's Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
POLICYHOLDER PROTECTION
Policyholder Protection Corporation
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. Legislation enacted regarding the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC. In November 2016, Japan's Diet passed legislation that again extends the government's fiscal support of the LIPPC through March 2022. Effective April 2014, the annual LIPPC contribution amount for the total life industry was lowered from ¥40 billion to ¥33 billion. Aflac Japan recognized an expense of ¥1.9 billion and ¥2.0 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for LIPPC assessments.
Guaranty Fund Assessments
Under U.S. state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business. The amount of the guaranty fund assessment that an insurer is assessed is based on its proportionate share of premiums in that state. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the assessment.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity refers to the ability to generate sufficient cash resources to meet the payment obligations of the Company. Capital refers to the long-term financial resources available to support the operations of the businesses, fund business growth and provide for an ability to withstand adverse circumstances. Financial leverage (leverage) refers to an investment strategy of using debt to increase the potential return on equity. The Company targets and actively manages liquidity, capital and leverage in the context of a number of considerations, including:
business investment and growth needs
strategic growth objectives
financial flexibility and obligations
capital support for hedging activity
a constantly evolving business and economic environment
a balanced approach to capital allocation and shareholder deployment.
The governance framework supporting liquidity, capital and leverage includes global senior management and board committees that review and approve all significant capital related decisions.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure. The target minimum amount for the Parent Company’s cash and cash equivalents is approximately $2.0 billion to provide available capital and liquidity support at the holding company.Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. provide the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through the payment of dividends and management fees. The following table presents the amounts provided to the Parent Company for the years ended December 31.
Liquidity Provided by Subsidiaries to Parent Company |
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends declared or paid by subsidiaries | $ | 3,466 |
|
| $ | 1,817 |
| |
| Management fees paid by subsidiaries | 151 |
| | 204 |
| |
The decline in dividends during 2018 was driven by a change in the dividend regulatory approval process subsequent to the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018. The Company resumed dividend payments from Aflac Japan in the fourth quarter of 2018. Management fees decreased during 2019 and 2018, compared to prior years, due to changes in the administration of intercompany expenses between legal entities subsequent to the conversion, as well.
Prior to the Aflac Japan branch conversion, Aflac Japan paid allocated expenses and profit remittances to Aflac U.S. The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Remittances
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 136 |
| |
| Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan (in dollars) | 4 |
| | 24 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in dollars) | 2,070 |
| | 808 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in yen) | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| |
In 2018, the Company announced a change in its internal dividend policy which allows the Company to increase the proportion of regulatory earnings transferred from Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan to the Parent Company. The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of capital and liquidity at the Parent Company with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the "Hedging Activity" subsection in this MD&A for more information.
In addition to cash and equivalents, the Company also maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2021. In August 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows the Parent Company to conduct public offerings of bonds in Japan, including yen-denominated Samurai notes, up to ¥200 billion or its equivalent through August 2020. The shelf registration statement is for possible public offerings in Japan, but the bonds issued under the shelf may be transferred by the bondholders to U.S. persons in compliance with U.S. law. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties and three intercompany lines of credit. For additional information, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.
Major Contractual Obligations
The following table presents the estimated payments by period of the Company's major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019. The Company translated its yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2019, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years |
Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)(2) | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 244,884 |
| | $ | 9,221 |
| | $ | 18,151 |
| | $ | 18,224 |
| | $ | 199,288 |
|
Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)(3) | 4,659 |
| | 4,660 |
| | 2,985 |
| | 980 |
| | 394 |
| | 301 |
|
Other policyholders' funds (Note 7)(3) | 7,317 |
| | 9,902 |
| | 341 |
| | 389 |
| | 706 |
| | 8,466 |
|
Long-term debt – principal (Note 9) | 6,408 |
| | 6,458 |
| | 0 |
| | 350 |
| | 1,450 |
| | 4,658 |
|
Long-term debt – interest (Note 9) | 44 |
| | 2,036 |
| | 171 |
| | 320 |
| | 262 |
| | 1,283 |
|
Cash collateral on loaned securities (Note 3) | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating service agreements (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 463 |
| | 179 |
| | 279 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating lease obligations (Note 9) | 149 |
| | 159 |
| | 49 |
| | 68 |
| | 20 |
| | 22 |
|
Finance lease obligations (Note 9) | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total contractual obligations | $ | 110,800 |
| | $ | 270,450 |
| | $ | 14,826 |
| | $ | 20,542 |
| | $ | 21,064 |
| | $ | 214,018 |
|
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $17 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
(1)Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.
(2)The estimated payments due by period reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and others for future policy benefits. These projected cash outflows are based on assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions comparable with the Company's experience, consider future premium receipts on current policies in force, and assume market growth and interest crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. These cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest and, as a result, the sum of the cash outflows shown for all years in the table of $244,884 exceeds the corresponding liability amount of $90,335. The Company has made significant assumptions to determine the future estimated cash outflows related to the underlying policies and contracts. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, actual cash outflow amounts and timing will differ, possibly materially, from these estimates.
(3)Includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above.
(4)Not applicable
For more information on the Company's major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the line items in the table above.
The Company's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards,
including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of a trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would likely result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
The Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan's yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Operating activities | $ | 5,455 |
| | $ | 6,014 |
| |
| Investing activities | (3,171 | ) | | (3,582 | ) | |
| Financing activities | (1,713 | ) | | (1,616 | ) | |
| Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents | (12 | ) | | 30 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 846 |
| |
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows for the Company's insurance activities come from insurance premiums and investment income. The principal cash outflows are the result of policy claims, operating expenses, income tax, as well as interest expense. As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments.
The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses. Consolidated cash flow from operations decreased 9.3% in 2019, compared with 2018. The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong cash flows provide the Company with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.
As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has announced an increase in its commitment to the Aflac Ventures Fund from $250 million to $400 million, as opportunities emerge. These investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets. The Aflac Ventures Fund is a subsidiary of Aflac Corporate Ventures which is reported in the Corporate and other segment. The central mission of Aflac Corporate Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value.
As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $217 million under this program during 2019. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac U.S. had outstanding borrowings of $403 million reported in its balance sheet.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.7 billion in 2019 and $1.6 billion in 2018.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued four series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a stated maturity date of April 16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling ¥53.4 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥29.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled ¥15.2 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥8.9 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of its senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019.
Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $2.4 billion in 2019, compared with $2.1 billion in 2018.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Treasury Stock Purchased
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Treasury stock purchases | $ | 1,627 |
| | $ | 1,301 |
| |
| Number of shares purchased: | | | | |
| Share repurchase program | 31,994 |
| | 28,949 |
| |
| Other | 592 |
| | 392 |
| |
| Total shares purchased | 32,586 |
| | 29,341 |
| |
Treasury Stock Issued
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Stock issued from treasury: | | | | |
| Cash financing | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 58 |
| |
| Noncash financing | 50 |
| | 17 |
| |
| Total stock issued from treasury | $ | 99 |
| | $ | 75 |
| |
| Number of shares issued | 2,324 |
| | 1,939 |
| |
Under share repurchase authorizations from the Company's board of directors, the Company purchased 32.0 million shares of its common stock in 2019, compared with 28.9 million shares in 2018. As of December 31, 2019, a remaining balance of 37.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors. The Company currently plans to repurchase $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion of its common stock in 2020, assuming stable capital conditions and absent compelling alternatives. See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Cash dividends paid to shareholders in 2019 of $1.08 per share increased 3.8% over 2018. The following table presents the dividend activity for the years ended December 31.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends paid in cash | $ | 771 |
| | $ | 793 |
| |
| Dividends through issuance of treasury shares | 30 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total dividends to shareholders | $ | 801 |
| | $ | 801 |
| |
In January 2020, the board of directors announced a 3.7% increase in the quarterly cash dividend, effective with the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter 2020 cash dividend of $.28 per share is payable on March 2, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2020.
Regulatory Restrictions
Aflac, CAIC and TOIC are domiciled in Nebraska and are subject to its regulations. Subsequent to the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, Aflac Japan is domiciled in Japan and subject to local regulations. The Nebraska Department of Insurance imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances to the Parent Company. Under Nebraska insurance law, prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance is required for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid to the Parent Company. (See below for discussion of restrictions imposed by Japanese insurance regulators.) A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York.
The continued long-term growth of the Company's business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of its insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings, capital contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings, or reinsurance transactions. The NAIC’s RBC formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations.
Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 539% as of December 31, 2019, compared with 560% at December 31, 2018. Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac's total adjusted capital of $2.2 billion exceeded the company action level required capital and surplus of $.4 billion by $1.8 billion. With the announcement of the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, we had announced our intention to remove excess capital out of Aflac, targeting a 500% RBC by the end of 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has completed the RBC drawdown plan and has moved $1.75 billion of capital from Aflac to the Parent Company, supporting the Company's capital deployment and risk management activities.
The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac, CAIC and TOIC without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2020 in excess of $864 million would be considered extraordinary and require such approval. Following the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, the Company used extraordinary dividends as needed to actively manage to appropriate RBC levels that are lower yet sufficient to maintain ratings and support prudent capital management. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on the Company's statutory capital and surplus.
The NAIC considers its Solvency Modernization Initiative (SMI) process relating to updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework to be ongoing. The SMI has focused on key issues such as capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, reinsurance, statutory accounting and financial reporting matters. Many of these key issues have been finalized and/or are near completion; however, the NAIC still has some ongoing initiatives related to SMI, such as monitoring the international efforts on group capital requirements as well as RBC.In addition, the NAIC is also considering changes to investment risk factors. Any negative developments by the NAIC in these areas could result in increased capital requirements for the Company.
Aflac is subject to the NAIC’s Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA). Through the ORSA requirements, Aflac is expected to regularly, no less than annually, conduct an ORSA to assess the adequacy of its risk management framework, and its current and estimated projected future solvency position; internally document the process and results of the assessment; and provide a confidential high-level ORSA Summary Report annually to the lead state commissioner if the insurer is a member of an insurance group. In November 2019, Aflac filed its ORSA report with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, after the Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, the new Japan subsidiary is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary is basically defined as total equity excluding common stock, accumulated other comprehensive income amounts, capital reserves (representing statutorily required amounts in Japan) but reduced for net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities. These dividend capacity requirements are generally aligned with the SMR. Japan's FSA maintains its own solvency standard which is quantified through the SMR. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rate changes, therefore the Company continues to evaluate alternatives for reducing this sensitivity. In the event of a rapid change in market risk conditions causing SMR to decline, the Company has one senior unsecured revolving credit facility in the amount of ¥100 billion and a committed reinsurance facility in the amount of approximately ¥110 billion as a capital contingency plan. Additionally, the Company could take action to enter into derivatives on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments with foreign currency options or forwards. See Notes 8 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Company has already undertaken various measures to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR. For example, the Company employs policy reserve matching (PRM) investment strategies, which is a Japan-specific accounting treatment that reduces SMR interest rate sensitivity since PRM-designated investments are carried at amortized cost consistent with corresponding liabilities. In order for a PRM-designated asset to be held at amortized cost, there are certain criteria that must be maintained. The primary criteria relates to maintaining the duration of designated assets and liabilities within a specified tolerance range. If the duration difference is not maintained within the specified range without rebalancing, then a certain
portion of the assets must be re-classified as available for sale and held at fair value with any associated unrealized gain or loss recorded in surplus. To rebalance, assets may need to be sold in order to maintain the duration with the specified range, resulting in realizing a gain or loss from the sale. For U.S. GAAP, PRM investments are categorized as available for sale. The Company also uses foreign currency derivatives to hedge a portion of its U.S. dollar-denominated investments.(See Notes 3, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's investment strategies, hedging activities, and reinsurance, respectively.)
Aflac's SMR ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 1,043%, compared with 965% at December 31, 2018. As part of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018, the Company experienced an accounting-driven decline in the SMR of approximately 130 points, compared with the SMR as of December 31, 2017. The Company expects to be able to pay dividends out of certain accounts, thus restoring this accounting impact over an estimated three-year period.
The FSA has been conducting field testing with the insurance industry concerning the introduction of an economic value-based solvency regime. The field testing will assist the FSA in determining if an economic value-based solvency regime in Japan will be appropriate for the insurance industry.
Privacy and Cybersecurity Governance
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted an information security policy directing management to establish and operate a global information security program with the goals of monitoring existing and emerging threats and ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected from loss or theft. The Board has delegated oversight of the Company’s information security program to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of the global information security program and regularly communicate with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to the state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changes in the information security program. The global information security program also includes a cybersecurity incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the Audit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Lead Non-Management Director.
Other
For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Additional Information
Investors should note that the Company announces material financial information in its SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. In accordance with SEC guidance, the Company may also use the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (http://investors.aflac.com) to communicate with investors about the Company. It is possible that the financial and other information the Company posts there could be deemed to be material information. The information on the Company's website is not part of this document. Further, the Company's references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the FASB. In this MD&A, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that the Company deems to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments and derivatives, DAC, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 94% of the Company's assets and 81% of its liabilities are reported as
of December 31, 2019, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders' equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Valuation of Investments, Including Derivatives, and Recognition of Other-than-Temporary Impairments
Aflac's investments, primarily consisting of debt and equity securities, include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For publicly issued securities, the Company determines the fair values from quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets and price quotes and valuations from third party pricing vendors. For the majority of privately issued securities within the Company's investment portfolio, a third party pricing vendor has developed valuation models that the Company utilizes to determine fair values. For the remaining privately issued securities, the Company uses non-binding price quotes from outside brokers.
The Company estimates the fair values of its securities on a monthly basis. The Company monitors the estimated fair values obtained from its pricing vendors and brokers for consistency from month to month, while considering current market conditions. The Company also periodically discusses with its pricing brokers and vendors the pricing techniques they use to monitor the consistency of their approach and periodically assess the appropriateness of the valuation level assigned to the values obtained from them. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the Company will re-examine the inputs and assess the reasonableness of the pricing data with the vendor. Additionally, the Company may compare the inputs to relevant market indices and other performance measurements. Based on management's analysis, the valuation is confirmed or may be revised if there is evidence of a more appropriate estimate of fair value based on available market data. The Company has performed verification of the inputs and calculations in any valuation models to confirm that the valuations represent reasonable estimates of fair value. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility.
The Company routinely reviews its investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. The identification of distressed investments, the determination of fair value if not publicly traded and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. This process requires consideration of risks, which can be controlled to a certain extent, such as credit risk, and risks which cannot be controlled, such as interest rate risk. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects impairment losses in the Company's net earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss, as such evaluations are revised.
See Notes 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities
Insurance premiums for most of the Company's health and life policies, including cancer, accident, hospital, critical illness, dental, vision, term life, whole life, long-term care and disability, are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
Premiums from the Company's products with limited-pay features, including term life, whole life, WAYS, and child endowment, are collected over a significantly shorter period than the period over which benefits are provided. Premiums for these products are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. Any gross premium in excess of the net premium is deferred and recorded in earnings, such that profits are recognized in a constant relationship with insurance in force. Benefits are recorded as an expense when they are incurred. A liability for future policy benefits is recorded when premiums are recognized using the net premium method.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The calculation of DAC and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, the Company reviews its actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, the Company evaluates DAC by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues, and any amounts determined not to be recoverable are charged against net earnings. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a detail of the DAC activity for the past two years.
Policy Liabilities
The Company's policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with applicable guidelines as defined under U.S. GAAP and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two components that involve analysis and judgment: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 85% and 4% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2019, respectively.
Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. The Company calculates future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely related to those used in developing the gross premiums for a policy. As required by U.S. GAAP, the Company also includes a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.
Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to the Company. The Company computes unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The Company updates the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporates its historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding the Company's outstanding liability.
The Company's insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, the Company's business is widely dispersed in both the U.S. and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of the Company's benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac's policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. The Company's claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of its policyholders.
As a part of its established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, the Company performs detailed annual actuarial reviews of its policyholder liabilities (gross premium valuation analysis) and reflects the results of those reviews in its results of operations and financial condition as required by U.S. GAAP. For Aflac Japan, the Company’s annual reviews in 2019 and 2018 indicated no need to strengthen liabilities associated with policies in Japan. For Aflac U.S., the Company's annual reviews in 2019 and 2018 indicated no need to strengthen liabilities associated with policies in the U.S.
The table below reflects the growth of the future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.
Future Policy Benefits
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac U.S. | $ | 9,405 |
| | $ | 9,137 |
| |
| Growth rate | 2.9 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
| Aflac Japan | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Growth rate | 4.7 | % |
| 5.6 | % |
|
| Consolidated | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 86,368 |
| |
| Growth rate | 4.6 | % |
| 5.5 | % |
|
| Yen/dollar exchange rate (end of period) | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| |
| Aflac Japan | ¥ | 8,925 |
| | ¥ | 8,637 |
| |
| Growth rate | 3.3 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
The growth of the future policy benefits liability in yen for Aflac Japan and in dollars for Aflac U.S. has been due to the aging of the Company's in-force block of business and the addition of new business.
In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, the Company considers many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. The Company monitors these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, the Company
does not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2019, to changes in severity and frequency of claims.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.
Yen–denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, except realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen–denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate.
The following discussion includes references to the Company's performance measures, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and amortized hedge costs,costs/income, which are not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.GAAP (non-U.S. GAAP). These measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in the Company's insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with its insurance operations. The Company's management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of its insurance operations on a consolidated basis, and the Company believes that a presentation of these measures is vitally important to an understanding of its underlying profitability drivers and trends of its insurance business. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs,costs/income, which are a component of adjusted earnings, measure the periodic currency risk management costs associated withcosts/income related to hedging a portion of Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investmentscertain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income.
In 2018,The Company defines the Company began utilizing the term “adjusted earnings” for the measure formerly referred to as "operating earnings" on both a pretax and after-tax basis, as well as an absolute and per-share basis. This change only pertained to the label of the measure and did not alter its definition or calculation.
Aflac defines adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure)measures included in this filing as follows:
Adjusted earnings are the profits derived from operations. Theoperations.The most comparativecomparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costscosts/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect Aflac’sthe Company's underlying business performance.
The Company defines adjustedAdjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) to beare adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share.
Amortized hedge costscosts/income represent costscosts/income incurred or recognized in using foreign currency forward
contracts to hedge thecertain foreign exchange risk of a portion of U.S. dollar-denominated assetsrisks in the Company’sCompany's Japan segment investment portfolio.(costs) or in the Corporate and Other segment (income). These amortized hedge costscosts/income are derived from the difference between the foreign currency spot rate at time of trade
inception and the contractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs.costs/income.
Because a significant portion of the Company's business is conducted in Japan and foreign exchange rates are outside of management’s control, the Company believes it is important to understand the impact of translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars. Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by yen-to-dollar currency rate changes.
Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders' equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. The Company considers adjusted book value important as it excludes AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management's control.
Adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact is calculated using adjusted earnings excluding the impact of the yen/dollar exchange rate, as reconciled with total U.S. GAAP net earnings, divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is return on average equity as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.
The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
| | | | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share | In Millions | | Per Diluted Share |
| | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Net earnings | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
| | $ | 5.77 |
| | $ | 3.21 |
| $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4.43 |
| | $ | 3.77 |
|
| Items impacting net earnings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Realized investment (gains) losses (2),(3),(4),(5) | 297 |
| | 0 |
| | (87 | ) | | .38 |
| | .00 |
| | (.10 | ) | 15 |
| | 297 |
| | .02 |
| | .38 |
|
| Other and non-recurring (income) loss | 75 |
| | 69 |
| | 137 |
| | .10 |
| | .08 |
| | .16 |
| 1 |
| | 75 |
| | .00 |
| | .10 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense on items
excluded from adjusted earnings | (83 | ) | | (24 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (.11 | ) | | (.03 | ) | | (.02 | ) | (3 | ) | | (83 | ) | | .00 |
| | (.11 | ) |
Tax reform adjustment (6) | 18 |
| | (1,933 | ) | | 0 |
| | .02 |
| | (2.42 | ) | | .00 |
| (4 | ) | | 18 |
| | (.01 | ) | | .02 |
|
| Adjusted earnings | 3,226 |
| | 2,716 |
| | 2,691 |
| | 4.16 |
| | 3.40 |
| | 3.25 |
| 3,314 |
| | 3,226 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 4.16 |
|
Current period foreign currency impact (7) | (28 | ) | | N/A |
| | N/A |
| | (.04 | ) | | N/A |
| | N/A |
| (15 | ) | | N/A |
| | (.02 | ) | | N/A |
|
Adjusted earnings excluding current period
foreign currency impact (8) | $ | 3,198 |
| | $ | 2,716 |
| | $ | 2,691 |
| | $ | 4.13 |
| | $ | 3.40 |
| | $ | 3.25 |
| $ | 3,299 |
| | $ | 3,226 |
| | $ | 4.42 |
| | $ | 4.16 |
|
(1) "Adjusted earnings" was formerly referred to as "operating earnings." Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Excludes amortizedAmortized hedge costs of $257 in 2019 and $236 in 2018, $228 in 2017 and $186 in 2016, related to hedging U.S. dollar-denominated investments heldcertain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in Aflac Japan which are classifiedadjusted earnings as a component of adjusted earningsdecrease to conform to current year reporting.net investment income. See "Hedge Costs"Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(3)Amortized hedge costsincome of $89 in Aflac Japan were partially offset by derivatives entered into as part of corporate activities2019 and resulted in a benefit of $36 in 2018, which hasrelated to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and reportedincluded in adjusted earnings as an increase into net investment income when analyzing operations.income. See "Hedge Costs/Income" discussion below for further information.
(4) An immaterial amount of netNet interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount for 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) intoand included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income when analyzing operations.income.
(5) Excludes aA gain of $66 in 2019 and $67 in 2018, $77 in 2017 and $85 in 2016,respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable which is classifiedhave been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as an operating gain when analyzing segment operationsa component of interest expense.
(6) The impact of Tax Reform was estimated in 2017, and adjustments were recordedadjusted in 2018 for return-to-provision adjustments, various amended returns filed by the Company,company, and final true-ups of deferred tax liabilities. Further impacts were recorded in 2019 a result of additional guidance released by the IRS.
(7) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.
(8) Amounts excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior-year period, which eliminates dollar-based fluctuations driven solely from currency rate changes.
Reconciling Items
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s growth and profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products. Realized investment gains and losses include securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, and derivative and foreign currency activities. Effective January 1, 2018, changes in fair value of equity securities are also included in earnings as a component of realized investment gains and losses.
losses include securities transactions, impairments, changes in loan loss reserves, derivative and foreign currency activities and changes in fair value of equity securities.
Securities Transactions, Impairments, and Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities
Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Impairments include other-than-temporary-impairment losses on investment securities as well as changes in loan loss reserves for loan receivables. Starting in the first quarter of 2018, gains and losses from changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earnings.
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)
The Company's derivative activities include foreign currency forwards and options on certain fixed maturity securities; foreign currency forwards and options that economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening yen; foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency swaps and credit defaults swaps held in consolidated VIEs;variable interest entities (VIEs); interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and interest rate swaptions to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate changes for certain dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities. Gains and losses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company also excludes the accounting impacts of remeasurement associated with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate from adjusted earnings. Certain derivative and foreign currency gains (losses) exclude amortizedAmortized hedge costscosts/ income related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies (see Amortized Hedge CostCost/Income section below), and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies and notes payable all of which are reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings.
Hedge Costs
Effective January 1, 2017, adjusted earnings includes the impact of amortized hedge costs. Amortized hedge costs represent costs incurred in using foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the foreign exchange risk of a portion of U.S. dollar-denominated assets in the Company's Japan segment investment portfolio. Amortized hedge costs are offset by a hedge cost amortization benefit recognized for foreign currency forwards that economically hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening yen. These amortized hedge costs are derived from the difference between the foreign currency spot rate at time of trade inception and the contractual foreign currency forward rate, recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the hedge. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs.
Hedge costscosts/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. HedgeAmortized hedge costs and income have increasedfluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the previously mentioned factors. In late 2017, the Company
took steps to mitigate rising hedge costs by increasing the amount of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments held
in Aflac Japan and to reduce hedge cost volatility by extending hedge duration. For additional information regarding
foreign currency hedging, refer to Hedging Activities in the Analysis of Financial ConditionInvestments section of this MD&A.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other and Non-recurring Items
The United StatesU.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. Based on the underlying nature of these assessments in the United States, effective January 1, 2017, theThe Company adopted a policy of excludingexcludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.
For the Penn Treaty liquidation that was recognized by judicial authority in March 2017, the Company estimated and recognized a discounted liability for assessments of $62 million (undiscounted $94 million), offset by discounted premium tax credits of $48 million (undiscounted $74 million), for a net $14 million impact to net income in the quarter ended March 31, 2017. For additional information regarding guaranty fund assessments, see Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the United States.U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.
Effective January 1, 2017, nonrecurringNonrecurring items also include conversion costs related to legally converting the Company's Japan branchbusiness to a subsidiary; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These Japan branch conversion costs amounted towere an immaterial amount for the year-ended December 31, 2019 and $75 million in 2018 and $42 million in 2017for the year-ended December 31, 2018..
Income Taxes
The Company considers the costs associated with the early redemption of its debt to be unrelated to the underlying fundamentalsCompany's combined U.S. and trendsJapanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 25.7% in its insurance operations. Additionally, these costs are driven by changes2019 and 26.7% in interest rates subsequent to the issuance of the debt, and the Company considers these interest rate changes to represent economic conditions not directly associated with its insurance operations. In November 2017, the Parent Company extinguished $500 million of its 5.50% subordinated debentures.2018. The pretax non-operating expense due to the early redemption of these notes was $13 million. In 2016, the Parent Company completed a tender offerdecrease in which it extinguished $176 million principal of its 6.90% senior notes due 2039 and $193 million principal of its 6.45% senior notes due 2040. The pretax non-operating loss due to the early redemption of these notes was $137 million.
Tax Reform Adjustment
Among other changes, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. Because changes to tax rates are accounted for2018 drove the reduction in the period of enactment, during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company revalued its deferredeffective tax assetsrate for 2019 and liabilities2018. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in both 2019 and recognized a non-recurring estimated $1.9 billion benefit2018. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for the reductionmost of the net deferredCompany's consolidated income tax liability. In the fourth quarterexpense.
For further information, see Critical"Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes aboveTaxes" in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.for additional information.
Foreign Currency Translation
Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. The Company translates Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated income statement into dollars using the average exchange rate for the reporting period, and the Company translates its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, whose functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on the Company's reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current period results in relation to the comparable prior period, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current period results in relation to the comparable prior period. Management evaluates the Company's financial performance both including and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation to monitor, respectively, cumulative currency impacts on book value and the currency-neutral operating performance over time.
Income Taxes
The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 26.7% in 2018, (14.6)% in 2017 and 34.6% in 2016. The reduction in the tax rate for 2017 was primarily due to the $1.9 billion benefit as a result of the Tax Act. The decrease in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 drove the reduction in the effective tax rate for 2018 compared with years prior to 2017. Total income taxes were $1.1 billion in 2018, compared with $(586) million in 2017 and $1.4 billion in 2016. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense. For further information, see Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes above in this MD&A, and Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
2019 Outlook
The Company’s strategy to drive long-term shareholder value is to pursue growth through product development, distribution expansion and digital advancements to improve the customer experience.
The Company's objectives in 2019 are to maintain strong pre-tax margins in its Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments through disciplined product pricing, stable investment returns and leveraging a period of favorable benefit ratios to invest in its platform for future growth and efficiency. The Company believes that its market-leading position, powerful brand recognition and diverse distribution in Japan and the United States will provide support toward these objectives.
The Company believes that its efforts will support its prudent strategies for capital deployment in the form of dividends, share repurchases, and opportunistic investments that enhance the Company’s business with a focus on digital distribution and leveraging the Company’s brand, distribution and scale. The Company has stated that the dividend payout ratio from its Aflac Japan segment is likely to be in the range of 80% - 100% of FSA earnings. In its Aflac U.S. segment, the Company plans to continue its RBC drawdown plan to an RBC in the 500% range by the end of 2019.
Aflac Japan Segment
In Japan, the Company anticipates that the shift in earned premium from first sector savings products to third sector cancer and medical products and first sector protection products, will continue to result in moderately lower benefit ratios in the Aflac Japan segment. The Company also expects this shift in business mix, plus continued investment in IT and digital advancements, to result in moderately higher expense ratios for Aflac Japan. The Company believes that the Japan segment will face revenue challenges in 2019 due to the run-off and paid-up status of first sector savings products. In addition, net investment income is expected to decline modestly as compared to 2018, due in part to the low rate environment in Japan, de-risking of the portfolio and rolling U.S. dollar hedge positions into higher cost contracts.
Aflac U.S. Segment
The Company expects the profit margins for the Aflac U.S. segment to remain strong, providing a prudent opportunity to reinvest profits back into the U.S. business. The Company believes that in 2019, benefit ratios in the U.S. will continue to trend favorably and that expense ratios will continue to be elevated in light of investments into U.S. platforms in both the individual and group channels. Net investment income is expected to decline modestly, primarily as the result of the Company’s U.S. capital and RBC draw-down plan.
Corporate Segment
The Company expects corporate segment results to benefit from net investment income driven by increased capital and liquidity held at the Parent Company, as well as the Company’s enterprise currency hedging strategy. The anticipated increase in investment income is expected to be partially offset by increased costs associated with continued investment in Aflac Corporate Ventures initiatives.
For important disclosures applicable to statements made in this 2019 Outlook, please see the Risk Factors section and the statement on “Forward-Looking Information” at the beginning of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
INSURANCERESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT
U.S. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual and interim period financial statements. Furthermore, the Company is required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets. Aflac's insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. Businesses that are not individually reportable, such as the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries and business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities not included in Aflac Japan or Aflac U.S. are included in the "CorporateCorporate and other" category.other segment. See the Item 1. Business section of this Form 10-K for a summary of each segment's products and distribution channels, and a discussion of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary and the creation of asset management subsidiaries in 2018. Consistent with U.S. GAAP guidance for segment reporting, pretax adjusted earnings is the Company's U.S. GAAP measure of segment performance. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of segment results to the Company's consolidated U.S. GAAP results and additional information.
AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
Aflac Japan Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac Japan's pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Net premium income | $ | 12,762 |
| | $ | 12,752 |
| | $ | 13,537 |
|
| Net investment income: | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated investment income | 1,283 |
| | 1,294 |
| | 1,346 |
|
| U.S. dollar-denominated investment income | 1,356 |
| | 1,169 |
| | 1,208 |
|
| Net investment income | 2,639 |
| | 2,463 |
| | 2,554 |
|
| Amortized hedge costs related to foreign currency denominated investments | 236 |
| | 228 |
| | 186 |
|
| Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 2,403 |
| | 2,235 |
| | 2,368 |
|
| Other income (loss) | 41 |
| | 41 |
| | 40 |
|
| Total adjusted revenues | 15,206 |
| | 15,028 |
| | 15,945 |
|
| Benefits and claims, net | 8,913 |
| | 9,087 |
| | 9,828 |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 710 |
| | 630 |
| | 644 |
|
| Insurance commissions | 735 |
| | 736 |
| | 787 |
|
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,640 |
| | 1,521 |
| | 1,538 |
|
| Total adjusted expenses | 3,085 |
| | 2,887 |
| | 2,969 |
|
| Total benefits and expenses | 11,998 |
| | 11,974 |
| | 12,797 |
|
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | $ | 3,208 |
| | $ | 3,054 |
| | $ | 3,148 |
|
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | | In Yen |
| Percentage change over previous period: | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Net premium income | .1 | % |
| (5.8 | )% | | 12.4 | % |
| (1.5 | )% | | (2.7 | )% | | .8 | % |
Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 7.5 |
| | (5.6 | ) | | .2 |
| | 5.5 |
| | (2.0 | ) | | (10.3 | ) |
| Total adjusted revenues | 1.2 |
| | (5.8 | ) | | 10.4 |
| | (.5 | ) | | (2.5 | ) | | (1.0 | ) |
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | 5.0 |
| | (3.0 | ) | | 1.5 |
| | 3.1 |
| | .6 |
| | (9.0 | ) |
(1) Aflac defines pretax adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of adjusted earnings and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure of net earnings.
In yen terms, Aflac Japan's net premium income decreased in 2018, with growth in third sector premium more than offset by an anticipated reduction in first sector premium due to savings products reaching premium paid-up status. Net investment income, net of amortized hedge costs, increased in 2018 largely due to higher income from U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate assets. Pretax adjusted earnings in yen increased, driven by higher net investment income and a favorable third sector benefit ratio.
Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2018, were 1.53 trillion yen, compared with 1.55 trillion yen in 2017 and 1.61 trillion yen in 2016. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen of 1.6% in 2018 and 3.4% in 2017 was driven primarily by limited-pay policies becoming paid-up during the year. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen of .7% in 2016 reflects the net effect of sales of new policies combined with limited-pay policies becoming paid-up and the persistency of Aflac Japan’s business. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $13.8 billion in 2018, $13.7 billion in 2017, and $13.8 billion in 2016.
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 12,772 |
| | $ | 12,762 |
| |
| Net investment income: | | | | |
| Yen-denominated investment income | 1,307 |
| | 1,283 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated investment income | 1,446 |
| | 1,356 |
| |
| Net investment income | 2,753 |
| | 2,639 |
| |
Amortized hedge costs related to certain foreign currency
exposure management strategies | 257 |
| | 236 |
| |
| Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 2,496 |
| | 2,403 |
| |
| Other income (loss) | 45 |
| | 41 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 15,313 |
| | 15,206 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 8,877 |
| | 8,913 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 709 |
| | 710 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 731 |
| | 735 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,734 |
| | 1,640 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 3,174 |
| | 3,085 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 12,051 |
| | 11,998 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 3,261 |
| | $ | 3,208 |
| |
| Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | In Dollars | | In Yen |
| Percentage change over previous period: | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | .1 | % |
| .1 | % |
| (1.1 | )% | | (1.5 | )% | |
Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | 3.9 |
| | 7.5 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | .7 |
| | 1.2 |
| | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 1.7 |
| | 5.0 |
| | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| |
In yen terms, Aflac Japan's net premium income decreased in 2019, primarily due to limited-pay products reaching paid-up status. Net investment income, net of amortized hedge costs, increased in 2019 primarily due to increased investments in U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate assets and $25 million of income related to a partial call of a concentrated yen-denominated exposure.
Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2019, were ¥1.49 trillion, compared with ¥1.53 trillion in 2018. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen of 2.5% in 2019and 1.6% in 2018 was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching paid up status. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $13.6 billion in 2019 and $13.8 billion in 2018.
Aflac Japan's investment portfolios include U.S. dollar-denominated securities and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms.
The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had dollar/yen exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year. Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar denominateddollar-denominated investment income, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. See non-U.S. GAAP financial measures defined above.
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year
(Yen Operating Results)
For the Years Ended December 31,
| | | | Including Foreign
Currency Changes | | Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes(2) | Including Foreign
Currency Changes | | Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes |
| | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Net investment income, less
amortized hedge costs | 5.5 | % | | (2.0 | )% | | (10.3 | )% | | 6.4 | % | | (3.6 | )% | | (5.1 | )% | 2.2 | % | | 5.5 | % | | 2.9 | % | | 6.4 | % | |
| Total adjusted revenues | (.5 | ) | | (2.5 | ) | | (1.0 | ) | | (.3 | ) | | (2.8 | ) | | (.1 | ) | (.6 | ) | | (.5 | ) | | (.5 | ) | | (.3 | ) | |
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | 3.1 |
| | .6 |
| | (9.0 | ) | | 3.7 |
| | (.5 | ) | | (5.3 | ) | .2 |
| | 3.1 |
| | .7 |
| | 3.7 |
| |
(1) Aflac defines pretax adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of adjusted earnings and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure of net earnings.
(2)Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) were determined using the average dollar/yen exchange rate for the comparable prior year period.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios in yen terms for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 58.6 | % | | 60.4 | % | | 61.6 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 4.7 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 4.0 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 4.8 |
| | 4.9 |
| | 4.9 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 10.8 |
| | 10.1 |
| | 9.8 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 20.3 |
| | 19.2 |
| | 18.7 |
| |
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | 21.1 |
| | 20.4 |
| | 19.7 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 69.9 | % | | 71.3 | % | | 72.6 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 5.6 |
| | 4.9 |
| | 4.8 |
| |
(1) Aflac defines pretax adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of adjusted earnings and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure of net earnings. |
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 58.0 | % | | 58.6 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 4.6 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 4.8 |
| | 4.8 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 11.3 |
| | 10.8 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 20.7 |
| | 20.3 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 21.3 |
| | 21.1 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | 69.5 | % | | 69.9 | % | |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 5.5 |
| | 5.6 |
| |
In 2018,2019, the benefit ratio decreased, compared to the prior year, primarily due to the continued change in mix of first and third sector business as first sector products become paid-up, as well as continued favorable third sector claims trends, and higher surrender rates for the cancer products.paid-up. In 2018,2019, the adjusted expense ratio increased mainly due to lower premium income impacted byfrom paid-up first sector products becoming paid-up,and higher expenses primarily related to increased system development, outsourcing costs for new products, and DAC amortization due to the increase of surrender for cancer products.advanced technology implementation. In total for 2018,2019, the pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) increased reflecting the decreasecontinued strength in the benefit ratio partially offset by a smaller increase in the expense ratio.ratios and favorable net investment income. For 2019,2020, the Company anticipates the Aflac Japan pretax adjusted profit margin (calculated by dividing adjusted earnings by adjusted revenues) to remain stable.
Aflac Japan Sales
The following table presents Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
| | | | In Dollars | | In Yen | In Dollars | In Yen |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 869 |
| | $ | 846 |
| | $ | 1,045 |
| | 95.9 |
| | 94.9 |
| | 113.7 |
| $ | 731 |
| | $ | 869 |
| | ¥ | 79.7 |
| | ¥ | 95.9 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | 2.7 | % | | (19.0 | )% | | 4.8 | % | | 1.1 | % | | (16.6 | )% | | (5.9 | )% | (15.9 | )% | | 2.7 | % | | (16.9 | )% | | 1.1 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Cancer | 65.8 | % |
| 55.8 | % |
| 46.6 | % |
| 59.2 | % |
| 65.8 | % |
|
| Medical | 25.0 |
| | 34.1 |
| | 26.0 |
| | 31.0 |
| | 25.0 |
| |
| Income support | 1.8 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 0.0 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1.8 |
| |
| Ordinary life: | | | | | | | | | | |
| WAYS | .5 |
| | .6 |
| | 11.9 |
| | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Child endowment | .3 |
| | .5 |
| | 6.4 |
| | .2 |
| | .3 |
| |
Other ordinary life (1) | 6.1 |
| | 6.0 |
| | 6.2 |
| | 7.4 |
| | 6.1 |
| |
| Other | .5 |
| | .7 |
| | 2.9 |
| | .5 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % |
| 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | |
(1) Includes term and whole life
The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, third sector products, which include cancer, medical and Income Supportincome support insurance products. New annualized premium sales of third sector products on a yen basis increased 1.6% during 2018, compared with 2017. Third sector sales included growth in the new cancer insurance product that was launched in April 2018, however medical sales have declined compared with 2017 as a result of strong sales in 2017 driven by the introduction of the new medical insurance product in the second quarter of 2017. Aflac Japan has been focusing more on promotion of cancer and medical insurance products in this low-interest-rate environment. These products are less interest-rate sensitive and more profitable compared to first sector savings products. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, the Company expects the need for third sector products will continue to rise in the future and that the medical and cancer insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its product portfolio.
Sales of protection-type first sector and third sector products on a yen basis decreased 16.8% in 2019, compared with 2018. Earned premium growth for third and first sector protection products was 1.3%, which was consistent with the Company's expectation. The decline in sales primarily reflected reduced sales of cancer insurance through the Japan Post channel following the 2018 launch of Aflac Japan's revised cancer insurance product. In addition, the approach to refreshing the medical insurance product in 2019 took a rider versus whole policy approach. This was designed for improved economics but naturally resulted in lower reported sales. Additional factors include a change in corporate tax law, which slowed the pace of certain third sector medical products and some cancer products in both our associate channel and the bank channel, as well as increased competition from large life insurers who are increasing their focus on the third sector.
Sales of Aflac Japan cancer products in the Japan Post Group channel experienced a material decline beginning in August 2019 which has continued into 2020. For 2019, sales in the Japan Post Group channel declined by approximately 50.0% compared with 2018. The Company expects very little sales production in the Japan Post channel during the first half of 2020 and is uncertain with regard to production during the second half of the year. See the 2020 Outlook section of this MD&A for information on Aflac Japan earned premium expectations.
Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 40.1%45.7% of total new annualized premium sales for Aflac Japan in 2018,2019, compared with 42.8%40.1% in 2017 and 46.7% in 2016.2018. Affiliated corporate agencies, which include Japan Post, contributed 55.3%50.0% of total new annualized premium sales in 2018,2019, compared with 52.0%55.3% in 2017 and 44.4% in 2016.2018. Japan Post offers Aflac's cancer insurance products in more than 20,000 post offices. In 2018, Japan Post'spostal outlets. Notwithstanding the recent reduction in sales of cancer insurance constituted approximately 25% of Aflac Japan's third sector sales. Thecancer products in the Japan Post channel, the Company believes this alliance with Japan Post has and will further benefit its cancer insurance sales.sales over the long term. In 2018,2019, Aflac Japan recruited 8577 new sales agencies. At December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 9,8009,000 sales agencies, with more than 109,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies.
At December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan had agreements to sell its products at 371367 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan. Bank channel sales accounted for 4.6%4.3% of new annualized premium sales in 20182019 for Aflac Japan, compared with 5.2%4.6% in 2017 and 8.9% in 2016.2018.
Strategic Alliance with Japan Post Holdings
On December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into a Basic Agreement with Japan Post Holdings a Japanese corporation. Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, Japan Post Holdings agreed to form a capital relationship with the Parent Company, and Japan Post Holdings and Aflac Japan agreed to reconfirm existing initiatives regarding cancer insurance and to consider new joint initiatives, including leveraging digital technology in various processes, cooperation in new product development to promote customer-centric business management, cooperation in domestic and/or overseas business expansion and joint investment in third party entities and cooperation regarding asset management.
On February 28, 2019, the Parent Company entered a Shareholders Agreement with Japan Post Holdings, J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation, solely in its capacity as trustee of J&A Alliance Trust, a New York voting trust (Trust), and General Incorporated Association J&A Alliance, a Japanese general incorporated association. Pursuant to the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, the Trust will use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire, through open market or private block purchases in the U.S., beneficial ownership of approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of the Parent Company’s common stock within a period of 12 months following the date the Trust begins acquiring such stock. On May 7, 2019, a press release issued by Japan Post Holdings announced that purchases of shares of the Parent Company’s common stock commenced on April 29, 2019 through the Trust and that it planned to complete such purchases within Japan Post’s fiscal year 2019 (which ends March 31, 2020).
The Trust has agreed not to own more than 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares for a period expiring on the earlier of four years after the Trust acquires 7% of such shares, five years after it acquires 5% of such shares, or ten years after the Trust begins acquiring the Parent Company’s stock. After expiration of such period, the Trust has agreed not to own more than the greater of 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares or such shares representing 22.5% of the voting rights in the Parent Company.
In light of the fact that the shares acquired by the Trust, like all Aflac Incorporated common shares, will be eligible for 10-for-1 voting rights after being held for 48 consecutive months, the Shareholders Agreement further provides for voting restrictions that effectively limit the trustee’s voting rights to no more than 20% of the voting rights in the Parent Company and further restrict the trustee’s voting rights with respect to certain change in control transactions. Japan Post Holdings will not have a Board seat on the Parent Company’s Board of Directors and will not have rights to control, manage or intervene in the management of the Parent Company.
As of December 31, 2019, all regulatory approvals expressly set forth in the Shareholders Agreement have been obtained. The Shareholders Agreement requires the parties to use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in connection with any ongoing regulatory matters related to or arising from the Trust’s acquisition or ownership or control of the shares of Company Common Stock, including any applications or filings in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition of control of or merger with an insurer by the Company or its affiliates. The foregoing is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Shareholders Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed April 26, 2019, and the terms of which exhibit are incorporated herein by reference.
Aflac Japan Investments
The level of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac Japan invests in yen and U.S. dollar-denominated investments. Yen-denominated investments primarily consist of JGBs and public and private fixed maturity securities. Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments include fixed maturity investments and growth
assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Aflac Japan has been investing in both publicly-traded and privately originated U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, Aflac Japanand has entered into foreign currency forwards and options to hedge the currency risk on the fair value of a portion of the U.S. dollar investments, interest rate swaptions to hedge interest rate fluctuations on some U.S. dollar investments, and interest rate swaps to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments.
The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 3,895 |
| | $ | 5,367 |
| |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 1,981 |
| | 1,579 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 221 |
| | 189 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | $ | 6,097 |
| | $ | 7,135 |
| |
| | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 1,299 |
| | $ | 466 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 0 |
| | 134 |
| |
| Bank loans | | 346 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 120 |
| | 158 |
| |
| Other investments: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 3,168 |
| | 1,063 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 13 |
| | 48 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 839 |
| | 548 |
| |
| Limited partnerships | | 314 |
| | 96 |
| |
| Total dollar-denominated | | $ | 6,099 |
| | $ | 2,513 |
| |
| Total Aflac Japan purchases | | $ | 12,196 |
| | $ | 9,648 |
| |
Aflac Japan purchased $1.2 billion of yen-denominated private placements in 2018, compared with $1.1 billion in 2017. |
| | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 583 |
| | $ | 3,895 |
| |
| Private placements | | 1,122 |
| | 1,185 |
| |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 542 |
| | 796 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 212 |
| | 221 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | $ | 2,459 |
| | $ | 6,097 |
| |
| | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 2,767 |
| | $ | 1,299 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 66 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Bank loans | | 0 |
| | 346 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 58 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 1,846 |
| | 3,168 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 565 |
| | 13 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 1,442 |
| | 839 |
| |
| Other investments | | 145 |
| | 314 |
| |
| Total dollar-denominated | | $ | 6,889 |
| | $ | 6,099 |
| |
| Total Aflac Japan purchases | | $ | 9,348 |
| | $ | 12,196 |
| |
See the Analysis of Financial ConditionInvestments section of this MD&A for further discussion of these investment programs, and see Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding loans and loan receivables.
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, securities lending, and other securities transactions. Securities lending is also used from time to time to accelerate the availability of funds for investment. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan's investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for the period (in millions) (1) | $ | 11,882 |
| | $ | 9,552 |
| | $ | 10,903 |
| $ | 9,203 |
| | $ | 11,882 |
| |
New money yield (1),(2) | 3.06 | % | | 1.98 | % | | 1.40 | % | 3.83 | % | | 3.06 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 2.33 |
| | 2.31 |
| | 2.47 |
| 2.33 |
| | 2.33 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, including U.S. dollar-denominated investments,
end of period (1) | 2.61 | % | | 2.56 | % | | 2.62 | % | 2.64 | % | | 2.61 | % | |
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, loan receivables,commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses, external management fees, and amortized hedge costs
(3) Net of investment expenses and amortized hedge costs, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
The increase in the Aflac Japan new money yield in 20182019 was primarily due to increaseddecreased allocations to higherlower yielding U.S. dollar-denominatedyen-denominated asset classes.
See Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Analysis of Financial ConditionInvestments section of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments and hedging strategies.
AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
Aflac U.S. Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Net premium income | $ | 5,708 |
| | $ | 5,563 |
| | $ | 5,454 |
|
| Net investment income | 727 |
| | 721 |
| | 703 |
|
| Other income | 8 |
| | 5 |
| | 10 |
|
| Total adjusted revenues | 6,443 |
| | 6,289 |
| | 6,167 |
|
| Benefits and claims | 2,887 |
| | 2,885 |
| | 2,869 |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 534 |
| | 502 |
| | 497 |
|
| Insurance commissions | 585 |
| | 580 |
| | 580 |
|
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,152 |
| | 1,077 |
| | 1,013 |
|
| Total adjusted expenses | 2,271 |
| | 2,159 |
| | 2,090 |
|
| Total benefits and expenses | 5,158 |
| | 5,044 |
| | 4,959 |
|
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | $ | 1,285 |
| | $ | 1,245 |
| | $ | 1,208 |
|
| Percentage change over previous period: | | | | | |
| Net premium income | 2.6 | % | | 2.0 | % | | 2.0 | % |
| Net investment income | .8 |
| | 2.6 |
| | 3.8 |
|
| Total adjusted revenues | 2.4 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2.2 |
|
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | 3.2 |
| | 3.1 |
| | 9.7 |
|
(1) Aflac defines pretax adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of adjusted earnings and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure of net earnings. |
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Net premium income | $ | 5,808 |
| | $ | 5,708 |
| |
| Net investment income | 720 |
| | 727 |
| |
| Other income | 22 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 6,550 |
| | 6,443 |
| |
| Benefits and claims | 2,871 |
| | 2,887 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 573 |
| | 534 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 590 |
| | 585 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 1,244 |
| | 1,152 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 2,407 |
| | 2,271 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 5,279 |
| | 5,158 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | 1,272 |
| | $ | 1,285 |
| |
| Percentage change over previous period: | | | | |
| Net premium income | 1.8 | % | | 2.6 | % | |
| Net investment income | (1.0 | ) | | .8 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 1.7 |
| | 2.4 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | (1.0 | ) | | 3.2 |
| |
Net investment income increased in 2018, driven by higher income from floating rate assets partially offset from the drawdown of excess capital in the U.S. segment. Annualized premiums in force increased 1.1% in 2019and 3.0% in 2018, 2.6% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2016.2018. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 were $6.3 billion in 2019, compared with $6.2 billion in 2018.2018, compared with $6.1 billion in 2017 and $5.9 billion in 2016.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Benefits and claims | 44.8 | % | | 45.9 | % |
| 46.5 | % |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 8.3 |
| | 8.0 |
| | 8.1 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 9.1 |
| | 9.2 |
| | 9.4 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 17.9 |
| | 17.1 |
| | 16.4 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 35.2 |
| | 34.3 |
| | 33.9 |
| |
Pretax adjusted earnings(1) | 19.9 |
| | 19.8 |
| | 19.6 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims | 50.6 |
| | 51.9 |
| | 52.6 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 9.4 |
| | 9.0 |
| | 9.1 |
| |
(1) Aflac defines pretax adjusted earnings (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of adjusted earnings and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure of net earnings. |
| | | | | | |
| Ratios to total adjusted revenues: | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Benefits and claims | 43.8 | % | | 44.8 | % |
|
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 8.7 |
| | 8.3 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | 9.0 |
| | 9.1 |
| |
| Insurance and other expenses | 19.0 |
| | 17.9 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 36.7 |
| | 35.2 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | 19.4 |
| | 19.9 |
| |
| Ratios to total premiums: | | | | |
| Benefits and claims | 49.4 |
| | 50.6 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | 9.9 |
| | 9.4 |
| |
The benefit ratio decreased in 2018,2019, compared with 2017,2018, primarily due in large part to benefit reserve releases related to slightlysomewhat elevated lapses of older individual cancer policiesand a change in the first and fourth quarters of 2018.business mix from higher loss ratio, reserve building products to lower loss ratio, guaranteed issue products. The adjusted expense ratio increased slightly in 20182019, compared with 2017,2018, primarily due to planneddeferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) capitalization related to lower than anticipated sales as well as anticipated spending increases reflecting elevatedongoing investments in the platform.U.S. platform, distribution, and customer experience. Both the lower benefit and higher DAC amortization ratios were also impacted by increases in lapses as a result of large case volatility and replacement of an administrative partner. These items impacted persistency in the short-term but are expected to drive profitable earned premium growth in future periods. The pretax adjusted
profit margin increased slightlydeclined in 20182019 when compared with 2017, primarily2018, due to higher expense ratios, offset somewhat by lower benefit ratios. In 2019,For expectations for 2020, see the Company expects benefit ratios to be slightly lower than 2018 levels, reflecting ongoing changes in business mix, and expects somewhat higher expense ratios reflecting further investments in its U.S. platform. Net investment income is expected to decline modestly, primarily the result of the Company’s U.S. capital and RBC drawdown plan. (Note that all of these ratios-to-revenue reflect reduced net investment income due to the Company's planned drawdown of excess capital to lower RBC ratios. See the Capital Resources and Liquidity2020 Outlook section of this MD&A for further discussion of the planned reduction of RBC.)&A.
Aflac U.S. Sales
The following table presents Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| New annualized premium sales | $ | 1,601 |
| | $ | 1,552 |
| | $ | 1,482 |
| | $ | 1,580 |
| | $ | 1,601 |
| |
| Increase (decrease) over prior period | 3.2 | % | | 4.7 | % | | (.3 | )% | | (1.3 | )% | | 3.2 | % | |
The following table details the contributions to Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Accident | 29.2 | % | | 29.4 | % | | 29.5 | % | | 28.5 | % | | 29.2 | % | |
| Short-term disability | 22.7 |
| | 22.9 |
| | 23.5 |
| | 22.5 |
| | 22.7 |
| |
Critical care (1) | 22.1 |
| | 22.8 |
| | 22.1 |
| | 21.9 |
| | 22.1 |
| |
| Hospital indemnity | 15.8 |
| | 14.8 |
| | 14.8 |
| | 16.6 |
| | 15.8 |
| |
| Dental/vision | 4.7 |
| | 5.1 |
| | 5.0 |
| | 4.4 |
| | 4.7 |
| |
| Life | 5.5 |
| | 5.0 |
| | 5.1 |
| | 6.1 |
| | 5.5 |
| |
| Total | 100.0 | % | | 100.0% | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0% | |
(1) Includes cancer, critical illness and hospital intensive care products
New annualized premium sales for accident insurance, the Aflac U.S. leading product category, increased 2.4%decreased 3.8%, short-term disability sales increased 1.8%decreased 2.4%, critical care insurance sales (including cancer insurance) decreased .1%2.4%, and hospital indemnity insurance sales increased 10.4%3.7% in 2018,2019, compared with 2017.
The addition of group products has expanded Aflac U.S.'s reach and enabled Aflac U.S. to generate more2018. While overall sales opportunities with larger employers and through brokers and sales agent channels. The Company anticipates that the appeal of Aflac U.S. group products will continue to enhance opportunities to connect with larger businesses and their employees. The Aflac U.S. portfolio of group and individual products offers businesses the opportunity to give their employees a more valuable and comprehensive selection of benefit options.decreased in 2019, net earned premium increased 1.8%.
In 2018,2019, the Aflac U.S. sales forces included an average of more than 8,500approximately 8,200 U.S. agents, including brokers, who were actively producing business on a weekly basis. The Company believes that this average weekly producer equivalent metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs.
One Day PaySM In November 2019, the Company acquired Argus Holdings, LLC and its subsidiary Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), a benefits management organization and national network dental and vision company, which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision. This transaction represents a commitment of $75 million in capital at closing and an additional $21 million in consideration paid over three years based on the achievement by Argus of certain performance targets. Tampa, Florida will serve as the home for Aflac Dental and Vision. This acquisition is a claims initiative that Aflac U.S. has focused on to process, approvestrategic entry point into the network dental and pay eligible claims in just one day. The Company believes that this claims practice enhances the Aflac U.S. brand reputationvision market and the trust policyholders have in Aflac, and it helps Aflac stand out from competitors.
Aflac U.S. products provide cash benefits that can be used to help with increasing out-of-pocket medical expenses, help cover household costs, or protect against income and asset loss. Group products and relationships with insurance brokers that handle the larger-case market are helping Aflac U.S. expand its reach by selling to larger businesses. Aflac U.S. is regularly evaluating the marketplace to identify opportunities to bring the most relevant, cost-effective products to customers. The Company believes the need for its products remains very strong, and Aflac U.S. continues to work on enhancing its distribution capabilities to access employers of all sizes, including initiatives that benefit the field force and the broker community. At the same time, the Company is seeking opportunities to leverage its brand strength and attractive product portfolio in the evolving health care environment.
U.S. Regulatory Environment
Healthcare Reform Legislation
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), federal health care legislation, was intended to give Americans of all ages and income levels access to comprehensive major medical health insurance and gave the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. While the ACA was enacted in 2010, the major elements of the law became effective on January 1, 2014. The ACA included major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Among other changes, the ACA included an individual medical insurance coverage mandate (which has since been repealed effective 2019 by the Tax Act), provided for penalties on certain employers for failing to provide adequate coverage, created health insurance exchanges, and addressed coverage and exclusions as well as medical loss ratios. It also imposed an excise tax on certain high cost plans, known as the “Cadillac tax,” that is currently scheduled to begin in 2022. The ACA also included changes in government reimbursements and tax credits for individuals and employers and altered federal and state regulation of health insurers. The ACA, as enacted, does not require material changes in the design of the Company's insurance products. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and regulations could present challenges that could potentially have an impact on the Company's sales model, financial condition and results of operations. The United States Congress has considered and may continue to consider legislation that would repeal and replace key provisions of the ACA. There can be no assurance that any legislation affecting the ACA will be passed by Congress, nor as to the ultimate timing or provisions of any such legislation, nor as to the effect of any such legislation on the design or marketability of the Company's insurance products. Further, certain provisions of the ACA have been and may continue to be subject to challenge through litigation, the ultimate effects of which on the ACA are uncertain.
President Trump signed an Executive Order in October 2017 directing federal regulatory agencies to review and modify certain regulations issued under the ACA. The stated objectives of the Executive Order are to increase competition and consumer choices in health care markets, and to lower costs for health care, by making association health plans available to more employers, allowing employers to make better use of health reimbursement arrangements, and expanding coverage through short-term insurance. The Executive Order tasks three federal agencies, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Treasury, and Health and Human Services (HHS) with reviewing current rules and developing guidance to implement the order. While the details of any proposed modifications will not be known until further action by the agencies, the Company anticipates that the Executive Order will not have a significant impact on the availability or marketability of its products.
Tax Reform Legislation
The Tax Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Among other things, effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, eliminated or reduced certain deductions and credits and limited the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation.
The Tax Act also transitions international corporate taxation from a worldwide system to a modified territorial system, which in light of the current tax treatment of Aflac Japan as a branch has the effect of subjecting the earnings of Aflac Japan to Japan taxation and subjecting the Company's other earnings, including the consolidated earnings of the Parent Company, to U.S. taxation. The treatment of Aflac Japan as a branch for U.S. tax purposes did not change following the completion of its conversion from a branch structure to a subsidiary structure for legal purposes on April 1, 2018.
Aflac U.S. prices its business on an internal rate of return basis. The Aflac U.S. business has a financial structure that the Company expects to be neutral on a pricing basis from these tax changes. The Aflac U.S. products have high initial costs for marketing, underwriting and administration, which will have less tax relief under the changes and will increase the amount required to invest in new business. In addition, the Company expects that RBC requirements will increase on an after-tax basis, being another source of initial funding required for these products. The tax basis for reserves and DAC may also change the timing of tax payments in an accelerated or unfavorable direction. All of these effects will offset a favorable lower tax rate on income in later years. The overall impact is expected to be neutral on a pricing basis from these various effects.
The Tax Act changes became effective on January 1, 2018. However, because changes to tax rates are accountedprovide opportunities for in the period of enactment, during the period ended December 31, 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax assetssales growth, improved account penetration and liabilities and recorded a net deferred tax liability reduction of $1.9 billion as of that date. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an immaterial adjustment to the provisional Japan deferred tax balances and no valuation allowance adjustment related to anticipatory foreign tax credit asset, rendering final values for the Company's deferred tax liability.For information on the effects of the Tax Act during the period ended December 31, 2018, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report. For information on the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary, see General Business under Item 1, Business, in this report.
Dodd-Frank Act
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations issued thereunder, in particular rules to require central clearing for certain types of derivatives, may have an impact on Aflac's derivative activity, including activity on behalf of Aflac Japan. In addition, in 2015 and 2016, six U.S. financial regulators, including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), issued final rules regarding the exchange of initial margin (IM) and variation margin (VM) for uncleared swaps that impose greater obligations on swap dealers regarding uncleared swaps with certain counterparties, such as Aflac. The requirements of such rules with respect to VM, as well as similar regulations in Europe, became effective on March 1, 2017. Full compliance with respect to all counterparties was required by September 1, 2017. The requirements of such rules with respect to IM are currently being phased in and will be fully implemented by September 1, 2020. In October of 2017, the CFTC and the European Commission each finalized comparability determinations that permit certain swap dealers who are subject to both regulatory margin regimes to take advantage of substituted compliance by complying with one set of margin requirements. The margin requirements are expected to result in more stringent collateral requirements and to affect other aspects of Aflac's derivatives activity.
The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office (FIO) under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Traditionally, U.S. insurance companies have been regulated primarily by state insurance departments. The FIO does not directly regulate the insurance industry, but under Dodd-Frank it has the power to preempt state insurance regulations that are inconsistent with international agreements reached by the federal government, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. The FIO and certain federal agencies must achieve consensus positions with the state insurance regulators when taking positions on insurance proposals by certain international forums. In December 2013, the FIO released a report entitled "How To Modernize And Improve The System Of Insurance Regulation In The United States." The report was required by the Dodd-Frank Act, and included 18 recommended areas of near-term reform for the states, including addressing capital adequacy and safety/soundness issues, reform of insurer resolution practices, and reform of marketplace regulation. The report also listed nine recommended areas for direct federal involvement in insurance regulation. Some of the recommendations outlined in the FIO report released in December 2013 have been implemented. The National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act, signed into law in January 2015, simplifies the agent and broker licensing process across state lines. The FIO has also engaged with the supervisory colleges to monitor financial stability and identify regulatory gaps for large national and internationally active
insurers. The President and Congress have stated proposals to reform or repeal certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, some of which have been implemented. The Company cannot predict with any degree of certainty what impact, if any, such proposals will have on Aflac's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Insurance Guaranty Laws
Under state insurance guaranty association laws and similar laws in international jurisdictions, Aflac is subject to assessments, based on the share of business it writes in the relevant jurisdiction, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. In the United States, some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. The Company's policy is to accrue assessments when the entity for which the insolvency relates has met its state of domicile's statutory definition of insolvency, the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable and the related premium upon which the assessment is based is written. In most states, the definition is met with a declaration of financial insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Aflac U.S. Investments
The level of investment income is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and other factors.
As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. has been investing in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables.
The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac U.S. as of December 31.
| | | (In millions) | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | $ | 1,068 |
| | $ | 836 |
| | | $ | 1,032 |
| | $ | 1,068 |
| |
| Infrastructure debt | | 97 |
| | 60 |
| | | 119 |
| | 97 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 76 |
| | 56 |
| | | 58 |
| | 76 |
| |
| Other investments: | | | | | | |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | 610 |
| | 249 |
| | | 423 |
| | 610 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 163 |
| | 34 |
| | | 104 |
| | 163 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 141 |
| | 199 |
| | | 99 |
| | 141 |
| |
| Limited partnerships | | 44 |
| | 16 |
| | |
| Other investments | | | 16 |
| | 44 |
| |
| Total Aflac U.S. Purchases | | $ | 2,199 |
| | $ | 1,450 |
| | | $ | 1,851 |
| | $ | 2,199 |
| |
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, and other securities transactions. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives, including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.
The following table presents the results of Aflac's U.S. investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Total purchases for period (in millions) (1) | $ | 2,155 |
| | $ | 1,434 |
| | $ | 1,144 |
| | $ | 1,835 |
| | $ | 2,155 |
| |
New money yield (1), (2) | 4.55 | % | | 4.49 | % | | 3.89 | % | | 4.51 | % | | 4.55 | % | |
Return on average invested assets (3) | 5.16 |
| | 5.07 |
| | 5.04 |
| | 5.07 |
| | 5.16 |
| |
Portfolio book yield, end of period (1) | 5.55 | % | | 5.52 | % | | 5.60 | % | | 5.40 | % | | 5.55 | % | |
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, loan receivables,commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses and external management fees
(3) Net of investment expenses, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis
The increase in the Aflac U.S. new money yield in 2018 was primarily due to increased allocations to higher yielding floating rate assets.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk subsection of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of the Company's investments.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
Total revenue for corporateChanges in the pretax adjusted earnings of Corporate and other increased to $339 million in 2018, compared with $272 million in 2017 and $277 million in 2016. This increase in 2018 wasare primarily drivenaffected by an increase in net investment income. The increase in netfollowing table presents a summary operating results for Corporate and other for the years ended December 31.
Corporate and Other Summary of Operating Results
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Premium income | $ | 200 |
| | $ | 208 |
| |
| Net investment income | 88 |
| | 77 |
| |
Amortized hedge income related to certain foreign currency management strategies | 89 |
| | 36 |
| |
| Net investment income, including amortized hedge income | 177 |
| | 113 |
| |
| Other income | 15 |
| | 18 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | 393 |
| | 339 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | 194 |
| | 199 |
| |
| Adjusted expenses: | | | | |
| Interest expense | 133 |
| | 120 |
| |
| Other adjusted expenses | 137 |
| | 159 |
| |
| Total adjusted expenses | 270 |
| | 279 |
| |
| Total benefits and adjusted expenses | 464 |
| | 478 |
| |
| Pretax adjusted earnings | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (139 | ) | |
Net investment income to $113 million in 2018, compared with $35 million in 2017, was driven by a $36 million pretax contributionbenefited from the Company’s enterprise corporate yen hedging program for the years ended December 31, 2019 and increased income from over $6002018, respectively. See the Hedging Activities subsection of this MD&A for further information on the enterprise corporate hedging program.
In December 2018, the Parent Company invested $20 million in Singapore Life Pte. Ltd. (Singapore Life), a digitally-focused life insurance company based in Singapore. The Parent Company made an additional investment of invested assets transferred as$16 million in the second quarter of 2019, bringing the total investment to $36 million. As part of the drawdownrelationship, Aflac entered into a reinsurance agreement on certain protection products with Singapore Life in September 2019. However, the Company does not currently expect the equity investment or the reinsurance agreement to have a material impact on its financial position or results of excess capital in the U.S. segment beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Corporate adjusted expenses consist primarily of personnel compensation, benefits, reinsurance retrocession benefits expense, and facilities expenses. Corporate expenses were $478 million in 2018, compared with $486 million in 2017, and $516 million in 2016. The decline in adjusted expenses in 2018 was considered insignificant. The decline in adjusted expenses from 2016 to 2017 was driven in large part by fluctuations in retrocession activity, which results in corresponding declines in total premiums.
Pretax adjusted earnings for corporate and other were a loss of $139 million in 2018, compared with a loss of $214 million in 2017 and a loss of $239 million in 2016. The improvement in pretax adjusted earnings in 2018 was driven primarily by the increase in net investment income as previously described.operations.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The Company's financial condition has remained strong in the functional currencies of its operations. The yen/dollar exchange rate at the end of each period is used to translate yen-denominated balance sheet items to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes.
InvestmentsINVESTMENTS
The Company’s investment strategy utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives, and preserving shareholder value. In attempting to optimally balance these objectives, the Company seeks to maintain on behalf of Aflac Japan a diversified portfolio of yen-denominated investment assets, a U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio hedged back to yen and a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated assets. As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. invests in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loans.
For additional information concerning the Company's investments, see Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table detailstables detail investments by segment as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Segment
| | | | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities,
at fair value (1) | $ | 69,409 |
| | $ | 69,338 |
| | $ | 12,132 |
| | $ | 13,606 |
|
| |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | | $ | 75,780 |
| | $ | 13,703 |
| | $ | 1,779 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities,
at amortized cost | 30,318 |
| | 31,430 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,085 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,085 |
|
Equity securities (1) | 806 |
| | 868 |
| | 137 |
| | 92 |
| | 657 |
| | 67 |
| | 78 |
| | 802 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | | | |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 3,621 |
| | 986 |
| | 756 |
| | 249 |
| | 4,507 |
| | 943 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,450 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 763 |
| | 767 |
| | 301 |
| | 141 |
| | 1,308 |
| | 399 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,707 |
|
| Middle market loans | 1,144 |
| | 527 |
| | 334 |
| | 332 |
| | 2,141 |
| | 271 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,412 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 219 |
| | 198 |
| | 13 |
| | 12 |
| | 234 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 250 |
|
| Short-term investments | 0 |
| | 57 |
| | 141 |
| | 0 |
| | |
Short-term investments (1) | | 386 |
| | 242 |
| | 1 |
| | 629 |
|
| Limited partnerships | | 496 |
| | 55 |
| | 17 |
| | 568 |
|
| Other | 333 |
| | 98 |
| | 63 |
| | 31 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
|
| Total other investments | 6,080 |
| | 2,633 |
| | 1,608 |
| | 765 |
| | |
| Total investments | 106,613 |
| | 104,269 |
| | 13,877 |
| | 14,463 |
| | 115,594 |
| | 15,726 |
| | 1,875 |
| | 133,195 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,779 |
| | 636 |
| | 641 |
| | 1,011 |
| | 1,674 |
| | 417 |
| | 2,805 |
| | 4,896 |
|
Total investments and cash (2) | $ | 108,392 |
| | $ | 104,905 |
| | $ | 14,518 |
| | $ | 15,474 |
| | |
| Total investments and cash | | $ | 117,268 |
| | $ | 16,143 |
| | $ | 4,680 |
| | $ | 138,091 |
|
(1) Includes perpetual securities
(2)Excludes investments and cash held by the Parent Company and other business segments of $3,333 in 2018 and $3,280 in 2017. lending collateral
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $4.3 billion, or 3.4% of total investments and cash, as of December 31, 2018, compared with $3.5 billion, or 2.8%, at December 31, 2017. For a discussion of the factors affecting the Company's cash balance, see the Operating Activities, Investing Activities and Financing Activities subsections of this MD&A.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Aflac Japan | | Aflac U.S. | | Corporate and Other | | Total |
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities, at fair value | $ | 69,409 |
| | $ | 12,132 |
| | $ | 1,354 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
|
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities, at amortized cost | 30,318 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 30,318 |
|
| Equity securities | 806 |
| | 137 |
| | 44 |
| | 987 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | 3,621 |
| | 756 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,377 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 763 |
| | 301 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,064 |
|
| Middle market loans | 1,144 |
| | 334 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,478 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | 219 |
| | 13 |
| | 0 |
| | 232 |
|
Short-term investments (1) | 0 |
| | 141 |
| | 11 |
| | 152 |
|
| Limited partnerships | 333 |
| | 37 |
| | 7 |
| | 377 |
|
| Other | 0 |
| | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
|
| Total investments | 106,613 |
| | 13,877 |
| | 1,416 |
| | 121,906 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,779 |
| | 641 |
| | 1,917 |
| | 4,337 |
|
| Total investments and cash | $ | 108,392 |
| | $ | 14,518 |
| | $ | 3,333 |
| | $ | 126,243 |
|
In 2017, Aflac U.S. became a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB). As a member, Aflac U.S. can access low-cost funding and also receive dividends on FHLB membership stock. Additional FHLB stock purchases are required based on funding activity with the FHLB. Aflac U.S. will be required to post acceptable forms of(1) Includes securities lending collateral for any funding from the FHLB. The FHLB stock purchased by the Company is classified as a restricted investment and is included in "other investments" in the consolidated balance sheets.
For additional information concerning the Company's investments, see Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The ratings of the Company's securities referenced in the table below are based on the ratings designations provided by major Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) (Moody's, S&P and Fitch)NRSROs or, if not rated, are determined based on the Company's internal analysis of such securities. When the ratings issued by the rating agencies differ, the Company utilizes the second lowest rating when three or more rating agency ratings are available or the lowest rating when only two rating agency ratings are available.
The distributions of debtfixed maturity securities the Company owns, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Fixed Securities Portfolio by Credit Rating
| | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| AAA | | 1.0 | % | | .9 | % | | 1.0 | % | | .9 | % | | | 1.1 | % | | 1.0 | % | | 1.0 | % | | .9 | % | |
| AA | | 3.9 |
| | 4.0 |
| | 3.9 |
| | 4.0 |
| | | 4.3 |
| | 4.4 |
| | 3.9 |
| | 4.0 |
| |
| A | | 67.9 |
| | 69.9 |
| | 65.8 |
| | 66.9 |
| | | 68.6 |
| | 69.8 |
| | 67.9 |
| | 69.9 |
| |
| BBB | | 23.2 |
| | 21.6 |
| | 24.0 |
| | 23.3 |
| | | 23.1 |
| | 22.1 |
| | 23.2 |
| | 21.6 |
| |
| BB or lower | | 4.0 |
| | 3.6 |
| | 5.3 |
| | 4.9 |
| | | 2.9 |
| | 2.7 |
| | 4.0 |
| | 3.6 |
| |
| Total | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | |
As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Company's direct and indirect exposure to securities in its investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.
The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in the Company's portfolio as of December 31, 2018.2019.
| | | (In millions) | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Loss | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Loss |
| Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. | | B | | $ | 143 |
| | $ | 75 |
| | $ | (68 | ) | | | CCC | | $ | 64 |
| | $ | 32 |
| | $ | (32 | ) | |
| AXA | | BBB | | 293 |
| | 242 |
| | (51 | ) | | | BBB | | 296 |
| | 271 |
| | (25 | ) | |
| Autostrade Per Litalia Spa | | BBB | | 180 |
| | 150 |
| | (30 | ) | | |
| Transocean Inc. | | | CCC | | 50 |
| | 37 |
| | (13 | ) | |
| Intesa Sanpaolo Spa | | | BBB | | 142 |
| | 132 |
| | (10 | ) | |
| Baker Hughes Inc. | | A | | 122 |
| | 94 |
| | (28 | ) | | | A | | 123 |
| | 114 |
| | (9 | ) | |
| Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP) | | BBB | | 135 |
| | 113 |
| | (22 | ) | | | BBB | | 137 |
| | 129 |
| | (8 | ) | |
| Abbvie Inc. | | BBB | | 177 |
| | 156 |
| | (21 | ) | | |
| Transocean Inc. | | CCC | | 72 |
| | 52 |
| | (20 | ) | | |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia | | BBB | | 185 |
| | 166 |
| | (19 | ) | | |
| Time Warner Cable Inc. | | AA | | 118 |
| | 99 |
| | (19 | ) | | |
| United Technologies Corporation | | BBB | | 209 |
| | 192 |
| | (17 | ) | | |
| Mirvac Group Finance Ltd. | | | A | | 91 |
| | 84 |
| | (7 | ) | |
| Autostrade Per Litalia Spa | | | BBB | | 182 |
| | 175 |
| | (7 | ) | |
| Downer Group Finance Pty LTD | | | BBB | | 91 |
| | 85 |
| | (6 | ) | |
| Chevron Corp. | | | AA | | 148 |
| | 142 |
| | (6 | ) | |
Generally, declines in fair values can be a result of changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rate, and changes in net spreads driven by a broad market move or a change in the issuer's underlying credit quality. As the Company believes these issuesissuers have the ability to continue making timely payments of principal and interest, the Company views these changes in fair value to be temporary and does not believe it is necessary to impair the carrying value of these securities.temporary. See the Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses section in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions of unrealized losses related to financial institutions and other corporate investments.
Below-Investment-Grade Securities
The Company's portfolio of below-investment-grade securities includes debt securities purchased while the issuer was rated investment grade plus other loans and bonds purchased as part of an allocation to that segment of the market. The following is the Company's below-investment-grade exposure.
Below-Investment-Grade Investments | | | | December 31, 2018 | | December 31, 2019 | |
| (In millions) | Par Value | | Amortized Cost | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | Par Value | | Amortized Cost | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
| Investcorp Capital Limited | $ | 383 |
| | $ | 383 |
| | $ | 372 |
| | $ | (11 | ) | | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 452 |
| | $ | 64 |
| |
| Republic of South Africa | 360 |
| | 360 |
| | 372 |
| | 12 |
| | 365 |
| | 365 |
| | 372 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Barclays Bank PLC | | 183 |
| | 115 |
| | 157 |
| | 42 |
| |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 270 |
| | 199 |
| | 224 |
| | 25 |
| | 183 |
| | 136 |
| | 143 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Navient Corp. | 210 |
| | 114 |
| | 119 |
| | 5 |
| | |
| Republic of Tunisia | 189 |
| | 111 |
| | 127 |
| | 16 |
| | |
| Telecom Italia SpA | 180 |
| | 180 |
| | 208 |
| | 28 |
| | 183 |
| | 183 |
| | 241 |
| | 58 |
| |
| Barclays Bank PLC | 180 |
| | 111 |
| | 147 |
| | 36 |
| | |
| Transnet | 135 |
| | 135 |
| | 135 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. | 124 |
| | 143 |
| | 75 |
| | (68 | ) | | |
| IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG | 117 |
| | 50 |
| | 94 |
| | 44 |
| | 118 |
| | 51 |
| | 102 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Arconic Inc. | 100 |
| | 84 |
| | 92 |
| | 8 |
| | 100 |
| | 85 |
| | 111 |
| | 26 |
| |
| Noble Holdings International Ltd. | 92 |
| | 57 |
| | 57 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| EMC Corp. | 80 |
| | 80 |
| | 68 |
| | (12 | ) | | 80 |
| | 80 |
| | 82 |
| | 2 |
| |
| Generalitat de Catalunya | 72 |
| | 26 |
| | 64 |
| | 38 |
| | 73 |
| | 27 |
| | 80 |
| | 53 |
| |
| Teck Resources Ltd. | 70 |
| | 76 |
| | 67 |
| | (9 | ) | | |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals | 68 |
| | 66 |
| | 58 |
| | (8 | ) | | 68 |
| | 66 |
| | 61 |
| | (5 | ) | |
| Transocean Inc. | 68 |
| | 72 |
| | 52 |
| | (20 | ) | | |
| Petrobras International Finance Company | 65 |
| | 65 |
| | 63 |
| | (2 | ) | | |
| National Gas Co. Trinidad and Tobago | 52 |
| | 50 |
| | 50 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| CF Industries Inc. | 50 |
| | 49 |
| | 47 |
| | (2 | ) | | |
| Other Issuers (below $50 million in par value) | 232 |
| | 222 |
| | 214 |
| | (8 | ) | | |
| Other Issuers | | 456 |
| | 436 |
| | 420 |
| | (16 | ) | |
Subtotal (1) | 3,097 |
| | 2,633 |
| | 2,705 |
| | 72 |
| | 2,197 |
| | 1,932 |
| | 2,221 |
| | 289 |
| |
| Senior secured bank loans | 1,093 |
| | 1,108 |
| | 1,061 |
| | (47 | ) | | 462 |
| | 480 |
| | 459 |
| | (21 | ) | |
| High yield corporate bonds | 519 |
| | 513 |
| | 487 |
| | (26 | ) | | 726 |
| | 723 |
| | 755 |
| | 32 |
| |
Middle market loans, net of reserves (2) | 1,497 |
| | 1,478 |
| | 1,475 |
| | (3 | ) | | 2,455 |
| | 2,412 |
| | 2,420 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Grand Total | $ | 6,206 |
| | $ | 5,732 |
| | $ | 5,728 |
| | $ | (4 | ) | | $ | 5,840 |
| | $ | 5,547 |
| | $ | 5,855 |
| | $ | 308 |
| |
(1) Securities initially purchased as investment grade, but have subsequently been downgraded to below investment grade
(2) Middle market loans are carried at amortized cost
The Company invests in senior secured bank loans and middle market loans primarily to U.S. corporate borrowers, most of which have below-investment-grade ratings. The objectives of these programs include enhancing the yield on invested assets, achieving further diversification of credit risk, and mitigating the risk of rising interest rates and hedge costs through the acquisition of floating rate assets.
The Company maintains an allocation to higher yielding corporate bonds within the Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. portfolios. Most of these securities were rated below-investment-grade at the time of purchase, but the Company also purchased several that were rated investment grade which, because of market pricing, offer yields commensurate with below-investment-grade risk profiles. The objective of this allocation was to enhance the Company's yield on invested assets and further diversify credit risk. All investments in this program must have a minimum rating at purchase of low BB using the Company's above described rating methodology and are managed by the Company's internal credit portfolio management team.
In January 2019, PG&E Corporation (PG&E) and its operating subsidiary, Pacific Gas & ElectricThe Company (PG&E Utility) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcymaintains diversification in investments by sector to avoid concentrations to any one sector, thus managing exposure risk. The following table shows the Northern Districtdistribution of California. Atfixed maturities by sector classification as of December 31, 2018, debt of the PG&E utility was rated investment grade and the Company's net exposure was $126 million (amortized cost), all of which was issued by PG&E utility. Subsequently, the rating on this exposure migrated to below investment grade.31.
Oil and Gas Exposure
The following tables show the breakout of our exposure to the oil and gas industry as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 | |
| | Cost or | | Gross | | Gross | | | | |
| | Amortized | | Unrealized | | Unrealized | | Fair |
| (In millions) | Cost | | Gains | | Losses | | Value |
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Independent exploration and production | | $ | 813 |
| | | | $ | 72 |
| | | | $ | 36 |
| | | | $ | 849 |
| |
| Integrated energy | | 426 |
| | | | 19 |
| | | | 30 |
| | | | 415 |
| |
| Midstream | | 1,059 |
| | | | 91 |
| | | | 38 |
| | | | 1,112 |
| |
| Oil field services | | 725 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 154 |
| | | | 580 |
| |
| Refiners | | 346 |
| | | | 4 |
| | | | 20 |
| | | | 330 |
| |
| Government owned - energy related | | 855 |
| | | | 167 |
| | | | 6 |
| | | | 1,016 |
| |
| Natural gas utilities | | 472 |
| | | | 49 |
| | | | 6 |
| | | | 515 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | 4,696 |
| | | | 411 |
| | | | 290 |
| | | | 4,817 |
| |
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Integrated energy | | 234 |
| | | | 5 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 239 |
| |
| Government owned - energy related | | 270 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 262 |
| |
| Natural gas utilities | | 360 |
| | | | 34 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 394 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | 864 |
| | | | 39 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 895 |
| |
| Equity Securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Independent exploration and production | | 2 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 2 |
| |
| Integrated energy | | 8 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 8 |
| |
| Oil field services | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
| Refiners | | 4 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 4 |
| |
| Total equity securities | | 15 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 15 |
| |
| Total securities | | $ | 5,575 |
| | | | $ | 450 |
| | | | $ | 298 |
| | | | $ | 5,727 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | |
| (In millions) | | Amortized
Cost | | | % of Total | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 53,463 | | | | | 48.8 | % | |
| Municipalities | | 2,414 | | | | | 2.2 | | |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 394 | | | | | .4 | | |
| Public utilities | | 8,194 | | | | | 7.5 | | |
| Electric | | 6,471 | | | | | 5.9 | | |
| Natural Gas | | 303 | | | | | .3 | | |
| Other | | 695 | | | | | .6 | | |
| Utility/Energy | | 725 | | | | | .7 | | |
| Sovereign and Supranational | | 2,042 | | | | | 1.9 | | |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 9,947 | | | | | 9.1 | | |
| Banking | | 6,029 | | | | | 5.5 | | |
| Insurance | | 1,948 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other | | 1,970 | | | | | 1.8 | | |
| Other corporate | | 33,002 | | | | | 30.1 | | |
| Basic Industry | | 3,484 | | | | | 3.2 | | |
| Capital Goods | | 3,187 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Communications | | 4,057 | | | | | 3.7 | | |
| Consumer Cyclical | | 3,271 | | | | | 3.0 | | |
| Consumer Non-Cyclical | | 6,280 | | | | | 5.7 | | |
| Energy | | 4,281 | | | | | 3.9 | | |
| Other | | 1,464 | | | | | 1.3 | | |
| Technology | | 3,129 | | | | | 2.9 | | |
| Transportation | | 3,849 | | | | | 3.5 | | |
| Total fixed maturity securities | | $ | 109,456 | | | | | 100.0 | % | |
Securities by Type of Issuance
The Company has investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The Company's ability to sell either type of security is a function of overall market liquidity which is impacted by, among other things, the amount of outstanding securities of a particular issuer or issuance, trading history of the issue or issuer, overall market conditions, and idiosyncratic events affecting the specific issue or issuer.
The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.
The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Type of Issuance
| | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | | 2018 | |
| (In millions) | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| Publicly issued securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities (1) | | $ | 83,482 |
| | $ | 93,255 |
| | $ | 81,454 |
| | $ | 93,025 |
| | |
Equity securities (1) | | 936 |
| | 936 |
| | 831 |
| | 1,006 |
| | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | | $ | 89,625 |
| | | $ | 105,557 |
| | | $ | 83,482 |
| | $ | 93,255 |
| |
| Equity securities | | | 717 |
| | | 717 |
| | | 936 |
| | 936 |
| |
| Total publicly issued | | 84,418 |
| | 94,191 |
| | 82,285 |
| | 94,031 |
| | | 90,342 |
| | | 106,274 |
| | | 84,418 |
| | 94,191 |
| |
Privately issued securities: (2)(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities (1) | | 23,692 |
| | 26,362 |
| | 25,108 |
| | 29,360 |
| | |
Equity securities (1) | | 51 |
| | 51 |
| | 15 |
| | 17 |
| | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | | 19,831 |
| (2 | ) | | 23,299 |
| (2 | ) | | 23,692 |
| | 26,362 |
| |
| Equity securities | | | 85 |
| | | 85 |
| | | 51 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Total privately issued | | 23,743 |
| | 26,413 |
| | 25,123 |
| | 29,377 |
| | | 19,916 |
| | | 23,384 |
| | | 23,743 |
| | 26,413 |
| |
| Total investment securities | | $ | 108,161 |
| | $ | 120,604 |
| | $ | 107,408 |
| | $ | 123,408 |
| | | $ | 110,258 |
| | | $ | 129,658 |
| | | $ | 108,161 |
| | $ | 120,604 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetualPrimarily consists of securities owned by Aflac Japan
(2) IncludesExcludes Rule 144A securities
The Company held $1,202 million and $1,789 million of perpetual securities at fair value ($1,201 million and $1,462 million at amortized cost) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The perpetual securities the Company holds were largely issued by banks that are systemically important to the financial markets of the sovereign country of domicile of the issuer. Generally, the Company believes regulatory changes made starting in the banking industry following the Global Financial Crisis and the European Sovereign Crisis, including increased capital and liquidity requirements and a reductionfirst quarter of business risk, have improved overall bank creditworthiness. However, bank capital securities may be subject to varying bail-in/resolution regimes in their home countries, which may include conversion or write-down provisions when bank regulators determine that the institution has reached the point of non-viability. Such actions could result in lower cash flows and ratings downgrades of the affected securities, which in turn could result in a reduction of fair value of the securities and increase the Company’s regulatory capital requirements. These factors are an integral part of the Company's credit review process.2019
The following table details the Company's privately issued investmentreverse-dual currency securities as of December 31.
Privately Issued Securities
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (Amortized cost, in millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Privately issued securities as a percentage of total investment securities | 22.0 | % | | 23.4 | % | |
| Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan | $ | 20,966 |
| | $ | 22,354 |
| |
Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan as a percentage of total
investment securities | 19.4 | % | | 20.8 | % | |
Reverse-Dual Currency Securities(1)
| | | (Amortized cost, in millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Privately issued reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 5,120 |
| | $ | 5,669 |
| | $ | 4,993 |
| | $ | 5,120 |
| |
| Publicly issued collateral structured as reverse-dual currency securities | 1,657 |
| | 1,390 |
| | 1,678 |
| | 1,657 |
| |
| Total reverse-dual currency securities | $ | 6,777 |
| | $ | 7,059 |
| | $ | 6,671 |
| | $ | 6,777 |
| |
Reverse-dual currency securities as a percentage of total investment
securities | 6.3 | % | | 6.6 | % | | 6.1 | % | | 6.3 | % | |
Aflac Japan has a portfolio of privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds. Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers, are rated investment grade at purchase and have longer maturities, thereby allowing the Company to improve asset/liability matching and overall investment returns. These securities are generally either privately negotiated arrangements or issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings of the issuer, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants were required. Many of these investments
have protective covenants appropriate to the specific investment. These may include a prohibition of certain activities by the borrower, maintenance of certain financial measures, and specific conditions impacting the payment of the Company's notes.
Hedging ActivitiesHEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk. Derivative hedgesThe Company uses various strategies, including derivatives, to manage these risks. See item “7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for more information about Market risk and the Company’s use of derivatives.
Derivatives are designed to reduce risk on an economic basis while minimizing the impact on financial results. The Company’s derivative hedgederivatives programs vary depending on the type of risk being hedged. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for:
| |
| • | A description of the Company's derivatives, hedging strategies and underlying risk exposure. |
Information about the notional amount and fair market value of the Company's derivatives.
| |
| • | The unrealized and realized gains and losses impact on adjusted earnings of derivatives in cash flow, fair value, net investments in foreign operations, or non-qualifying hedging relationships. |
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Hedge Program
The Company has deployed the following hedging strategies to mitigate exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk:
| |
1.• | Aflac Japan hedges U.S. dollar-denominated investments back to yen (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
2.• | Aflac Japan maintains certain unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below). |
| |
3.• | The Parent Company designates yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and loans) as non-derivative hedging instruments and designates certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedges of the Company’s net investment in Aflac Japan (see Parent Company’s Foreign Currency HedgeEnterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
| |
4.• | The Parent Company enters into forward and option contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by its subsidiary, Aflac Japan,ALIJ, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. (see Parent Company’s Foreign Currency HedgeEnterprise Corporate Hedging Program below). |
Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program
Aflac Japan buys U.S. dollar-denominated investments, typically corporate bonds, and hedges them back to yen with foreign currency forwards and options to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk. This economically creates yen assets that match yen liabilities during the life of the derivative and provides liquidity and capital relief. The currency risk being hedged is generally based on fair value of hedged investments. The following table summarizes the U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 | | 2017 |
| (In millions) | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value |
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities (excluding bank loans) (1) | $ | 17,101 |
| $ | 17,003 |
| | $ | 17,972 |
| $ | 19,314 |
|
| Fixed maturity securities - bank loans (floating rate) | 1,296 |
| 1,238 |
| | 1,936 |
| 1,865 |
|
| Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen | 1,679 |
| 2,269 |
| | 1,650 |
| 2,549 |
|
Equity securities (1), (2) | 177 |
| 177 |
| | 147 |
| 173 |
|
| Other investments: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans (floating rate) | 3,621 |
| 3,625 |
| | 986 |
| 984 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 763 |
| 736 |
| | 767 |
| 753 |
|
| Middle market loans (floating rate) | 1,144 |
| 1,146 |
| | 527 |
| 530 |
|
| Alternative investments | 333 |
| 333 |
| | 97 |
| 97 |
|
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan | $ | 26,114 |
| $ | 26,527 |
| | $ | 24,082 |
| $ | 26,265 |
|
(1) Includes perpetual securities
(2) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. for the adoption of accounting guidance related to financial instruments effective January 1, 2018. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value |
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities (excluding bank loans) | $ | 18,012 |
| $ | 19,542 |
| | $ | 17,101 |
| $ | 17,003 |
|
| Fixed maturity securities - bank loans (floating rate) | 677 |
| 649 |
| | 1,296 |
| 1,238 |
|
| Equity securities | 19 |
| 19 |
| | 177 |
| 177 |
|
| Commercial mortgage and other loans: | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans (floating rate) | 4,507 |
| 4,543 |
| | 3,621 |
| 3,625 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans | 1,308 |
| 1,319 |
| | 763 |
| 736 |
|
| Middle market loans (floating rate) | 2,141 |
| 2,153 |
| | 1,144 |
| 1,146 |
|
| Other investments | 496 |
| 496 |
| | 333 |
| 333 |
|
| Total U.S. Dollar Program | 27,160 |
| 28,721 |
| | 24,435 |
| 24,258 |
|
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen | 1,700 |
| 2,608 |
| | 1,679 |
| 2,269 |
|
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan | $ | 28,860 |
| $ | 31,329 |
| | $ | 26,114 |
| $ | 26,527 |
|
U.S. Dollar Program includes all U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan other than the investments in certain consolidated VIEs where the instrument is economically converted to yen as a result of a derivative in the consolidated variable interest entity. As of December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan had $9.9$8.8 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency forwards and $9.5$21.1 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency options, of which none were in-the-money, hedging the U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The fair value of Aflac Japan's unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was $14.4$19.9 billion (excluding certain U.S. dollar-denominated assets shown in the table above as a result of consolidation that have been economically converted to yen using derivatives).
Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. The Company had net cash settlementsoutflows of $20 million in 2019, net cash inflows of $272 million $(747)in
2018 and net cash outflows of $747 million and $1.3 billion for the years ended December 31, 2018,in 2017, and 2016, respectively, associated with the currency derivatives used for hedging Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investments.
The following table presents metrics related to Aflac Japan hedge costs as of December 31.
Aflac Japan Hedge Cost Metrics(1)
|
| | | | | |
| | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
FX forward notional at end of period (in billions of dollars)(2) | 9.9 | | 9.3 | | 11.8 |
Weighted average original tenor (in months)(3) | 30.4 | | 33.1 | | 20.6 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(4) | 21.4 | | 27.7 | | 18.5 |
Annualized amortized hedge costs (in basis points)(5) | 241 | | 211 | | 149 |
| Amortized hedge costs for period (in millions of dollars) | (236) | | (228) | | (186) |
(1) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs.
(2) Notional is reported net of any offsetting positions
(3) Tenor based on derivative's original execution date to settlement date
(4) Tenor based on period reporting date to settlement date
(5) Based on annualized amortized hedge costs divided by average FX forward notional for the period
Parent Company's Foreign Currency HedgeEnterprise Corporate Hedging Program
The Company has designated certain yen-denominated liabilities and foreign currency forwards and options of the Parent Company as accounting hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan. The Company's consolidated yen-denominated net asset position was partially hedged at $9.1 billion as of December 31, 2019, compared with $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2018, with hedging instruments comprised completely of yen-denominated debt, compared with a hedge of $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2017, with hedging instruments comprised of $1.4 billion of yen-denominated debt and $.4 billion of foreign currency forwards and options.2018.
The Company makes its accounting designation of net investment hedge at the beginning of each quarter. If the total of the designated Parent Company non-derivative and derivative notional is equal to or less than the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective, and the currency exchange effect on the yen-denominated liabilities and the change in estimated fair value of the derivatives are reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For additional information on the Company's net investment hedging strategy, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In order to economically mitigate risks associated with the enterprise-wide exposure to the yen and the level and volatility of hedge costs, the Parent Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts. By buying U.S. dollars and selling yen, the Parent Company is effectively lowering its overall economic exposure to the yen, while Aflac Japan's U.S dollar exposure remains reduced as a result of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated hedge program that syntheticallyeconomically creates yen assets. Among other objectives, this strategy is intended to reduceoffset the enterprise-wide amortized hedge costs. In 2018, thecosts by generating amortized hedge income. The portion of the enterprise-wide amortized hedge costs reductionincome contributed by this strategy was $89 million in 2019 and $36 million.million in 2018. This activity is reported in the Corporate and other segment.Other. As this program evolves, the Company will continue to evaluate the program’s efficacy, including third-party review.efficacy. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
The following table presents metrics related to Aflac Japan amortized hedge costs and the Parent Company amortized hedge income for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Hedge Cost Metrics(1)
|
| | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Aflac Japan: | | | |
FX forward (sell USD, buy yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $8.8 | | $9.9 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 8.5 | | 21.4 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $(257) | | $(236) |
| Parent Company: | | | |
FX forward (buy USD, sell yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2) | $4.9 | | $2.5 |
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3) | 13.7 | | 16.1 |
| Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions) | $89 | | $36 |
(1) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
(2) Notional is reported net of any offsetting positions within Aflac Japan or the Parent Company, respectively.
(3) Tenor based on period reporting date to settlement date
Interest Rate Risk Hedge Program
ToAflac Japan and Aflac U.S. use interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of investment income volatility the Company economically hedges interest rate fluctuations for certain variable-rate investments. ToAdditionally, to manage interest rate risk associated with its U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan, the Company also utilizes interest rate swaptions.
For additional discussion of the risks associated with the foreign currency exposure refer to the Currency Risk section in Item 1A, specifically to the Risk Factors titled “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate“ and “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity." For discussion of the Company’s view on the stressed economic surplus in Aflac Japan, refer to the Investments subsection within Item 1, Business.
See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's hedging activities.
Deferred Policy Acquisition CostsPOLICY LIABILITIES
The following table presents deferred policy acquisition costsliabilities by segment and in total for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | % Change | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 6,150 |
| | 3.8 | % | (1) |
| Aflac U.S. | 3,491 |
| | 3,355 |
| | 4.1 |
| |
| Total | $ | 9,875 |
| | $ | 9,505 |
| | 3.9 | % | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Japan segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 2,879 |
| | 2,857 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,452 |
| | 12,122 |
| |
| Total Japan policy liabilities | 95,793 |
| | 92,791 |
| |
| U.S. segment: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 9,405 |
| | 9,137 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 1,779 |
| | 1,727 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 111 |
| | 117 |
| |
| Total U.S. policy liabilities | 11,295 |
| | 10,981 |
| |
| Consolidated: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | 90,335 |
| | 86,368 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,659 |
| | 4,584 |
| |
| Other policy liabilities | 11,560 |
| | 12,236 |
| |
Total consolidated policy liabilities (1) | $ | 106,554 |
| | $ | 103,188 |
| |
(1) Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs increased 2.0% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2018.
See Note 6The sum of the Notes toJapan and U.S. segments exceeds the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's deferred policy acquisition costs.
Policy Liabilities
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | % Change | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 92,791 |
| | $ | 89,132 |
| | 4.1 | % | (1) |
| Aflac U.S. | 10,981 |
| | 10,625 |
| | 3.4 |
| |
| Other | 183 |
| | 138 |
| | 32.6 |
| |
Intercompany eliminations (2) | (767 | ) | | (748 | ) | | 2.5 |
| |
| Total | $ | 103,188 |
| | $ | 99,147 |
| | 4.1 | % | |
(1) Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities increased 2.3% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2018.
(2) Elimination entry necessarytotal due to recapture of a portion of policy liabilities ceded externally, as a result of the reinsurance and retrocession transaction as described in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.activity.
See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's policy liabilities.
Notes payable totaled $5.8 billion at December 31, 2018, compared with $5.3 billion at December 31, 2017.BENEFIT PLANS
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 30-year maturity. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a United States Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date. In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling 53.4 billion yen through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled 29.3 billion yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 12-year maturity. The second series, which totaled 15.2 billion yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semiannually, and has a 15-year maturity. The third series, which totaled 8.9 billion yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 20-year maturity. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
See Note 9 of the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's notes payable.
Benefit Plans
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on the Company's Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
POLICYHOLDER PROTECTION
Policyholder Protection Corporation
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. Legislation enacted regarding the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC. On March 30, 2012, the Diet approved legislation to enhance the stability of the LIPPC by extending the government's fiscal support of the LIPPC through March 2017. OnIn November 25, 2016, Japan's Diet passed legislation that again extends the government's fiscal support of the LIPPC through March 2022. Effective April 2014, the annual LIPPC contribution amount for the total life industry was lowered from 40¥40 billion yen to 33¥33 billion. Aflac Japan recognized an expense of ¥1.9 billion yen.and ¥2.0 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for LIPPC assessments.
Guaranty Fund Assessments
Under U.S. state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business. The amount of the guaranty fund assessment that an insurer is assessed is based on its proportionate share of premiums in that state.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company has estimated and recognized the impact of its share of guaranty fund assessments resulting from the liquidation of a long-term care insurer. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the assessment.
Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementsOFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Company had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Liquidity refers to the ability to generate sufficient cash resources to meet the payment obligations of the Company. Capital refers to the long-term financial resources available to support the operations of the businesses, fund business growth and provide for an ability to withstand adverse circumstances. Financial leverage (leverage) refers to an investment strategy of using debt to increase the potential return on equity. The Company targets and actively manages liquidity, capital and leverage in the context of a number of considerations, including:
business investment and growth needs
strategic growth objectives
financial flexibility and obligations
capital support for hedging activity
a constantly evolving business and economic environment
a balanced approach to capital allocation and shareholder deployment.
The governance framework supporting liquidity, capital and leverage includes global senior management and board committees that review and approve all significant capital related decisions.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure. The target minimum amount for the Parent Company’s cash and cash equivalents is approximately $2.0 billion to provide available capital and liquidity support at the holding company.Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. provide the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through the payment of dividends and management fees. The following table presents the amounts provided to the Parent Company for the years ended December 31.
Liquidity Provided by Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S.Subsidiaries to Parent Company |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Dividends declared or paid by Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. | $ | 1,817 |
|
| $ | 2,590 |
| (1) | $ | 2,000 |
| |
| Management fees paid by Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. | 204 |
| | 291 |
| | 260 |
| |
(1) Includes securities of $622 at fair value which had a value of $656 at amortized cost
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends declared or paid by subsidiaries | $ | 3,466 |
|
| $ | 1,817 |
| |
| Management fees paid by subsidiaries | 151 |
| | 204 |
| |
The decline in dividends during 2018 was driven by a change in the dividend regulatory approval process subsequent to the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018. The Company resumed dividend payments from Aflac Japan in the fourth quarter of 2018. Management fees decreased during 2019 and 2018, compared to prior years, due to changes in the administration of intercompany expenses between legal entities subsequent to the conversion, ofas well.
Prior to the Aflac Japan from a branch conversion, Aflac Japan paid allocated expenses and profit remittances to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018.Aflac U.S. The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the years ended December 31.
The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.Aflac Japan Remittances
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 136 |
| |
| Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan (in dollars) | 4 |
| | 24 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in dollars) | 2,070 |
| | 808 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in yen) | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| |
At the end of SeptemberIn 2018, the Company announced a change in its internal dividend policy which allows the
Company to increase the proportion of regulatory earnings transferred from Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan to the Parent
Company. The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of capital and liquidity at the Parent Company with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased
or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the "Hedging Activity" subsection in this MD&A for more information.
In addition to differ materially from those contemplated bycash and equivalents, the Company in regardsalso maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to its capital management intentions.
The Parent Company accesses debt security markets to provide additional sources of capital.support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2021. In August 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows the Parent Company to conduct public offerings of bonds in Japan, including yen-denominated Samurai notes, up to 200¥200 billion yen or its equivalent through August 2020. The shelf registration statement is for possible public offerings in Japan, but the bonds issued under the shelf may be transferred by the bondholders to U.S. persons in compliance with U.S. law. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties and three intercompany lines of credit. For additional information, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The principal sources of cash for the Company's insurance operations are premiums and investment income. The primary uses of cash by the Company's insurance operations are investments, policy claims, commissions, operating expenses, income taxes and payments to the Parent Company for management feesare shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and dividends. Both the sourcesinterest on its outstanding indebtedness and uses of cash are reasonably predictable.
When making an investment decision, the Company's first consideration is based on product needs. The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity through the purchase of investment-grade debt securities. These objectives also take into account duration matching, and because of the long-term nature of the Company's business, the Company has adequate time to react to changing cash flow needs.
As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments. The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits andoperating expenses.
As of December 31, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties as well as two intercompany lines of credit. For additional information on the Company's lines of credit, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
As part of the FHLB financing arrangement as discussed previously in the Analysis of Financial Condition section of this MD&A, Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $86 million during 2018.
The Company's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2018. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards, including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company does not have a known trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would reasonably result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount. As of December 31, 2018, the Parent Company had $1.0 billion as a capital reserve and an additional $1.0 billion of contingent liquidity in order to mitigate liquidity risk of derivative positions that are reducing enterprise-wide foreign currency exposure. The Company's cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure.Major Contractual Obligations
The following table presents the estimated payments by period of the Company's major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018.2019. The Company translated its yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
| | | (In millions) | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years |
Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)(2) | $ | 86,368 |
| | $ | 251,577 |
| | $ | 8,980 |
| | $ | 17,817 |
| | $ | 17,807 |
| | $ | 206,973 |
| $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 244,884 |
| | $ | 9,221 |
| | $ | 18,151 |
| | $ | 18,224 |
| | $ | 199,288 |
|
Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)(3) | 4,584 |
| | 4,584 |
| | 2,950 |
| | 951 |
| | 387 |
| | 296 |
| 4,659 |
| | 4,660 |
| | 2,985 |
| | 980 |
| | 394 |
| | 301 |
|
Other policyholders' funds (Note 7)(3) | 7,146 |
| | 9,920 |
| | 321 |
| | 360 |
| | 581 |
| | 8,658 |
| 7,317 |
| | 9,902 |
| | 341 |
| | 389 |
| | 706 |
| | 8,466 |
|
Long-term debt – principal (Note 9) | 5,765 |
| | 5,813 |
| | 0 |
| | 45 |
| | 1,275 |
| | 4,493 |
| 6,408 |
| | 6,458 |
| | 0 |
| | 350 |
| | 1,450 |
| | 4,658 |
|
Long-term debt – interest (Note 9) | 37 |
| | 2,086 |
| | 175 |
| | 327 |
| | 284 |
| | 1,300 |
| 44 |
| | 2,036 |
| | 171 |
| | 320 |
| | 262 |
| | 1,283 |
|
Cash collateral on loaned securities (Note 3) | 1,052 |
| | 1,052 |
| | 1,052 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating service agreements (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 553 |
| | 165 |
| | 289 |
| | 99 |
| | 0 |
| N/A |
| (4) | 463 |
| | 179 |
| | 279 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating lease obligations (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 202 |
| | 63 |
| | 82 |
| | 39 |
| | 18 |
| |
Capitalized lease obligations (Note 9) | 13 |
| | 13 |
| | 5 |
| | 5 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| |
Operating lease obligations (Note 9) | | 149 |
| | 159 |
| | 49 |
| | 68 |
| | 20 |
| | 22 |
|
Finance lease obligations (Note 9) | | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total contractual obligations | $ | 104,965 |
| | $ | 275,800 |
| | $ | 13,711 |
| | $ | 19,876 |
| | $ | 20,474 |
| | $ | 221,739 |
| $ | 110,800 |
| | $ | 270,450 |
| | $ | 14,826 |
| | $ | 20,542 |
| | $ | 21,064 |
| | $ | 214,018 |
|
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $15$17 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
(1)Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018.2019.
(2)The estimated payments due by period reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and others for future policy benefits. These projected cash outflows are based on assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions comparable with the Company's experience, consider future premium receipts on current policies in force, and assume market growth and interest crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. These cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest and, as a result, the sum of the cash outflows shown for all years in the table of $251,577$244,884 exceeds the corresponding liability amount of $86,368.$90,335. The Company has made significant assumptions to determine the future estimated cash outflows related to the underlying policies and contracts. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, actual cash outflow amounts and timing will differ, possibly materially, from these estimates.
(3)Includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above.
(4)Not applicable
For more information on the Company's major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the line items in the table above.
The Company's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards,
including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of a trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would likely result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
The Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan's yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Operating activities | $ | 6,014 |
| | $ | 6,128 |
| | $ | 5,987 |
| | $ | 5,455 |
| | $ | 6,014 |
| |
| Investing activities | (3,582 | ) | | (5,431 | ) | | (3,855 | ) | | (3,171 | ) | | (3,582 | ) | |
| Financing activities | (1,616 | ) | | (2,065 | ) | | (1,619 | ) | | (1,713 | ) | | (1,616 | ) | |
| Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | (4 | ) | | (12 | ) | | 30 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 846 |
| | $ | (1,368 | ) | | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 846 |
| |
Operating Activities
The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses. Consolidated cash flow from operations decreased 1.9%9.3% in 2018,2019, compared with 2018.2017. The following table summarizes operating cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 4,916 |
| | $ | 4,959 |
| | $ | 4,605 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. and other operations | 1,098 |
| | 1,169 |
| | 1,382 |
| |
| Total | $ | 6,014 |
| | $ | 6,128 |
| | $ | 5,987 |
| |
Investing Activities
Operating cash flow is primarily used to purchase investments to meet future policy obligations. The following table summarizes investing cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | (2,938 | ) | | $ | (4,504 | ) | | $ | (3,075 | ) | |
| Aflac U.S. and other operations | (644 | ) | | (927 | ) | | (780 | ) | |
| Total | $ | (3,582 | ) | | $ | (5,431 | ) | | $ | (3,855 | ) | |
The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong cash flows provide the Company with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.
As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has announced an increase in September 2018 that it intendsits commitment to increase its original investment in the Aflac Ventures Fund from $100 million over three years to $250 million over three to four years,$400 million, as opportunities emerge. These investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets. The Aflac Ventures Fund is a subsidiary of Aflac Corporate Ventures which is reported in the "CorporateCorporate and other" businessother segment. The central mission of Aflac Corporate Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value.
As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $217 million under this program during 2019. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac U.S. had outstanding borrowings of $403 million reported in its balance sheet.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.6$1.7 billion in 2018, $2.1 billion in 20172019 and $1.6 billion in 2016.2018.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued four series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a stated maturity date of April 16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 30-year maturity.will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a United States TreasuryU.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling 53.4¥53.4 billion yen through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled 29.3¥29.3 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 12-year maturity.will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled 15.2¥15.2 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 15-year maturity.will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled 8.9¥8.9 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 20-year maturity.will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of its senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
In January 2017, the Parent Company issued 60.0 billion yen of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of .932% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 10-year maturity. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the termsSee Note 9 of the issuance.Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019.
Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $2.4 billion in 2019, compared with $2.1 billion in 2018.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
In February 2017, the Parent Company extinguished $650 million of 2.65% senior notes upon their maturity.
In October 2017, the Parent Company issued 60.0 billion yen of subordinated debentures through a U.S. public debt offering. The debentures bear interest at an initial rate of 2.108% per annum through October 22, 2027, or earlier redemption. Thereafter, the rate of the interest of the debentures will be reset every five years at a rate of interest equal to the then-current JPY 5-year Swap Offered Rate plus 205 basis points. The debentures are payable semi-annually in arrears and have a 30-year maturity. The debentures are redeemable (i) at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain tax events or certain rating agency events, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the debentures or (ii) in 10 years, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In November 2017, the Parent Company used a portion of net proceeds from the debenture offering to redeem $500 million of the Parent Company's 5.50% subordinated debentures due 2052. The pretax non-operating expense due to the early redemption of these notes was $13 million.
In September 2016, the Parent Company issued two series of senior notes totaling $700 million through a U.S. public debt offering. The first series, which totaled $300 million, bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.875% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 10-year maturity. The second series, which totaled $400 million, bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.00% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 30-year maturity.
In September 2016, the Parent Company entered into two series of senior unsecured term loan facilities totaling 30.0 billion yen. The first series, which totaled 5.0 billion yen, bears an interest rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin. The applicable margin ranges between .20% and .60%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second series, which totaled 25.0 billion yen, bears an interest rate per annum equal to TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin. The applicable margin ranges between .35% and .75%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In December 2016, the Parent Company completed a tender offer in which it extinguished $176 million principal of its 6.90% senior notes due 2039 and $193 million principal of its 6.45% senior notes due 2040. The pretax non-operating loss due to the early redemption of these notes was $137 million ($89 million after-tax, or $.21 per diluted share).
In September 2016, the Parent Company extinguished 8.0 billion yen of 2.26% fixed rate Uridashi notes upon their maturity and in July 2016, the Parent Company extinguished 15.8 billion yen of 1.84% fixed rate Samurai notes upon their maturity.
See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
See the preceding discussion in this Capital Resources and Liquidity section of MD&A for details and any outstanding balances as of December 31, 2018 for the Company's lines of credit and FHLB financing arrangement.
The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2018.
Cash returned to shareholders through dividends and treasury stock purchases was $2.1 billion in 2018, compared with $2.0 billion in 2017 and $2.1 billion in 2016.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Treasury Stock PurchasedAflac Japan Remittances
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Treasury stock purchases | $ | 1,301 |
| | $ | 1,351 |
| | $ | 1,422 |
| |
| Number of shares purchased: | | | | | | |
| Open market | 28,949 |
| | 35,510 |
| | 43,236 |
| |
| Other | 392 |
| | 1,018 |
| | 660 |
| |
| Total shares purchased | 29,341 |
| | 36,528 |
| | 43,896 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 136 |
| |
| Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan (in dollars) | 4 |
| | 24 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in dollars) | 2,070 |
| | 808 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in yen) | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| |
In 2018, the Company announced a change in its internal dividend policy which allows the Company to increase the proportion of regulatory earnings transferred from Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan to the Parent Company. The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of capital and liquidity at the Parent Company with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the "Hedging Activity" subsection in this MD&A for more information.
Treasury Stock Issued
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Stock issued from treasury: | | | | | | |
| Cash financing | $ | 58 |
| | $ | 33 |
| | $ | 46 |
| |
| Noncash financing | 17 |
| | 59 |
| | 61 |
| |
| Total stock issued from treasury | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 92 |
| | $ | 107 |
| |
| Number of shares issued | 1,939 |
| | 2,554 |
| | 3,704 |
| |
Under share repurchase authorizations from the Company's board of directors,In addition to cash and equivalents, the Company purchased 28.9 million sharesalso maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2021. In August 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows the Parent Company to conduct public offerings of bonds in Japan, including yen-denominated Samurai notes, up to ¥200 billion or its common stockequivalent through August 2020. The shelf registration statement is for possible public offerings in Japan, but the open marketbonds issued under the shelf may be transferred by the bondholders to U.S. persons in 2018, comparedcompliance with 35.5 million shares in 2017U.S. law. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and 43.2 million shares in 2016. Asequity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of December 31, 2018, a remaining balance2019, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of 69.0 million sharescredit with third parties and three intercompany lines of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors. The Company currently plans to repurchase $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion of its common stock in 2019, assuming stable capital conditions and absent compelling alternatives. Seecredit. For additional information, see Note 119 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.Statements.
CashThe primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, paid to shareholders in 2018the repurchase of $1.04 per share increased 19.5% over 2017. The 2017 dividend paid of $.87 per share increased 4.8% over 2016. its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.
Major Contractual Obligations
The following table presents the dividend activity forestimated payments by period of the years endedCompany's major contractual obligations as of December 31.31, 2019. The Company translated its yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2019, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Dividends paid in cash | $ | 793 |
| | $ | 661 |
| | $ | 658 |
| |
| Dividends through issuance of treasury shares | 8 |
| | 29 |
| | 27 |
| |
| Total dividends to shareholders | $ | 801 |
| | $ | 690 |
| | $ | 685 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years |
Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)(2) | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 244,884 |
| | $ | 9,221 |
| | $ | 18,151 |
| | $ | 18,224 |
| | $ | 199,288 |
|
Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)(3) | 4,659 |
| | 4,660 |
| | 2,985 |
| | 980 |
| | 394 |
| | 301 |
|
Other policyholders' funds (Note 7)(3) | 7,317 |
| | 9,902 |
| | 341 |
| | 389 |
| | 706 |
| | 8,466 |
|
Long-term debt – principal (Note 9) | 6,408 |
| | 6,458 |
| | 0 |
| | 350 |
| | 1,450 |
| | 4,658 |
|
Long-term debt – interest (Note 9) | 44 |
| | 2,036 |
| | 171 |
| | 320 |
| | 262 |
| | 1,283 |
|
Cash collateral on loaned securities (Note 3) | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating service agreements (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 463 |
| | 179 |
| | 279 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating lease obligations (Note 9) | 149 |
| | 159 |
| | 49 |
| | 68 |
| | 20 |
| | 22 |
|
Finance lease obligations (Note 9) | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total contractual obligations | $ | 110,800 |
| | $ | 270,450 |
| | $ | 14,826 |
| | $ | 20,542 |
| | $ | 21,064 |
| | $ | 214,018 |
|
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $17 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
(1)Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.
(2)The estimated payments due by period reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and others for future policy benefits. These projected cash outflows are based on assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions comparable with the Company's experience, consider future premium receipts on current policies in force, and assume market growth and interest crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. These cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest and, as a result, the sum of the cash outflows shown for all years in the table of $244,884 exceeds the corresponding liability amount of $90,335. The Company has made significant assumptions to determine the future estimated cash outflows related to the underlying policies and contracts. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, actual cash outflow amounts and timing will differ, possibly materially, from these estimates.
(3)Includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above.
(4)Not applicable
In January 2019,For more information on the board of directors announced a 3.8% increaseCompany's major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the quarterly cash dividend, effective with the first quarter of 2019. The first quarter 2019 cash dividend of $.27 per share is payable on March 1, 2019, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2019.
Regulatory Restrictions
Aflac and CAIC are domiciled in Nebraska and are subject to its regulations. SubsequentNotes to the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, Aflac Japan is domiciled in Japan and subject to local regulations. See further discussion
below. The Nebraska Department of Insurance imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances to the Parent Company. Under Nebraska insurance law, prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance is required for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplusConsolidated Financial Statements as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid to the Parent Company. (See below for discussion of restrictions imposed by Japanese insurance regulators.) A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance departmentindicated in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency. Similar laws applyline items in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac's New York insurance subsidiary. As of December 2016, CAIC was redomiciled from South Carolina to Nebraska.table above.
The continued long-term growthCompany's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the Company's business may require increases in the statutory capital and surpluscovenants of its insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings, capital contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings, or reinsurance transactions. The NAIC’s RBC formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risknotes payable and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtureslines of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations.
As ofcredit at December 31, 2018, Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 560%.2019. The 2018 RBC as filed is lower than Aflac U.S. standalone RBC dueCompany has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to the inclusion of Aflac Japanrepurchase financial assets that have been accounted for the first quarter of 2018. The RBC charge reflects the business risk without any total adjusted capital (TAC). At December 31, 2017, Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 831%, which included Aflac Japan. Aflac's RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position, even reflecting the full negative impact of the U.S. Tax Act, which was fully adopted in 2018. This reduction occurs as a result ofsale under applicable accounting standards,
writing down deferred tax assetsincluding securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and the increase in required capital due to the reduction in tax rates. However, Aflac expects to recover from this negative impact over a period of three to five years through additional statutory income, assuming that the additional income is fully retained. As of December 31, 2018, Aflac's total adjusted capital of $2.7 billion exceeded the company action level required capital and surplus of $.5 billion by $2.2 billion.
The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2019 in excess of $1.3 billion would be considered extraordinary and require such approval. Following the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, the Company used extraordinary dividends as needed to actively manage to appropriate RBC levels that are lower yet sufficient to maintain ratings and support prudent capital management. See Note 134 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on the Company's statutory capital and surplus.
The NAIC considers its Solvency Modernization Initiative (SMI) process relating to updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework to be ongoing. The SMI has focused on key issues such as capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, reinsurance, statutory accounting and financial reporting matters. Many of these key issues have been finalized and/or are near completion; however, the NAIC still has some ongoing initiatives related to SMI, such as monitoring the international efforts on group capital requirements as well as RBC.In addition, the NAIC is also considering changes to investment risk factors. Any negative developments by the NAIC in these areas could result in increased capital requirements for the Company.
Aflac is subject to the NAIC’s Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA), effective January 1, 2015. Through the ORSA requirements, Aflac is expected to regularly, no less than annually, conduct an ORSA to assess the adequacy of its risk management framework, and its current and estimated projected future solvency position; internally document the process and results of the assessment; and provide a confidential high-level ORSA Summary Report annually to the lead state commissioner if the insurer is a member of an insurance group. In November 2018, Aflac filed its ORSA report with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, after the Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, the new Japan subsidiary is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary is basically defined as retained earnings excluding capital reserves, which represent equity generated by capital profits that are statutorily required in Japan, less net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities based on the previous fiscal year-end. These dividend capacity requirements are generally aligned with the solvency margin ratio (SMR). Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) maintains its own solvency standard which is quantified through the SMR. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rate changes, therefore the Company continues to evaluate alternatives for reducing this sensitivity. In the event of a rapid change in market risk conditions causing SMR to decline, the Company has two senior unsecured revolving credit facilities in the amounts of 100 billion yen and 55 billion yen, respectively, and a committed reinsurance facility in the amount of approximately 110 billion yen as a capital contingency plan. Additionally, the Company could take action to enter into derivatives on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments with foreign currency options or forwards. (See Notes 8 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.)
The Company has already undertaken various measures to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR. For example, the Company employs policy reserve matching (PRM) investment strategies, which is a Japan-specific accounting treatment that reduces SMR interest rate sensitivity since PRM-designated investments are carried at amortized cost consistent with corresponding liabilities. In order for a PRM-designated asset to be held at amortized cost, there are certain criteria that must be maintained. The primary criteria relates to maintaining the duration of designated assets and liabilities within a specified tolerance range. If the duration difference is not maintained within the specified range without rebalancing, then a certain portion of the assets must be re-classified as available for sale and held at fair value with any associated unrealized gain or loss recorded in surplus. To rebalance, assets may need to be sold in order to maintain the duration with the specified range, resulting in realizing a gain or loss from the sale. For U.S. GAAP, PRM investments are categorized as available for sale. The Company also uses foreign currency derivatives to hedge a portion of its U.S. dollar-denominated investments.(See Notes 3, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additionalmore information on the Company's investment strategies, hedgingsecurities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and reinsurance, respectively.)the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of a trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would likely result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
Aflac's SMR ratio remains highThe Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan's yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Operating activities | $ | 5,455 |
| | $ | 6,014 |
| |
| Investing activities | (3,171 | ) | | (3,582 | ) | |
| Financing activities | (1,713 | ) | | (1,616 | ) | |
| Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents | (12 | ) | | 30 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 846 |
| |
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows for the Company's insurance activities come from insurance premiums and reflectsinvestment income. The principal cash outflows are the result of policy claims, operating expenses, income tax, as well as interest expense. As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments.
The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses. Consolidated cash flow from operations decreased 9.3% in 2019, compared with 2018. The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong capitalcash flows provide the Company with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and surplus position.liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.
As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has announced an increase in its commitment to the Aflac Ventures Fund from $250 million to $400 million, as opportunities emerge. These investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets. The Aflac Ventures Fund is a subsidiary of Aflac Corporate Ventures which is reported in the Corporate and other segment. The central mission of Aflac Corporate Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value.
As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $217 million under this program during 2019. As of December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 965%, compared with 1,064% at December 31, 2017. As partU.S. had outstanding borrowings of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a$403 million reported in its balance sheet.
branchSee Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.7 billion in 2019 and $1.6 billion in 2018.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued four series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a subsidiary onstated maturity date of April 1,16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company experienced an accounting-driven declineissued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling ¥53.4 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥29.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled ¥15.2 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥8.9 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the SMRindenture governing the terms of approximately 130 points, compared with the SMR asissuance.
In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of December 31, 2017. The Company expectsits senior notes to be ableredeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
See Note 9 of the Notes to pay dividends out of certain accounts, thus restoring this accounting impact over an estimated three-year period.the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
The FSA has been conducting field testingCompany was in compliance with all of the insurance industry concerning the introductioncovenants of an economic value-based solvency regime. The field testing will assist the FSA in determining if an economic value-based solvency regime in Japan will be appropriate for the insurance industry.its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019.
Payments are made from Aflac JapanCash returned to the Parent Company for management fees, allocated expensesshareholders through treasury stock purchases and remittances of earnings. Prior to the Aflac Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan paid allocated expenses and profit remittances to Aflac U.S. dividends was $2.4 billion in 2019, compared with $2.1 billion in 2018.
The following table details Aflac Japan remittances fortables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Remittances
| | | (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company | $ | 136 |
| | $ | 93 |
| | $ | 79 |
| | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 136 |
| |
| Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan (in dollars) | 24 |
| | 109 |
| | 106 |
| | 4 |
| | 24 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in dollars) | 808 |
| | 1,150 |
| | 1,286 |
| | 2,070 |
| | 808 |
| |
| Aflac Japan profit remittances to the Parent Company or Aflac U.S. (in yen) | 89.7 |
| | 129.3 |
| | 138.5 |
| | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| |
In 2018, the Company announced a change in its internal dividend policy which allows the Company to increase the proportion of regulatory earnings transferred from Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan to the Parent Company. The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of capital and liquidity at the Parent Company with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the "Hedging Activity" subsection in this MD&A for more information.
In addition to cash and equivalents, the Company also maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2021. In August 2018, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows the Parent Company to conduct public offerings of bonds in Japan, including yen-denominated Samurai notes, up to ¥200 billion or its equivalent through August 2020. The shelf registration statement is for possible public offerings in Japan, but the bonds issued under the shelf may be transferred by the bondholders to U.S. persons in compliance with U.S. law. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties and three intercompany lines of credit. For additional information, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The declineprimary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.
Major Contractual Obligations
The following table presents the estimated payments by period of the Company's major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019. The Company translated its yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2019, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dividendsdollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Total
Liability(1) | | Total
Payments | | Less
Than
One Year | | One to Three Years | | Four to
Five Years | | After
Five Years |
Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)(2) | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 244,884 |
| | $ | 9,221 |
| | $ | 18,151 |
| | $ | 18,224 |
| | $ | 199,288 |
|
Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)(3) | 4,659 |
| | 4,660 |
| | 2,985 |
| | 980 |
| | 394 |
| | 301 |
|
Other policyholders' funds (Note 7)(3) | 7,317 |
| | 9,902 |
| | 341 |
| | 389 |
| | 706 |
| | 8,466 |
|
Long-term debt – principal (Note 9) | 6,408 |
| | 6,458 |
| | 0 |
| | 350 |
| | 1,450 |
| | 4,658 |
|
Long-term debt – interest (Note 9) | 44 |
| | 2,036 |
| | 171 |
| | 320 |
| | 262 |
| | 1,283 |
|
Cash collateral on loaned securities (Note 3) | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 1,876 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating service agreements (Note 15) | N/A |
| (4) | 463 |
| | 179 |
| | 279 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
|
Operating lease obligations (Note 9) | 149 |
| | 159 |
| | 49 |
| | 68 |
| | 20 |
| | 22 |
|
Finance lease obligations (Note 9) | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total contractual obligations | $ | 110,800 |
| | $ | 270,450 |
| | $ | 14,826 |
| | $ | 20,542 |
| | $ | 21,064 |
| | $ | 214,018 |
|
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $17 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
(1)Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.
(2)The estimated payments due by period reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and others for future policy benefits. These projected cash outflows are based on assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions comparable with the Company's experience, consider future premium receipts on current policies in force, and assume market growth and interest crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. These cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest and, as a result, the sum of the cash outflows shown for all years in the table of $244,884 exceeds the corresponding liability amount of $90,335. The Company has made significant assumptions to determine the future estimated cash outflows related to the underlying policies and contracts. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, actual cash outflow amounts and timing will differ, possibly materially, from these estimates.
(3)Includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above.
(4)Not applicable
For more information on the Company's major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the line items in the table above.
The Company's financial statements convey its financing arrangements during 2018the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was drivenin compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards,
including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of a trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would likely result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
The Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan's yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Operating activities | $ | 5,455 |
| | $ | 6,014 |
| |
| Investing activities | (3,171 | ) | | (3,582 | ) | |
| Financing activities | (1,713 | ) | | (1,616 | ) | |
| Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents | (12 | ) | | 30 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 846 |
| |
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows for the Company's insurance activities come from insurance premiums and investment income. The principal cash outflows are the result of policy claims, operating expenses, income tax, as well as interest expense. As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments.
The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and its investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses. Consolidated cash flow from operations decreased 9.3% in 2019, compared with 2018. The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong cash flows provide the Company with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.
As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has announced an increase in its commitment to the Aflac Ventures Fund from $250 million to $400 million, as opportunities emerge. These investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets. The Aflac Ventures Fund is a subsidiary of Aflac Corporate Ventures which is reported in the Corporate and other segment. The central mission of Aflac Corporate Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value.
As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $217 million under this program during 2019. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac U.S. had outstanding borrowings of $403 million reported in its balance sheet.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.7 billion in 2019 and $1.6 billion in 2018.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued four series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a stated maturity date of April 16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three series of senior notes totaling ¥53.4 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥29.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled ¥15.2 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥8.9 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of its senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuances discussed above.
The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2019.
Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $2.4 billion in 2019, compared with $2.1 billion in 2018.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Treasury Stock Purchased
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Treasury stock purchases | $ | 1,627 |
| | $ | 1,301 |
| |
| Number of shares purchased: | | | | |
| Share repurchase program | 31,994 |
| | 28,949 |
| |
| Other | 592 |
| | 392 |
| |
| Total shares purchased | 32,586 |
| | 29,341 |
| |
Treasury Stock Issued
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Stock issued from treasury: | | | | |
| Cash financing | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 58 |
| |
| Noncash financing | 50 |
| | 17 |
| |
| Total stock issued from treasury | $ | 99 |
| | $ | 75 |
| |
| Number of shares issued | 2,324 |
| | 1,939 |
| |
Under share repurchase authorizations from the Company's board of directors, the Company purchased 32.0 million shares of its common stock in 2019, compared with 28.9 million shares in 2018. As of December 31, 2019, a remaining balance of 37.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors. The Company currently plans to repurchase $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion of its common stock in 2020, assuming stable capital conditions and absent compelling alternatives. See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Cash dividends paid to shareholders in 2019 of $1.08 per share increased 3.8% over 2018. The following table presents the dividend activity for the years ended December 31.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dividends paid in cash | $ | 771 |
| | $ | 793 |
| |
| Dividends through issuance of treasury shares | 30 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Total dividends to shareholders | $ | 801 |
| | $ | 801 |
| |
In January 2020, the board of directors announced a 3.7% increase in the quarterly cash dividend, effective with the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter 2020 cash dividend of $.28 per share is payable on March 2, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2020.
Regulatory Restrictions
Aflac, CAIC and TOIC are domiciled in Nebraska and are subject to its regulations. Subsequent to the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, Aflac Japan is domiciled in Japan and subject to local regulations. The Nebraska Department of Insurance imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances to the Parent Company. Under Nebraska insurance law, prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance is required for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid to the Parent Company. (See below for discussion of restrictions imposed by Japanese insurance regulators.) A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York.
The continued long-term growth of the Company's business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of its insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings, capital contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings, or reinsurance transactions. The NAIC’s RBC formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations.
Aflac's company action level RBC ratio was 539% as of December 31, 2019, compared with 560% at December 31, 2018. Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac's total adjusted capital of $2.2 billion exceeded the company action level required capital and surplus of $.4 billion by $1.8 billion. With the announcement of the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, we had announced our intention to remove excess capital out of Aflac, targeting a 500% RBC by the end of 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has completed the RBC drawdown plan and has moved $1.75 billion of capital from Aflac to the Parent Company, supporting the Company's capital deployment and risk management activities.
The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac, CAIC and TOIC without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2020 in excess of $864 million would be considered extraordinary and require such approval. Following the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary, the Company used extraordinary dividends as needed to actively manage to appropriate RBC levels that are lower yet sufficient to maintain ratings and support prudent capital management. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on the Company's statutory capital and surplus.
The NAIC considers its Solvency Modernization Initiative (SMI) process relating to updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework to be ongoing. The SMI has focused on key issues such as capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, reinsurance, statutory accounting and financial reporting matters. Many of these key issues have been finalized and/or are near completion; however, the NAIC still has some ongoing initiatives related to SMI, such as monitoring the international efforts on group capital requirements as well as RBC.In addition, the NAIC is also considering changes to investment risk factors. Any negative developments by the NAIC in these areas could result in increased capital requirements for the Company.
Aflac is subject to the NAIC’s Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA). Through the ORSA requirements, Aflac is expected to regularly, no less than annually, conduct an ORSA to assess the adequacy of its risk management framework, and its current and estimated projected future solvency position; internally document the process and results of the assessment; and provide a confidential high-level ORSA Summary Report annually to the lead state commissioner if the insurer is a member of an insurance group. In November 2019, Aflac filed its ORSA report with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, after the Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, the new Japan subsidiary is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary is basically defined as total equity excluding common stock, accumulated other comprehensive income amounts, capital reserves (representing statutorily required amounts in Japan) but reduced for net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities. These dividend capacity requirements are generally aligned with the SMR. Japan's FSA maintains its own solvency standard which is quantified through the SMR. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rate changes, therefore the Company continues to evaluate alternatives for reducing this sensitivity. In the event of a rapid change in market risk conditions causing SMR to decline, the dividend regulatory approval process subsequentCompany has one senior unsecured revolving credit facility in the amount of ¥100 billion and a committed reinsurance facility in the amount of approximately ¥110 billion as a capital contingency plan. Additionally, the Company could take action to enter into derivatives on unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments with foreign currency options or forwards. See Notes 8 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Company has already undertaken various measures to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR. For example, the Company employs policy reserve matching (PRM) investment strategies, which is a Japan-specific accounting treatment that reduces SMR interest rate sensitivity since PRM-designated investments are carried at amortized cost consistent with corresponding liabilities. In order for a PRM-designated asset to be held at amortized cost, there are certain criteria that must be maintained. The primary criteria relates to maintaining the duration of designated assets and liabilities within a specified tolerance range. If the duration difference is not maintained within the specified range without rebalancing, then a certain
portion of the assets must be re-classified as available for sale and held at fair value with any associated unrealized gain or loss recorded in surplus. To rebalance, assets may need to be sold in order to maintain the duration with the specified range, resulting in realizing a gain or loss from the sale. For U.S. GAAP, PRM investments are categorized as available for sale. The Company also uses foreign currency derivatives to hedge a portion of its U.S. dollar-denominated investments.(See Notes 3, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's investment strategies, hedging activities, and reinsurance, respectively.)
Aflac's SMR ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2019, Aflac Japan's SMR was 1,043%, compared with 965% at December 31, 2018. As part of the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018.2018, the Company experienced an accounting-driven decline in the SMR of approximately 130 points, compared with the SMR as of December 31, 2017. The Company resumed dividend paymentsexpects to be able to pay dividends out of certain accounts, thus restoring this accounting impact over an estimated three-year period.
The FSA has been conducting field testing with the insurance industry concerning the introduction of an economic value-based solvency regime. The field testing will assist the FSA in determining if an economic value-based solvency regime in Japan will be appropriate for the insurance industry.
Privacy and Cybersecurity Governance
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted an information security policy directing management to establish and operate a global information security program with the goals of monitoring existing and emerging threats and ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected from Aflac Japan inloss or theft. The Board has delegated oversight of the fourth quarterCompany’s information security program to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of 2018. Management fees decreased during 2018 comparedthe global information security program and regularly communicate with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to prior years due tothe state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changes in the administration of intercompany expenses between legal entities subsequentinformation security program. The global information security program also includes a cybersecurity incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018. See the preceding Hedging Activities subsection of this MD&A for discussion of Parent Company hedging of yen profit remittances. For additional information on regulatory restrictions on dividends, profit remittancesGlobal Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other transfers, see Note 13senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the NotesAudit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Consolidated Financial Statements.Lead Non-Management Director.
Other
For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Additional Information
Investors should note that the Company announces material financial information in its SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. In accordance with SEC guidance, the Company may also use the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (http://investors.aflac.com) to communicate with investors about the Company. It is possible that the financial and other information the Company posts there could be deemed to be material information. The information on the Company's website is not part of this document. Further, the Company's references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the FASB. In this MD&A, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that the Company deems to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments and derivatives, DAC, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 94% of the Company's assets and 81% of its liabilities are reported as
of December 31, 2019, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders' equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Valuation of Investments, Including Derivatives, and Recognition of Other-than-Temporary Impairments
Aflac's investments, primarily consisting of debt and equity securities, include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For publicly issued securities, the Company determines the fair values from quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets and price quotes and valuations from third party pricing vendors. For the majority of privately issued securities within the Company's investment portfolio, a third party pricing vendor has developed valuation models that the Company utilizes to determine fair values. For the remaining privately issued securities, the Company uses non-binding price quotes from outside brokers.
The Company estimates the fair values of its securities on a monthly basis. The Company monitors the estimated fair values obtained from its pricing vendors and brokers for consistency from month to month, while considering current market conditions. The Company also periodically discusses with its pricing brokers and vendors the pricing techniques they use to monitor the consistency of their approach and periodically assess the appropriateness of the valuation level assigned to the values obtained from them. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the Company will re-examine the inputs and assess the reasonableness of the pricing data with the vendor. Additionally, the Company may compare the inputs to relevant market indices and other performance measurements. Based on management's analysis, the valuation is confirmed or may be revised if there is evidence of a more appropriate estimate of fair value based on available market data. The Company has performed verification of the inputs and calculations in any valuation models to confirm that the valuations represent reasonable estimates of fair value. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility.
The Company routinely reviews its investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. The identification of distressed investments, the determination of fair value if not publicly traded and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of the security recovering in value while the Company owns it. Factors that may influence this include the Company's assessment of the issuer’s ability to continue making timely payments of interest and principal, the overall level of interest rates and credit spreads, and other factors. This process requires consideration of risks, which can be controlled to a certain extent, such as credit risk, and risks which cannot be controlled, such as interest rate risk. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects impairment losses in the Company's net earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on the nature of the loss, as such evaluations are revised.
See Notes 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities
Insurance premiums for most of the Company's health and life policies, including cancer, accident, hospital, critical illness, dental, vision, term life, whole life, long-term care and disability, are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
Premiums from the Company's products with limited-pay features, including term life, whole life, WAYS, and child endowment, are collected over a significantly shorter period than the period over which benefits are provided. Premiums for these products are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. Any gross premium in excess of the net premium is deferred and recorded in earnings, such that profits are recognized in a constant relationship with insurance in force. Benefits are recorded as an expense when they are incurred. A liability for future policy benefits is recorded when premiums are recognized using the net premium method.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The calculation of DAC and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, the Company reviews its actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, the Company evaluates DAC by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues, and any amounts determined not to be recoverable are charged against net earnings. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a detail of the DAC activity for the past two years.
Policy Liabilities
The Company's policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with applicable guidelines as defined under U.S. GAAP and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two components that involve analysis and judgment: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 85% and 4% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2019, respectively.
Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. The Company calculates future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely related to those used in developing the gross premiums for a policy. As required by U.S. GAAP, the Company also includes a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.
Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to the Company. The Company computes unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The Company updates the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporates its historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding the Company's outstanding liability.
The Company's insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, the Company's business is widely dispersed in both the U.S. and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of the Company's benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac's policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. The Company's claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of its policyholders.
As a part of its established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, the Company performs detailed annual actuarial reviews of its policyholder liabilities (gross premium valuation analysis) and reflects the results of those reviews in its results of operations and financial condition as required by U.S. GAAP. For Aflac Japan, the Company’s annual reviews in 2019 and 2018 indicated no need to strengthen liabilities associated with policies in Japan. For Aflac U.S., the Company's annual reviews in 2019 and 2018 indicated no need to strengthen liabilities associated with policies in the U.S.
The table below reflects the growth of the future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.
Future Policy Benefits
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Aflac U.S. | $ | 9,405 |
| | $ | 9,137 |
| |
| Growth rate | 2.9 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
| Aflac Japan | $ | 81,462 |
| | $ | 77,812 |
| |
| Growth rate | 4.7 | % |
| 5.6 | % |
|
| Consolidated | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 86,368 |
| |
| Growth rate | 4.6 | % |
| 5.5 | % |
|
| Yen/dollar exchange rate (end of period) | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| |
| Aflac Japan | ¥ | 8,925 |
| | ¥ | 8,637 |
| |
| Growth rate | 3.3 | % |
| 3.8 | % |
|
The growth of the future policy benefits liability in yen for Aflac Japan and in dollars for Aflac U.S. has been due to the aging of the Company's in-force block of business and the addition of new business.
In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, the Company considers many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. The Company monitors these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, the Company
does not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2019, to changes in severity and frequency of claims.
Sensitivity of Unpaid Policy Claims Liability
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | Total Severity | |
| Total Frequency | Decrease
by 2% | | Decrease
by 1% | | Unchanged | | Increase
by 1% | | Increase
by 2% |
| Increase by 2% | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 25 |
| | | | $ | 50 |
| | | | $ | 76 |
| | | | $ | 101 |
| |
| Increase by 1% | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| | | | 50 |
| | | | 76 |
| |
| Unchanged | | (49 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| | | | 50 |
| |
| Decrease by 1% | | (73 | ) | | | | (49 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | 25 |
| |
| Decrease by 2% | | (97 | ) | | | | (73 | ) | | | | (49 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Other policy liabilities, which accounted for 11% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2019, consisted primarily of annuity and unearned premium reserves, and discounted advance premiums on deposit from policyholders in conjunction with their purchase of certain Aflac Japan insurance products. These advanced premiums are deferred upon collection and recognized as premium revenue over the contractual premium payment period. Advanced premiums represented 24% and 29% of the December 31, 2019 and 2018 other policy liabilities balances, respectively. See the Aflac Japan segment subsection of this MD&A for further information.
Income Taxes
Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing the Company's income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the Company expects the temporary differences to reverse. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with U.S. GAAP is a two-step process. Under the first step, the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The second step is measurement, whereby a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that an amount will not be realized. The determination of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets requires management to make certain judgments and assumptions.
In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets, the Company's management considers all available evidence, including taxable income in open carry back years, the existence of cumulative losses in the most recent years, forecasted earnings, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, future taxable temporary difference reversals, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. In the event the Company determines it is not more likely than not that it will be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, a valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. Likewise, if it is later determined that it is more likely than not that those deferred tax assets would be realized, the previously provided valuation allowance would be reversed. Future economic conditions and market volatility, including increases in interest rates or widening credit spreads, can adversely impact the Company’s tax planning strategies and in particular the Company’s ability to utilize tax benefits on previously recognized capital losses. The Company's judgments and assumptions are subject to change given the inherent uncertainty in predicting future performance and specific industry and investment market conditions.
For additional information on income tax, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.
Future Adoption of Accounting Standard for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, “Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts.” The update, which is expected to significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts, amends existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements applicable to the Company. Issues addressed in the new guidance include: 1) a requirement to review and, if there is a change, update cash flow assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly, 2) accounting for market risk benefits at fair value, 3) simplified amortization for deferred acquisition costs, and 4) enhanced financial statement presentation and disclosures. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-09, “Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Effective Date”, which defers the effective date of ASU 2018-12 for all entities. The amendments are effective for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC,for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early application of the amendments is permitted, however, the Company does not expect to early adopt the updated standard.
The Company is thoroughly evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-12 adoption and expects it will have a significant impact on the Company’s reported financial position, results of operations, and disclosures under U.S. GAAP accounting. The Company anticipates that the requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes and controls while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on its AOCI and equity. The Company currently has no products with market risk benefits.
There are two permitted transition methods upon adoption. The default transition method is a modified retrospective approach or companies may elect to apply the amendments using a full retrospective approach.
Under the modified retrospective method, the opening reserve balance at the transition date, January 1, 2020, would generally be the same as the closing balance before transition; however, it would be updated for changes in the discount rate required under the new guidance.
Regardless of the transition method selected, the new guidance requires that discount rates used for discounting of insurance liabilities be initially adjusted on the adoption date and subsequently at each reporting period to the market levels for the upper-medium-grade (low credit risk) fixed income instrument yields (single-A in the currency of the underlying insurance contract) reflecting the duration of the company’s insurance liabilities. Long duration of the Company’s third-sector insurance liabilities in Japan coupled with limited-to-no-liquidity of the Japanese long-dated fixed-income market creates challenges in application of the market-based discount rate guidance and will require the Company to apply significant judgments in designing discount rate methodologies for its Japanese third-sector liabilities. The update of the discount rate would be recognized in AOCI under both transition methods.
Under the full retrospective method, the Company would restate all historical periods based upon actual historical experience as of contract inception and its updated view of the contractual cash flow projections at transition. A cumulative catch-up adjustment to opening retained earnings would be recognized to reflect the actual experience and updated projections. Companies are permitted to apply a full retrospective transition approach if actual historical information is available for all contracts that will be affected by the new guidance.
The Company has selected the modified retrospective transition method.
The Company expects that under either transition method, the impact to its reported financial statements under U.S. GAAP will be greatly influenced by the nature of the Company’s business model. Adoption of the new guidance will reflect the Company’s concentration in Japan third-sector business, in particular cancer insurance, with respect to which the duration of liabilities is materially longer than asset durations, while Japan’s aggregate block of business continues to see favorable experience from mortality, morbidity, and expenses. Under the modified retrospective method, the impact of a low discount rate applied to long-duration third sector liabilities is recognized at adoption, while associated favorable morbidity margins are recognized over time thus driving a pronounced timing impact to U.S. GAAP equity. In addition, with respect to the Japan segment, the Company maintains a large portfolio of assets designated as held-to-maturity (HTM) as a strategy to reduce capital (solvency margin ratio or SMR) volatility. In a low interest rate environment, such as presently exists in Japan, assets designated as HTM that were purchased in a higher interest rate environment have significant embedded gains not reflected in AOCI (HTM securities are carried at amortized cost under U.S. GAAP), which serves as an economic offset to a low discount rate applied to policy liabilities. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s HTM portfolio was $30.1 billion at amortized cost and had $7.5 billion in net unrealized gains. Pursuant to the implementation of ASU 2019-04, ”Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial
Instruments” (see Note 1 for additional details of this ASU), effective on January 1, 2020, the Company anticipates the reclassification of approximately $6.9 billion (at amortized cost) of pre-payable fixed maturity securities from the HTM to the available-for-sale (AFS) category. This reclassification is expected to result in recording in AOCI a net unrealized gain of approximately $800 million on an after-tax basis based on the securities’ fair values on the reclassification date.After adoption of ASU 2018-12, the Company also expects net earnings and net earnings per share (which were $3.3 billion and $4.43 per diluted share, respectively, in 2019) to reflect larger quarterly fluctuations due to the new requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits.
As an example of the potential impact of the new guidance, and for illustrative purposes only, under the modified retrospective method and in a low interest rate environment, the Company would expect AOCI (which was $6.6 billion at December 31, 2019) to significantly decline upon adoption and to thereafter reflect larger quarterly fluctuations due to the new requirement to quarterly adjust discount rates. Conversely, in a higher interest rate environment, and assuming adoption of the modified retrospective method, the Company would expect AOCI to decline less or even increase (depending on the specifics of the interest rate environment), as well as to reflect quarterly fluctuations. Under the full retrospective method, the Company would expect lesser declines or increases in total equity upon adoption compared to the modified retrospective method due to the potential offsetting effect from updating experience and cash flow projections.
The ultimate impact on these items from the Company’s implementation of the updated standard is subject to assessments that are dependent on many variables, including but not limited to (i) the transition method selected by the Company, (ii) how certain aspects of the new standard will be interpreted and implemented by the Company and other similar companies, such as (but not limited to) amortization of deferred acquisition costs and selection of discounting methodologies and inputs, as well as establishment of policies, processes and controls for setting, monitoring and periodically updating reserve assumptions, and (iii) changes in the interest rate environment in the US and Japan. The impact on transition under the modified retrospective method will be driven by updating discount rates that will increase reserves and lower AOCI by the corresponding amount.
The Company expects that while the adoption of this new accounting guidance will affect the Company’s financial statements under U.S. GAAP, it will not impact financial statements for Aflac Japan under FSA requirements or for Aflac U.S. under applicable statutory requirements. Therefore, the Company does not expect adoption of the updated standard to impact its overall cash flows, subsidiaries’ dividend capacity or their ability to meet applicable regulatory capital standards, nor does the Company anticipate adoption to affect its existing debt covenants or strategies for capital deployment.
New Accounting Pronouncements
During the last three years, various accounting standard-setting bodies have been active in soliciting comments and issuing statements, interpretations and exposure drafts. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company's financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed primarily to the following types of market risks: currency risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and equity risk. Fluctuations in these factors could impact the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition. The Company regularly monitors its market risks and uses a variety of strategies to manage its exposure
to these market risks.
Currency Risk
Aflac Japan
The functional currency of Aflac Japan's insurance operations is the Japanese yen. Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Most of Aflac Japan's cash and liabilities are yen-denominated.
As discussed above in the Investment subsection of Item 1, Business, theThe Company engages in hedging activities to mitigate certain currency risks from holding U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan. However, this hedging program in turn poses a countervailing long-term risk of loss on hedging currency derivatives under the long-term scenario of weakening yen, and related derivative rollover risk that could amplify hedge cost in unfavorable market conditions and significantly increase liquidity requirements to support negative derivative
settlements. Additionally, as discussed in detail in the Risk Factors section titled “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity,” there is a risk that losses realized on derivative settlements during periods of weakening yen may not be recouped through realization of the corresponding holding currency gains on the hedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments if these investments are not ultimately converted to yen. The following table details Aflac Japan's portfolio allocation by currency as of December 31.
Japan Segment Portfolio Allocation by Currency |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | |
| USD program | | $ | 24,435 |
| $ | 24,258 |
| | $ | 22,432 |
| $ | 23,716 |
| |
| Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen | | 1,679 |
| 2,269 |
| | 1,650 |
| 2,549 |
| |
| Total dollar-denominated investments | | 26,114 |
| 26,527 |
| | 24,082 |
| 26,265 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated investments | | 74,974 |
| 86,251 |
| | 72,369 |
| 84,379 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 101,088 |
| $ | 112,778 |
| | $ | 96,451 |
| $ | 110,644 |
| |
As of December 31, 2018, Aflac Japan had $9.9 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency forwards and $9.5 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency options, of which none were in-the-money, hedging the U.S. dollar-denominated investments (USD Program). The fair value of Aflac Japan's unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was $14.4 billion (excluding certain U.S. dollar-denominated assets shown in the table above as a result of consolidation that have been economically converted to yen using derivatives).
As noted above, in late 2017, the Company tookhas taken steps to refine the strategy to mitigate currency exposure of Aflac Japan from U.S. dollar-denominated investments while balancing the consideration of the stressed economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan. This refinement in strategy resulted in an increased amount of the unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments held in Aflac Japan while at the same time mitigating hedge cost increases. Generally, Aflac Japan’s exposure to the currency risk increases when its portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments increases. This increases the volatility of the SMR and FSA earnings and may result in an adverse impact on these regulatory measures when yen appreciates relatively to U.S. dollar. This in turn may reduce Aflac Japan’s dividend capacity, as well as increase the level of capital needed to support increased SMR volatility. The adverse impact on the regulatory measures could be amplified by regulatory accounting rules requiring impairment loss recognition on prolonged significant declines in U.S. dollar relative to yen. Furthermore, under the scenario where unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated investments are needed to pay Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated obligations, they would have to be converted to yen, which could force realization of the then potential currency losses. As the value of the U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio in Aflac Japan fluctuates and the Company’s business model evolves, the Company periodically reevaluates this size of the unhedged portfolio and may accordingly adjust up or down its currency hedging targets. See additional discussion in the Risk Factors section titled "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate."
Aflac Inc.The Parent Company
The Company is exposed to currency risk as an economic event when yen funds are actually converted into U.S. dollars. This occurs when yen-denominated funds are paid as dividends and management fees from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company and with quarterly settlements of its reinsurance retrocession transactions. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of yen payments will differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. A portion of the yen dividend and management fee payments may be used to service Aflac Incorporated's yen-denominated notes payable with the remainder converted into U.S. dollars.
In addition to yen payments and the reinsurance retrocessions, certain investment activities for Aflac Japan expose the Company to economic currency risk when yen are converted into U.S. dollars. As noted above, the Company invests a portion of its yen cash flows in U.S. dollar-denominated assets. This requires that the Company convert the yen cash flows to U.S. dollars before investing. As previously discussed, for certain of its U.S. dollar-denominated securities, the Company enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts to hedge the currency risk on the fair value of hedged
investments. In 2018, the Parent Company entered into forward contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency rate risk to dividend payments by Aflac Japan, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. If the markets experience a significant strengthening of yen, this could cause cash strain at the Parent Company as a result of cash collateral and potentially cash settlement requirements. Based on the timing and severity of exchange rate fluctuations combined with the level of outstanding activity in this program, the cash strain at the Parent Company could be significant.
Aside from the activities discussed above, the Company generally does not convert yen into U.S. dollars; however, it does translate financial statement amounts from yen into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, reported amounts are affected by foreign currency fluctuations. The Company reports unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income.AOCI. In periods when the yen weakens against the dollar, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into U.S. dollars causes more U.S. dollars to be reported. The weakening of the yen relative to the U.S. dollar will generally adversely affect the value of the Company's yen-denominated investments in U.S. dollar terms. The Company also considers the stressed economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan and related exposure to foreign currency. The Company manages this currency risk by investing a portion of Aflac Japan's investment portfolio in U.S. dollar-denominated securities and by the Parent Company's issuance of yen-denominated debt (for additional information, see the discussion under the Investments subsection within Item 1, Business).debt. As a result, the effect of currency fluctuations on the Company's net assets is reduced.
The following table demonstrates the effect of foreign currency fluctuations by presenting the dollar values of the Company's yen-denominated assets and liabilities, and its consolidated yen-denominated net asset exposure at selected exchange rates as of December 31.
Dollar Value of Yen-Denominated Assets and Liabilities
at Selected Exchange Rates
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Yen/dollar exchange rates | 96.00 |
| | 111.00 (1) |
| | 126.00 |
| | 98.00 |
| | 113.00(1) |
| | 128.00 |
| | 94.56 |
| | 109.56 (1) |
| | 124.56 |
| | 96.00 |
| | 111.00(1) |
| | 126.00 |
| |
| Yen-denominated financial instruments: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Securities available for sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities (2) | $ | 55,600 |
| | $ | 48,086 |
| | $ | 42,362 |
| | $ | 51,504 |
| | $ | 44,666 |
| | $ | 39,433 |
| | $ | 60,391 |
| | $ | 52,123 |
| | $ | 45,846 |
| | $ | 55,600 |
| | $ | 48,086 |
| | $ | 42,362 |
| |
Fixed maturity securities - consolidated
variable interest entities (3) | 941 |
| | 814 |
| | 717 |
| | 1,089 |
| | 944 |
| | 834 |
| | 995 |
| | 858 |
| | 755 |
| | 941 |
| | 814 |
| | 717 |
| |
| Securities held to maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities | 35,055 |
| | 30,318 |
| | 26,709 |
| | 36,240 |
| | 31,430 |
| | 27,747 |
| | 34,858 |
| | 30,085 |
| | 26,462 |
| | 35,055 |
| | 30,318 |
| | 26,709 |
| |
| Equity securities | 742 |
| | 641 |
| | 565 |
| | 126 |
| | 109 |
| | 96 |
| | 763 |
| | 658 |
| | 579 |
| | 742 |
| | 641 |
| | 565 |
| |
Equity securities - consolidated variable
interest entities | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 675 |
| | 586 |
| | 517 |
| | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 988 |
| | 855 |
| | 753 |
| | 222 |
| | 193 |
| | 170 |
| | 1,296 |
| | 1,119 |
| | 984 |
| | 988 |
| | 855 |
| | 753 |
| |
| Derivatives | 2,712 |
| | 417 |
| | 949 |
| | 1,961 |
| | 331 |
| | 528 |
| | 2,718 |
| | 482 |
| | 2,457 |
| | 2,712 |
| | 417 |
| | 949 |
| |
| Other financial instruments | 253 |
| | 219 |
| | 192 |
| | 228 |
| | 198 |
| | 175 |
| | 271 |
| | 234 |
| | 205 |
| | 253 |
| | 219 |
| | 192 |
| |
| Subtotal | 96,291 |
| | 81,350 |
| | 72,247 |
| | 92,045 |
| | 78,457 |
| | 69,500 |
| | 101,292 |
| | 85,559 |
| | 77,288 |
| | 96,291 |
| | 81,350 |
| | 72,247 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Notes payable | 2,120 |
| | 1,831 |
| | 1,615 |
| | 1,535 |
| | 1,331 |
| | 1,175 |
| | 2,968 |
| | 2,558 |
| | 2,253 |
| | 2,120 |
| | 1,831 |
| | 1,615 |
| |
| Derivatives | 1,318 |
| | 387 |
| | 2,138 |
| | 516 |
| | 474 |
| | 2,177 |
| | 1,807 |
| | 586 |
| | 3,463 |
| | 1,318 |
| | 387 |
| | 2,138 |
| |
| Subtotal | 3,438 |
| | 2,218 |
| | 3,753 |
| | 2,051 |
| | 1,805 |
| | 3,352 |
| | 4,775 |
| | 3,144 |
| | 5,716 |
| | 3,438 |
| | 2,218 |
| | 3,753 |
| |
| Net yen-denominated financial instruments | 92,853 |
| | 79,132 |
| | 68,494 |
| | 89,994 |
| | 76,652 |
| | 66,148 |
| | 96,517 |
| | 82,415 |
| | 71,572 |
| | 92,853 |
| | 79,132 |
| | 68,494 |
| |
| Other yen-denominated assets | 10,795 |
| | 9,336 |
| | 8,225 |
| | 9,406 |
| | 8,157 |
| | 7,201 |
| | 10,304 |
| | 8,893 |
| | 7,822 |
| | 10,795 |
| | 9,336 |
| | 8,225 |
| |
| Other yen-denominated liabilities | 113,994 |
| | 98,590 |
| | 86,853 |
| | 107,761 |
| | 93,456 |
| | 82,504 |
| | 118,869 |
| | 102,595 |
| | 90,240 |
| | 113,994 |
| | 98,590 |
| | 86,853 |
| |
Consolidated yen-denominated net assets
(liabilities) subject to foreign currency
fluctuation(2) | $ | (10,346 | ) | | $ | (10,122 | ) | | $ | (10,134 | ) | | $ | (8,361 | ) | | $ | (8,647 | ) | | $ | (9,155 | ) | | $ | (12,048 | ) | | $ | (11,287 | ) | | $ | (10,846 | ) | | $ | (10,346 | ) | | $ | (10,122 | ) | | $ | (10,134 | ) | |
(2) Does not include the U.S. dollar-denominated corporate bonds for which the Company has entered into foreign currency derivatives as discussed in the Aflac Japan Investment subsection of MD&A
(3) Does not include U.S. dollar-denominated bonds that have corresponding cross-currency swaps in consolidated VIEs
The Company is required to consolidate certain VIEs. Some of the consolidated VIEs in Aflac Japan's portfolio use foreign currency swaps to convert foreign denominated cash flows to yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan, in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations. Foreign currency swaps exchange an initial principal amount in two currencies, agreeing to re-exchange the currencies at a future date, at an agreed upon exchange rate. There may also be periodic exchanges of payments at specified intervals based on the agreed upon rates and notional amounts. Prior to consolidation, the Company's beneficial interest in these VIEs was a yen-denominated available-for-sale fixed maturity security. Upon consolidation, the original yen-denominated investment was derecognized and the underlying fixed maturity securities and cross-currency swaps were recognized. The combination of a U.S. dollar-denominated investment and cross-currency swap economically creates a yen-denominated investment and has no impact on the Company's net investment hedge position.
Similarly, the combination of the U.S. corporate bonds and the foreign currency forwards and options that the Company has entered into, as discussed in the Aflac Japan Investment subsection of MD&A, economically creates a yen-denominated investment that qualifies for inclusion as a component of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan for net investment hedge purposes.
For additional information regarding the Company's Aflac Japan net investment hedge, see the Hedging Activities subsection of MD&A.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company's primary interest rate exposure is to the impact of changes in interest rates on the fair value of its investments in debt securities. The Company monitors its investment portfolio on a quarterly basis utilizing a full valuation methodology, measuring price volatility, and sensitivity of the fair values of its investments to interest rate changes on the debt securities the Company owns. For example, if the current duration of a debt security is 10 years, then the fair value of that security will increase by approximately 10% if market interest rates decrease by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant. Likewise, the fair value of the debt security will decrease by approximately 10% if market interest rates increase by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant.
The estimated effect of potential increases in interest rates on the fair values of debt securities the Company owns; derivatives, excluding credit default swaps, and notes payable as of December 31 follows:
Sensitivity of Fair Values of Financial Instruments
to Interest Rate Changes
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Fair
Value | +100
Basis
Points | | Fair
Value | +100
Basis
Points | Fair
Value | +100
Basis
Points | | Fair
Value | +100
Basis
Points |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Debt securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | $ | 85,622 |
| | $ | 73,673 |
| | $ | 83,682 |
| | $ | 72,146 |
| | | $ | 90,575 |
| | $ | 78,193 |
| | $ | 85,622 |
| | $ | 73,673 |
| |
| Dollar-denominated | | 33,995 |
| | 31,327 |
| | 38,703 |
| | 35,518 |
| | | 38,281 |
| | 35,013 |
| | 33,995 |
| | 31,327 |
| |
| Total debt securities | | $ | 119,617 |
| | $ | 105,000 |
| | $ | 122,385 |
| | $ | 107,664 |
| | | $ | 128,856 |
| | $ | 113,206 |
| | $ | 119,617 |
| | $ | 105,000 |
| |
Loans and loan receivables(1) | | $ | 6,893 |
| | $ | 6,834 |
| | $ | 2,987 |
| | $ | 2,932 |
| | |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans | | | $ | 9,648 |
| | $ | 9,540 |
| | $ | 6,893 |
| | $ | 6,834 |
| |
| Derivatives | | $ | 417 |
| | $ | 614 |
| | $ | 330 |
| | $ | 533 |
| | | $ | 482 |
| | $ | 527 |
| | $ | 417 |
| | $ | 614 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Notes payable(2)(1) | | $ | 5,876 |
| | $ | 5,415 |
| | $ | 5,553 |
| | $ | 4,900 |
| | | $ | 6,935 |
| | $ | 6,065 |
| | $ | 5,876 |
| | $ | 5,415 |
| |
| Derivatives | | 387 |
| | 422 |
| | 474 |
| | 293 |
| | | 586 |
| | 463 |
| | 387 |
| | 422 |
| |
(1)Includes TREs, CMLs and MMLs, excludes policy loans
(2)Excludes capitalized lease obligations
There are various factors that affect the fair value of the Company's investment in debt securities. Included in those factors are changes in the prevailing interest rate environment, which directly affect the balance of unrealized gains or losses for a given period in relation to a prior period. Decreases in market yields generally improve the fair value of debt securities, while increases in market yields generally have a negative impact on the fair value of the Company's debt securities. However, the Company does not expect to realize a majority of any unrealized gains or losses. For additional information on unrealized losses on debt securities, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac Japan's yen-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | |
| (In years) | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Yen-denominated debt securities | 16 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years | 15 |
| | 14 |
| |
| Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force | 10 |
| | 10 |
| |
|
| | | | | | |
| (In years) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Yen-denominated debt securities | 15 |
| | 16 |
| |
| Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years | 14 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force | 10 |
| | 10 |
| |
The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac U.S. dollar-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
| | | (In years) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Dollar-denominated debt securities | 9 |
| | 10 |
| | 9 |
| | 9 |
| |
| Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years | 8 |
| | 8 |
| | 8 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force | 6 |
| | 6 |
| | 6 |
| | 6 |
| |
The following table shows a comparison of average required interest rates for future policy benefits and investment yields, based on amortized cost, for the years ended December 31.
Comparison of Interest Rates for Future Policy Benefits
and Investment Yields
(Net of Investment Expenses)
| | | | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2019 | 2018 |
| | U.S. | Japan | U.S. | Japan | U.S. | Japan | U.S. | Japan | U.S. | Japan |
| Policies issued during year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Required interest on policy reserves | | 3.69 | % | | 1.00 | % | (1) | | 3.69 | % | | 1.10 | % | (1) | | 3.67 | % | | 1.38 | % | (1) | | 3.68 | % | | .96 | % | (1) | | 3.69 | % | | 1.00 | % | (1) |
| New money yield on investments | | 4.44 |
| | 2.94 |
| | 4.41 |
| | 1.88 |
| | 3.81 |
| | 1.30 |
| | | 4.33 |
| | 3.70 |
| | 4.44 |
| | 2.94 |
| |
| Policies in force at year-end: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Required interest on policy reserves | | 5.34 |
| | 3.29 |
| (1) | | 5.43 |
| | 3.38 |
| (1) | | 5.51 |
| | 3.49 |
| (1) | | 5.26 |
| | 3.20 |
| (1) | | 5.34 |
| | 3.29 |
| (1) |
| Portfolio book yield, end of period | | 5.44 |
| | 2.49 |
| | 5.44 |
| | 2.46 |
| | 5.52 |
| | 2.52 |
| | | 5.22 |
| | 2.51 |
| | 5.44 |
| | 2.49 |
| |
Aflac Japan investment yields above includes U.S. dollar–denominated investment yields prior to factoring in amortized hedge costs. The Company continues to monitor the spread between its new money yield and the required interest assumption for newly issued products in both the United StatesU.S. and Japan and will re-evaluate those assumptions as necessary. Currently, when investments the Company owns mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. Overall, adequate profit margins exist in Aflac Japan's aggregate block of business because of changes in the mix of business and favorable experience from mortality, morbidity and expenses.
The Company holds investments and has issued debt with interest rates based on LIBOR, and also holds derivatives that reference LIBOR. Regulatory and industry initiatives to eliminate LIBOR as an interest rate benchmark may create uncertainty in the valuation of LIBOR-based loans, as well as for other LIBOR-based derivatives and assets. This may adversely impact both pricing and liquidity in such instruments. The Company is preparing for the expected discontinuation of LIBOR by identifying, assessing and monitoring risks associated with LIBOR transition. Preparation includes taking steps to update operational processes (including to support alternative reference rates) and models, as well as evaluating legacy contracts for any changes that may be required, including the determination of applicable fallbacks.
Periodically, the Company may enter into derivative transactions to hedge interest rate risk, depending on general economic conditions.
For furtheradditional information on interest rate derivatives, see the Hedging Activities subsection of MD&A and Note 4 of the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Credit Risk
A significant portion of the Company's investment portfolio consists of debt securities and loans that expose it to the credit risk of the underlying issuer or borrower. The Company carefully evaluates this risk on every new investment and closely monitors the credit risk of its existing investment portfolio. The Company incorporates the needs of its products and liabilities, the overall requirements of the business, and other factors in addition to its underwriting of the credit risk for each investment in the portfolio.
Evaluating the underlying risks in the Company's credit portfolio involves a multitude of factors including but not limited to its assessment of the issuer's or borrower's business activities, assets, products, market position, financial condition, and future prospects. The Company incorporates the assessment of the NRSROs in assigning credit ratings and incorporates the rating methodologies of its specialist external managers in assigning loan ratings to portfolio holdings. The Company performs extensive internal assessments of the credit risks for all its portfolio holdings and potential new investments, which includes using analyses provided by the Company's specialist external managers. For assets managed by external asset managers, the Company provides investment and credit risk parameters that must be used when making investment decisions and requirerequires ongoing monitoring and reporting from the asset managers on significant changes in credit risks within the portfolio.
Investment Concentrations
The Company's 15 largest global investment exposures were as follows:
Largest Global Investment Positions
(In millions)
December 31, 20182019
| | | | | Total | | % of Total | | | Total | | % of Total | |
| No. | | Consolidated Corporate/Sovereign Exposure | | Consolidated | | Fixed Maturity | | Credit | | Consolidated Corporate/Sovereign Exposure | | Consolidated | | Fixed Maturity | | Credit |
| | | Book Value | | Securities | | Rating | | Book Value | | Securities | | Rating |
| 1 | | Japan National Government (1) | | $ | 51,207 |
| | 47.78 | % | | A+ | | Japan National Government (1) | | $ | 51,726 |
| | 47.26 | % | | A+ |
| 2 | | Bank of America NA | | 411 |
| | .38 |
| | | Bank of America NA | | 416 |
| | .38 |
| |
| | | Bank of America Corp. | | 231 |
| | .21 |
| | A- | | Bank of America Corp. | | 233 |
| | .21 |
| | A |
| | | Bank of America Corp. | | 180 |
| | .17 |
| | BBB+ | | Bank of America Corp. | | 183 |
| | .17 |
| | BBB+ |
| 3 | | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. | | 405 |
| | .38 |
| | A- | | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. | | 411 |
| | .38 |
| | A- |
| 4 | | Investcorp SA | | 383 |
| | .36 |
| | BB | | Investcorp SA | | 388 |
| | .35 |
| | BB |
| 5 | | Republic of South Africa | | 360 |
| | .34 |
| | BB+ | | Republic of South Africa | | 365 |
| | .33 |
| | BB+ |
| 6 | | Banobras | | 333 |
| | .31 |
| | BBB+ | | Banobras | | 338 |
| | .31 |
| | BBB+ |
| 7 | | Nordea Bank AB | | 302 |
| | .28 |
| | | Walt Disney Co. | | 330 |
| | .30 |
| | A |
| 8 | | | Nordea Bank AB | | 306 |
| | .28 |
| |
| | | Nordea Bank AB | | 231 |
| | .21 |
| | A- | | Nordea Bank AB | | 234 |
| | .21 |
| | A- |
| | | Nordea Bank AB | | 71 |
| | .07 |
| | BBB+ | | Nordea Bank AB | | 72 |
| | .07 |
| | BBB+ |
| 8 | | AXA | | 293 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ | |
| 9 | | Deutsche Telekom AG | | 291 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ | | AXA | | 296 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ |
| 10 | | Japan Expswy Hld and Debt | | 291 |
| | .27 |
| | A+ | | Japan Expswy Hld and Debt | | 295 |
| | .27 |
| | A+ |
| 11 | | CFE | | 287 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ | | Deutsche Telekom AG | | 295 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ |
| 12 | | AT&T Inc. | | 281 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB | | AT&T Inc. | | 293 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB |
| 13 | | Czech Republic | | 270 |
| | .25 |
| | A+ | | CFE | | 291 |
| | .27 |
| | BBB+ |
| 14 | | Investor AB | | 270 |
| | .25 |
| | AA- | | Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) | | 274 |
| | .25 |
| | BBB- |
| 15 | | Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) | | 270 |
| | .25 |
| | BBB+ | | Czech Republic | | 274 |
| | .25 |
| | AA- |
| | | Subtotal | | $ | 55,654 |
| | 51.93 | % | | | | Subtotal | | $ | 56,298 |
| | 51.44 | % | | |
| | | Total fixed maturity securities | | $ | 107,174 |
| | 100.00 | % | | | Total fixed maturity securities | | $ | 109,456 |
| | 100.00 | % | |
(1)JGBs or JGB-backed securities
As previously disclosed, the Company owns long-dated debt instruments in support of its long-dated policyholder obligations. Some of the Company's largest global investment holdings are positions that were purchased many years ago and increased in size due to merger and consolidation activity among the issuing entities. In addition, many of the Company's largest holdings are yen-denominated, therefore strengthening of the yen can increase its position in dollars, and weakening of the yen can decrease its position in dollars. The Company's global investment guidelines establish concentration limits for its investment portfolios.
Geographical Exposure
The following table indicates the geographic exposure of the Company's debt securities as of December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| (In millions) | Amortized Cost | | % of
Total | | Amortized Cost | | % of
Total | | Amortized Cost | | % of
Total | | Amortized Cost | | % of
Total | |
| Japan | $ | 55,486 |
| | 51.8 | % | | $ | 51,983 |
| | 48.8 | % | | $ | 56,020 |
| | 51.2 | % | | $ | 55,486 |
| | 51.8 | % | |
United States and Canada (1) | 29,371 |
| | 27.4 |
| | 31,052 |
| | 29.1 |
| | 30,321 |
| | 27.7 |
| | 29,371 |
| | 27.4 |
| |
| United Kingdom | 3,038 |
| | 2.8 |
| | 2,603 |
| | 2.4 |
| | 3,371 |
| | 3.1 |
| | 3,038 |
| | 2.8 |
| |
| Germany | 2,179 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2,323 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 2,441 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 2,179 |
| | 2.0 |
| |
| France | 2,030 |
| | 1.9 |
| | 1,983 |
| | 1.9 |
| | 2,261 |
| | 2.1 |
| | 2,030 |
| | 1.9 |
| |
| Peripheral Eurozone | 2,165 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2,312 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 1,788 |
| | 1.6 |
| | 2,165 |
| | 2.0 |
| |
| Portugal | 215 |
| | .2 |
| | 211 |
| | .2 |
| | 91 |
| | .1 |
| | 215 |
| | .2 |
| |
| Italy | 1,261 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1,261 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1,108 |
| | 1.0 |
| | 1,261 |
| | 1.2 |
| |
| Ireland | 29 |
| | .0 |
| | 32 |
| | .0 |
| | 12 |
| | .0 |
| | 29 |
| | .0 |
| |
| Spain | 660 |
| | .6 |
| | 808 |
| | .8 |
| | 577 |
| | .5 |
| | 660 |
| | .6 |
| |
| Nordic Region | 1,615 |
| | 1.6 |
| | 1,611 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 1,878 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 1,615 |
| | 1.6 |
| |
| Sweden | 779 |
| | .7 |
| | 725 |
| | .7 |
| | 972 |
| | .9 |
| | 779 |
| | .7 |
| |
| Norway | 378 |
| | .4 |
| | 451 |
| | .4 |
| | 383 |
| | .3 |
| | 378 |
| | .4 |
| |
| Denmark | 270 |
| | .3 |
| | 177 |
| | .2 |
| | 333 |
| | .3 |
| | 270 |
| | .3 |
| |
| Finland | 188 |
| | .2 |
| | 258 |
| | .2 |
| | 190 |
| | .2 |
| | 188 |
| | .2 |
| |
| Other Europe | 2,425 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 2,489 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 2,699 |
| | 2.5 |
| | 2,425 |
| | 2.3 |
| |
| Netherlands | 1,206 |
| | 1.1 |
| | 1,183 |
| | 1.1 |
| | 1,276 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1,206 |
| | 1.1 |
| |
| Switzerland | 258 |
| | .2 |
| | 307 |
| | .3 |
| | 417 |
| | .4 |
| | 258 |
| | .2 |
| |
| Czech Republic | 451 |
| | .5 |
| | 442 |
| | .4 |
| | 484 |
| | .4 |
| | 451 |
| | .5 |
| |
| Austria | 125 |
| | .1 |
| | 123 |
| | .1 |
| | 127 |
| | .1 |
| | 125 |
| | .1 |
| |
| Belgium | 178 |
| | .2 |
| | 168 |
| | .1 |
| | 189 |
| | .2 |
| | 178 |
| | .2 |
| |
| Poland | 180 |
| | .2 |
| | 177 |
| | .2 |
| | 183 |
| | .2 |
| | 180 |
| | .2 |
| |
| Luxembourg | 27 |
| | .0 |
| | 89 |
| | .1 |
| | 23 |
| | .0 |
| | 27 |
| | .0 |
| |
| Asia excluding Japan | 2,722 |
| | 2.5 |
| | 3,408 |
| | 3.2 |
| | 2,671 |
| | 2.5 |
| | 2,722 |
| | 2.5 |
| |
| Africa and Middle East | 2,018 |
| | 1.9 |
| | 2,460 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 1,801 |
| | 1.6 |
| | 2,018 |
| | 1.9 |
| |
| Latin America | 2,153 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2,318 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 2,183 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2,153 |
| | 2.0 |
| |
| Australia | 1,620 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 1,572 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 1,774 |
| | 1.6 |
| | 1,620 |
| | 1.5 |
| |
| All Others | 352 |
| | .3 |
| | 448 |
| | .4 |
| | 248 |
| | .2 |
| | 352 |
| | .3 |
| |
| Total fixed maturity securities | $ | 107,174 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 106,562 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 109,456 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 107,174 |
| | 100.0 | % | |
(1) Includes total exposure to Puerto Rico of $1 million of required deposits at both December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, of which 100% had principal and interest insurance at both December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.
The primary factor considered when determining the domicile of investment exposure is the legal country risk location of the issuer. However, other factors such as the location of the parent guarantor, the location of the company's headquarters or major business operations (including location of major assets), location of primary market (including location of revenue generation) and specific country risk publicly recognized by rating agencies can influence the assignment of the country (or geographic) risk location. When the issuer is a special financing vehicle or a branch or subsidiary of a global company, then the Company considers any guarantees and/or legal, regulatory and corporate relationships of the issuer relative to its ultimate parent in determining the proper assignment of country risk.
Derivative Counterparties
The Company is a direct counterparty to the foreign currency swaps that it has entered into in connection with certainmajority of its senior notesderivative instruments and subordinated debentures; foreign currency forwards; foreign currency options; and interest rate swaptions, therefore the Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties in those contracts. For the foreign currency and credit default swaps associated with the Company's VIE investments for which it is the primary beneficiary, the Company bears the risk of foreign exchange and/or credit loss due to counterparty default even though it is not a direct counterparty to those contracts. The risk of counterparty default for the Company's VIE and senior note and subordinated debenture swaps, foreign currency swaps, certain foreign currency forwards, foreign currency options and interest rate swaptions is mitigated by collateral posting requirements that counterparties to those transactions must meet. If collateral posting agreements are not in place, the counterparty risk associated with foreign currency forwards and foreign currency options is the risk that at expiry of the contract, the counterparty is unable to deliver the agreed upon amount of yen at the agreed upon price or delivery date, thus exposing the Company to additional unhedged exposure to U.S. dollars in the Aflac Japan investment portfolio. See Note 4 of the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Equity Risk
Market prices for equity securities are subject to fluctuation and consequently the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of a security may result from the relative price of alternative investments and general market conditions. If equity prices experienced a hypothetical broad-based decline of 10%, the fair value of the Company's equity investments would decline by approximately $99$80 million.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of ourthe Company's management, including ourits principal executive officer and principal financial officer, wethe Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of ourits internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in 2013. Based on ourthe Company's evaluation under this framework, management has concluded that ourthe Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.2019.
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018,2019, which is included herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Aflac Incorporated:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”)Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018,2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.Commission (COSO) in 2013. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018,2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.Commission (COSO) in 2013.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”)(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018,2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedules II, III, and IV (collectively, the “consolidatedconsolidated financial statements”)statements), and our report dated February 25, 201921, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Atlanta, Georgia
February 25, 201921, 2020
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Aflac Incorporated:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the “Company”)Company) as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2018,2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedules II, III, and IV (collectively, the “consolidatedconsolidated financial statements”)statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2018,2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”)(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018,2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in 2013, and our report dated February 25, 201921, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Assessment of the measurement of fair value of certain investments and derivatives
As discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has certain privately issued securities and derivative instruments associated with variable interest entities (VIEs) that require significant judgment in the estimation of fair value. The fair value of privately issued securities are estimated using valuation models developed by a third party pricing vendor and require judgment to determine the inputs and assumptions used in the valuation models, such as credit default swap (CDS) spreads and the selection of comparable securities, when appropriate. The fair value of the Company’s derivatives associated with VIEs are also estimated using valuation models developed by a third party pricing vendor. Given the long duration of derivatives associated with VIEs, the estimate of the fair value requires judgment to extrapolate short-term observable data into long-term inputs for use in the valuation models. As of December 31, 2019, the value of privately issued securities are included within the financial statement captions of fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value; fixed maturity securities available for sale - consolidated variable interest entities, at fair value; and, fixed maturity securities held to maturity, at amortized cost, which totaled $86,950 million, $4,312 million, and $30,085 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the fair value of derivatives associated with VIEs are included within the financial statement captions of other assets and other liabilities, which totaled $2,368 million and $3,440 million, respectively.
We identified the assessment of the measurement of fair value of certain privately issued securities and derivative instruments associated with VIEs as a critical audit matter. Due to the complexity of the valuation models, specialized valuation skills and knowledge and subjective auditor judgment were needed to evaluate the valuation models and the inputs and assumptions used in the models to estimate fair value.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested certain internal controls, with the involvement of valuation professionals when appropriate, over the Company’s process to estimate the fair value of such securities and derivative instruments, including controls over the Company’s evaluation of the inputs, assumptions and estimates of fair value obtained from its third party pricing vendor. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to assist in assessing the estimated fair values of such securities and derivative instruments, which included:
| |
| – | Evaluating the inputs and assumptions used in the models to estimate the fair value of the privately issued securities, including an assessment of the determination of comparable securities and/or CDS spreads used by the third party pricing vendor for a selection of privately issued securities. |
| |
| – | Assessing the internal models used by the Company to evaluate the fair values for privately issued securities and derivatives associated with VIEs obtained from the third party pricing vendor. We observed that differences, if any, in fair value between the Company and the third party pricing vendor above pre-established tolerances were investigated by the Company. |
| |
| – | Developing an independent estimate of the fair value for a selection of privately issued securities and derivative instruments associated with VIEs and comparing our independent estimate to the fair value measurement recorded by the Company. |
Assessment of the estimate of unpaid policy claims
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, unpaid policy claims are estimates computed primarily on an undiscounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims experience adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The estimates are evaluated by the Company and, as new claim experience emerges, the estimates are adjusted as necessary. As of December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a liability for unpaid policy claims of $4,659 million.
We identified the assessment of the estimate of unpaid policy claims as a critical audit matter. Specialized actuarial skills and knowledge and subjective auditor judgment were needed to evaluate the actuarial methodologies and assumptions used to estimate the unpaid policy claims liability and determine that the Company’s methodologies are consistent with generally accepted actuarial methodologies.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested, with the involvement of actuarial professionals when appropriate, certain internal controls over the Company’s process to estimate the unpaid policy claims liability, including controls related to the evaluation of the actuarial methodologies and assumptions used in the calculation of the unpaid policy claims liability. We involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to assist in assessing the unpaid policy claims liability, which included:
| |
| – | Assessing the actuarial methodologies and assumptions utilized by the Company by comparing them to generally accepted actuarial methodologies and historical results. |
| |
| – | Evaluating the Company’s estimate of the unpaid policy claims liability by comparing to historical results and our expectations of changes in the estimate. |
| |
| – | Developing an independent range for the estimate of unpaid policy claims for certain products to evaluate the Company’s recorded liability and assessing any movement of the recorded liability within our range. |
| |
| – | Evaluating the Company’s historical ability to estimate unpaid policy claims by comparing the unpaid policy claims liability for certain products recorded by the Company at various historical periods to an independent range developed using claims paid through December 31, 2019. |
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1963.
Atlanta, Georgia
February 25, 201921, 2020
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net premiums, principally supplemental health insurance | | $ | 18,780 |
| | | | $ | 18,677 |
| | | | $ | 18,531 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 3,578 |
| | | | 3,442 |
| | | | 3,220 |
| |
| Realized investment gains (losses): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized and loan loss reserves | | (31 | ) | | | | (81 | ) | | | | (37 | ) | |
| Other gains (losses) | | (104 | ) | | | | (349 | ) | | | | (114 | ) | |
| Total realized investment gains (losses) | | (135 | ) | | | | (430 | ) | | | | (151 | ) | |
| Other income (loss) | | 84 |
| | | | 69 |
| | | | 67 |
| |
| Total revenues | | 22,307 |
| | | | 21,758 |
| | | | 21,667 |
| |
| Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | | 11,942 |
| | | | 12,000 |
| | | | 12,181 |
| |
| Acquisition and operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | 1,282 |
| | | | 1,245 |
| | | | 1,132 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | | 1,321 |
| | | | 1,320 |
| | | | 1,316 |
| |
Insurance and other expenses (1) | | 3,089 |
| | | | 2,988 |
| | | | 2,780 |
| |
| Interest expense | | 228 |
| | | | 222 |
| | | | 240 |
| |
| Total acquisition and operating expenses | | 5,920 |
| | | | 5,775 |
| | | | 5,468 |
| |
| Total benefits and expenses | | 17,862 |
| | | | 17,775 |
| | | | 17,649 |
| |
| Earnings before income taxes | | 4,445 |
| | | | 3,983 |
| | | | 4,018 |
| |
| Income tax expense: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | 806 |
| | | | 1,379 |
| | | | 631 |
| |
| Deferred | | 335 |
| | | | (316 | ) | | | | (1,217 | ) | |
| Income taxes | | 1,141 |
| | | | 1,063 |
| | | | (586 | ) | |
| Net earnings | | $ | 3,304 |
| | | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| |
| Net earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | 4.45 |
| | | | $ | 3.79 |
| | | | $ | 5.81 |
| |
| Diluted | | 4.43 |
| | | | 3.77 |
| | | | 5.77 |
| |
Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in
computing earnings per share (In thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | 742,414 |
| | | | 769,588 |
| | | | 792,042 |
| |
| Diluted | | 746,430 |
| | | | 774,650 |
| | | | 797,861 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net premiums, principally supplemental health insurance | | $ | 18,677 |
| | | | $ | 18,531 |
| | | | $ | 19,225 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 3,442 |
| | | | 3,220 |
| | | | 3,278 |
| |
| Realized investment gains (losses): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized | | (81 | ) | | | | (37 | ) | | | | (85 | ) | |
Other gains (losses) (1) | | (349 | ) | | | | (114 | ) | | | | 71 |
| |
| Total realized investment gains (losses) | | (430 | ) | | | | (151 | ) | | | | (14 | ) | |
| Other income (loss) | | 69 |
| | | | 67 |
| | | | 70 |
| |
| Total revenues | | 21,758 |
| | | | 21,667 |
| | | | 22,559 |
| |
| Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefits and claims, net | | 12,000 |
| | | | 12,181 |
| | | | 12,919 |
| |
| Acquisition and operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | 1,245 |
| | | | 1,132 |
| | | | 1,141 |
| |
| Insurance commissions | | 1,320 |
| | | | 1,316 |
| | | | 1,368 |
| |
Insurance and other expenses (2) | | 2,988 |
| | | | 2,780 |
| | | | 2,796 |
| |
| Interest expense | | 222 |
| | | | 240 |
| | | | 268 |
| |
| Total acquisition and operating expenses | | 5,775 |
| | | | 5,468 |
| | | | 5,573 |
| |
| Total benefits and expenses | | 17,775 |
| | | | 17,649 |
| | | | 18,492 |
| |
| Earnings before income taxes | | 3,983 |
| | | | 4,018 |
| | | | 4,067 |
| |
| Income tax expense: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | 1,379 |
| | | | 631 |
| | | | 884 |
| |
| Deferred | | (316 | ) | | | | (1,217 | ) | | | | 524 |
| |
| Income taxes | | 1,063 |
| | | | (586 | ) | | | | 1,408 |
| |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| | | | $ | 2,659 |
| |
| Net earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | 3.79 |
| | | | $ | 5.81 |
| | | | $ | 3.23 |
| |
| Diluted | | 3.77 |
| | | | 5.77 |
| | | | 3.21 |
| |
Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in
computing earnings per share (In thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | 769,588 |
| | | | 792,042 |
| | | | 822,942 |
| |
| Diluted | | 774,650 |
| | | | 797,861 |
| | | | 827,841 |
| |
(1)See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
(2) Includes expense of $13 in 2017 and $137 in 2016 for the early extinguishment of debt
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Net earnings | | $ | 3,304 |
| | | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during
period | | 252 |
| | | | 232 |
| | | | 286 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities
during period | | 5,870 |
| | | | (3,155 | ) | | | | 1,731 |
| |
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on
fixed maturity securities included in net earnings | | (18 | ) | | | | 46 |
| | | | 2 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period | | (12 | ) | | | | 2 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
| Pension liability adjustment during period | | (85 | ) | | | | (25 | ) | | | | 9 |
| |
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes | | 6,007 |
| | | | (2,900 | ) | | | | 2,029 |
| |
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive
income (loss) | | 1,543 |
| | | | (797 | ) | | | | 631 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes | | 4,464 |
| | | | (2,103 | ) | | | | 1,398 |
| |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 7,768 |
| | | | $ | 817 |
| | | | $ | 6,002 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| | | | $ | 2,659 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during
period | | 232 |
| | | | 286 |
| | | | 283 |
| |
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities
during period | | (3,155 | ) | | | | 1,731 |
| | | | 2,852 |
| |
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on
fixed maturity securities included in net earnings | | 46 |
| | | | 2 |
| | | | (53 | ) | |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period | | 2 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 3 |
| |
| Pension liability adjustment during period | | (25 | ) | | | | 9 |
| | | | (45 | ) | |
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes | | (2,900 | ) | | | | 2,029 |
| | | | 3,040 |
| |
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive
income (loss) | | (797 | ) | | | | 631 |
| | | | 1,035 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes | | (2,103 | ) | | | | 1,398 |
| | | | 2,005 |
| |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 817 |
| | | | $ | 6,002 |
| | | | $ | 4,664 |
| |
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Assets: | | | | |
| Investments and cash: | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value
(amortized cost $76,063 in 2019 and $73,007 in 2018) | $ | 86,950 |
| | $ | 78,429 |
| |
Fixed maturity securities available for sale - consolidated variable interest entities, at fair value
(amortized cost $3,308 in 2019 and $3,849 in 2018) | 4,312 |
| | 4,466 |
| |
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
(fair value $37,594 in 2019 and $36,722 in 2018) | 30,085 |
| | 30,318 |
| |
| Equity securities, at fair value | 802 |
| | 987 |
| |
Commercial mortgage and other loans
(includes $7,956 in 2019 and $5,528 in 2018 of consolidated variable interest entities) | 9,569 |
| | 6,919 |
| |
Other investments
(includes $494 in 2019 and $328 in 2018 of consolidated variable interest entities) | 1,477 |
| | 787 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 4,896 |
| | 4,337 |
| |
| Total investments and cash | 138,091 |
| | 126,243 |
| |
| Receivables | 828 |
| | 851 |
| |
| Accrued investment income | 772 |
| | 773 |
| |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | 10,128 |
| | 9,875 |
| |
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation (1) | 581 |
| | 443 |
| |
| Other | 2,368 |
| | 2,221 |
| |
| Total assets | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| |
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: | | | | |
| Liabilities: | | | | |
| Policy liabilities: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 86,368 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,659 |
| | 4,584 |
| |
| Unearned premiums | 4,243 |
| | 5,090 |
| |
| Other policyholders’ funds | 7,317 |
| | 7,146 |
| |
| Total policy liabilities | 106,554 |
| | 103,188 |
| |
| Income taxes | 5,370 |
| | 4,020 |
| |
| Payables for return of cash collateral on loaned securities | 1,876 |
| | 1,052 |
| |
Notes payable and lease obligations (1) | 6,569 |
| | 5,778 |
| |
| Other | 3,440 |
| | 2,906 |
| |
| Total liabilities | 123,809 |
| | 116,944 |
| |
| Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 15) |
| |
| |
| Shareholders’ equity: | | | | |
Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000
shares in 2019 and 2018; issued 1,349,309 shares in 2019 and 1,347,540
shares in 2018 | 135 |
| | 135 |
| |
| Additional paid-in capital | 2,313 |
| | 2,177 |
| |
| Retained earnings | 34,291 |
| | 31,788 |
| |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | |
| Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) | (1,623 | ) | | (1,847 | ) | |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities | 8,548 |
| | 4,234 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives | (33 | ) | | (24 | ) | |
| Pension liability adjustment | (277 | ) | | (212 | ) | |
| Treasury stock, at average cost | (14,395 | ) | | (12,789 | ) | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | 28,959 |
| | 23,462 |
| |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Assets: | | | | |
| Investments and cash: | | | | |
| Securities available for sale, at fair value: | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost $73,007 in 2018 and
$70,594 in 2017) (1) | $ | 78,429 |
| | $ | 78,804 |
| |
Fixed maturity securities - consolidated variable interest entities (amortized
cost $3,849 in 2018 and $4,538 in 2017) (1) | 4,466 |
| | 5,509 |
| |
| Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost: | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities (fair value $36,722 in 2018 and $38,072 in 2017) | 30,318 |
| | 31,430 |
| |
| Equity securities, at fair value: | | | | |
Equity securities (1) | 827 |
| | 270 |
| |
| Equity securities - consolidated variable interest entities | 160 |
| | 753 |
| |
Other investments (2) | 7,706 |
| | 3,402 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 4,337 |
| | 3,491 |
| |
| Total investments and cash | 126,243 |
| | 123,659 |
| |
| Receivables | 851 |
| | 827 |
| |
| Accrued investment income | 773 |
| | 769 |
| |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | 9,875 |
| | 9,505 |
| |
| Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation | 443 |
| | 434 |
| |
Other (3) | 2,221 |
| | 2,023 |
| |
| Total assets | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| |
(1)Includes perpetual securities, see Notes 1 and 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Includes $5,856 in 2018 and $2,341 in 2017 of loan receivables and limited partnerships from consolidated variable interest entities
(3) Includes $182 in 2018 and $151 in 2017 of derivatives from consolidated variable interest entities
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: | | | | |
| Liabilities: | | | | |
| Policy liabilities: | | | | |
| Future policy benefits | $ | 86,368 |
| | $ | 81,857 |
| |
| Unpaid policy claims | 4,584 |
| | 4,392 |
| |
| Unearned premiums | 5,090 |
| | 5,959 |
| |
| Other policyholders’ funds | 7,146 |
| | 6,939 |
| |
| Total policy liabilities | 103,188 |
| | 99,147 |
| |
| Income taxes | 4,020 |
| | 4,745 |
| |
| Payables for return of cash collateral on loaned securities | 1,052 |
| | 606 |
| |
| Notes payable | 5,778 |
| | 5,289 |
| |
Other (4) | 2,906 |
| | 2,832 |
| |
| Total liabilities | 116,944 |
| | 112,619 |
| |
| Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 15) |
| |
| |
| Shareholders’ equity: | | | | |
Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000
shares in 2018 and 2017; issued 1,347,540 shares in 2018 and 1,345,762
shares in 2017 | 135 |
| | 135 |
| |
| Additional paid-in capital | 2,177 |
| | 2,052 |
| |
| Retained earnings | 31,788 |
| | 29,895 |
| |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | |
| Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) | (1,847 | ) | | (1,750 | ) | |
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities (5) | 4,234 |
| | 5,964 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives | (24 | ) | | (23 | ) | |
| Pension liability adjustment | (212 | ) | | (163 | ) | |
| Treasury stock, at average cost | (12,789 | ) | | (11,512 | ) | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| |
(4) Includes $102 in 2018 and $128 in 2017 of derivatives from consolidated variable interest entities
(5) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 20182019 related to financial instruments.leases.
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Years Ended December 31,
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Common stock: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 135 |
| | $ | 135 |
| | $ | 135 |
|
| Balance, end of period | 135 |
| | 135 |
| | 135 |
|
| Additional paid-in capital: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 2,052 |
| | 1,908 |
| | 1,760 |
|
| Exercise of stock options | 34 |
| | 38 |
| | 46 |
|
| Share-based compensation | 54 |
| | 51 |
| | 64 |
|
| Gain (loss) on treasury stock reissued | 37 |
| | 55 |
| | 38 |
|
| Balance, end of period | 2,177 |
| | 2,052 |
| | 1,908 |
|
| Retained earnings: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 29,895 |
| | 25,981 |
| | 24,007 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - financial instruments,
net of income taxes (1) | 148 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - tax effects from tax reform (1) | (374 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
| Net earnings | 2,920 |
| | 4,604 |
| | 2,659 |
|
Dividends to shareholders ($1.04 per share in 2018, $.87 per share in 2017 and
$.83 per share in 2016) | (801 | ) | | (690 | ) | | (685 | ) |
| Balance, end of period | 31,788 |
| | 29,895 |
| | 25,981 |
|
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 4,028 |
| | 2,630 |
| | 625 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - financial instruments,
net of income taxes (1) | (148 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - tax effects from tax reform (1) | 374 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during
period, net of income taxes | 228 |
| | 233 |
| | 213 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities during
period, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustments (1) | (2,316 | ) | | 1,159 |
| | 1,819 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period, net of
income taxes | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
|
| Pension liability adjustment during period, net of income taxes | (17 | ) | | 5 |
| | (29 | ) |
| Balance, end of period | 2,151 |
| | 4,028 |
| | 2,630 |
|
| Treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | (11,512 | ) | | (10,172 | ) | | (8,819 | ) |
| Purchases of treasury stock | (1,317 | ) | | (1,391 | ) | | (1,422 | ) |
| Cost of shares issued | 40 |
| | 51 |
| | 69 |
|
| Balance, end of period | (12,789 | ) | | (11,512 | ) | | (10,172 | ) |
| Total shareholders’ equity | $ | 23,462 |
| | $ | 24,598 |
| | $ | 20,482 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for per share amounts) | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Treasury Stock | Total
Shareholders'
Equity |
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 135 |
| $ | 1,908 |
| $ | 25,981 |
| $ | 2,630 |
| $ | (10,172 | ) | $ | 20,482 |
|
| Net earnings | 0 |
| 0 |
| 4,604 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 4,604 |
|
Unrealized foreign currency translation
gains (losses) during period, net of
income tax | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 233 |
| 0 |
| 233 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
securities during period, net of income
taxes and reclassification adjustments | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 1,159 |
| 0 |
| 1,159 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
during period, net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 0 |
| 1 |
|
Pension liability adjustment during period,
net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 5 |
| 0 |
| 5 |
|
Dividends to shareholders
($.87 per share) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (690 | ) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (690 | ) |
| Exercise of stock options | 0 |
| 38 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 38 |
|
| Share-based compensation | 0 |
| 51 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 51 |
|
| Purchases of treasury stock | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (1,391 | ) | (1,391 | ) |
| Treasury stock reissued | 0 |
| 55 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 51 |
| 106 |
|
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | 135 |
| 2,052 |
| 29,895 |
| 4,028 |
| (11,512 | ) | 24,598 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principles, net of income tax (1) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (226 | ) | 226 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
|
| Net earnings | 0 |
| 0 |
| 2,920 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 2,920 |
|
Unrealized foreign currency translation
gains (losses) during period, net of
income tax | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 228 |
| 0 |
| 228 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
securities during period, net of income
taxes and reclassification adjustments | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (2,316 | ) | 0 |
| (2,316 | ) |
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
during period, net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 2 |
| 0 |
| 2 |
|
Pension liability adjustment during period,
net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (17 | ) | 0 |
| (17 | ) |
Dividends to shareholders
($1.04 per share) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (801 | ) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (801 | ) |
| Exercise of stock options | 0 |
| 34 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 34 |
|
| Share-based compensation | 0 |
| 54 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 54 |
|
| Purchases of treasury stock | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (1,317 | ) | (1,317 | ) |
| Treasury stock reissued | 0 |
| 37 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 40 |
| 77 |
|
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | 135 |
| 2,177 |
| 31,788 |
| 2,151 |
| (12,789 | ) | 23,462 |
|
| Net earnings | 0 |
| 0 |
| 3,304 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 3,304 |
|
Unrealized foreign currency translation
gains (losses) during period, net of
income tax | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 224 |
| 0 |
| 224 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
securities during period, net of income
taxes and reclassification adjustments | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 4,314 |
| 0 |
| 4,314 |
|
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
during period, net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (9 | ) | 0 |
| (9 | ) |
Pension liability adjustment during period,
net of income taxes | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (65 | ) | 0 |
| (65 | ) |
Dividends to shareholders
($1.08 per share) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (801 | ) | 0 |
| 0 |
| (801 | ) |
| Exercise of stock options | 0 |
| 29 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 29 |
|
| Share-based compensation | 0 |
| 54 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 54 |
|
| Purchases of treasury stock | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| (1,656 | ) | (1,656 | ) |
| Treasury stock reissued | 0 |
| 53 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 50 |
| 103 |
|
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 135 |
| $ | 2,313 |
| $ | 34,291 |
| $ | 6,615 |
| $ | (14,395 | ) | $ | 28,959 |
|
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018.
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings | | $ | 3,304 |
| | | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| |
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Change in receivables and advance premiums | | (32 | ) | | | | (55 | ) | | | | (91 | ) | |
| Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | (1,452 | ) | | | | (1,504 | ) | | | | (1,468 | ) | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | 1,282 |
| | | | 1,245 |
| | | | 1,132 |
| |
| Increase in policy liabilities | | 2,104 |
| | | | 2,343 |
| | | | 2,890 |
| |
| Change in income tax liabilities | | (244 | ) | | | | 64 |
| | | | (1,240 | ) | |
| Realized investment (gains) losses | | 135 |
| | | | 430 |
| | | | 151 |
| |
| Other, net | | 358 |
| | | | 571 |
| | | | 150 |
| |
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | | 5,455 |
| | | | 6,014 |
| | | | 6,128 |
| |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from investments sold or matured: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | | 5,284 |
| | | | 7,888 |
| | | | 4,680 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 650 |
| | | | 429 |
| | | | 902 |
| |
| Held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities | | 622 |
| | | | 1,670 |
| | | | 2,212 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans | | 1,814 |
| | | | 936 |
| | | | 303 |
| |
| Costs of investments acquired: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | | (6,934 | ) | | | | (9,086 | ) | | | | (9,867 | ) | |
| Equity securities | | (347 | ) | | | | (440 | ) | | | | (446 | ) | |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans | | (4,401 | ) | | | | (4,848 | ) | | | | (2,115 | ) | |
| Other investments, net | | (653 | ) | | | | (414 | ) | | | | (206 | ) | |
| Settlement of derivatives, net | | (9 | ) | | | | (241 | ) | | | | (621 | ) | |
| Cash received (pledged or returned) as collateral, net | | 926 |
| | | | 348 |
| | | | (205 | ) | |
| Other, net | | (123 | ) | | | | 176 |
| | | | (68 | ) | |
| Net cash provided (used) by investing activities | | (3,171 | ) | | | | (3,582 | ) | | | | (5,431 | ) | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Purchases of treasury stock | | (1,627 | ) | | | | (1,301 | ) | | | | (1,351 | ) | |
| Proceeds from borrowings | | 615 |
| | | | 1,020 |
| | | | 1,040 |
| |
| Principal payments under debt obligations | | 0 |
| | | | (550 | ) | | | | (1,161 | ) | |
| Dividends paid to shareholders | | (771 | ) | | | | (793 | ) | | | | (661 | ) | |
| Change in investment-type contracts, net | | (1 | ) | | | | (31 | ) | | | | 35 |
| |
| Treasury stock reissued | | 49 |
| | | | 58 |
| | | | 33 |
| |
| Other, net | | 22 |
| | | | (19 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | | (1,713 | ) | | | | (1,616 | ) | | | | (2,065 | ) | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | (12 | ) | | | | 30 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | | 559 |
| | | | 846 |
| | | | (1,368 | ) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 4,337 |
| | | | 3,491 |
| | | | 4,859 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 4,896 |
| | | | $ | 4,337 |
| | | | $ | 3,491 |
| |
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Income taxes paid | | $ | 1,384 |
| | | | $ | 998 |
| | | | $ | 780 |
| |
| Interest paid | | 190 |
| | | | 181 |
| | | | 196 |
| |
| Noncash interest | | 37 |
| | | | 41 |
| | | | 44 |
| |
| Impairment losses and loan loss reserves included in realized investment losses | | 31 |
| | | | 81 |
| | | | 37 |
| |
| Noncash financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lease obligations | | 132 |
| | | | 11 |
| | | | 12 |
| |
| Treasury stock issued for: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Associate stock bonus | | 15 |
| | | | 7 |
| | | | 29 |
| |
| Shareholder dividend reinvestment | | 30 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 29 |
| |
| Share-based compensation grants | | 5 |
| | | | 2 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| | | | $ | 2,659 |
| |
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Change in receivables and advance premiums | | (55 | ) | | | | (91 | ) | | | | 42 |
| |
| Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | (1,504 | ) | | | | (1,468 | ) | | | | (1,447 | ) | |
| Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | | 1,245 |
| | | | 1,132 |
| | | | 1,141 |
| |
| Increase in policy liabilities | | 2,343 |
| | | | 2,890 |
| | | | 3,331 |
| |
| Change in income tax liabilities | | 64 |
| | | | (1,240 | ) | | | | (93 | ) | |
| Realized investment (gains) losses | | 430 |
| | | | 151 |
| | | | 14 |
| |
| Other, net | | 571 |
| | | | 150 |
| | | | 340 |
| (1) |
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | | 6,014 |
| | | | 6,128 |
| | | | 5,987 |
| |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from investments sold or matured: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | | 7,888 |
| | | | 4,680 |
| | | | 6,723 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 429 |
| | | | 902 |
| | | | 350 |
| |
| Held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities | | 1,670 |
| | | | 2,212 |
| | | | 1,399 |
| |
| Other investments - loan receivables | | 936 |
| | | | 303 |
| | | | 90 |
| |
| Costs of investments acquired: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | | (9,086 | ) | | | | (9,867 | ) | | | | (10,890 | ) | |
| Equity securities | | (440 | ) | | | | (446 | ) | | | | (1,079 | ) | |
| Other investments - loan receivables | | (4,848 | ) | | | | (2,115 | ) | | | | (1,110 | ) | |
| Other investments, excluding loan receivables, net | | (414 | ) | | | | (206 | ) | | | | (98 | ) | |
| Settlement of derivatives, net | | (241 | ) | | | | (621 | ) | | | | 1,252 |
| |
| Cash received (pledged or returned) as collateral, net | | 348 |
| | | | (205 | ) | | | | (416 | ) | |
| Other, net | | 176 |
| | | | (68 | ) | | | | (76 | ) | |
| Net cash provided (used) by investing activities | | (3,582 | ) | | | | (5,431 | ) | | | | (3,855 | ) | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Purchases of treasury stock | | (1,301 | ) | | | | (1,351 | ) | | | | (1,422 | ) | |
| Proceeds from borrowings | | 1,020 |
| | | | 1,040 |
| | | | 986 |
| |
| Principal payments under debt obligations | | (550 | ) | | | | (1,161 | ) | | | | (610 | ) | |
| Dividends paid to shareholders | | (793 | ) | | | | (661 | ) | | | | (658 | ) | |
| Change in investment-type contracts, net | | (31 | ) | | | | 35 |
| | | | 159 |
| |
| Treasury stock reissued | | 58 |
| | | | 33 |
| | | | 46 |
| |
| Other, net | | (19 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | (120 | ) | (1) |
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | | (1,616 | ) | | | | (2,065 | ) | | | | (1,619 | ) | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | 30 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | (4 | ) | |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | | 846 |
| | | | (1,368 | ) | | | | 509 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 3,491 |
| | | | 4,859 |
| | | | 4,350 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 4,337 |
| | | | $ | 3,491 |
| | | | $ | 4,859 |
| |
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Income taxes paid | | $ | 998 |
| | | | $ | 780 |
| | | | $ | 1,526 |
| |
| Interest paid | | 181 |
| | | | 196 |
| | | | 211 |
| |
| Noncash interest | | 41 |
|
| | | 44 |
| | | | 57 |
| |
| Impairment losses included in realized investment losses | | 81 |
| | | | 37 |
| | | | 85 |
| |
| Noncash financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Capital lease obligations | | 11 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
| Treasury stock issued for: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Associate stock bonus | | 7 |
| | | | 29 |
| | | | 30 |
| |
| Shareholder dividend reinvestment | | 8 |
| | | | 29 |
| | | | 27 |
| |
| Share-based compensation grants | | 2 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 4 |
| |
(1) Operating activities excludes and financing activities includes a cash outflow of $137 in 2016 for the payments associated with the early extinguishment of debt
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States (U.S.) and Japan. The Company's insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac) in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and, effective April 1, 2018, through Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. (ALIJ) in Japan (Aflac Japan).Japan. Prior to April 1, 2018, the Company's insurance business was marketed in Japan as a branch of Aflac. The Company’s operations consist of two reportable business segments: Aflac U.S., which includes Aflac, and Aflac Japan, which includes ALIJ. American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac. Most of Aflac's policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance. The Company's insurance operations in the United StatesU.S. and Japan service the two markets for the Company's insurance business. Aflac Japan's revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 70%69% of the Company's total revenues in 2018,2019, compared with 70% in 2017both 2018 and 71% in 2016.2017. The percentage of the Company's total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 83% at December 31, 2019, compared with 84% at December 31, 2018, compared with 83%2018.
In November 2019, the Company acquired Argus Holdings, LLC and its subsidiary Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), a benefits management organization and national network dental and vision company, which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision. The Company paid $75 million at December 31, 2017.closing and made an additional commitment of up to $21 million in contingent consideration payable over three years based on the achievement by Argus of certain performance targets. Argus is an addition to the Aflac U.S. segment.
Basis of Presentation
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The most significant items on the Company's balance sheet that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to changes in the future are the valuation of investments and derivatives, deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC), liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. These accounting estimates and actuarial determinations are sensitive to market conditions, investment yields, mortality, morbidity, commission and other acquisition expenses, and terminations by policyholders. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates will be revised and reflected in operating results. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, the Company believes the amounts provided are adequate.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, its subsidiaries, and those entities required to be consolidated under applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Significant Accounting Policies
Foreign Currency Translation: The functional currency of Aflac Japan is the Japanese yen. The Company translates its yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses, and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the period. The resulting currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company includes in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions.
The Parent Company has designated a majority of its yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and yen-denominated loans) as non-derivative hedges and from time-to-time may designate certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan. Outstanding principal and related accrued interest on these Parent Company liabilities and the fair value of these derivatives are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates. Currency translation adjustments and changes in the fair value of these
derivatives are recorded as unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) in other comprehensive income and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Insurance Revenue and Expense Recognition: Substantially all of the supplemental health and life insurance policies the Company issues are classified as long-duration contracts. The contract provisions generally cannot be
changed or canceled during the contract period; however, the Company may adjust premiums for supplemental health policies issued in the United StatesU.S. within prescribed guidelines and with the approval of state insurance regulatory authorities.
Insurance premiums for most of the Company's health and life policies, including cancer, accident, hospital, critical illness, dental, vision, term life, whole life, long-term care and disability, are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
Premiums from the Company's products with limited-pay features, including term life, whole life, WAYS, and child endowment, are collected over a significantly shorter period than the period over which benefits are provided. Premiums for these products are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying periods of the contracts when due from policyholders. Any gross premium in excess of the net premium is deferred and recorded in earnings, such that profits are recognized in a constant relationship with insurance in force. Benefits are recorded as an expense when they are incurred. A liability for future policy benefits is recorded when premiums are recognized using the net premium method.
At the policyholder's option, customers can also pay discounted advanced premiums for certain of the Company's products. Advanced premiums are deferred and recognized when due from policyholders over the regularly scheduled premium payment period.
The calculation of DAC and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, the Company reviews its actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revises them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, the Company evaluates DAC by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues, and any amounts determined not to be recoverable are charged against net earnings. The Company has not had any material charges to earnings for DAC that was determined not to be recoverable in any of the years presented in this Form 10-K.
Advertising expense is reported as incurred in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased.
Investments: The Company's debt securities consist of fixed maturity securities, which are classified as either held to maturity or available for sale. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost. All other fixed maturity debt securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. If the fair value is higher than the amortized cost for debt securities, the excess is an unrealized gain, and if lower than cost, the difference is an unrealized loss. The net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, less related deferred income taxes, are recorded through other comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Amortized cost of debt securities is based on the Company's purchase price adjusted for accrual of discount, or amortization of premium, and recognition of impairment charges, if any. The amortized cost of debt securities the Company purchases at a discount or premium will equal the face or par value at maturity or the call date, if applicable. Interest is reported as income when earned and is adjusted for amortization of any premium or discount.
The Company has investments in marketable equity securities which are carried at fair value. Effective January 1, 2018 uponChanges in the adoption of new accounting guidance, changes in fair value of equity securities are recorded in earnings as a component of realized investment gains and losses. Prior to January 1, 2018, equity securities were carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, less related deferred income taxes, recorded in other comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
The Company has investments in variable interest entities (VIEs). Criteria for evaluating VIEs for consolidation focuses on identifying which enterprise has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and (1) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or (2) the right to receive benefits from the entity. The Company is the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs, and therefore consolidates these entities in its financial statements. While the consolidated VIEs generally operate within a defined set of contractual terms, there are certain powers
terms, there are certain powers that are retained by the Company that are considered significant in the conclusion that the Company is the primary beneficiary. These powers vary by structure but generally include the initial selection of the underlying collateral; the ability to obtain the underlying collateral in the event of default; and, the ability to appoint or dismiss key parties in the structure. In particular, the Company's powers surrounding the underlying collateral were considered to be the most significant powers because those most significantly impact the economics of the VIE. The Company has no obligation to provide any continuing financial support to any of the entities in which it is the primary beneficiary. The Company's maximum loss is limited to its original investment. Neither the Company nor any of its creditors have the ability to obtain the underlying collateral, nor does the Company have control over the instruments held in the VIEs, unless there is an event of default. For those entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary, the consolidated entity's assets are segregated on the balance sheet by the caption "consolidated variable interest entities," and consist of fixed maturity securities, equity securities, loan receivables, limited partnerships and derivative instruments.
For the mortgage- and asset-backed securities held in the Company's fixed maturity portfolio, the Company recognizes income using a constant effective yield, which is based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. The net investment in mortgage- and asset-backed securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied at the time of acquisition. This adjustment is reflected in net investment income.
The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the gain or loss from securities transactions and report the realized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of earnings. Securities transactions are accounted for based on values as of the trade date of the transaction.
An investment in a fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below amortized cost. The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity security investments portfolio for declines in fair value. The Company's fixed maturity security investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using its debt impairment model. The Company's debt impairment model focuses on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments and whether the Company has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.
When determining the Company's intention to sell a security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, future cash flow needs, decisions to reposition its security portfolio, and risk profile of individual investment holdings. The Company performs ongoing analyses of its liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of its policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments, and other cash flow and liquidity needs.
The determination of whether an impairment in value of the Company's fixed maturity securities is other than temporary is based largely on the Company's evaluation of the issuer's creditworthiness. The Company must apply considerable judgment in determining the likelihood of its fixed maturity securities recovering in value. Factors that may influence this include the overall level of interest rates, credit spreads, the credit quality of the underlying issuer, and other factors. This process requires consideration of risks which can be controlled to a certain extent, such as credit risk, and risks which cannot be controlled, such as interest rate risk and foreign currency risk.
If, after monitoring and analyses, management believes that fair value will not recover to amortized cost, the Company recognizes an other-than-temporary impairment of the security. Once a security is considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired, the impairment loss is separated into two components: the portion of the impairment related to credit and the portion of the impairment related to factors other than credit. The Company recognizes a charge to earnings for the credit-related portion of other-than-temporary impairments. Impairments related to factors other than credit are charged to earnings in the event the Company intends to sell the security prior to the recovery of its amortized cost or if it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to dispose of the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost; otherwise, non-credit-related other-than-temporary impairments are charged to other comprehensive income.
The Company lends fixed maturity and public equity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These securities continue to be carried as investment assets on the Company's balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. The Company receives cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. For loans involving unrestricted cash or securities as collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans where the Company receives as collateral securities that the Company is not permitted to sell or repledge, the collateral is not reported as an asset.
Other investmentsCommercial mortgage and other loans include transitional real estate loans (TREs), commercial mortgage loans (CMLs), and middle market loans (MMLs), policy loans, limited partnerships, and short-term investments with maturities at the time of purchase of one year or less, but greater than 90 days.. The Company's investments in TREs, CMLs, and MMLs are accounted for as loan receivables and are recorded at amortized cost on the acquisition date. The Company has the intent and ability to hold these loan receivables for the foreseeable future or until they mature and therefore, they are considered held for investment and are carried at amortized cost in the commercial mortgage and other investmentsloans line in its consolidated balance sheets. The amortized cost of the loan receivables reflects allowances for expected incurred losses estimated based on past events and current economic conditions as of each reporting date.
Other investments include policy loans, limited partnerships, and short-term investments with maturities at the time of purchase of one year or less, but greater than 90 days. Limited partnership investmentspartnerships are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company reports its portion of partnership earnings as a component of net investment income in its consolidated statements of earnings. The underlying investments held by the Company’s limited partnerships primarily consist of private equity and real estate. Short-term investments are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Derivatives and Hedging: Freestanding derivative instruments are reported in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and are reported in other assets and other liabilities, with changes in value reported in earnings and/or other comprehensive income. These freestanding derivatives are foreign currency forwards, foreign currency options, foreign currency swaps, interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions, and, in prior year periods, credit default swaps (CDSs). Foreign currency forwards and options are used in hedging foreign exchange risk on U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan's portfolio. Foreign currency forwards and options are also used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long term exposure to a weakening yen. Cross-currency interest rate swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, are used to economically convert certain U.S. dollar-denominated note obligations into yen-denominated principal and interest obligations. Foreign currency swaps are used within special-purpose entities, including VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary, to hedge the risk arising from interest rate and currency exchange risk. Interest rate swaps are used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments. Interest rate swaptions, which are options to enter into interest rate swaps, are used to hedge interest rate fluctuations on certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities in Aflac Japan's portfolio. The Company does not use derivatives for trading purposes, nor does the Company engage in leveraged derivative transactions.
From time to time, the Company purchases certain investments that contain an embedded derivative. The Company assesses whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset that serves as its host contract. If the Company deems that the embedded derivative's terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the derivative is separated from that contract, held at fair value, and reported with the host instrument in the consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value reported in earnings. If the Company has elected the fair value option, the embedded derivative is not bifurcated, and the entire investment is held at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings.
See Note 5 for a discussion on how the Company determines the fair value of its derivatives. Accruals on derivatives are typically recorded in accrued investment incomeother assets or within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
To qualify for hedge accounting treatment, a derivative must be highly effective in mitigating the designated risk attributable to the hedged item. At the inception of hedging relationships the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objectives and strategies for undertaking the respective hedging relationship, and the methodology that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedge relationship at and subsequent to hedge inception. The Company documents the designation of each hedge as either (i) a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability or the hedge of a forecasted transaction ("cash flow hedge"); (ii) a hedge of the estimated fair value of a recognized asset or liability ("fair value hedge"); or (iii) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. The documentation process includes linking derivatives and non-derivative financial instruments that are designated as hedges to specific assets or groups of assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position or to specific forecasted transactions and defining the effectiveness testing methods to be used. At the hedge inception and on an ongoing quarterly basis, the Company also formally assesses whether the derivatives and non-derivative financial instruments used in hedging activities have been, and are expected to continue to be, highly effective in offsetting their designated risk. Hedge effectiveness is assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The assessment of hedge effectiveness determines the accounting treatment of changes in fair value.
For assessing hedge effectiveness, qualitative methods may include the comparison of critical terms of the derivative to the hedged item, and quantitative methods may include regression, dollar offset, or other statistical analysis of changes in fair value or cash flows associated with the hedge relationship.
For derivative instruments that are designated and
qualify as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. In cash flow hedges, all components of each derivative's gain or loss are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recorded in the line item of the consolidated statements of earnings in which the cash flows of the hedged item are recorded.effectiveness.
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the hedged item and the portion of the hedging instrument included in the assessment of effectiveness are recorded in the line item of the consolidated statements of earnings in which gain or loss on the hedged item is recorded. When assessing the effectiveness
of the Company's fair value hedges, the Company excludes the changes in fair value related to the difference between the spot and the forward rate on its foreign currency forwards and the time value of money of foreign exchange options and interest rate swaptions.
For interest rate swaptions designated under fair value hedges of interest rate risk, the Company'schange in the time value of money is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into earnings (net investment income) over its legal term.
As discussed in Note 4, from time to time the Company designates net investment hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan, the Company has designated the majority of the Parent Company's yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and yen-denominated loans) as non-derivative hedging instruments and from time to time may designate certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedging instruments.Japan. The Company makes its net investment hedge designation at the beginning of each quarter. For assessing hedge effectiveness of net investment hedges, if the total of the designated Parent Company non-derivative and derivatives notional is equal to or less than its net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective. If the hedge is effective, the related exchange effect on the yen-denominated liabilities is reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. For derivative hedging instruments designated as net investment hedges, Aflac follows the forward-ratespot-rate method. According to that method, all changesthe change in fair value including changes relatedof the hedging instrument due to fluctuations in the forward-rate component of foreign currency forward contracts and the time value of foreign currency options, are reportedspot exchange rate is recorded in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income.income and reclassified to earnings only when the hedged net investment is sold, or when a liquidation of the respective net investment in the foreign entity is substantially completed. If and when a sale or liquidation occurs, the changes in fair value of the derivative deferred in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income will be released in the same income statement line item where the gain (loss) on the hedged net investment would be recorded upon sale. All other changes in fair value of the hedging instrument are considered the “excluded component” and are accounted for in realized investment gains (losses). Should these designated net investment hedge positions exceed the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan, the foreign exchange effect on the portion that exceeds its investment in Aflac Japan would be recognized in current earnings within derivative and otherrealized investment gains (losses).
The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (1) it is determined that the derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated cash flows or fair value of a hedged item; (2) the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument; or (3) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised.
When hedge accounting is discontinued on a cash flow hedge or fair value hedge, the derivative is carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in current period earnings. For discontinued cash flow hedges, including those where the derivative is sold, terminated or exercised, amounts previously deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings when earnings are impacted by the cash flow of the hedged item.
If a derivative is not designated as an accounting hedge or its use in managing risk does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the estimated fair value of the derivative are generally reported within derivative and other gains (losses), which is a component of realized investment gains (losses). The fluctuations in estimated fair value of derivatives that have not been designated for hedge accounting can result in volatility in net earnings.
The Company receives and pledges cash or other securities as collateral on open derivative positions. Cash received as collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. Cash pledged as collateral is recorded as a reduction to cash, and a corresponding receivable is recognized for the return of the cash collateral. The Company generally can repledge or resell collateral obtained from counterparties, although the Company does not typically exercise such rights. Securities received as collateral are not recognized unless the Company was to exercise its right to sell that collateral or exercise remedies on that collateral upon a counterparty default. Securities that the Company has pledged as collateral continue to be carried as investment assets on its balance sheet.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs: Certain direct and incremental costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized with interest over the premium payment periods in proportion to the ratio of annual premium income to total anticipated premium income. Anticipated premium income is estimated by using the same mortality, persistency and interest assumptions used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits. In this manner, the related acquisition expenses are matched with revenues. Deferred costs include the excess of current-year commissions over ultimate renewal-year commissions and certain incremental direct policy issue, underwriting and sales expenses. All of these incremental costs are directly related to successful policy acquisition.
For some products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights or coverages by exchanging a contract for a new contract or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. These transactions are known as internal replacements. The Company performs a two-stage analysis of the internal replacements to determine if the modification is substantive to the base policy. The stages of evaluation are as follows: 1) determine if the modification is integrated with the base policy, and 2) if it is integrated, determine if the resulting contract is substantially changed.
For internal replacement transactions where the resulting contract is substantially unchanged, the policy is accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs from the original policy continue to be amortized over the expected life of the new policy, and the costs of replacing the policy are accounted for as policy maintenance
costs and expensed as incurred. Examples include conversions of same age bands, certain family coverage changes, pricing era changes (decrease), and ordinary life becomes reduced paid-up and certain reinstatements.
An internal replacement transaction that results in a policy that is substantially changed is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original policy and the issuance of a new policy. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs on the original policy are immediately expensed, and the costs of acquiring the new policy are capitalized and amortized in accordance with the Company's accounting policies for deferred acquisition costs. Further, the policy reserves are evaluated based on the new policy features, and any change (up or down) necessary is recognized at the date of contract change/modification. Examples include conversions to higher age bands, certain family coverage changes, pricing era changes (increase), lapse & re-issue, certain reinstatements and certain other contract conversions.
Riders can be considered internal replacements that are either integrated or non-integrated resulting in either substantially changed or substantially unchanged treatment. Riders are evaluated based on the specific facts and circumstances of the rider and are considered an expansion of the existing benefits with additional premium required. Non-integrated riders to existing contracts do not change the Company's profit expectations for the related products and are treated as a new policy establishment for incremental coverage.
The Company measures the recoverability of DAC and the adequacy of its policy reserves annually by performing gross premium valuations on its business. (See the following discussion for further information regarding policy reserves.)
Policy Liabilities: Future policy benefits represent claims that are expected to occur in the future and are computed following a net level premium method using estimated future investment yields, persistency and recognized morbidity and mortality tables modified to reflect the Company's experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are generally established and considered locked at policy inception. These assumptions may only be unlocked in certain circumstances based on the results of periodic DAC recoverability and premium deficiency testing.
Unpaid policy claims are estimates computed primarily on an undiscounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims experience adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The ultimate liability may vary significantly from such estimates. The Company regularly adjusts these estimates as new claims experience emerges and reflects the changes in operating results in the year such adjustments are made.
Other policy liabilitiesUnearned premiums consist primarily of discounted advance premiums on deposit from policyholders in conjunction with their purchase of certain Aflac Japan limited-pay insurance products. These advanced premiums are deferred upon collection and recognized as premium revenue over the contractual premium payment period.
Other policyholders’ funds liability consists primarily of the fixed annuity line of business in Aflac Japan which has fixed benefits and premiums.
For internal replacements that are determined to not be substantially unchanged, policy liabilities related to the original policy that was replaced are immediately released, and policy liabilities are established for the new insurance contract; however, for internal replacements that are considered substantially unchanged, no changes to the reserves are recognized.
Reinsurance: The Company enters into reinsurance agreements with other companies in the normal course of business. For each reinsurance agreement, the Company determines if the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Reinsurance premiums and benefits paid or provided are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums, benefits and DAC are reported net of insurance ceded.
Income Taxes: Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing the Company's income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and
liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the Company expects the temporary differences to reverse. The Company records deferred tax assets for tax positions taken based on its assessment of whether the tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that an amount will not be realized.
Policyholder Protection Corporation and State Guaranty Association Assessments: In Japan, the government has required the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation. The Company recognizes a charge for
its estimated share of the industry's obligation once it is determinable. The Company reviews the estimated liability for policyholder protection corporation contributions on an annual basis and reports any adjustments in Aflac Japan's expenses.
In the United States,U.S., each state has a guaranty association that supports insolvent insurers operating in those states. The Company's policy is to accrue assessments when the entity for which the insolvency relates has met its state of domicile's statutory definition of insolvency, the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable and the related premium upon which the assessment is based is written. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the guaranty fund assessments charged to the Company.
Treasury Stock: Treasury stock is reflected as a reduction of shareholders' equity at cost. The Company uses the weighted-average purchase cost to determine the cost of treasury stock that is reissued. The Company includes any gains and losses in additional paid-in capital when treasury stock is reissued.
Share-Based Compensation: The Company measures compensation cost related to its share-based payment transactions at fair value on the grant date, and the Company recognizes those costs in the financial statements over the vesting period during which the employee provides service in exchange for the award. The Company has formalized its entity-wide accounting policy election to estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest and the corresponding forfeitures.
Earnings Per Share: The Company computes basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of unrestricted shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the shares representing the dilutive effect of share-based awards.
Stock Split: Reclassifications:On February 13, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Parent Company declared a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend payable on March 16, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2018. The stock split was payable in the form of one additional common stock share for every share of common stock held. All equity and share-based data, including the number of shares outstanding and per share amounts, have been adjusted to reflect the stock split for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-year amounts to conform to current-year reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or total shareholders' equity.
Perpetual securities have been reclassified in prior periods from a separate line item to fixed maturity securities to conform to current period reporting classifications. This reclassification had no impact on net earnings or total shareholder’s equity.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2018-16 Derivatives and Hedging Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes | In October 2018, the FASB issued amendments to permit use of the Overnight Index Swap (OIS) rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815 in addition to the Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST), the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) swap rate, the OIS rate based on the Fed Funds Effective Rate, and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal Swap Rate. | Early adopted as of October 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures. |
ASU 2018-15
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract | In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. | Early adopted as of January 1, 2019
| The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2018-14
Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans | In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. Accordingly, six disclosures requirements were removed, two added and two clarified. | Early adopted as of December 31, 2019 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
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ASU 2018-03 Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities | In February 2018, the FASB issued amendments to clarify certain aspects of the guidance issued in the original Financial Instruments - Overall - Recognition and Measurement pronouncement summarized below. Specifically, for entities who have chosen the measurement alternative approach for equity securities without readily determinable fair values, the amendments clarify that entities may change from a measurement alternative approach to a fair value method through an irrevocable election that would apply to a specific equity security and all identical or similar investments of the same issuer; entities should use an observable price at the date of the transaction rather than reporting date for the measurement alternative calculation; and insurance companies should use a prospective transition method when applying the measurement alternative. | Early adopted as of January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2018-02 Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | In February 2018, the FASB issued amendments which allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings of the effects of the change in the U.S. federal income tax rate resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) on the gross deferred tax amounts and the corresponding valuation allowances related to items remaining in AOCI. The amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and also require certain disclosures about the reclassified tax effects. | Early adopted as of January 1, 2018 | The amounts reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings include the income tax effects of the change in the federal corporate tax rate enacted by the Tax Act. The Company’s policy is to follow the portfolio approach for releasing income tax effects from AOCI. The adoption of this guidance resulted in an increase to beginning 2018 AOCI of $374 million with a corresponding decrease to beginning 2018 retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2017-12
Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities | In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance which improves and simplifies the accounting rules around hedge accounting and creates more transparency around how economic results are presented in financial statements. Issues addressed in this new guidance include: 1) risk component hedging, 2) accounting for the hedged item in fair value hedges of interest rate risk, 3) recognition and presentation of the effects of hedging instruments, and 4) amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. | Early adopted as of October 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2017-09 Compensation - Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting | In May 2017, the FASB issued amendments to provide guidance clarifying when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. An entity should apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification of the award (as an equity instrument or liability instrument) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions of the award. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2017-08 Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs: Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities
| In March 2017, the FASB issued amendments to shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount. | Early adopted as of July 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.
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ASU 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost | In March 2017, the FASB issued amendments requiring that an employer report the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, that line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. The amendments in this update also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2017-05 Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets | In February 2017, the FASB issued amendments that clarify the scope and accounting guidance for the derecognition of a nonfinancial asset or a financial asset that meets the definition of an "in substance nonfinancial asset." The amendments define an "in substance nonfinancial asset" and provide additional accounting guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2017-01 Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business | In January 2017, the FASB issued amendments clarifying when a set of assets and activities is a business. The amendments provide a screen to exclude transactions where substantially all the fair value of the transferred set is concentrated in a single asset, or group of similar assets, from being evaluated as a business. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-18 Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash | In November 2016, the FASB issued amendments requiring that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, statements of cash flows, or disclosures. |
ASU 2016-17 Consolidation - Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control | In October 2016, the FASB issued amendments which clarify the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE) should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. | January 1, 2017 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2016-16 Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory | In October 2016, the FASB issued amendments that require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments | In August 2016, the FASB issued amendments that provide guidance on eight specific statement of cash flow classification issues, including distributions received from equity method investees. | January 1, 2018 | The Company elected nature of distribution for distributions received from equity method investees. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, statement of cash flows, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-09 Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
| In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments which simplify several aspects for share-based payment award transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either liability or equity, classification of taxes paid on the statement of cash flows and treatment of forfeitures.
| January 1, 2017 | As a result of applying this requirement, the Company believes that recognition of excess tax benefits will increase volatility in its statement of operations and the Company made an entity-wide accounting policy election to estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (consistent with the Company's prior policy), but the adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, statements of cash flows, or disclosures. |
ASU 2016-07 Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures - Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting | In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments which eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. Per the amendments, upon qualifying for the equity method of accounting, no retroactive adjustment of the investment is required. | January 1, 2017 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-06 Derivatives and Hedging - Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments | In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments which clarify what steps are required when assessing whether the economic characteristics and risks of call (put) options are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of their debt hosts, which is one of the criteria for bifurcating an embedded derivative. Consequently, when a call (put) option is contingently exercisable, an entity does not have to assess whether the event that triggers the ability to exercise a call (put) option is related to interest rates or credit risks. | January 1, 2017 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2016-05 Derivatives and Hedging - Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships | In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments which clarify that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria remain intact. | January 1, 2017 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-02
Leases
as clarified and amended by:
ASU 2018-01, Leases: Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842,
ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,
ASU 2018-11, Leases, Targeted Improvements, and
ASU 2018-20, Leases: Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors | In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance for accounting for leases (“Leases Update”). Per the Leases Update, lessees are required to recognize all leases on the balance sheet with the exception of short-term leases. A lease liability will be recorded for the obligation of a lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The Leases Update provided a number of optional practical expedients. The Company elected the "package of practical expedients," which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. Under the Leases Update, lessor accounting is largely unchanged.
In January 2018, an amendment was issued to the Leases Update which provided an entity with the option to elect a transition practical expedient to not evaluate land easements that exist or expired before the entity's adoption of the Leases Update and that were not previously accounted for as leases.
In July 2018, the FASB issued two amendments to the Leases Update which clarified, corrected errors in, or made minor improvements to the Leases Update and provided entities with an optional transition method to adopt the Leases Update by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Additionally, the amendments provided lessors with a practical expedient to not separate nonlease components from associated lease components and instead account for those components as a single component under certain conditions.
In December 2018, an amendment to the Leases Update was issued to clarify: 1) lessor accounting for all sales (and other similar) taxes; 2) the handling of certain lessor costs when the amount of those costs is not readily determinable; and 3) lessor allocation of certain variable payments to the lease and non-lease components.
| January 1, 2019 | The Company has operating and finance leases for office space and equipment. The Company elected the short-term lease exemption for all classes of leases which allows the Company to not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and allows the Company to recognize the lease expense for short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components and applied it to all classes of leases where the non-lease components are not significant. Some of the Company's leases include options to extend or terminate the lease and the lease terms may include such options when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Certain leases also include options to purchase the leased property. The leases within scope of the leases update increased the Company's right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recorded in its consolidated balance sheet by $134 million.
As of January 1, 2019, the Company did not have land easements, but has elected the practical expedient as a safe harbor.
The Company elected the optional transition method and as a safe harbor, the practical expedient provided to lessors.
The Company has made an accounting policy election to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price.
The adoption of the Leases Update and related amendments did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities | In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The main provisions of this guidance require certain equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net earnings; separate presentation in other comprehensive income for changes in fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are due to instrument-specific credit risk; and changes in disclosures associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The guidance also clarifies that entities should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset (DTA) related to available-for-sale (AFS) securities in combination with the entity's other DTAs. | January 1, 2018 | The Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment with an increase to beginning 2018 retained earnings and a decrease to beginning 2018 AOCI of $148 million, net of taxes. |
ASU 2015-16
Business Combinations - Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments
| In September 2015, the FASB issued guidance requiring that an acquirer recognize adjustments to estimated amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustments are determined. In the same period’s financial statements, the acquirer is required to record income effects of the adjustments as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The acquirer is also required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the estimated amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. | January 1, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2015-09
Financial Services - Insurance - Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts
| In May 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance requiring enhanced disclosures by all insurance entities that issue short-duration contracts. The amendments require insurance entities to disclose for annual reporting periods information about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The amendments also require insurance entities to disclose information about significant changes in methodologies and assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. In addition, the amendments require insurance entities to disclose for annual and interim reporting periods a roll-forward of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. For health insurance claims, the amendments require the disclosure of the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities and expected development on reported claims included in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. | December 31, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2015-07
Fair Value Measurement - Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)
| In May 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments also remove the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Rather, those disclosures are limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. | January 1, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2015-03
Interest - Imputation of Interest - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs
| In April 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance to simplify presentation of debt issuance costs. The updated guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by this amendment. In August 2015, the FASB issued updated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff guidance pertaining to the presentation of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. The guidance states that an entity may defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset, subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. | January 1, 2016 | The retrospective adoption of this accounting standard resulted in a $40 million reduction to notes payable and other assets as of December 31, 2015, the earliest balance sheet date presented in the period of adoption, but did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2015-02
Consolidation - Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis
| In February 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that affects evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities (limited liability corporations and securitization structures, etc.) are VIEs, evaluation of whether fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider are a variable interest, and evaluation of the effect of fee arrangements and the effect of related parties on the determination of the primary beneficiary under the VIE model for consolidation. The updated guidance eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. Limited partnership and similar legal entities that provide partners with either substantive kick-out rights or substantive participating rights over the general partner will now be evaluated under the voting interest model rather than the VIE model for consolidation. In situations where no single party has a controlling financial interest in a VIE, the related party relationships under common control should be considered in their entirety in determining whether that common control group has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. | January 1, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance impacted the Company's footnote disclosures, but did not have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.
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ASU 2014-16
Derivatives and Hedging - Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity
| In November 2014, the FASB issued guidance to clarify how to evaluate the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. The guidance also clarifies that an entity should assess the substance of the relevant terms and features when considering how to weight those terms and features. | January 1, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance impacted the Company's footnote disclosures, but did not have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.
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ASU 2014-15
Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern - Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
| In August 2014, the FASB issued this amendment that provides U.S. GAAP guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. The new guidance requires a formal assessment of going concern by management based on criteria prescribed in the new guidance. | December 31, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures and no substantial doubt currently exists about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. |
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Standard | Description | Date of Adoption | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2014-12
Compensation - Stock Compensation - Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period
| In June 2014, the FASB issued this amendment that provides guidance on certain share-based payment awards that require a specific performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. | January 1, 2016 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2014-09
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
| In May 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance that affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. | January 1, 2018 | The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption
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| Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2018-20 Leases: Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors2020-01 Clarifying the interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815
| In December 2018,January 2020, the FASB issued narrow-scope improvementsamendments clarifying that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting for lessors which 1) providethe purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method.
In addition, the amendments clarify that for the purpose of applying certain derivative guidance in Topic 815, an entity should not consider whether, upon the settlement of the forward contract or exercise of the purchased option, individually or with existing investments, the underlying securities would be accounted for under the equity method in Topic 323 or the fair value option in accordance with the financial instruments guidance in Topic 825. An entity also would evaluate the remaining characteristics in Topic 815 to determine the accounting policy election for lessors to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price; 2) require lessors to exclude the costs from variable lease revenuethose forward contracts and the associated expense when the amount of those costs is not readily determinable by the lessor; and 3) require lessors to allocate (rather than recognize) certain variable payments to the lease and nonlease components when the changes in facts and circumstances on which the variable payment is based occur. purchased options.
The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. | The Company has made an accounting policy election to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2019-04 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments
| In April 2019, the FASB issued Codification improvements to clarify and correct certain areas of guidance amended as part of ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities; ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments; and ASU 2017-12, Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.
The most significant of these improvements to the Company was related to the Codification improvement to ASU 2017-12 and the clarification that a one-time reclassification of assets that are eligible to be hedged under the last-of-layer method (i.e., certain pre-payable securities) from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale is allowed under the new hedge accounting guidance and would not impact the Company’s ability to continue to classify other bonds as held-to-maturity. This clarification is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. If a reclassification is elected, it must be reflected as of the date of adoption of this update.
The other amendments related to ASU 2017-12 and 2016-01 are either not significant, or were previously implemented as part of the related ASU adoptions.
Applicable amendments related to ASU 2016-13 are discussed within the pending adoption of that update below.
| The Company did not reclassify any assets from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale as part of its implementation of ASU 2017-12, and is therefore eligible to reclassify qualifying securities as a result of these clarifications. Effective on January 1, 2020, the Company anticipates the reclassification of approximately $6.9 billion (at amortized cost) of pre-payable fixed-maturity securities from the held-to-maturity to the available-for-sale category. This reclassification is expected to result in recording in accumulated other comprehensive income a net unrealized gain of approximately $800 million on an after-tax basis, based on the securities’ fair values on the reclassification date. The reclassification will impact the adoption of ASU 2016-13 which will be effective January 1, 2020 (see ASU 2016-13 below for additional details).
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ASU 2018-17 Consolidation: Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities
| In October 2018, the FASB issued targeted improvements which provide that indirect interests held through related parties under common control should be considered on a proportional basis for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interests. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.
| The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
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ASU 2018-15
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract
| In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.
| The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
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ASU 2018-14
Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans
| In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. Accordingly, six disclosure requirements were removed, two added and two clarified. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. | The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.
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ASU 2018-13
Fair Value Measurement, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement
| In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement.measurements. The amendments remove, modify, and add certain disclosures. The amendments are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of this Update. Anpermitted. Further, an entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of this update and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. | The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2018-12
Financial Services - Insurance, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts
ASU No. 2019-09,Financial Services Insurance (Topic 944)- Effective Date | In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments that will significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts. The amendments will change existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements. Issues addressed in the new guidance include: 1) a requirement to review and, if there is a change, update assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly, 2) accounting for market risk benefits at fair value, 3) simplified amortization for deferred acquisition costs, and 4) enhanced financial statement presentation and disclosures.
In November 2019, the FASB issued an amendment extending the effective date for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, excluding entities eligible to be small reporting companies as defined by the SEC, by one year. The amendments are now effective for public business entitiesthe Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020.2021. Early application of the amendments is permitted.
| The Company is thoroughly evaluating the impact of adoption and expects that the adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and disclosures. The Company anticipates that the requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes and controls while the requirement to update the discount rate will have a significant impact on its equity. The Company has no products with market risk benefits. The Company does not expect to early adopt the updated standard. |
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Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Mattersstandard and has tentatively selected a modified retrospective transition method. |
ASU 2018-11
Leases, Targeted Improvements
| In July 2018, the FASB issued targeted improvements to Topic 842 Leases. The amendments in the update provide entities with an optional transition method to adopt the new leases standard by recording a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Additionally, the amendments provide lessors with a practical expedient to not separate nonlease components from associated lease components and instead account for those components as a single component under certain conditions. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. | The Company has elected the optional transition method. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.
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ASU 2018-10
Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases
| In July 2018, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies, corrects errors in, or makes minor improvements to the Codification related to ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this ASU affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments to ASU 2016-02, including but not limited to, Residual Value Guarantees, Rate Implicit in the Lease, Lessee Reassessment of Lease Classification and Variable Lease Payments that Depend on an Index or a Rate. Amendments within this ASU follow the effective dates of Topic 842, which are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.
| The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2018-01
Leases: Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842
| In January 2018, the FASB issued guidance which provides an entity with the option to elect a transition practical expedient to not evaluate, under Topic 842, land easements that exist or expired before the entity's adoption of Topic 842 and that were not previously accounted for as leases under Topic 840. The amendments clarify that new or modified land easements should be evaluated under the new leases standard once an entity has adopted the new standard. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. | As of December 31, 2018, the Company did not have land easements, but has elected this practical expedient as a safe harbor. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
ASU 2017-04
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment
| In January 2017, the FASB issued amendments simplifying the subsequent measurement of goodwill. An entity, under this update, is no longer required to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment. Instead, the entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendments are effective for public business entities that are SEC filers for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. | The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. |
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| Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-13
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
as clarified and amended by:
ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments,
ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Targeted Transition Relief
and
ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses
| In June 2016, the FASB issued amendments that require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on anat amortized cost basis to be presented net of an allowance for credit losses (Credit Losses ASU) in order to reflect the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset(s). The measurement of expected credit losses is amended by replacing the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform about a credit loss.information. Credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will continue to be measured in a manner similar to current U.S. GAAP; however, the amendments require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. Other amendments include changes to the balance sheet presentation and interest income recognition of purchased financial assets with a more-than-insignificant amount of credit deterioration since origination (PCD financial assets).
The amendments areCredit Losses ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Companies may early adopt this guidance as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments will be adopted following a modified-retrospective approach resulting in a cumulative effect adjustment in retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. Two exceptions to this adoption method are for PCD financial assets and debt securities for which other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) will have been recognized before the effective date. Loans purchased with credit deterioration accounted for under current U.S. GAAP as "purchased credit impaired" (PCI) financial assets will be classified as PCD financial assets at transition and PCD guidance will be applied prospectively. Debt securities that have experienced OTTI before the effective date will follow a prospective adoption method which allows an entity to maintain the same amortized cost basis before and after the effective date.
In April 2019, the Credit Losses ASU was amended to allow entities to make a policy election about presentation and disclosure of accrued interest receivable and the related credit losses, whereby entities that write off uncollectible accrued interest receivable in a timely manner can make a policy election not to measure an allowance on the accrued interest receivable. Other amendments made within this Update clarify and address stakeholders’ specific issues about certain aspects of the Credit Losses ASU.
In May 2019, the FASB granted a targeted transition relief by allowing to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured at amortized cost.
These amendments will be effective upon adoption of the Credit Losses ASU. | The Company has identified certainthe following financial instruments in scope of this guidance to includethe new guidance: certain fixed maturity securities, loans and loan receivables, reinsurance recoverable, as well as certain other receivable balances and reinsurance recoverables (See Notes 3 and 7 for current balances of instruments in scope). off-balance sheet arrangements.
The Company is continuing its progress towards updating its credit loss projection models and accounting systems in order to comply withhas concluded that of the required changes in measurement of credit losses. The Company currently expects loans and loan receivables and held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, toJapanese government and agency securities and certain Japanese government-guaranteed mortgage backed securities meet the requirements for a zero-loss expectation and therefore will not be included in the asset classes most significantly impactedcurrent expected credit loss measurement process upon adoption of the guidance. new standard.
The Company continueshas substantially completed the review and validation of credit models, methodologies and inputs for all asset classes. The Company performed parallel runs during the second, third and fourth quarters and refined its estimation process with additional parallel testing throughout 2019. The Company has estimated the adoption-date net after-tax impact at a $56 million decrease to evaluateretained earnings. As noted above relative to ASU 2019-04, the Company is planning a one-time reclassification as of January 1, 2020 of approximately $6.9 billion (amortized cost as of December 31, 2019) of its eligible fixed-maturity securities from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale category. The aforementioned reclassification has been reflected in the expected impact ofestimate from adoption of ASU 2016-13. The Company plans to adopt this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, and disclosures. |
|
| | |
Standard | Description | Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters |
ASU 2016-02 Leases
| In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance for accounting for leases. Per the amendments, lessees will be required to recognize all leases on the balance sheet with the exception of short-term leases. A lease liability will be recorded for the obligation of a lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. The Company is electing to use its effective date as its date of initial application. Because the Company expects to adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as the date of initial application, financial information is not required to be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard are not required to be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients. The Company has elected the "package of practical expedients," which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. | The Company has identified certain operating leases in scope of this guidance to include office space and equipment leases (See Note 15). The leases within scope of this guidance will increase the Company's right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recorded on its statement of financial position by approximately $100 to $200 million. The Company estimates that the adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.2020. |
Recent accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, did not have, or is not expected to have a material impact to the Company's business.
| |
| 2. | BUSINESS SEGMENT AND FOREIGN INFORMATION |
The Company consists of two2 reportable insurance business segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S., both of which sell supplemental health and life insurance. OperatingIn addition, operating business segmentsunits that are not individually reportable and business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities, not included in Aflac Japan or Aflac U.S. are included in the "CorporateCorporate and other" category.other.
The Company does not allocate corporate overhead expenses to business segments. Consistent with U.S. GAAP accounting guidance for segment reporting, the Company evaluates and manages its business segments using a financial performance measure called pretax adjusted earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costscosts/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect Aflac’s underlying business performance. The Company excludes income taxes related to operations to arrive at pretax adjusted earnings. Information regarding operations by reportable segment and Corporate and other for the years ended December 31 follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earned premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cancer | | $ | 5,849 |
| | $ | 5,612 |
| | $ | 5,639 |
| | | $ | 6,031 |
| | $ | 5,849 |
| | $ | 5,612 |
| |
| Medical and other health | | 3,516 |
| | 3,379 |
| | 3,429 |
| | | 3,582 |
| | 3,516 |
| | 3,379 |
| |
| Life insurance | | 3,397 |
| | 3,761 |
| | 4,469 |
| | | 3,159 |
| | 3,397 |
| | 3,761 |
| |
| Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs | | 2,403 |
| | 2,235 |
| | 2,368 |
| | |
Net investment income, less amortized hedge costs (1),(2) | | | 2,496 |
| | 2,403 |
| | 2,235 |
| |
| Other income | | 41 |
| | 41 |
| | 40 |
| | | 45 |
| | 41 |
| | 41 |
| |
| Total Aflac Japan | | 15,206 |
| | 15,028 |
| | 15,945 |
| | | 15,313 |
| | 15,206 |
| | 15,028 |
| |
| Aflac U.S.: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earned premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Accident/disability | | 2,611 |
| | 2,537 |
| | 2,469 |
| | | 2,665 |
| | 2,611 |
| | 2,537 |
| |
| Cancer | | 1,311 |
| | 1,308 |
| | 1,299 |
| | | 1,309 |
| | 1,311 |
| | 1,308 |
| |
| Other health | | 1,508 |
| | 1,445 |
| | 1,415 |
| | | 1,548 |
| | 1,508 |
| | 1,445 |
| |
| Life insurance | | 278 |
| | 273 |
| | 271 |
| | | 286 |
| | 278 |
| | 273 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 727 |
| | 721 |
| | 703 |
| | | 720 |
| | 727 |
| | 721 |
| |
| Other income | | 8 |
| | 5 |
| | 10 |
| | | 22 |
| | 8 |
| | 5 |
| |
| Total Aflac U.S. | | 6,443 |
| | 6,289 |
| | 6,167 |
| | | 6,550 |
| | 6,443 |
| | 6,289 |
| |
Corporate and other | | 339 |
| | 272 |
| | 275 |
| | | 393 |
| | 339 |
| | 272 |
| |
| Total adjusted revenues | | 21,988 |
| | 21,589 |
| | 22,387 |
| | | 22,256 |
| | 21,988 |
| | 21,589 |
| |
Realized investment gains (losses) (1),(2),(3) | | (230 | ) | | 78 |
| | 172 |
| | | 51 |
| | (230 | ) | | 78 |
| |
| Total revenues | | $ | 21,758 |
| | $ | 21,667 |
| | $ | 22,559 |
| | | $ | 22,307 |
| | $ | 21,758 |
| | $ | 21,667 |
| |
(1) Amortized hedge costs of $257, $236 and $228 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to hedging U.S. dollar-denominated investments held in Aflac Japan were $236, $228 and $186 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, andcertain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and reported as a deduction from net investment income when analyzing segment operations.
(2) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount in 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(3) Amortized hedge costsincome of $89 in Aflac Japan were partially offset by derivatives entered into as part of corporate activities2019 and resulted$36 in a benefit of $36 for 2018 whichrelated to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies has been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and reported as an increase in net investment income when analyzing operations.
(3) An immaterial amount of net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies in 2018, were reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) intoto net investment income when analyzing operations.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Pretax earnings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 3,208 |
| | $ | 3,054 |
| | $ | 3,148 |
| | |
Aflac Japan (1),(2) | | | $ | 3,261 |
| | $ | 3,208 |
| | $ | 3,054 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | 1,285 |
| | 1,245 |
| | 1,208 |
| | | 1,272 |
| | 1,285 |
| | 1,245 |
| |
| Corporate and other | | (139 | ) | | (212 | ) | | (239 | ) | | |
Corporate and other (3),(4) | | | (72 | ) | | (139 | ) | | (212 | ) | |
Pretax adjusted earnings | | 4,354 |
| | 4,087 |
| | 4,117 |
| | | 4,461 |
| | 4,354 |
| | 4,087 |
| |
Realized investment gains (losses) (1),(2),(3),(4) | | (297 | ) | | 0 |
| | 87 |
| | | (15 | ) | | (297 | ) | | 0 |
| |
Other income (loss) (5)(6) | | (74 | ) |
| | (69 | ) | | (137 | ) |
| | (1 | ) |
| | (74 | ) | | (69 | ) |
|
| Total earnings before income taxes | | $ | 3,983 |
| | $ | 4,018 |
| | $ | 4,067 |
| | | $ | 4,445 |
| | $ | 3,983 |
| | $ | 4,018 |
| |
| Income taxes applicable to pretax adjusted earnings | | $ | 1,129 |
| | $ | 1,370 |
| | $ | 1,426 |
| | | $ | 1,147 |
| | $ | 1,129 |
| | $ | 1,370 |
| |
Effect of foreign currency translation on after-tax
adjusted earnings | | 28 |
| | (41 | ) | | 141 |
| | | 15 |
| | 28 |
| | (41 | ) | |
(1) Amortized hedge costs of $257, $236 and $228 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to hedging U.S. dollar-denominated investments held in Aflac Japan were $236, $228 and $186 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, andcertain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and reported as a deduction from pretax adjusted earningsnet investment income when analyzing segment operations.
(2) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(17) in 2019 and an immaterial amount in 2018 have been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(3) Amortized hedge costsincome of $89 in Aflac Japan were partially offset by derivatives entered into as part of corporate activities2019 and resulted$36 in a benefit of $36 for 2018 whichrelated to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies has been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and reported as an increase in pretax adjusted earnings when analyzing operations.
(3) An immaterial amount of net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies in 2018, were reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) intoto net investment income when analyzing operations.
(4) Excluding aA gain of $66 in 2019, $67 in 2018 $77 in 2017 and $8577 in 2016,2017, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable which ishave been reclassified from realized investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings when analyzing segment operationsoperations.
(5) Includes $135, $122 and $122 of interest expense on debt in 2019, 2018 and 2017
(6) Includes expense of $13 in 2017 and $137 in 2016 for the early extinguishment of debt
Assets as of December 31 were as follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 118,342 |
| | $ | 114,402 |
| | | $ | 127,523 |
| | $ | 118,342 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | 19,100 |
| | 19,893 |
| | | 20,945 |
| | 19,100 |
| |
| Corporate and other | | 2,964 |
| | 2,922 |
| | | 4,300 |
| | 2,964 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 140,406 |
| | $ | 137,217 |
| | | $ | 152,768 |
| | $ | 140,406 |
| |
Yen-Translation Effects: The following table shows the yen/dollar exchange rates used for or during the periods ended December 31.31. Exchange effects were calculated using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as for each respective prior year.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Statements of Earnings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) | | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| | 108.70 |
| | | 109.07 |
| | 110.39 |
| | 112.16 |
| |
| Yen percent strengthening (weakening) | | 1.6 | % | | (3.1 | )% | | 11.3 | % | | | 1.2 | % | | 1.6 | % | | (3.1 | )% | |
| Exchange effect on pretax operating earnings (in millions) | | $ | 38 |
| | $ | (63 | ) | | $ | 218 |
| | |
| Exchange effect on pretax adjusted earnings (in millions) | | | $ | 20 |
| | $ | 38 |
| | $ | (63 | ) | |
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Balance Sheets: | | | | | | | | | | |
Yen/dollar exchange rate at December 31(1) | | 111.00 |
| | 113.00 |
| | | 109.56 |
| | 111.00 |
| |
| Yen percent strengthening (weakening) | | 1.8 | % | | 3.1 | % | | | 1.3 | % | | 1.8 | % | |
| Exchange effect on total assets (in millions) | | $ | 1,362 |
| | $ | 2,593 |
| | | $ | 1,225 |
| | $ | 1,362 |
| |
| Exchange effect on total liabilities (in millions) | | 1,270 |
| | 2,848 |
| | | 1,533 |
| | 1,270 |
| |
(1) Rates are based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM)
Transfers of funds from Aflac Japan: Aflac Japan makes payments to the Parent Company for management fees, allocated expenses and remittances of earnings. Prior to the Aflac Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan paid allocated expenses and profit remittances to Aflac U.S. Information on transfers for each of the years ended December 31 is shown below. See Note 13 for information concerning restrictions on transfers from Aflac Japan.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Management fees | | $ | 136 |
| | | | $ | 93 |
| | $ | 79 |
| | | $ | 75 |
| | | | $ | 136 |
| | $ | 93 |
| |
| Allocated expenses | | 24 |
| | 109 |
| | 106 |
| | | 4 |
| | 24 |
| | 109 |
| |
| Profit remittances | | 808 |
| | | 1,150 |
| | 1,286 |
| | | 2,070 |
| | | 808 |
| | 1,150 |
| |
| Total transfers from Aflac Japan | | $ | 968 |
| | $ | 1,352 |
| | $ | 1,471 |
| | | $ | 2,149 |
| | $ | 968 |
| | $ | 1,352 |
| |
Property and Equipment: The costs of buildings, furniture and equipment are depreciated principally on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (maximum of 50 years for buildings and 20 years for furniture and equipment). Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; expenditures for betterments are capitalized and depreciated. Classes of property and equipment as of December 31 were as follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Property and equipment: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Land | | $ | 168 |
| | $ | 168 |
| | | $ | 168 |
| | $ | 168 |
| |
| Buildings | | 456 |
| | 441 |
| | | 473 |
| | 456 |
| |
| Equipment and furniture | | 400 |
| | 372 |
| | | 549 |
| | 400 |
| |
| Total property and equipment | | 1,024 |
| | 981 |
| | | 1,190 |
| | 1,024 |
| |
| Less accumulated depreciation | | 581 |
| | 547 |
| | | 609 |
| | 581 |
| |
| Net property and equipment | | $ | 443 |
| | $ | 434 |
| | | $ | 581 |
| | $ | 443 |
| |
Receivables: Receivables consist primarily of monthly insurance premiums due from individual policyholders or their employers for payroll deduction of premiums, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. At December 31, 2018, $3342019, $258 million, or 39.2%31.2% of total receivables, were related to Aflac Japan's operations, compared with $334$334 million,, or 40.4%39.2%, at December 31, 2017.2018.
3. INVESTMENTS
Net Investment Income
The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 3,142 |
| | $ | 3,173 |
| | $ | 3,308 |
| | | $ | 3,141 |
| | $ | 3,142 |
| | $ | 3,173 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 38 |
| | 42 |
| | 35 |
| | | 37 |
| | 38 |
| | 42 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans | | | 468 |
| | 333 |
| | 86 |
| |
| Other investments | | 369 |
| | 94 |
| | 31 |
| | | 53 |
| | 36 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Short-term investments and cash equivalents | | 41 |
| | 25 |
| | 11 |
| | | 56 |
| | 41 |
| | 25 |
| |
| Gross investment income | | 3,590 |
| | 3,334 |
| | 3,385 |
| | | 3,755 |
| | 3,590 |
| | 3,334 |
| |
| Less investment expenses | | 148 |
| | 114 |
| | 107 |
| | | 177 |
| | 148 |
| | 114 |
| |
| Net investment income | | $ | 3,442 |
| | $ | 3,220 |
| | $ | 3,278 |
| | | $ | 3,578 |
| | $ | 3,442 |
| | $ | 3,220 |
| |
Investment Holdings
The amortized cost for the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments at December 31 are shown in the following tables.
| | | | 2018 | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value
through other comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 30,637 |
| | $ | 3,700 |
| | $ | 140 |
| | $ | 34,197 |
| | | $ | 30,929 |
| | $ | 5,169 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 36,098 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 385 |
| | 32 |
| | 9 |
| | 408 |
| | | 516 |
| | 116 |
| | 3 |
| | 629 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 155 |
| | 22 |
| | 0 |
| | 177 |
| | | 229 |
| | 25 |
| | 0 |
| | 254 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 1,732 |
| | 280 |
| | 4 |
| | 2,008 |
| | | 1,855 |
| | 406 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,261 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 826 |
| | 123 |
| | 0 |
| | 949 |
| | | 680 |
| | 50 |
| | 0 |
| | 730 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 5,440 |
| | 502 |
| | 238 |
| | 5,704 |
| | | 6,152 |
| | 700 |
| | 86 |
| | 6,766 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 4,852 |
| | 649 |
| | 44 |
| | 5,457 |
| | | 5,323 |
| | 944 |
| | 24 |
| | 6,243 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 44,027 |
| | 5,308 |
| | 435 |
| | 48,900 |
| | | 45,684 |
| | 7,410 |
| | 113 |
| | 52,981 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. government and agencies | | 137 |
| | 9 |
| | 1 |
| | 145 |
| | | 293 |
| | 9 |
| | 0 |
| | 302 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 1,343 |
| | 120 |
| | 8 |
| | 1,455 |
| | | 1,077 |
| | 141 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,218 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 155 |
| | 8 |
| | 1 |
| | 162 |
| | | 149 |
| | 7 |
| | 0 |
| | 156 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 4,772 |
| | 496 |
| | 105 |
| | 5,163 |
| | | 3,804 |
| | 725 |
| | 10 |
| | 4,519 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 251 |
| | 60 |
| | 0 |
| | 311 |
| | | 239 |
| | 73 |
| | 0 |
| | 312 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 2,860 |
| | 389 |
| | 35 |
| | 3,214 |
| | | 2,879 |
| | 646 |
| | 4 |
| | 3,521 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 23,311 |
| | 1,343 |
| | 1,109 |
| | 23,545 |
| | | 25,246 |
| | 3,255 |
| | 248 |
| | 28,253 |
| |
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated | | 32,829 |
| | 2,425 |
| | 1,259 |
| | 33,995 |
| | | 33,687 |
| | 4,856 |
| | 262 |
| | 38,281 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | $ | 76,856 |
| (1) | | $ | 7,733 |
| | $ | 1,694 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
| (1) | | $ | 79,371 |
| | $ | 12,266 |
| | $ | 375 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities ($1,139 at amortized cost and $1,140 at fair value)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
| Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 21,712 |
| | | | $ | 5,326 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 27,038 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 359 |
| | | | 110 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 469 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 14 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 15 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 2,727 |
| | | | 254 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 2,973 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 1,551 |
| | | | 289 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,840 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 1,445 |
| | | | 158 |
| | | | 20 |
| | | | 1,583 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 2,510 |
| | | | 332 |
| | | | 38 |
| | | | 2,804 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 30,318 |
| | | | 6,470 |
| | | | 66 |
| | | | 36,722 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | $ | 30,318 |
| | | | $ | 6,470 |
| | | | $ | 66 |
| | | | $ | 36,722 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value
through other comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 30,637 |
| | | | $ | 3,700 |
| | | | $ | 140 |
| | | | $ | 34,197 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 385 |
| | | | 32 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 408 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 155 |
| | | | 22 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 177 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 1,732 |
| | | | 280 |
| | | | 4 |
| | | | 2,008 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 826 |
| | | | 123 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 949 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 5,440 |
| | | | 502 |
| | | | 238 |
| | | | 5,704 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 4,852 |
| | | | 649 |
| | | | 44 |
| | | | 5,457 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 44,027 |
| | | | 5,308 |
| | | | 435 |
| | | | 48,900 |
| |
| U.S dollar-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. government and agencies | | 137 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 145 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 1,343 |
| | | | 120 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 1,455 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 155 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 162 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 4,772 |
| | | | 496 |
| | | | 105 |
| | | | 5,163 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 251 |
| | | | 60 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 311 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 2,860 |
| | | | 389 |
| | | | 35 |
| | | | 3,214 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 23,311 |
| | | | 1,343 |
| | | | 1,109 |
| | | | 23,545 |
| |
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated | | 32,829 |
| | | | 2,425 |
| | | | 1,259 |
| | | | 33,995 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | $ | 76,856 |
| | | | $ | 7,733 |
| | | | $ | 1,694 |
| | | | $ | 82,895 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
| Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 22,241 |
| | | | $ | 6,050 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 28,291 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 821 |
| | | | 262 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,083 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 16 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 17 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 2,535 |
| | | | 419 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 2,954 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 1,123 |
| | | | 197 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,320 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 916 |
| | | | 105 |
| | | | 3 |
| | | | 1,018 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 2,433 |
| | | | 485 |
| | | | 7 |
| | | | 2,911 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 30,085 |
| | | | 7,519 |
| | | | 10 |
| | | | 37,594 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | $ | 30,085 |
| | | | $ | 7,519 |
| | | | $ | 10 |
| | | | $ | 37,594 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 |
| (In millions) | | | | | | | Fair
Value |
Equity securities, carried at fair value through
net earnings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 641 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 346 |
| |
| Total equity securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 987 |
| (1) |
(1) Includes perpetual securities ($62 at fair value)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2017 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
| Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 27,980 |
| | | | $ | 3,363 |
| | | | $ | 271 |
| | | | $ | 31,072 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 314 |
| | | | 28 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 330 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 242 |
| | | | 29 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 271 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 1,635 |
| | | | 352 |
| | | | 6 |
| | | | 1,981 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 1,380 |
| | | | 190 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 1,569 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 4,742 |
| | | | 811 |
| | | | 53 |
| | | | 5,500 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 4,085 |
| | | | 809 |
| | | | 7 |
| | | | 4,887 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 40,378 |
| | | | 5,582 |
| | | | 350 |
| | | | 45,610 |
| |
| U.S dollar-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. government and agencies | | 146 |
| | | | 13 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 158 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 872 |
| | | | 168 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,040 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 161 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 173 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 5,116 |
| | | | 884 |
| | | | 27 |
| | | | 5,973 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 267 |
| | | | 73 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 340 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 2,808 |
| | | | 633 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 3,433 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 25,384 |
| | | | 2,620 |
| | | | 418 |
| | | | 27,586 |
| |
| Total U.S. dollar-denominated | | 34,754 |
| | | | 4,403 |
| | | | 454 |
| | | | 38,703 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | $ | 75,132 |
| (1) | | | $ | 9,985 |
| | | | $ | 804 |
| | | | $ | 84,313 |
| (1) |
(1) Includes perpetual securities ($1,462 at amortized cost and $1,789 at fair value)
| | | | 2017 | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | Cost or
Amortized
Cost | | Gross
Unrealized
Gains | | Gross
Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value |
| Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | | $ | 21,331 |
| | $ | 5,160 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 26,491 |
| | | $ | 21,712 |
| | $ | 5,326 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 27,038 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 357 |
| | 105 |
| | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | | 359 |
| | 110 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 26 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 27 |
| | | 14 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 3,300 |
| | 398 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | | 2,727 |
| | 254 |
| | 8 |
| | 2,973 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 1,523 |
| | 312 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | | 1,551 |
| | 289 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 2,206 |
| | 190 |
| | 9 |
| | 2,387 |
| | | 1,445 |
| | 158 |
| | 20 |
| | 1,583 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 2,687 |
| | 485 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | | 2,510 |
| | 332 |
| | 38 |
| | 2,804 |
| |
| Total yen-denominated | | 31,430 |
| | 6,651 |
| | 9 |
| | 38,072 |
| | | 30,318 |
| | 6,470 |
| | 66 |
| | 36,722 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | $ | 31,430 |
| | $ | 6,651 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 38,072 |
| | | $ | 30,318 |
| | $ | 6,470 |
| | $ | 66 |
| | $ | 36,722 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2017 |
(In millions) | | | | | | | Fair
Value |
Equity securities, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Yen-denominated | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 695 |
| |
U.S. dollar-denominated | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 328 |
| |
Total equity securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,023 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Fair Value | | Fair Value |
| Equity securities, carried at fair value through net earnings: | | | | | | | |
| Equity securities: | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | $ | 658 |
| | | | $ | 641 |
| |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 144 |
| | | | 346 |
| |
| Total equity securities | | $ | 802 |
| | | | $ | 987 |
| |
The methods of determining the fair values of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities are described in Note 5.
During 2019 and 2018, the Company did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. During 2017, the Company reclassified three3 investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category as a result of the issuers' credit rating being downgraded to below investment grade. At the time of the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $773 million and an aggregate unrealized gain of $47 million. During 2016, the Company did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category.
Contractual and Economic Maturities
The contractual and economic maturities of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2018,2019, were as follows:
| | | (In millions) | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
Available for sale: (1) | | | | | | | | |
| Due in one year or less | | $ | 810 |
| | $ | 861 |
| | $ | 583 |
| | $ | 612 |
|
| Due after one year through five years | | 8,313 |
| | 8,312 |
| | 7,933 |
| | 8,122 |
|
| Due after five years through 10 years | | 9,805 |
| | 10,355 |
| | 11,347 |
| | 12,819 |
|
| Due after 10 years | | 57,618 |
| | 63,028 |
| | 59,130 |
| | 69,299 |
|
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 310 |
| | | 339 |
| | 378 |
| | | 410 |
|
| Total fixed maturity securities available for sale | | $ | 76,856 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
| | $ | 79,371 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
|
| Held to maturity: | | | | | | | | |
| Due in one year or less | | $ | 180 |
| | $ | 182 |
| | $ | 265 |
| | $ | 270 |
|
| Due after one year through five years | | 915 |
| | 948 |
| | 1,227 |
| | 1,330 |
|
| Due after five years through 10 years | | 927 |
| | 1,004 |
| | 532 |
| | 599 |
|
| Due after 10 years | | 28,282 |
| | 34,573 |
| | 28,045 |
| | 35,378 |
|
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 14 |
| | 15 |
| | 16 |
| | 17 |
|
| Total fixed maturity securities held to maturity | | $ | 30,318 |
| | $ | 36,722 |
| | $ | 30,085 |
| | $ | 37,594 |
|
(1) Includes perpetual securities, categorized in accordance
Economic maturities are used for certain debt instruments with their respective economic maturities (theno stated maturity where the expected maturity date created byis based on the combination of features in the financial instrument)
Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some issuers haveinstrument such as the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.changes in coupon rates.
Investment Concentrations
The Company's process for investing in credit-related investments begins with an independent approach to underwriting each issuer's fundamental credit quality. The Company evaluates independently those factors that it believes could influence an issuer's ability to make payments under the contractual terms of the Company's instruments. This includes a thorough analysis of a variety of items including the issuer's country of domicile (including political, legal, and financial considerations); the industry in which the issuer competes (with an analysis of industry structure, end-market dynamics, and regulation); company specific issues (such as management, assets, earnings, cash generation, and capital needs); and contractual provisions of the instrument (such as financial covenants and position in the capital structure). The Company further evaluates the investment considering broad business and portfolio management objectives, including asset/liability needs, portfolio diversification, and expected income.
Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders' equity as of December 31 were as follows: | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Credit
Rating | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
Japan National Government(1) | A+ | | $51,207 | | $59,945 | | A | | $48,399 | | $56,532 | A+ | | $51,726 | | $62,584 | | A+ | | $51,207 | | $59,945 |
(1)Japan Government Bonds (JGBs) or JGB-backed securitiesRealized Investment Gains and Losses
Information regarding pretax realized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Realized investment gains (losses): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Available for sale: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gross gains from sales | $ | 101 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 177 |
| | $ | 115 |
| | $ | 101 |
| | $ | 51 |
| |
| Gross losses from sales | (156 | ) | | (68 | ) | | (62 | ) | | (68 | ) | | (156 | ) | | (68 | ) | |
| Foreign currency gains (losses) on sales and redemptions | 73 |
| | (48 | ) | | 4 |
| | (16 | ) | | 73 |
| | (48 | ) | |
| Other-than-temporary impairment losses | (64 | ) | | (7 | ) | | (26 | ) | | (13 | ) | | (64 | ) | | (7 | ) | |
| Total fixed maturity securities | (46 | ) | | (72 | ) | | 93 |
| | 18 |
| | (46 | ) | | (72 | ) | |
Equity securities (1),(2) | (131 | ) | | 71 |
| (3) | (35 | ) | (3) | |
| Equity securities | | 101 |
| | (131 | ) |
| 71 |
| (1) |
| Loan receivables: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loan loss reserves | (17 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (19 | ) | | (8 | ) | |
| Other gains (losses) on loans | (2 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Total loan receivables | (19 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (19 | ) | | (8 | ) | |
| Derivatives and other: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Derivative gains (losses) | (224 | ) | | (109 | ) | | (255 | ) | | (174 | ) | | (224 | ) | | (109 | ) | |
| Foreign currency gains (losses) | (10 | ) | | (33 | ) | | 185 |
| | (62 | ) | | (10 | ) | | (33 | ) | |
| Total derivatives and other | (234 | ) | | (142 | ) | | (70 | ) | | (236 | ) | | (234 | ) | | (142 | ) | |
| Total realized investment gains (losses) | $ | (430 | ) | | $ | (151 | ) | | $ | (14 | ) | | $ | (135 | ) | | $ | (430 | ) | | $ | (151 | ) | |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
(2) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
(3) Includes impairments of $22 in 2017 and $57 in 2016
The unrealized holding losses,gains, net of gains,losses, recorded as a component of realized investment gains and losses for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, that relates to equity securities still held at the December 31, 2018,2019, reporting date was $124$64 million.
Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
Information regarding changes in unrealized gains and losses from investments recorded in AOCI for the years ended December 31 follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Changes in unrealized gains (losses): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale (1) | | $ | (3,142 | ) | | $ | 1,657 |
| | $ | 2,711 |
| | | $ | 5,852 |
| | $ | (3,142 | ) | | $ | 1,657 |
| |
Equity securities (2) | | 0 |
| | 71 |
| | 88 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 71 |
| |
| Total change in unrealized gains (losses) | | $ | (3,142 | ) | | $ | 1,728 |
| | $ | 2,799 |
| | | $ | 5,852 |
| | $ | (3,142 | ) | | $ | 1,728 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
(2) See Note 1 and Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance and the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle related to financial instruments effective January 1, 2018.
Effect on Shareholders' Equity
The net effect on shareholders' equity of unrealized gains and losses from investmentfixed maturity securities at December 31 was as follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale | | $ | 6,039 |
| | $ | 9,358 |
| | | $ | 11,891 |
| | $ | 6,039 |
| |
| Deferred income taxes | | (1,805 | ) | | (3,394 | ) | | | (3,343 | ) | | (1,805 | ) | |
| Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities | | $ | 4,234 |
| | $ | 5,964 |
| | |
| Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities | | | $ | 8,548 |
| | $ | 4,234 |
| |
See Notes 1 and 10 for discussion of the accounting treatment of tax on amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income pursuant to the Tax Act and Note 1 for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
Gross Unrealized Loss Aging
The following tables show the fair values and gross unrealized losses of the Company's available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments that were in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31.31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| | Total | | Less than 12 months | | 12 months or longer |
| (In millions) | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | $ | 67 |
| | | | $ | 1 |
| | | | $ | 67 |
| | | | $ | 1 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| |
Japan government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | 3,604 |
| | | | 140 |
| | | | 3,604 |
| | | | 140 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 515 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 515 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 148 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 148 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
Mortgage- and asset-
backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 74 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 74 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 1,585 |
| | | | 105 |
| | | | 892 |
| | | | 48 |
| | | | 693 |
| | | | 57 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 604 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 604 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 625 |
| | | | 35 |
| | | | 340 |
| | | | 19 |
| | | | 285 |
| | | | 16 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 3,057 |
| | | | 258 |
| | | | 3,057 |
| | | | 258 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 12,899 |
| | | | 1,109 |
| | | | 5,782 |
| | | | 407 |
| | | | 7,117 |
| | | | 702 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 1,306 |
| | | | 82 |
| | | | 1,306 |
| | | | 82 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 24,484 |
| | | | $ | 1,760 |
| | | | $ | 16,389 |
| | | | $ | 985 |
| | | | $ | 8,095 |
| | | | $ | 775 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
| | | | 2017 | 2019 |
| | Total | | Less than 12 months | | 12 months or longer | Total | | Less than 12 months | | 12 months or longer |
| (In millions) | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | $ | 74 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 74 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | |
Japan government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | 5,255 |
| | 271 |
| | 1,264 |
| | 9 |
| | 3,991 |
| | 262 |
| | |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | 129 |
| | 12 |
| | 10 |
| | 0 |
| | 119 |
| | 12 |
| | | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 785 |
| | 27 |
| | 221 |
| | 3 |
| | 564 |
| | 24 |
| | | 306 |
| | 10 |
| | 69 |
| | 2 |
| | 237 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 83 |
| | 6 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | �� | 83 |
| | 6 |
| | |
| Sovereign and supranational: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | 309 |
| | 1 |
| | 309 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 362 |
| | 8 |
| | 316 |
| | 5 |
| | 46 |
| | 3 |
| | | 79 |
| | 4 |
| | 18 |
| | 0 |
| | 61 |
| | 4 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 1,507 |
| | 62 |
| | 394 |
| | 4 |
| | 1,113 |
| | 58 |
| | | 1,828 |
| | 89 |
| | 1,828 |
| | 89 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 7,741 |
| | 418 |
| | 2,839 |
| | 50 |
| | 4,902 |
| | 368 |
| | | 4,261 |
| | 248 |
| | 792 |
| | 53 |
| | 3,469 |
| | 195 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 440 |
| | 7 |
| | 349 |
| | 4 |
| | 91 |
| | 3 |
| | | 636 |
| | 31 |
| | 636 |
| | 31 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 16,685 |
| | $ | 813 |
| | $ | 5,776 |
| | $ | 77 |
| | $ | 10,909 |
| | $ | 736 |
| | | $ | 7,190 |
| | $ | 385 |
| | $ | 3,423 |
| | $ | 178 |
| | $ | 3,767 |
| | $ | 207 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| | Total | | Less than 12 months | | 12 months or longer |
| (In millions) | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses | | Fair
Value | | Unrealized
Losses |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | $ | 67 |
| | | | $ | 1 |
| | | | $ | 67 |
| | | | $ | 1 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| |
Japan government and
agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yen-denominated | | 3,604 |
| | | | 140 |
| | | | 3,604 |
| | | | 140 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 515 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 515 |
| | | | 8 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 148 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 148 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
Mortgage- and asset-
backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 74 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 74 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 1,585 |
| | | | 105 |
| | | | 892 |
| | | | 48 |
| | | | 693 |
| | | | 57 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 604 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 604 |
| | | | 12 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 625 |
| | | | 35 |
| | | | 340 |
| | | | 19 |
| | | | 285 |
| | | | 16 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 3,057 |
| | | | 258 |
| | | | 3,057 |
| | | | 258 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollar-denominated | | 12,899 |
| | | | 1,109 |
| | | | 5,782 |
| | | | 407 |
| | | | 7,117 |
| | | | 702 |
| |
| Yen-denominated | | 1,306 |
| | | | 82 |
| | | | 1,306 |
| | | | 82 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 24,484 |
| | | | $ | 1,760 |
| | | | $ | 16,389 |
| | | | $ | 985 |
| | | | $ | 8,095 |
| | | | $ | 775 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions
The unrealized losses on the Company's fixed maturity securities investments have been primarily related to general market changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and/or the levels of credit spreads rather than specific concerns with the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal.
For any significant declines in fair value of its fixed maturity securities, the Company performs a more focused review of the related issuers' credit profile. For corporate issuers, the Company evaluates their assets, business profile including industry dynamics and competitive positioning, financial statements and other available financial data. For non-corporate issuers, the Company analyzes all sources of credit support, including issuer-specific factors. The Company utilizes information available in the public domain and, for certain private placement issuers, from consultations with the issuers directly. The Company also considers ratings from Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), as well as the specific characteristics of the security it owns including seniority in the issuer's capital structure, covenant predictions,protections, or other relevant features. From these reviews, the Company evaluates the issuers' continued ability to service the Company's investment through payment of interest and principal.
Assuming no credit-related factors develop, unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities are expected to diminish as investments near maturity. Based on its credit analysis, the Company believes that the issuers of its fixed maturity investments in the sectors shown in the table above have the ability to service their obligations to the Company.
Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans
The Company classifies its TREs, CMLs and MMLs as held-for-investment and includes them in the commercial mortgage and other loans line on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company carries them on the balance sheet at amortized cost less an estimated allowance for loan losses.
The table below reflects the composition of the carrying value for commercial mortgage and other loans by property type as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 |
| | Amortized Cost | | % of Total | | Amortized Cost | | % of Total |
| Commercial Mortgage and other loans | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans: | | | | | | | |
| Office | $ | 1,800 |
| | 18.7 | % | | $ | 1,621 |
| | 23.3 | % |
| Retail | 131 |
| | 1.4 |
| | 147 |
| | 2.1 |
|
| Apartments/Multi-Family | 2,085 |
| | 21.7 |
| | 1,706 |
| | 24.6 |
|
| Industrial | 256 |
| | 2.7 |
| | 250 |
| | 3.6 |
|
| Hospitality | 1,036 |
| | 10.8 |
| | 531 |
| | 7.6 |
|
| Other | 164 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 139 |
| | 2.0 |
|
| Total transitional real estate loans | 5,472 |
| | 57.0 |
| | 4,394 |
| | 63.2 |
|
| Commercial mortgage loans: | | | | | | | |
| Office | 410 |
| | 4.3 |
| | 281 |
| | 4.1 |
|
| Retail | 348 |
| | 3.5 |
| | 316 |
| | 4.6 |
|
| Apartments/Multi-Family | 569 |
| | 5.9 |
| | 369 |
| | 5.3 |
|
| Industrial | 383 |
| | 4.0 |
| | 99 |
| | 1.4 |
|
| Total commercial mortgage loans | 1,710 |
| | 17.7 |
| | 1,065 |
| | 15.4 |
|
| Middle market loans | 2,432 |
| | 25.3 |
| | 1,487 |
| | 21.4 |
|
| Total commercial mortgage and other loans | $ | 9,614 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 6,946 |
| | 100.0 | % |
| Allowance for Loan Losses | (45 | ) | | | | (27 | ) | | |
| Total net commercial mortgage and other loans | $ | 9,569 |
| | | | $ | 6,919 |
| | |
Commercial mortgage and transitional real estate loans were secured by properties entirely within the U.S. (with the largest concentrations in California (20%), Texas (15%) and Florida (10%)). Middle market loans are issued only to companies domiciled within the U.S. and Canada.
Transitional Real Estate Loans
Transitional real estate loans are commercial mortgage loans that are typically relatively short-term floating rate instruments secured by a first lien on the property.These loans provide funding for properties undergoing a change in their physical characteristics and/or economic profile and do not typically require any principal repayment prior to the maturity date. This loan portfolio is generally considered to be investment grade. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $875 millionin outstanding commitments to fund transitional real estate loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.
Commercial Mortgage Loans
Commercial mortgage loans are typically fixed rate loans on commercial real estate with partial repayment of principal over the life of the loan with the remaining outstanding principal being repaid upon maturity. This loan portfolio is generally considered higher quality investment grade loans. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $27 million of outstanding commitments to fund commercial mortgage loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.
Middle Market Loans
Middle market loans are typically first lien senior secured cash flow loans to small to mid-size companies for working capital, refinancing, acquisition, and recapitalization. These loans are generally considered to be below investment grade. The carrying value for middle market loans included $99 million and $56 million for a short term credit facility that is reflected in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, as of December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had commitments of approximately $502 million to fund potential future loan originations related to this investment program. These commitments are contingent upon the availability of middle market loans that meet the Company's underwriting criteria.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The Company's allowance for loan losses is established using both general and specific allowances. The general allowance is used for loans grouped by similar risk characteristics where a loan-specific or market-specific risk has not been identified, but for which the Company estimates probable incurred losses. The specific allowance is used on an individual loan basis when it is probable that a loss has been incurred. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had loan loss reserves of $6 million related to 2 specific middle market loans. There was no specific loan loss reserve as of December 31, 2018. The following table presents the rollforward of the Company's allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment during the year ended December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | Commercial Mortgage Loans | | Transitional Real Estate Loans | | Middle Market Loans | | Total |
| Allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2018 | | $ | (1 | ) | | | | $ | (17 | ) | | | | $ | (9 | ) | | | | $ | (27 | ) | |
| Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses | | (2 | ) | | | | (5 | ) | | | | (11 | ) | | | | (18 | ) | |
| Allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2019 | | $ | (3 | ) | | | | $ | (22 | ) | | | | $ | (20 | ) | | | | $ | (45 | ) | |
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no loans that were past due in regards to principal and/or interest payments. Additionally, the Company held no loans that were on nonaccrual status or considered impaired as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company had no troubled debt restructurings during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Credit Quality Indicators
The key credit quality indicators used by the Company in establishing the general and specific loan loss reserves, as well as in determining whether or not a loan should be impaired, include loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios for CMLs and TREs and ratings for its middle market loan portfolio. Given that transitional real estate loans involve properties undergoing renovation or construction, loan-to-value provides the most insight on the credit risk of the property. Middle market loans generally have below-investment-grade ratings. The performance of the loans are monitored and reviewed periodically, but not less than quarterly.
The table below summarizes key credit quality information by carrying value for CMLs and TREs as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Transitional Real Estate Loans | Commercial Mortgage Loans | Total |
| Loan-to-Value Ratio: | | | |
| 0%-59.99% | $ | 1,424 |
| $ | 1,390 |
| $ | 2,814 |
|
| 60%-69.99% | 1,927 | 297 | 2,224 |
| 70%-79.99% | 2,085 | 23 | 2,108 |
| 80% or greater | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| Total | $ | 5,472 |
| $ | 1,710 |
| $ | 7,182 |
|
| Weighted Average Debt-Service Coverage Ratio | | 2.38 | |
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Transitional Real Estate Loans | Commercial Mortgage Loans | Total |
| Loan-to-Value Ratio: | | | |
| 0%-59.99% | $ | 819 |
| $ | 877 |
| $ | 1,696 |
|
| 60%-69.99% | 1,681 | 165 | 1,846 |
| 70%-79.99% | 1,558 | 23 | 1,581 |
| 80% or greater | 336 | 0 | 336 |
| Total | $ | 4,394 |
| $ | 1,065 |
| $ | 5,459 |
|
| Weighted Average Debt-Service Coverage Ratio | | 2.45 | |
Other Investments
The table below reflects the composition of the carrying value for other investments as of December 31. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Transitional real estate loans | | $ | 4,377 |
| | | | $ | 1,235 |
| |
| Commercial mortgage loans | | 1,064 |
| | | | 908 |
| |
| Middle market loans | | 1,478 |
| | | | 859 |
| |
| Policy loans | | 232 |
| | | | 210 |
| |
| Short-term investments | | 152 |
| | | | 57 |
| |
| Other | | 403 |
| | | | 133 |
| |
| Total other investments | | $ | 7,706 |
| | | | $ | 3,402 |
| |
Loans and Loan Receivables |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Other investments: | | | | | | | |
| Policy loans | | $ | 250 |
| | | | $ | 232 |
| |
Short-term investments (1) | | 628 |
| | | | 152 |
| |
| Limited partnerships | | 569 |
| | | | 377 |
| |
| Other | | 30 |
| | | | 26 |
| |
| Total other investments | | $ | 1,477 |
| | | | $ | 787 |
| |
The Company classifies its TREs, CMLs, and MMLs as held-for investment and includes them in the other investments line on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company carries them on the balance sheet at amortized cost less an estimated allowance for loan losses. The Company's allowance for loan losses is established using both general and specific allowances. The general allowance is used for loans grouped by similar risk characteristics where a loan-specific or market-specific risk has not been identified, but for which the Company estimates probable incurred losses. The specific allowance is used on an individual loan basis when it is probable that a loss has been incurred. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's allowance for loan losses was $27 million and $11 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no loans that were past due in regards to principal and/or interest payments. Additionally, the Company held no loans that were on nonaccrual status or considered impaired as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company had no troubled debt restructurings during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Transitional Real Estate Loans
Transitional real estate loans are commercial mortgage loans that are typically relatively short-term floating rate instruments secured by a first lien on the property. These loans provide funding for properties undergoing a change in their physical characteristics and/or economic profile. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $605 million in outstanding commitments to fund transitional real estate loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.
Commercial Mortgage Loans(1) Includes securities lending collateral
As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Company had $25 million in outstanding commitments to fund commercial mortgage loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.
Middle Market Loans
Middle market loans are generally considered to be below investment grade. The carrying value for middle market loans included an unfunded amount of $56 million and $109 million, as of December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively, that is reflected in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had commitments of approximately $521 million to fund potential future loan originations related to this investment program. These commitments are contingent upon the availability of middle market loans that meet the Company's underwriting criteria.
Other
Other investments primarily includes investments in limited partnerships. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $916 million$1.3 billion in outstanding commitments to fund alternative investments in limited partnerships.
Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)
As a condition of its involvement or investment in a VIE, the Company enters into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of the Company's investment or its beneficial interest in the VIE.
For those VIEs other than certain unit trust structures, the Company's involvement is passive in nature. The Company has not, nor has it been, required to purchase any securities issued in the future by these VIEs.
The Company's ownership interest in VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. The Company has no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor does it have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. The Company has not provided any assistance or any other type of financing support to any of the VIEs it invests in, nor does it have any intention to do so in the future. For those VIEs in
which the Company holds debt obligations, the weighted-average lives of the Company's notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.
The Company's risk of loss related to its interests in any of its VIEs is limited to the carrying value of the related investments held in the VIE.
VIEs - Consolidated
The following table presents the cost or amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs are reported as of December 31.
Investments in Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Cost or Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Cost or Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Cost or Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Cost or Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale (1) | | $ | 3,849 |
| | $ | 4,466 |
| | $ | 4,538 |
| | $ | 5,509 |
| | | $ | 3,308 |
| | $ | 4,312 |
| | $ | 3,849 |
| | $ | 4,466 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 160 |
| | 160 |
| | 606 |
| | 753 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 160 |
| | 160 |
| |
Other investments (2) | | 5,856 |
| | 5,834 |
| | 2,341 |
| | 2,328 |
| | |
Other assets (3) | | 182 |
| | 182 |
| | 151 |
| | 151 |
| | |
| Commercial mortgage and other loans | | | 7,956 |
| | 8,015 |
| | 5,528 |
| | 5,506 |
| |
Other investments (1) | | | 494 |
| | 494 |
| | 328 |
| | 328 |
| |
Other assets (2) | | | 169 |
| | 169 |
| | 182 |
| | 182 |
| |
| Total assets of consolidated VIEs | | $ | 10,047 |
| | $ | 10,642 |
| | $ | 7,636 |
| | $ | 8,741 |
| | | $ | 11,927 |
| | $ | 12,990 |
| | $ | 10,047 |
| | $ | 10,642 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities (3) | | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | |
Other liabilities (2) | | | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 102 |
| |
| Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs | | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 102 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
(2) Consists entirely of TREs, CMLs, MMLs, and alternative investments in limited partnerships
(3)(2) Consists entirely of derivatives
The Company is substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, the Company has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and is therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that it consolidates. The Company also participates in substantially all of the variability created by these VIEs. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding invested assets and foreign currency swaps, as appropriate, and utilizing the cash flows from these securities to service its investment. Neither the Company nor any of its creditors are able to obtain the underlying collateral of the VIEs unless there is an event of default or other specified event. For those VIEs that contain a swap, the Company is not a direct counterparty to the swap contracts and has no control over them. The Company's loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to its original investment. The Company's consolidated VIEs do not rely on outside or ongoing sources of funding to support their activities beyond the underlying collateral and swap contracts, if applicable. With the exception of its investmentsinvestment in unit trust structures, the underlying collateral assets and funding of the Company's consolidated VIEs are generally static in nature.
Investments in Unit Trust Structures
The Company also utilizes unit trust structures in its Aflac Japan segment to invest in various asset classes. As the sole investor of these VIEs, the Company is required to consolidate these trusts under U.S. GAAP.
VIEs - Not Consolidated
The table below reflects the amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the Company's investment in VIEs not consolidated are reported as of December 31.
Investments in Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value | | Amortized
Cost | | Fair
Value |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale (1) | | $ | 4,575 |
| | $ | 4,982 |
| | $ | 5,004 |
| | $ | 5,724 |
| | | $ | 4,129 |
| | $ | 4,884 |
| | $ | 4,575 |
| | $ | 4,982 |
| |
| Fixed maturity securities, held to maturity | | 2,007 |
| | 2,254 |
| | 2,549 |
| | 2,929 |
| | | 1,848 |
| | 2,236 |
| | 2,007 |
| | 2,254 |
| |
Other investments | | 49 |
| | 49 |
| | 55 |
| | 55 |
| | | 75 |
| | 74 |
| | 49 |
| | 49 |
| |
| Total investments in VIEs not consolidated | | $ | 6,631 |
| | $ | 7,285 |
| | $ | 7,608 |
| | $ | 8,708 |
| | | $ | 6,052 |
| | $ | 7,194 |
| | $ | 6,631 |
| | $ | 7,285 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securitiesConsists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships
The Company holds alternative investments in limited partnerships that have been determined to be VIEs. These partnerships invest in private equity and structured investments. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these investments is limited to the amount of its investment. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and is therefore not required to consolidate them. The Company classifies these investments as Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
Certain investments in VIEs that the Company is not required to consolidate are investments that are in the form of debt obligations from the VIEs that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents or sponsors. These VIEs are the primary financing vehicles used by their corporate sponsors to raise financing in the capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. The Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, nor does it have the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity. As such, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and is therefore not required to consolidate them.
Securities Lending and Pledged Securities
The Company lends fixed maturity and public equity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. The Company receives cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. The Company's security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities and that unrestricted cash received as collateral be 100% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. TheseThe securities loaned continue to be carried as investment assets on the Company's balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. The Company receives cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. For loans involving unrestricted cash or securities as collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans where the Company receives as collateral securities that the Company is not permitted to sell or repledge, the collateral is not reported as an asset.reflected on the consolidated financial statements.
Details of our securities lending activitiescollateral by loaned security type and remaining maturity of the agreements as of December 31 were as follows:
| | Securities Lending Transactions Accounted for as Secured Borrowings | | 2018 | |
| 2019 | | 2019 |
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements | | (In millions) | Overnight
and
Continuous(1) | | Up to 30
days | | Greater
than 90
days | | Total | Overnight
and
Continuous(1) | | Up to 30
days | | Greater
than 90
days | | Total |
| Securities lending transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 387 |
| | $ | 1,190 |
| | $ | 1,577 |
| $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1,013 |
| | $ | 4,759 |
| | $ | 5,772 |
|
| Municipalities | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
| |
| Public utilities | 27 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 27 |
| 35 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 35 |
|
| Sovereign and supranational | | 2 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 2 |
|
| Banks/financial institutions | 74 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 74 |
| 48 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 48 |
|
| Other corporate | 549 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 549 |
| 778 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 778 |
|
| Equity securities | 10 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 10 |
| 0 |
| | 0 |
| �� | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total borrowings | $ | 665 |
| | $ | 387 |
| | $ | 1,190 |
| | $ | 2,242 |
| $ | 863 |
| | $ | 1,013 |
| | $ | 4,759 |
| | $ | 6,635 |
|
| Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | | | $ | 1,052 |
| Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | | | $ | 1,876 |
|
| Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | | | $ | 1,190 |
| Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | | | $ | 4,759 |
|
(1) These securities are pledged as collateralThe related loaned security, under the Company's Aflac U.S. securities lending program, and can be calledreturned to the Company at itsthe transferee's discretion; therefore, they are classified as Overnight and Continuous.
| | Securities Lending Transactions Accounted for as Secured Borrowings | | 2017 | |
| 2018 | | 2018 |
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements | | (In millions) | Overnight
and
Continuous(1) | | Up to 30
days | | Total | Overnight
and
Continuous(1) | | Up to 30
days | | Greater
than 90
days | | Total |
| Securities lending transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan government and agencies | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 49 |
| $ | 0 |
| | $ | 387 |
| | 1,190 |
| | $ | 1,577 |
|
| Municipalities | | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
|
| Public utilities | 73 |
| | 0 |
| | 73 |
| 27 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 27 |
|
| Banks/financial institutions | 54 |
| | 0 |
| | 54 |
| 74 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 74 |
|
| Other corporate | 415 |
| | 0 |
| | 415 |
| 549 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 549 |
|
| Equity securities | 15 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| 10 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 10 |
|
| Total borrowings | $ | 557 |
| | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 606 |
| $ | 665 |
| | $ | 387 |
| | $ | 1,190 |
| | $ | 2,242 |
|
| Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | | $ | 606 |
| Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | | | $ | 1,052 |
|
| Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | | $ | 0 |
| Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure in Note 4 | | | $ | 1,190 |
|
(1) These securities are pledged as collateralThe related loaned security, under the Company's Aflac U.S. securities lending program, and can be calledreturned to the Company at itsthe transferee's discretion; therefore, they are classified as Overnight and Continuous.Continuous
The Company did not have any repurchase agreements or repurchase-to-maturity transactions outstanding as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.
Certain fixed maturity securities can be pledged as collateral as part of derivative transactions, or pledged to support state deposit requirements on certain investment programs. For additional information regarding pledged securities related to derivative transactions, see Note 4.
At December 31, 2018,2019, debt securities with a fair value of $19$18 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in the United StatesU.S. (including U.S. territories) and Japan.. The Company retains ownership of all securities on deposit and receives the related investment income.
For general information regarding the Company's investment accounting policies, see Note 1.
4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company's freestanding derivative financial instruments have historically consisted of: (1)
foreign currency forwards and options used in hedging foreign exchange risk on U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan's portfolio; (2) portfolio
foreign currency forwards and options used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long term exposure to a weakening yen; (3) yen
cross-currency interest rate swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures; (4) debentures
foreign currency swaps and, in prior periods, credit default swaps that are associated with investments in special-purpose entities, including VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary; (5) beneficiary
interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments; and (6) investments
interest rate swaptions used to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate fluctuations for certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities.
Some of the Company's derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges, fair value hedges or net investment hedges; however, other derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting or the Company elects not to designate them as accounting hedges.
Derivative Types
Foreign currency forwards and options are executed for the Aflac Japan segment in order to hedge the currency risk on the carrying value of certain U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The average maturity of these forwards and options can change depending on factors such as market conditions and types of investments being held. In situations where the maturity of the forwards and options is shorter than the underlying investment being hedged, the Company may enter into new forwards and options near maturity of the existing derivative in order to continue hedging the underlying investment. In forward transactions, Aflac Japan agrees with another party to buy a fixed amount of yen and sell a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. Aflac Japan also executes foreign currency option transactions in a collar strategy, where Aflac Japan agrees with another party to simultaneously purchase put options and sell call options. In the purchased put transactions, Aflac Japan obtains the option to buy a fixed amount of yen and sell a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. In the sold call transaction, Aflac Japan agrees to sell a fixed amount of yen and buy a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. The combination of purchasing the put option and selling the call option results in no net premium being paid (i.e. a costless or zero-cost collar). The foreign currency forwards and options are used in fair value hedging relationships to mitigate the foreign exchange risk associated with U.S. dollar-denominated investments supporting yen- denominatedyen-denominated liabilities.
PriorFrom time to April 1, 2018,time, the Company may also enter into foreign currency forwards and options (through a collar strategy, as discussed above) were used to hedge the currency risk associated with the net investment in Aflac Japan. In these forward transactions, Aflac agreedagrees with another party to buy a fixed amount of U.S. dollars and sell a corresponding amount of yen at a specified price at a specified future date. In the option transactions, the Company usedmay use a combination of foreign currency options to protect expected future cash flows by simultaneously purchasing yen put options (options that protect against a weakening yen) and selling yen call options (options that limit participation in a strengthening yen). The combination of these two actions createdcreate a zero-cost collar.
The Company enters into foreign currency swaps pursuant to which it exchanges an initial principal amount in one currency for an initial principal amount of another currency, with an agreement to re-exchange the principal amounts at a future date. There may also be periodic exchanges of payments at specified intervals based on the agreed upon rates and notional amounts. Foreign currency swaps are used primarily in the consolidated VIEs in the Company's Aflac Japan portfolio to convert foreign-denominated cash flows to yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan, in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations. The Company also uses foreign currency swaps to economically convert certain of its U.S. dollar-denominated senior note and subordinated debenture principal and interest obligations into yen-denominated obligations.
In order to reduce investment income volatility from its variable-rate investments, the Company enters into receive–fixed, pay–floating interest rate swaps. These derivatives are cleared and settled through a central clearinghouse.
Interest rate swaption collars are combinations of two swaption positions.
Swaptions are used to mitigate the adverse impact resulting from significant changes in the fair value of U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities due to fluctuation in interest rates. In a payer swaption, the Company pays a premium to obtain the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap contract where it will pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate. Interest rate swaption collars are combinations of two swaption positions. In order to maximize the efficiency of the collars while minimizing cost, a collar strategy is used whereby the Company purchases a long payer swaption (the Company purchases an option that allows it to enter into a swap where the Company will pay the fixed rate and receive the floating rate of the swap) and sells a short receiver swaption (the Company sells an option that provides the counterparty with the right to enter into a swap where the Company will receive the fixed rate and pay the floating rate of the swap). The combination of purchasing the long payer swaption and selling the short receiver swaption results in no net premium being paid (i.e. a costless or zero-cost collar).
Derivative Balance Sheet Classification
The tablestable below summarizesummarizes the balance sheet classification of the Company's derivative fair value amounts, as well as the gross asset and liability fair value amounts, at December 31. The fair value amounts presented do not include income accruals. Derivative assets are included in “Other Assets,” while derivative liabilities are included in “Other Liabilities” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The notional amount of derivative contracts represents the basis upon which pay or receive amounts are calculated and are not reflective of exposure or credit risk.
| |
| 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | | | | Asset
Derivatives | | Liability
Derivatives | | | Asset
Derivatives | | Liability
Derivatives | | | | Asset
Derivatives | | Liability
Derivatives | | | Asset
Derivatives | | Liability
Derivatives |
Hedge Designation/ Derivative
Type | Notional
Amount | | Fair Value | | Fair Value | Notional
Amount | | Fair Value | | Fair Value | Notional
Amount | | Fair Value | | Fair Value | Notional
Amount | | Fair Value | | Fair Value |
| Cash flow hedges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | (4 | ) | | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (8 | ) | | |
| Foreign currency swaps - VIE | | | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 75 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 4 |
| |
| Total cash flow hedges | | 75 |
| | 1 |
| | (4 | ) | | 75 |
| | 0 |
| | (8 | ) | | | 75 |
| | 0 |
| | 8 |
| | 75 |
| | 1 |
| | 4 |
| |
| Fair value hedges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 2,086 |
| | 0 |
| | (34 | ) | | 7,640 |
| | 2 |
| | (221 | ) | | | 964 |
| | 0 |
| | 38 |
| | 2,086 |
| | 0 |
| | 34 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 9,070 |
| | 3 |
| | (1 | ) | | 7,670 |
| | 0 |
| | (2 | ) | | | 11,573 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
| | 9,070 |
| | 3 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Interest rate swaptions | | 500 |
| | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 243 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 500 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Total fair value hedges | | 11,656 |
| | 3 |
| | (36 | ) | | 15,310 |
| | 2 |
| | (223 | ) | | | 12,780 |
| | 0 |
| | 43 |
| | 11,656 |
| | 3 |
| | 36 |
| |
| Net investment hedge: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 4,952 |
| | 72 |
| | 2 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 434 |
| | 12 |
| | (1 | ) | | | 2,000 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total net investment hedge | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 439 |
| | 12 |
| | (1 | ) | | | 6,952 |
| | 72 |
| | 2 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Non-qualifying strategies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 5,387 |
| | 284 |
| | (230 | ) | | 5,386 |
| | 296 |
| | (189 | ) | | | 2,800 |
| | 72 |
| | 78 |
| | 2,800 |
| | 103 |
| | 129 |
| |
| Foreign currency swaps - VIE | | | 2,587 |
| | 169 |
| | 118 |
| | 2,587 |
| | 181 |
| | 101 |
| |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 16,057 |
| | 126 |
| | (117 | ) | | 3,683 |
| | 20 |
| | (53 | ) | | | 19,821 |
| | 166 |
| | 337 |
| | 16,057 |
| | 126 |
| | 117 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 430 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 770 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 9,553 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 430 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Credit default swaps | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 88 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Interest rate swaps | | 4,750 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 7,120 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,750 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Interest rate swaptions | | | 7 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total non-qualifying strategies | | 26,624 |
| | 413 |
| | (347 | ) | | 9,927 |
| | 317 |
| | (242 | ) | | | 41,888 |
| | 410 |
| | 533 |
| | 26,624 |
| | 413 |
| | 347 |
| |
| Total derivatives | | $ | 38,355 |
| | $ | 417 |
| | $ | (387 | ) | | $ | 25,751 |
| | $ | 331 |
| | $ | (474 | ) | | | $ | 61,695 |
| | $ | 482 |
| | $ | 586 |
| | $ | 38,355 |
| | $ | 417 |
| | $ | 387 |
| |
| Balance Sheet Location | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other assets | | $ | 23,713 |
| | $ | 417 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 10,948 |
| | $ | 331 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | |
| Other liabilities | | 14,642 |
| | 0 |
| | (387 | ) | | 14,803 |
| | 0 |
| | (474 | ) | | |
| Total derivatives | | $ | 38,355 |
| | $ | 417 |
| | $ | (387 | ) | | $ | 25,751 |
| | $ | 331 |
| | $ | (474 | ) | | |
Cash Flow Hedges
For certain variable-rate U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities held by Aflac Japan via consolidated VIEs, foreign currency swaps are used to swap the USD variable rate interest and principal payments to fixed rate JPY interest and principal payments. The Company has designated foreign currency swaps as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a forecasted transaction or of amounts to be received or paid related to a recognized asset (“cash flow” hedge). The remaining maximum length of time for which these cash flows are hedged is seven7 years. The derivatives in the Company's consolidated VIEs that are not designated as accounting hedges are discussed in the "non-qualifying strategies" section of this note.
Fair Value Hedges
The Company designates and accounts for certain foreign currency forwards, options, and interest rate swaptions as fair value hedges when they meet the requirements for hedge accounting. The Company recognizes gains and losses on these derivatives as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the related hedged items in current earnings.
Foreign currency forwards and options hedge the foreign currency exposure of certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale fixed-maturity investments held in Aflac Japan. The change in the fair value of the foreign currency forwards related to the changes in the difference between the spot rate and the forward price is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The change in fair value of the foreign currency option related to the time value of the option is recognized in current earnings and is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Interest rate swaptions hedge the interest rate exposure of certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities held in Aflac Japan. For these hedging relationships, the Company excludes time value from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and recognizes changes in the intrinsic value of the swaptions in current earnings within net investment income. The change in the time value of the swaptions is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into earnings (net investment income) over its legal term.
The following table presents the gains and losses on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedges for the years ended December 31.
Fair Value Hedging Relationships
| | | (In millions) | | | Hedging Derivatives | | Hedged Items | | | | | Hedging Derivatives | | Hedged Items | | |
| Hedging Derivatives | Hedged Items | | Total
Gains
(Losses) | | Gains (Losses)
Excluded from Effectiveness Testing(2) | | Gains (Losses)
Included in Effectiveness Testing(1) | | Gains (Losses) (1) | | Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized for Fair Value Hedge | Hedged Items | | Total
Gains
(Losses) | | Gains (Losses)
Excluded from Effectiveness Testing(1) | | Gains (Losses)
Included in Effectiveness Testing(2) | | Gains (Losses)(2) | | Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized for Fair Value Hedge |
| 2019: | | 2019: | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency
forwards | | Fixed maturity securities | | $ | (50 | ) | | $ | (64 | ) | | $ | 14 |
| | $ | (12 | ) | | $ | 2 |
|
Foreign currency
options | | Fixed maturity securities | | (7 | ) | | (7 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Interest rate
swaptions | | Fixed maturity securities | | (9 | ) | | (9 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total gains (losses) | | Total gains (losses) | | $ | (66 | ) | | $ | (80 | ) | | $ | 14 |
| | $ | (12 | ) | | $ | 2 |
|
| 2018: | 2018: | | | | | | | | | | | 2018: | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency
forwards | Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 126 |
| | $ | (104 | ) | | $ | 230 |
| | $ | (242 | ) | | $ | (12 | ) | Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 126 |
| | $ | (104 | ) | | $ | 230 |
| | $ | (242 | ) | | $ | (12 | ) |
Foreign currency
options | Fixed maturity securities | | 4 |
| | 4 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| Fixed maturity securities | | 4 |
| | 4 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
Interest rate
swaptions | Fixed maturity securities | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| Fixed maturity securities | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total gains (losses) | Total gains (losses) | | $ | 129 |
| | $ | (101 | ) | | $ | 230 |
| | $ | (242 | ) | | $ | (12 | ) | Total gains (losses) | | $ | 129 |
| | $ | (101 | ) | | $ | 230 |
| | $ | (242 | ) | | $ | (12 | ) |
| 2017: | 2017: | | | | | | | | 2017: | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency forwards | Fixed maturity and equity securities | | $ | 98 |
| | $ | (202 | ) | | $ | 300 |
| | $ | (278 | ) | | $ | 22 |
| Fixed maturity and equity securities | | $ | 98 |
| | $ | (202 | ) | | $ | 300 |
| | $ | (278 | ) | | $ | 22 |
|
| Foreign currency options | Fixed maturity securities | | 21 |
| | 10 |
| | 11 |
| | (10 | ) | | 1 |
| Fixed maturity securities | | 21 |
| | 10 |
| | 11 |
| | (10 | ) | | 1 |
|
| Total gains (losses) | Total gains (losses) | | $ | 119 |
| | $ | (192 | ) | | $ | 311 |
| | $ | (288 | ) | | $ | 23 |
| Total gains (losses) | | $ | 119 |
| | $ | (192 | ) | | $ | 311 |
| | $ | (288 | ) | | $ | 23 |
|
| 2016: | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency forwards | Fixed maturity and equity securities | | $ | 207 |
| | $ | (338 | ) | | $ | 545 |
| | $ | (566 | ) | | $ | (21 | ) | |
| Foreign currency options | Fixed maturity securities | | (95 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (77 | ) | | 70 |
| | (7 | ) | |
| Total gains (losses) | | $ | 112 |
| | $ | (356 | ) | | $ | 468 |
| | $ | (496 | ) | | $ | (28 | ) | |
(1) Gains and losses on foreign currency forwards and options and related hedged items are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as realized investment gains (losses). For interest rate swaptions and related hedged items, gains and losses included in the hedge assessment are reported within net investment income. For the year ended December 31, 2018, those gains and losses on interest rate swaptions and related hedged items were immaterial.
(2)Gains (losses) excluded from effectiveness testing includes the forward point on foreign currency forwards and time value change on foreign currency options which are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as realized investment gains (losses). It also includes the change in the fair value of the interest rate swaptions related to the time value of the swaptions which is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).
(2) Gains and losses on foreign currency forwards and options and related hedged items are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as realized investment gains (losses). For interest rate swaptions and related hedged items, gains and losses included in the hedge assessment, premium amortization and time value amortization while the hedge items are still outstanding are reported within net investment income. The time value gains and losses for interest rate swaptions when the related hedged items are redeemed are reported in realized investment gains and losses consistent with the impact of the hedged item. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, gains and losses included in the hedge assessment on interest rate swaptions and related hedged items were immaterial.
The following table shows the December 31, 2018 carrying amounts of assets designated and qualifying as hedged items in fair value hedges of interest rate risk and the related cumulative hedge adjustment included in the carrying amount.
| | | (In millions) | Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)(1) | | Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets/(Liabilities) | Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)(1) | | Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets/(Liabilities) | |
| | | 2018 | | 2018 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 6,593 |
| | $ | 294 |
| | | $ | 4,633 |
| | $ | 6,593 |
| | $ | 256 |
| | $ | 294 |
| |
(1) The balance includes $294 million of hedging adjustment on discontinued hedging relationships.relationships of $256 in 2019 and $294 in 2018.
As of December 31, 2018, theThe total notional amount of the Company's interest rate swaptions was $243 in 2019 and $500 million.in 2018. The hedging adjustment related to these derivatives was immaterial.
Net Investment Hedge
The Company's investment in Aflac Japan is affected by changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. To mitigate this exposure, the Parent Company's yen-denominated liabilities (see Note 9) have been designated as non-derivative hedgeshedges.
Beginning in July 2019, certain foreign currency forwards and options were designated as derivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan. The CompanyPrior to April 1, 2018, foreign currency forwards and options were also designated as derivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's net investment hedges under this strategyin Aflac Japan.
The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 2016.2017.
Non-qualifying Strategies
For the Company's derivative instruments in consolidated VIEs that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, all changes in their fair value are reported in current period earnings within realized investment gains (losses). The amount of gain or loss recognized in earnings for the Company's VIEs is attributable to the derivatives in those investment structures. While the change in value of the swaps is recorded through current period earnings, the change in value of the available-for-sale fixed maturity securities associated with these swaps is recorded through other comprehensive income.
As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Parent Company had cross-currency interest rate swap agreements related to its $350 million senior notes due February 2022, $700 million senior notes due June 2023, $750 million senior notes due November 2024 and $450 million senior notes due March 2025. Changes in the values of these swaps are recorded through current period earnings. For additional information regarding these swaps, see Note 9.
The Company uses foreign exchange forwards and options to economically mitigate the currency risk of some of its U.S. dollar- denominateddollar-denominated loan receivables held within the Aflac Japan segment. These arrangements are not designated as accounting hedges, as the foreign currency remeasurement of the loan receivables impacts current period earnings, and generally offsets gains and losses from foreign exchange forwards within realized investment gains (losses). The Company also has certain foreign exchange forwards on U.S. dollar-denominated AFS securities where hedge accounting is not being applied.
InPrior to July 2019, in order to economically mitigate currency risk of future yen dividends from Aflac Japan while lowering consolidated hedge costs associated with Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar investment hedging, the Parent Company entered into offsetting hedge positions using foreign exchange forwards. This activity is reported in the Corporate and other segment. As of July 1, 2019, the Parent Company designates these foreign exchange forward contracts as accounting hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan.
The Company uses interest rate swaps to economically convert the variable rate investment income to a fixed rate on certain variable-rate investments.
131
Impact of Derivatives and Hedging Instruments
The following table summarizes the impact to realized investment gains (losses) and other comprehensive income (loss) from all derivatives and hedging instruments for the years ended December 31.
| | | | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| (In millions) | Realized Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(1) | Realized Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(1) | Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(1) | Net Investment Income (1) | Realized Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(2) | | Net Investment Income (1) | Realized Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(2) | | Net Investment Income (1) | Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses) | Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)(2) |
| Qualifying hedges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flow hedges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | |
| Foreign currency swaps - VIE | | | $ | (2 | ) | | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | (4 | ) | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1 |
| |
| Total cash flow hedges | | 0 |
| (2) | | 3 |
| | 0 |
| (2) | | 1 |
| | 1 |
| (2) | | 3 |
| | | (2 | ) | | (1 | ) | (3) | | (4 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| (3) | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| (3) | | 1 |
| |
| Fair value hedges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency forwards (3) | | (116 | ) | | | | (180 | ) | | | | (359 | ) | | | | | | | (62 | ) | | | | | | (116 | ) | | | | | | (180 | ) | | | |
Foreign currency options (3) | | 4 |
| | | | 11 |
| | | | (25 | ) | | | | | | | (7 | ) | | | | | | 4 |
| | | | | | 11 |
| | | |
Interest rate swaptions (3) | | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | (8 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total fair value hedges | | (112 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (169 | ) | | 0 |
| | (384 | ) | | 0 |
| | | (1 | ) | | (69 | ) | | (8 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | (112 | ) | | (1 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | (169 | ) | | 0 |
| |
| Net investment hedge: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-derivative hedging
instruments | | 0 |
| | (32 | ) | | 0 |
| | (15 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | | 0 |
| | (24 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | (32 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | (15 | ) | |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (25 | ) | | 0 |
| | (118 | ) | | | | | 10 |
| | 83 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | (25 | ) | |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | (8 | ) | | 0 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 73 |
| | | | | (4 | ) | | 0 |
| | | | | | 0 |
| | (8 | ) | | | | | | 0 |
| | 5 |
| |
| Total net investment hedge | | 0 |
| | (40 | ) | | 0 |
| | (35 | ) | | 0 |
| | (45 | ) | | | | | 6 |
| | 59 |
| | | | | | 0 |
| | (40 | ) | | | | | | 0 |
| | (35 | ) | |
| Non-qualifying strategies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 20 |
| | | | 53 |
| | | | 117 |
| | | | | | | 90 |
| | | | | | (40 | ) | | | | | | 9 |
| | | |
| Foreign currency swaps - VIE | | | | | (68 | ) | | | | | | 60 |
| | | | | | 44 |
| | | |
| Foreign currency forwards | | (135 | ) | | | | 8 |
| | | | 9 |
| | | | | | | (148 | ) | | | | | | (135 | ) | | | | | | 8 |
| | | |
| Credit default swaps | | 0 |
| | | | (1 | ) | | | | 2 |
| | | | | | | 0 |
| | | | | | 0 |
| | | | | | (1 | ) | | | |
| Interest rate swaps | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | | | | 17 |
| | | | | | 3 |
| | | | | | 0 |
| | | |
| Total non- qualifying strategies | | (112 | ) | | | | 60 |
| | | | 128 |
| | | | |
| Total non-qualifying strategies | | | | | (110 | ) | | | | | | | | (112 | ) | | | | | | | | 60 |
| | | |
| Total | | $ | (224 | ) | | $ | (38 | ) | | $ | (109 | ) | | $ | (34 | ) | | $ | (255 | ) | | $ | (42 | ) | | | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | (174 | ) | | $ | 47 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (224 | ) | | $ | (38 | ) | | | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (109 | ) | | $ | (34 | ) | |
(1) Cash flow hedge items and the change in the fair value of interest rate swaptions related to the time value of the swaptions in fair value hedges are recorded as unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives and net investment hedge items are recorded in the unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) line in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss).
(2) Impact of cash flow hedges reported as realized investment gains (losses) includes an immaterial amount of gains or losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings. It also includes an immaterial amount excluded from effectiveness testing during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and $1 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.respectively.
(3)Impact shown net of effect of hedged items (see Fair Value Hedges section of this Note 4 for further detail)
The impact on earnings from derivatives in cash flow hedge relationships also included a loss of $2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018
As of December 31, 2018,2019, deferred gains and losses on derivative instruments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months were immaterial.
Credit Risk Assumed through Derivatives
For the foreign currency and credit default swaps associated with the Company's VIE investments for which it is the primary beneficiary, the Company bears the risk of loss due to counterparty default even though it is not a direct counterparty to those contracts.
The Company is a direct counterparty to the foreign currency swaps that it has entered into in connection with certain of its senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency forwards; and foreign currency options, and therefore the Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties in those contracts. The risk of counterparty default for the Company's foreign currency swaps, certain foreign currency forwards, and foreign currency options is mitigated by collateral posting requirements that counterparties to those transactions must meet.
As of December 31, 2018, there were 16 counterparties to2019, all of the Company's derivative agreements, with three comprising 52% of the aggregate notional amount. Theagreement counterparties to these derivatives are financial institutions with the following credit ratings as of December 31:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 | 2017 |
| (In millions) | Notional Amount
of Derivatives | Asset Derivatives
Fair Value | Liability Derivatives
Fair Value | Notional Amount
of Derivatives | Asset Derivatives
Fair Value | Liability Derivatives
Fair Value |
| Counterparties' credit rating: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| AA | | $ | 5,399 |
| | | $ | 63 |
| | | $ | (23 | ) | | | $ | 4,708 |
| | | $ | 52 |
| | | $ | (37 | ) | |
| A | | 32,513 |
| | | 350 |
| | | (311 | ) | | | 20,604 |
| | | 271 |
| | | (370 | ) | |
| BBB | | 443 |
| | | 4 |
| | | (53 | ) | | | 439 |
| | | 8 |
| | | (67 | ) | |
| Total | | $ | 38,355 |
| | | $ | 417 |
| | | $ | (387 | ) | | | $ | 25,751 |
| | | $ | 331 |
| | | $ | (474 | ) | |
The Company engages in over-the-counter (OTC) bilateral derivative transactions directly with unaffiliated third parties under International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements and other documentation. Most of the ISDA agreements also include Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) provisions, which generally provide for two-way collateral postings at the first dollar of exposure. The Company mitigates the risk that counterparties to transactions might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring counterparty credit exposure and collateral value while generally requiring that collateral be posted at the outset of the transaction. In addition, a significant portion of the derivative transactions have provisions that give the counterparty the right to terminate the transaction upon a downgrade of Aflac’s financial strength rating. The actual amount of payments that the Company could be required to make depends on market conditions, the fair value of outstanding affected transactions, and other factors prevailing at and after the time of the downgrade.
The Company also engages in OTC cleared derivative transactions through regulated central clearing counterparties. These positions are marked to market and margined on a daily basis (both initial margin and variation margin), and the Company has minimal exposure to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to these derivatives.
Collateral posted by the Company to third parties for derivative transactions can generally be repledged or resold by the counterparties. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position by counterparty was approximately $139$301 million and $264$139 million as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been triggered on December 31, 2018,2019, the Company estimates that it would be required to post a maximum of $34$46 million of additional collateral to these derivative counterparties. The Company is generally allowed to sell or repledge collateral obtained from its derivative counterparties, although it does not typically exercise such rights. (See the Offsetting tables below for collateral posted or received as of the reported balance sheet dates.)
Offsetting of Financial Instruments and Derivatives
Most of the Company's derivative instruments are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that provide for the net settlement of all derivative contracts between the Parent Company or Aflacits subsidiaries and itsthe respective counterparty in the event of default or upon the occurrence of certain termination events. Collateral support agreements with the master netting arrangements generally provide that the Company will receive or pledge financial collateral at the first dollar of exposure.
The Company has securities lending agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions that post collateral to the Company in return for the use of its fixed maturity and public equity securities (see Note 3). When the Company has entered into securities lending agreements with the same counterparty, the agreements generally provide for net settlement in the event of default by the counterparty. This right of set-off allows the Company to keep and apply collateral received if the counterparty failed to return the securities borrowed from the Company as contractually agreed. For additional information on the Company's accounting policy for securities lending, see Note 1.
The tables below summarize the Company's derivatives and securities lending transactions as of December 31, and as reflected in the tables, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company's policy is to not offset these financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Assets | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Assets Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Received | | Net Amount |
Derivative assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
|
| | |
| | | |
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | 231 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 231 |
| | | | $ | (152 | ) | | | $ | (23 | ) | | | $ | (55 | ) | | | | $ | 1 |
| |
| OTC - cleared | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (3 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Total derivative
assets subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 234 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 234 |
| | | | (152 | ) | | | (23 | ) | | | (58 | ) | | | | 1 |
| |
Derivative assets not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
|
| | |
| | | |
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 183 |
| |
Total derivative
assets not subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 183 |
| |
Total derivative assets | | 417 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 417 |
| | | | (152 | ) | | | (23 | ) | | | (58 | ) | | | | 184 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | 1,029 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,029 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (1,029 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 1,446 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 1,446 |
| | | | $ | (152 | ) | | | $ | (23 | ) | | | $ | (1,087 | ) | | | | $ | 184 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2019 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Assets | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Assets Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Received | | Net Amount |
Derivative assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | 310 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 310 |
| | | | $ | (190 | ) | | | $ | (7 | ) | | | $ | (113 | ) | | | | $ | 0 |
| |
| OTC - cleared | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | | 3 |
| |
Total derivative
assets subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 313 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 313 |
| | | | (190 | ) | | | (7 | ) | | | (113 | ) | | | | 3 |
| |
Derivative assets not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | 169 |
| | | | | | | | 169 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 169 |
| |
Total derivative
assets not subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 169 |
| | | | | | | | 169 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 169 |
| |
Total derivative assets | | 482 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 482 |
| | | | (190 | ) | | | (7 | ) | | | (113 | ) | | | | 172 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | 1,860 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,860 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (1,860 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 2,342 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 2,342 |
| | | | $ | (190 | ) | | | $ | (7 | ) | | | $ | (1,973 | ) | | | | $ | 172 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2017 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Assets | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Assets Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | Securities Collateral | Cash Collateral Received | | Net Amount |
Derivative assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | | |
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | 180 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 180 |
| | | | $ | (82 | ) | | | $ | 0 |
| | | $ | (98 | ) | | | | $ | 0 |
| |
Total derivative
assets subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 180 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 180 |
| | | | (82 | ) | | | 0 |
| | | (98 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Derivative assets not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | | |
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | 151 |
| | | | | | | | 151 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 151 |
| |
Total derivative
assets not subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 151 |
| | | | | | | | 151 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 151 |
| |
Total derivative assets | | 331 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 331 |
| | | | (82 | ) | | | 0 |
| | | (98 | ) | | | | 151 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | 592 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 592 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (592 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 923 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 923 |
| | | | $ | (82 | ) | | | $ | 0 |
| | | $ | (690 | ) | | | | $ | 151 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Assets | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Assets Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | Securities Collateral | Cash Collateral Received | | Net Amount |
Derivative assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | 231 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 231 |
| | | | $ | (152 | ) | | | $ | (23 | ) | | | $ | (55 | ) | | | | $ | 1 |
| |
| OTC - cleared | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 3 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (3 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Total derivative
assets subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 234 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 234 |
| | | | (152 | ) | | | (23 | ) | | | (58 | ) | | | | 1 |
| |
Derivative assets not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 183 |
| |
Total derivative
assets not subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | 183 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 183 |
| |
Total derivative assets | | 417 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 417 |
| | | | (152 | ) | | | (23 | ) | | | (58 | ) | | | | 184 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | 1,029 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,029 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (1,029 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 1,446 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 1,446 |
| | | | $ | (152 | ) | | | $ | (23 | ) | | | $ | (1,087 | ) | | | | $ | 184 |
| |
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Pledged | | Net Amount |
Derivative liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | (285 | ) | | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | (285 | ) | | | | $ | 152 |
| | | $ | 37 |
| | | $ | 68 |
| | | | $ | (28 | ) | |
Total derivative
liabilities subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | (285 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | (285 | ) | | | | 152 |
| | | 37 |
| | | 68 |
| | | | (28 | ) | |
Derivative liabilities not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| |
| OTC - bilateral | | (102 | ) | | | | | | | | (102 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (102 | ) | |
Total derivative
liabilities not
subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | (102 | ) | | | | | | | | (102 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (102 | ) | |
Total derivative liabilities | | (387 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | (387 | ) | | | | 152 |
| | | 37 |
| | | 68 |
| | | | (130 | ) | |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | (1,052 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | | | (1,052 | ) | | | | 1,029 |
| | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | | (23 | ) | |
| Total | | $ | (1,439 | ) | | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | (1,439 | ) | | | | $ | 1,181 |
| | | $ | 37 |
| | | $ | 68 |
| | | | $ | (153 | ) | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2019 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Pledged | | Net Amount |
Derivative liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | 459 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 459 |
| | | | $ | (190 | ) | | | $ | (222 | ) | | | $ | (32 | ) | | | | $ | 15 |
| |
| OTC - cleared | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (1 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
Total derivative
liabilities subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 460 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 460 |
| | | | (190 | ) | | | (222 | ) | | | (33 | ) | | | | 15 |
| |
Derivative liabilities not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | 126 |
| | | | | | | | 126 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 126 |
| |
Total derivative
liabilities not
subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | 126 |
| | | | | | | | 126 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 126 |
| |
Total derivative liabilities | | 586 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 586 |
| | | | (190 | ) | | | (222 | ) | | | (33 | ) | | | | 141 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | 1,876 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | 1,876 |
| | | | (1,860 | ) | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | | 16 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 2,462 |
| | | | $ | 0 |
| | | | $ | 2,462 |
| | | | $ | (2,050 | ) | | | $ | (222 | ) | | | $ | (33 | ) | | | | $ | 157 |
| |
| | | 2017 | |
| 2018 | | 2018 |
| | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet | | |
| (In millions) | Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Pledged | | Net Amount | Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities | | Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet | | Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in Balance Sheet | | Financial Instruments | | Securities Collateral | | Cash Collateral Pledged | | Net Amount |
Derivative liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | $ | (346 | ) | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (346 | ) | | $ | 82 |
| | $ | 245 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | (9 | ) | | | $ | 285 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 285 |
| | $ | (152 | ) | | $ | (37 | ) | | $ | (68 | ) | | $ | 28 |
| |
Total derivative
liabilities subject
to a master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | (346 | ) | | 0 |
| | (346 | ) | | 82 |
| | 245 |
| | 10 |
| | (9 | ) | | | 285 |
| | 0 |
| | 285 |
| | (152 | ) | | (37 | ) | | (68 | ) | | 28 |
| |
Derivative liabilities not subject to a master netting agreement or offsetting arrangement | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OTC - bilateral | | (128 | ) | | | | (128 | ) | | | | | | | | (128 | ) | | | 102 |
| | | | 102 |
| | | | | | | | 102 |
| |
Total derivative
liabilities not
subject to a
master netting
agreement or
offsetting
arrangement | | (128 | ) | | | | (128 | ) | | | | | | | | (128 | ) | | | 102 |
| | | | 102 |
| | | | | | | | 102 |
| |
Total derivative liabilities | | (474 | ) | | 0 |
| | (474 | ) | | 82 |
| | 245 |
| | 10 |
| | (137 | ) | | | 387 |
| | 0 |
| | 387 |
| | (152 | ) | | (37 | ) | | (68 | ) | | 130 |
| |
Securities lending and similar arrangements | | (606 | ) | | 0 |
| | (606 | ) | | 592 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (14 | ) | | | 1,052 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,052 |
| | (1,029 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 23 |
| |
| Total | | $ | (1,080 | ) | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (1,080 | ) | | $ | 674 |
| | $ | 245 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | (151 | ) | | | $ | 1,439 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1,439 |
| | $ | (1,181 | ) | | $ | (37 | ) | | $ | (68 | ) | | $ | 153 |
| |
For additional information on the Company's financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 5.
| |
| 5. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Fair Value Hierarchy
U.S. GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. These two types of inputs create three valuation hierarchy levels. Level 1 valuations reflect quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 valuations reflect quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets or model-derived valuations in which all significant valuation inputs are observable in active markets. Level 3 valuations reflect valuations in which one or more of the significant inputs are not observable in an active market.
The following tables present the fair value hierarchy levels of the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31.
| | | | 2018 | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities available for sale, carried at
fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 1,349 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 34,342 |
| | | $ | 34,878 |
| | $ | 1,522 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 36,400 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 177 |
| | 339 |
| | | 0 |
| | 232 |
| | 178 |
| | 410 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 109 |
| | 7,171 |
| | | 0 |
| | 6,556 |
| | 224 |
| | 6,780 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 23 |
| | 8,918 |
| | | 0 |
| | 10,264 |
| | 23 |
| | 10,287 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 213 |
| | 29,002 |
| | | 0 |
| | 34,234 |
| | 262 |
| | 34,496 |
| |
| Total fixed maturity securities | | 32,993 |
| | 49,380 |
| | 522 |
| | 82,895 |
| (1) | | 34,878 |
| | 55,697 |
| | 687 |
| | 91,262 |
| |
Equity securities (1) | | 874 |
| | 67 |
| | 46 |
| | 987 |
| (1) | | 642 |
| | 80 |
| | 80 |
| | 802 |
| |
| Other investments | | 152 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 152 |
| | | 628 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 628 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | 4,337 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,337 |
| | | 4,896 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,896 |
| |
| Other assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 0 |
| | 103 |
| | 182 |
| | 285 |
| | | 0 |
| | 72 |
| | 169 |
| | 241 |
| |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 126 |
| | 0 |
| | 126 |
| | | 0 |
| | 238 |
| | 0 |
| | 238 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | |
| Interest rate swaps | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| |
| Total other assets | | 0 |
| | 235 |
| | 182 |
| | 417 |
| | | 0 |
| | 313 |
| | 169 |
| | 482 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 38,356 |
| | $ | 49,682 |
| | $ | 750 |
| | $ | 88,788 |
| | | $ | 41,044 |
| | $ | 56,090 |
| | $ | 936 |
| | $ | 98,070 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 132 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 234 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 78 |
| | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 204 |
| |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 151 |
| | 0 |
| | 151 |
| | | 0 |
| | 377 |
| | 0 |
| | 377 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | | 0 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
| |
| Interest rate swaptions | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 285 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 387 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 460 |
| | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 586 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
| | | | 2017 | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities available for sale, carried at
fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 30,109 |
| | $ | 1,121 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 31,230 |
| | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 1,349 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 34,342 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 269 |
| | 175 |
| | 444 |
| | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 177 |
| | 339 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 0 |
| | 7,886 |
| | 68 |
| | 7,954 |
| | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 109 |
| | 7,171 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,909 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,909 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 8,908 |
| | 25 |
| | 8,933 |
| | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 23 |
| | 8,918 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 0 |
| | 32,327 |
| | 146 |
| | 32,473 |
| | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 213 |
| | 29,002 |
| |
| Total fixed maturity securities | | 30,109 |
| | 53,790 |
| | 414 |
| | 84,313 |
| (1) | | 32,993 |
| | 49,380 |
| | 522 |
| | 82,895 |
| |
| Equity securities | | 1,001 |
| | 6 |
| | 16 |
| | 1,023 |
| | | 874 |
| | 67 |
| | 46 |
| | 987 |
| |
| Other investments | | 57 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 57 |
| | | 152 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 152 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | 3,491 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,491 |
| | | 4,337 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,337 |
| |
| Other assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 0 |
| | 146 |
| | 150 |
| | 296 |
| | | 0 |
| | 103 |
| | 182 |
| | 285 |
| |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 22 |
| | 0 |
| | 22 |
| | | 0 |
| | 126 |
| | 0 |
| | 126 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | 12 |
| | 0 |
| | 12 |
| | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| |
| Credit default swaps | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | |
| Interest rate swaps | | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| |
| Total other assets | | 0 |
| | 180 |
| | 151 |
| | 331 |
| | | 0 |
| | 235 |
| | 182 |
| | 417 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 34,658 |
| | $ | 53,976 |
| | $ | 581 |
| | $ | 89,215 |
| | | $ | 38,356 |
| | $ | 49,682 |
| | $ | 750 |
| | $ | 88,788 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 69 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | $ | 197 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 132 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 234 |
| |
| Foreign currency forwards | | 0 |
| | 274 |
| | 0 |
| | 274 |
| | | 0 |
| | 151 |
| | 0 |
| | 151 |
| |
| Foreign currency options | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Interest rate swaptions | | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 346 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | $ | 474 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 285 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 387 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
The following tables present the carrying amount and fair value categorized by fair value hierarchy level for the Company's financial instruments that are not carried at fair value as of December 31.
| | | | 2018 | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Carrying
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | Total
Fair
Value | | Carrying
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | Total
Fair
Value | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities held to maturity,
carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 21,712 |
| | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 27,038 |
| | | $ | 22,241 |
| | $ | 27,937 |
| | $ | 354 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 28,291 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 359 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | | 821 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| |
Mortgage and asset-backed
securities | | 14 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| | | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 7 |
| | 10 |
| | 17 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 2,727 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | | 2,535 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| |
Sovereign and
supranational | | 1,551 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | | 1,123 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 1,445 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | | 916 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 2,510 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | | 2,433 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| |
Commercial mortgage and
other loans | | | 9,569 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 9,648 |
| | 9,648 |
| |
Other investments (1) | | 6,945 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
| | 6,893 |
| | 6,919 |
| | | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
| | 0 |
| | 30 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 37,263 |
| | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 9,703 |
| | $ | 6,908 |
| | $ | 43,641 |
| | | $ | 39,684 |
| | $ | 27,937 |
| | $ | 9,677 |
| | $ | 9,658 |
| | $ | 47,272 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other policyholders’ funds | | $ | 7,146 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 7,067 |
| | $ | 7,067 |
| | | $ | 7,317 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 7,234 |
| | $ | 7,234 |
| |
Notes payable
(excluding capital leases) | | 5,765 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,606 |
| | 270 |
| | 5,876 |
| | |
Notes payable
(excluding leases) | | | 6,408 |
| | 0 |
| | 6,663 |
| | 272 |
| | 6,935 |
| |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 12,911 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 5,606 |
| | $ | 7,337 |
| | $ | 12,943 |
| | | $ | 13,725 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 6,663 |
| | $ | 7,506 |
| | $ | 14,169 |
| |
(1) Excludes policy loans of $232$250 and equity method investments of $377,$569, at carrying value
| | | | | | | 2017 | | | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Carrying
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | Carrying
Value | Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities held to maturity,
carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies | | $ | 21,331 |
| | $ | 26,491 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 26,491 |
| | | $ | 21,712 |
| | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 27,038 |
| |
| Municipalities | | 357 |
| | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | | 359 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| |
Mortgage and asset-backed
securities | | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 8 |
| | 19 |
| | 27 |
| | | 14 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Public utilities | | 3,300 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | | 2,727 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| |
Sovereign and
supranational | | 1,523 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | | 1,551 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 2,206 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | | 1,445 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| |
| Other corporate | | 2,687 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | | 2,510 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| |
Commercial mortgage and
other loans | | | 6,919 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 6,893 |
| | 6,893 |
| |
Other investments (1) | | 3,017 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 2,987 |
| | 3,002 |
| | | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
| | 0 |
| | 26 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 34,447 |
| | $ | 26,491 |
| | $ | 11,577 |
| | $ | 3,006 |
| | $ | 41,074 |
| | | $ | 37,263 |
| | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 9,703 |
| | $ | 6,908 |
| | $ | 43,641 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other policyholders’ funds | | $ | 6,939 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 6,841 |
| | $ | 6,841 |
| | | $ | 7,146 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 7,067 |
| | $ | 7,067 |
| |
Notes payable
(excluding capital leases) | | 5,267 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,288 |
| | 265 |
| | 5,553 |
| | |
Notes payable
(excluding leases) | | | 5,765 |
| | 0 |
| | 5,606 |
| | 270 |
| | 5,876 |
| |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 12,206 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 5,288 |
| | $ | 7,106 |
| | $ | 12,394 |
| | | $ | 12,911 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 5,606 |
| | $ | 7,337 |
| | $ | 12,943 |
| |
(1) Excludes policy loans of $210$232 and equity method investments of $118,$377, at carrying value
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fixed maturity and equity securities
The Company determines the fair values of fixed maturity securities and public and privately-issued equity securities using the following approaches or techniques: price quotes and valuations from third party pricing vendors (including quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets) and non-binding price quotes the Company obtains from outside brokers.
A third party pricing vendor has developed valuation models to determine fair values of privately issued securities to reflect the impact of the persistent economic environment and the changing regulatory framework. These models are discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation models, but also use information from related markets, specifically the CDS market to estimate expected cash flows. These models take into consideration any unique characteristics of the securities and make various adjustments to arrive at an appropriate issuer-specific loss adjusted credit curve. This credit curve is then used with the relevant recovery rates to estimate expected cash flows and modeling of additional features, including illiquidity adjustments, if necessary, to price the security by discounting those loss adjusted cash flows. In cases where a credit curve cannot be developed from the specific security features, the valuation methodology takes into consideration other market observable inputs, including:
1) the most appropriate comparable security(ies) of the issuer; issuer
2) issuer-specific CDS spreads; spreads
3) bonds or CDS spreads of comparable issuers with similar characteristics such as rating, geography, or sector; or sector
4) bond indices that are comparative in rating, industry, maturity and region.
The pricing data and market quotes the Company obtains from outside sources, including third party pricing services, are reviewed internally for reasonableness. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the Company will re-examine the inputs and assess the reasonableness of the pricing data with the vendor. Additionally, the Company may compare the inputs to
relevant market indices and other performance measurements. Based on management's analysis, the valuation is confirmed or may be revised if there is evidence of a more appropriate estimate of fair value based on available market data. The Company has performed verification of the inputs and calculations in any valuation models to confirm that the valuations represent reasonable estimates of fair value.
The fixed maturity securities classified as Level 3 consist of securities with limited or no observable valuation inputs. For Level 3 securities, the Company estimates the fair value of these securities by obtaining non-binding broker quotes from a limited number of brokers. These brokers base their quotes on a combination of their knowledge of the current pricing environment and market conditions. The Company considers these inputs to be unobservable. The Company also considers a variety of significant valuation inputs in the valuation process, including forward exchange rates, yen swap rates, dollar swap rates, interest rate volatilities, credit spread data on specific issuers, assumed default and default recovery rates, and certain probability assumptions. In obtaining these valuation inputs, the Company has determined that certain pricing assumptions and data used by its pricing sources are difficult to validate or corroborate by the market and/or appear to be internally developed rather than observed in or corroborated by the market. The use of these unobservable valuation inputs causes more subjectivity in the valuation process for these securities.
For the periods presented, the Company has not adjusted the quotes or prices it obtains from the pricing services and brokers it uses.
The following tables present the pricing sources for the fair values of the Company's fixed maturity and equity securities as of December 31.
| | | | | 2018 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 1,349 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 34,342 |
| | | $ | 34,878 |
| | $ | 1,522 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 36,400 |
| |
| Total government and agencies | | 32,993 |
| | 1,349 |
| | 0 |
| | 34,342 |
| | | 34,878 |
| | 1,522 |
| | 0 |
| | 36,400 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| |
| Total municipalities | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,847 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | | 0 |
| | 232 |
| | 0 |
| | 232 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 177 |
| | 177 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 178 |
| | 178 |
| |
| Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 177 |
| | 339 |
| | | 0 |
| | 232 |
| | 178 |
| | 410 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | | 0 |
| | 6,556 |
| | 0 |
| | 6,556 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 109 |
| | 109 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 224 |
| | 224 |
| |
| Total public utilities | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 109 |
| | 7,171 |
| | | 0 |
| | 6,556 |
| | 224 |
| | 6,780 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| |
| Total sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,042 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | | 0 |
| | 10,264 |
| | 0 |
| | 10,264 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 23 |
| | 23 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 23 |
| | 23 |
| |
| Total banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 23 |
| | 8,918 |
| | | 0 |
| | 10,264 |
| | 23 |
| | 10,287 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | | 0 |
| | 34,234 |
| | 0 |
| | 34,234 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 213 |
| | 213 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 262 |
| | 262 |
| |
| Total other corporate | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 213 |
| | 29,002 |
| | | 0 |
| | 34,234 |
| | 262 |
| | 34,496 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 49,380 |
| | $ | 522 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
| (1) | | $ | 34,878 |
| | $ | 55,697 |
| | $ | 687 |
| | $ | 91,262 |
| |
Equity securities, carried at fair value: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 874 |
| | $ | 67 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 941 |
| | | $ | 642 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 722 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 46 |
| | 46 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 80 |
| | 80 |
| |
| Total equity securities | | $ | 874 |
| | $ | 67 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 987 |
| (1) | | $ | 642 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 802 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
| | | | | 2018 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 27,038 |
| | | $ | 27,937 |
| | $ | 354 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 28,291 |
| |
| Total government and agencies | | 27,030 |
| | 8 |
| | 0 |
| | 27,038 |
| | | 27,937 |
| | 354 |
| | 0 |
| | 28,291 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| |
| Total municipalities | | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,083 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | | 0 |
| | 7 |
| | 0 |
| | 7 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 10 |
| | 10 |
| |
| Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| | | 0 |
| | 7 |
| | 10 |
| | 17 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| |
| Total public utilities | | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,954 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| |
| Total sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,320 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| |
| Total banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,018 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| |
| Total other corporate | | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,911 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 9,677 |
| | $ | 15 |
| | $ | 36,722 |
| | | $ | 27,937 |
| | $ | 9,647 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 37,594 |
| |
| | | | | 2017 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities: (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 30,109 |
| | $ | 1,121 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 31,230 |
| | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 1,349 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 34,342 |
| |
| Total government and agencies | | 30,109 |
| | 1,121 |
| | 0 |
| | 31,230 |
| | | 32,993 |
| | 1,349 |
| | 0 |
| | 34,342 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| |
| Total municipalities | | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,370 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,863 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 269 |
| | 0 |
| | 269 |
| | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 0 |
| | 162 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 175 |
| | 175 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 177 |
| | 177 |
| |
| Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 269 |
| | 175 |
| | 444 |
| | | 0 |
| | 162 |
| | 177 |
| | 339 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 7,886 |
| | 0 |
| | 7,886 |
| | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 68 |
| | 68 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 109 |
| | 109 |
| |
| Total public utilities | | 0 |
| | 7,886 |
| | 68 |
| | 7,954 |
| | | 0 |
| | 7,062 |
| | 109 |
| | 7,171 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,807 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,807 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 102 |
| | 0 |
| | 102 |
| | |
| Total sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,909 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,909 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,260 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 8,908 |
| | 0 |
| | 8,908 |
| | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 25 |
| | 25 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 23 |
| | 23 |
| |
| Total banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 8,908 |
| | 25 |
| | 8,933 |
| | | 0 |
| | 8,895 |
| | 23 |
| | 8,918 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 32,327 |
| | 0 |
| | 32,327 |
| | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 146 |
| | 146 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 213 |
| | 213 |
| |
| Total other corporate | | 0 |
| | 32,327 |
| | 146 |
| | 32,473 |
| | | 0 |
| | 28,789 |
| | 213 |
| | 29,002 |
| |
| Total securities available for sale | | $ | 30,109 |
| | $ | 53,790 |
| | $ | 414 |
| | $ | 84,313 |
| (1) | | $ | 32,993 |
| | $ | 49,380 |
| | $ | 522 |
| | $ | 82,895 |
| |
| Equity securities, carried at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 1,001 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1,007 |
| | | $ | 874 |
| | $ | 67 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 941 |
| |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 16 |
| | 16 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 46 |
| | 46 |
| |
| Total equity securities | | $ | 1,001 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 1,023 |
| | | $ | 874 |
| | $ | 67 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 987 |
| |
(1) Includes perpetual securities
| | | | | 2017 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) | | Total
Fair
Value |
| Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Government and agencies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | $ | 26,491 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 26,491 |
| | | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 27,038 |
| |
| Total government and agencies | | 26,491 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 26,491 |
| | | 27,030 |
| | 8 |
| | 0 |
| | 27,038 |
| |
| Municipalities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| |
| Total municipalities | | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | 0 |
| | 462 |
| | | 0 |
| | 469 |
| | 0 |
| | 469 |
| |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 8 |
| | 0 |
| | 8 |
| | |
| Broker/other | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 19 |
| | 19 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | 0 |
| | 8 |
| | 19 |
| | 27 |
| | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 15 |
| | 15 |
| |
| Public utilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| |
| Total public utilities | | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,698 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,973 |
| |
| Sovereign and supranational: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| |
| Total sovereign and supranational | | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,835 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,840 |
| |
| Banks/financial institutions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| |
| Total banks/financial institutions | | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,387 |
| | | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| | 0 |
| | 1,583 |
| |
| Other corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Third party pricing vendor | | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| |
| Total other corporate | | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,172 |
| | | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| | 0 |
| | 2,804 |
| |
| Total securities held to maturity | | $ | 26,491 |
| | $ | 11,562 |
| | $ | 19 |
| | $ | 38,072 |
| | | $ | 27,030 |
| | $ | 9,677 |
| | $ | 15 |
| | $ | 36,722 |
| |
The following is a discussion of the determination of fair value of the Company's remaining financial instruments.
Derivatives
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage the risk associated with certain assets. However, the derivative instrument may not be classified in the same fair value hierarchy level as the associated asset. The Company uses pricing models to determine the estimated fair value of derivatives. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility. The significant inputs to pricing derivatives are generally observable in the market or can be derived by observable market data. When these inputs are observable, the derivatives are classified as Level 2.
The fair values of the foreign currency forwards and options associated with certain investments; the foreign currency forwards and options used to hedge foreign exchange risk from the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan and economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen; and the foreign currency swaps associated with certain senior notes are based on the amounts the Company would expect to receive or pay. The determination of the fair value of these derivatives is based on observable market inputs, therefore they are classified as Level 2.
To determine the fair value of its interest rate derivatives, the Company uses inputs that are generally observable in the market or can be derived from observable market data. Interest rate swaps are cleared trades. In a cleared swap contract the clearinghouse provides benefits to the counterparties similar to contracts listed for investment traded on an exchange since it maintains a daily margin to mitigate counterparties credit risk. These derivatives are priced using
observable inputs, accordingly, they are classified as Level 2. For its interest rate swaptions, the Company estimates their fair values using observable market data, including interest rate curves and volatilities. Their fair values are also classified as Level 2.
For derivatives associated with VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company is not the direct counterparty to the swap contracts. As a result, the fair value measurements incorporate the credit risk of the collateral associated with the VIE. The Company receives valuations from a third party pricing vendor for these derivatives. Based on
an analysis of these derivatives and a review of the methodology employed by the pricing vendor, the Company determined that due to the long duration of these swaps and the need to extrapolate from short-term observable data to derive and measure long-term inputs, certain inputs, assumptions and judgments are required to value future cash flows that cannot be corroborated by current inputs or current observable market data. As a result, the derivatives associated with the Company's consolidated VIEs are classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Other investmentsCommercial mortgage and other loans
Other investments where fair value is disclosed above include short-term investmentsCommercial mortgage and loan receivables. Loan receivablesother loans include transitional real estate loans, commercial mortgage loans and middle market loans. The Company's loan receivables do not have readily determinable market prices and generally lack market liquidity. Fair values for loan receivables are determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the applicable U.S. Treasury or London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) yield plus an appropriate spread that considers other risk factors, such as credit and liquidity risk. These spreads are provided by the applicable asset managers based on their knowledge of the current loan pricing environment and market conditions. The spreads are a significant component of the pricing inputs and are generally considered unobservable. Therefore, these investments have been assigned a Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
Other investments
Other investments includes short-term investments that are measured at fair value where amortized cost approximates fair value.
Other policyholders' funds
The largest component of the other policyholders' funds liability is the Company's annuity line of business in Aflac Japan. The Company's annuities have fixed benefits and premiums. For this product, the Company estimates the fair value to be equal to the cash surrender value. This is analogous to the value paid to policyholders on the valuation date if they were to surrender their policy. The Company periodically checks the cash value against discounted cash flow projections for reasonableness. The Company considers its inputs for this valuation to be unobservable and have accordingly classified this valuation as Level 3.
Notes payable
The fair values of the Company's publicly issued notes payable are determined by utilizing available sources of observable inputs from third party pricing vendors and are classified as Level 2. The fair values of the Company's yen-denominated loans approximate their carrying values and are classified as Level 3.
Transfers between Hierarchy Levels and Level 3 Rollforward
There were no transfers between Level 1 and 2 for assets and liabilities that are measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.
The following tables present the changes in fair value of the Company's investments and derivatives carried at fair value classified as Level 3 as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 | |
| | Fixed Maturity Securities | | Equity
Securities | | Derivatives(1) | | | |
| (In millions) | Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities | | Public
Utilities | | Banks/
Financial
Institutions | | Other
Corporate | | | | Foreign
Currency
Swaps | | Credit
Default
Swaps | | Total | |
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 175 |
| | $ | 68 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 146 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 453 |
| |
Realized investment gains (losses) included
in earnings | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | 54 |
| | (1 | ) | | 52 |
| |
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other
comprehensive income (loss) | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | (2 | ) | | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 4 |
| | 0 |
| | 6 |
| |
| Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements: | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| |
| |
| Purchases | 0 |
| | 40 |
| | 0 |
| | 56 |
| | 31 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 127 |
| |
| Issuances | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Sales | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Settlements | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | |
| Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 16 |
| |
| Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Balance, end of period | $ | 177 |
| | $ | 109 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 213 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 648 |
| |
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating
to Level 3 assets and liabilities still held at
the end of the period included in realized
investment gains (losses) | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 54 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 52 |
| |
(1) Derivative assets and liabilities are presented net
| | | 2017 | | |
| 2019 | | 2019 | |
| | Fixed Maturity Securities | | | | Equity
Securities | | Derivatives(1) | | | | Fixed Maturity Securities | | Equity
Securities | | Derivatives(1) | | | |
| (In millions) | Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities | | Public
Utilities | | Banks/
Financial
Institutions | | Other
Corporate | | | | Foreign
Currency
Swaps | | Credit
Default
Swaps | | Total | | Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities | | Public
Utilities | | Banks/
Financial
Institutions | | Other
Corporate | | | | Foreign
Currency
Swaps | | Credit
Default
Swaps | | Total | |
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 198 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 223 |
| | $ | 177 |
| | $ | 109 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 213 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 648 |
| |
Realized investment gains (losses) included in
earnings | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 43 |
| | (1 | ) | | 42 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | (33 | ) | | 0 |
| | (34 | ) | |
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other
comprehensive income (loss) | 3 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 2 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 5 |
| | 1 |
| | 6 |
| | 1 |
| | 8 |
| | 0 |
| | (4 | ) | | 0 |
| | 12 |
| |
| Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements: |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Purchases | 0 |
| | 76 |
| | 0 |
| | 122 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 214 |
| | 0 |
| | 48 |
| | 0 |
| | 165 |
| | 34 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 247 |
| |
| Issuances | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Sales | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (2 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (3 | ) | | 0 |
| | (24 | ) | | 0 |
| | (17 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (41 | ) | |
| Settlements | (26 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (26 | ) | | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | |
| Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 24 |
| (2) | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 24 |
| | 0 |
| | 116 |
| (2) | 0 |
| | 26 |
| (2) | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 142 |
| |
| Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |
| | (24 | ) | (2) | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (2 | ) | (3) | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (26 | ) | | 0 |
| | (25 | ) | (2) | (1 | ) | | (132 | ) | (2), (3) | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (158 | ) | |
| Balance, end of period | $ | 175 |
| | $ | 68 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 146 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 453 |
| | $ | 178 |
| | $ | 224 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 262 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 43 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 810 |
| |
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating
to Level 3 assets and liabilities still held at
the end of the period included in realized
investment gains (losses) | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 43 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 42 |
| | |
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating
to Level 3 assets and liabilities still held at
the end of the period included in earnings | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (33 | ) | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (33 | ) | |
(1) Derivative assets and liabilities are presented net
(2) Transfer due to sector classification change
(3)Transfer due to change in accounting methodavailability of observable market inputs
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2018 | |
| | Fixed Maturity Securities | | Equity
Securities | | Derivatives(1) | | | |
| (In millions) | Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities | | Public
Utilities | | Banks/
Financial
Institutions | | Other
Corporate | | | | Foreign
Currency
Swaps | | Credit
Default
Swaps | | Total | |
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 175 |
| | $ | 68 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 146 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 453 |
| |
Realized investment gains (losses) included in
earnings | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (1 | ) | | 54 |
| | (1 | ) | | 52 |
| |
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other
comprehensive income (loss) | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | (2 | ) | | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 4 |
| | 0 |
| | 6 |
| |
| Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements: |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Purchases | 0 |
| | 40 |
| | 0 |
| | 56 |
| | 31 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 127 |
| |
| Issuances | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Sales | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Settlements | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (6 | ) | |
| Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 16 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 16 |
| |
| Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Balance, end of period | $ | 177 |
| | $ | 109 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 213 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 80 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 648 |
| |
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating
to Level 3 assets and liabilities still held at
the end of the period included in earnings | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 54 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 52 |
| |
(1) Derivative assets and liabilities are presented net
Fair Value Sensitivity
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Input Sensitivity
The following tables summarize the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Company's Level 3 investments and derivatives carried at fair value as of December 31. Included in the tables are the inputs or range of possible inputs that have an effect on the overall valuation of the financial instruments.
| | | 2018 | |
| 2019 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) | | Fair Value | | Valuation Technique(s) | | Unobservable Input | | Range
(Weighted Average) | | | Fair Value | | Valuation Technique(s) | | Unobservable Input | | Range
(Weighted Average) | |
| Assets: | | | | | | |
| Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | $ | 177 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | $ | 178 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Public utilities | | 109 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) | | 224 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 23 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | 23 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Other corporate | | 213 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) | | 262 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) |
| Equity securities | | 46 |
| | Net asset value | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | 80 |
| | Net asset value | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Other assets: | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 125 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) | | 106 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 1.89% - 2.09% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .12% - .43% | (c) |
| | | | | CDS spreads | | 19 - 120 bps | | | | | CDS spreads | | 10 - 100 bps | |
| | | 57 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) | | 63 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 1.89% - 2.09% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .12% - .43% | (c) |
| Total assets | | $ | 750 |
| | | $ | 936 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Other liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 98 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) | | $ | 118 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 1.89% - 2.09% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .12% - .43% | (c) |
| | | | | CDS spreads | | 28 - 211 bps | | | | | CDS spreads | | 13 - 159 bps | |
| | | 4 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) | | 8 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 1.89% - 2.09% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .12% - .43% | (c) |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 102 |
| | | $ | 126 |
| |
(a) N/A represents securities where the Company receives unadjusted broker quotes and for which there is no transparency into the providers' valuation techniques or unobservable inputs.
(b) Inputs derived from U.S. long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
(c) Inputs derived from Japan long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
| | | 2017 | |
| 2018 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | | Fair Value | | Valuation Technique(s) | | Unobservable Input | | Range
(Weighted Average) | | | Fair Value | | Valuation Technique(s) | | Unobservable Input | | Range
(Weighted Average) | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Securities available for sale, carried at fair value: | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities: | | | | | | |
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | | $ | 175 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | $ | 177 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Public utilities | | 68 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) | | 109 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) |
| Banks/financial institutions | | 25 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | 23 |
| | Consensus pricing | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Other corporate | | 146 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) | | 213 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Credit spreads | | N/A | (a) |
| Equity securities | | 16 |
| | Net asset value | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) | | 46 |
| | Net asset value | | Offered quotes | | N/A | (a) |
| Other assets: | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | 80 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.40% - 2.54% | (b) | | 125 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .26% - .85% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) |
| | | | | CDS spreads | | 9 - 90 bps | | | | | CDS spreads | | 19 - 120 bps | |
| | | 70 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.40% - 2.54% | (b) | | 57 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .26% - .85% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) |
| Credit default swaps | | 1 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Base correlation | | 46.33% - 49.65% | (d) | |
| | | | | CDS spreads | | 25 bps | | |
| | | | | Recovery rate | | 37.24% | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 581 |
| | | $ | 750 |
| |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Other liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency swaps | | $ | 120 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.40% - 2.54% | (b) | | $ | 98 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .26% - .85% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) |
| | | | | CDS spreads | | 13 - 157 bps | | | | | CDS spreads | | 28 - 211 bps | |
| | | 8 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.40% - 2.54% | (b) | | 4 |
| | Discounted cash flow | | Interest rates (USD) | | 2.75% - 2.84% | (b) |
| | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .26% - .85% | (c) | | | | Interest rates (JPY) | | .18% - .71% | (c) |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 128 |
| | | $ | 102 |
| |
(a) N/A represents securities where the Company receives unadjusted broker quotes and for which there is no transparency into the providers' valuation techniques or unobservable inputs.
(b) Inputs derived from U.S. long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
(c) Inputs derived from Japan long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
(d) Range of base correlation for the Company's bespoke tranche for attachment and detachment points corresponding to market indices
The following is a discussion of the significant unobservable inputs or valuation techniques used in determining the fair value of securities and derivatives classified as Level 3.
Net Asset Value
The Company holds certain unlisted equity securities whose fair value is derived based on the financial statements published by the investee. These securities do not trade on an active market and the valuations derived are dependent on the availability of timely financial reporting of the investee. Net asset value is an unobservable input in the determination of fair value of equity securities.
Offered Quotes
In circumstances where the Company's valuation model price is overridden because it implies a value that is not consistent with current market conditions, the Company will solicit bids from a limited number of brokers. The Company also receives unadjusted prices from brokers for its mortgage and asset-backed securities. These quotes are non-binding but are reflective of valuation best estimates at that particular point in time. Offered quotes are an unobservable input in the determination of fair value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, certain banks/financial institutions, certain other corporate, and equity securities investments.
Interest Rates and CDS Spreads
The significant drivers of the valuation of the interest and foreign exchange swaps are interest rates and CDS spreads. Some of the Company's swaps have long maturities that increase the sensitivity of the swaps to interest rate fluctuations. For the Company's foreign exchange or cross currency swaps that are in a net asset position, an increase in yen interest rates (all other factors held constant) will decrease the present value of the yen final settlement receivable (receive leg), thus decreasing the value of the swap as long as the derivative remains in a net asset position.
Foreign exchange swaps also have a lump-sum final settlement of foreign exchange principal amounts at the termination of the swap. Assuming all other factors are held constant, an increase in yen interest rates will decrease the receive leg and decrease the net value of the swap. Likewise, holding all other factors constant, an increase in U.S. dollar interest rates will increase the swap's net value due to the decrease in the present value of the dollar final settlement payable (pay leg).
The extinguisher feature in most of the Company's VIE swaps results in a cessation of cash flows and no further payments between the parties to the swap in the event of a default on the referenced or underlying collateral. To price this feature, the Company applies the survival probability of the referenced entity to the projected cash flows. The survival probability uses the CDS spreads and recovery rates to adjust the present value of the cash flows. For extinguisher swaps with positive values, an increase in CDS spreads decreases the likelihood of receiving the final exchange payments and reduces the value of the swap.
For additional information on the Company's investments and financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 4.
6. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES
Consolidated policy acquisition costs deferred were $1.5 billion in 2019, 2018 compared with $1.5 billion in 2017and $1.4 billion in 2016.2017. The following table presents a rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31. | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Japan | | U.S. | | Japan | | U.S. | Japan | | U.S. | | Japan | | U.S. |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of year | | $ | 6,150 |
| | $ | 3,355 |
| | $ | 5,765 |
| | $ | 3,228 |
| | | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 3,491 |
| | $ | 6,150 |
| | $ | 3,355 |
| |
| Capitalization | | 833 |
| | 669 |
| | 839 |
| | 629 |
| | | 825 |
| | 626 |
| | 833 |
| | 669 |
| |
| Amortization | | (710 | ) | | (534 | ) | | (630 | ) | | (502 | ) | | | (709 | ) | | (573 | ) | | (710 | ) | | (534 | ) | |
| Foreign currency translation and other | | 111 |
| | 1 |
| | 176 |
| | 0 |
| | | 84 |
| | 0 |
| | 111 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Balance, end of year | | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 3,491 |
| | $ | 6,150 |
| | $ | 3,355 |
| | | $ | 6,584 |
| | $ | 3,544 |
| | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 3,491 |
| |
Commissions deferred as a percentage of total acquisition costs deferred were 74% in 2019, compared with 72% in both 2018 and 2017.
Commissions deferred as a percentage of total acquisition costs deferred were 72% in 2018, compared with 72% in 2017 and 74% in 2016.
Personnel, compensation and benefit expenses as a percentage of insurance expenses were 57% in 2019, compared with 54% in 2018 compared withand 56% in 2017 and 53% in 2016.2017. Advertising expense, which is included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, was as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Advertising expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 108 |
| | $ | 100 |
| | $ | 100 |
| | | $ | 101 |
| | $ | 108 |
| | $ | 100 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | 110 |
| | 110 |
| | 124 |
| | | 118 |
| | 110 |
| | 110 |
| |
| Total advertising expense | | $ | 218 |
| | $ | 210 |
| | $ | 224 |
| | | $ | 219 |
| | $ | 218 |
| | $ | 210 |
| |
Depreciation and other amortization expenses, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Depreciation expense | | $ | 48 |
| | | | $ | 50 |
| | | | $ | 48 |
| |
| Other amortization expense | | 1 |
| | | | 3 |
| | | | 6 |
| |
| Total depreciation and other amortization expense | | $ | 49 |
| | | | $ | 53 |
| | | | $ | 54 |
| |
Lease and rental expense, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Lease and rental expense: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 53 |
| | | | $ | 52 |
| | | | $ | 53 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | 16 |
| | | | 21 |
| | | | 21 |
| |
| Other | | 4 |
| | | | 2 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
| Total lease and rental expense | | $ | 73 |
| | | | $ | 75 |
| | | | $ | 75 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Depreciation expense | | $ | 40 |
| | | | $ | 48 |
| | | | $ | 50 |
| |
| Other amortization expense | | 1 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 3 |
| |
| Total depreciation and other amortization expense | | $ | 41 |
| | | | $ | 49 |
| | | | $ | 53 |
| |
7. POLICY LIABILITIES
Policy liabilities consist of future policy benefits, unpaid policy claims, unearned premiums, and other policyholders' funds, which accounted for 84%85%, 4%, 5%4% and 7% of total policy liabilities at December 31, 2018,2019, respectively. The Company regularly reviews the adequacy of its policy liabilities in total and by component.
The liability for future policy benefits as of December 31 consisted of the following:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Liability Amounts | | | Interest Rates |
| (In millions) | Policy
Issue Year | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | Year of
Issue | | In 20
Years |
| Health insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan: | 1992 - 2018 | | $ | 11,598 |
| | $ | 10,167 |
| | | 1.0 - 2.5 | % | | 1.0 - 2.5 | % |
| | 1974 - 2013 | | 1,161 |
| | 1,133 |
| | | 2.7 - 2.75 | | | 2.25 - 2.75 | |
| | 1998 - 2018 | | 12,764 |
| | 12,386 |
| | | 3.0 | | | 3.0 | |
| | 1997 - 1999 | | 2,452 |
| | 2,454 |
| | | 3.5 | | | 3.5 | |
| | 1994 - 1996 | | 3,056 |
| | 3,046 |
| | | 4.0 - 4.5 | | | 4.0 - 4.5 | |
| | 1987 - 1994 | | 14,722 |
| | 14,829 |
| | | 5.5 | | | 5.5 | |
| | 1985 - 1991 | | 1,779 |
| | 1,816 |
| | | 5.25 - 6.75 | | | 5.25 - 5.5 | |
| | 1978 - 1984 | | 1,964 |
| | 2,037 |
| | | 6.5 | | | 5.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S.: | 2013 - 2018 | | 96 |
| | 82 |
| | | 3.0 - 3.5 | | | 3.0 - 3.5 | |
| | 2012 - 2018 | | 1,682 |
| | 1,366 |
| | | 3.75 | | | 3.75 | |
| | 2011 | | 353 |
| | 343 |
| | | 4.75 | | | 4.75 | |
| | 2005 - 2010 | | 2,946 |
| | 2,944 |
| | | 5.5 | | | 5.5 | |
| | 1988 - 2004 | | 641 |
| | 656 |
| | | 8.0 | | | 6.0 | |
| | 1986 - 2004 | | 1,245 |
| | 1,296 |
| | | 6.0 | | | 6.0 | |
| | 1981 - 1986 | | 151 |
| | 159 |
| | | 6.5 - 7.0 | | | 5.5 - 6.5 | |
| | 1998 - 2004 | | 1,311 |
| | 1,310 |
| | | 7.0 | | | 7.0 | |
| | Other | | 17 |
| | 18 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Intercompany eliminations: | 2015 | | (583 | ) | (1) | (609 | ) | (1) | | 2.0 | | | 2.0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Life insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan: | 2001 - 2018 | | 10,296 |
| | 8,850 |
| | | 1.0 - 1.85 | | | 1.0 - 1.85 | |
| | 2011 - 2017 | | 5,116 |
| | 4,763 |
| | | 2.0 | | | 2.0 | |
| | 2009 - 2011 | | 3,867 |
| | 3,393 |
| | | 2.25 | | | 2.25 | |
| | 1992 - 2006 | | 5 |
| | 5 |
| | | 2.19 | | | 1.55 | |
| | 2005 - 2011 | | 1,769 |
| | 1,642 |
| | | 2.5 | | | 2.5 | |
| | 1985 - 2006 | | 2,057 |
| | 2,048 |
| | | 2.7 | | | 2.25 | |
| | 2007 - 2011 | | 1,380 |
| | 1,319 |
| | | 2.75 | | | 2.75 | |
| | 1999 - 2011 | | 2,249 |
| | 2,189 |
| | | 3.0 | | | 3.0 | |
| | 1996 - 2009 | | 678 |
| | 675 |
| | | 3.5 | | | 3.5 | |
| | 1994 - 1996 | | 901 |
| | 908 |
| | | 4.0 - 4.5 | | | 4.0 - 4.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S.: | 1956 - 2018 | | 695 |
| | 632 |
| | | 3.5 - 6.0 | | | 3.5 - 6.0 | |
| Total | | | $ | 86,368 |
| | $ | 81,857 |
| | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Liability Amounts | | | Interest Rate Assumptions | | |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | | | | |
| Health insurance | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan | | $ | 50,941 |
| | $ | 49,496 |
| | | 0.6 - 6.75 | % | |
| U.S. | | 8,646 |
| | 8,442 |
| | | 3.0 - 7.0 | | |
| Intercompany eliminations | | (532 | ) | (1) | (583 | ) | (1) | | 2.0 | | |
| Life insurance | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan | | 30,520 |
| | 28,318 |
| | | 1.0 - 4.5 | | |
| U.S. | | 760 |
| | 695 |
| | | 2.5 - 6.0 | | |
| Total | | $ | 90,335 |
| | $ | 86,368 |
| | | | | |
(1) Elimination entry necessary due to recapture of a portion of policy liabilities ceded externally, as a result of the reinsurance retrocession transaction as described in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
The weighted-average interest rates reflected in the consolidated statements of earnings for future policy benefits for Japanese policies were 3.2% in 2019, compared with 3.3% in 2018, compared with and 3.4% in 2017 and 3.5% in 2016;2017; and for U.S. policies, 5.3% in 2018,2019, compared with 5.3% in 2018 and 5.4% in 2017 and 5.5% in 2016.2017.
Changes in the liability for unpaid policy claims were as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Unpaid supplemental health claims, beginning of period | | $ | 3,884 |
| | $ | 3,707 |
| | $ | 3,548 |
| | | $ | 3,952 |
| | $ | 3,884 |
| | $ | 3,707 |
| |
| Less reinsurance recoverables | | 30 |
| | 27 |
| | 26 |
| | | 27 |
| | 30 |
| | 27 |
| |
| Net balance, beginning of period | | 3,854 |
| | 3,680 |
| | 3,522 |
| | | 3,925 |
| | 3,854 |
| | 3,680 |
| |
| Add claims incurred during the period related to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current year | | 7,101 |
| | 6,979 |
| | 7,037 |
| | | 7,216 |
| | 7,101 |
| | 6,979 |
| |
| Prior years | | (563 | ) | | (518 | ) | | (465 | ) | | | (552 | ) | | (563 | ) | | (518 | ) | |
| Total incurred | | 6,538 |
| | 6,461 |
| | 6,572 |
| | | 6,664 |
| | 6,538 |
| | 6,461 |
| |
| Less claims paid during the period on claims incurred during: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current year | | 4,612 |
| | 4,530 |
| | 4,613 |
| | | 4,715 |
| | 4,612 |
| | 4,530 |
| |
| Prior years | | 1,898 |
| | 1,822 |
| | 1,865 |
| | | 1,965 |
| | 1,898 |
| | 1,822 |
| |
| Total paid | | 6,510 |
| | 6,352 |
| | 6,478 |
| | | 6,680 |
| | 6,510 |
| | 6,352 |
| |
| Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on unpaid claims | | 43 |
| | 65 |
| | 64 |
| | | 29 |
| | 43 |
| | 65 |
| |
| Net balance, end of period | | 3,925 |
| | 3,854 |
| | 3,680 |
| | | 3,938 |
| | 3,925 |
| | 3,854 |
| |
| Add reinsurance recoverables | | 27 |
| | 30 |
| | 27 |
| | | 30 |
| | 27 |
| | 30 |
| |
| Unpaid supplemental health claims, end of period | | 3,952 |
| | 3,884 |
| | 3,707 |
| | | 3,968 |
| | 3,952 |
| | 3,884 |
| |
| Unpaid life claims, end of period | | 632 |
| | 508 |
| | 338 |
| | | 691 |
| | 632 |
| | 508 |
| |
| Total liability for unpaid policy claims | | $ | 4,584 |
| | $ | 4,392 |
| | $ | 4,045 |
| | | $ | 4,659 |
| | $ | 4,584 |
| | $ | 4,392 |
| |
The incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable claims experience compared to previous estimates. The favorable claims development of $563$552 million for 20182019 comprises approximately $419$395 million from Japan, which represents approximately 74%72% of the total. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange of a gain of approximately $14$5 million from December 31, 20172018 to December 31, 2018,2019, the favorable claims development in Japan would have been approximately $404$390 million, representing approximately 72%71% of the total.
The Company has experienced continued favorable claim trends in 20182019 for its core health products in Japan. The Company's experience in Japan related to the average length of stay in the hospital for cancer treatment has shown continued decline in the current period. In addition, cancer treatment patterns in Japan are continuing to be influenced by significant advances in early-detection techniques and by the increased use of pathological diagnosis rather than clinical exams. Additionally, follow-up radiation and chemotherapy treatments are occurring more often on an outpatient basis. Such changes in treatment not only increase the quality of life and initial outcomes for the patients, but also decrease the average length of each hospital stay, resulting in favorable claims development.
As of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, unearned premiums consisted primarily of discounted advance premiums on deposit. Discounted advance premiums are premiums on deposit from policyholders in conjunction with their purchase of certain Aflac Japan limited-pay insurance products. These advanced premiums are deferred upon collection and recognized as premium revenue over the contractual premium payment period. These advanced premiums represented 64% of the December 31, 2019 and 69% of the December 31, 2018 and 73% of the December 31, 2017 unearned premiums balances.
As of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the largest component of the other policyholders' funds liability was the Company's annuity line of business in Aflac Japan. The Company's annuities have fixed benefits and premiums. These annuities represented 97% of other policyholders' funds liability at December 31, 2018, compared with 98% at December 31, 2017 .2019 and 2018.
8. REINSURANCE
The Company periodically enters into fixed quota-share coinsurance agreements with other companies in the normal course of business. For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Reinsurance premiums and benefits paid or provided are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums and benefits are reported net of insurance ceded.
The Company has recorded a deferred profit liability related to reinsurance transactions. The remaining deferred profit liability of $1.0 billion, as of December 31, 2018,2019, is included in future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheet and is being amortized into income over the expected lives of the policies. The Company has also recorded a reinsurance recoverable for reinsurance transactions, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet and had a remaining balance of $941$970 million and $908$941 million as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. The increase in the reinsurance recoverable balance was driven by two aggregating factors: yen strengthening and the growth in reserves related to the business that has been reinsured as the policies age. The spot yen/dollar exchange rate strengthened by approximately 2%1.3% and ceded reserves increased approximately 2%1.4% from December 31, 2017,2018, to December 31, 2018.2019.
The following table reconciles direct premium income and direct benefits and claims to net amounts after the effect of reinsurance for the years ended December 31.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Direct premium income | | $ | 19,018 |
| | | $ | 18,875 |
| | $ | 19,592 |
| | | $ | 19,122 |
| | | $ | 19,018 |
| | $ | 18,875 |
| |
| Ceded to other companies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ceded Aflac Japan closed blocks | | (497 | ) | | (515 | ) | | (560 | ) | | | (478 | ) | | (497 | ) | | (515 | ) | |
| Other | | (58 | ) | | (51 | ) | | (48 | ) | | | (69 | ) | | (58 | ) | | (51 | ) | |
| Assumed from other companies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Retrocession activities | | 208 |
| | 216 |
| | 234 |
| | | 200 |
| | 208 |
| | 216 |
| |
| Other | | 6 |
| | 6 |
| | 7 |
| | | 5 |
| | 6 |
| | 6 |
| |
| Net premium income | | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | | $ | 18,780 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Direct benefits and claims | | $ | 12,293 |
| | $ | 12,486 |
| | $ | 13,240 |
| | | $ | 12,237 |
| | $ | 12,293 |
| | $ | 12,486 |
| |
| Ceded benefits and change in reserves for future benefits: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ceded Aflac Japan closed blocks | | (450 | ) | | (473 | ) | | (509 | ) | | | (433 | ) | | (450 | ) | | (473 | ) | |
| Eliminations | | 43 |
| | 51 |
| | 58 |
| | | 41 |
| | 43 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Other | | (44 | ) | | (44 | ) | | (38 | ) | | | (57 | ) | | (44 | ) | | (44 | ) | |
| Assumed from other companies: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Retrocession activities | | 209 |
| | 209 |
| | 222 |
| | | 194 |
| | 209 |
| | 209 |
| |
| Eliminations | | (53 | ) | | (51 | ) | | (58 | ) | | | (41 | ) | | (53 | ) | | (51 | ) | |
| Other | | 2 |
| | 3 |
| | 4 |
| | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| |
| Benefits and claims, net | | $ | 12,000 |
| | $ | 12,181 |
| | $ | 12,919 |
| | | $ | 11,942 |
| | $ | 12,000 |
| | $ | 12,181 |
| |
These reinsurance transactions are indemnity reinsurance that do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. In the event that the reinsurer is unable to meet their obligations, the Company remains liable for the reinsured claims.
As a part of its capital contingency plan, the Company entered into a committed reinsurance facility agreement on December 1, 2015 in the amount of approximately 110¥110 billion yen of reserves. This reinsurance facility agreement was renewed in 20182019 and is effective until December 31, 2019.2020. There are also additional commitment periods of a one-year duration each of which are automatically extended unless notification is received from the reinsurer within 60 days prior to the expiration. The reinsurer can withdraw from the committed facility if Aflac‘s Standard and Poor's (S&P) rating drops below BBB-. As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Company had not executed a reinsurance treaty under this committed reinsurance facility.
9. NOTES PAYABLE AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS
A summary of notes payable and lease obligations as of December 31 follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| 2.40% senior notes paid November 2018 | | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 548 |
| | |
| 4.00% senior notes due February 2022 | | 348 |
| | 348 |
| | |
4.00% senior notes due February 2022 (1) | | | $ | 348 |
| | $ | 348 |
| |
| 3.625% senior notes due June 2023 | | 698 |
| | 697 |
| | | 698 |
| | 698 |
| |
| 3.625% senior notes due November 2024 | | 746 |
| | 745 |
| | | 747 |
| | 746 |
| |
| 3.25% senior notes due March 2025 | | 447 |
| | 446 |
| | | 448 |
| | 447 |
| |
| 2.875% senior notes due October 2026 | | 297 |
| | 297 |
| | | 298 |
| | 297 |
| |
| 6.90% senior notes due December 2039 | | 220 |
| | 220 |
| | | 220 |
| | 220 |
| |
| 6.45% senior notes due August 2040 | | 254 |
| | 254 |
| | | 254 |
| | 254 |
| |
| 4.00% senior notes due October 2046 | | 394 |
| | 394 |
| | | 394 |
| | 394 |
| |
| 4.750% senior notes due January 2049 | | 540 |
| | 0 |
| | | 541 |
| | 540 |
| |
| Yen-denominated senior notes and subordinated debentures: | | | | | | | | | | |
| .932% senior notes due January 2027 (principal amount 60.0 billion yen) | | 538 |
| | 528 |
| | |
| 1.159% senior notes due October 2030 (principal amount 29.3 billion yen) | | 262 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 1.488% senior notes due October 2033 (principal amount 15.2 billion yen) | | 136 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 1.750% senior notes due October 2038 (principal amount 8.9 billion yen) | | 79 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 2.108% subordinated debentures due October 2047 (principal amount 60.0 billion yen) | | 536 |
| | 526 |
| | |
| .932% senior notes due January 2027 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion) | | | 545 |
| | 538 |
| |
| .500% senior notes due December 2029 (principal amount ¥12.6 billion) | | | 114 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.159% senior notes due October 2030 (principal amount ¥29.3 billion) | | | 266 |
| | 262 |
| |
| .843% senior notes due December 2031 (principal amount ¥9.3 billion) | | | 84 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.488% senior notes due October 2033 (principal amount ¥15.2 billion) | | | 138 |
| | 136 |
| |
| .934% senior notes due December 2034 (principal amount ¥9.8 billion) | | | 88 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.750% senior notes due October 2038 (principal amount ¥8.9 billion) | | | 81 |
| | 79 |
| |
| 1.122% senior notes due December 2039 (principal amount ¥6.3 billion) | | | 57 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 2.108% subordinated debentures due October 2047 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion) | | | 543 |
| | 536 |
| |
| .963% subordinated bonds due April 2049 (principal amount ¥30.0 billion) | | | 272 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Yen-denominated loans: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2021 (.32% in 2018 and 2017, principal amount 5.0 billion yen) | | 45 |
| | 44 |
| | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2023 (.47% in 2018 and 2017, principal amount 25.0 billion yen) | | 225 |
| | 220 |
| | |
| Capitalized lease obligations payable through 2025 | | 13 |
| | 22 |
| | |
| Total notes payable | | $ | 5,778 |
| | $ | 5,289 |
| | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2026 (.42% in 2019 and .32% in 2018, principal amount ¥5.0 billion) | | | 45 |
| | 45 |
| |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2029 (.57% in 2019 and .47% in 2018, principal amount ¥25.0 billion) | | | 227 |
| | 225 |
| |
| Finance lease obligations payable through 2026 | | | 12 |
| | 13 |
| |
Operating lease obligations payable through 2049 (2) | | | 149 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total notes payable and lease obligations | | | $ | 6,569 |
| | $ | 5,778 |
| |
(1) Redeemed in January 2020
(2) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2019 related to leases.
Amounts in the table above are reported net of debt issuance costs and issuance premiums or discounts, if applicable, that are being amortized over the life of the notes.
In December 2019, the Parent Company issued 4 series of senior notes totaling ¥38.0 billion through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥12.6 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled ¥9.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled ¥9.8 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable,
plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
In April 2019, ALIJ issued ¥30.0 billion (par value) of perpetual subordinated bonds. These bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of .963% per annum and then at six-month Euro Yen LIBOR plus an applicable spread on and after the day immediately following April 18, 2024. The bonds will be callable on each interest payment date on and after April 18, 2024. In November 2019, ALIJ amended the bonds to change their duration from perpetual to a stated maturity date of April 16, 2049 and to remove provisions that permitted ALIJ to defer payments of interest under certain circumstances.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 30-year maturity.will mature in January 2049. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a United States TreasuryU.S.Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three3 series of senior notes totaling 53.4¥53.4 billion yen through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled 29.3¥29.3 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 12-year maturity.will mature in October 2030. The second series, which totaled 15.2¥15.2 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 15-year maturity.will mature in October 2033. The third series, which totaled 8.9¥8.9 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 20-year maturity.will mature in October 2038. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In October 2017, the Parent Company issued 60.0¥60.0 billion yen of subordinated debentures through a U.S. public debt offering. The debentures bear interest at an initial rate of 2.108% per annum through October 22, 2027, or earlier redemption. Thereafter, the rate of the interest of the debentures will be reset every five years at a rate of interest equal to the then-current JPY 5-year Swap Offered Rate plus 205 basis points. The debentures are payable semi-annually in arrears and have a 30-year maturity.will mature in October 2047. The debentures are redeemable (i) at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain tax events or certain rating agency events, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the
debentures or (ii) on or after October 23, 2027, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
In January 2017, the Parent Company issued 60.0¥60.0 billion yen of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of .932% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 10-year maturity.will mature in January 2027. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2016, the Parent Company issued two2 series of senior notes totaling $700 million through a U.S. public debt offering. The first series, which totaled $300 million, bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.875% per annum, payable semi-annually and has a 10-year maturity.will mature in October 2026. The second series, which totaled $400 million, bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.00% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 30-year maturity.
In September 2016, the Parent Company entered into two series of senior unsecured term loan facilities totaling 30.0 billion yen. The first series, which totaled 5.0 billion yen, bears an interest rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and has a five-year maturity. The applicable margin ranges between .20% and .60%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second series, which totaled 25.0 billion yen, bears an interest rate per annum equal to TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and has a seven-year maturity. The applicable margin ranges between .35% and .75%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.will mature in October 2046.
In March 2015, the Parent Company issued two series$450 million of senior notes totaling $1.0 billion through a U.S. public debt offering. The first series, which totaled $550 million, bore interest at a fixed rate of 2.40% per annum, payable semi-annually, and had a five-year maturity. The second series, which totaled $450 million, bearsnotes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.25% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 10-year maturity.will mature in March 2025. The Parent Company has entered into cross-currency swaps that convert the U.S. dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes into yen-denominated obligations which results in lower nominal net interest rates on the debt. By entering into these cross-currency swaps, the Parent Company economically converted its $550 million liability into a 67.0 billion yen liability and reduced the interest rate on this debt from 2.40% in dollars to .24% in yen, and the Parent Company economically converted its $450 million liability into a 55.0¥55.0 billion yen liability and reduced the interest rate on this debt from 3.25% in dollars to .82% in yen. In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of its senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due 2020.
In November 2014, the Parent Company issued $750 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.625% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 10-year maturity.will mature in November 2024. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the treasury rate plus 20 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal
amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date. The Parent Company entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps to reduce interest expense by converting the U.S. dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes it issued into yen-denominated obligations. By entering into the swaps, the Parent Company economically converted its $750 million liability into an 85.3¥85.3 billion yen liability and reduced the interest rate on this debt from 3.625% in dollars to 1.00% in yen.
In June 2013, the Parent Company issued $700 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.625% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 10-year maturity.will mature in June 2023. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the treasury rate plus 20 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date. The Parent Company had entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps to reduce interest expense by converting the U.S. dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes it issued into yen-denominated obligations. By entering into these swaps, the Parent Company economically converted its $700 million liability into a 69.8¥69.8 billion yen liability and reduced the interest rate on this debt from 3.625% in dollars to 1.50% in yen.
In February 2012, the Parent Company issued $350 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.00% per annum, payable semiannually, and have a 10-year maturity.will mature in February 2022. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the principal amount of the notes or (ii) the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Parent Company entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps to reduce interest expense by converting the U.S. dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes it issued into yen-denominated obligations. By entering into these swaps, the Parent Company economically converted its $350 million liability into a 27.0¥27.0 billion yen liability and reduced the interest rate on this debt from 4.00% in dollars to 2.07% in yen.
In 2010 and 2009, the Parent Company issued senior notes through U.S. public debt offerings; the details of these notes are as follows. In August 2010, the Parent Company issued $450 million of senior notes that have a 30-year maturity.will mature in August 2040. In December 2009, the Parent Company issued $400 million of senior notes that have a 30-year maturity.will mature in December 2039. These senior notes pay interest semiannually and are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the principal amount of the notes or (ii) the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In December 2016, the Parent Company completed a tender offer in which it extinguished $176 million principal of its 6.90% senior notes due December 2039 and $193 million principal of its 6.45% senior notes due August 2040. The pretax loss due to the early redemption of these notes was $137 million.
For the Company's yen-denominated notes and loans, the principal amount as stated in dollar terms will fluctuate from period to period due to changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. The Company has designated the majority of its yen-denominated notes payable as a nonderivative hedge of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan.
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 20182019, are as follows:
| | | (In millions) | Long-term
Debt | | Capitalized
Lease
Obligations | | Total
Notes
Payable | Total
Notes
Payable |
| 2019 | | $ | 0 |
| | | $ | 5 |
| | $ | 5 |
| | |
| 2020 | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | | $ | 0 |
| |
| 2021 | | 45 |
| | 2 |
| | 47 |
| | | 0 |
| |
| 2022 | | 350 |
| | 1 |
| | 351 |
| | | 350 |
| |
| 2023 | | 925 |
| | 1 |
| | 926 |
| | | 700 |
| |
| 2024 | | | 750 |
| |
| Thereafter | | 4,493 |
| | | 1 |
| | 4,494 |
| | | 4,658 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 5,813 |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | 5,826 |
| | | $ | 6,458 |
| |
The following table presents the contractual maturities and present value of lease liabilities as of December 31.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Operating Leases | | Finance Leases | | Total |
| 2020 | $ | 49 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 53 |
|
| 2021 | 37 |
| | 3 |
| | 40 |
|
| 2022 | 31 |
| | 2 |
| | 33 |
|
| 2023 | 10 |
| | 2 |
| | 12 |
|
| 2024 | 10 |
| | 1 |
| | 11 |
|
| After 2024 | 22 |
| | 0 |
| | 22 |
|
| Total lease payments | $ | 159 |
| | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 171 |
|
| Less: Interest | 10 |
| | 0 |
| | 10 |
|
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 149 |
| | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 161 |
|
The following table presents the weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate for lease liabilities as of December 31.
|
| |
| 2019 |
| Weighted average remaining lease term (years): | |
| Operating leases | 6.8 |
| Finance leases | 3.7 |
| |
| Weighted average discount rate: | |
| Operating leases | 2.1% |
| Finance leases | 1.5% |
Operating lease costs, included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were $54 million, $73 million and $75 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Operating cash outflow for operating leases was $52 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
A summary of the Company's lines of credit as of December 31, 20182019 follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| Borrower | Type | Original Term | Expiration Date | Capacity | Amount Outstanding | Interest Rate on Borrowed Amount | Maturity Period | Commitment Fee | Business Purpose |
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac | uncommitted bilateral | 364 days | December 27, 201918, 2020 | $100 million | $0 million | The rate quoted by the bank and agreed upon at the time of borrowing | Up to 3 months | None | General corporate purposes |
| Aflac Incorporated | unsecured revolving | 35 years | March 31, 2019,29,
2024, or the date commitments are terminated pursuant to an event of default | ¥100.0 billion yen | ¥0.0 billion yen | A rate per annum equal to (a) Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR) plus, the alternative applicable TIBOR margin during the availability period from the closing date to the commitment termination date or (b) the TIBOR rate offered by the agent to major banks in yen for the applicable period plus, the applicable alternative TIBOR margin during the term out period | No later than
March 31, 201929, 2024 | .30% to .50%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination | General corporate purposes, including a capital contingency plan for the operations of the Parent Company |
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac | unsecured revolving | 5 years | April 4, 2023,November 18, 2024, or the date commitments are terminated pursuant to an event of default | 55.0$1.0 billion yen, or the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars | $0.0 billion yen | A rate per annum equal to, at the Company's option, either, (a) the rate for Eurocurrency for deposits in the London Interbank Offered Rateinterbank market for a period of one, two, three or six months (LIBOR) adjusted for certain costs or (b) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (2) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as its prime rate, or“prime rate”, and (3) the eurocurrency rateLIBOR for ana one month interest period of one monthin effect on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) plus 1.00%, and in each case plus an applicable margin | No later than April 4, 2023November 18, 2024 | .085% to
.225%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination | General corporate purposes, including a capital contingency plan for the operations of the Parent Company |
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac | uncommitted bilateral | None specified | None specified | $50 million | $0 million | A rate per annum equal to, at the Parent Company's option, either (a) a eurocurrency rate determined by reference to the agent's LIBOR for the interest period relevant to such borrowing or (b) the base rate determined by reference to the greater of (i) the prime rate as determined by the agent, and (ii) the sum of 0.50% and the federal funds rate for such day | Up to 3 months | None | General corporate purposes |
Aflac(1) | uncommitted revolving | 364 days | November 29, 201930, 2020 | $250 million | $0 million | USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annum | 3 months | None | General corporate purposes |
Aflac Incorporated(1) | uncommitted revolving | 364 days | April 2, 20192020 | ¥50.0 billion yen | ¥0.0 billion yen | Three-month TIBOR plus 8070 basis points per annum | 3 months | None | General corporate purposes |
Aflac Incorporated(1) | uncommitted revolving | 364 days | November 25, 2020 | ¥50.0 billion | ¥0.0 billion | Three-month TIBOR plus 70 basis points per annum | 3 months | None | General corporate purposes |
(1) Intercompany credit agreement
The Parent Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at December 31, 2018.2019. No events of default or defaults occurred during 20182019 and 2017.2018.
10. INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense (benefit) applicable to pretax earnings for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
| | | (In millions) | Foreign | | U.S. | | Total | Foreign | | U.S. | | Total |
| 2019: | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | | $ | 737 |
| | $ | 69 |
| | $ | 806 |
| |
| Deferred | | | 183 |
| | 152 |
| | 335 |
| |
| Total income tax expense | | | $ | 920 |
| | $ | 221 |
| | $ | 1,141 |
| |
| 2018: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | $ | 771 |
| | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 1,379 |
| | | $ | 771 |
| | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 1,379 |
| |
| Deferred | | 93 |
| | (409 | ) | | (316 | ) | | | 93 |
| | (409 | ) | | (316 | ) | |
| Total income tax expense | | $ | 864 |
| | $ | 199 |
| | $ | 1,063 |
| | | $ | 864 |
| | $ | 199 |
| | $ | 1,063 |
| |
| 2017: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | $ | 722 |
| | $ | (91 | ) | | $ | 631 |
| | | $ | 722 |
| | $ | (91 | ) | | $ | 631 |
| |
| Deferred | | (24 | ) | | (1,193 | ) | | (1,217 | ) | | | (24 | ) | | (1,193 | ) | | (1,217 | ) | |
| Total income tax expense | | $ | 698 |
| | $ | (1,284 | ) | | $ | (586 | ) | | | $ | 698 |
| | $ | (1,284 | ) | | $ | (586 | ) | |
| 2016: | | | | | | | | |
| Current | | $ | 650 |
| | $ | 234 |
| | $ | 884 |
| | |
| Deferred | | 136 |
| | 388 |
| | 524 |
| | |
| Total income tax expense | | $ | 786 |
| | $ | 622 |
| | $ | 1,408 |
| | |
The Japan income tax rate for the fiscal year 20162017 was 28.8%28.2%. The rate was reduced to 28.2% for the fiscal year 2017 and was further reduced to 28.0% for the fiscal year 2018.years 2018 and 2019.
For the United States,U.S., the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act imposed a broad number of changes in tax law, including the permanent reduction ofpermanently reducing the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%., eliminating or reducing certain deductions and credits and limiting the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation.
In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118) issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2017, the Company recorded provisional amounts for certain items for which the income tax accounting was not complete. As of the enactment date, the Company estimated provisional amounts for its deferred taxes, including related valuation allowance, resulting in a reduction of its deferred tax assets (DTAs)DTAs by approximately $1.0 billion and its deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) by $2.9 billion, for a net DTL reduction of approximately $1.9 billion. The provisions of ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, require that the effects of changes in tax law on deferred taxes be recognized as a component of the income tax provision in the period the tax rate change was enacted. Therefore, the $1.9 billion provisional amount of net DTL reduction was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 as a reduction in the “Income tax expense, Deferred” line item of the Company’s consolidated statement of earnings.
In 2018, the Company recorded additional income tax expense of $.4 million resulting from a decrease in the SAB 118 provisional estimate related to Japan deferred tax balances. No further adjustment was made to the SAB 118 provisional estimate related to the valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has completed its accounting for the Tax Act in accordance with SAB 118.
Income tax expense in the accompanying statements of earnings varies from the amount computed by applying the expected U.S. tax rate of 21% in both 2019 and 2018 and 35% in 2017 and 2016 to pretax earnings. The principal reasons for the differences and the related tax effects for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Income taxes based on U.S. statutory rates | | $ | 836 |
| | | | $ | 1,406 |
| | | | $ | 1,424 |
| |
| Foreign rate differential | | 220 |
|
| |
| 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Write-down of U.S. deferred tax liabilities for tax reform change | | 0 |
| | | | (1,933 | ) | | | | 0 |
| |
| Utilization of foreign tax credit | | (3 | ) | | | | (27 | ) | | | | (30 | ) | |
| Nondeductible expenses | | 21 |
| | | | 10 |
| | | | 8 |
| |
| Other, net | | (11 | ) | | | | (42 | ) | | | | 6 |
| |
| Income tax expense | | $ | 1,063 |
| | | | $ | (586 | ) | | | | $ | 1,408 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Income taxes based on U.S. statutory rates | | $ | 933 |
| | | | $ | 836 |
| | | | $ | 1,406 |
| |
| Foreign rate differential | | 229 |
|
| |
| 220 |
| | | | 0 |
| |
| Write-down of U.S. deferred tax liabilities for tax reform change | | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | | | (1,933 | ) | |
| Utilization of foreign tax credit | | (6 | ) | | | | (3 | ) | | | | (27 | ) | |
| Nondeductible expenses | | 10 |
| | | | 21 |
| | | | 10 |
| |
| Other, net | | (25 | ) | | | | (11 | ) | | | | (42 | ) | |
| Income tax expense | | $ | 1,141 |
| | | | $ | 1,063 |
| | | | $ | (586 | ) | |
Total income tax expense for the years ended December 31 was allocated as follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Statements of earnings | | $ | 1,063 |
| | $ | (586 | ) | | $ | 1,408 |
| | | $ | 1,141 |
| | $ | 1,063 |
| | $ | (586 | ) | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period | | 10 |
| | 52 |
| | 70 |
| | | 27 |
| | 10 |
| | 52 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment
securities during period | | (787 | ) | | 575 |
| | 962 |
| | | 1,532 |
| | (787 | ) | | 575 |
| |
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses
on investment securities included in net earnings | | (12 | ) | | 1 |
| | 18 |
| | | 5 |
| | (12 | ) | | 1 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | | (3 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Pension liability adjustment during period | | (8 | ) | | 3 |
| | (16 | ) | | | (18 | ) | | (8 | ) | | 3 |
| |
Total income tax expense (benefit) related to items of
other comprehensive income (loss) | | (797 | ) | | 631 |
| | 1,035 |
| | | 1,543 |
| | (797 | ) | | 631 |
| |
| Additional paid-in capital (exercise of stock options) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (10 | ) | | |
| Total income taxes | | $ | 266 |
| | $ | 45 |
| | $ | 2,433 |
| | | $ | 2,684 |
| | $ | 266 |
| | $ | 45 |
| |
The income tax effects of the temporary differences that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows: | | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Deferred income tax liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | | $ | 3,404 |
| | $ | 3,285 |
| | | $ | 3,492 |
| | $ | 3,404 |
| |
| Unrealized gains and other basis differences on investments | | 1,307 |
| | 2,882 |
| | | 4,485 |
| | 1,307 |
| |
| Premiums receivable | | 149 |
| | 104 |
| | | 152 |
| | 149 |
| |
| Policy benefit reserves | | 3,828 |
| | 3,557 |
| | | 3,442 |
| | 3,828 |
| |
| Total deferred income tax liabilities | | 8,688 |
| | 9,828 |
| | | 11,571 |
| | 8,688 |
| |
| Deferred income tax assets: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unfunded retirement benefits | | 8 |
| | 8 |
| | | 8 |
| | 8 |
| |
| Other accrued expenses | | 40 |
| | 141 |
| | | 36 |
| | 40 |
| |
| Policy and contract claims | | 775 |
| | 870 |
| | | 781 |
| | 775 |
| |
| Foreign currency loss on Aflac Japan | | 38 |
| | 67 |
| | | 16 |
| | 38 |
| |
| Deferred compensation | | 163 |
| | 155 |
| | | 162 |
| | 163 |
| |
| Capital loss carryforwards | | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | | 34 |
| | 5 |
| |
| Depreciation | | 119 |
| | 114 |
| | | 164 |
| | 119 |
| |
| Anticipatory foreign tax credit | | 4,040 |
| | 4,504 |
| | | 5,487 |
| | 4,040 |
| |
| Deferred foreign tax credit | | 591 |
| | 0 |
| | | 605 |
| | 591 |
| |
| Other | | 150 |
| | | 57 |
| | | 204 |
| | | 150 |
| |
| Total deferred income tax assets before valuation allowance | | 5,929 |
| | 5,916 |
| | | 7,497 |
| | 5,929 |
| |
| Valuation allowance | | (738 | ) | | (657 | ) | | | (1,340 | ) | | (738 | ) | |
| Total deferred income tax assets after valuation allowance | | 5,191 |
| | 5,259 |
| | | 6,157 |
| | 5,191 |
| |
| Net deferred income tax liability | | 3,497 |
| | 4,569 |
| | | 5,414 |
| | 3,497 |
| |
| Current income tax liability | | 523 |
| | 176 |
| | |
| Current income tax (asset) liability | | | (44 | ) | | 523 |
| |
| Total income tax liability | | $ | 4,020 |
| | $ | 4,745 |
| | | $ | 5,370 |
| | $ | 4,020 |
| |
The application of U.S. GAAP requires the Company to evaluate the recoverability of deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if necessary to reduce the deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not expected to be realized. As noted above, theThe Company has determined a $577$1,022 million valuation allowance against its anticipatory foreign tax credit is necessary. The anticipatory foreign tax credit represents the foreign tax credit the Company will generate from the reversal of Japan deferred tax liabilities in the future. The increase in the valuation allowance on the anticipatory foreign tax credit is due to an increase Japan's local country deferred tax inventory relative to the deferred tax inventory for Japan's U.S. tax obligation. The Company has also determined a $161$318 million valuation allowance against its deferred foreign tax credits is necessary. Deferred foreign tax credits are foreign tax credits generated in the current tax year by the Japanese life company, but are unable to be utilized until 20192020 due to Japan's current tax year not closing until March 31, 2020. The valuation
allowance on the deferred foreign tax credit has increased due to Japan'sthe utilization of prior year credits as well as the recognition of the current year deferred foreign tax year not closing until March 31, 2019.credit. Based upon a review of the Company's anticipated future taxable income, and including all other available evidence, both positive and negative, the Company's management has concluded that, notwithstanding the items noted above, it is more likely than not that all other deferred tax assets will be realized.
Under U.S. income tax rules, only 35% of non-life operating losses can be offset against life insurance taxable income each year. For current U.S. income tax purposes, as of December 31, 2018,2019, there were non-life operating loss carryforwards of $21$99 million available to offset against future taxable income.income, of which $31 million expires in 2039, and $68 million does not expire. The Company has capital loss carryforwards of $22$161 million available to offset capital gains, of which $4$65 million expires in 20212023 and $18$96 million expires in 2023.2024.
The Company files federal income tax returns in the United StatesU.S. and Japan as well as state or prefecture income tax returns in various jurisdictions in the two countries. The Company is currently under audit by the State of GeorgiaIRS for the 2013-2016 amended federal income tax years 2014-2016.returns. There are currently no other open Federal, State, or local U.S. income tax audits. U.S. federal income tax returns for years before 20152016 are no longer subject to examination. Japan corporate income tax returns for years before 20172016 are no longer subject to examination. Management believes it has established adequate tax liabilities and final resolution of all open audits is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | (In millions) | | 2018 | | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | | 2018 | |
| Balance, beginning of year | | $ | 14 |
|
| | $ | 294 |
|
| | $ | 15 |
|
| | $ | 14 |
|
|
| Additions for tax positions of prior years | | 1 |
| | | 0 |
| | | 2 |
| | | 1 |
| |
| Reductions for tax positions of prior years | | 0 |
| | | (280 | ) | | |
| Balance, end of year | | $ | 15 |
|
| | $ | 14 |
|
| | $ | 17 |
|
| | $ | 15 |
|
|
Included in the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2018,2019, are $14$15 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility, compared with $13$14 million at December 31, 2017.2018. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect the annual effective tax rate, but would accelerate the payment of cash to the taxing authority to an earlier period. The Company has accrued approximately $1$2 million as of December 31, 2018,2019, for permanent uncertainties, which if reversed would not have a material effect on the annual effective rate.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company recognized approximately $1 million in interest and penalties in 2019, 2018, compared with $1 million in 2017 and $13 million in 2016.2017, respectively. The Company has accrued approximately $2 million for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2018,2019, compared with $2$2 million a year ago. at December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2018,2019, there were no material uncertain tax positions for which the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.
See Note 1 for a discussion of the stock split that occurred in March 2018. All share and per-share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the stock split for any of the periods presented.
The following table is a reconciliation of the number of shares of the Company's common stock for the years ended December 31.
|
| | | | | |
| (In thousands of shares) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Common stock - issued: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 1,345,762 | | 1,342,498 | | 1,339,446 |
| Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares | 1,778 | | 3,264 | | 3,052 |
| Balance, end of period | 1,347,540 | | 1,345,762 | | 1,342,498 |
| Treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 564,852 | | 530,877 | | 490,686 |
| Purchases of treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Open market | 28,949 | | 35,510 | | 43,236 |
| Other | 392 | | 1,018 | | 662 |
| Dispositions of treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan | (1,306) | | (1,782) | | (2,130) |
| Exercise of stock options | (519) | | (734) | | (1,366) |
| Other | (114) | | (37) | | (211) |
| Balance, end of period | 592,254 | | 564,852 | | 530,877 |
| Shares outstanding, end of period | 755,286 | | 780,910 | | 811,621 |
|
| | | | | |
| (In thousands of shares) | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Common stock - issued: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 1,347,540 | | 1,345,762 | | 1,342,498 |
| Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares | 1,769 | | 1,778 | | 3,264 |
| Balance, end of period | 1,349,309 | | 1,347,540 | | 1,345,762 |
| Treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 592,254 | | 564,852 | | 530,877 |
| Purchases of treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Share repurchase program | 31,994 | | 28,949 | | 35,510 |
| Other | 592 | | 392 | | 1,018 |
| Dispositions of treasury stock: | | | | | |
| Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan | (1,610) | | (1,306) | | (1,782) |
| Exercise of stock options | (418) | | (519) | | (734) |
| Other | (296) | | (114) | | (37) |
| Balance, end of period | 622,516 | | 592,254 | | 564,852 |
| Shares outstanding, end of period | 726,793 | | 755,286 | | 780,910 |
Outstanding share-based awards are excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic EPS. The following table presents the approximate number of share-based awards to purchase shares, on a weighted-average basis, that were considered to be anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share at December 31:
| | | (In thousands) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Anti-dilutive share-based awards | | 44 |
| | 510 |
| | 1,822 |
| | | 6 |
| | 44 |
| | 510 |
| |
The weighted-average shares used in calculating earnings per share for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
| | | (In thousands of shares) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating basic EPS | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
| | 822,942 |
| 742,414 |
| | 769,588 |
| | 792,042 |
|
| Dilutive effect of share-based awards | 5,062 |
| | 5,819 |
| | 4,899 |
| 4,016 |
| | 5,062 |
| | 5,819 |
|
| Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating diluted EPS | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
| | 827,841 |
| 746,430 |
| | 774,650 |
| | 797,861 |
|
Share Repurchase Program: During 2018,2019, the Company repurchased 28.932.0 million shares of its common stock in the open market compared withfor $1.6 billion. The Company repurchased 28.9 million shares for $1.3 billion in 2018 and 35.5 million shares for $1.4 billion in 2017 and 43.2 million shares in 2016.2017. As of December 31, 2018,2019, a remaining balance of 69.037.1 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors.
Voting Rights: In accordance with the Parent Company's articles of incorporation, shares of common stock are generally entitled to one1 vote per share until they have been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of 48 months, at which time they become entitled to 10 votes per share.
Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The tables below are reconciliations of accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the years ended December 31.
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
| | | 2018 | |
| 2019 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension
Liability
Adjustment | | Total | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension
Liability
Adjustment | | Total |
| Balance, beginning of period | | $ | (1,750 | ) | | $ | 5,964 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | $ | (163 | ) | | $ | 4,028 |
| | | $ | (1,847 | ) | | $ | 4,234 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (212 | ) | | $ | 2,151 |
| |
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle -
financial instruments | | 0 |
| | (148 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (148 | ) | | |
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle -
tax effects from tax reform | | (325 | ) | | 734 |
| | (3 | ) | | (32 | ) | | 374 |
| | |
Other comprehensive
income (loss) before
reclassification | | 228 |
| | (2,350 | ) | | 2 |
| | (30 | ) | | (2,150 | ) | | | 224 |
| | 4,327 |
| | (9 | ) | | (76 | ) | | 4,466 |
| |
Amounts reclassified from
accumulated other
comprehensive income
(loss) | | 0 |
| | 34 |
| | 0 |
| | 13 |
| | 47 |
| | | 0 |
| | (13 | ) | | 0 |
| | 11 |
| | (2 | ) | |
Net current-period other
comprehensive
income (loss) | | 228 |
| | (2,316 | ) | | 2 |
| | (17 | ) | | (2,103 | ) | | | 224 |
| | 4,314 |
| | (9 | ) | | (65 | ) | | 4,464 |
| |
| Balance, end of period | | $ | (1,847 | ) | | $ | 4,234 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (212 | ) | | $ | 2,151 |
| | | $ | (1,623 | ) | | $ | 8,548 |
| | $ | (33 | ) | | $ | (277 | ) | | $ | 6,615 |
| |
| | | 2017 | |
| 2018 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension Liability Adjustment | | Total | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension Liability Adjustment | | Total |
| Balance, beginning of period | | $ | (1,983 | ) | | $ | 4,805 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (168 | ) | | $ | 2,630 |
| | | $ | (1,750 | ) | | $ | 5,964 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | $ | (163 | ) | | $ | 4,028 |
| |
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle -
financial instruments | | | 0 |
| | (148 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (148 | ) | |
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle -
tax effects from tax reform | | | (325 | ) | | 734 |
| | (3 | ) | | (32 | ) | | 374 |
| |
Other comprehensive
income (loss) before
reclassification | | 233 |
| | 1,158 |
| | 1 |
| | (6 | ) | | 1,386 |
| | | 228 |
| | (2,350 | ) | | 2 |
| | (30 | ) | | (2,150 | ) | |
Amounts reclassified from
accumulated other
comprehensive income
(loss) | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 11 |
| | 12 |
| | | 0 |
| | 34 |
| | 0 |
| | 13 |
| | 47 |
| |
Net current-period other
comprehensive
income (loss) | | 233 |
| | 1,159 |
| | 1 |
| | 5 |
| | 1,398 |
| | | 228 |
| | (2,316 | ) | | 2 |
| | (17 | ) | | (2,103 | ) | |
| Balance, end of period | | $ | (1,750 | ) | | $ | 5,964 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | $ | (163 | ) | | $ | 4,028 |
| | | $ | (1,847 | ) | | $ | 4,234 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (212 | ) | | $ | 2,151 |
| |
| | | 2016 | |
| 2017 | | 2017 |
| (In millions) | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension Liability Adjustment | | Total | Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses) | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment Securities | | Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives | | Pension Liability Adjustment | | Total |
| Balance, beginning of period | | $ | (2,196 | ) | | $ | 2,986 |
| | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | (139 | ) | | $ | 625 |
| | | $ | (1,983 | ) | | $ | 4,805 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (168 | ) | | $ | 2,630 |
| |
Other comprehensive
income (loss) before
reclassification | | 213 |
| | 1,854 |
| | 2 |
| | (32 | ) | | 2,037 |
| | | 233 |
| | 1,158 |
| | 1 |
| | (6 | ) | | 1,386 |
| |
Amounts reclassified from
accumulated other
comprehensive income
(loss) | | 0 |
| | (35 | ) | | 0 |
| | 3 |
| | (32 | ) | | | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | 0 |
| | 11 |
| | 12 |
| |
Net current-period other
comprehensive
income (loss) | | 213 |
| | 1,819 |
| | 2 |
| | (29 | ) | | 2,005 |
| | | 233 |
| | 1,159 |
| | 1 |
| | 5 |
| | 1,398 |
| |
| Balance, end of period | | $ | (1,983 | ) | | $ | 4,805 |
| | $ | (24 | ) | | $ | (168 | ) | | $ | 2,630 |
| | | $ | (1,750 | ) | | $ | 5,964 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | $ | (163 | ) | | $ | 4,028 |
| |
All amounts in the table above are net of tax.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, see Note 1 for discussion of the amounts reclassified between AOCI and retained earnings upon the adoption of new accounting pronouncements.
The tables below summarize the amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on source for the years ended December 31.
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2019 | |
| Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities | | $ | (63 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized | | $ | (13 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized |
| | | 17 |
| | Other gains (losses) | | 31 |
| | Other gains (losses) |
| | | (46 | ) | | Total before tax | | 18 |
| | Total before tax |
| | | 12 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | (5 | ) | | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | (34 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | 13 |
| | Net of tax |
| Amortization of defined benefit pension items: | | | | | | |
| Actuarial gains (losses) | | $ | (18 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | $ | (15 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| Prior service (cost) credit | | 0 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | 0 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| | | 5 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | 4 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | (13 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | (11 | ) | | Net of tax |
| Total reclassifications for the period | | $ | (47 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | 2 |
| | Net of tax |
(1) Based on 27%26% blended tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see
Note 14 for additional details).
| | | (In millions) | 2017 | | 2018 | |
| Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities | | $ | (29 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized | | $ | (63 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized |
| | | 27 |
| | Other gains (losses) | | 17 |
| | Other gains (losses) |
| | | (2 | ) | | Total before tax | | (46 | ) | | Total before tax |
| | | 1 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | 12 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | (1 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | (34 | ) | | Net of tax |
| Amortization of defined benefit pension items: | | | | | | |
| Actuarial gains (losses) | | $ | (17 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | $ | (18 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| Prior service (cost) credit | | 0 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | 0 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| | | 6 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | 5 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | (11 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | (13 | ) | | Net of tax |
| Total reclassifications for the period | | $ | (12 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | (47 | ) | | Net of tax |
(1) Based on 35%27% blended tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 14 for additional details).
| | | (In millions) | 2016 | | 2017 | |
| Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Affected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings |
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities | | $ | (83 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized | | $ | (29 | ) | | Other-than-temporary impairment
losses realized |
| | | 136 |
| | Other gains (losses) | | 27 |
| | Other gains (losses) |
| | | 53 |
| | Total before tax | | (2 | ) | | Total before tax |
| | | (18 | ) | | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | 1 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | 35 |
| | Net of tax | | $ | (1 | ) | | Net of tax |
| Amortization of defined benefit pension items: | | | | | | |
| Actuarial gains (losses) | | $ | (15 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | $ | (17 | ) | | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| Prior service (cost) credit | | 11 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) | | 0 |
| | Acquisition and operating expenses(2) |
| | | 1 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) | | 6 |
| | Tax (expense) or benefit(1) |
| | | $ | (3 | ) | | Net of tax | | $ | (11 | ) | | Net of tax |
| Total reclassifications for the period | | $ | 32 |
| | Net of tax | | $ | (12 | ) | | Net of tax |
(1) Based on 35% tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 14 for additional details).
12. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
See Note 1 for a discussion of the stock split that occurred in March 2018. All share and per-share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the stock split for any of the periods presented.
As of December 31, 2018,2019, the Company has outstanding share-based awards under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan")Plan). Share-based awards are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions to the Company and provide incentives for them to remain with the Company. The number and frequency of share-based awards are based on competitive practices, operating results of the Company, government regulations, and other factors.
The Plan, as amended on February 14, 2017, allows for a maximum number of shares issuable over its term of 75 million shares including 38 million shares that may be awarded in respect of awards other than options or stock appreciation rights. If any awards granted under the Plan are forfeited or are terminated before being exercised or settled for any reason other than tax forfeiture, then the shares underlying the awards will again be available under the Plan.
The Plan allows awards to Company employees for incentive stock options (ISOs), non-qualifying stock options (NQSOs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Non-employee directors are eligible for grants of NQSOs,
restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights. As of December 31, 2018,2019, approximately 40.339.3 million shares were available for future grants under this plan. The ISOs and NQSOs have a term of 10 years, and the share-based awards generally vest upon time-based conditions or time and performance-based conditions. Time-based vesting generally occurs after three years. Performance-based vesting conditions generally include the attainment of goals related to Company financial performance. As of December 31, 2018,2019, the only performance-based awards issued and outstanding were restricted stock awards.awards and units.
Stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the amended Plan have an exercise price of at least the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and have an expiration date no later than 10 years from the grant date. Time-based restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and stock options granted after January 1, 2017 generally vest on a ratable basis over three years, and awards granted prior to the amendment vest on a three-year cliff basis. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the discretion to determine vesting schedules.
Share-based awards granted to U.S.-based grantees are settled with authorized but unissued Company stock, while those issued to Japan-based grantees are settled with treasury shares.
Summary of Share-Based Compensation Expense
Share-based compensation expense consists primarily of expenses for stock options, restricted stock awards (including performance based restricted stock awards), and restricted stock units granted to employees.
The following table presents the impact of the expense recognized in connection with share-based awards for the periods ended December 31.
| | | (In millions, except for per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Impact on earnings from continuing operations | | $ | 57 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 68 |
| | | $ | 59 |
| | $ | 57 |
| | $ | 51 |
| |
| Impact on earnings before income taxes | | 57 |
| | 51 |
| | 68 |
| | | 59 |
| | 57 |
| | 51 |
| |
| Impact on net earnings | | 45 |
| | 35 |
| | 46 |
| | | 46 |
| | 45 |
| | 35 |
| |
| Impact on net earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | .06 |
| | $ | .05 |
| | $ | .06 |
| | | $ | .06 |
| | $ | .06 |
| | $ | .05 |
| |
| Diluted | | .06 |
| | .05 |
| | .06 |
| | | .06 |
| | .06 |
| | .05 |
| |
Stock Options
The following table summarizes stock option activity under the employee stock option plan.
| | | (In thousands of shares) | Stock
Option
Shares | | Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share | Stock
Option
Shares | | Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | | 15,836 |
| | $ | 25.47 |
| | |
| Granted in 2016 | | 1,328 |
| | 30.70 |
| | |
| Canceled in 2016 | | (362 | ) | | 27.82 |
| | |
| Exercised in 2016 | | (4,122 | ) | | 24.46 |
| | |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2016 | | 12,680 |
| | | 26.28 |
| | | 12,680 |
| | $ | 26.28 |
| |
| Granted in 2017 | | 626 |
| | 35.80 |
| | | 626 |
| | 35.80 |
| |
| Canceled in 2017 | | (236 | ) | | 24.95 |
| | | (236 | ) | | 24.95 |
| |
| Exercised in 2017 | | (5,766 | ) | | 30.11 |
| | | (5,766 | ) | | 30.11 |
| |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | | 7,304 |
| | 28.03 |
| | | 7,304 |
| | | 28.03 |
| |
| Granted in 2018 | | 67 |
| | 44.59 |
| | | 67 |
| | 44.59 |
| |
| Canceled in 2018 | | (167 | ) | | 32.11 |
| | | (167 | ) | | 32.11 |
| |
| Exercised in 2018 | | (1,874 | ) | | 26.78 |
| | | (1,874 | ) | | 26.78 |
| |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2018 | | 5,330 |
| | $ | 28.54 |
| | | 5,330 |
| | 28.54 |
| |
| Granted in 2019 | | | 0 |
| | 0.00 |
| |
| Canceled in 2019 | | | (40 | ) | | 27.82 |
| |
| Exercised in 2019 | | | (1,584 | ) | | 25.97 |
| |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2019 | | | 3,706 |
| | $ | 29.65 |
| |
| | | (In thousands of shares) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Shares exercisable, end of year | | 3,917 |
| | 4,208 |
| | 8,986 |
| | | 3,553 |
| | 3,917 |
| | 4,208 |
| |
The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option approach. Expected volatility is based on historical periods generally commensurate with the estimated terms of the options. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and termination patterns within the model. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise patterns are stratified and considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of the Company's option model and represents the weighted-average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the Treasury note rate with a term comparable to that of the estimated term of the options. There were no options granted in 2019. The weighted-average fair value of options at their grant date was $8.81 per share for 2018 compared with $7.64 for 2017 and $6.35 in 2016.2017. The following table presents the assumptions used in valuing options granted during the years ended December 31.
| | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Expected term (years) | | 7.0 | | 5.9 | | 6.4 | | | 7.0 | | 7.0 | | 5.9 | |
| Expected volatility | | 22.0 | % | | 26.0 | % | | 27.0 | % | | 18.0 | % | | 22.0 | % | | 26.0 | % |
| Annual forfeiture rate | | 3.6 | | 3.4 | | 3.2 | | | 3.9 | | 3.6 | | 3.4 | |
| Risk-free interest rate | | 2.5 | | 2.5 | | 2.2 | | | 2.9 | | 2.5 | | 2.5 | |
| Dividend yield | | 2.4 | | 2.5 | | 2.9 | | | 2.2 | | 2.4 | | 2.5 | |
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2018.2019.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In thousands of shares) | | | Options Outstanding | | Options Exercisable |
| | Range of
Exercise Prices
Per Share | | | Stock Option
Shares
Outstanding | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Yrs.) | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share | | Stock Option
Shares
Exercisable | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share |
| | $ | 11.07 |
| - | $ | 24.28 |
| | | | 1,181 |
| | | | 1.8 | | | | $ | 20.76 |
| | | | 1,181 |
| | | | $ | 20.76 |
| |
| | 24.75 |
| - | 28.97 |
| | | | 1,718 |
| | | | 4.8 | | | | 27.76 |
| | | | 1,026 |
| | | | 26.95 |
| |
| | 29.04 |
| - | 31.21 |
| | | | 1,226 |
| | | | 5.8 | | | | 30.77 |
| | | | 1,221 |
| | | | 30.77 |
| |
| | 31.22 |
| - | 37.22 |
| | | | 1,134 |
| | | | 7.5 | | | | 34.44 |
| | | | 488 |
| | | | 33.86 |
| |
| | 38.76 |
| - | 44.59 |
| | | | 71 |
| | | | 9.3 | | | | 44.21 |
| | | | 1 |
| | | | 38.76 |
| |
| | $ | 11.07 |
| - | $ | 44.59 |
| | | | 5,330 |
| | | | 5.0 | | | | $ | 28.54 |
| | | | 3,917 |
| | | | $ | 27.14 |
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In thousands of shares) | | | Options Outstanding | | Options Exercisable |
| | Range of
Exercise Prices
Per Share | | | Stock Option
Shares
Outstanding | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Yrs.) | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share | | Stock Option
Shares
Exercisable | | Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share |
| | $ | 16.92 |
| - | $ | 24.75 |
| | | | 872 |
| | | | 2.1 | | | | $ | 23.58 |
| | | | 872 |
| | | | $ | 23.58 |
| |
| | 24.79 |
| - | 28.97 |
| | | | 919 |
| | | | 3.8 | | | | 28.49 |
| | | | 919 |
| | | | 28.49 |
| |
| | 29.04 |
| - | 31.21 |
| | | | 988 |
| | | | 4.7 | | | | 30.77 |
| | | | 988 |
| | | | 30.77 |
| |
| | 31.22 |
| - | 36.21 |
| | | | 778 |
| | | | 6.5 | | | | 34.31 |
| | | | 626 |
| | | | 34.02 |
| |
| | 37.22 |
| - | 44.59 |
| | | | 149 |
| | | | 7.8 | | | | 40.57 |
| | | | 148 |
| | | | 40.59 |
| |
| | $ | 16.92 |
| - | $ | 44.59 |
| | | | 3,706 |
| | | | 4.4 | | | | $ | 29.65 |
| | | | 3,553 |
| | | | $ | 29.40 |
| |
The aggregate intrinsic value in the following table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, and is based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the quoted closing common stock price of $45.56$52.90 as of December 31, 2018,2019, for those awards that have an exercise price currently below the closing price. As of December 31, 2018,2019, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding was $91$86 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 5.04.4 years. The total number of in-the-money stock options exercisable as of December 31, 2018,2019, was 3.93.6 million. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable at that same date was $72$84 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 4.14.2 years.
The following table summarizes stock option activity during the years ended December 31.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Total intrinsic value of options exercised | | $ | 34 |
| | $ | 87 |
| | $ | 41 |
| | | $ | 38 |
| | $ | 34 |
| | $ | 87 |
| |
| Cash received from options exercised | | 48 |
| | 58 |
| | 68 |
| | | 40 |
| | 48 |
| | 58 |
| |
Tax benefit realized as a result of options exercised and
restricted stock releases | | 25 |
| | 74 |
| | 45 |
| | | 34 |
| | 25 |
| | 74 |
| |
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards and Units
Under the Plan, the Company grants selected executive officers performance-based restricted stock awards (PBRS) each February whose vesting is contingent upon meeting various performance goals. PBRS are generally granted at-the-money and contingently cliff vest over a period of three years, generally subject to continued employment. In February
2018, 2019, the Company granted 432399 thousand performance-based stock awards, which are contingent on the achievement of the Company's financial performance metrics and its market-based conditions. On the date of grant, the Company estimated
the fair value of restricted stock awards with market-based conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The model discounts the value of the stock at the assumed vesting date based on a risk-free interest rate. Based on estimates of actual performance versus the vesting thresholds, the calculated fair value percentage pay-out estimate will be updated each quarter. Actual performance, including modification for relative total shareholder return, may result in the ultimate award of 0% to 200% percent of the initial number of PBRS issued, with the potential for no award if company performance goals are not achieved during the three-year period. PBRS subject to accelerated vesting at the date of retirement eligibility is recognized over the implicit service period.
The Company also granted selected executive officers performance-based restricted stock units (PSUs) throughout the year whose vesting is contingent upon meeting various performance goals. PSUs are generally granted at-the-money and contingently cliff vest over a period of three years, generally subject to continued employment. In November 2019, the Company granted 46 thousand performance-based stock units, which are contingent on the achievement of certain Company determined metrics. Based on estimates of actual performance versus the vesting thresholds, the calculated fair value percentage pay-out estimate will be updated each quarter. Actual performance may result in the ultimate award of 0% to 200% percent of the initial number of PSUs issued, with the potential for no award if the Company determined metrics are not achieved during the three-year period. PSUs subject to accelerated vesting at the date of retirement eligibility is recognized over the implicit service period.
The Company uses third-party analyses to assist in developing the assumptions used in, as well as calibrating, a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company is responsible for determining the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of its share-based payment awards.
Key assumptions used to value PBRS granted during 20182019 follows: |
| | | | | |
| (In millions) | 20182019 | |
| Expected volatility (based on Aflac Inc. and peer group historical daily stock price) | | 16.4815.82 | % | | |
| Expected life from grant date (years) | | 2.9 |
| | |
| Risk-free interest rate (based on U.S. Treasury yields at the date of grant) | | 2.292.51 | % | | |
Restricted Stock Awards and Units
The value of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units is based on the fair market value of ourthe Company's common stock at the date of grant. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31.
| | | (In thousands of shares) | Shares | | Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Per Share | Shares | | Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Per Share |
| Restricted stock at December 31, 2015 | | 3,630 |
| | $ | 29.21 |
| | |
| Granted in 2016 | | 1,756 |
| | 30.84 |
| | |
| Canceled in 2016 | | (152 | ) | | 30.33 |
| | |
| Vested in 2016 | | (1,498 | ) | | 26.84 |
| | |
| Restricted stock at December 31, 2016 | | 3,736 |
| | 30.88 |
| | | 3,736 |
| | $ | 30.88 |
| |
| Granted in 2017 | | 1,118 |
| | 36.48 |
| | | 1,118 |
| | 36.48 |
| |
| Canceled in 2017 | | (202 | ) | | 32.23 |
| | | (202 | ) | | 32.23 |
| |
| Vested in 2017 | | (1,018 | ) | | 31.09 |
| | | (1,018 | ) | | 31.09 |
| |
| Restricted stock at December 31, 2017 | | 3,634 |
| | 32.40 |
| | | 3,634 |
| | 32.40 |
| |
| Granted in 2018 | | 1,121 |
| | 44.27 |
| | | 1,121 |
| | 44.27 |
| |
| Canceled in 2018 | | (105 | ) | | 34.39 |
| | | (105 | ) | | 34.39 |
| |
| Vested in 2018 | | (1,243 | ) | | 31.64 |
| | | (1,243 | ) | | 31.64 |
| |
| Restricted stock at December 31, 2018 | | 3,407 |
| | $ | 36.52 |
| | | 3,407 |
| | 36.52 |
| |
| Granted in 2019 | | | 1,070 |
| | 49.68 |
| |
| Canceled in 2019 | | | (39 | ) | | 41.60 |
| |
| Vested in 2019 | | | (1,865 | ) | | 32.73 |
| |
| Restricted stock at December 31, 2019 | | | 2,573 |
| | $ | 44.66 |
| |
As of December 31, 2018,2019, total compensation cost not yet recognized in the Company's financial statements related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units was $36$60 million, of which $15$30 million (799 thousand(1.5 million shares) was related to restricted stock awards with a performance-based vesting condition. The Company expects to recognize these amounts over
a weighted-average period of approximately 1.0 year.1.1 years. There are no other contractual terms covering restricted stock awards once vested.
13. STATUTORY ACCOUNTING AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
The Company's insurance subsidiaries are required to report their results of operations and financial position to insurance regulatory authorities on the basis of statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such authorities. Statutory accounting practices primarily differ from U.S. GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions as well as valuing investments and certain assets and accounting for deferred taxes on a different basis.
Aflac reports statutory financial statements that are prepared on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI). The NDOI recognizes statutory accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by the state of Nebraska for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company, and for determining a company's solvency under Nebraska insurance law. TheStatutory Accounting Principles (SAP) as detailed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual (SAP) has been adopted by the state of Nebraska as a component of those prescribed or permitted practices. Additionally, the Director of the NDOI has the right to permit other specific practices which deviate from prescribed practices. Prior to the Japan branch conversion on April 1, 2018, Aflac had been given explicit permission by the Director of the NDOI for two such permitted practices. These permitted practices, which did not impact the calculation of net income on a statutory basis or prevent the triggering of a regulatory event in the Company's RBC calculation, were as follows:
Aflac reported as admitted assets the refundable lease deposits on the leases of commercial office space which house Aflac Japan's sales operations. These lease deposits are unique and part of the ordinary course of doing business in the country of Japan; these assets would be non-admitted under SAP.
Aflac entered into a reinsurance agreement effective March 31, 2015 with a then unauthorized reinsurer. The effective date of this agreement predated the effective date of Nebraska's Amended Credit for Reinsurance statute (44-416) allowing certified reinsurers and also predated the subsequent approval of the agreement's assuming reinsurer as a Certified Reinsurer, which occurred on August 30, 2015 and December 24, 2015, respectively. Aflac obtained a permitted practice to recognize this treaty and counterparty as a Certified Reinsurer for the purpose of determining the collateral required to receive reinsurance reserve credit.
On April 1, 2018, the Company entered into a series of transactions in order to complete the conversion of the Japan branch into a Japanese insurance corporation. As a result of the conversion, the permitted practices were no longer necessary, therefore they were canceled by the NDOI effective April 2, 2018. A reconciliationAflac had no permitted practices as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Aflac's capital and surplus
between SAPas determined by NAIC basis and
practices permitted by theNebraska state
basis was $2.1 billion and $2.6 billion as of
Nebraska is shown below for the years ended December
31: |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Capital and surplus, Nebraska state basis | | $ | 2,600 |
| | | | $ | 11,001 |
| |
| State Permitted Practice: | | | | | | | |
| Refundable lease deposits – Japan | | 0 |
| | | | (43 | ) | |
| Reinsurance - Japan | | 0 |
| | | | (818 | ) | |
| Capital and surplus, NAIC basis | | $ | 2,600 |
| | | | $ | 10,140 |
| |
31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2018,2019, Aflac's capital and surplus significantly exceeded the required company action level capital and surplus of $.5$.4 billion. As determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis, Aflac's net income was $864 million in 2019, $1.3 billion in 2018 and $2.6 billion in2017 and $2.8 billion in 2016. 2017.
Aflac Japan must report its results of operations and financial position to the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as prescribed by the FSA. Capital and surplus of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, was $7.8 billion at December 31, 2019, compared with $6.4 billion at December 31, 2018, compared with $6.7 billion at December 31, 2017.2018. Japanese regulatory accounting practices differ in many respects from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are expensed immediately; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; premium income is recognized on a cash basis; different consolidation criteria apply to VIEs; reinsurance is recognized on a different basis; and investments can have a separate accounting classification and treatment referred to as policy reserve matching bonds (PRM).
The Parent Company depends on its subsidiaries for cash flow, primarily in the form of dividends and management fees. Consolidated retained earnings in the accompanying financial statements largely represent the undistributed earnings of the Company's insurance subsidiary. Amounts available for dividends, management fees and other payments
to the Parent Company by its insurance subsidiaries may fluctuate due to different accounting methods required by regulatory authorities. These payments are also subject to various regulatory restrictions and approvals related to safeguarding the interests of insurance policyholders. Aflac must maintain adequate RBC for U.S. regulatory authorities, and Aflac Japan must maintain adequate solvency margins for Japanese regulatory authorities.
The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac and CAIC without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 20192020 in excess of $1.3 billion$864 million would require such approval. Aflac declared dividends of $12.3$1.3 billion during 2018, including non-cash extraordinary dividends of $11.0 billion which represented the statutory book value of Aflac Japan on April 2, 2018.2019.
After the Japan branch conversion as of April 1, 2018, Aflac Japan is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at Aflac Japan is basically defined as retained earnings excluding capital reserves, which represent equity generated by capital profits that are statutorily required in Japan, less net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities based on the previous fiscal year-end. Prior to April 1, 2018, a portion of Aflac Japan earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, could be remitted each year to Aflac U.S. after complying with solvency margin provisions and satisfying various conditions imposed by Japanese regulatory authorities for protecting policyholders. Profit remittances to the United StatesU.S. could fluctuate due to changes in the amounts of Japanese regulatory earnings. Among other items, factors affecting regulatory
earnings include Japanese regulatory accounting practices and fluctuations in currency translation of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments and related investment income into yen. Profits remitted by Aflac Japan to the Parent Company, after April 1, 2018, and to Aflac U.S., prior to April 1, 2018, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | In Dollars | | In Yen | In Dollars | | In Yen |
| (In millions of dollars and billions of yen) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Profit remittances | | $ | 808 |
| | $ | 1,150 |
| | $ | 1,286 |
| | 89.7 |
| | 129.3 |
| | 138.5 |
| | | $ | 2,070 |
| | $ | 808 |
| | $ | 1,150 |
| | ¥ | 225.2 |
| | ¥ | 89.7 |
| | ¥ | 129.3 |
| |
14. BENEFIT PLANS
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
The Company has funded defined benefit plans in Japan and the United States,U.S., however the U.S. plan was frozen to new participants effective October 1, 2013. The Company also maintains non-qualified, unfunded supplemental retirement plans that provide defined pension benefits in excess of limits imposed by federal tax law for certain Japanese, U.S. and former employees, however the U.S. plan was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2015. U.S. employees who are not participants in the defined benefit plan receive a nonelective 401(k) employer contribution.
The Company provides certain health care benefits for eligible U.S. retired employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents ("other(other postretirement benefits")benefits). The health care plan is contributory and unfunded. Effective January 1, 2014, employees eligible for benefits included the following: (1) active employees whose age plus service, in years, equaled or exceeded 80 (rule of 80); (2) active employees who were age 55 or older and have met the 15 years of service requirement; (3) active employees who would meet the rule of 80 in the next five years; (4) active employees who were age 55 or older and who would meet the 15 years of service requirement within the next five years; and (5) current retirees. For certain employees and former employees, additional coverage is provided for all medical expenses for life.
Information with respect to the Company's benefit plans' assets and obligations as of December 31 was as follows:
| | | | | Pension Benefits | | Other | | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits |
| (In millions) | | 2018 | 2017 | | 2018 | 2017 | | 2018 | 2017 | | 2019 | 2018 | | 2019 | 2018 | | 2019 | 2018 |
| Projected benefit obligation: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Benefit obligation, beginning of year | | $ | 341 |
| | $ | 329 |
| | $ | 908 |
| | $ | 798 |
| | $ | 36 |
| | $ | 37 |
| | | $ | 396 |
| | $ | 341 |
| | $ | 875 |
| | $ | 908 |
| | $ | 37 |
| | $ | 36 |
| |
| Service cost | | 19 |
| | 20 |
| | 27 |
| | 24 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 22 |
| | 19 |
| | 23 |
| | 27 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Interest cost | | 7 |
| | 6 |
| | 31 |
| | 40 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | | 7 |
| | 7 |
| | 20 |
| | 31 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Actuarial (gain) loss | | 35 |
| | (10 | ) | | (69 | ) | | 65 |
| | 4 |
| | 0 |
| | | 17 |
| | 35 |
| | 163 |
| (3) | | (69 | ) | | 4 |
| | 4 |
| |
| Benefits and expenses paid | | (11 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (22 | ) | | (19 | ) | | (4 | ) | | (2 | ) | | | (11 | ) | | (11 | ) | | (23 | ) | | (22 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (4 | ) | |
Effect of foreign exchange
rate changes | | 5 |
| | 10 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 5 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Benefit obligation, end of year | | | 396 |
| | 341 |
| | | | 875 |
| | 908 |
| | | | 37 |
| | 36 |
| | | | 436 |
| | 396 |
| | | | 1,058 |
| | 875 |
| | | | 39 |
| | 37 |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Plan assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fair value of plan assets,
beginning of year | | 270 |
| | 229 |
| | 448 |
| | 359 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 289 |
| | 270 |
| | 465 |
| | 448 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Actual return on plan assets | | (9 | ) | | 16 |
| | (30 | ) | | 61 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 24 |
| | (9 | ) | | 98 |
| | (30 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Employer contributions | | 34 |
| | 32 |
| | 69 |
| | 47 |
| | 4 |
| | 2 |
| | | 38 |
| | 34 |
| | 104 |
| | 69 |
| | 3 |
| | 4 |
| |
| Benefits and expenses paid | | (11 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (22 | ) | | (19 | ) | | (4 | ) | | (2 | ) | | | (11 | ) | | (11 | ) | | (23 | ) | | (22 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (4 | ) | |
Effect of foreign exchange
rate changes | | 5 |
| | 7 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Fair value of plan assets, end of year | | | 289 |
| | 270 |
| | | | 465 |
| | 448 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 344 |
| | 289 |
| | | | 644 |
| | 465 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
Funded status of the plans(1) | | | $ | (107 | ) | | $ | (71 | ) | | | | $ | (410 | ) | | $ | (460 | ) | | | | $ | (37 | ) | | $ | (36 | ) | | | | $ | (92 | ) | | $ | (107 | ) | | | | $ | (414 | ) | | $ | (410 | ) | | | | $ | (39 | ) | | $ | (37 | ) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts recognized in accumulated other
comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net actuarial (gain) loss | | $ | 95 |
| | $ | 44 |
| | $ | 174 |
| | $ | 203 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | | $ | 92 |
| | $ | 95 |
| | $ | 259 |
| | $ | 174 |
| | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 9 |
| |
| Prior service (credit) cost | | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | | | (4 | ) | | (4 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | | | (4 | ) | | (4 | ) | | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
Total included in accumulated
other comprehensive income | | | $ | 93 |
| | $ | 42 |
| | | | $ | 170 |
| | $ | 199 |
| | | | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | | | $ | 90 |
| | $ | 93 |
| | | | $ | 255 |
| | $ | 170 |
| | | | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 9 |
| |
| Accumulated benefit obligation | | | $ | 356 |
| | $ | 307 |
| | | | $ | 746 |
| | $ | 756 |
| | | | N/A |
| (2) | | N/A |
| (2) | | | $ | 390 |
| | $ | 356 |
| | | | $ | 886 |
| | $ | 746 |
| | | | N/A |
| (2) | | N/A |
| (2) |
(2) Not applicable
(3) Actuarial losses increased due to lower discount rates at the end of 2019. Also, additional funds were contributed to the U.S. funded defined benefit plan in 2019. The Company contributed $95 million in 2019 compared to $60 million in 2018.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| | Japan | | | U.S. | | | Postretirement Benefits |
| | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| Weighted-average actuarial assumptions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Discount rate - net periodic benefit cost | 1.25 | % | | 1.25 | % | | 1.75 | % | | | 3.75 | % | | 4.25 | % | | 4.50 | % | | | 3.75 | % | | 4.25 | % | | 4.50 | % | |
| Discount rate - benefit obligations | 1.25 |
| | 1.25 |
| | 1.25 |
| | | 4.25 |
| | 3.75 |
| | 4.25 |
| | | 4.25 |
| | 3.75 |
| | 4.25 |
| |
| Expected long-term return on plan assets | 2.00 |
| | 2.00 |
| | 2.00 |
| | | 6.50 |
| | 6.75 |
| | 7.00 |
| | | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) |
| Rate of compensation increase | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | | 4.00 |
| | 4.00 |
| | 4.00 |
| | | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) |
| Health care cost trend rates | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | | 7.40 |
| (2) | 5.40 |
| (2) | 5.20 |
| (2) |
Information for Pension Plans with an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Pension Benefits |
| | | Japan | | | | U.S. |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Accumulated benefit obligation | | | $ | 390 |
| | | | $ | 356 |
| | | | | $ | 886 |
| | | | $ | 746 |
| |
| Fair value of plan assets | | | 344 |
| | | | 289 |
| | | | | 644 |
| | | | 465 |
| |
Information for Pension Plans with a Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Pension Benefits |
| | | Japan (1) | | | | U.S.(2) |
| (In millions) | | 2019 | | 2018 | | | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
| Projected benefit obligation | | | $ | 436 |
| | | | $ | 396 |
| | | | | $ | 1,058 |
| | | | $ | 875 |
| |
| Fair value of plan assets | | | 344 |
| | | | 289 |
| | | | | 644 |
| | | | 465 |
| |
(1)The net amount of projected benefit obligation and plan assets for the underfunded (including unfunded) Japan pension plan was $92 and $107 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and was classified as liabilities on the statement of financial position.
(2) The net amount of projected benefit obligation and plan assets for the underfunded (including unfunded) U.S. pension plan was $414 and $410 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and was classified as liabilities on the statement of financial position.
Information for other postretirement benefit plans with an accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in excess of plan assets has been disclosed in the note on “Obligations and Funded Status” because all the other postretirement benefit plans are unfunded or underfunded. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| | Japan | | | U.S. | | | Postretirement Benefits |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | |
| Weighted-average actuarial assumptions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Discount rate - net periodic benefit cost | 1.25 | % | | 1.25 | % | | 1.25 | % | | | 4.25 | % | | 3.75 | % | | 4.25 | % | | | 4.25 | % | | 3.75 | % | | 4.25 | % | |
| Discount rate - benefit obligations | .75 |
| | 1.25 |
| | 1.25 |
| | | 3.25 |
| | 4.25 |
| | 3.75 |
| | | 3.25 |
| | 4.25 |
| | 3.75 |
| |
| Expected long-term return on plan assets | 2.00 |
| | 2.00 |
| | 2.00 |
| | | 6.25 |
| | 6.50 |
| | 6.75 |
| | | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) |
| Rate of compensation increase | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | | 4.00 |
| | 4.00 |
| | 4.00 |
| | | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) |
| Health care cost trend rates | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | N/A | (1) | | N/A | (1) | N/A |
| N/A | (1) | | 7.50 |
| (2) | 7.40 |
| (2) | 5.40 |
| (2) |
(2)For the years 20182019, 20172018 and 20162017, the health care cost trend rates are expected to trend down to 4.1%3.8% in 6154 years, 4.5%4.1% in 7761 years, and 4.5% in 7477 years, respectively.
The Company determines its discount rate assumption for its pension retirement obligations based on indices for AA corporate bonds with an average duration of approximately 20 years for the Japan pension plans and 17 years for the U.S. pension plans, and determination of the U.S. pension plans discount rate utilizes the 85-year extrapolated yield
curve. In Japan, participant salary and future salary increases are not factors in determining pension benefit cost or the related pension benefit obligation.
The Company bases its assumption for the long-term rate of return on assets on historical trends (10-year or longer historical rates of return for the Japanese plan assets and 15-year historical rates of return for the U.S. plan assets), expected future market movement, as well as the portfolio mix of securities in the asset portfolio including, but not limited to, style, class and equity and fixed income allocations. In addition, the Company's consulting actuaries evaluate its assumptions for long-term rates of return under Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP). Under the ASOP, the actual portfolio type, mix and class is modeled to determine a best estimate of the long-term rate of return. The Company in turn use those results to further validate its own assumptions.
|
| | | | | | |
| (In millions) | | | | |
| One percentage point increase: | | | | |
| Increase in total service and interest costs | | | $ | 0 |
| |
| Increase in postretirement benefit obligation | | | 1 |
| |
| | | | | |
| One percentage point decrease: | | | | |
| Decrease in total service and interest costs | | | $ | 0 |
| |
| Decrease in postretirement benefit obligation | | | 1 |
| |
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Pension and other postretirement benefit expenses are included in acquisition and operating expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, which includes $8 million, $25 million $35 million and $17$35 million of other components of net periodic pension cost and postretirement costs (other than services costs) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 2016,2017, respectively. Total net periodic benefit cost includes the following components:
| | | | | Pension Benefits | | Other | | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| | | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits | | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits |
| (In millions) | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Service cost | | $ | 19 |
| | $ | 20 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 27 |
| | $ | 24 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 19 |
| | $ | 20 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 27 |
| | $ | 24 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| |
| Interest cost | | 7 |
| | 6 |
| | 9 |
| | 31 |
| | 40 |
| | 29 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | | 7 |
| | 7 |
| | 6 |
| | 20 |
| | 31 |
| | 40 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| |
Expected return on plan
assets | | (6 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (4 | ) | | (26 | ) | | (24 | ) | | (23 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | (6 | ) | | (6 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (29 | ) | | (26 | ) | | (24 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
Amortization of net actuarial
loss | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | 16 |
| | 14 |
| | 13 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | | 4 |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 10 |
| | 16 |
| | 14 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
| |
Amortization of prior service
cost (credit) | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | (11 | ) | | |
| Net periodic (benefit) cost | | | $ | 21 |
| | | $ | 23 |
| | | | $ | 22 |
| | | | $ | 48 |
| | $ | 54 |
| | | | $ | 42 |
| | | | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | (7 | ) | | | | $ | 27 |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | | | $ | 24 |
| | $ | 48 |
| | $ | 54 |
| | | | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 2 |
| |
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in other comprehensive loss (income) for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | Pension Benefits | | Other | | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits | | Japan | | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits |
| (In millions) | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | | $ | 52 |
| | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | 26 |
| | $ | (13 | ) | | $ | 28 |
| | $ | 27 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | (4 | ) | | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 52 |
| | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | 95 |
| | $ | (13 | ) | | $ | 28 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 0 |
| |
| Amortization of net actuarial loss | | (1 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (16 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (13 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | | (4 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (10 | ) | | (16 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | |
Amortization of prior
service cost | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | 11 |
| | |
| Total | | | $ | 51 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | $ | 25 |
| | | | $ | (29 | ) | | $ | 14 |
| | $ | 14 |
| | | | $ | 3 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | 6 |
| | | | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | 51 |
| | $ | (23 | ) | | | | $ | 85 |
| | $ | (29 | ) | | $ | 14 |
| | | | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | |
NoNaN transition obligations arose during 2018, and the transition obligations amortized to expense were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Amortization of actuarial losses to expense in 2019 is estimated to be $4 million for the Japanese plans, $11 million for the U.S. plans and $1 million for the other postretirement benefits plan. Amortization of prior service costs and credits and transition obligations for all plans is expected to be negligible in 2019.
Benefit Payments
The following table provides expected benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate.
| | | | | Pension Benefits | | Other | | Pension Benefits | | Other |
| (In millions) | | Japan | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits | | Japan | U.S. | | Postretirement Benefits |
| 2019 | | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | | $ | 3 |
| | |
| 2020 | | 12 |
| | 26 |
| | 3 |
| | | $ | 13 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | | $ | 3 |
| |
| 2021 | | 12 |
| | 27 |
| | 4 |
| | | 12 |
| | 27 |
| | 4 |
| |
| 2022 | | 19 |
| | 36 |
| | 4 |
| | | 17 |
| | 29 |
| | 4 |
| |
| 2023 | | 15 |
| | 34 |
| | 4 |
| | | 14 |
| | 30 |
| | 4 |
| |
| 2024-2028 | | 89 |
| | 199 |
| | 17 |
| | |
| 2024 | | | 16 |
| | 31 |
| | 4 |
| |
| 2025-2029 | | | 84 |
| | 203 |
| | 16 |
| |
Funding
The Company plans to make contributions of $33$35 million to the Japanese funded defined benefit plan and $10 millionin 2020. The Company does not plan to make any contributions to the U.S. funded defined benefit plan in 2020. The Company funded additional contributions to the U.S. funded defined benefit plan in 2019. The funding policy for the Company's non-qualified supplemental defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefits plan is to contribute the amount of the benefit payments made during the year.
Plan Assets
The investment objective of the Company's Japanese and U.S. funded defined benefit plans is to preserve the purchasing power of the plan's assets and earn a reasonable inflation-adjusted rate of return over the long term. Furthermore, the Company seeks to accomplish these objectives in a manner that allows for the adequate funding of plan benefits and expenses. In order to achieve these objectives, the Company's goal is to maintain a conservative, well-diversified and balanced portfolio of high-quality equity, fixed-income and money market securities. As a part of its strategy, the Company has established strict policies covering quality, type and concentration of investment securities. For the Company's Japanese plan, these policies include limitations on investments in derivatives including futures, options and swaps, and low-liquidity investments such as real estate, venture capital investments, and privately issued securities. For the Company's U.S. plan, these policies prohibit investments in precious metals, limited partnerships, venture capital, and direct investments in real estate. The Company is also prohibited from trading on margin.
The plan fiduciaries for the Company's funded defined benefit plans have developed guidelines for asset allocations reflecting a percentage of total assets by asset class, which are reviewed on an annual basis. Asset allocation targets as of December 31, 20182019 were as follows:
| | | | | Japan Pension | | U.S. Pension | | Japan Pension | | U.S. Pension |
| Domestic equities | | 5 | % | | 40 | % | | | 5 | % | | 40 | % | |
| International equities | | 18 |
| | 20 |
| | | 20 |
| | 20 |
| |
| Fixed income securities | | 66 |
| | 40 |
| | | 66 |
| | 40 |
| |
| Other | | 11 |
| | 0 |
| | | 9 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total | | 100 | % | | 100 | % | | | 100 | % | | 100 | % | |
The U.S. Pension Plan had $39$100 million in cash at December 31, 2018.2019. The plan fiduciaries authorized investing a contribution made to the Plan in 20182019 on a graduated basis over a period of time.
The following table presents the fair value of Aflac Japan's pension plan assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31. All of these assets are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Japan pension plan assets: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equities: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japanese equity securities | | $ | 14 |
| | $ | 37 |
| | | $ | 17 |
| | $ | 14 |
| |
| International equity securities | | 50 |
| | 50 |
| | | 67 |
| | 50 |
| |
| Fixed income securities: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japanese bonds | | 34 |
| | 91 |
| | | 20 |
| | 34 |
| |
| International bonds | | 160 |
| | 62 |
| | | 207 |
| | 160 |
| |
| Insurance contracts | | 31 |
| | 30 |
| | | 33 |
| | 31 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 289 |
| | $ | 270 |
| | | $ | 344 |
| | $ | 289 |
| |
The following table presents the fair value of Aflac U.S.'s pension plan assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31. All of these assets are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 |
| U.S. pension plan assets: | | | | | | | |
| Mutual funds: | | | | | | | |
| Large cap equity funds | | $ | 120 |
| | | | $ | 124 |
| |
| Mid cap equity funds | | 17 |
| | | | 22 |
| |
| Real estate equity funds | | 13 |
| | | | 13 |
| |
| International equity funds | | 92 |
| | | | 108 |
| |
| Fixed income bond funds | | 179 |
| | | | 175 |
| |
| Aflac Incorporated common stock | | 5 |
| | | | 5 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | 39 |
| | | | 1 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 465 |
| | | | $ | 448 |
| |
166
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions) | 2019 | | 2018 |
| U.S. pension plan assets: | | | | | | | |
| Mutual funds: | | | | | | | |
| Large cap equity funds | | $ | 179 |
| | | | $ | 120 |
| |
| Mid cap equity funds | | 22 |
| | | | 17 |
| |
| Real estate equity funds | | 16 |
| | | | 13 |
| |
| International equity funds | | 112 |
| | | | 92 |
| |
| Fixed income bond funds | | 209 |
| | | | 179 |
| |
| Aflac Incorporated common stock | | 6 |
| | | | 5 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | 100 |
| | | | 39 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 644 |
| | | | $ | 465 |
| |
The fair values of the Company's pension plan investments categorized as Level 1, consisting of mutual funds and common stock, are based on quoted market prices for identical securities traded in active markets that are readily and regularly available to the Company. The fair values of the Company's pension plan investments classified as Level 2 are based on quoted prices for similar assets in markets that are not active, other inputs that are observable, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates, or other market-corroborated inputs.
401(k) Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan in which it matches a portion of U.S. employees' contributions. The plan provides for salary reduction contributions by employees and provides for matching contributions which, starting January 1, 2018, the Company increased to 100% of each employee's contributions which were not in excess of 4% of the employee's annual cash compensation as a result of tax reform. In 2017 and 2016, the plan provided for matching contributions by the Company of 50% of each employee's contributions which were not in excess of 6% of the employee's annual compensation. Also, as a result of U.S. tax reform legislation enacted in December 2017, the Company announced it would made a one-time contribution of $500 to the 401(k) plan to all employees active on December 31, 2017. This contribution was made by January 31, 2018. The Company also provides a nonelective contribution to the 401(k) plan of 2% of annual cash compensation for employees who opted out of the future benefits of the U. S.U.S. defined benefit plan and for new U. S.U.S. employees.
The 401(k) contributions by the Company, included in acquisition and operating expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were $18 million in both 2019 and 2018 and $15 million in 2017 and $11 million in 2016.2017. The plan trustee held approximately 2.72.6 million shares of the Company's common stock for plan participants at December 31, 2018.2019.
Stock Bonus Plan
Aflac U.S. maintains a stock bonus plan for eligible U.S. sales associates. Plan participants receive shares of Aflac Incorporated common stock based on their new annualized premium sales and their first-year persistency of substantially all new insurance policies. The cost of this plan, which was capitalized as deferred policy acquisition costs, amounted to $31 million in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.2017.
15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Company has two2 outsourcing agreements with a technology and consulting corporation. The first agreement provides mainframe computer operations, distributed mid-range server computer operations, and related support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of fourthree years and an aggregate remaining cost of 36.1¥26.7 billion yen ($326244 million using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate). The second agreement provides application maintenance and development services for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of fivefour years and an aggregate remaining cost of 8.6¥6.6 billion yen ($7761 million using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate).
The Company has an outsourcing agreement with a management consulting and technology services company to provide application maintenance and development services for its Japanese operation. The agreement has a remaining term of threetwo years with an aggregate remaining cost of 10.4¥6.9 billion yen ($9463 million using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate).
The Company has two2 outsourcing agreements with information technology and data services companies to provide application maintenance and development services for its Japanese operation. The first agreement has a remaining term of one yearthree years with an aggregate remaining cost of .6¥5.5 billion yen ($550 million using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate). The second agreement has a remaining term of fourthree years with an aggregate remaining cost of 5.8¥4.9 billion yen ($5245 million using the December 31, 2018,2019, exchange rate).
The Company leases office space and equipment under agreements that expire in various years through 2028. Future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2018, were as follows:
|
| | | |
| (In millions) | |
| 2019 | $ | 63 |
|
| 2020 | 47 |
|
| 2021 | 35 |
|
| 2022 | 31 |
|
| 2023 | 8 |
|
| Thereafter | 18 |
|
| Total future minimum lease payments | $ | 202 |
|
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of the Company's senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.
Guaranty Fund Assessments
The United StatesU.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that is monitored and regulated by state insurance departments. These life and health insurance guaranty associations are state entities (in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) created to protect policyholders of an insolvent insurance company. All insurance companies (with limited exceptions) licensed to sell life or health insurance in a state must be members of that state’s guaranty association. Under state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business.
In 2009, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner placed long-term care insurer Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company and its subsidiary American Network Insurance Company (collectively referred to as Penn Treaty), neither of which is affiliated with Aflac, in rehabilitation and petitioned a state court for approval to liquidate Penn Treaty. A final order of liquidation was granted by a recognized judicial authority on March 1, 2017, and as a result, Penn Treaty is in the process of liquidation. The Company estimated and recognized the impact of its share of guaranty fund assessments resulting from the liquidation using a discounted rate of 4.25%. The Company recognized a discounted liability for the assessments of $62 million (undiscounted $94 million), offset by discounted premium tax credits of $48 million (undiscounted $74 million), for a net $14 million impact to net income in the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The Company paid a majority of these assessments by March 31, 2018, and a majority of the tax credit will be realized over the next four years.2019. The Company used the cost estimate provided as of the liquidation date by the National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA) to calculate its estimated assessments and tax credits. Other guaranty fund assessments for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 20162017 were immaterial.
16. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
In management's opinion, the following quarterly financial information fairly presents the results of operations for such periods and is prepared on a basis consistent with the Company's annual audited financial statements.
| | | (In millions, except for per-share amounts) | March 31,
2018 | | June 30,
2018 | | September 30,
2018 | | December 31,
2018 | March 31,
2019 | | June 30,
2019 | | September 30,
2019 | | December 31,
2019 |
| Net premium income | | $ | 4,745 |
| | $ | 4,706 |
| | $ | 4,636 |
| | $ | 4,591 |
| | | $ | 4,691 |
| | $ | 4,681 |
| | $ | 4,736 |
| | $ | 4,671 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 837 |
| | 862 |
| | 870 |
| | 874 |
| | | 878 |
| | 878 |
| | 936 |
| | 886 |
| |
| Realized investment gains (losses) | | (134 | ) | | 3 |
| | 56 |
| | (355 | ) | | | 71 |
| | (66 | ) | | (153 | ) | | 12 |
| |
| Other income (loss) | | 16 |
| | 18 |
| | 15 |
| | 16 |
| | | 17 |
| | 18 |
| | 17 |
| | 34 |
| |
| Total revenues | | 5,464 |
| | 5,589 |
| | 5,577 |
| | 5,126 |
| | | 5,657 |
| | 5,511 |
| | 5,536 |
| | 5,603 |
| |
| Total benefits and expenses | | 4,482 |
| | 4,458 |
| | 4,431 |
| | 4,404 |
| | | 4,415 |
| | 4,402 |
| | 4,500 |
| | 4,545 |
| |
| Earnings before income taxes | | 982 |
| | 1,131 |
| | 1,146 |
| | 722 |
| | | 1,242 |
| | 1,109 |
| | 1,036 |
| | 1,058 |
| |
| Total income tax | | 265 |
| | 299 |
| | 301 |
| | 197 |
| | | 314 |
| | 292 |
| | 259 |
| | 276 |
| |
| Net earnings | | $ | 717 |
| | $ | 832 |
| | $ | 845 |
| | $ | 525 |
| | | $ | 928 |
| | $ | 817 |
| | $ | 777 |
| | $ | 782 |
| |
| Net earnings per basic share | | $ | .92 |
| | $ | 1.08 |
| | $ | 1.10 |
| | $ | .69 |
| | | $ | 1.23 |
| | $ | 1.10 |
| | $ | 1.05 |
| | $ | 1.07 |
| |
| Net earnings per diluted share | | .91 |
| | 1.07 |
| | 1.09 |
| | .69 |
| | | 1.23 |
| | 1.09 |
| | 1.04 |
| | 1.06 |
| |
Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (In millions, except for per-share amounts) | March 31,
2017 | | June 30,
2017 | | September 30,
2017 | | December 31,
2017 | March 31,
2018 | | June 30,
2018 | | September 30,
2018 | | December 31,
2018 |
| Net premium income | | $ | 4,638 |
| | $ | 4,665 |
| | $ | 4,648 |
| | $ | 4,580 |
| | | $ | 4,745 |
| | $ | 4,706 |
| | $ | 4,636 |
| | $ | 4,591 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 794 |
| | 802 |
| | 811 |
| | 812 |
| | | 837 |
| | 862 |
| | 870 |
| | 874 |
| |
| Realized investment gains (losses) | | (140 | ) | | (56 | ) | | 30 |
| | 15 |
| | | (134 | ) | | 3 |
| | 56 |
| | (355 | ) | |
| Other income (loss) | | 17 |
| | 17 |
| | 17 |
| | 17 |
| | | 16 |
| | 18 |
| | 15 |
| | 16 |
| |
| Total revenues | | 5,309 |
| | 5,428 |
| | 5,506 |
| | 5,424 |
| | | 5,464 |
| | 5,589 |
| | 5,577 |
| | 5,126 |
| |
| Total benefits and expenses | | 4,411 |
| | 4,383 |
| | 4,431 |
| | 4,425 |
| | | 4,482 |
| | 4,458 |
| | 4,431 |
| | 4,404 |
| |
| Earnings before income taxes | | 898 |
| | 1,045 |
| | 1,075 |
| | 999 |
| | | 982 |
| | 1,131 |
| | 1,146 |
| | 722 |
| |
| Total income tax | | 306 |
| | 332 |
| | 359 |
| | (1,585 | ) | | | 265 |
| | 299 |
| | 301 |
| | 197 |
| |
| Net earnings | | $ | 592 |
| | $ | 713 |
| | $ | 716 |
| | $ | 2,584 |
| | | $ | 717 |
| | $ | 832 |
| | $ | 845 |
| | $ | 525 |
| |
| Net earnings per basic share | | $ | .74 |
| | $ | .90 |
| | $ | .91 |
| | $ | 3.29 |
| | | $ | .92 |
| | $ | 1.08 |
| | $ | 1.10 |
| | $ | .69 |
| |
| Net earnings per diluted share | | .73 |
| | .89 |
| | .90 |
| | 3.27 |
| | | .91 |
| | 1.07 |
| | 1.09 |
| | .69 |
| |
Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.
17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In January 2020, the Parent Company used proceeds from senior notes issued in December 2019 to redeem $350 million of its 4.00% fixed-rate senior notes due February 2022.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
There have been no changes in, or disagreements with, accountants on accounting and financial disclosure matters during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
(a) Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company's internal control over financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter of 20182019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. In connection with adoption of new accounting standards associated with accounting for credit losses as detailed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has implemented a new system, and related processes and controls to ensure appropriate accounting and disclosures are developed and maintained.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
Pursuant to General Instruction G to Form 10-K, Items 10 through 14 are incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive Notice and Proxy Statement relating to the Company's 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 22, 2019,20, 2020, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee Report and Compensation Committee Report to be included in such proxy statement shall be deemed to be furnished in this report and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 as a result of such furnishing in Items 10 and 11, respectively.
|
| | |
| | | Refer to the Information Contained in the Proxy Statement under Captions (filed electronically) |
| | | |
| ITEM 10. | DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information about the Company's Executive Officers -
see-see Part I, Item 1 herein | 1. Election of Directors; Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance;Reports; Audit and Risk Committee; Audit and Risk Committee Report; Director Nominating Process; and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics |
|
| | |
| ITEM 11. | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | Director Compensation; Compensation Committee; Compensation Committee Report; Compensation Discussion and Analysis; 20182019 Summary Compensation Table; 20182019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards; 20182019 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End; 20182019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested; Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation; Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control; and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
|
|
| | |
| ITEM 12. | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS | Principal Shareholders; Election of Directors (Proposal 1); Security Ownership of Management; and Equity Compensation Plan Information |
|
| | |
| ITEM 13. | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE | Related Person Transactions; and Director Independence |
|
| | |
| ITEM 14. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES | Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal 3); and Audit and Risk Committee |
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
| | | | |
| (a) | 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Page(s) |
| | | | | |
| | | Included in Part II, Item 8, of this report: | |
| | | Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries: | |
| | | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| | | Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each of the years in the three- year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 | |
| | | Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements | |
| | | Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data | |
| | | | | |
| | 2. | FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES | |
| | | | | |
| | | Included in Part IV of this report: | |
| | | Schedule II - | Condensed Financial Information of Registrant as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Schedule III - | Supplementary Insurance Information as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | Schedule IV - | Reinsurance for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 20182019 | |
| | | | | |
| | 3. | EXHIBIT INDEX | |
| | | | | |
| | | An “Exhibit Index” has been filed as part of this Report beginning on the following page and is incorporated herein by this reference. | |
Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required, are not material, are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this annual report, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:
should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;
have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;
may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and
were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.
Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable
Glossary of Selected Terms
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company may use certain terms which are defined below.
Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share Excluding the
Impact of Foreign Currency – Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding realized investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect Aflac’s underlying business performance. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings. Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are the adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The most comparable U.S. GAAP measure is net earnings per share. This metric is then adjusted using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the comparable prior year period, which eliminates dollar based fluctuations driven solely from currency rate changes.
Affiliated Corporate Agency – Agency in Japan directly affiliated with a specific corporation that sells insurance policies primarily to its employees
Annualized premiums in force– the amount of gross premium that a policyholder must pay over a full year in order to keep coverage. The growth of net premiums (defined below) is directly affected by the change in premiums in force and by the change in weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rates.
Earnings Per Basic Share – Net earnings divided by weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period
Earnings Per Diluted Share – Net earnings divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the weighted-average shares for the dilutive effect of share-based awards outstanding
Group Insurance– Insurance issued to a group, such as an employer or trade association, that covers employees or association members and their dependents through certificates of coverage
Individual Insurance – Insurance issued to an individual with the policy designed to cover that person and his or her dependents
In-force Policies– A count of policies that are active contracts at the end of a period.
Net Investment Income – The income derived from interest and dividends on invested assets, after deducting investment expenses
Net premiums – (sometimes referred to as net premium income or net earned premiums) is a financial measure that appears on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Earnings and in its segment reporting. This measure reflects collected or due premiums that have been earned ratably on policies in force during the reporting period, reduced by premiums that have been ceded to third parties and increased by premiums assumed through reinsurance.
New Annualized Premium Sales – (sometimes referred to as new sales or sales) An operating measure that is not reflected on the Company's financial statements. New annualized premium sales generally represent annual premiums on policies the Company sold and incremental increases from policy conversions that would be collected over a 12-month period assuming the policies remain in force for that entire period. For Aflac Japan, new annualized premium sales are determined by applications submitted during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., new annualized premium sales are determined by applications that are issued during the reporting period. Policy conversions are defined as the positive difference in the annualized premium when a policy upgrades in the current reporting period.
Persistency – Percentage of premiums remaining in force at the end of a period, usually one year. For example, 95% persistency would mean that 95% of the premiums in force at the beginning of the period were still in force at the end of the period
Risk-based Capital (RBC) Ratio – Statutory adjusted capital divided by statutory required capital. This insurance ratio is based on rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and provides an indication of the amount of statutory capital the insurance company maintains, relative to the inherent risks in the insurer’s operations
Solvency Margin Ratio (SMR) – Solvency margin total divided by one half of the risk total. This insurance ratio is prescribed by the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) and is used for all life insurance companies in Japan to measure the adequacy of the company’s ability to pay policyholder claims in the event actual risks exceed expected levels
Total Return to Shareholders – Appreciation of a shareholder’s investment over a period of time, including reinvested cash dividends paid during that time
Defined Terms
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company may use abbreviations, acronyms and defined terms which are defined below.
|
| |
| ACA | Affordable Care Act |
| AFS | Available-for-Sale |
| AOCI | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
| APPI | Act on the Protection of Personal Information |
| ASC | Accounting Standards Codification |
| ASOP | Actuarial Standards of Practice |
| ASU | Accounting Standards Update |
| BoJ | Bank of Japan |
| CDSs | Credit Default Swaps |
| CFTC | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| CMLs | Commercial Mortgage Loans |
| COSO | Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission |
| CSAs | Credit Support Annexes |
| DAC | Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
| DTL | Deferred Tax Liability |
| Dodd-Frank | Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 |
| DTA | Deferred Tax Asset |
| ECB | European Central Bank |
| EPS | Earnings Per Share |
| FASB | Financial Accounting Standard Boards |
| FHLB | Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta |
| FIO | Federal Insurance Office |
| FSA | Japanese Financial Services Agency |
| GLBA | Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 |
| HTM | Held-to-Maturity |
| IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
| ISDA | International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. |
| ISOs | Incentive Stock Options |
| Japan Post Group | Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., JPC and JPI, collectively |
| Japan Post Holdings | Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. |
| JGB | Japan Government Bond |
| JPC | Japan Post Co. Ltd |
| JPI | Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. |
| LDP | Liberal Democratic Party |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| LIPPC | Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation |
| MD&A | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
| MMLs | Middle Market Loans |
| MOF | Ministry of Finance |
| NAIC | National Association of Insurance Commissioners |
| NDOI | Nebraska Department of Insurance |
| NOLHGA | National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations |
| NQSOs | Non-qualifying Stock Options |
|
| |
| NRSROs | Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations |
| NYDFS | New York Department of Financial Services |
| OIS | Overnight Index Swap |
| ORSA | Own Risk and Solvency Assessment |
| OTC | Over-the-Counter |
| OTTI | Other-than-temporary Impairment |
| PCD Financial Assets | Purchased Credit-Deteriorated Financial Assets |
| PCI Financial Assets | Purchased Credit-Impaired Financial Assets |
| PRM | Policy Reserve Matching |
| PSUs | Performance-based restricted stock units |
| RBC | Risk-Based Capital |
| S&P 500 | Standard & Poor's 500 Index |
| S&P Life and Health | Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index |
| SAB 118 | Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 |
| SAP | Statutory Accounting Principles |
| SCDOI | South Carolina Department of Insurance |
| SEC | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| SIFMA | Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association |
| Singapore Life | Singapore Life Pte. Ltd. |
| SMI | Solvency Modernization Initiative |
| SMR | Solvency Margin Ratio |
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| TAC | Total Adjusted Capital |
| Tax Act | Tax Cuts and Jobs Act |
| The Plan | Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan |
| TIBOR | Tokyo Interbank Market Rate |
| TREs | Transitional Real Estate Loans |
| TTM | Telegraphic Transfer Middle Rate |
| U.S. GAAP | U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
| UST | Treasury Obligations of the U.S. Government |
| VIEs | Variable Interest Entities |
|
| | | | |
| (b) | EXHIBIT INDEX(1) |
| | | - | | Articles of Incorporation, as amended – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2008, Exhibit 3.0 (File No. 001-07434).3.0. |
| | | - | | Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended and restated – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated November 10, 2015, Exhibit 3.1 ( File No. 001-07434)3.1. |
| | 4.0 | - | | There are no instruments with respect to long-term debt not being registered in which the total amount of securities authorized exceeds 10% of the total assets of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. We agreeThe Company agrees to furnish a copy of any long-term debt instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. |
| | | - | | Description of common stock securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
| | - | | Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 21, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 6.900% Senior Note due 2039) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 14, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 9, 2010, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 6.45% Senior Note due 2040) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated August 4, 2010, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 10, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 4.00% Senior Note due 2022) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 8, 2012, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).4.2. |
| | | - | | Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2013, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 3.625% Senior Note due 2023) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated June 10, 2013, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 7, 2014, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 3.625% Senior Note due 2024) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated November 4, 2014, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434). |
| | - | | Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2015, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 2.40% Senior Note due 2020) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated March 9, 2015, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2015, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 3.25% Senior Note due 2025) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated March 9, 2015, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).4.2. |
| | | - | | Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2016, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 2.875% Senior Note due 2026) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated September 19, 2016, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2016, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 4.000% Senior Note due 2046) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated September 19, 2016, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).4.2. |
| | | - | | Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 25, 2017, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of .932% Senior Note due 2027) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 25, 2017, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 1.159% Senior Note due 2030) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated October 18, 2018, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 1.488% Senior Note due 2033) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated October 18, 2018, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434). |
|
| | | | 4.2. |
| | | - | | Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 1.750% Senior Note due 2038) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated October 18, 2018, Exhibit 4.3 (File No. 001-07434).4.3. |
| | | - | | Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 31, 2018, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 4.750% Senior Note due 2049) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated October 31, 2018, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2019, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 0.500% Senior Note due 2029) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 17, 2019, Exhibit 4.1. |
|
| | | | |
| | - | | Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2019, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 0.843% Senior Note due 2031) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 17, 2019, Exhibit 4.2. |
| | - | | Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2019, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 0.934% Senior Note due 2034) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 17, 2019, Exhibit 4.3. |
| | - | | Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2019, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 1.122% Senior Note due 2039) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 17, 2019, Exhibit 4.4. |
| | - | | Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated September 26, 2012, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 23, 2017, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 2.108% Subordinated Debenture due 2047) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated October 23, 2017, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).4.1. |
| | | - | | American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, as amended and restated October 1, 1989 – incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).10.2. |
| | | - | | Amendment to American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, dated December 8, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | Second Amendment to the American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, dated November 16, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2016, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).10.2. |
| | | - | | Third Amendment to the American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, dated October 18, 2016 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2016, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).10.3. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated January 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).10.5. |
| | | - | | First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated January 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from 2012 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).10.3. |
| | | - | | Second Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated January 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from 2014 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).10.4. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective September 1, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2015, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).10.5. |
| | | - | | First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective September 1, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2016, Exhibit 10.8 (File No. 001-07434).10.8. |
| | | - | | Second Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective September 1, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2017, Exhibit 10.9 (File No. 001-07434).10.9. |
| | | - | | Third Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective September 1, 2015.2015 – incorporated by reference from 2018 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.10. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2020. |
| | - | | Aflac Incorporated 2013 Management Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from the 2012 Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).B. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated 2018 Management Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from the 2017 Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).B. |
| | | - | | 1999 Aflac Associate Stock Bonus Plan, amended and restated as of January 1, 2013 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2013, Exhibit 10.10 (File No. 001-07434).10.10. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from the 1997 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).B. |
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| | | | |
| | | - | | Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).10.5. |
| | | - | | Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434). |
|
| | | | 10.6. |
| | | - | | Notice of grant of stock options and stock option agreement to officers under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.7 (File No. 001-07434).10.7. |
| | | - | | 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from the 2012 Proxy Statement, Appendix A (File No. 001-07434).A. |
| | | - | | Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (NQSO) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.13 (File No. 001-07434).10.13. |
| | | - | | Notice of grant of stock options to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.14 (File No. 001-07434).10.14. |
| | | - | | Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.15 (File No. 001-07434).10.15. |
| | | - | | Notice of restricted stock award to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.16 (File No. 001-07434).10.16. |
| | | - | | U.S. Form of Employee Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.17 (File No. 001-07434).10.17. |
| | | - | | Japan Form of Employee Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.18 (File No. 001-07434).10.18. |
| | | - | | Notice of time based restricted stock award under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2013, Exhibit 10.22 (File No. 001-07434).10.22. |
| | | - | | Notice of performance based restricted stock award under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.20 (File No. 001-07434).10.20. |
| | | - | | U.S. Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.21 (File No. 001-07434).10.21. |
| | | - | | Japan Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.22 (File No. 001-07434).10.22. |
| | | - | | U.S. Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.23 (File No. 001-07434).10.23. |
| | | - | | U.S. Notice of grant of stock options under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2013, Exhibit 10.28 (File No. 001-07434).10.28. |
| | | - | | Japan Notice of grant of stock options under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2013, Exhibit 10.29 (File No. 001-07434).10.29. |
| | | - | | Japan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2016, Exhibit 10.26 (File No. 001-07434).10.26. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 14, 2017 – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 1, 2017, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 14, 2017 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2017, Exhibit 10.33 (File No. 001-07434).10.33. |
| | | - | | Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 14, 2017 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2017, Exhibit 10.34 (File No. 001-07434).10.34. |
|
| | | | |
| | | - | | Notice of time based restricted stock unit and restricted stock unit agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | 2017 Notice of performance based restricted stock and restricted stock award agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated March 14, 2012 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434). |
|
| | | | 10.2. |
| | | - | | Notice of time based restricted stock unit and restricted stock unit agreement under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 14, 2017 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).10.3. |
| | | - | | 2018 Notice of performance based restricted stock and restricted stock award agreement under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 14, 2017 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).10.4. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Retirement Plan for Directors Emeritus, as amended and restated, dated February 9, 2010 – incorporated by reference from 2009 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.26 (File No. 001-07434).10.26. |
| | | - | | Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Retirement Plan for Directors Emeritus, as amended and restated, dated August 10, 2010 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2010, Exhibit 10.27 (File No. 001-07434).10.27. |
| | | - | | Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. Officer Retirement Plan. |
| | - | | Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, as amended and restated, dated August 20, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2015, Exhibit 10.29 (File No. 001-07434).10.29. |
| | | - | | Aflac Employment Agreement with Eric M. Kirsch, as amended and restated, dated December 1, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 1, 2015, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | Amendment to Aflac Employment Agreement with Eric M. Kirsch, dated November 30, 2017 – incorporated by reference from 2017 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.42 (File No. 001-07434).10.42. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Frederick J. Crawford, effective June 30, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated June 24, 2015, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Charles D. Lake II, dated January 1, 2018 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).10.5. |
| | | - | | Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Charles D. Lake II, effective January 1, 2020. |
| | - | | Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Audrey Boone Tillman, dated June 11, 2015 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2018, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).10.6. |
| | | - | | Basic Agreement regarding the “Strategic Alliance Based on Capital Relationship”, dated December 19, 2018, by and among Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., Aflac Incorporated and Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 19, 2018, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).10.1. |
| | | - | | Letter Agreement, dated December 19, 2018, by and between Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. and Aflac Incorporated – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 19, 2018, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).10.2. |
| | - | | Shareholders Agreement, dated February 28, 2019, by and between Aflac Incorporated, Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation (solely in its capacity as trustee of J&A Alliance Trust), and General Incorporated Association J&A Alliance – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2019, Exhibit 10.50. |
| | | - | | Subsidiaries. |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-158969 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan. |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement Nos. 333-135327, 333-161269, and 333-202781 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-200570 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Market Director Deferred Compensation Plan. |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-115105 and 333-219888 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-219784 with respect to the AFL Stock Plan. |
|
| | | | |
| | | - | | Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-227244 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated shelf registration statement. |
| | | - | | Certification of CEO dated February 22, 2019,21, 2020, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| | | - | | Certification of CFO dated February 22, 2019,21, 2020, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| | | - | | Certification of CEO and CFO dated February 22, 2019,21, 2020, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | 101.INS | - | | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
| | 101.SCH | - | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. |
|
| | | | |
| | 101.CAL | - | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. |
| | 101.DEF | - | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. |
| | 101.LAB | - | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. |
| | 101.PRE | - | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. |
| 104 | - | | Cover Page Interactive Data File - formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. |
| | | | | |
(1) | Copies of any exhibit are available upon request by calling ourthe Company's Investor Relations Department at 800.235.2667 - option 3 |
| * | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(b) of this report. |
|
| | | | |
| (c) | FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES |
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Earnings
| | | | Years ended December 31, | Years ended December 31, |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Management and service fees from subsidiaries(1) | | $ | 190 |
| | | | $ | 297 |
| | | | $ | 265 |
| | | $ | 151 |
| | | | $ | 190 |
| | | | $ | 297 |
| |
| Net investment income | | 69 |
| | | | 30 |
| | | | 18 |
| | | 77 |
| | | | 69 |
| | | | 30 |
| |
Interest from subsidiaries(1) | | 4 |
| | | | 5 |
| | | | 5 |
| | | 4 |
| | | | 4 |
| | | | 5 |
| |
| Realized investment gains (losses) | | 90 |
| | | | 67 |
| | | | 84 |
| | | 98 |
| | | | (16 | ) | | | | (1 | ) | |
| Change in fair value of the cross-currency interest rate swaps | | (106 | ) | | | | (68 | ) | | | | (159 | ) | | |
| Total revenues | | 247 |
| | | | 331 |
| | | | 213 |
| | | 330 |
| | | | 247 |
| | | | 331 |
| |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest expense | | 188 |
| | | | 197 |
| | | | 213 |
| | | 200 |
| | | | 188 |
| | | | 197 |
| |
Other operating expenses(2) | | 225 |
| | | | 180 |
| | | | 277 |
| | | 221 |
| | | | 225 |
| | | | 180 |
| |
| Total operating expenses | | 413 |
| | | | 377 |
| | | | 490 |
| | | 421 |
| | | | 413 |
| | | | 377 |
| |
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of
subsidiaries | | (166 | ) | | | | (46 | ) | | | | (277 | ) | | | (91 | ) | | | | (166 | ) | | | | (46 | ) | |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | | (12 | ) | | | | (23 | ) | | | | (102 | ) | | | (22 | ) | | | | (12 | ) | | | | (23 | ) | |
| Earnings before equity in earnings of subsidiaries | | (154 | ) | | | | (23 | ) | | | | (175 | ) | | | (69 | ) | | | | (154 | ) | | | | (23 | ) | |
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries(1) | | 3,074 |
| | | | 4,627 |
| | | | 2,834 |
| | | 3,373 |
| | | | 3,074 |
| | | | 4,627 |
| |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| | | | $ | 2,659 |
| | | $ | 3,304 |
| | | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | | $ | 4,604 |
| |
(1)Eliminated in consolidation
(2)Includes expense of $13 in 2017 and $137 in 2016 for the early extinguishment of debt
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
| | | | Years ended December 31, | Years ended December 31, |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | | $ | 3,304 |
| | | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period | | 232 |
| | 286 |
| | 283 |
| | | 252 |
| | 232 |
| | 286 |
| |
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities during period (1) | | (3,109 | ) | | 1,733 |
| | 2,799 |
| | | 5,852 |
| | (3,109 | ) | | 1,733 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period | | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | 3 |
| | | (12 | ) | | 2 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Pension liability adjustment during period | | (25 | ) | | 9 |
| | (45 | ) | | | (85 | ) | | (25 | ) | | 9 |
| |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before
income taxes | | (2,900 | ) | | 2,029 |
| | 3,040 |
| | | 6,007 |
| | (2,900 | ) | | 2,029 |
| |
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive
income (loss) | | (797 | ) | | 631 |
| | 1,035 |
| | | 1,543 |
| | (797 | ) | | 631 |
| |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes | | (2,103 | ) | | 1,398 |
| | 2,005 |
| | | 4,464 |
| | (2,103 | ) | | 1,398 |
| |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 817 |
| | $ | 6,002 |
| | $ | 4,664 |
| | | $ | 7,768 |
| | $ | 817 |
| | $ | 6,002 |
| |
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Balance Sheets
| | | | December 31, | December 31, |
| (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investments and cash: | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value
(amortized cost $1,209 in 2018 and $1,163 in 2017) | | $ | 1,222 |
| | $ | 1,213 |
| | |
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value
(amortized cost $1,506 in 2019 and $1,209 in 2018) | | | $ | 1,567 |
| | $ | 1,222 |
| |
Investments in subsidiaries(1) | | 26,230 |
| | 26,869 |
| | | 30,744 |
| | 26,230 |
| |
| Other investments | | 21 |
| | 51 |
| | | 36 |
| | 21 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | 1,767 |
| | 1,725 |
| | | 2,508 |
| | 1,767 |
| |
| Total investments and cash | | 29,240 |
| | 29,858 |
| | | 34,855 |
| | 29,240 |
| |
Due from subsidiaries(1) | | 98 |
| | 90 |
| | | 170 |
| | 98 |
| |
| Income taxes receivable | | 176 |
| | 121 |
| | | 337 |
| | 176 |
| |
| Other assets | | 390 |
| | 366 |
| | | 405 |
| | 390 |
| |
| Total assets | | $ | 29,904 |
| | $ | 30,435 |
| | | $ | 35,767 |
| | $ | 29,904 |
| |
| | | | | | | |
| Liabilities and shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Employee benefit plans | | $ | 310 |
| | $ | 341 |
| | | $ | 323 |
| | $ | 310 |
| |
| Notes payable | | 5,765 |
| | 5,267 |
| | | 6,136 |
| | 5,765 |
| |
| Other liabilities | | 367 |
| | 229 |
| | | 349 |
| | 367 |
| |
| Total liabilities | | 6,442 |
| | 5,837 |
| | | 6,808 |
| | 6,442 |
| |
| Shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000 shares in 2018 and 2017; issued 1,347,540 shares in 2018 and 1,345,762 shares in 2017 | | 135 |
| | 135 |
| | |
| Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000 shares in 2019 and 2018; issued 1,349,309 shares in 2019 and 1,347,540 shares in 2018 | | | 135 |
| | 135 |
| |
| Additional paid-in capital | | 2,177 |
| | 2,052 |
| | | 2,313 |
| | 2,177 |
| |
| Retained earnings | | 31,788 |
| | 29,895 |
| | | 34,291 |
| | 31,788 |
| |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) | | (1,847 | ) | | (1,750 | ) | | | (1,623 | ) | | (1,847 | ) | |
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities (2) | | 4,234 |
| | 5,964 |
| | |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities | | | 8,548 |
| | 4,234 |
| |
| Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives | | (24 | ) | | (23 | ) | | | (33 | ) | | (24 | ) | |
| Pension liability adjustment | | (212 | ) | | (163 | ) | | | (277 | ) | | (212 | ) | |
| Treasury stock, at average cost | | (12,789 | ) | | (11,512 | ) | | | (14,395 | ) | | (12,789 | ) | |
| Total shareholders' equity | | 23,462 |
| | 24,598 |
| | | 28,959 |
| | 23,462 |
| |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 29,904 |
| | $ | 30,435 |
| | | $ | 35,767 |
| | $ | 29,904 |
| |
(1)Eliminated in consolidation
(2) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the adoption of accounting guidance on January 1, 2018 related to financial instruments.
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
| | | | Years ended December 31, | Years ended December 31, |
| (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net earnings | | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| | $ | 2,659 |
| | | $ | 3,304 |
| | $ | 2,920 |
| | $ | 4,604 |
| |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from
operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries(1) | | (3,074 | ) | | (4,627 | ) | | (2,834 | ) | | | (3,373 | ) | | (3,074 | ) | | (4,627 | ) | |
| Cash dividends received from subsidiaries | | 1,820 |
| | 2,001 |
| | 2,020 |
| | | 3,466 |
| | 1,820 |
| | 2,001 |
| |
| Other, net | | 99 |
| | | (46 | ) | | | 294 |
| (2) | | (203 | ) | | | 99 |
| | | (46 | ) | |
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | | 1,765 |
| | 1,932 |
| | 2,139 |
| | | 3,194 |
| | 1,765 |
| | 1,932 |
| |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturity securities sold | | 207 |
| | 263 |
| | 225 |
| | | 340 |
| | 207 |
| | 263 |
| |
| Fixed maturity securities purchased | | (254 | ) | | (329 | ) | | (229 | ) | | | (639 | ) | | (254 | ) | | (329 | ) | |
| Other investments sold (purchased) | | 31 |
| | (47 | ) | | 6 |
| | | (16 | ) | | 31 |
| | (47 | ) | |
| Settlement of derivatives | | (2 | ) | | 223 |
| | 0 |
| | | 22 |
| | (2 | ) | | 223 |
| |
Additional capitalization of subsidiaries(1) | | (62 | ) | | (69 | ) | | (36 | ) | | | (214 | ) | | (62 | ) | | (69 | ) | |
| Other, net | | (107 | ) | | (218 | ) | | (25 | ) | | | 87 |
| | (107 | ) | | (218 | ) | |
| Net cash provided (used) by investing activities | | (187 | ) | | (177 | ) | | (59 | ) | | | (420 | ) | | (187 | ) | | (177 | ) | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Purchases of treasury stock | | (1,301 | ) | | (1,351 | ) | | (1,422 | ) | | | (1,627 | ) | | (1,301 | ) | | (1,351 | ) | |
| Proceeds from borrowings | | 1,020 |
| | 1,040 |
| | 986 |
| | | 347 |
| | 1,020 |
| | 1,040 |
| |
| Principal payments under debt obligations | | (550 | ) | | (1,161 | ) | | (621 | ) | | | 0 |
| | (550 | ) | | (1,161 | ) | |
| Dividends paid to shareholders | | (793 | ) | | (661 | ) | | (658 | ) | | | (771 | ) | | (793 | ) | | (661 | ) | |
| Treasury stock reissued | | 58 |
| | 33 |
| | 46 |
| | | 49 |
| | 58 |
| | 33 |
| |
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | 34 |
| | 38 |
| | 36 |
| | | 29 |
| | 34 |
| | 38 |
| |
Net change in amount due to/from subsidiaries(1) | | (4 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (6 | ) | | | (58 | ) | | (4 | ) | | (5 | ) | |
| Other, net | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | | (125 | ) | (2) | | (2 | ) | | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| |
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | | (1,536 | ) | | (2,067 | ) | | (1,764 | ) | | | (2,033 | ) | | (1,536 | ) | | (2,067 | ) | |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | | 42 |
| | (312 | ) | | 316 |
| | | 741 |
| | 42 |
| | (312 | ) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 1,725 |
| | 2,037 |
| | 1,721 |
| | | 1,767 |
| | 1,725 |
| | 2,037 |
| |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 1,767 |
| | $ | 1,725 |
| | $ | 2,037 |
| | | $ | 2,508 |
| | $ | 1,767 |
| | $ | 1,725 |
| |
(1)Eliminated in consolidation
(2)Operating activities excludes and financing activities includes a cash outflow of $137 in 2016 for the payment associated with the early extinguishment of debt
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(A) Notes Payable
A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | 2019 | | 2018 |
| 2.40% senior notes paid November 2018 | | $ | 0 |
| | | $ | 548 |
| | |
| 4.00% senior notes due February 2022 | | 348 |
| | 348 |
| | |
4.00% senior notes due February 2022 (1) | | | $ | 348 |
| | $ | 348 |
| |
| 3.625% senior notes due June 2023 | | 698 |
| | 697 |
| | | 698 |
| | 698 |
| |
| 3.625% senior notes due November 2024 | | 746 |
| | 745 |
| | | 747 |
| | 746 |
| |
| 3.25% senior notes due March 2025 | | 447 |
| | 446 |
| | | 448 |
| | 447 |
| |
| 2.875% senior notes due October 2026 | | 297 |
| | 297 |
| | | 298 |
| | 297 |
| |
| 6.90% senior notes due December 2039 | | 220 |
| | 220 |
| | | 220 |
| | 220 |
| |
| 6.45% senior notes due August 2040 | | 254 |
| | 254 |
| | | 254 |
| | 254 |
| |
| 4.00% senior notes due October 2046 | | 394 |
| | 394 |
| | | 394 |
| | 394 |
| |
| 4.750% senior notes due January 2049 | | 540 |
| | 0 |
| | | 541 |
| | 540 |
| |
| Yen-denominated senior notes and subordinated debentures: | | | | | | | | | | |
| .932% senior notes due January 2027 (principal amount 60.0 billion yen) | | 538 |
| | | | 528 |
| | |
| 1.159% senior notes due October 2030 (principal amount 29.3 billion yen) | | 262 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 1.488% senior notes due October 2033 (principal amount 15.2 billion yen) | | 136 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 1.750% senior notes due October 2038 (principal amount 8.9 billion yen) | | 79 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| 2.108% subordinated debentures due October 2047 (principal amount 60.0 billion yen) | | 536 |
| | 526 |
| | |
| .932% senior notes due January 2027 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion) | | | 545 |
| | | | 538 |
| |
| .500% senior notes due December 2029 (principal amount ¥12.6 billion) | | | 114 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.159% senior notes due October 2030 (principal amount ¥29.3 billion) | | | 266 |
| | 262 |
| |
| .843% senior notes due December 2031 (principal amount ¥9.3 billion) | | | 84 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.488% senior notes due October 2033 (principal amount ¥15.2 billion) | | | 138 |
| | 136 |
| |
| .934% senior notes due December 2034 (principal amount ¥9.8 billion) | | | 88 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 1.750% senior notes due October 2038 (principal amount ¥8.9 billion) | | | 81 |
| | 79 |
| |
| 1.122% senior notes due December 2039 (principal amount ¥6.3 billion) | | | 57 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 2.108% subordinated debentures due October 2047 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion) | | | 543 |
| | 536 |
| |
| Yen-denominated loans: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2021 (.32% in 2018 and 2017, principal amount 5.0 billion yen) | | 45 |
| | 44 |
| | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2023 (.47% in 2018 and 2017, principal amount 25.0 billion yen) | | 225 |
| | 220 |
| | |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2026 (.42% in 2019 and .32 in 2018, principal amount ¥5.0 billion) | | | 45 |
| | 45 |
| |
| Variable interest rate loan due September 2029 (.57% in 2019 and .47 in 2018, principal amount ¥25.0 billion) | | | 227 |
| | 225 |
| |
| Total notes payable | | $ | 5,765 |
| | | $ | 5,267 |
| | | $ | 6,136 |
| | | $ | 5,765 |
| |
(1) Redeemed in January 2020
Amounts in the table above are reported net of debt issuance costs and issuance premiums or discounts, if applicable, that are being amortized over the life of the notes.
In October 2018,December 2019, the Parent Company issued $550 million of senior notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually, and have a 30-year maturity. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a United States Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 25 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date. In November 2018, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from the October 2018 issuance of senior notes to redeem $550 million of the Parent Company's 2.40% senior notes due in 2020.
In October 2018, the Parent Company issued three4 series of senior notes totaling 53.4¥38.0 billion yen through a public debt offering under its U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled 29.3¥12.6 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.159%.500% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 12-year maturity.will mature in December 2029. The second series, which totaled 15.2¥9.3 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.488%.843% per annum, payable semi-annually, and has a 15-year maturity.
will mature in December 2031. The third series, which totaled 8.9¥9.8 billion, yen, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.750%.934% per annum, payable semi-annually, and haswill mature in December 2034. The fourth series, which totaled ¥6.3 billion, bears interest at a 20-year maturity.fixed rate of 1.122% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in December 2039. These notes may only be redeemed before maturity, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance.
In September 2019, the Parent Company renewed a ¥30.0 billion senior term loan facility. The first tranche of the facility, which totaled ¥5.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR), or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2026. The applicable margin ranges
between .30% and .70%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination. The second tranche, which totaled ¥25.0 billion, bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the TIBOR, or alternate TIBOR, if applicable, plus the applicable TIBOR margin and will mature in September 2029. The applicable margin ranges between .45% and 1.00%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination.
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2018,2019, are as follows:
| | | (In millions) | | | | |
| 2019 | $ | 0 |
| | |
| 2020 | 0 |
| | $ | 0 |
| |
| 2021 | 45 |
| | 0 |
| |
| 2022 | 350 |
| | 350 |
| |
| 2023 | 925 |
| | 700 |
| |
| 2024 | | 750 |
| |
| Thereafter | 4,493 |
| | 4,386 |
| |
| Total | $ | 5,813 |
| | $ | 6,186 |
| |
For further information regarding notes payable, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(B) Derivatives
At December 31, 2018,2019, the Parent Company's outstanding freestanding derivative contracts were swaps, foreign currency forwards and options. The swaps are associated with its notes payable, consisting of cross-currency interest rate swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, associated with the Parent Company's senior notes due in February 2022, June 2023, November 2024 and March 2025. The foreign currency forwards and options are designated as derivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan. The Parent Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes, nor does it engage in leveraged derivative transactions. For further information regarding these derivatives, see Notes 1, 4 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(C) Income Taxes
The Parent Company and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Income tax liabilities or benefits are recorded by each principal subsidiary based upon separate return calculations, and any difference between the consolidated provision and the aggregate amounts recorded by the subsidiaries is reflected in the Parent Company financial statements. For further information on income taxes, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(D) Dividend Restrictions
See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding dividend restrictions.
(E) Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
| | | (In millions) | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| Interest paid | | $ | 179 |
| | $ | 195 |
| | $ | 209 |
| | | $ | 189 |
| | $ | 179 |
| | $ | 195 |
| |
| Noncash financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Treasury stock issued for shareholder dividend reinvestment | | 8 |
| | 29 |
| | 26 |
| | | 30 |
| | 8 |
| | 29 |
| |
SCHEDULE III
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years ended December 31,
| | | (In millions) | Deferred Policy
Acquisition
Costs | | Future Policy
Benefits & Unpaid
Policy Claims | | Unearned
Premiums | | Other
Policyholders'
Funds | Deferred Policy
Acquisition
Costs | | Future Policy
Benefits & Unpaid
Policy Claims | | Unearned
Premiums | | Other
Policyholders'
Funds |
| 2019: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | | $ | 6,584 |
| | $ | 84,341 |
| | $ | 4,135 |
| | $ | 7,317 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | | 3,544 |
| | 11,184 |
| | 111 |
| | 0 |
| |
| All other | | | 0 |
| | 223 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Intercompany eliminations | | | 0 |
| | (754 | ) | | (3 | ) | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | | $ | 10,128 |
| | $ | 94,994 |
| | $ | 4,243 |
| | $ | 7,317 |
| |
| 2018: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 80,672 |
| | $ | 4,977 |
| | $ | 7,145 |
| | | $ | 6,384 |
| | $ | 80,672 |
| | $ | 4,977 |
| | $ | 7,145 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | | 3,491 |
| | 10,864 |
| | 117 |
| | 0 |
| | | 3,491 |
| | 10,864 |
| | 117 |
| | 0 |
| |
| All other | | 0 |
| | 183 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| | | 0 |
| | 183 |
| | 0 |
| | 1 |
| |
| Intercompany eliminations | | 0 |
| | (767 | ) | | (4 | ) | | 0 |
| | | 0 |
| | (767 | ) | | (4 | ) | | 0 |
| |
| Total | | $ | 9,875 |
| | $ | 90,952 |
| | $ | 5,090 |
| | $ | 7,146 |
| | | $ | 9,875 |
| | $ | 90,952 |
| | $ | 5,090 |
| | $ | 7,146 |
| |
| 2017: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 6,150 |
| | $ | 76,353 |
| | $ | 5,840 |
| | $ | 6,939 |
| | |
| Aflac U.S. | | 3,355 |
| | 10,506 |
| | 119 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| All other | | 0 |
| | 138 |
| | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Intercompany eliminations | | 0 |
| | (748 | ) | | 0 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Total | | $ | 9,505 |
| | $ | 86,249 |
| | $ | 5,959 |
| | $ | 6,939 |
| | |
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
Years Ended December 31,
| | | (In millions) | Net
Premium
Revenue | | Net
Investment
Income | | Benefits and
Claims, net | | Amortization of
Deferred Policy
Acquisition Costs | | Other
Operating
Expenses | | Premiums
Written | Net
Premium
Revenue | | Net
Investment
Income | | Benefits and
Claims, net | | Amortization of
Deferred Policy
Acquisition Costs | | Other
Operating
Expenses | | Premiums
Written |
| 2019: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | | $ | 12,772 |
| | $ | 2,753 |
| | $ | 8,877 |
| | $ | 709 |
| | $ | 2,465 |
| | $ | 12,367 |
|
| Aflac U.S. | | 5,808 |
| | 720 |
| | 2,871 |
| | 573 |
| | 1,834 |
| | 5,813 |
|
| All other | | 200 |
| | 105 |
| | 194 |
| | 0 |
| | 339 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total | | $ | 18,780 |
| | $ | 3,578 |
| | $ | 11,942 |
| | $ | 1,282 |
| | $ | 4,638 |
| | $ | 18,180 |
|
| 2018: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 12,762 |
| | $ | 2,639 |
| | $ | 8,913 |
| | $ | 710 |
| | $ | 2,374 |
| | $ | 12,298 |
| $ | 12,762 |
| | $ | 2,639 |
| | $ | 8,913 |
| | $ | 710 |
| | $ | 2,374 |
| | $ | 12,298 |
|
| Aflac U.S. | 5,708 |
| | 727 |
| | 2,887 |
| | 534 |
| | 1,736 |
| | 5,707 |
| 5,708 |
| | 727 |
| | 2,887 |
| | 534 |
| | 1,736 |
| | 5,707 |
|
| All other | 207 |
| | 76 |
| | 200 |
| | 1 |
| | 420 |
| | 0 |
| 207 |
| | 76 |
| | 200 |
| | 1 |
| | 420 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total | $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 3,442 |
| | $ | 12,000 |
| | $ | 1,245 |
| | $ | 4,530 |
| | $ | 18,005 |
| $ | 18,677 |
| | $ | 3,442 |
| | $ | 12,000 |
| | $ | 1,245 |
| | $ | 4,530 |
| | $ | 18,005 |
|
| 2017: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 12,752 |
| | $ | 2,463 |
| | $ | 9,087 |
| | $ | 630 |
| | $ | 2,257 |
| | $ | 12,092 |
| $ | 12,752 |
| | $ | 2,463 |
| | $ | 9,087 |
| | $ | 630 |
| | $ | 2,257 |
| | $ | 12,092 |
|
| Aflac U.S. | 5,563 |
| | 721 |
| | 2,885 |
| | 502 |
| | 1,658 |
| | 5,565 |
| 5,563 |
| | 721 |
| | 2,885 |
| | 502 |
| | 1,658 |
| | 5,565 |
|
| All other | 216 |
| | 36 |
| | 209 |
| | 0 |
| | 421 |
| | 0 |
| 216 |
| | 36 |
| | 209 |
| | 0 |
| | 421 |
| | 0 |
|
| Total | $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 3,220 |
| | $ | 12,181 |
| | $ | 1,132 |
| | $ | 4,336 |
| | $ | 17,657 |
| $ | 18,531 |
| | $ | 3,220 |
| | $ | 12,181 |
| | $ | 1,132 |
| | $ | 4,336 |
| | $ | 17,657 |
|
| 2016: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Aflac Japan | $ | 13,537 |
| | $ | 2,554 |
| | $ | 9,828 |
| | $ | 644 |
| | $ | 2,326 |
| | $ | 12,762 |
| |
| Aflac U.S. | 5,454 |
| | 703 |
| | 2,869 |
| | 497 |
| | 1,593 |
| | 5,452 |
| |
| All other | 234 |
| | 21 |
| | 222 |
| | 0 |
| | 513 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total | $ | 19,225 |
| | $ | 3,278 |
| | $ | 12,919 |
| | $ | 1,141 |
| | $ | 4,432 |
| | $ | 18,214 |
| |
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE IV
REINSURANCE
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
| | | (In millions) | Gross
Amount | | Ceded to
Other
Companies | | Assumed
from Other
companies | | Net
Amount | | Percentage
of Amount
Assumed
to Net | Gross
Amount | | Ceded to
Other
Companies | | Assumed
from Other
companies | | Net
Amount | | Percentage
of Amount
Assumed
to Net |
| 2019: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Life insurance in force | | $ | 146,585 |
| | $ | 6,592 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 139,993 |
| | 0 | % | |
| Premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health insurance | | $ | 15,657 |
| | $ | 527 |
| | $ | 205 |
| | $ | 15,335 |
| | 1 | % | |
| Life insurance | | 3,465 |
| | 20 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,445 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total earned premiums | | $ | 19,122 |
| | $ | 547 |
| | $ | 205 |
| | $ | 18,780 |
| | 1 | % | |
| 2018: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Life insurance in force | $ | 151,457 |
| | $ | 4,702 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 146,755 |
| | 0 | % | | $ | 151,457 |
| | $ | 4,702 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 146,755 |
| | 0 | % | |
| Premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health insurance | $ | 15,330 |
| | $ | 541 |
| | $ | 214 |
| | $ | 15,003 |
| | 1 | % | | $ | 15,330 |
| | $ | 541 |
| | $ | 214 |
| | $ | 15,003 |
| | 1 | % | |
| Life insurance | 3,688 |
| | 14 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,674 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,688 |
| | 14 |
| | 0 |
| | 3,674 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total earned premiums | $ | 19,018 |
| | $ | 555 |
| | $ | 214 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | 1 | % | | $ | 19,018 |
| | $ | 555 |
| | $ | 214 |
| | $ | 18,677 |
| | 1 | % | |
| 2017: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Life insurance in force | $ | 152,502 |
| | $ | 4,121 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 148,381 |
| | 0 | % | | $ | 152,502 |
| | $ | 4,121 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 148,381 |
| | 0 | % | |
| Premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health insurance | $ | 14,829 |
| | $ | 554 |
| | $ | 222 |
| | $ | 14,497 |
| | 1 | % | | $ | 14,829 |
| | $ | 554 |
| | $ | 222 |
| | $ | 14,497 |
| | 1 | % | |
| Life insurance | 4,046 |
| | 12 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,034 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,046 |
| | 12 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,034 |
| | 0 |
| |
| Total earned premiums | $ | 18,875 |
| | $ | 566 |
| | $ | 222 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | 1 | % | | $ | 18,875 |
| | $ | 566 |
| | $ | 222 |
| | $ | 18,531 |
| | 1 | % | |
| 2016: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Life insurance in force | $ | 151,093 |
| | $ | 3,741 |
| | $ | 0 |
| | $ | 147,352 |
| | 0 | % | | |
| Premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health insurance | $ | 14,839 |
| | $ | 595 |
| | $ | 241 |
| | $ | 14,485 |
| | 1 | % | | |
| Life insurance | 4,753 |
| | 13 |
| | 0 |
| | 4,740 |
| | 0 |
| | |
| Total earned premiums | $ | 19,592 |
| | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 241 |
| | $ | 19,225 |
| | 1 | % | | |
Premiums by type may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
|
| | | | |
| Aflac Incorporated | | |
| By: | | /s/ Daniel P. Amos | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| | | (Daniel P. Amos) | | |
| | | Chief Executive Officer, | | |
| | | Chairman of the Board of Directors | | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
| | | | | |
/s/ Daniel P. Amos | | | Chief Executive Officer, | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Daniel P. Amos) | | | Chairman of the Board of Directors | | |
| | | | | | |
/s/ Frederick J. CrawfordMax K. Broden | | | Executive Vice President, | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
(Frederick J. Crawford)Max K. Broden) | | | Chief Financial Officer | | |
| | | | | | |
/s/ June Howard | | | Senior Vice President, Financial Services; | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (June Howard) | | | Chief Accounting Officer | | |
|
| | | | | | |
/s/ W. Paul Bowers | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (W. Paul Bowers) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Toshihiko Fukuzawa | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Toshihiko Fukuzawa) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
/s/ Douglas W. Johnson
| | | | Director | | February 25, 2019 |
(Douglas W. Johnson) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Robert B. Johnson | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Robert B. Johnson) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Thomas J. Kenny | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Thomas J. Kenny) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
/s/ Georgette D. Kiser | | | | Director | | February 21, 2020 |
| (Georgette D. Kiser) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Karole F. Lloyd | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Karole F. Lloyd) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Joseph L. Moskowitz | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Joseph L. Moskowitz) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Barbara K. Rimer | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Barbara K. Rimer) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Katherine T. Rohrer | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Katherine T. Rohrer) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
/s/ Melvin T. Stith | | | | Director | | February 25, 201921, 2020 |
| (Melvin T. Stith) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
