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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 _______________________ |
FORM 10-Q |
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(Mark One) |
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 OR |
o | 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: 333-133154, 333-133076, 333-133156, 333-133153, 333-133155, 333-133152 |
ING USA ANNUITY AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Iowa (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 1475 Dunwoody Drive West Chester, Pennsylvania (Address of principal executive offices) | 41-0991508 (IRS Employer Identification No.) 19380-1478 (Zip Code) |
(610) 425-3400 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) |
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(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer x |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x |
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APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS: |
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Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 250,000 shares of Common Stock, $10 par value, as of November 12, 2007, are authorized, issued, and outstanding, all of which were directly owned by Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc. |
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NOTE: WHEREAS ING USA ANNUITY AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q, THIS FORM IS BEING FILED WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(2). |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company |
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) |
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) |
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Item 1. Financial Statements |
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Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In millions) |
| | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net investment income | $ | 340.4 | | $ | 293.6 | | $ | 962.1 | | $ | 854.1 |
| Fee income | | | | 311.1 | | | 237.6 | | | 865.3 | | | 686.2 |
| Premiums | | | | | 4.9 | | | 5.0 | | | 14.8 | | | 15.4 |
| Net realized capital losses | | (121.8) | | | (0.6) | | | (162.6) | | | (92.8) |
| Other income | | | 0.1 | | | - | | | 0.2 | | | - |
Total revenue | | | | 534.7 | | | 535.6 | | | 1,679.8 | | | 1,462.9 |
Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest credited and other benefits | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | to contractowners | | 364.6 | | | 325.1 | | | 926.5 | | | 833.8 |
| Operating expenses | | 64.2 | | | 56.5 | | | 189.1 | | | 167.7 |
| Net amortization of deferred policy acquisition | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | costs and value of business acquired | | 53.3 | | | 65.0 | | | 248.0 | | | 233.8 |
| Interest expense | | 9.7 | | | 7.3 | | | 24.7 | | | 22.8 |
| Other expense | | | 5.8 | | | 6.1 | | | 19.7 | | | 20.9 |
Total benefits and expenses | | 497.6 | | | 460.0 | | | 1,408.0 | | | 1,279.0 |
Income before income taxes | | 37.1 | | | 75.6 | | | 271.8 | | | 183.9 |
Income tax (benefit) expense | | (11.1) | | | 2.1 | | | 56.8 | | | 28.6 |
Net income | | | | $ | 48.2 | | $ | 73.5 | | $ | 215.0 | | $ | 155.3 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 3 |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) |
Condensed Balance Sheets (In millions, except share data) |
| | | | | | As of | | | As of |
| | | | | | September 30, | | | December 31, |
| | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | | (Unaudited) | | | |
Assets | | | | | | |
Investments: | | | | | |
| Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value | | | | | |
| | (amortized cost of $20,686.6 at 2007 and $17,071.8 at 2006) | $ | 20,541.2 | | $ | 17,054.4 |
| Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | | | | | |
| | (cost of $172.9 at 2007 and $39.1 at 2006) | | 169.0 | | | 40.6 |
| Short-term investments | | 150.7 | | | 134.3 |
| Mortgage loans on real estate | | 3,759.8 | | | 3,687.6 |
| Policy loans | | 157.6 | | | 162.5 |
| Other investments | | 982.0 | | | 642.9 |
| Securities pledged (amortized cost of $995.3 at 2007 and $875.5 at 2006) | | 985.0 | | | 864.0 |
Total investments | | 26,745.3 | | | 22,586.3 |
Cash and cash equivalents | | 61.5 | | | 608.6 |
Short-term investments under securities loan agreement | | 159.2 | | | 102.6 |
Accrued investment income | | 231.5 | | | 183.7 |
Receivable for securities sold | | 225.3 | | | 20.3 |
Deposits and reinsurance recoverable from affiliates | | 4,453.5 | | | 4,759.0 |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | 2,936.3 | | | 2,669.9 |
Value of business acquired | | 113.3 | | | 110.1 |
Sales inducements to contractowners | | 675.1 | | | 630.7 |
Due from affiliates | | 156.3 | | | 29.7 |
Current income taxes | | - | | | 4.6 |
Other assets | | 52.1 | | | 43.8 |
Assets held in separate accounts | | 43,420.0 | | | 37,928.3 |
Total assets | $ | 79,229.4 | | $ | 69,677.6 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 4 |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) |
Condensed Balance Sheets (In millions, except share data) |
| | | | | | As of | | | As of |
| | | | | | September 30, | | | December 31, |
| | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | | (Unaudited) | | | |
Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity | | | | | |
Future policy benefits and claims reserves | $ | 29,901.4 | | $ | 26,696.4 |
Payable for securities purchased | | 349.4 | | | 48.3 |
Collateral held, including payables under securities loan agreement | | 231.7 | | | 102.6 |
Borrowed money | | 746.7 | | | 769.6 |
Notes to affiliates | | 447.0 | | | 435.0 |
Due to affiliates | | 87.6 | | | 46.4 |
Current income taxes | | 75.3 | | | - |
Deferred income taxes | | 258.7 | | | 262.5 |
Other liabilities | | 476.9 | | | 399.4 |
Liabilities related to separate accounts | | 43,420.0 | | | 37,928.3 |
Total liabilities | | 75,994.7 | | | 66,688.5 |
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Shareholder's equity: | | | | | |
| Common stock (250,000 shares authorized, issued, | | | | | |
| | and outstanding; $10 per share value) | | 2.5 | | | 2.5 |
| Additional paid-in capital | | 4,131.9 | | | 3,978.4 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | (130.2) | | | (12.1) |
| Retained earnings (deficit) | | (769.5) | | | (979.7) |
Total shareholder's equity | | 3,234.7 | | | 2,989.1 |
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | $ | 79,229.4 | | $ | 69,677.6 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 5 |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) |
Condensed Statements of Changes in Shareholder’s Equity (Unaudited) (In millions) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Accumulated | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Additional | | Other | | | Retained | | Total |
| | | | | | | | Common | | | Paid-In | | Comprehensive | | | Earnings | | Shareholder's |
| | | | | | | | Stock | | | Capital | | Income (Loss) | | | (Deficit) | | Equity |
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | 2.5 | | $ | 4,143.1 | | $ | (4.7) | | $ | (1,191.9) | | $ | 2,949.0 |
| Comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Net income | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 155.3 | | | 155.3 |
| | Other comprehensive loss, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | net of tax: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Change in net unrealized capital gains (losses) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | on securities ($(21.4) pretax), including | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | tax valuation allowance of $(10.0) | | - | | | - | | | (23.9) | | | - | | | (23.9) |
| Total comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 131.4 |
| Capital distribution paid | | | | | (20.0) | | | - | | | - | | | (20.0) |
| Employee share-based payments | | - | | | 3.1 | | | - | | | - | | | 3.1 |
Balance at September 30, 2006 | $ | 2.5 | | $ | 4,126.2 | | $ | (28.6) | | $ | (1,036.6) | | $ | 3,063.5 |
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Balance at December 31, 2006 | $ | 2.5 | | $ | 3,978.4 | | $ | (12.1) | | $ | (979.7) | | $ | 2,989.1 |
| Cumulative effect of changes in | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | accounting principles | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (4.8) | | | (4.8) |
Balance at January 1, 2007 | | 2.5 | | | 3,978.4 | | | (12.1) | | | (984.5) | | | 2,984.3 |
| Comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Net income | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 215.0 | | | 215.0 |
| | Other comprehensive loss, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | net of tax: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Change in net unrealized capital gains | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (losses) on securities (($92.7) pretax), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | including tax valuation allowance of $(57.9) | | - | | | - | | | (118.2) | | | - | | | (118.2) |
| | | | Pension liability ($0.2 pretax) | | - | | | - | | | 0.1 | | | - | | | 0.1 |
| Total comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 96.9 |
| Contribution of capital | | - | | | 150.0 | | | - | | | - | | | 150.0 |
| Employee share-based payments | | - | | | 3.5 | | | - | | | - | | | 3.5 |
Balance at September 30, 2007 | $ | 2.5 | | $ | 4,131.9 | | $ | (130.2) | | $ | (769.5) | | $ | 3,234.7 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 6 |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) |
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (In millions) |
| | | | | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,205.7 | | $ | 875.1 |
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | | | | | |
| Proceeds from the sale, maturity, or redemption of: | | | | | |
| | Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | | 8,440.4 | | | 7,709.4 |
| | Equity securities, available-for-sale | | 13.9 | | | 2.3 |
| | Mortgage loans on real estate | | 551.9 | | | 420.1 |
| Acquisition of: | | | | | |
| | Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | | (12,185.3) | | | (8,814.2) |
| | Equity securities, available-for-sale | | (147.2) | | | (25.4) |
| | Mortgage loans on real estate | | (624.6) | | | (313.9) |
| Derivatives, net | | (66.1) | | | (58.3) |
| Limited partnerships, net | | (283.8) | | | (29.6) |
| Short-term investments, net | | (15.9) | | | (52.6) |
| Collateral held | | 72.5 | | | - |
| Other investments, net | | 0.5 | | | (62.4) |
| Other, net | | 0.3 | | | 3.3 |
Net cash used in investing activities | | (4,243.4) | | | (1,221.3) |
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | |
| Deposits received for investment contracts | | 6,393.4 | | | 4,660.2 |
| Maturities and withdrawals from investment contracts | | (4,197.8) | | | (3,263.0) |
| Block of deposits coinsured to affiliate | | 281.6 | | | 140.8 |
| Reinsurance recoverable on investment contracts | | (125.7) | | | (854.0) |
| Short-term loan to affiliate | | - | | | (188.0) |
| Short-term borrowings | | (22.9) | | | 7.3 |
| Notes to affiliates | | 12.0 | | | - |
| Capital contribution from Parent | | 150.0 | | �� | - |
| Capital distribution to Parent | | - | | | (20.0) |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 2,490.6 | | | 483.3 |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | (547.1) | | | 137.1 |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 608.6 | | | 215.2 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 61.5 | | $ | 352.3 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 7 |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
1. | Organization and Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“ING USA” or the “Company,” as appropriate) is a stock life insurance company domiciled in the State of Iowa and provides financial products and services in the United States. ING USA is authorized to conduct its insurance business in all states, except New York, and the District of Columbia.
ING USA is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc. (“Lion” or “Parent”), which is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. (“ING”). ING is a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands, with American Depository Shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ING”.
The condensed financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2007, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) and are unaudited.
The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, for the interim periods. These condensed financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes as presented in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the interim periods may not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
Description of Business
The Company offers various insurance products, including immediate and deferred variable and fixed annuities. The Company’s annuity products are distributed by national wirehouses, regional securities firms, independent firms that are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the successor self regulatory authority resulting from the consolidation of the National Association of Securities Dealers and the member regulation, enforcement, and arbitration functions of The New York Stock Exchange, banks, life insurance companies with captive agency sales forces, independent insurance agents, independent marketing organizations, and the ING broker-dealer network. The Company’s primary annuity customers are retail consumers.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
The Company also offers guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements (collectively referred to as “GICs”), sold primarily to institutional investors and corporate benefit plans. These products are marketed by home office personnel or through specialty insurance brokers.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from reported results using those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial information to conform to the current year classifications.
Significant Accounting Policies
For a description of significant accounting policies, see the Organization and Significant Accounting Policies footnote to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies since the filing of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as noted in the Recently Adopted Accounting Standards footnote.
2. | Recently Adopted Accounting Standards |
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), which creates a single model to address the accounting for the uncertainty in income tax positions recognized in a company’s financial statements. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement criteria that must be satisfied to recognize a financial statement benefit of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
FIN 48 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007. As a result of implementing FIN 48, the Company recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $1.7 as a reduction to January 1, 2007 Retained earnings (deficit).
Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments
In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“FAS No. 155”), which permits the application of fair value accounting to certain hybrid financial instruments in their entirety if they contain embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation under FAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS No. 133”). Under this approach, changes in fair value would be recognized currently in earnings. In addition, FAS No. 155 does the following:
| § | Clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to derivative accounting under FAS No. 133; |
| § | Requires that interests in securitized financial assets be analyzed to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid instruments that contain embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation; |
| § | Clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives; and |
| § | Allows a qualifying special-purpose entity to hold derivative financial instruments that pertain to beneficial interests, other than another derivative financial instrument. |
FAS No. 155 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007, and is effective for all instruments acquired, issued, or subject to a remeasurement event, occurring on or after that date. The adoption of FAS No. 155 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts
In September 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) issued Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”), which states that when an internal replacement transaction results in a substantially changed contract, the unamortized deferred acquisition costs, unearned revenue liabilities, and deferred sales inducement assets, related to the replaced contract should not be deferred in connection with the new contract. Contract modifications that meet various conditions defined by SOP 05-1 and result in a new contract that is substantially unchanged from the replaced contract, however, should be accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverage, that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, by amendment, endorsement, or rider, to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. SOP 05-1 applies to internal replacements made primarily to contracts defined by FAS No. 60, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises” (“FAS No. 60”), as short-duration and long-duration insurance contracts, and by FAS No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments” (“FAS No. 97”), as investment contracts.
SOP 05-1 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007, and is effective for internal replacements occurring on or after that date. As a result of implementing SOP 05-1, the Company recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $4.8, before tax, or $3.1, net of $1.7 of income taxes, as a reduction to January 1, 2007 Retained earnings (deficit). In addition, the Company revised its accounting policy on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”) to include internal replacements, as follows:
Internal Replacements
Contractowners may periodically exchange one contract for another, or make modifications to an existing contract. Beginning January 1, 2007, these transactions are identified as internal replacements and are accounted for in accordance with SOP 05-1.
Internal replacements that are determined to result in substantially unchanged contracts are accounted for as continuations of the replaced contracts. Any costs associated with the issuance of the new contracts are considered maintenance costs and expensed as incurred. Unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts continue to be deferred and amortized in connection with the new contracts. For deferred annuities, the estimated future gross profits of the new contracts are treated as revisions to the estimated future gross profits of the replaced contracts in the determination of amortization.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Internal replacements that are determined to result in contracts that are substantially changed are accounted for as extinguishments of the replaced contracts, and any unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts are written off to Net amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired in the Statement of Operations.
3. | New Accounting Standards |
Scope of the Audit and Accounting Guide ‘Investment Companies’ and Accounting by Parent Companies and Equity Method Investors
In June 2007, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the AICPA issued SOP 07-1, “Clarification of the Scope of the Audit and Accounting Guide ‘Investment Companies’ and Accounting by Parent Companies and Equity Method Investors for Investments in Investment Companies” (“SOP 07-1”), which clarifies which entities are within the scope of the guide and addresses whether companies that own or have significant stakes in an investment company should retain specialized investment company accounting.
SOP 07-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2007, with earlier application encouraged. Entities that cease application of the guide upon adoption of SOP 07-1 should report the effects prospectively by accounting for investments in conformity with applicable US GAAP. Entities that begin applying the guide upon adoption should report a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings (deficit). On October 17, 2007, the FASB agreed to propose a delay of the effective date of SOP 07-1. The Company will determine the implementation impact regarding SOP 07-1 upon further notice from the FASB or AICPA.
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“FAS No. 159”), which allows a company to make an irrevocable election, on specific election dates, to measure eligible items at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The election to measure an item at fair value may be determined on an instrument by instrument basis, with certain exceptions. If the fair value option is elected, any upfront costs and fees related to the item will be recognized in earnings as incurred. Items eligible for the fair value option include:
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
| § | Certain recognized financial assets and liabilities; |
| § | Rights and obligations under certain insurance contracts that are not financial instruments; |
| § | Host financial instruments resulting from the separation of an embedded nonfinancial derivative instrument from a nonfinancial hybrid instrument; and |
FAS No. 159 is generally effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. As of the effective date, the fair value option may be elected for certain eligible items that exist on that date. The effect of the first remeasurement to fair value shall be reported as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings (deficit). The Company is currently evaluating the items to which the fair value option may be applied.
Fair Value Measurements
In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS No. 157”). FAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. FAS No. 157 does not expand the use of fair value to any new circumstances.
Under FAS No. 157, the FASB clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. In support of this principle, FAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop such assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. FAS No. 157 also requires separate disclosure of fair value measurements by level within the hierarchy and expanded disclosure of the effect on earnings for items measured using unobservable data.
The provisions of FAS No. 157 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of adoption of FAS No. 157.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
The following tables identify the Company’s other-than-temporary impairments by type for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | Three Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. corporate | $ | 24.2 | | 46 | | $ | 3.4 | | 22 |
Foreign(1) | | 9.3 | | 25 | | | 0.9 | | 5 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 0.1 | | 8 | | | 1.2 | | 16 |
Other asset-backed | | 4.7 | | 18 | | | - | | - |
Limited partnerships | | - | | - | | | 0.2 | | 1 |
Total | $ | 38.3 | | 97 | | $ | 5.7 | | 44 |
| | | | | | | | | |
(1) Primarily U.S. dollars denominated. | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. Treasuries | $ | - | * | | 1 | | $ | 0.1 | | 1 |
U.S. corporate | | 37.6 | | | 103 | | | 9.2 | | 35 |
Foreign(1) | | 18.1 | | | 62 | | | 2.2 | | 8 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 1.0 | | | 12 | | | 10.2 | | 57 |
Other asset-backed | | 15.4 | | | 61 | | | 1.2 | | 2 |
Limited partnerships | | - | | | - | | | 0.5 | | 2 |
Total | $ | 72.1 | | | 239 | | $ | 23.4 | | 105 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Primarily U.S. dollars denominated. | | | | | | | | | | |
* Less than $0.1. | | | | | | | | | | |
The above schedules include $1.5 and $5.9 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $1.4 and $10.7 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, in other-than-temporary write-downs related to the analysis of credit risk and the possibility of significant prepayment risk. The remaining write-downs are related to investments that the Company does not have the intent to retain for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in fair value. The following tables summarize these write-downs by type for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. corporate | $ | 22.8 | | 43 | | $ | 3.4 | | 22 |
Foreign | | 9.4 | | 25 | | | 0.9 | | 5 |
Other asset-backed | | 4.6 | | 18 | | | - | | - |
Total | $ | 36.8 | | 86 | | $ | 4.3 | | 27 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. Treasuries | $ | - | * | 1 | | $ | 0.1 | | 1 |
U.S. corporate | | 36.2 | | 100 | | | 9.2 | | 35 |
Foreign | | 15.0 | | 59 | | | 2.2 | | 8 |
Other asset-backed | | 15.0 | | 60 | | | 1.2 | | 2 |
Total | $ | 66.2 | | 220 | | $ | 12.7 | | 46 |
| | | | | | | | | |
* Less than $0.1. | | | | | | | | | |
The remaining fair value of fixed maturities with other-than-temporary impairments as of September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $2,061.1 and $478.9, respectively.
The Company may sell securities during the period in which fair value has declined below amortized cost for fixed maturities or cost for equity securities. In certain situations new factors, including changes in the business environment, can change the Company’s previous intent to continue holding a security.
15
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
5. | Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired |
Activity within DAC was as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Balance at January 1 | $ | 2,669.9 | | $ | 2,255.4 |
| Deferrals of commissions and expenses | | 486.3 | | | 522.4 |
| Amortization: | | | | | | |
| | Amortization | | (359.1) | | | (329.6) |
| | Interest accrued at 4% to 6% | | 115.9 | | | 102.0 |
| Net amortization included in the Condensed | | | | | |
| | Statements of Operations | | (243.2) | | | (227.6) |
| Change in unrealized capital (gains) losses on | | | | | |
| | available-for-sale securities | | 28.1 | | | 29.2 |
| Implementation of SOP 05-1 | | (4.8) | | | - |
Balance at September 30 | $ | 2,936.3 | | $ | 2,579.4 |
Activity within VOBA was as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Balance at January 1 | $ | 110.1 | | $ | 122.1 |
| Amortization: | | | | | | |
| | Amortization | | (8.5) | | | (10.5) |
| | Interest accrued at 4% to 6% | | 3.7 | | | 4.3 |
| Net amortization included in the Condensed | | | | | |
| | Statements of Operations | | (4.8) | | | (6.2) |
| Change in unrealized capital (gains) losses on | | | | | |
| | available-for-sale securities | | 8.0 | | | 0.3 |
Balance at September 30 | $ | 113.3 | | $ | 116.2 |
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company revised and unlocked the assumptions related to mutual fund revenue, separate account returns, and persistency for its annuity products, resulting in a $47.2 reduction in amortization of DAC and VOBA.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company revised and unlocked the assumptions related to separate account return and interest risk for its annuity products, resulting in a $10.0 decrease in amortization of DAC and VOBA.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
6. | Capital Contributions and Distributions |
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company received $150.0 in capital contributions from its Parent. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company did not receive any capital contributions from its Parent.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company did not pay any dividends or return of capital distributions to its Parent. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company paid $20.0 in a return of capital distribution to its Parent.
The Company’s effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, were (29.9)% and 2.8%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, were 20.9% and 15.6%, respectively. The effective rates differ from the expected rate primarily due to the benefit from the dividends received deduction. The dividends received deduction is estimated for the current year using information from the distributions received from separate account mutual fund investments. The effective rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2007 reflect the provision for filed tax return adjustment relative to dividends received deduction. The effective rates differ from the statutory rate due to the following items:
| | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended |
| | | | | | | | | | September 30, | | September 30, |
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
Statutory Tax Rate | | 35.0% | | 35.0% | | 35.0% | | 35.0% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | | | | | | 1.2% | | 0.0% | | 0.3% | | 0.0% |
Dividends received deduction | | (65.9)% | | (32.2)% | | (14.5)% | | (19.6)% |
Other | | | | | | | | (0.2)% | | 0.0% | | 0.1% | | 0.2% |
Balance at September 30 | | (29.9)% | | 2.8% | | 20.9% | | 15.6% |
As a result of implementing FIN 48, the Company recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $1.7 as a reduction to January 1, 2007 Retained earnings (deficit). In addition, the Company had $61.5 of unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007, of which $41.4 would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in Current income taxes and Income tax expense on the Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations, respectively. The Company had accrued interest of $2.6 as of January 1, 2007.
The Company is under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for tax years 2002 through 2005. It is anticipated that the IRS audit of tax years 2002 and 2003 will be finalized within the next twelve months. The settlement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position.
As of September 30, 2007, the Company had a $57.9 valuation allowance related to unrealized capital losses on investments, which is included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company had no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2006.
On September 25, 2007, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2007-61, which announced its intention to issue regulations with respect to certain computational aspects of the dividend received deduction (“DRD”) on separate account assets held in connection with variable annuity and life insurance contracts. Revenue Ruling 2007-61 suspended Revenue Ruling 2007-54 issued in August 2007 that purported to change accepted industry and IRS interpretations of the statutes governing these computational questions. Any regulations that the IRS ultimately proposes for issuance in this area will be subject to public notice and comment, at which time insurance companies and other members of the public will have the opportunity to raise legal and practical questions about the content, scope and application of such regulations. As a result, the ultimate timing, substance, and effective date of any such regulations are unknown, but they could result in the elimination of some or all of the separate account DRD tax benefit that the Company receives.
8. | Related Party Transactions |
Funding Agreement
On August 10, 2007, the Company issued an extendable funding agreement to its parent, Lion, upon receipt of a single deposit in the amount of $500.0. To fund the purchase of the funding agreement, Lion issued a promissory note to its indirect parent company, ING Verzekeringen N.V. ("ING V"), which has been guaranteed by Lion’s immediate parent, ING America Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“ING AIH”).
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Under the terms of the funding agreement, the Company will pay Lion interest quarterly at the credited interest rate until maturity, and on the maturity date, the Company will pay Lion the single deposit and any accrued and unpaid interest. The credited interest rate shall be the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus 0.05%, and shall be reset quarterly. The maturity date of the funding agreement shall be August 10, 2009, or such later date to which the maturity date may be extended; provided, however, that the maturity date may not be extended beyond August 10, 2012.
Service Agreement
The Company and Directed Services LLC (“DSL”), an affiliate, are parties to a service agreement by which the Company provides DSL with certain managerial and supervisory services, and DSL provides the Company with certain sales and marketing services. On August 9, 2007, the Company and DSL entered into an amendment to the service agreement effective July 31, 2007, which modifies the method for calculating the compensation owed to the Company for its provision of managerial and supervisory services to DSL. Compensation paid to the Company under this service agreement was $31.4 and $67.5 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $15.7 and $45.0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. For information on ING USA’s additional related party operating agreements, see the Related Party Transactions footnote to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Purchase of Investments
On September 27, 2007, the Company purchased at fair value financial assets with a fair value of $435.0 from Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (“Security Life”), an affiliate. The investments, which primarily consisted of AAA rated collateralized mortgage obligations were purchased by the Company with the intent to use them as part of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (“FHLB”) funding agreement program. These assets are included in fixed maturities on the Balance Sheet.
Mortgage Loan Purchase
On August 21, 2007, ING USA purchased at fair value U.S. commercial mortgage loans with a fair value of $17.9 from ING Bank of Canada, an affiliate.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Derivatives
On August 31, 2007, ING USA terminated two interest rate swaps with Security Life, which were originally executed to reduce the Company’s exposure to cash flow variability of assets and liabilities. Under the terms of the original transactions, the Company paid the quarterly quoted 3-month LIBOR rate and received a fixed rate of 4.8% and 4.9%, respectively, for swaps with original maturities of December 30, 2010 and 2015, respectively. The notional amount of each swap was $100.0. The fair values of the swaps were $(1.6) and $(0.1) for the December 30, 2010 and 2015 swaps, respectively, at the date of termination.
Facultative Reinsurance Agreement
The Company is a party to a Facultative Coinsurance Agreement with its affiliate, Security Life, effective August 20, 1999. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company facultatively cedes to Security Life, from time to time, certain GICs on a 100% coinsurance basis. The value of GIC reserves ceded by the Company under this agreement was $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
On October 11, 2007, the Company ceded to Security Life a $750.0 GIC issued to ING USA Global Funding Trust 5 under this agreement.
For information on ING USA’s additional related party reinsurance agreements, see the Related Party Transactions footnote to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Proprietary Alpha Fund
On September 4, 2007, ING USA invested $125.0 into the ING Proprietary Alpha Fund, LLC (“PAF”). PAF is a newly-formed multi-strategy investment fund established as a U.S. domiciled limited liability company managed by ING Alternative Asset Management LLC (“IAAM”). PAF’s initial capital of $300.0 was provided by ING USA’s affiliated insurance and non-insurance companies. The investment strategies within PAF include both long and short exposures to various investments and utilize various fixed income, equity and derivative financial instruments.
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ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Reciprocal Loan Agreement
The Company maintains a reciprocal loan agreement with ING AIH, an affiliate, to facilitate the handling of unanticipated short-term cash requirements that arise in the ordinary course of business. Under this agreement, which became effective in January 2004 and expires on January 14, 2014, either party can borrow from the other up to 3.0% of the Company's statutory admitted assets as of the preceding December 31. Interest on any ING USA borrowing is charged at the rate of ING AIH’s cost of funds for the interest period, plus 0.15%. Interest on any ING AIH borrowing is charged at a rate based on the prevailing interest rate of U.S. commercial paper available for purchase with a similar duration.
Under this agreement, the Company incurred interest expense of $2.4 and $3.0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $0.1 and $1.3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. The Company earned interest income of $1.3 and $5.3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $2.3 and $3.3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. Interest expense and income are included in Interest expense and Net investment income, respectively, on the Condensed Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had an outstanding payable of $12.0 due to ING AIH under the reciprocal loan agreement. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the reciprocal loan agreement.
For information on the Company’s additional financing agreements, see the Financing Agreements footnote to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
10. | Commitments and Contingent Liabilities |
Commitments
Through the normal course of investment operations, the Company commits to either purchase or sell securities, commercial mortgage loans, or money market instruments, at a specified future date and at a specified price or yield. The inability of counterparties to honor these commitments may result in either a higher or lower replacement cost. Also, there is likely to be a change in the value of the securities underlying the commitments.
21
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
As of September 30, 2007, the Company had off-balance sheet commitments to purchase investments equal to their fair value of $521.6, $175.3 of which was with related parties. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had off-balance sheet commitments to purchase investments equal to their fair value of $537.9, $143.2 of which was with related parties. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, $10.8 and $25.9, respectively, was funded to related parties under these commitments.
Financial Guarantees
The Company owns 3-year credit-linked note arrangements, whereby the Company will reimburse the guaranteed parties upon payment default of the referenced obligation. Upon such default, the Company will reimburse the guaranteed party for the loss under the reference obligation, and the Company receives that reference obligation in settlement. The Company can seek recovery of any losses under the agreements by sale or collection of the received reference obligation. As of September 30, 2007, the maximum potential future exposure of the Company under the guarantees was $32.5.
Cash Collateral
Under the terms of the Company’s Over-The-Counter Derivative International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Agreements (“ISDA Agreements”), the Company may receive from, or deliver to, counterparties, collateral to assure that all terms of the ISDA Agreements will be met with regard to the Credit Support Annex (“CSA”). The terms of the CSA call for the Company to pay interest on any cash received equal to the Federal Funds rate. As of September 30, 2007, the Company held $72.5 of cash collateral, which was included in Collateral held, including payables under securities loan agreement and was reinvested in Short-term investments under securities loan agreement on the Condensed Balance Sheets. The Company held no cash collateral under the ISDA Agreements as of December 31, 2006.
Litigation
The Company is involved in threatened or pending lawsuits/arbitrations arising from the normal conduct of business. Due to the climate in insurance and business litigation/arbitrations, suits against the Company sometimes include claims for substantial compensatory, consequential, or punitive damages, and other types of relief. Moreover, certain claims are asserted as class actions, purporting to represent a group of similarly situated individuals. While it is not possible to forecast the outcome of such lawsuits/arbitrations, in light of existing insurance, reinsurance, and established reserves, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of such lawsuits/arbitrations will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations or financial position.
22
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Regulatory Matters
As with many financial services companies, the Company and its affiliates have received informal and formal requests for information from various state and federal governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations in connection with inquiries and investigations of the products and practices of the financial services industry. In each case, the Company and its affiliates have been and are providing full cooperation. For information on the focus of such regulatory inquiries and the actions undertaken by ING in connection therewith, see the Other Regulatory Matters section of the Commitments and Contingent Liabilities footnote to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
11. | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Shareholder’s equity included the following components of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Net unrealized capital gains (losses): | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | | $ | (155.7) | | $ | (56.6) |
| Equity securities, available-for-sale | | | (3.9) | | | 0.9 |
| DAC/VOBA adjustment on available-for-sale securities | | | 58.2 | | | 37.5 |
| Sales inducements adjustment on available-for-sale securities | | | 3.8 | | | 1.6 |
| Other investments | | | (5.9) | | | (6.0) |
Unrealized capital losses, before tax | | | (103.5) | | | (22.6) |
Deferred income tax asset | | | 36.2 | | | 7.9 |
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance | | | (57.9) | | | (10.0) |
Net unrealized capital losses | | | (125.2) | | | (24.7) |
Pension liability, net of tax | | | (5.0) | | | (3.9) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | $ | (130.2) | | $ | (28.6) |
Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of DAC, VOBA, and tax (excluding the tax valuation allowance), related to changes in unrealized capital gains (losses) on securities, including securities pledged, were as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
23
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Net unrealized capital holding gains (losses) arising | | | | | |
| during the period(1) | $ | (113.1) | | $ | (18.1) |
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) and | | | | | |
| other items included in Net income(2) | | (52.8) | | | (4.2) |
Net change in unrealized capital gains (losses) on securities | $ | (60.3) | | $ | (13.9) |
| (1) | Pretax net unrealized capital holding gains (losses) arising during the period were $(173.9) and $(27.9) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
| (2) | Pretax reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) and other items included in Net income were $(81.2) and $(6.5) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
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Item 2. | Management’s Narrative Analysis of the Results of Operations and Financial Condition |
(Dollar amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)
Overview
The following narrative analysis presents a review of the results of operations of ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“ING USA” or “the Company,” as appropriate) for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and financial condition as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. This item should be read in its entirety and in conjunction with the condensed financial statements and related notes, which can be found under Part I, Item 1. contained herein, as well as the “Management’s Narrative Analysis of the Results of Operations and Financial Condition” section contained in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Information/Risk Factors
In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in this report and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company, whether or not in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Statements using verbs such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” or words of similar import, generally involve forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements include statements that represent the Company’s beliefs concerning future levels of sales and redemptions of the Company’s products, investment spreads and yields, or the earnings and profitability of the Company’s activities.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and many of which are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable developments, including, but not limited to the following:
| (1) | Equity market volatility could negatively impact profitability and financial condition; |
| (2) | Changes in interest rates could have a negative impact on profitability and financial condition; |
25
| (3) | The Company’s investment portfolio is subject to risks that may reduce the value of invested assets and adversely affect sales, profitability, and investment returns credited to contractowners; |
| (4) | Changes in underwriting and actual experience could materially affect profitability; |
| (5) | Changes in reserve estimates may reduce profitability; |
| (6) | A downgrade in the Company’s ratings may negatively affect profitability and financial condition; |
| (7) | The continued availability of capital may affect the ability to grow; |
| (8) | Adverse market conditions, including a reduction in liquidity, could negatively impact the cost and ability of the Company to borrow funds; |
| (9) | A loss of key product distribution relationships could materially affect sales; |
| (10) | Competition could negatively affect the ability to maintain or increase profitability; |
| (11) | Changes in federal income tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could affect profitability and financial condition by making some products less attractive to contractowners and increasing tax costs of contractowners or the Company; |
| (12) | Litigation may adversely affect profitability and financial condition; |
| (13) | Changes in regulation in the United States and recent regulatory investigations may reduce profitability; |
| (14) | The Company’s products are subject to extensive regulation and failure to meet any of the complex product requirements may reduce profitability; |
| (15) | A failure of the Company’s operating systems or a compromise of security with respect to operating systems or portable electronic devices could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition; |
| (16) | Reinsurance subjects the Company to the credit risk of reinsurers and may not be adequate to protect against losses arising from ceded reinsurance; |
| (17) | The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition; and |
| (18) | The occurrence of unidentified or unanticipated risks could negatively affect the Company’s business or result in losses. |
Investors are also directed to consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in this Item 2. and in Item 1A. of Part II contained herein, as well as in other documents filed by the Company with the SEC. Except as may be required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking information.
Critical Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies since the filing of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as noted below.
26
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired
General
Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) represent policy acquisition costs that have been capitalized and are subject to amortization. Such costs consist principally of certain commissions, underwriting, contract issuance, and certain agency expenses, related to the production of new and renewal business.
Value of business acquired (“VOBA”) represents the outstanding value of in force business capitalized in purchase accounting when the Company was acquired and is subject to amortization. The value is based on the present value of estimated profits embedded in the Company’s contracts.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments” (“FAS No. 97”), applies to universal life and investment-type products, such as fixed and variable deferred annuities. Under FAS No. 97, DAC and VOBA are amortized, with interest, over the life of the related contracts in relation to the present value of estimated future gross profits from investment, mortality, and expense margins, plus surrender charges.
Internal Replacements
Contractowners may periodically exchange one contract for another, or make modifications to an existing contract. Beginning January 1, 2007, these transactions are identified as internal replacements and are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”).
Internal replacements that are determined to result in substantially unchanged contracts are accounted for as continuations of the replaced contracts. Any costs associated with the issuance of the new contracts are considered maintenance costs and expensed as incurred. Unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts continue to be deferred and amortized in connection with the new contracts. For deferred annuities, the estimated future gross profits of the new contracts are treated as revisions to the estimated future gross profits of the replaced contracts in the determination of amortization.
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Internal replacements that are determined to result in contracts that are substantially changed are accounted for as extinguishments of the replaced contracts, and any unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts are written off to Net amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired in the Statements of Operations.
As a result of implementing SOP 05-1, the Company recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $4.8, before tax, or $3.1, net of $1.7 of income taxes, as a reduction to January 1, 2007 Retained earnings (deficit).
Unlocking
Changes in assumptions can have a significant impact on DAC and VOBA balances and amortization rates. Several assumptions are considered significant in the estimation of future gross profits associated with variable universal life and variable deferred annuity products. One of the most significant assumptions involved in the estimation of future gross profits, is the assumed return associated with the variable account performance. To reflect the volatility in the equity markets, this assumption involves a combination of near-term expectations and long-term assumptions regarding market performance. The overall return on the variable account is dependent on multiple factors, including the relative mix of the underlying sub-accounts among bond funds and equity funds, as well as equity sector weightings. Other significant assumptions include surrender and lapse rates, estimated interest spread, and estimated mortality.
Due to the relative size and sensitivity to minor changes in underlying assumptions of DAC and VOBA balances, the Company performs quarterly and annual analyses of DAC and VOBA for the annuity and life businesses, respectively. The DAC and VOBA balances are also evaluated for recoverability.
At each evaluation date, actual historical gross profits are reflected, and estimated future gross profits and related assumptions are evaluated for continued reasonableness. Any adjustment in estimated future gross profits requires that the amortization rate be revised (“unlocking”) retroactively to the date of the policy or contract issuance. The cumulative unlocking adjustment is recognized as a component of current period amortization. In general, sustained increases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future gross profits, lower the rate of amortization. Sustained decreases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future gross profits, however, increase the rate of amortization.
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Results of Operations
Overview
Products offered by the Company include immediate and deferred variable and fixed annuities, designed to address customer needs for tax-advantaged savings, retirement needs, and wealth-protection concerns, and guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements (collectively referred to as “GICs”), sold primarily to institutional investors and corporate benefit plans.
The Company derives its revenue mainly from (a) fee income generated on variable assets under management (“AUM”), (b) investment income earned on fixed AUM, and (c) certain other management fees. Fee income is primarily generated from separate account assets supporting variable options under variable annuity contract investments, as designated by contractowners. Investment income from fixed AUM is mainly generated from annuity products with fixed investment options. The Company’s benefits and expenses primarily consist of (a) interest credited and other benefits to contractowners, (b) amortization of DAC and VOBA, (c) expenses related to the selling and servicing of the various products offered by the Company, and (d) other general business expenses.
Economic Analysis
The Company’s sales and financial results continue to be affected by economic trends.
The strong equity market performance in the second half of 2006 and year-to-date 2007 favorably impacted variable AUM during 2007. Fee income from variable products has a direct correlation with the level of AUM, which are impacted by equity market performance. In addition, variable products have grown with consumer demand for equity investments.
The changing market interest rate environment during 2007 resulted in a substantial increase in unrealized losses for the first nine months of 2007, as compared to the same period for 2006. Although interest rates decreased at the end of the third quarter of 2007, interest rates had been rising in 2007 and resulted in an increase in unrealized and realized capital losses.
While the interest rate environment during 2007 has resulted in an increase in unrealized losses as compared to 2006, overall increases in market yields have allowed for improved asset returns, and, therefore, improved margins on fixed products during 2007.
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Results of Operations
The Company’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, and changes therein, reflected positive product experience as a result of increased AUM, primarily driven by strong equity market performance during the end of 2006 and year-to-date 2007 and a higher block of business in force. This positive product experience, however, was offset by higher realized capital losses and interest credited and other benefits to contractowners.
| | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | $ Increase | | % Increase |
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | �� | | 2006 | | | (Decrease) | | (Decrease) |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net investment income | $ | 340.4 | | $ | 293.6 | | $ | 46.8 | | 15.9% |
| Fee income | | | | 311.1 | | | 237.6 | | | 73.5 | | 30.9% |
| Premiums | | | | | 4.9 | | | 5.0 | | | (0.1) | | (2.0)% |
| Net realized capital losses | | (121.8) | | | (0.6) | | | (121.2) | | NM |
| Other income | | | 0.1 | | | - | | | 0.1 | | NM |
Total revenue | | | | 534.7 | | | 535.6 | | | (0.9) | | 0.2% |
Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest credited and other | | | | | | | | | | |
| | benefits to contractowners | | 364.6 | | | 325.1 | | | 39.5 | | 12.2% |
| Operating expenses | | 64.2 | | | 56.5 | | | 7.7 | | 13.6% |
| Net amortization of deferred policy | | | | | | | | | |
| | acquisition costs and value | | | | | | | | | | |
| | of business acquired | | 53.3 | | | 65.0 | | | (11.7) | | (18.0)% |
| Interest expense | | 9.7 | | | 7.3 | | | 2.4 | | 32.9% |
| Other expense | | | 5.8 | | | 6.1 | | | (0.3) | | (4.9)% |
Total benefits and expenses | | 497.6 | | | 460.0 | | | 37.6 | | 8.2% |
Income before income taxes | | 37.1 | | | 75.6 | | | (38.5) | | (50.9)% |
Income tax (benefit) expense | | (11.1) | | | 2.1 | | | (13.2) | | NM |
Net income | | | | $ | 48.2 | | $ | 73.5 | | $ | (25.3) | | (34.4)% |
Effective tax rate | | | (29.9)% | | | 2.8% | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NM - Not meaningful. | | | | | | | | | | |
30
| | | | | | | | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | $ Increase | | % Increase |
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | (Decrease) | | (Decrease) |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net investment income | $ | 962.1 | | $ | 854.1 | | $ | 108.0 | | 12.6% |
| Fee income | | | | 865.3 | | | 686.2 | | | 179.1 | | 26.1% |
| Premiums | | | | | 14.8 | | | 15.4 | | | (0.6) | | (3.9)% |
| Net realized capital losses | | (162.6) | | | (92.8) | | | (69.8) | | (75.2)% |
| Other income | | | 0.2 | | | - | | | 0.2 | | NM |
Total revenue | | | | 1,679.8 | | | 1,462.9 | | | 216.9 | | 14.8% |
Benefits and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest credited and other | | | | | | | | | | |
| | benefits to contractowners | | 926.5 | | | 833.8 | | | 92.7 | | 11.1% |
| Operating expenses | | 189.1 | | | 167.7 | | | 21.4 | | 12.8% |
| Net amortization of deferred policy | | | | | | | | | |
| | acquisition costs and value | | | | | | | | | | |
| | of business acquired | | 248.0 | | | 233.8 | | | 14.2 | | 6.1% |
| Interest expense | | 24.7 | | | 22.8 | | | 1.9 | | 8.3% |
| Other expense | | | 19.7 | | | 20.9 | | | (1.2) | | (5.7)% |
Total benefits and expenses | | 1,408.0 | | | 1,279.0 | | | 129.0 | | 10.1% |
Income before income taxes | | 271.8 | | | 183.9 | | | 87.9 | | 47.8% |
Income tax expense | | 56.8 | | | 28.6 | | | 28.2 | | 98.6% |
Net income | | | | $ | 215.0 | | $ | 155.3 | | $ | 59.7 | | 38.4% |
Effective tax rate | | | 20.9% | | | 15.6% | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NM - Not meaningful. | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues
Total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, increased mainly due to increases in Fee income and Net investment income, partially offset by increases in Net realized capital losses.
The increase in Fee income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, reflects an increase in average variable AUM, primarily driven by strong equity market performance during the end of 2006 and year-to-date 2007 and a higher block of business in force.
Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, increased as the result of an increase in assets supporting fixed AUM and surplus, which reflects a larger block of GICs, and fixed indexed annuities in force. In addition, the Company experienced higher yields in 2007.
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Net realized capital losses increased for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to higher losses on derivatives. The increase in net realized capital losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was primarily due to higher losses on derivatives, along with higher losses on fixed maturities. The changes in derivatives were primarily driven by interest rate swaps and currency swaps associated with international emerging markets. In addition, for the third quarter of 2007, there were lower call option gains as compared to the same period for 2006, due to the lower equity market returns in the third quarter of this year as compared to the same period for 2006. On a year-to-date basis for 2007, call option gains were higher than those of the prior year for the same period and were partially offset by losses on futures, both due to higher equity market returns for the year-to-date period of 2007, as compared to the same period for 2006. The higher losses on fixed maturities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were driven by the increasing interest rate environment in the first half of 2007.
Benefits and Expenses
Total benefits and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, increased mainly due to higher Interest credited and other benefits to contractowners, as well as higher Operating expenses.
Interest credited and other benefits to contractowners increased for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to an increase in guaranteed benefit reserves, as a result of lower equity market performance in 2007 as compared to 2006. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily driven by an increase in the GIC reserve balance and in fixed indexed annuity reserves, mainly attributable to favorable equity market performance, higher average fixed AUM, and increased market volatility in 2007. The increase was partially offset by lower annuity crediting rates and favorable development related to certain contingencies in 2007.
Operating expenses increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to higher non-deferred asset-based commissions and marketing expenses, as well as the continued growth of the business.
Net amortization of DAC and VOBA decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to lower actual gross profits in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to 2006. This decrease in amortization was partially offset by favorable unlocking adjustments in third quarter of 2006, arising from prospective assumptions based on positive persistency experience and better than expected equity performance. Amortization increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to higher actual gross profits related to higher average AUM. This increase in amortization was partially offset by favorable unlocking adjustments in 2007 relating to variable annuity fund performance and other assumption changes made during the first half of 2007.
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Income Taxes
Income tax expense decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to lower Income before income taxes related to higher benefits and expenses during the quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Income tax expense increased based on higher Income before taxes for the year to date related to higher fee income and net investment income.
Financial Condition
Investments
Investment Strategy
The Company’s investment strategy focuses on diversification by asset class. The Company seeks to achieve economic diversification, while reducing overall credit risk and liquidity risks. In addition, the Company seeks to mitigate the impact of cash flow variability from embedded options within certain investment products, such as prepayment options, interest rate options embedded in collateralized mortgage obligations, and call options embedded in corporate bonds. The investment management function is centralized under ING Investment Management LLC, an affiliate, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement. Separate portfolios are established for groups of products with similar liability characteristics within the Company.
Portfolio Composition
The following table presents the investment portfolio at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | | | | | | Carrying Value | | % | | | Carrying Value | | % |
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, | | | | | | | | | |
| including securities pledged | $ | 21,526.2 | | 80.5% | | $ | 17,918.4 | | 79.3% |
Equity securities, available-for-sale | | 169.0 | | 0.6% | | | 40.6 | | 0.2% |
Short-term investments | | 150.7 | | 0.5% | | | 134.3 | | 0.6% |
Mortgage loans on real estate | | 3,759.8 | | 14.1% | | | 3,687.6 | | 16.3% |
Policy loans | | 157.6 | | 0.6% | | | 162.5 | | 0.7% |
Other investments | | 982.0 | | 3.7% | | | 642.9 | | 2.9% |
Total investments | $ | 26,745.3 | | 100.0% | | $ | 22,586.3 | | 100.0% |
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Fixed Maturities
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, were as follows as of September 30, 2007.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross | | | Gross | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Unrealized | | | Unrealized | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Amortized | | | Capital | | | Capital | | | Fair |
| | | | | | | | | | Cost | | | Gains | | | Losses | | | Value |
Fixed maturities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasuries | | $ | 173.0 | | $ | 0.5 | | $ | 0.1 | | $ | 173.4 |
| U.S. government agencies and authorities | | 86.1 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.7 | | | 85.6 |
| State, municipalities, and political subdivisions | | 50.0 | | | - | | | 2.2 | | | 47.8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. corporate securities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Public utilities | | | 1,395.3 | | | 15.6 | | | 20.4 | | | 1,390.5 |
| | Other corporate securities | | 6,190.6 | | | 48.6 | | | 74.3 | | | 6,164.9 |
| Total U.S. corporate securities | | 7,585.9 | | | 64.2 | | | 94.7 | | | 7,555.4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign securities(1): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Government | | | 498.3 | | | 10.8 | | | 7.3 | | | 501.8 |
| | Other | | | | | | 3,264.5 | | | 26.6 | | | 57.2 | | | 3,233.9 |
| Total foreign securities | | 3,762.8 | | | 37.4 | | | 64.5 | | | 3,735.7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | | 4,821.7 | | | 70.4 | | | 86.9 | | | 4,805.2 |
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | 3,181.5 | | | 21.4 | | | 31.1 | | | 3,171.8 |
| Other asset-backed securities | | 2,020.9 | | | 3.8 | | | 73.4 | | | 1,951.3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total fixed maturities, including securities pledged | | 21,681.9 | | | 197.9 | | | 353.6 | | | 21,526.2 |
| Less: securities pledged | | 995.3 | | | 4.9 | | | 15.2 | | | 985.0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturities | $ | 20,686.6 | | $ | 193.0 | | $ | 338.4 | | $ | 20,541.2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Primarily U.S. dollar denominated. | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, were as follows as of December 31, 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross | | | Gross | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Unrealized | | | Unrealized | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Amortized | | | Capital | | | Capital | | | Fair |
| | | | | | | | | | Cost | | | Gains | | | Losses | | | Value |
Fixed maturities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasuries | | $ | 276.9 | | $ | 0.2 | | $ | 1.4 | | $ | 275.7 |
| U.S. government agencies and authorities | | 220.9 | | | 0.6 | | | 2.2 | | | 219.3 |
| State, municipalities, and political subdivisions | | 43.0 | | | 0.5 | | | 0.4 | | | 43.1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. corporate securities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Public utilities | | | 1,324.5 | | | 21.1 | | | 17.8 | | | 1,327.8 |
| | Other corporate securities | | 5,138.6 | | | 50.3 | | | 49.7 | | | 5,139.2 |
| Total U.S. corporate securities | | 6,463.1 | | | 71.4 | | | 67.5 | | | 6,467.0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign securities(1): | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Government | | | 486.1 | | | 16.2 | | | 4.3 | | | 498.0 |
| | Other | | | | | | 2,843.9 | | | 32.3 | | | 46.6 | | | 2,829.6 |
| Total foreign securities | | 3,330.0 | | | 48.5 | | | 50.9 | | | 3,327.6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | | 3,841.4 | | | 44.8 | | | 62.8 | | | 3,823.4 |
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | 1,928.6 | | | 15.1 | | | 20.2 | | | 1,923.5 |
| Other asset-backed securities | | 1,843.4 | | | 5.2 | | | 9.8 | | | 1,838.8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total fixed maturities, including securities pledged | | 17,947.3 | | | 186.3 | | | 215.2 | | | 17,918.4 |
| Less: securities pledged | | 875.5 | | | 2.4 | | | 13.9 | | | 864.0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturities | $ | 17,071.8 | | $ | 183.9 | | $ | 201.3 | | $ | 17,054.4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Primarily U.S. dollar denominated. | | | | | | | | | | | |
It is management’s objective that the portfolio of fixed maturities be of high quality and be well diversified by market sector. The fixed maturities in the Company’s portfolio are generally rated by external rating agencies and, if not externally rated, are rated by the Company on a basis believed to be similar to that used by the rating agencies. The average quality rating of the Company's fixed maturities portfolio was AA- as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. Ratings are calculated using a rating hierarchy that considers Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc., and internal ratings.
35
Total fixed maturities, including fixed maturities pledged to creditors, by quality rating category, were as follows as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | Fair | | % of | | | Fair | | % of |
| | Value | | Total | | | Value | | Total |
AAA | $ | 9,281.7 | | 43.0% | | $ | 7,243.8 | | 40.4% |
AA | | 1,568.1 | | 7.3% | | | 1,245.7 | | 6.9% |
A | | 3,871.5 | | 18.0% | | | 3,631.0 | | 20.3% |
BBB | | 5,937.3 | | 27.6% | | | 5,124.0 | | 28.6% |
BB | | 639.3 | | 3.0% | | | 575.1 | | 3.2% |
B and below | | 228.3 | | 1.1% | | | 98.8 | | 0.6% |
Total | $ | 21,526.2 | | 100.0% | | $ | 17,918.4 | | 100.0% |
95.9% and 96.2% of fixed maturities were invested in securities rated BBB and above (Investment Grade) as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
Fixed maturities rated BB and below (Below Investment Grade) may have speculative characteristics, and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to make principal and interest payments than is the case with higher rated fixed maturities.
Total fixed maturities by market sector, including securities pledged to creditors, were as follows as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | | | | | | Fair | | % of | | | Fair | | % of |
| | | | | | | | | | Value | | Total | | | Value | | Total |
U.S. Treasuries | $ | 173.4 | | 0.8% | | $ | 275.7 | | 1.6% |
U.S. government agencies and authorities | | 85.6 | | 0.4% | | | 219.3 | | 1.2% |
U.S. corporate, state, and municipalities | | 7,603.2 | | 35.3% | | | 6,510.1 | | 36.3% |
Foreign | | 3,735.7 | | 17.4% | | | 3,327.6 | | 18.6% |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 4,805.2 | | 22.3% | | | 3,823.4 | | 21.3% |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | 3,171.8 | | 14.7% | | | 1,923.5 | | 10.7% |
Other asset-backed | | 1,951.3 | | 9.1% | | | 1,838.8 | | 10.3% |
Total | | | | | | | $ | 21,526.2 | | 100.0% | | $ | 17,918.4 | | 100.0% |
The Company did not have any investments in a single issuer, other than obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies, with a carrying value in excess of 10% of the Company’s Shareholder’s equity as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
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Subprime Mortgage Exposure
Credit markets have recently become more turbulent amid concerns about subprime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”). This in turn has resulted in a general widening of credit spreads, reduced price transparency, reduced liquidity, increased rating agency downgrades and increased volatility across all markets.
To date, this market disruption has had a limited impact on the Company. As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s subprime exposure was $946.4, representing 3.5% of total investments and its Alt-A exposure was $1,346.0, representing 5.0% of total investments. The Company does not originate or purchase subprime or Alt-A whole-loan mortgages. As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s exposure to subprime mortgages was primarily in the form of asset backed securities (“ABS”) collateralized by subprime residential mortgages (“ABS Home Equity”) and one CDO position backed by ABS Home Equity; and its exposure to Alt-A mortgages was concentrated in residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”). Alt-A Loans are residential mortgage loans to customers who have strong credit profiles but lack some element(s) such as documentation to substantiate income. Subprime lending is the origination of loans to customers with weaker credit profiles. The following summarizes the Company’s ABS Home Equity and RMBS exposure to subprime and Alt-A mortgages as of September 30, 2007.
ABS - The fair value of the Company’s ABS portfolio was $1,944.3 with 48.7% of the total being ABS Home Equity securities. The fair value and gross unrealized losses related to these ABS Home Equity securities were $946.4 and $51.0, respectively, with 87.8% of these ABS Home Equity securities being rated “AAA” or “AA”. The ABS Home Equity portfolio included 37.9% issued in 2007, 11.2% in 2006, and 50.9% in 2005 and prior. The ABS CDO had a fair value of $2.9 at September 30, 2007. The Company accounts for its interest in the ABS CDO using the equity method of accounting with periodic changes in value being recognized in earnings. The Company recognized losses of $0.7 for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.
RMBS - The fair value of the Company’s RMBS portfolio was $4,788.6. The portfolio is of high credit quality with 97.5% of the portfolio rated AAA. Further, 41.0% of the RMBS portfolio was issued by GNMA/FNMA or FHLMC, which are government agencies or instrumentalities that guarantee the credit quality of the underlying mortgage pools. Of the total RMBS portfolio, $1,346.0, or 28.1%, were backed by Alt-A borrowers. The fair value and gross unrealized losses of the Alt-A portfolio were $1,346.0 and $12.3, respectively, with 100.0% being AAA-rated. The Alt-A portfolio included 35.2% issued in 2007, 11.6% in 2006, and 53.2% in 2005 and prior.
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Mortgage Loans
Mortgage loans on real estate, primarily commercial mortgage loans, totaled $3,759.8 and $3,687.6 as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. These loans are reported at amortized cost, less impairment write-downs. If the value of any mortgage loan is determined to be impaired (i.e., when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect on all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement), the carrying value of the mortgage loan is reduced to either the present value of expected cash flows from the loan, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or fair value of the collateral. If the loan is in foreclosure, the carrying value is reduced to the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of estimated costs to obtain and sell. The carrying value of the impaired loans is reduced by establishing a permanent write-down charged to Net realized capital gains (losses). As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had no allowance for mortgage loan credit losses. The properties collateralizing mortgage loans are geographically dispersed throughout the United States, with the largest concentration of 22.1% and 19.9% of properties in California as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. All mortgage loan borrowers, including those in California, are required to have adequate all-risk insurance coverage, which is inclusive of fire damage and business interruption. Management believes that all borrowers are in compliance with the required insurance coverage. Further, the Company is not aware of California properties collateralizing the mortgage loans that have suffered major damage as a result of the recent California wildfires.
Unrealized Capital Losses
Unrealized capital losses in fixed maturities, including securities pledged to creditors, for Investment Grade (“IG”) and Below Investment Grade (“BIG”) securities by duration were as follows as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | % of IG | | | | | % of IG | | | | | % of IG | | | | | % of IG |
| | | IG | | and BIG | | | BIG | | and BIG | | | IG | | and BIG | | | BIG | | and BIG |
Less than six months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| below amortized cost | $ | 117.2 | | 33.1% | | $ | 10.6 | | 3.0% | | $ | 25.5 | | 11.8% | | $ | 1.9 | | 0.9% |
More than six months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| and less than twelve | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| months below | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| amortized cost | | 83.0 | | 23.5% | | | 7.8 | | 2.2% | | | 11.3 | | 5.3% | | | 0.5 | | 0.2% |
More than twelve months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| below amortized cost | | 126.1 | | 35.7% | | | 8.9 | | 2.5% | | | 174.3 | | 81.0% | | | 1.7 | | 0.8% |
Total unrealized capital loss | $ | 326.3 | | 92.3% | | $ | 27.3 | | 7.7% | | $ | 211.1 | | 98.1% | | $ | 4.1 | | 1.9% |
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Unrealized losses in fixed maturities as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, were primarily caused by interest rate movement or changes in credit spreads to mortgage and other asset-backed securities. Mortgage and other asset-backed securities include U.S. government-backed securities, principal protected securities, and structured securities, which did not have an adverse change in cash flows. The following table summarizes the unrealized capital losses by duration and reason, along with the fair value of fixed maturities, including securities pledged to creditors, in unrealized capital loss positions as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | | | | | More Than | | | | | | |
| | | Less Than | | | Six Months | | | More Than | | | |
| | | Six Months | | | and Less Than | | | Twelve Months | | | |
| | | Below | | | Twelve Months | | | Below | | | |
| | | Amortized | | | Below | | | Amortized | | | |
2007 | | Cost | | | Amortized Cost | | | Cost | | | Total |
Interest rate or spread widening | $ | 49.6 | | $ | 44.4 | | $ | 68.2 | | $ | 162.2 |
Mortgage and other asset-backed | | | | | | | | | | |
| securities | | 78.2 | | | 46.4 | | | 66.8 | | | 191.4 |
Total unrealized capital loss | $ | 127.8 | | $ | 90.8 | | $ | 135.0 | | $ | 353.6 |
Fair value | $ | 6,595.1 | | $ | 2,253.8 | | $ | 3,887.2 | | $ | 12,736.1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
2006 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest rate or spread widening | $ | 12.8 | | $ | 6.2 | | $ | 103.4 | | $ | 122.4 |
Mortgage and other asset-backed | | | | | | | | | | |
| securities | | 14.6 | | | 5.6 | | | 72.6 | | | 92.8 |
Total unrealized capital loss | $ | 27.4 | | $ | 11.8 | | $ | 176.0 | | $ | 215.2 |
Fair value | $ | 3,095.9 | | $ | 905.9 | | $ | 6,026.5 | | $ | 10,028.3 |
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Unrealized capital losses in fixed maturities, including securities pledged to creditors, by market sector and duration were as follows as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
| | | | | | | | | | | | More Than | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Less Than | | | Six Months | | | More Than | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Six Months | | | and Less Than | | | Twelve Months | | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | Below | | | Twelve Months | | | Below | | | Unrealized |
| | | | | | | | | Amortized | | | Below | | | Amortized | | | Capital |
2007 | | | | | | | Cost | | | Amortized Cost | | | Cost | | | Loss |
U.S. Treasuries | | $ | - | | $ | 0.1 | | $ | - | | $ | 0.1 |
U.S. government agencies and authorities | | - | | | - | | | 0.7 | | | 0.7 |
U.S. corporate, state, and municipalities | | 31.8 | | | 29.0 | | | 36.1 | | | 96.9 |
Foreign | | | | | | 17.8 | | | 15.3 | | | 31.4 | | | 64.5 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 36.2 | | | 6.0 | | | 44.7 | | | 86.9 |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | 7.5 | | | 15.8 | | | 7.8 | | | 31.1 |
Other asset-backed | | 34.5 | | | 24.6 | | | 14.3 | | | 73.4 |
Total unrealized capital loss | $ | 127.8 | | $ | 90.8 | | $ | 135.0 | | $ | 353.6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2006 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasuries | | $ | 1.4 | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | 1.4 |
U.S. government agencies and authorities | | 0.3 | | | - | | | 1.9 | | | 2.2 |
U.S. corporate, state, and municipalities | | 7.8 | | | 1.8 | | | 58.3 | | | 67.9 |
Foreign | | | | | | 3.3 | | | 4.4 | | | 43.2 | | | 50.9 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 11.5 | | | 2.9 | | | 48.4 | | | 62.8 |
Commercial mortgage-backed | | 2.0 | | | 1.4 | | | 16.8 | | | 20.2 |
Other asset-backed | | 1.1 | | | 1.3 | | | 7.4 | | | 9.8 |
Total unrealized capital loss | $ | 27.4 | | $ | 11.8 | | $ | 176.0 | | $ | 215.2 |
Of the unrealized capital losses aged more than twelve months, the average market value of the related fixed maturities is 96.9% of the average book value as of September 30, 2007. In addition, this category includes 782 securities, which have an average quality rating of A-. No other-than-temporary impairment loss was considered necessary for these fixed maturities as of September 30, 2007.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
The Company analyzes the general account investments to determine whether there has been an other-than-temporary decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis. Management considers the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, the issuer’s financial condition and near-term prospects, future economic conditions and market forecasts, interest rate changes, and the Company’s intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in fair value. If it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of an investment will not be collected, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred.
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In addition, the Company invests in asset-backed securities. Determination of the required impairment is based on the analysis discussed in the preceding paragraph, as well as credit risk and the possibility of significant prepayment risk that restricts the Company’s ability to recover the investment. An impairment is recognized if the fair value of the security is less than book value and there has been an adverse change in cash flow since the last remeasurement date.
When a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, the individual security is written down to fair value, and the loss is recorded in Net realized capital gains (losses).
The following tables identify the Company’s other-than-temporary impairments by type for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | Three Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. corporate | $ | 24.2 | | | 46 | | $ | 3.4 | | 22 |
Foreign(1) | | 9.3 | | | 25 | | | 0.9 | | 5 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 0.1 | | | 8 | | | 1.2 | | 16 |
Other asset-backed | | 4.7 | | | 18 | | | - | | - |
Limited partnerships | | - | | | - | | | 0.2 | | 1 |
Total | $ | 38.3 | | | 97 | | $ | 5.7 | | 44 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Primarily U.S. dollar denominated. | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
| | | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. Treasuries | $ | - | * | | 1 | | $ | 0.1 | | 1 |
U.S. corporate | | 37.6 | | | 103 | | | 9.2 | | 35 |
Foreign | | 18.1 | | | 62 | | | 2.2 | | 8 |
Residential mortgage-backed | | 1.0 | | | 12 | | | 10.2 | | 57 |
Other asset-backed | | 15.4 | | | 61 | | | 1.2 | | 2 |
Limited partnerships | | - | | | - | | | 0.5 | | 2 |
Total | $ | 72.1 | | | 239 | | $ | 23.4 | | 105 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
* Less than $0.1. | | | | | | | | | | |
The above schedules include $1.5 and $5.9 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $1.4 and $10.7 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, in other-than-temporary write-downs related to the analysis of credit risk and the possibility of significant prepayment risk. The remaining write-downs are related to investments that the Company does not have the intent to retain for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in fair value. The following tables summarize these write-downs by type for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
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| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. corporate | $ | 22.8 | | | 43 | | $ | 3.4 | | 22 |
Foreign | | 9.4 | | | 25 | | | 0.9 | | 5 |
Other asset-backed | | 4.6 | | | 18 | | | - | | - |
Total | $ | 36.8 | | | 86 | | $ | 4.3 | | 27 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | | No. of | | | | | No. of |
| | Impairment | | | Securities | | | Impairment | | Securities |
U.S. Treasuries | $ | - | * | | 1 | | $ | 0.1 | | 1 |
U.S. corporate | | 36.2 | | | 100 | | | 9.2 | | 35 |
Foreign | | 15.0 | | | 59 | | | 2.2 | | 8 |
Other asset-backed | | 15.0 | | | 60 | | | 1.2 | | 2 |
Total | $ | 66.2 | | | 220 | | $ | 12.7 | | 46 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
* Less than $0.1. | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company may sell securities during the period in which fair value has declined below amortized cost for fixed maturities or cost for equity securities. In certain situations new factors, including changes in the business environment, can change the Company’s previous intent to continue holding a security.
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)
Net realized capital gains (losses) are comprised of the difference between the amortized cost of investments and proceeds from sale, and redemption, as well as losses incurred due to the other-than-temporary impairment of investments and changes in fair value of derivatives. The cost of the investments upon disposal is determined based on specific identification of securities. Net realized capital gains (losses) on investments were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
| | Three Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | $ | (4.4) | | $ | 10.4 |
Equity securities, available-for-sale | | 0.2 | | | - |
Derivatives | | (117.6) | | | (10.8) |
Other | | - | | | (0.2) |
Net realized capital losses | $ | (121.8) | | $ | (0.6) |
After-tax net realized capital losses | $ | (79.2) | | $ | (0.4) |
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| | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 |
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | $ | (61.1) | | $ | (32.5) |
Equity securities, available-for-sale | | 0.5 | | | 0.9 |
Derivatives | | (102.0) | | | (61.9) |
Other | | - | | | 0.7 |
Net realized capital losses | $ | (162.6) | | $ | (92.8) |
After-tax net realized capital losses | $ | (105.7) | | $ | (60.3) |
Net realized capital losses increased for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to higher losses on derivatives. The increase in net realized capital losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was primarily due to higher losses on derivatives, along with higher losses on fixed maturities. The changes in derivatives were primarily driven by currency swaps associated with international emerging markets. In addition, for the third quarter of 2007, there were lower call option gains as compared to the same period for 2006, due to the lower equity market returns in the third quarter of this year as compared to the same period for 2006. On a year-to-date basis for 2007, call option gains were higher than those of the prior year for the same period and were partially offset by losses on futures, both due to higher equity market returns for the year-to-date period of 2007, as compared to the same period for 2006. The higher losses on fixed maturities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were driven by the increasing interest rate environment in the first half of 2007.
Income Taxes
As of September 30, 2007, the Company had a $57.9 valuation allowance related to unrealized capital losses on investments, which is included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company had no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2006.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is the ability of the Company to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of operating, investing, and financing activities.
Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are annuity product charges, GIC deposits, investment income, proceeds from the maturing and sale of investments, proceeds from debt issuance, and capital contributions. Primary uses of these funds are payments of commissions and operating expenses, interest and premium credits, payments under guaranteed death and living benefits, investment purchases, repayment of debt, and contract maturities, withdrawals, and surrenders.
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The Company’s liquidity position is managed by maintaining adequate levels of liquid assets, such as cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. Asset/liability management is integrated into many aspects of the Company’s operations, including investment decisions, product development, and determination of crediting rates. As part of the risk management process, different economic scenarios are modeled, including cash flow testing required for insurance regulatory purposes, to determine that existing assets are adequate to meet projected liability cash flows. Key variables in the modeling process include interest rates, anticipated contractowner behavior, and variable separate account performance. Contractowners bear the investment risk related to variable annuity products, subject to the minimum guaranteed death and living benefits included in these contracts.
The fixed account liabilities are supported by a general account portfolio, principally composed of fixed rate investments with matching duration characteristics that can generate predictable, steady rates of return. The portfolio management strategy for the fixed account considers the assets available-for-sale. This strategy enables the Company to respond to changes in market interest rates, prepayment risk, relative values of asset sectors and individual securities and loans, credit quality outlook, and other relevant factors. The objective of portfolio management is to maximize returns, taking into account interest rate and credit risk, as well as other risks. The Company’s asset/liability management discipline includes strategies to minimize exposure to loss as interest rates and economic and market conditions change.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Additional sources of liquidity include borrowing facilities to meet short-term cash requirements that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains the following agreements:
| § | A reciprocal loan agreement with ING America Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“ING AIH”), an affiliate, whereby either party can borrow from the other up to 3.0% of the Company’s statutory admitted assets as of the prior December 31. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had an outstanding payable of $12.0 due to ING AIH under the reciprocal loan agreement. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the reciprocal loan agreement. |
| § | A $100.0 uncommitted, perpetual revolving note facility with the Bank of New York. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the revolving note facility. |
| § | A $75.0 uncommitted line-of-credit agreement with PNC Bank. Borrowings are guaranteed by ING AIH, with maximum aggregate borrowings outstanding at anytime to ING AIH and its affiliates of $75.0. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the line-of-credit agreement. |
| § | A $100.0 uncommitted line-of-credit agreement with Svenska Handelsbanken AB (Publ.), effective June 2, 2006. Borrowings are guaranteed by ING AIH, with maximum aggregate borrowings outstanding at anytime to ING AIH and its affiliates of $100.0. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the line-of-credit agreement. |
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Management believes that these sources of liquidity are adequate to meet the Company’s short-term cash obligations.
The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (“FHLB”) and is required to maintain a collateral deposit that backs funding agreements issued to the FHLB. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had $2,168.9 and $226.7, respectively, in non-putable funding agreements, including accrued interest, issued to FHLB. The level of funding agreements increased 192.1% since June 30, 2007, as the Company took advantage of the credit market dislocation to purchase highly rated assets and issue FHLB funding agreements. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, assets with a carrying value of approximately $2,501.2 and $703.0, respectively, collateralized the funding agreements issued to the FHLB. Assets pledged to the FHLB are included in Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, on the Condensed Balance Sheets.
Funding Agreement
On August 10, 2007, the Company issued an extendable funding agreement to its parent, Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc. (“Lion” or “Parent”), upon receipt of a single deposit in the amount of $500.0. To fund the purchase of the funding agreement, Lion issued a promissory note to its indirect parent company, ING Verzekeringen N.V. ("ING V"), which has been guaranteed by Lion’s immediate parent, ING AIH.
Under the terms of the funding agreement, the Company will pay Lion interest quarterly at the credited interest rate until maturity, and on the maturity date, the Company will pay Lion the single deposit and any accrued and unpaid interest. The credited interest rate shall be the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus 0.05%, and shall be reset quarterly. The maturity date of the funding agreement shall be August 10, 2009, or such later date to which the maturity date may be extended; provided, however, that the maturity date may not be extended beyond August 10, 2012.
Capital Contributions and Distributions
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company received $150.0 in capital contributions from its Parent. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company did not receive any capital contributions from its Parent.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company did not pay any dividends or return of capital distributions to its Parent. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company paid $20.0 in a return of capital distribution to its Parent.
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Financial Guarantees
The Company owns 3-year credit-linked note arrangements, whereby the Company will reimburse the guaranteed parties upon payment default of the referenced obligation. Upon such default, the Company will reimburse the guaranteed party for the loss under the reference obligation, and the Company receives that reference obligation in settlement. The Company can seek recovery of any losses under the agreements by sale or collection of the received reference obligation. As of September 30, 2007, the maximum potential future exposure of the Company under the guarantees was $32.5.
Cash Collateral
Under the terms of the Company’s Over-The-Counter Derivative International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Agreements (“ISDA Agreements”), the Company may receive from, or deliver to, counterparties, collateral to assure that all terms of the ISDA Agreements will be met with regard to the Credit Support Annex (“CSA”). The terms of the CSA call for the Company to pay interest on any cash received equal to the Federal Funds rate. As of September 30, 2007, the Company held $72.5 of cash collateral, which was included in Collateral held, including payables under securities loan agreement and was reinvested in Short-term investments under securities loan agreement on the Condensed Balance Sheets. The Company held no cash collateral under the ISDA Agreements as of December 31, 2006.
Facultative Reinsurance Agreement
The Company is a party to a Facultative Coinsurance Agreement with its affiliate, Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (“Security Life”) effective August 20, 1999. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company facultatively cedes to Security Life, from time to time, certain GICs on a 100% coinsurance basis. The value of GIC reserves ceded by the Company under this agreement was $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The Company utilizes this reinsurance facility primarily for diversification and asset-liability management purposes in connection with this business, which is facilitated by the fact that Security Life is also a major GIC issuer. Senior management of the Company has established a current maximum of $4.0 billion for GIC reserves ceded under this agreement.
On October 11, 2007, the Company ceded to Security Life a $750.0 GIC issued to ING USA Global Funding Trust 5 under this agreement.
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Minimum Guarantees
Variable annuity contracts containing minimum guaranteed death and living benefits expose the Company to equity risk. A decrease in the equity markets may cause a decrease in the account values, thereby increasing the possibility that the Company may be required to pay amounts to contractowners due to guaranteed death and living benefits. An increase in the value of the equity markets may increase account values for these contracts, thereby decreasing the Company’s risk associated with guaranteed death and living benefits.
The Company’s variable annuities offer one or more of the following guaranteed death and living benefits:
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (“GMDB”):
| § | Standard - Guarantees that, upon death, the death benefit will be no less than the premiums paid by the contractowner, adjusted for any contract withdrawals. |
| § | Ratchet - Guarantees that, upon death, the death benefit will be no less than the greater of (1) Standard or (2) the maximum contract anniversary (or quarterly) value of the variable annuity, adjusted for contract withdrawals. |
| § | Rollup (7.0% or 5.5% Solution) - Guarantees that, upon death, the death benefit will be no less than the aggregate premiums paid by the contractowner accruing interest at 7.0% or 5.5% per annum, adjusted for contract withdrawals, which may be subject to a maximum cap on the rolled up amount. (The Company has discontinued this option for new sales.) |
| § | Combo (Max 7) - Guarantees that, upon death, the death benefit will be no less than the greater of (1) Ratchet or (2) Rollup. |
For contracts issued prior to January 1, 2000, most contracts with enhanced death benefit guarantees were reinsured to third party reinsurers to mitigate the risk produced by such guaranteed death benefits. For contracts issued after December 31, 1999, the Company instituted an equity hedging program in lieu of reinsurance. The equity hedging program is based on the Company entering into derivative positions to offset exposures to guaranteed minimum death benefits due to adverse changes in the equity markets.
As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the guaranteed value of these death benefits in excess of account values was estimated to be $2.1 and $2.2 billion, respectively, before reinsurance.
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As of September 30, 2007, the guaranteed value of minimum guaranteed death benefits in excess of account values, net of reinsurance, was estimated to be $1.2 billion, of which $334.2 was projected to be covered by the Company’s equity hedging program. As of December 31, 2006, the guaranteed value of minimum guaranteed death benefits in excess of account value, net of reinsurance, was estimated to be $1.3 billion, of which $381.7 was projected to be covered by the Company’s equity hedging program. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a liability of $180.0 and $139.7, respectively, net of reinsurance, representing the estimated net present value of the Company’s future obligation for guaranteed minimum death benefits in excess of account values. The liability increased mainly due to the accumulation of fees used to fund the reserve. The increase in liability was partially offset by the payment of claims in excess of account values.
Guaranteed Living Benefits:
| § | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (“GMIB”) - Guarantees a minimum income payout, exercisable each contract anniversary on or after a specified date, in most cases the 10th rider anniversary. |
| § | Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (“GMWB”) - Guarantees annual withdrawals for life of a percentage of premiums received during the growth phase (before taking withdrawals and after age 60). The percentage may vary by age at first withdrawal, depending on the base annuity contract. Until withdrawals begin, there is a quarterly ratchet feature which may increase the amount used to calculate the annual withdrawal amount. A joint life-time withdrawal benefit option is available to include coverage for spouses. Most versions of the withdrawal benefit have reset and/or step up features that may increase the guaranteed withdrawal amount in certain conditions. Earlier versions of the withdrawal benefit guarantee that annual withdrawals of up to 7.0 % of eligible premiums may be made until eligible premiums previously paid by the contractowner are returned, regardless of account value performance. Asset allocation requirements apply at all times where withdrawals are guaranteed for life. |
| § | Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (“GMAB”) - Guarantees that the account value will be at least 100% of the eligible premiums paid by the contractowner after 10 years, net of any contract withdrawals (GMAB 10). In the past, the Company offered an alternative design that guaranteed the account value to be at least 200% of eligible premiums paid by contractowners after 20 years (GMAB 20). |
All living benefits are covered by the Company’s equity hedging program.
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As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the guaranteed value of these living benefits in excess of account values was $231.1 and $227.4, respectively. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a liability of $101.4 and $76.1, respectively, representing the estimated net present value of its future obligation for living benefits in excess of account values. The liability increased mainly due to the accumulation of fees used to fund the reserve, which was partially offset by the decrease in reserves due to favorable equity market performance.
Equity Hedging Program: In order to hedge equity risk associated with GMDBs and guaranteed living benefits, the Company enters into futures positions on various public market equity indices chosen to closely replicate contractowner variable fund returns. The Company uses market consistent valuation techniques to establish its derivative positions and to rebalance the derivative positions in response to market fluctuations. One aspect of the hedging program is designed to offset changes related to equity experience in the liability and to pay excess claims not covered by the contractowner account value. The Company also administers a hedging program that mitigates both equity risk and equity volatility risk associated with its Principal Guard GMWB product issued in 2005 and beyond. This hedge strategy primarily involves entering into put options.
Other risks posed by market conditions, such as interest rate risk and the majority of the Company’s equity volatility risk, and risks posed by contractowner experience, such as surrender and mortality experience deviations, are not explicitly mitigated by this program. In addition, certain funds where there is no replicating market index and where hedging is not appropriate are excluded from the program.
For those risks addressed by the equity hedging program, the Company is exposed to the risk that the market indices will not adequately replicate actual contractowner variable fund growth. Any differences between actual results and the market indices result in income volatility.
Income Taxes
On September 25, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued Revenue Ruling 2007-61, which announced its intention to issue regulations with respect to certain computational aspects of the dividend received deduction (“DRD”) on separate account assets held in connection with variable annuity and life insurance contracts. Revenue Ruling 2007-61 suspended Revenue Ruling 2007-54 issued in August 2007 that purported to change accepted industry and IRS interpretations of the statutes governing these computational questions. Any regulations that the IRS ultimately proposes for issuance in this area will be subject to public notice and comment, at which time insurance companies and other members of the public will have the opportunity to raise legal and practical questions about the content, scope and application of such regulations. As a result, the ultimate timing, substance, and effective date of any such regulations are unknown, but they could result in the elimination of some or all of the separate account DRD tax benefit that the Company receives. Management believes that such regulations will apply prospectively.
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Income tax obligations consist of the allowance on uncertain tax benefits related to IRS tax audits and state tax exams that have not been completed. The current liability of $2.0 may be paid in less than one year, upon completion of such audits and exams. The timing of the payment of the remaining allowance of $61.2 cannot be reliably estimated.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
(See the Recently Adopted and New Accounting Standards footnotes to the condensed financial statements.)
Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives
Legislative proposals, which have been or are being considered by Congress, include repealing/modifying the estate tax, reducing the taxation on annuity benefits, changing the tax treatment of insurance products relative to other financial products, and changing life insurance company taxation. Some of these proposals, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on life insurance, annuity, and other retirement savings product sales, while others could have a material beneficial effect. There are no indications at the present time, however, that Congress will enact tax changes that will adversely affect the Company’s products in 2007. The Pension Protection Act of 2006, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President in August 2006, contains a number of provisions which are likely to have a beneficial effect on annuity and defined contribution products. The SEC has a regulatory initiative underway to improve fee disclosure in financial products and legislative proposals on financial product fee disclosure may also be considered by Congress as it undertakes a review of fee disclosures in the defined contribution plan arena. However, the timing and content of legislative or regulatory action to change fee disclosure requirements are uncertain at this time. The IRS and the Treasury have published final regulations, effective in 2009, that update and consolidate the rules applicable to 403(b) tax deferred annuity arrangements. The final regulations impose broad written plan document and operational compliance requirements on all 403(b) plan sponsors and contain new restrictions on annuity exchanges, which have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s 403(b) annuity business. For a description of Revenue Ruling 2007-61 issued by the IRS in September of 2007, see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources, Income Taxes” section of “Management’s Narrative Analysis of the Results of Operations and Financial Condition” above.
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Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
| a) | The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company required to be disclosed in the Company’s periodic SEC filings is made known to them in a timely manner. |
| b) | There has not been any change in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect these internal controls. |
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PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company ("the Company") is involved in threatened or pending lawsuits/arbitrations arising from the normal conduct of business. Due to the climate in insurance and business litigation/arbitrations, suits against the Company sometimes include claims for substantial compensatory, consequential, or punitive damages, and other types of relief. Moreover, certain claims are asserted as class actions, purporting to represent a group of similarly situated individuals. While it is not possible to forecast the outcome of such lawsuits/arbitrations, in light of existing insurance, reinsurance, and established reserves, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of such lawsuits/arbitrations will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations or financial position.
As with many financial services companies, the Company and its affiliates have received informal and formal requests for information from various state and federal governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations in connection with inquiries and investigations of the products and practices of the financial services industry. In each case, the Company and its affiliates have been and are providing full cooperation. For information on the focus of such regulatory inquiries and the actions undertaken by ING in connection therewith, see the “Other Regulatory Matters” section of “Management’s Narrative Analysis of the Results of Operations and Financial Condition” included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 30, 2007 (SEC File No. 001-32625).
In addition to the normal risks of business, the Company is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those which are described below.
Equity market volatility could negatively impact profitability and financial condition
The decline of the United States and international equity markets over an extended period of time may reduce the profitability and negatively affect the financial condition of the Company due to the following:
| § | Sales of new contracts and profitability of in force variable annuity products that provide returns based on equities or equity indices may decrease, which results in a decrease in fees and profits earned on the accounts. The amount of fees the Company earns on variable annuity products is based on such account values. |
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| § | The Company’s exposure under certain guarantees related to the equity markets may increase due to equity markets decline. As a result, the Company may need to increase reserves through a charge to earnings while at the same time receiving lower fees from such products. |
| § | The Company tries to minimize its exposure to guaranteed benefits by using reinsurance and other risk management strategies, including a hedging program. For guaranteed minimum death benefits, the Company uses a combination of reinsurance and a hedging program to mitigate the risk; for guaranteed living benefits (GMIBs, GMWBs, GMABs) the Company uses a hedging program. If the Company is not successful in minimizing these risks, the Company’s future profitability may be negatively impacted. The factors that could cause the Company to be unsuccessful in minimizing these risks would include, though not be limited to, the risk that reinsurers or derivative counterparties would be unable or unwilling to meet their contractual obligations; the risk that our other risk management strategies would not be effective; and the risk that unfavorable market changes would produce losses beyond what is covered by our risk management strategies. |
| § | If the Company’s expectations of future performance and profits decrease, it may be required to accelerate the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, decreasing profits. |
Changes in interest rates could have a negative impact on profitability and financial condition
Changes in interest rates may be caused by either changes in the underlying risk free rates or changes in the credit spreads required for various levels of risk within the market. Changes in interest rates may negatively affect the Company’s attempts to maintain profitable margins between the amounts earned on its general account investments and the amounts paid under its annuity and insurance contracts.
As interest rates rise, fixed annuity contract surrenders and withdrawals may increase as contractowners seek higher returns. To raise the cash necessary to fund such surrenders and withdrawals, the Company may need to sell assets at capital losses. An increase in contract surrenders and withdrawals may also require the Company to accelerate amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs relating to such contracts, further reducing profits. In addition, rising interest rates increase unrealized losses for fixed maturities and certain derivatives where the Company assumes credit exposure. Significant or sustained increases in interest rates may result in increased other-than-temporary impairments.
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As interest rates decline, borrowers may prepay or redeem mortgages and bonds with embedded call options that are owned as investments by the Company. This may force the Company to reinvest the proceeds at lower interest rates. In addition, many of the Company’s annuity products contain minimum interest rate guarantees that limit the Company’s ability to lower interest rates credited to contractowners in
response to lower investment returns. A decrease in the difference between earned investment income and the interest credited to contractowners further reduces profits. This decrease in profits may also require the Company to accelerate amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs.
The Company’s investment portfolio is subject to risks that may reduce the value of invested assets and adversely affect sales, profitability, and investment returns credited to contractowners
The Company’s investment portfolio is subject to several risks, including the following:
| § | An increase in defaults or delinquency in investment portfolios, including derivative contracts; |
| § | Greater difficulty selling privately placed and certain asset-backed fixed maturity securities and commercial mortgage loans at attractive prices and in a timely manner, as both are less liquid than publicly traded fixed maturity securities; |
| § | Borrower prepayment or redemption, prior to maturity, of mortgages that back mortgage-backed securities and bonds with embedded call options could force the Company to reinvest proceeds at lower interest rates; |
| § | An increase in environmental liability exposure from the Company’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio; and |
| § | Losses in the commercial mortgage loan portfolio as a result of economic downturns or natural disasters. |
Changes in underwriting and actual experience could materially affect profitability
The Company prices its products based on long-term assumptions regarding investment returns, mortality, morbidity, persistency, and operating costs. Management establishes target returns for each product based upon these factors and the average amount of regulatory and rating agency capital that the Company must hold to support in-force contracts. The Company monitors and manages pricing and sales mix to achieve target returns. Profitability from a new business emerges over a period of years, depending on the nature and life of the product, and is subject to variability, either positive or negative, as actual results may differ from pricing assumptions.
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The Company’s profitability depends on the following:
| § | Adequacy of investment margins; |
| § | Management of market and credit risks associated with investments; |
| § | Ability to maintain premiums and contract charges at a level adequate to cover mortality and morbidity benefits and contract administration expenses; |
| § | Adequacy of contract charges on variable contracts to cover the cost of product features; |
| § | Persistency of policies to ensure recovery of acquisition expenses; and |
| § | Management of operating costs and expenses within anticipated pricing allowances. |
Changes in reserve estimates may reduce profitability
The Company establishes reserves based upon estimates of how much the Company will pay for future benefits and claims. The Company calculates reserves based on many assumptions and estimates including future investment yields, mortality, morbidity, policy terminations, and expenses. The assumptions and estimates used in connection with the reserve estimation process are inherently uncertain. The Company periodically reviews the adequacy of reserves. The Company cannot, however, determine with precision the amounts that the Company 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 assumed prior to payment of benefits or claims. If actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or estimates, reserves may not be adequate. As a result, the Company would incur a charge to earnings in the quarter in which the reserves are increased.
A downgrade in the Company’s ratings may negatively affect profitability and financial condition
Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. A downgrade, or the potential for a downgrade, of any of the Company’s ratings may lead to lower margins and fee income as follows:
| § | Increase in contract surrenders and withdrawals; |
| § | Termination of relationships with broker-dealers, banks, agents, wholesalers, and other distributors of products and services; and |
| § | Reduction of new annuity contract and guaranteed investment contract and funding agreement sales. |
The Company cannot predict what actions rating organizations may take, or what actions it may be required to take in response to the actions of rating organizations, which could adversely affect the Company. Rating organizations assign ratings based upon several factors, including the following:
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| § | Risk of investment portfolio; |
| § | Economic trends affecting the financial services industry; |
| § | Changes in models and formulas used by rating organizations to assess the financial strength of a rated company; |
| § | Enterprise risk management; and |
| § | Other circumstances outside the rated company’s control. |
The continued availability of capital may affect the ability to grow
The Company has, from time to time, required capital to increase its reserves associated with growth from product sales. Although the Company believes it has sufficient capital to fund its immediate growth and capital needs, the amount of capital required and available can vary due to a variety of circumstances that may not be predictable, foreseeable, or within its control. A lack of sufficient capital could hinder the Company’s ability to grow.
Adverse market conditions, including a reduction in liquidity, could negatively impact the cost and ability of the Company to borrow funds
The third quarter of 2007 was characterized by adverse capital market conditions generally affecting the value and liquidity of asset-backed securities supported by subprime mortgages, as well as other investments. These market conditions also impacted the cost of debt, including commercial paper borrowings. While the Company has various sources of liquidity available, adverse market conditions could impact the cost and availability of these borrowing sources.
A loss of key product distribution relationships could materially affect sales
The Company distributes certain products under agreements with other members of the financial services industry that are not affiliated with the Company. Termination of one or more of these agreements due to, for example, a change in control of one of the distributors, could reduce sales.
Competition could negatively affect the ability to maintain or increase profitability
The insurance industry is intensely competitive. The Company competes based on factors including the following:
| § | Name recognition and reputation; |
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| § | Perceived financial strength; and |
| § | Claims paying and credit ratings. |
The Company’s competitors include insurers, broker-dealers, financial advisors, asset managers, and other financial institutions, which may, for example, have greater market share, offer a broader range of products, or have higher claims-paying or credit ratings than the Company.
In recent years, there has been substantial consolidation among companies in the financial services industry resulting in increased competition from large, well-capitalized financial services firms. Many of these firms also have been able to increase their distribution systems through mergers or contractual arrangements. Furthermore, larger competitors may lower operating costs and have an ability to absorb greater risk, while maintaining financial strength ratings, allowing them to price products more competitively. While the Company cannot predict the future level of consolidation, the Company expects consolidation to continue and perhaps accelerate in the future, increasing competitive pressure.
Changes in federal income tax law or interpretations of existing tax law could affect profitability and financial condition by making some products less attractive to contractowners and increasing tax costs of contractowners or the Company
Annuity products that the Company sells currently benefit from one or more forms of tax favored status under current federal tax law. The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 contain provisions that will, over time, significantly lower individual tax rates. This decrease will reduce the benefits of deferral on the build-up of value of annuities. Many of these provisions expire in 2008 and 2010. The Bush Administration, however, has proposed that many of the rate reductions and tax-favored savings initiatives be made permanent. Although the Company cannot predict the overall effect on product sales, some of these tax law changes could hinder sales and result in the increased surrender of annuity contracts.
Additionally, the Company is subject to federal corporation income tax, and benefits from certain federal tax provisions, including but not limited to, dividends received deductions, various tax credits, and insurance reserve deductions. There is risk that changes to federal tax law or in Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) interpretation of existing tax law may be enacted or adopted, and could result in materially higher corporate taxes than would be incurred under existing tax law or interpretation and adversely impact profitability.
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Litigation may adversely affect profitability and financial condition
The Company is, and may be in the future, subject to legal actions in the ordinary course of insurance, investment management, and other business operations. These legal actions may include proceedings relating to aspects of businesses and operations that are specific to the Company, and proceedings that are typical of the businesses in which the Company operates. Some of these proceedings may be brought on behalf of a class. Plaintiffs may seek large or indeterminate amounts of damage, including compensatory, liquidated, treble, and/or punitive damages. Given the large or indeterminate amounts sometimes sought, and the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is possible that an adverse outcome could, from time to time, have an adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, results of operations, or cash flows, in particular quarterly or annual periods.
Changes in regulation in the United States and recent regulatory investigations may reduce profitability
The Company’s insurance and securities business is subject to comprehensive state and federal regulation and supervision throughout the United States. The primary purpose of state regulation is to protect contractowners, and not necessarily to protect creditors and investors. State insurance and securities regulators, state attorneys general, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Department of Labor and the IRS continually reexamine existing laws and regulations and may impose changes in the future. Changes in legislation and administrative policies, or new interpretations of existing laws, in areas such as employee benefit plan regulation, financial services regulation, and federal taxation, could lessen the competitive advantages of certain of the Company’s products, result in the surrender of existing contracts and policies, increase costs, reduce new product sales, or result in higher taxes affecting the Company, thus reducing the Company’s profitability.
Since 2002, the insurance industry has become the focus of increased regulatory scrutiny as various state and federal governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations conduct inquiries and investigations into the products and practices of the financial services industries. These initiatives currently focus on areas such as:
| § | Inappropriate trading of fund shares; |
| § | Revenue sharing and directed brokerage; |
| § | Sales and marketing practices; |
| § | Arrangements with service providers; |
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| § | Compensation and sales incentives; |
| § | Potential conflicts of interest; |
| § | Potential anti-competitive activity; |
| § | Specific product types, including group annuities and indexed annuities; and |
It is likely that the scope of these industry investigations will become broader before they conclude.
In some cases, this regulatory scrutiny has led to new proposed legislation and regulation that could significantly affect the financial services industry, including businesses in which the Company is engaged, or has resulted in regulatory penalties, and litigation. At this time, the Company does not believe that any of this regulatory scrutiny will have a material adverse affect on it. The Company cannot, however, guarantee that new laws, regulations, and other regulatory action aimed at the business practices under scrutiny would not adversely affect its business. The adoption of new laws and regulations, enforcement actions, or litigation, whether or not involving the Company, could influence the manner in which the Company distributes its products, cause significant harm to the Company’s reputation, and adversely impact profitability.
The Company’s products are subject to extensive regulation and failure to meet any of the complex product requirements may reduce profitability
The Company’s insurance and annuity products are subject to a complex and extensive array of state and federal tax, securities and insurance laws, and regulations, which are administered and enforced by a number of different governmental and self-regulatory authorities, including state insurance regulators, state securities administrators, the SEC, the FINRA, and the IRS.
For example, U.S. federal income tax law imposes requirements relating to insurance and annuity product design, administration, and investments that are conditions for beneficial tax treatment of such products under the Internal Revenue Code. Failure to administer certain contract features (for example, contractual annuity start dates in nonqualified annuities) could affect such beneficial tax treatment. Additionally, state and federal securities and insurance laws impose requirements relating to insurance and annuity product design, offering and distribution, and administration. Failure to meet any of these complex tax, securities, or insurance requirements could subject the Company to administrative penalties imposed by a particular governmental or self-regulatory authority, unanticipated costs associated with remedying such failure or other claims, harm to the Company's reputation, interruption of the Company's operations, or adversely impact profitability.
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A failure of the Company’s operating systems or a compromise of security with respect to operating systems or portable electronic devices could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition
The Company is highly dependent on automated systems to record and process Company and contractowner transactions. The Company may experience a failure of its operating systems or a compromise of security due to technical system flaws, clerical or record-keeping errors, or tampering or manipulation of those systems by employees or unauthorized third parties. Information security risks also exist with respect to the use of portable electronic devices, such as laptops, which are particularly vulnerable to loss and theft. The Company may also be subject to disruptions of its operating systems arising from events that are wholly or partially beyond its control (for example, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, epidemics, computer viruses, and electrical/telecommunications outages). All of these risks are also applicable where the Company relies on outside vendors to provide services to it and its contractowners. Operating system failures or disruptions or the compromise of security with respect to operating systems or portable electronic devices could subject the Company to regulatory sanctions, or other claims, harm the Company’s reputation, interrupt the Company’s operations, and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition.
Reinsurance subjects the Company to the credit risk of reinsurers and may not be adequate to protect against losses arising from ceded reinsurance
The collectibility of reinsurance recoverables is subject to uncertainty arising from a number of factors, including whether the insured losses meet the qualifying conditions of the reinsurance contract and whether reinsurers, or their affiliates, have the financial capacity and willingness to make payments under the terms of the reinsurance treaty or contract. The Company’s inability to collect a material recovery from a reinsurer could have a material adverse effect on profitability and financial condition.
The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition
The Company is exposed to various risks arising from natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and pandemic disease, caused by a virus such as H5N1 (the “Avian flu” virus), as well as man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism and military actions, which may adversely affect results of operations and financial condition, as follows:
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| § | Losses in the Company’s investment portfolio due to significant volatility in global financial markets or the failure of counterparties to perform. |
| § | Changes in the rate of lapses and surrenders of existing policies/contracts, as well as sales of new policies/contracts. |
| § | Reduced collectibility of reinsurance. |
| § | Disruption of the Company’s normal business operations due to catastrophic property damage, loss of life, or disruption of public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services. |
While the Company has a business continuation and crisis management plan, there can be no assurance that the Company’s plan and insurance coverages would be effective in mitigating any negative effects on operations or profitability in the event of a disaster.
The occurrence of unidentified or unanticipated risks could negatively affect the Company’s business or result in losses
The Company has developed risk management policies and procedures and expects to continue to do so in the future. Nonetheless, the Company's policies and procedures to identify, monitor, and manage risks may not be fully effective. Many of the Company's methods of managing risk and exposures are based upon observed historical market behavior or statistics based on historical models. As a result, these methods may not predict future exposures, which could be significantly greater than historical measures indicate. Other risk management methods depend on the evaluation of information regarding markets, clients, catastrophe occurrence, or other matters, that is publicly available or otherwise accessible to the Company. This information may not always be accurate, complete, up-to-date, or properly evaluated. Management of operational, legal, and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies and procedures to record and verify large numbers of transactions and events. These policies and procedures may not be fully effective.
See Exhibit Index on pages 63-65 hereof.
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SIGNATURE
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.
November 12, 2007 (Date) | ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (Registrant) |
| By: | /s/ David A. Wheat | |
| | David A. Wheat Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer) | |
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| Exhibit Index |
| |
Exhibit Number | Description of Exhibit |
| |
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 25, 2003, by and between USG Annuity & Life Company, United Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa and Golden American Life Insurance Company, incorporated by reference in Exhibit 99-8 in the Company’s Form 8K filed with the SEC on January 2, 2004 (File No. 333-87270). |
| |
3.1 | Restated Articles of Incorporation Providing for the Redomestication of Golden American Life Insurance Company dated July 2 and 3, 2003, effective January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to Company’s 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2004 (File No. 033-87270). |
| |
3.2 | Amendment to Articles of Incorporation Providing for the Name Change of Golden American Life Insurance Company dated November 20, 2003, effective January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to the Company’s 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2004 (File No. 033-87270). |
| |
3.3 | Amendment to Articles of Incorporation Providing for the Change in Purpose and Powers of ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company dated March 3 and 4, 2004, effective March 11, 2004, incorporated by reference to the Company’s 10-Q, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2004 (File No. 033-87270). |
| |
3.4 | Amended and Restated By-Laws of ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company effective January 1, 2005, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC on May 13, 2005 (File No. 033-87270). |
| |
4.1 | Single Premium Deferred Modified Guaranteed Annuity Contract, Single Premium Deferred modified Guaranteed Annuity Master Contract, and Single Premium Deferred Modified Guaranteed Annuity Certificate - Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 for Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on February 8, 2002 (File No. 333-67660). |
| |
4.2 | Single Premium Deferred Modified Guaranteed Annuity Master Contract and Single Premium Deferred Modified guaranteed Annuity Certificate – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 for Golden American Life Insurance Company, as filed with the SEC on September 13, 2000 (File No. 333-40596). |
| |
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4.3 | Individual Retirement Annuity Rider; Roth Individual Retirement Annuity Rider; Simple Retirement Account Rider; and 403(b) Rider - Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Golden American Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, as filed with the SEC on April 15, 2003 (File No. 033-23351). |
| |
4.4 | 403(b) Rider - Incorporated herein by reference to Initial Registration Statement on Form S-2 for Golden American Life Insurance Company, as filed with the SEC on April 15, 2003 (File No. 333-104547). |
| |
4.5 | Single Premium Deferred Equity Indexed Modified Guaranteed Annuity Contract; Single Premium Deferred Modified Guaranteed Annuity Group Master Contract; and Single Premium Deferred Equity Indexed Modified Guaranteed Annuity Certificate, - Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-2, as filed with the SEC on August 13, 2004 (File No. 333-116137). |
| |
4.6 | Interest in Fixed Account I under Variable Annuity Contracts - Incorporated herein by reference to: Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Golden American Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 1999 (File Nos. 033-59261, 811-5626); Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Golden American life Insurance Company, as filed with the SEC on April 23, 1999 (File Nos. 333-28769, 811-5626); and Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration statement on Form N-4 for Golden American Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, as filed with the SEC on June 24, 2000 (File Nos. 333-33914, 811-5626). |
| |
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4.7 | Interests in Fixed Account II under Variable Annuity Contracts - Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on October 2, 2000 (File No. 333-28679, 811-5626), Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on October 2, 2000 (File No. 333-30180, 811-5626), Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on April 23, 1999 (File No. 333-28755, 811-5626), Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on April 23, 1999 (File No. 333-66757, 811-5626), Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on October 26, 2001 (File No. 333-63692, 811-5626), Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance Company as filed with the SEC on December 11, 2001 (File No.333-70600, 811-5626), Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Golden American Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, as filed with the SEC on April 16, 2003 (File No. 333-90516, 811-5626) and Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 for Golden American Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, as filed with the SEC on July 3, 2003 (File No. 333-101487, 811-5626). |
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4.8 | Interest in the Guaranteed Account under Variable Annuity Contracts - Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-2 for Golden American Life Insurance Company, as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2001 (File No. 333-57212). |
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10.1+ | Second Amendment, effective as of July 31, 2007, to the Services Agreement, between Golden American Life Insurance Company (nka ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company) & Directed Services, Inc. (nka Directed Services LLC). |
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10.2+ | ING USA Guaranteed Funding Agreement, effective August 10, 2007, issued by ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company to Lion Connecticut Holdings, Inc. |
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12.+ | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, filed herewith. |
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31.1+ | Certificate of David A. Wheat pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2+ | Certificate of Harry N. Stout pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.1+ | Certificate of David A. Wheat pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
32.2+ | Certificate of Harry N. Stout pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
+ Filed herewith. |
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