10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

or

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-07434

LOGO

Aflac Incorporated

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Georgia   58-1167100
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia   31999
(Address of principal executive offices)   (ZIP Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 706.323.3431

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.10 Par Value   New York Stock Exchange
  Tokyo Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:    None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    þ  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    ¨  Yes    þ  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     þ  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    þ  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

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

The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2010, was $19,757,078,472.

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at February 17, 2011, with $.10 par value, was 470,207,182.

 

 

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Certain information contained in the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 2, 2011, is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Aflac Incorporated

Annual Report on Form 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2010

Table of Contents

 

          Page  

PART I

     

Item 1.

   Business      1   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      16   

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      27   

Item 2.

   Properties      27   

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings      27   

Item 4.

   (Removed and Reserved)      27   

PART II

     

Item 5.

   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities      28   

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data      31   

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      33   

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      70   

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      71   

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure      132   

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures      132   

Item 9B.

   Other Information      132   

PART III

     

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance      133   

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation      133   

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters      133   

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence      133   

Item 14.

   Principal Accounting Fees and Services      133   

PART IV

     

Item 15.

   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules      134   

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This report includes certain forward-looking information that is based on current expectations and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For details on forward-looking information, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), Part II, Item 7, of this report.

Aflac Incorporated qualifies as a large accelerated filer within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 12b-2. Our Internet address is aflac.com. The information on the Company’s Web site is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K. We make available, free of charge on our Web site, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after those forms have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

General Description

Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) was incorporated in 1973 under the laws of the state of Georgia. Aflac Incorporated is a general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its principal business is supplemental health and life insurance, which is marketed and administered through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), referred to as Aflac Group Insurance. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.

We believe Aflac is the world’s leading underwriter of individually issued policies marketed at worksites. We offer voluntary insurance policies in Japan and the United States that provide a layer of financial protection against income and asset loss. We continue to diversify our product offerings in both Japan and the United States. Aflac Japan sells voluntary supplemental insurance products, including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells voluntary supplemental insurance products including loss-of-income products (life and short-term disability plans) and products designed to protect individuals from depletion of assets (hospital indemnity, fixed-benefit dental, vision care, accident, cancer, critical illness/ critical care, and hospital intensive care plans).

We are authorized to conduct insurance business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S. territories and Japan. Aflac Japan’s revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 75% of the Company’s total revenues in 2010, 73% in 2009 and 72% in 2008. The percentage of the Company’s total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 86% at December 31, 2010, and 85% at December 31, 2009. For additional information, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Results of Operations

For information on our results of operations and financial information by segment, see MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Foreign Currency Translation

For information regarding the effect of currency fluctuations on our business, see the Foreign Currency Translation and Market Risks of Financial Instruments – Currency Risk subsections of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Insurance Premiums

The growth of earned premiums is directly affected by the change in premiums in force and by the change in weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rates. Consolidated earned premiums were $18.1 billion in 2010, $16.6 billion

 

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in 2009, and $14.9 billion in 2008. For additional information on the composition of earned premiums by segment, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac’s insurance business for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Annualized premiums in force, beginning of year

   $ 17,990       $ 17,550       $ 14,370   

New sales, including conversions

     2,935         2,763         2,666   

Change in unprocessed new sales

     (73      (92      (100

Premiums lapsed and surrendered

     (2,226      (2,207      (1,969

Other

     15         120         32   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,739         (144      2,551   
                            

Annualized premiums in force, end of year

   $ 20,380       $ 17,990       $ 17,550   
   

Insurance – Japan

We translate Aflac Japan’s annualized premiums in force into dollars at the respective end-of-period exchange rates. Changes in annualized premiums in force are translated at weighted-average exchange rates. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.

 

      In Dollars     In Yen  
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)    2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  

Annualized premiums in force, beginning of year

   $ 13,034      $ 12,761      $ 9,860        1,200        1,162        1,126   

New sales, including conversions

     1,554        1,310        1,115        136        122        115   

Change in unprocessed new sales

     (73     (92     (100     (6     (9     (10

Premiums lapsed and surrendered

     (766     (737     (593     (67     (69     (61

Other

     (80     (64     (72     (7     (6     (8

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,739        (144     2,551        0        0        0   
                   

Annualized premiums in force, end of year

   $ 15,408      $ 13,034      $ 12,761        1,256        1,200        1,162   
   

For further information regarding Aflac Japan’s financial results, sales and the Japanese economy, see the Aflac Japan subsection of MD&A in this report.

Insurance – U.S.

The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Annualized premiums in force, beginning of year

   $ 4,956       $ 4,789       $ 4,510   

New sales, including conversions

     1,382         1,453         1,551   

Premiums lapsed

     (1,460      (1,471      (1,376

Other

     95         185         104   
   

Annualized premiums in force, end of year

   $ 4,973       $ 4,956       $ 4,789   
   

For further information regarding Aflac’s U.S. financial results and sales, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.

Insurance Products – Japan

Aflac Japan’s insurance products are designed to help consumers pay for medical and nonmedical costs that are not reimbursed under Japan’s national health insurance system. Changes in Japan’s economy and an aging population have put increasing pressure on Japan’s national health care system. As a result, more costs are being shifted to Japanese consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs. Aflac Japan has responded to this consumer need by enhancing existing products and developing new products.

 

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Aflac Japan’s product portfolio has expanded beyond traditional health-related products to include more life products. Some of the life products that we offer in Japan provide death benefits and cash surrender values. These products are available as stand-alone policies and riders. Some plans, such as our WAYS product, have features that allow policyholders to convert a portion of their life insurance to medical, nursing care, or fixed annuity benefits at a predetermined age. In 2009, we introduced a new child endowment product, which offers a death benefit until the child reaches age 18. It also pays a lump-sum benefit at the time of the child’s entry into high school, as well as an educational annuity for each of the four years during his or her college education. We linked the marketing of our child endowment product to a new government subsidy that was first paid in June 2010 to families with children age 15 and younger. We believe that traditional life insurance products, like our child endowment plan, provide further opportunities for us to sell our third sector cancer and medical products.

Aflac Japan’s stand-alone medical product, EVER, offers a basic level of hospitalization coverage with an affordable premium. Since its initial introduction in 2002, we have expanded our suite of EVER product offerings that appeal to specific types of Japanese consumers. In August 2009, we introduced a new generation of our popular EVER product, the most notable changes being an enhanced surgical benefit and gender-specific premium rates. We believe that there is an attractive market for this type of medical product in Japan. In June 2010, we introduced a revision to Gentle EVER, our non-standard medical product. This new product offers more benefits than the original non-standard medical product that we began offering in 2007, and we believe it will continue to meet the needs of certain consumers who cannot qualify for our base EVER plan. We continue to believe that the entire medical category will remain an important part of our product portfolio in Japan.

The cancer insurance plans we offer in Japan provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of internal cancer and a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization and outpatient services related to cancer as well as surgical, convalescent and terminal care benefits. Our Cancer Forte product offers additional benefits, including payment of outpatient benefits for 60 days (compared with 30 days for previous plans), payment of an annuity from the second year through the fifth year after initial diagnosis of cancer, and “Premier Support,” where Aflac arranges for a third party to provide policyholders with counseling and doctor referral services upon their cancer diagnosis. For consumers who had the earlier cancer insurance product, we introduced a special bridge policy in 2008 that allows existing policyholders to upgrade their coverage to that of Cancer Forte.

In June 2010, we introduced a product called Corsage, which is a female-specific rider to our cancer insurance product. In Japan, young women are more likely to suffer from cancer than young men. Corsage provides surgery benefits that address the high cost of treating female-specific cancers. As the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan, we believe this new product will further strengthen our brand, and most importantly, provide valuable benefits to consumers who are looking for solutions to cancer-related costs.

We also offer traditional fixed-income annuities and care policies. For additional information on Aflac Japan’s products and composition of sales, see the Aflac Japan subsection of MD&A in this report.

Insurance Products – U.S.

We design our U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Most of our U.S. policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Additionally, we started to market and administer group insurance products in 2009.

Our individually issued policies are portable and pay regardless of other insurance. Benefits are paid in cash directly to policyholders; therefore, they have the opportunity to use this cash to help with expenses of their choosing. Our individually issued health insurance plans are guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 70 for short-term disability policies). We cannot cancel guaranteed-renewable coverage, but we can increase premium rates on existing policies on a uniform, nondiscriminatory basis by class of policy in response to adverse experience. Any premium rate increases are subject to state regulatory approval. We have had minimal rate increase activity in the last five years.

Our group insurance policies are underwritten on a group basis and often have some element of guaranteed issue. This coverage is generally not portable, which means the insurance coverage may terminate upon separation from employment or affiliation with the entity holding the group contract.

 

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Aflac U.S. offers short-term disability benefits on both an individual and group basis. Short-term disability policies provide disability benefits with a variety of elimination and benefit period options. The longest such benefit period offered is two years.

Aflac U.S. offers term and whole-life coverage sold through payroll deduction at the worksite on both an individual and group basis and various term and whole-life individual policies on a direct basis.

Aflac U.S. offers hospital indemnity coverage on both an individual and group basis. Our hospital indemnity products provide fixed daily benefits for hospitalization due to accident or sickness. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic expenses, are also available. Our sickness indemnity plan provides a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization due to sickness and fixed amounts for physician services for accident or sickness. This plan is offered on an individually underwritten basis.

Aflac U.S. offers fixed-benefit dental coverage on both an individual and group basis. These policies provide various levels of benefits for dental procedures, including checkups and cleanings. Plan features include fixed benefits without deductibles, network restrictions, or annual rate reviews.

Aflac U.S. also offers Vision NowSM, an individually issued policy which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight. Vision Now includes coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.

Aflac U.S. offers accident coverage on both an individual and group basis. These policies are designed to protect against losses resulting from accidents. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. In addition, other benefits such as short-term disability are available as riders.

Aflac U.S. offers cancer coverage on an individually underwritten basis. Our U.S. cancer plans are designed to provide insurance benefits for medical and nonmedical costs that are not covered by major medical insurance. Benefits include a first-occurrence benefit that pays an initial amount when internal cancer is first diagnosed; a fixed amount for each day an insured is hospitalized for cancer treatment; fixed amounts for radiation, chemotherapy and surgery; and a wellness benefit applicable toward certain diagnostic tests. Our Maximum Difference® individually issued cancer plan incorporates coverage for medical advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the many new ways cancer patients may now receive their care. Maximum Difference allows customization of coverage to fit varying needs and budgets.

Aflac U.S. offers critical illness/critical care policies on both an individual and group basis. Aflac U.S. offers critical illness plans, which pay lump-sum benefits for critical illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, or even cancer, on both a group and individual basis. These are available with lump sum amounts ranging between $5,000 and $100,000. Aflac U.S. also offers a critical care (formerly called specified health event) policy that pays a combination of lump-sum benefits and ongoing treatment benefits for critical illnesses (except cancer).

Aflac U.S. also offers individually issued hospital intensive care plans, which pay benefits for intensive care unit treatment in a hospital.

For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. products and composition of sales, see the Aflac U.S. subsection of MD&A in this report.

Distribution – Japan

The traditional channels through which we have sold our products are independent corporate agencies, individual agencies and affiliated corporate agencies. The independent corporate agencies and individual agencies that sell our products give us better access to workers at a vast number of small businesses in Japan. Agents’ activities are primarily focused on insurance sales, with customer service support provided by the Aflac Contact Center. Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 51% of new annualized premium sales in 2010 and 55% in both 2009 and 2008. Affiliated corporate agencies are formed when companies establish subsidiary businesses to sell our insurance products to their employees, suppliers and customers. These agencies help us reach employees at large worksites. Affiliated corporate agencies contributed 31% of new annualized

 

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premium sales in 2010, compared with 35% in 2009 and 36% in 2008. During 2010, we recruited approximately 4,800 new sales agencies. As of December 31, 2010, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 19,600 sales agencies, with more than 115,400 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies at such date. We believe that new agencies will continue to be attracted to Aflac Japan’s high commissions, superior products, customer service and strong brand image.

We have sold our products to employees of banks since our entry into Japan in 1974. However, December 2007 marked the first time it was permissible for banks to sell our type of insurance products to their customers. By the end of 2010, we had agreements with 364 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan, to sell our products. We have significantly more banks selling our third sector insurance products than any of our competitors. We believe our long-standing and strong relationships within the Japanese banking sector, along with our strategic preparations, have proven to be an advantage as this channel opened up for our products. Banks contributed 15% of Aflac Japan new annualized premium sales in 2010, compared with 6% in 2009 and 3% in 2008.

We continue to reach consumers through our strategic marketing alliance with Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company (Dai-ichi Life). We believe our alliance has been one of the most successful partnerships in the insurance industry since it was first launched in 2001. Dai-ichi Life contributed 3% of Aflac Japan new annualized premium sales in 2010, compared with 4% in 2009 and 7% in 2008.

For additional information on Aflac Japan’s distribution, see the Aflac Japan subsection of MD&A in this report.

Distribution – U.S.

Our U.S. sales force comprises sales associates and brokers who are independent contractors licensed to sell accident and health insurance. Many are also licensed to sell life insurance. Sales associates and brokers are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products. In addition to receiving commissions on personal production, district, regional and state sales coordinators may also receive override commissions and incentive bonuses. Administrative personnel in Georgia, New York, Nebraska, and South Carolina handle policyholder service functions, including issuance of policies, premium collection, payment notices and claims.

We concentrate on marketing our insurance products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Historically, our policies have been individually underwritten with premiums generally paid by the employee. Additionally, Aflac’s individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or such affiliation, generally at the same premium. We collect a major portion of premiums on such sales through payroll deduction or other forms of centralized billing. With our brokerage sales expansion and the purchase of CAIC, now branded as Aflac Group Insurance, in 2009, we are now able to offer group voluntary insurance products desired by many large employers. These products are sold on a group basis and often have some element of guaranteed issue. This coverage is generally not portable, which means the insurance coverage may terminate upon separation from employment or affiliation with the entity holding the group contract. Worksite marketing enables sales associates and brokers to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business.

During the past several years, we have enhanced and increased the size of our traditional distribution system. We recruited more than 22,100 new sales associates in 2010, resulting in more than 72,500 licensed sales associates at December 31, 2010. To enhance our recruiting results, we have amended the bonus structure for our state and regional coordinators from one that was based entirely on sales results to a structure that incorporates a people development component. We have also initiated a national recruiting contest that incentivizes producer recruitment. In addition, we provide a recruiting workshop that focuses on improving coordinator productivity by emphasizing candidate sourcing, interviewing, and contract acceptance. However, increasing our sales force means more than just recruiting people. We also focus on growing the number of average weekly producers, which measures high-quality, consistent, capable producers who make solid, consistent contributions to sales.

New sales associates participate in our New Associate Training Cycle, a training program that combines classroom instruction and online learning through Aflac University® with field training. The New Associate Training

 

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Cycle also includes LEASE training (Larger Earnings by Acquiring Smaller Employers), which helps new sales associates jumpstart their sales careers with an easily transferable guide for approaching smaller businesses.

In addition to training sales associates, we extend our training initiatives to both new and veteran sales force management. Sales associates who exhibit leadership potential are invited to participate in our national Coordinator in Training (CIT) program. The CIT program concentrates on developing potential leaders’ skills so they have a better chance to succeed as a district sales coordinator, the first level of Aflac’s sales force management. For district, regional, and state sales coordinators (listed in order from first level to highest level of sales management), we have refined and expanded the use of leadership development programs. We believe our efforts to increase the size and capability of our field force will translate into a higher proportion of successful producing sales associates in the future.

In addition to our established training programs, we conduct an annual Aflac National Training Day, which is available to all levels of our field force. Objectives of this training day have recently included topics such as: (1) conveying to our sales force how a weak economy enhances the need for our products and training them on how to better sell in the current economic environment, (2) providing training and support for new product initiatives and (3) developing associates’ skills in achieving enrollment conditions necessary to succeed in economic environments with lagging consumer confidence.

In 2009, we introduced Success Trax, which is a tool that benefits all levels of our sales force. At the sales associate level, this technology helps streamline information about their contacts, presentations, sales, referrals, and enrollments. At the sales coordinator level, it allows sales management to track the activities, progress, strengths, and weaknesses of those who report to them so they may proactively coach agents on their team and address any emerging issues or need for improvement.

Our Aflac for BrokersSM initiative was implemented in 2009. Insurance brokers have been a historically underleveraged sales channel for Aflac, and we are developing relationships that will complement our traditional distribution system. We have assembled a management team experienced in broker sales, and we are supporting this initiative with streamlined products, targeted broker-specific advertising campaigns, customized enrollment technology, and competitive compensation. Additionally, a new level of management was introduced in 2009 to deliver this initiative. More than 100 broker development coordinators have been hired to be single points of contact for brokers across the country. Broker development coordinators are responsible for building relationships with new brokers as well as strengthening relationships with our current brokers. These coordinators are assisted by a team of certified case managers whose role is to coordinate and manage the account enrollments for brokers. Aflac Group Insurance equips us with a platform for offering voluntary group insurance products for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. Expanding our product portfolio with group products also greatly enhances the sales opportunities for our traditional sales force of individual associates.

For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. distribution, see the Aflac U.S. subsection of MD&A in this report.

Competition – Japan

In 1974, Aflac was granted an operating license to sell life insurance in Japan, making Aflac the second non-Japanese life insurance company to gain direct access to the Japanese insurance market. Through 1981, we faced limited competition for cancer insurance policy sales. However, Japan has experienced two periods of deregulation since we entered the market. The first came in the early 1980s, when nine mid-sized insurers, including domestic and foreign companies, were allowed to sell cancer insurance products for the first time. In 2001, all life and non-life insurers were allowed to sell stand-alone cancer and medical insurance products as well as other stand-alone health insurance products. As a result, the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the market was deregulated in 2001. However, based on our growth of annualized premiums in force and agencies, we do not believe that our market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, we believe the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow us to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers. Aflac is the largest insurer in Japan in terms of individual policies in force. As of December 31, 2010, we exceeded 20 million individual policies in force in Japan.

 

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Aflac has had substantial success selling cancer policies in Japan, with more than 14 million cancer policies in force as of December 31, 2010. Aflac continued to be the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan throughout 2010. We believe we will remain a leading provider of cancer insurance coverage in Japan, principally due to our experience in the market, low-cost operations, unique marketing system (see Distribution – Japan above) and product expertise.

We have also experienced substantial success selling medical insurance in Japan. While other companies have recognized the opportunities that we have seen in the medical insurance market and offered new products, we believe our products stand out for their value to consumers. Aflac Japan continued to be the number one seller of stand-alone medical insurance in the life insurance industry in terms of policy sales in 2010.

In addition to third sector products, Aflac Japan is showing steady progress in sales of life insurance products, such as our child endowment product and WAYS which are described in the Products section of this Form 10-K. The market for ordinary life products is highly competitive. Our current market share of ordinary life sales is relatively small; however, we will continue to pursue the development and marketing of specialty products that meet specific needs within the general life insurance market.

Competition – U.S.

We compete against several insurers on a national basis plus other insurers regionally. We believe our policies and premium rates, as well as the commissions paid to our sales associates, are competitive with those offered by other companies providing similar types of insurance. However, we believe our U.S. business is distinct from our competitors because of our product focus, distribution system, and brand awareness. For many of the other companies that sell voluntary supplemental insurance, it represents a secondary business. For us, it is our primary business. We also believe that our growing distribution system of independent sales associates and brokers expands our business opportunities, while our advertising campaigns have increased our name awareness and understanding by consumers and businesses of the value our products provide.

Private insurers and voluntary and cooperative plans, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provide major medical insurance for hospitalization and medical expenses. Much of this insurance is sold on a group basis. The federal and state governments also pay substantial costs of medical treatment through various programs. Such major medical insurance generally covers a substantial amount of the medical expenses incurred by an insured as a result of accident and disability, cancer or other major illnesses. Aflac’s policies are designed to provide coverage that supplements major medical insurance and may also be used to defray nonmedical expenses. Thus, we do not compete directly with major medical insurers. However, the scope of major medical coverage offered by other insurers does represent a potential limitation on the market for our products. Accordingly, expansion of coverage by other insurers or governmental programs could adversely affect our business opportunities. Conversely, any reduction of coverage, or increased deductibles and copayments, by other insurers or governmental programs could favorably affect our business opportunities.

Investments and Investment Results

Net investment income was $3.0 billion in 2010, $2.8 billion in 2009 and $2.6 billion in 2008. In each of these three years, net investment income benefited from the strengthening of the yen/dollar exchange rate. The growth rate however has been negatively impacted by the low level of investment yields for new money in both Japan and the United States. In particular, Japan’s life insurance industry has contended with low investment yields for a number of years.

 

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Investments – Japan

The following table presents the composition of total investments by sector, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac Japan ($78.4 billion in 2010 and $65.3 billion in 2009) as of December 31.

Composition of Portfolio by Sector

 

        2010        2009  

Debt and perpetual securities, at amortized cost:

         

Banks/financial institutions(1)

       34.9        37.9

Government and agencies

       21.6           18.3   

Municipalities

       .8           .6   

Public utilities

       12.8           12.3   

Collateralized debt obligations

       .1           .5   

Sovereign and supranational

       7.7           8.1   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

       1.9           1.6   

Other corporate(2)

       18.9           19.7   
   

Total debt and perpetual securities

       98.7           99.0   

Equity securities and other

       .2           .1   

Cash and cash equivalents

       1.1           .9   
   

Total investments and cash

       100.0        100.0
   

 

(1)

Includes 9.3% and 10.8% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

(2)

Includes .4% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Our highest sector concentration is in banks and financial institutions. Our investment discipline begins with a top-down approach. We first approve each country we invest in, and within those countries, we primarily invest in financial institutions that are strategically crucial to each country’s economy. The banks and financial institutions sector is a highly regulated industry and plays a strategic role in the global economy. While this is our largest sector concentration, we achieve some degree of diversification through a geographically diverse universe of credit exposures. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments – Credit Risk subsection of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of our investments.

Yen-denominated debt and perpetual securities accounted for 91% of Aflac Japan’s total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2010, compared with 94% at December 31, 2009, at amortized cost.

Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac Japan purchased debt security investments at aggregate acquisition cost of approximately 790.4 billion yen in 2010 (approximately $9.1 billion), 955.6 billion yen in 2009 (approximately $10.1 billion), and 689.0 billion yen in 2008 (approximately $6.8 billion). During the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, there were no purchases of perpetual securities, and equity security purchases were immaterial. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases by sector, as a percentage of acquisition cost, for the years ended December 31.

Composition of Purchases by Sector

 

        2010        2009        2008  

Debt security purchases, at cost:

              

Banks/financial institutions

       8.5        4.6        25.5

Government and agencies

       55.1           49.3           13.8   

Municipalities

       2.5           3.3           .0   

Public utilities

       11.4           14.4           23.5   

Collateralized debt obligations

       .0           .0           4.7   

Sovereign and supranational

       5.8           11.2           .0   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

       2.3           1.9           6.1   

Other corporate

       14.4           15.3           26.4   
   

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0
   

 

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The change in allocation of purchases from year to year is based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities. In 2009, a significant portion of the increased percentage of purchases of securities in the government and agencies sector was due to a bond-swap program that we executed to generate investment gains to take advantage of tax loss carryforwards.

The distributions by credit rating of Aflac Japan’s purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:

Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating

 

        2010        2009        2008  

AAA

       .8        7.9        9.1

AA

       68.9           62.9           41.1   

A

       18.5           28.5           41.9   

BBB

       11.8           .7           7.9   
                                  

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0
                       

Our purchases of securities are determined through an evaluation of attractive relative value that securities present while still meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality.

The distributions of debt and perpetual securities owned by Aflac Japan, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:

Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating

 

        2010        2009  
        Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

AAA

       3.1        3.4        3.2        3.3

AA

       38.3           39.4           37.2           38.5   

A

       34.6           35.2           38.9           38.9   

BBB

       17.6           17.4           14.1           13.7   

BB or lower

       6.4           4.6           6.6           5.6   
   

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0
   

Investments – U.S.

The following table presents the composition of total investments by sector, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac U.S. ($9.1 billion in 2010 and $8.4 billion in 2009) as of December 31.

Composition of Portfolio by Sector

 

        2010        2009  

Debt and perpetual securities, at amortized cost:

         

Banks/financial institutions(1)

       23.6        26.0

Government and agencies

       .2           2.0   

Municipalities

       8.3           4.9   

Public utilities

       16.0           12.5   

Collateralized debt obligations

       .0           2.4   

Sovereign and supranational

       2.0           2.0   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

       3.8           3.0   

Other corporate

       40.4           32.6   
   

Total debt and perpetual securities

       94.3           85.4   

Cash and cash equivalents

       5.7           14.6   
   

Total investments and cash

       100.0        100.0
   

 

(1)

Includes 2.6% and 2.8% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments – Credit Risk subsection of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of our investments.

Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac U.S. purchased debt security investments at an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $1.9 billion in 2010, $1.0 billion in 2009 and $1.1 billion in 2008. We purchased no perpetual or equity securities during the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases by sector, as a percentage of acquisition cost, for the years ended December 31.

Composition of Purchases by Sector

 

        2010        2009        2008  

Debt security purchases, at cost:

              

Banks/financial institutions

       4.2        12.5        15.6

Municipalities

       19.0           33.0           .0   

Public utilities

       21.6           10.1           23.9   

Collateralized debt obligations

       .0           .0           18.7   

Sovereign and supranational

       .6           .7           .0   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

       .0           3.0           13.3   

Other corporate

       54.6           40.7           28.5   
   

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0
   

The change in allocation of purchases from year to year is based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities.

The distributions by credit rating of Aflac’s U.S. purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:

Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating

 

        2010        2009        2008  

AAA

       1.6        4.9        14.4

AA

       21.5           17.8           6.9   

A

       53.6           61.4           42.4   

BBB

       23.3           15.9           36.3   
   

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0
   

Our purchases of securities are determined through an evaluation of attractive relative value that securities present while still meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality.

 

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The distributions of debt and perpetual securities owned by Aflac U.S., by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:

Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating

 

        2010        2009  
        Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

AAA

       5.2        5.0        4.2        4.2

AA

       12.6           12.8           11.3           12.0   

A

       47.4           48.0           45.8           47.6   

BBB

       30.5           30.1           29.1           29.0   

BB or lower

       4.3           4.1           9.6           7.2   
   

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0
   

For additional information on the composition of our investment portfolios and investment results, see the Analysis of Financial Condition section in MD&A and Notes 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Regulation – Japan

The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are subject to examination by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA). Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for the Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that differ materially from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held-to-maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; premium income is recognized on a cash basis; and different consolidation criteria apply to variable interest entities. Reconciliations of the net assets of the Japan branch on a U.S. GAAP basis to net assets determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Aflac Japan net assets on GAAP basis

     $ 8,852         $ 6,728   

Elimination of deferred policy acquisition cost asset

       (6,964        (5,846

Adjustment to income tax liabilities

       3,602           2,649   

Adjustment to policy liabilities

       (4,265        (2,786

Adjustment of unrealized gains and other adjustments to
carrying value of debt securities

       1,886           1,571   

Elimination of policyholder protection corporation liability

       108           128   

Reduction in premiums receivable

       (97        (90

Difference in consolidation criteria for variable interest entities

       41           0   

Other, net

       (815        (438
   

Aflac Japan net assets on Japanese regulatory accounting basis

     $ 2,348         $ 1,916   
   

The FSA maintains a solvency standard, which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2010, Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio was 897.5%, which significantly exceeds regulatory minimums. The FSA will apply a revised method of calculating the solvency margin ratio for life insurance companies as of fiscal year-end 2011 (March 31, 2012) and requires the disclosure of the ratio as reference information for fiscal year-end 2010 (March 31, 2011). The FSA has stated that the revision would generally reduce life insurance companies’ solvency margin ratios to approximately half the level of those reported under the current calculation method. We do not expect our relative position within the industry to materially change.

 

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A portion of Aflac Japan’s annual earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, may be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. These repatriated profits represent a portion of Aflac Japan’s after-tax earnings reported to the FSA on a March 31 fiscal year basis. We may elect not to repatriate profits to Aflac U.S. or to repatriate a reduced amount to strengthen Aflac Japan’s solvency margin. In addition, the FSA may not allow profit repatriations to Aflac U.S. if the transfers would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of Japanese policyholders. In the near term, we do not expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for profit repatriations, nor do we expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for payments of allocated expenses to Aflac U.S. and management fees to the Parent Company.

The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information regarding the policyholder protection fund, see the Policyholder Protection Corporation subsection of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

As a branch of our principal insurance subsidiary, Aflac Japan is also subject to regulation and supervision in the United States (see Regulation – U.S.). For additional information regarding Aflac Japan’s operations and regulations, see the Aflac Japan subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Regulation – U.S.

The Parent Company and its insurance subsidiaries, Aflac (a Nebraska-domiciled insurance company), American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York, a New York-domiciled insurance company) and CAIC (a South Carolina-domiciled insurance company) are subject to state regulations in the United States as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries, and material transactions between companies within the system, including management fees, loans and advances are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities. These laws generally require, among other things, the insurance holding company and each insurance company directly owned by the holding company to register with the insurance departments of their respective domiciliary states and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system.

Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac is subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which it does business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:

 

   

granting and revoking licenses to transact business

 

   

regulating trade and claims practices

 

   

licensing of insurance agents and brokers

 

   

approval of policy forms and premium rates

 

   

standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements

 

   

capital requirements

 

   

limitations on dividends to shareholders

 

   

the nature of and limitations on investments

 

   

deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders

 

   

filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities

 

   

periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies

The insurance laws of Nebraska that govern Aflac’s activities provide that the acquisition or change of “control” of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance. A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a

 

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domestic insurance company or of any person controlling a domestic insurance company (in the case of Aflac, the Parent Company) must generally file with the Nebraska Department of Insurance an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy to Aflac. In Nebraska, control is generally presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, acquires 10% or more of an insurance company or of any other person or entity controlling the insurance company. The 10% presumption is not conclusive and control may be found to exist at less than 10%. Similar laws apply in New York and South Carolina, the domiciliary jurisdictions of the Parent Company’s other insurance subsidiaries, Aflac New York and CAIC.

Additionally, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) continually reviews regulatory matters and recommends changes and revisions for adoption by state legislators and insurance departments.

The NAIC uses a risk-based capital formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer’s operations. The formulas for determining the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company’s regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level risk-based capital as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action.

The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. Aflac’s NAIC risk-based capital ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2010, based on year-end statutory accounting results, Aflac’s company action level RBC ratio was 555%.

New federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including health care reform legislation, financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation, can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. Various forms of federal oversight and regulation of insurance have been passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, federal health care reform legislation, gives the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. The reform includes major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Among other changes, the reform legislation includes an individual medical insurance coverage mandate, provides for penalties on certain employers for failing to provide adequate coverage, creates health insurance exchanges, and addresses coverage and exclusions as well as medical loss ratios. The legislation also includes changes in government reimbursements and tax credits for individuals and employers and alters federal and state regulation of health insurers. These changes will be phased in over the next several years and are directed toward major medical health insurance coverage, which Aflac does not offer. Accordingly, our products are not subject to or covered under the major provisions of the new legislation as enacted.

In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as the Dodd-Frank Act, which, among other things, created a Financial Stability and Oversight Council. The Council may designate by a two-thirds vote whether certain insurance companies and insurance holding companies pose a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States, in which case such nonbank financial companies would become subject to prudential regulation by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (including capital requirements, leverage limits, liquidity requirements and examinations). The Board may limit such company’s ability to enter into merger transactions, restrict its ability to offer financial products, require it to terminate one or more activities, or impose conditions on the manner in which it conducts activities. The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. The director of the Federal Insurance Office will have the ability to recommend that an insurance company or an insurance holding company be subject to heightened prudential standards. The Dodd-Frank Act requires extensive rule-making and other future regulatory action, which in some cases will take a period of years to implement.

For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, regulation, change of control and dividend restrictions, see the Aflac U.S. subsection of MD&A and Notes 2 and 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

 

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Employees

As of December 31, 2010, Aflac Japan had 4,016 employees and Aflac U.S. had 3,903 employees. We consider our employee relations to be excellent.

Other Operations

Our other operations include the Parent Company and a printing subsidiary. These operations had 292 employees as of December 31, 2010. We consider our relations with these employees to be excellent. For additional information on our other operations, see the Other Operations subsection of MD&A.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

NAME    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(1)    AGE  

Daniel P. Amos

   Chairman, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Chief Executive Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; President, Aflac, until January 2007      59   

Paul S. Amos II

   President, Aflac, since January 2007; Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Operations, Aflac, since February 2006; Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations, Aflac, until January 2007      35   

Yuji Arai

   Senior Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Aflac Japan      48   

Koji Ariyoshi

   First Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing and Sales, Aflac Japan, since January 2010; Senior Vice President, Deputy Director of Marketing and Sales, until January 2010; Executive Director, AXA Life Insurance Company Ltd., until October 2008      57   

Susan R. Blanck

   Executive Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, since January 2011; First Senior Vice President, Aflac Japan, since June 2008; Senior Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from January 2006 to January 2011; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary, Aflac, until January 2006      44   

Kriss Cloninger III

   President, Aflac Incorporated; Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Treasurer, Aflac Incorporated; Executive Vice President, Aflac      63   

Martin A. Durant III

   Executive Vice President, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since June 2008; Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance, Aflac Incorporated, from July 2006 to June 2008; Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Carmike Cinemas, Inc., until March 2006      62   

Thomas R. Giddens

   Senior Vice President, Director of Sales, Aflac, since November 2010; Senior Vice President, Co-Director of U.S. Sales, Aflac, from May 2010 until November 2010; Southeast Territory Director, Aflac, until May 2010      56   

June Howard

   Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since March 2010; Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, since November 2010; Treasurer, Aflac, since February 2011; Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac, from June 2009 until March 2010; Head of IFRS and U.S. GAAP for ING’s U.S. operations until June 2009      44   

Jun Isonaka

   Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac Japan, since January 2010; Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac Japan, since January 2009; Senior Vice President, Sales, Aflac Japan, from January 2007 until January 2009; Vice President, Contact Center, Aflac Japan, from January 2006 until January 2007; Vice President, Territory Director, Northeast Territory, Aflac Japan, until January 2006      53   

Kenneth S. Janke Jr.

   Executive Vice President, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since October 2010; Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Aflac Incorporated, until October 2010      52   

 

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NAME    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(1)    AGE  

W. Jeremy Jeffery

   Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, since January 2007; Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, until January 2007      60   

Charles D. Lake II

   Chairman, Aflac Japan, since July 2008; Vice Chairman, Aflac Japan, until July 2008      49   

Joey M. Loudermilk

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Director, Legal and Governmental Relations, Aflac      57   

Ralph A. Rogers Jr.

   Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Treasurer, Aflac, until February 2011; Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac, until November 2010      62   

Audrey B. Tillman

   Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, since January 2008; Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, from October 2006 until January 2008; Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources, Aflac Incorporated, until October 2006      46   

Tohru Tonoike

  

President, Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan, since July 2007;

Deputy President, Aflac Japan, from February 2007 until July 2007; President and Representative Director, The Dai-ichi Kangyo Asset

Management Co., Ltd., until February 2007

     60   

Teresa L. White

   Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac, since March 2008; Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac, from March 2007 until March 2008; Senior Vice President, Sales Support and Administration, Aflac, until March 2007      44   

Robin Y. Wilkey

   Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Aflac Incorporated, since October 2010; Vice President, Investor Relations, Aflac Incorporated, until October 2010      52   

Hiroshi Yamauchi

   First Senior Vice President, Planning, Government Affairs & Research, Customer Services Promotion, Legal, Risk Management, and Compliance Promotion, Aflac Japan, since January 2011; First Senior Vice President, Planning, Government Affairs & Research, Legal, Risk Management, and Compliance Promotion, Aflac Japan, until January 2011; First Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac Japan, until January 2010      59   

 

(1)

Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We face a wide range of risks, and our continued success depends on our ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage our enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.

Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy could have a material adverse effect on our investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm our business.

Our results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally, in the United States, Japan and elsewhere. Financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia experienced extreme disruption during the latter part of 2008 and much of 2009. Concerns over the availability and cost of credit, the U.S. mortgage market, a declining real estate market in the United States, energy costs and geopolitical issues, among other factors, contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the markets. These factors, combined with volatile commodity prices, declining business and consumer confidence, increased unemployment, and the impact of the economy on businesses, in particular, precipitated an economic slowdown and fears of a sustained recession.

The volatility and heightened perception of risk that plagued fixed income markets during this period have diminished somewhat, and liquidity is greatly improved in many sectors of the market. However, beginning in early 2010, risk of sovereign defaults or restructurings, combined with decreased valuations and liquidity for certain entities in the European banking sector, have negatively impacted securities issued by these entities. These developments may have an adverse effect on our capital position, in part because we hold in our investment portfolio a significant amount of fixed maturity and perpetual securities, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions. Our revenues may decline in such circumstances and our profit margins may erode.

We need liquidity to pay our operating expenses, dividends on our common stock, interest on our debt and liabilities. For a further description of our liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see Item 7 of this Form 10-K – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Resources and Liquidity. In the event our current resources do not meet our needs, we may need to seek additional financing. The availability of additional financing will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and our credit ratings, as well as the possibility that lenders or debt investors may develop a negative perception of us if we incur large investment losses or if the level of our business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the United States or Japan. Similarly, our access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions against us.

Factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of our business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as ours that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires and total employees. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead our customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect our premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruptions in financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the United States, Japan and other countries, which may have an adverse effect on us, in part because we are dependent upon customer behavior and spending. In addition, adverse conditions in the financial sector could result in lower sales through our bank distribution channel, as account executives refocus their discussions with customers toward the bank’s core business and away from supplemental insurance products in times of economic stress.

 

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The effect that governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets will have on such markets generally, or on us specifically, is difficult to determine at this time.

In response to the financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets and concern about financial institutions’ viability, numerous regulatory and governmental actions have been taken or proposed. Within the United States, the Federal Reserve has taken action through reduced federal funds rates and the expansion of acceptable collateral for its loans to provide additional liquidity. The European Central Bank has provided liquidity to its members in much the same way. Numerous financial institutions have received capital both in the form of emergency loans and direct Treasury equity investments. In addition, in February 2009, the U.S. Congress passed a $787 billion economic stimulus plan. The U.S. Federal Reserve has also engaged in several rounds of quantitative easing in the form of direct purchases of Treasury notes and bonds. The most recent was announced in November 2010 and is expected to continue through the second quarter of 2011. Within the United Kingdom and Eurozone, similar actions including interest rate cuts and capital injections into financial institutions have been undertaken, including certain institutions that are obligors of the perpetual securities in our investment portfolio.

There can be no assurance as to the effect that any such governmental actions will have on the financial markets generally or on our competitive position, business and financial condition.

Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and perpetual securities in our investment portfolio may reduce our earnings.

We are subject to the risk that the issuers, guarantors, or counterparties of fixed maturity securities and perpetual securities we own may default on principal, interest and other payments they owe us. We are also subject to the risk that the underlying collateral within loan-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and mortgage-backed securities, may default on principal and interest payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows from our investment portfolio. The credit rating agencies have been reviewing and modifying their rating criteria for perpetual securities. As a result, many of these securities have been downgraded and may experience further downgrades. We are not currently required to recognize losses on these securities as long as our intent remains not to sell them prior to their anticipated recovery in fair value. If we determine to reposition or realign portions of our investment portfolio so as not to hold certain securities in an unrealized loss position to recovery, we will incur a charge against net income for the unrealized loss in the period that the decision was made not to hold the security to recovery.

In addition to our credit exposure to various obligors and counterparties, we are also exposed to credit spreads, primarily relating to market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in credit spreads. A widening of credit spreads will increase the net unrealized loss position of our fixed maturity investment portfolio and if issuer credit spreads increase significantly or for an extended period of time, it would likely result in higher other-than-temporary impairment charges. Credit spread tightening will reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturity securities. In addition, market volatility has made it difficult to value certain of our securities, such as our perpetual securities and our investments in CDOs and variable interest entities, as trading of such securities has become less frequent. As such, our valuations of such securities may include assumptions or estimates that may have significant period-to-period changes, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Ongoing challenges include continued weakness in the U.S. real estate market and increased mortgage delinquencies, investor anxiety over the U.S. and global economy, including sovereign issuers, and rating agency downgrades of various structured products and financial issuers.

For more information regarding credit risk, see the Market Risks of Financial Instruments – Credit Risk subsection of MD&A in this Form 10-K.

The impairment of other financial institutions’ creditworthiness could adversely affect us.

We have exposure to and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks and other institutions. Additionally, our highest concentration in our investment portfolio is in banks and financial institutions. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of the obligor or the counterparty. In addition, with respect to secured transactions, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be liquidated at prices sufficient to recover the full amount

 

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of the loan. Any losses or impairments to the carrying value of these assets may materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations. We have agreements with various financial institutions for the distribution of our insurance products. For example, at December 31, 2010, we had agreements with 364 banks to market Aflac’s products in Japan. In addition, in 2010, Dai-ichi Life sold approximately 97,000 of our cancer policies under a strategic alliance that we have with Dai-ichi. Any material adverse effect on these or other financial institutions could also have an adverse effect on our sales.

We are subject to certain risks as a result of our investments in perpetual securities.

We maintain investments in perpetual securities, which have no stated maturity. As of December 31, 2010, we held $7.8 billion of perpetual securities, which represented 9.1% of our total debt and perpetual securities, at amortized cost. Our holdings of perpetual securities are in the following geographic areas: Europe, excluding the United Kingdom (71%); the United Kingdom (10%); Japan (14%); and others (5%).

Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments. The securities have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their time of issuance and subsequently change to a floating, short-term rate of interest of 125 to more than 300 basis points above a pre-determined market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance. While we generally believe that this interest step-up has the effect of creating an economic maturity date of the perpetual securities, no assurances can be given that the issuers of these securities will repay the principal at the time any interest step-up becomes effective.

Perpetual securities typically provide that the issuer is able to defer payment of interest on the securities for up to five years. The Upper Tier II securities that we own have cumulative deferrable payment provisions. However, the Tier I securities that we own do not have similar provisions. No assurance can be given that the issuers of these securities will not defer making interest payments.

There is also a risk that the accounting for these perpetual securities could change in a manner that would have an adverse impact on the reporting for these securities. At the date of filing this Form 10-K, the SEC does not object to the use of a debt impairment model for impairment recognition of these securities as long as there is no significant deterioration in the credit condition of the perpetual securities. The debt impairment model allows the holder to consider whether or not interest and principal payments will be received in accordance with contractual terms and the holder’s intent and ability to hold the perpetual security until there is a recovery in value. The equity impairment model, by contrast, looks at the length of time a security’s market value has been below its cost basis and the percentage decline to determine whether an impairment should be recorded, without consideration to the holder’s intent and ability to hold the security until recovery in value. If the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) should decide that the appropriate model for determining impairments is the equity model, we would be required to recognize some portion of the unrealized losses now reported directly through equity as a charge against net income. Although this change would not affect total shareholders’ equity as the unrealized loss is already recorded in shareholders’ equity, it would reduce net income in the period the change occurred and in future periods. Statutory accounting principles account for these securities using the debt model. Additionally, these securities are carried at amortized cost for statutory reporting purposes, with the exception of any securities that are assigned the lowest NAIC rating (i.e. NAIC 6) or are determined to be impaired, i.e. the issuer will not be able to pay interest and principal as contractually due. Should the statutory accounting requirements change regarding the method of recognizing impairments or the values at which the securities should be carried in the financial statements, it could adversely affect our statutory capital, depending upon the changes adopted.

The valuation of our investments and derivatives includes methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

The vast majority of our financial instruments are subject to the fair value classification provisions under GAAP, which specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on observable or unobservable inputs to valuations, and relates to our investment securities classified as securities available for sale in our investment portfolio, which comprised $55.9 billion (63%) of our total cash and invested assets at December 31, 2010. In accordance with GAAP, we have categorized these securities into a three-level hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the respective valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets

 

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for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1). It gives the next priority to quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities and other inputs that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities (Level 2). The lowest priority represents unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (Level 3). An asset or liability’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation.

At December 31, 2010, approximately 30%, 69% and 1% of our total available-for-sale securities represented Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 securities, respectively. Securities that are less liquid are more difficult to value and trade. During periods of market disruption, including periods of significantly rising or high interest rates, rapidly widening credit spreads or illiquidity, it may be difficult to value certain of the securities in our investment portfolio, if trading becomes less frequent and/or market data becomes less observable. There may be certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data that become illiquid due to the current financial environment. In such cases, more securities may fall to Level 3 and thus require more subjectivity and management judgment. In addition, prices provided by independent pricing services and independent broker quotes can vary widely even for the same security.

As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation as well as valuation methods which are more sophisticated, thereby resulting in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Further, rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within our consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

For further discussion on investment and derivative valuations, see Notes 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.

The determination of the amount of impairments taken on our investments is subjective and could materially impact our results of operations or financial position.

The determination of the amount of impairments is based upon our periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects impairments in its income statement as such evaluations are revised. There can, however, be no assurance that our management has accurately assessed the level of impairments reflected in our financial statements. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.

An investment in a fixed maturity or a perpetual security is impaired if its fair value falls below its book value. We regularly review our entire investment portfolio for declines in value. If we believe that a decline in the value of a particular investment is temporary, no impairment is taken. However, for our fixed maturity and perpetual securities reported in the available-for-sale portfolio, we report the investments at fair value in the statement of financial condition and record the decline or appreciation as an unrealized loss or gain in accumulated other comprehensive income. Management’s assessment of a decline in value includes current judgment as to the financial position and future prospects of the entity that issued the investment security. In the course of our credit review process, we may determine that it is unlikely that we will recover our investment in an issuer due to factors specific to an individual issuer, as opposed to general changes in global credit spreads. In this event, we consider such a decline in the investment’s fair value, to the extent below the investment’s cost or amortized cost, to be an other-than-temporary impairment of the investment and write the investment down to its fair value and record a realized loss in our consolidated statements of earnings. The determination of whether an impairment is other than temporary is subjective and involves the consideration of various factors and circumstances, which includes but is not limited to the following:

 

   

issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows

 

   

credit status of the issuer

 

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the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment

 

   

published reports

 

   

general economic environment

 

   

regulatory, legislative and political environment

 

   

the severity of the decline in fair value

 

   

the length of time the fair value is below cost

 

   

other factors as may become available from time to time

Another factor we consider in determining whether a decline in value is other than temporary is an evaluation of our intent and/or need to sell the investment prior to its anticipated recovery in fair value. We perform ongoing analyses of our liquidity needs, which include cash flow testing of our policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments and other cash flow and liquidity needs. Our cash flows from operations have been substantial over the last three years, growing from $5.0 billion in 2008 to $6.2 billion in 2009 and to $7.0 billion in 2010.

Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect our profits.

We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. At December 31, 2010, the average duration of Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities was approximately 14 years and the average duration of its yen-denominated debt and perpetual securities was approximately 12 years. The duration of the perpetual securities is based upon their economic maturity dates. Since the securities have no fixed maturity date, there is no assurance that the securities will be repaid on the dates assumed. When the principal of our debt securities or perpetual securities is repaid, there is a risk that the proceeds will be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy liabilities. Our net investment income has been negatively affected by the low level of investment yields in Japan in the last three years.

The concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

The concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector could have an adverse effect on our investment portfolios and, consequently, on our results of operations and financial position. Events or developments that have a negative impact on any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector may have a greater adverse effect on the investment portfolios to the extent that the portfolios are concentrated rather than diversified. At December 31, 2010, approximately 34% of our total portfolio of debt and perpetual securities was in the bank and financial institution sector.

Our concentration of business in Japan poses risks to our operations.

Our operations in Japan, including realized gains and losses on the Japan investment portfolio, accounted for 75%, 73% and 72% of our total revenues for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Japanese operations accounted for 86% of our total assets at December 31, 2010, compared with 85% at December 31, 2009. The Bank of Japan’s January 2011 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments stated that Japan’s economy still shows signs of moderate recovery, however the recovery pace has slowed; that the employment and income situation has been depressed, but seems to be easing; that exports have been weak, but are expected to increase moderately; and that private consumption is expected to pick up. The report projected that Japan’s economy is expected to gradually return to a moderate recovery path. A potential deterioration in Japan’s economic recovery could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We operate in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes.

We operate in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require us to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate our products and services from those of our competitors. We also face the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the United States and Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate our products and services can affect our ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business.

 

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We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and our net investment income can vary from period to period.

We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk, including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, real estate markets, market volatility, the performance of the economy in general, the performance of the specific obligors included in our investment portfolio and other factors outside our control.

Foreign Currency Risk

Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the dollar will generally adversely affect the value of our yen-denominated investments in dollar terms. Foreign currency translation also impacts the computation of our risk-based capital ratio because Aflac Japan is consolidated in our U.S. statutory filings due to its status as a branch. Our required capital, as determined by the application of risk factors to our assets and liabilities, is proportionately more sensitive to changes in the exchange rate than our total adjusted capital. As a result, when the yen strengthens relative to the dollar, our risk-based capital ratio is suppressed. We engage in certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to our net investment in our branch operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope and we cannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective or that counterparties to these activities will perform their obligations.

Additionally, we are exposed to economic currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in our earnings when exchange gains or losses are realized. This primarily occurs when we repatriate funds from Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S., which is generally done on an annual basis. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of repatriation may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned.

Interest Rate Risk

We have substantial investment portfolios that support our policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments, such as those experienced in Japan and the United States during recent years, have reduced the level of investment income earned by the Company. Slower investment income growth will occur if a low-interest-rate environment persists. While we generally seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the cash flow and duration characteristics of the liabilities it supports, we may not be able to fully mitigate the interest rate risk of our assets relative to our liabilities. Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the ability to invest future cash flows to support the interest rate assumption made at the time our products were priced and the related reserving assumptions were established. A rise in interest rates would improve our ability to earn higher rates of return on funds that we reinvest. Conversely, a decline in interest rates would impair our ability to earn the returns assumed in the pricing and the reserving for our products at the time they were sold and issued.

We also have an exposure to interest rates related to the value of the substantial investment portfolios that support our policy liabilities. A rise in interest rates would increase the net unrealized loss position of our debt and perpetual securities. Conversely, a decline in interest rates would decrease the net unrealized loss position of our debt and perpetual securities. While we generally invest our assets to match the duration and cash flow characteristics of our policy liabilities, and therefore would not expect to realize most of these gains or losses, our risk is that unforeseen events or economic conditions, such as changes in interest rates resulting from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond our

 

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control, reduce the effectiveness of this strategy and either cause us to dispose of some or all of these investments prior to their maturity, or cause the issuers of these securities to default, both of which would result in our having to recognize such gains or losses.

Significant, continued volatility, the strengthening or weakening of the yen against the dollar, changes in interest rates, changes in credit spreads and defaults, market liquidity and declines in equity prices, individually or in tandem, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, and changes in unrealized positions.

For more information regarding foreign currency and interest rate risk, see the Currency Risk and Interest Rate Risk subsections within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section in this Form 10-K.

If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, our financial results would be adversely affected.

We establish and carry, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims. We calculate these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums we will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets we purchase with a portion of our net cash flow from operations. These assumptions and estimates are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we 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 we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims. If our actual experience is different from our assumptions or estimates, our reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, we would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which we determine such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

As a holding company, the Parent Company depends on the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to meet its debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock.

The Parent Company is a holding company and has no direct operations or significant assets other than the stock of its subsidiaries. Because we conduct our operations through our operating subsidiaries, we depend on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on our common stock. Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to insurance regulations that impose certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. In addition, the FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers from Aflac Japan if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of policyholders.

The ability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could also be constrained by our dependence on financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies. Our ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on Aflac’s capitalization level. Any inability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. There is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, our operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to us to enable us to operate.

Extensive regulation and changes in legislation can impact profitability and growth.

Aflac’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FSA and Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and the Internal Revenue Service, each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. Consequently, we are subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue

 

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may not result in compliance with another regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to our detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change our views regarding the actions we need to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to our practices that may, in some cases, limit our ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of our business.

The primary purpose of insurance company regulatory supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the United States and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:

 

   

standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof

 

   

standards of minimum capital requirements and solvency margins, including risk-based capital measures

 

   

restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between our insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements

 

   

restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments

 

   

restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that we can include in the insurance policies offered by our primary insurance operations

 

   

limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay or foreign profits that can be repatriated

 

   

the existence and licensing status of a company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business

 

   

certain required methods of accounting

 

   

reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes

 

   

assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies

 

   

administrative practices requirements

 

   

imposition of fines and other sanctions

State insurance regulators and the NAIC regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

New federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including health care reform legislation, financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation, can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. Various forms of federal oversight and regulation of insurance have been passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, federal health care reform legislation, gives the U.S. federal government direct regulatory authority over the business of health insurance. The reform includes major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Among other changes, the reform legislation includes an individual medical insurance coverage mandate, provides for penalties on certain employers for failing to provide adequate coverage, creates health insurance exchanges, and addresses coverage and exclusions as well as medical loss ratios. The legislation also includes changes in government reimbursements and tax credits for individuals and employers and alters federal and state regulation of health insurers. These changes will be phased in over the next several years and are directed toward major medical health insurance coverage, which Aflac does not offer. Accordingly, our products are not subject to or covered under the major provisions of the new legislation as enacted. However, indirect consequences of the legislation and yet-to-be implemented regulations could potentially have an impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as the Dodd-Frank Act, which, among other things, created a Financial Stability and Oversight Council. The Council may designate by a two-thirds vote whether certain insurance companies and insurance

 

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holding companies pose a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States, in which case such nonbank financial companies would become subject to prudential regulation by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve, including capital requirements, leverage limits, liquidity requirements and examinations. The Board may limit such company’s ability to enter into merger transactions, restrict its ability to offer financial products, require it to terminate one or more activities, or impose conditions on the manner in which it conducts activities. The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. The director of the Federal Insurance Office will have the ability to recommend that an insurance company or an insurance holding company be subject to heightened prudential standards. The Dodd-Frank Act requires extensive rule-making and other future regulatory action, which in some cases will take a period of years to implement.

At the current time, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty whether any other proposed legislation or regulatory changes will be adopted or what impact, if any, these new laws, or any future regulation, will have on our U.S. business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase our direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus having a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Sales of our products and services are dependent on our ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates.

Our sales could be adversely affected if our sales networks deteriorate or if we do not adequately provide support, training and education for our existing network. Competition exists for sales associates with demonstrated ability. We compete with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of our products, compensation, support services and financial rating. An inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates could have a material adverse effect on sales and our results of operations and financial condition. Our sales associates are independent contractors and may sell products of our competitors. If our competitors offer products that are more attractive than ours, or pay higher commissions than we do, these sales associates may concentrate their efforts on selling our competitors’ products instead of ours.

Any decrease in our financial strength or debt ratings may have an adverse effect on our competitive position.

Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on the business of insurance companies. On an ongoing basis, Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) review the financial performance and condition of insurers and may downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital; a change in a rating agency’s determination of the amount of risk-adjusted capital required to maintain a particular rating; an increase in the perceived risk of an insurer’s investment portfolio; a reduced confidence in management; or other considerations that may or may not be under the insurer’s control.

In addition to financial strength ratings, various NRSROs also publish ratings on our debt. These ratings are indicators of a debt issuer’s ability to meet the terms of debt obligations in a timely manner and are important factors in our ability to access liquidity in the debt markets. Downgrades in our credit ratings could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in many ways, including adversely limiting our access to capital markets and potentially increasing the cost of debt.

In view of the difficulties experienced recently by many financial institutions, including in the insurance industry, we believe it is possible that the NRSROs will heighten the level of scrutiny that they apply to such institutions, will increase the frequency and scope of their reviews, will request additional information from the companies that they rate, including additional information regarding the valuation of investment securities held, and may increase the capital and other requirements employed in their models for maintenance of certain rating levels.

 

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A downgrade in any of these ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness and the marketability of our products which could negatively impact our liquidity, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, sales through the bank channel could be adversely affected as a result of their reliance and sensitivity to ratings levels.

We cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions we may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect our business. As with other companies in the financial services industry, our ratings could be downgraded at any time and without any notice by any NRSRO.

The success of our business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology; certain significant multiyear strategic information technology projects are currently in process.

Our business depends in large part on our technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders and sales associates, and our business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs. Some of our information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards (including adequate business continuity procedures). While we are in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing our business systems, changes are always challenging in a complex integrated environment. Our success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support our business processes in a cost-efficient manner.

Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.

Our financial statements are subject to the application of generally accepted accounting principles in both the United States and Japan, which are periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. It is possible that future accounting standards we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

The FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have announced their commitment to achieving a single set of high-quality global accounting standards, and the SEC continues to encourage the convergence of U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in order to narrow the differences between the two sets of standards. In 2010, the SEC announced a Work Plan, the results of which will aid the Commission in its evaluation of the impact that the use of IFRS by U.S. companies would have on the U.S. securities market. Included in this Work Plan is consideration of IFRS, as it exists today and after the completion of various convergence projects currently underway between U.S. and international accounting standards-setters. In October 2010, the SEC issued its first progress report on the Work Plan, summarizing the objectives as well as the efforts and preliminary observations as of that time. In addition to considering the information obtained through execution of the Work Plan, the SEC will assess the progress on the FASB’s and IASB’s current convergence projects before deciding in 2011 on whether to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. financial reporting system, and if so, when and how. If the SEC determines in 2011 to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. financial reporting system, the first time that U.S. companies would report under such a system would be no earlier than 2015. For the insurance industry, key components of the convergence between U. S. GAAP and IFRS have yet to be clarified. The FASB and IASB are currently working on a joint insurance contracts project that will change the way insurance liabilities are determined and reported. The FASB has issued a discussion paper on the topic, and the IASB intends to issue a final standard in December 2011. We are monitoring these developments closely. The adoption of IFRS and/or the effects of accounting standards convergence could significantly alter the presentation of our financial position and results of operations in our financial statements.

See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for a discussion of recent changes in accounting standards that are pending adoption.

 

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If we fail to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that our business associates who obtain access to sensitive patient information maintain its confidentiality, our reputation and business operations could be materially adversely affected.

The collection, maintenance, use, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by our businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA also requires that we impose privacy and security requirements on our business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations).

Even though we provide for appropriate protections through our contracts with business associates, we still have limited control over their actions and practices. In addition, despite the security measures we have in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party providers may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. Congress and many states are considering new privacy and security requirements that would apply to our business. Compliance with new privacy and security laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost increases due to necessary systems changes, new limitations or constraints on our business models, the development of new administrative processes, and the effects of potential noncompliance by our business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on our collection, disclosure and use of patient identifiable data that are housed in one or more of our administrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential member information, whether by us or by one of our vendors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations, including: material fines and penalties; compensatory, special, punitive and statutory damages; consent orders regarding our privacy and security practices; adverse actions against our licenses to do business; and injunctive relief.

We face risks related to litigation.

We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, litigation could adversely affect us because of the costs of defending these cases, costs of settlement or judgments against us or because of changes in our operations that could result from litigation.

Managing key executive succession is critical to our success.

We would be adversely affected if we fail to adequately plan for succession of our senior management and other key executives. While we have succession plans and employment arrangements with certain key executives, these cannot guarantee that the services of these executives will be available to us, and our operations could be adversely affected if they are not.

Any event, including one external to our operations, could damage our reputation.

Because insurance products are intangible, we rely to a large extent on consumer trust in our business. The perception of financial weakness could create doubt regarding our ability to honor the commitments we have made to our policyholders. Maintaining our stature as a responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strength of our unique brand, is critical to our reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect us.

We also face other risks that could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, which include:

 

   

any requirement to restate financial results in the event of inappropriate application of accounting principles

 

   

failure of our processes to prevent and detect unethical conduct of employees

 

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a significant failure of internal controls over financial reporting

 

   

failure of our prevention and control systems related to employee compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements

 

   

failure of corporate governance policies and procedures

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

In the United States, Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as our worldwide headquarters and house administrative support and information technology functions for our U.S. operations. Aflac also owns land and office buildings in Columbia, South Carolina, which house our CAIC subsidiary. Aflac leases additional administrative office space in Georgia, New York, and Nebraska.

In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has two primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, information technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses our policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as our Japan branch headquarters and houses administrative support functions for the Japan branch. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Aflac Incorporated’s common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Our stock is also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The quarterly high and low market prices for the Company’s common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for the two years ended December 31 were as follows:

Quarterly Common Stock Prices

 

2010      High        Low  

4th Quarter

     $ 58.31         $ 50.89   

3rd Quarter

       53.88           41.55   

2nd Quarter

       56.56           39.91   

1st Quarter

       55.20           45.78   
   

 

2009      High        Low  

4th Quarter

     $ 47.75         $ 39.82   

3rd Quarter

       44.07           28.17   

2nd Quarter

       37.73           17.25   

1st Quarter

       46.96           10.83   
   

Holders

As of February 17, 2011, there were 86,688 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

 

        2010        2009  

4th Quarter

     $ .30         $ .28   

3rd Quarter

       .28           .28   

2nd Quarter

       .28           .28   

1st Quarter

       .28           .28   
   

In February 2011, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2011 cash dividend of $.30 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2011. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors as the board of directors deems relevant. There can be no assurance that we will declare and pay any additional or future dividends. For information concerning dividend restrictions, see Regulatory Restrictions in the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of the MD&A and Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.

 

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Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company’s common stock to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc., Torchmark Corporation and Unum Group.

LOGO

Performance Graphic Index

December 31,

 

      2005      2006      2007      2008      2009      2010  

Aflac Incorporated

     100.00         100.30         138.65         103.32         107.91         134.77   

S&P 500

     100.00         115.80         122.16         76.96         97.33         111.99   

S&P Life & Health Insurance

     100.00         116.51         129.33         66.84         77.25         96.76   
                     

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved. (www.researchdatagroup.com/S&P.htm)

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the fourth quarter of 2010, we repurchased shares of Aflac common stock as follows:

 

Period      Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
     Average
Price Paid
Per Share
       Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
       Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 

October 1 - October 31

       52,450       $ 55.85           50,000           32,320,254   

November 1 - November 30

       1,360,000         55.21           1,360,000           30,960,254   

December 1 - December 31

       592,804         56.29           590,000           30,370,254   
                                           

Total

       2,005,254 (2)     $ 55.55           2,000,000           30,370,254 (1) 
   

 

(1)

The total remaining shares available for purchase at December 31, 2010, consisted of: (1) 370,254 shares related to a 30,000,000 share repurchase authorization by the board of directors announced in February 2006 and (2) 30,000,000 shares related to a 30,000,000 share repurchase authorization by the board announced in January 2008.

(2)

During the fourth quarter of 2010, 5,254 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the period.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions, except for share and

per-share amounts)

   2010     2009     2008     2007      2006  

Revenues:

           

Premiums, principally supplemental
health insurance

   $ 18,073      $ 16,621      $ 14,947      $ 12,973       $ 12,314   

Net investment income

     3,007        2,765        2,578        2,333         2,171   

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (422     (1,212     (1,007     28         79   

Other income

     74        80        36        59         52   
                                           

Total revenues

     20,732        18,254        16,554        15,393         14,616   
                                           

Benefits and expenses:

           

Benefits and claims

     12,106        11,308        10,499        9,285         9,016   

Expenses

     5,041        4,711        4,141        3,609         3,336   
                                           

Total benefits and expenses

     17,147        16,019        14,640        12,894         12,352   
                                           

Pretax earnings

     3,585        2,235        1,914        2,499         2,264   

Income taxes

     1,241        738        660        865         781   
                                           

Net earnings

   $ 2,344      $ 1,497      $ 1,254      $ 1,634       $ 1,483   
            

Share and Per-Share Amounts

 

                                         

Net earnings (basic)

   $ 5.00      $ 3.21      $ 2.65      $ 3.35       $ 2.99   

Net earnings (diluted)

     4.95        3.19        2.62        3.31         2.95   

Cash dividends paid

     1.14        1.12        .96        .80         .55   

Cash dividends declared

     1.14        .84        1.24        .615         .735   

Weighted-average common shares used for basic EPS (In thousands)

     469,038        466,552        473,405        487,869         495,614   

Weighted-average common shares used for diluted EPS (In thousands)

     473,085        469,063        478,815        493,971         501,827   
                                           

Supplemental Data

           
                                           

Yen/dollar exchange rate at year-end (yen)

     81.49        92.10        91.03        114.15         119.11   

Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate (yen)

     87.69        93.49        103.46        117.93         116.31   
            

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

December 31,

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008      2007      2006  

Assets:

              

Investments and cash

   $ 88,230       $ 73,192       $ 68,550       $ 57,056       $ 51,972   

Other

     12,809         10,914         10,781         8,749         7,833   
   

Total assets

   $ 101,039       $ 84,106       $ 79,331       $ 65,805       $ 59,805   
                            

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

              

Policy liabilities

   $ 82,456       $ 69,245       $ 66,219       $ 50,676       $ 45,440   

Notes payable

     3,038         2,599         1,721         1,465         1,426   

Income taxes

     1,969         1,653         1,201         2,531         2,462   

Other liabilities

     2,520         2,192         3,551         2,338         2,136   

Shareholders’ equity

     11,056         8,417         6,639         8,795         8,341   
   

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 101,039       $ 84,106       $ 79,331       $ 65,805       $ 59,805   
   

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of these provisions. This report contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “objective,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “intends,” “projects,” “will,” “assumes,” “potential,” “target” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:

 

   

difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy

 

   

governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets

 

   

defaults and downgrades in certain securities in our investment portfolio

 

   

impairment of financial institutions

 

   

credit and other risks associated with Aflac’s investment in perpetual securities

 

   

differing judgments applied to investment valuations

 

   

subjective determinations of amount of impairments taken on our investments

 

   

limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments

 

   

concentration of our investments in any particular sector

 

   

concentration of business in Japan

 

   

ongoing changes in our industry

 

   

exposure to significant financial and capital markets risk

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates

 

   

significant changes in investment yield rates

 

   

deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions

 

   

subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to Aflac Incorporated

 

   

changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities

 

   

ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates and employees

 

   

decreases in our financial strength or debt ratings

 

   

ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems

 

   

changes in U.S. and/or Japanese accounting standards

 

   

failure to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security

 

   

level and outcome of litigation

 

   

ability to effectively manage key executive succession

 

   

catastrophic events

 

   

failure of internal controls or corporate governance policies and procedures

 

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MD&A OVERVIEW

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements and notes. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:

 

   

Our Business

 

   

Performance Highlights

 

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

   

Results of Operations, consolidated and by segment

 

   

Analysis of Financial Condition, including discussion of market risks of financial instruments

 

   

Capital Resources and Liquidity, including discussion of availability of capital and the sources and uses of cash

OUR BUSINESS

Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Results for 2010 benefited from the stronger yen/dollar exchange rate and lower realized investment losses. Total revenues rose 13.6% to $20.7 billion, compared with $18.3 billion a year ago. Net earnings were $2.3 billion, or $4.95 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $3.19 per diluted share, in 2009.

We experienced pretax net realized investment losses of $422 million ($274 million after-tax) in 2010, which included $459 million ($298 million after-tax) of other-than-temporary impairments and $1 million ($.7 million after-tax) of net derivative losses. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2010, included a net unrealized gain on investment securities (including derivatives) of $64 million, compared with a net unrealized loss of $640 million at December 31, 2009.

In 2010, we issued a total of $750 million in dollar-denominated senior notes raised through U.S. public debt offerings. In July, we paid $447 million to redeem 39.4 billion yen of our Samurai notes upon their maturity. We resumed stock repurchase activity in the fourth quarter of 2010 by purchasing a total of 2.0 million shares of our common stock in the open market.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In this MD&A, references to GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments and derivatives, deferred policy acquisition costs, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of

 

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these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 95% of our assets and 86% of our liabilities are reported as of December 31, 2010, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders’ equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.

Investments and Derivatives

Aflac’s investments in debt, perpetual and equity securities include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For privately issued securities, we receive pricing data from external sources that take into account each security’s credit quality and liquidity characteristics. We also routinely review our investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. These reviews are performed with consideration of the facts and circumstances of an issuer in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The identification of distressed investments, the determination of fair value if not publicly traded, and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment and require evaluation of factors, including but not limited to:

 

   

issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows

 

   

credit status of the issuer

 

   

the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment

 

   

published reports

 

   

general economic environment

 

   

regulatory, legislative and political environment

 

   

the severity of the decline in fair value

 

   

the length of time the fair value is below cost

 

   

our intent, need, or both to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery in value

 

   

other factors as may become available from time to time

Our derivatives are primarily interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps that are associated with investments in special-purpose entities, including variable interest entities (VIEs) where we are the primary beneficiary. These interest rate swaps and certain foreign currency swaps are priced by broker quotations using inputs that are observable in the market. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, foreign currency forward and spot rates, credit spreads, and interest volatility. For our credit default swaps and certain foreign currency swaps, there are limited or no observable valuation inputs. We estimate the fair value of these instruments by obtaining broker quotes from a limited number of brokers. These brokers base their quotes on a combination of their knowledge of the current pricing environment and market conditions.

See Notes 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities

Aflac’s products are generally long-duration fixed-benefit indemnity contracts. We make estimates of certain factors that affect the profitability of our business to match expected policy benefits and deferrable acquisition costs with expected policy premiums. These assumptions include persistency, morbidity, mortality, investment yields and expenses. If actual results match the assumptions used in establishing policy liabilities and the deferral and amortization of acquisition costs, profits will emerge as a level percentage of earned premiums. However, because actual results will vary from the assumptions, profits as a percentage of earned premiums will vary from year to year.

We measure the adequacy of our policy reserves and recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) annually by performing gross premium valuations on our business. Our testing indicates that our insurance liabilities are adequate and that our DAC is recoverable.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Certain costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized over the policy’s premium payment period in proportion to anticipated premium income. Future amortization of DAC is based upon our estimates of persistency, interest and future premium revenue generally established at the time of policy issuance. However, the unamortized balance of DAC reflects actual persistency.

 

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As presented in the following table, the ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force has shown a slight upward trend for Aflac Japan for the last three years. This trend is a result of a greater proportion of our annualized premiums being under the alternative commission schedule, which pays a higher commission on first-year premiums and lower commissions on renewal premiums. This schedule is very popular with our new agents as it helps them with cash flow for personal and business needs as they build their business. While this has resulted in a higher unamortized DAC balance, the overall cost to the Company has been reduced. The ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force has also increased for Aflac U.S. for the last three years. The increase has been primarily driven by a greater proportion of our annualized premiums being under an accelerated commission schedule for new associates and was also impacted by the loss of a large payroll account in 2010 which had a lower ratio of DAC to annualized premiums in force.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost Ratios

 

     Aflac Japan     Aflac U.S.  
(In millions)   2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

  $ 6,964      $ 5,846      $ 5,644      $ 2,770      $ 2,687      $ 2,593   

Annualized premiums in force

    15,408        13,034        12,761        4,973        4,956        4,789   

Deferred policy acquisition costs as a percentage of annualized premiums in force

    45.2     44.9     44.2     55.7     54.2     54.1
   

Policy Liabilities

The following table provides details of policy liabilities by segment and in total as of December 31.

Policy Liabilities

 

(In millions)    2010        2009  

Japan segment:

       

Future policy benefits

   $ 66,023         $ 55,720   

Unpaid policy claims

     2,592           2,246   

Other policy liabilities

     6,257           4,089   
   

Total Japan policy liabilities

   $ 74,872         $ 62,055   
   

U.S. segment:

       

Future policy benefits

   $ 6,078         $ 5,779   

Unpaid policy claims

     1,126           1,023   

Other policy liabilities

     377           385   
   

Total U.S. policy liabilities

   $ 7,581         $ 7,187   
   

Consolidated:

       

Future policy benefits

   $ 72,103         $ 61,501   

Unpaid policy claims

     3,719           3,270   

Other policy liabilities

     6,634           4,474   
   

Total consolidated policy liabilities

   $ 82,456         $ 69,245   
   

Our policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with applicable guidelines as defined under GAAP and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two components that involve analysis and judgment: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 87% and 5% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2010, respectively.

Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. We calculate future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These

 

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assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely related to those used in developing the gross premiums for a policy. As required by GAAP, we also include a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.

Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to us. We compute unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. We update the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporate our historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding our outstanding liability.

Our insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, our business is widely dispersed in both the United States and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of our benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac’s policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. Our claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of our policyholders.

As a part of our established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, we perform actuarial reviews of our policyholder liabilities on an ongoing basis and reflect the results of those reviews in our results of operations and financial condition as required by GAAP.

Our fourth quarter 2010 review indicated that we needed to strengthen the liability for a closed block of dementia policies in Japan, primarily due to low interest rate yields. We strengthened our future policy benefits liability by $93 million for this closed block of policies.

In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, we consider many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. We monitor these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, we do not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2010, to changes in severity and frequency of claims. For the years 2008 through 2010, our assumptions changed on average by approximately 1% in total, and we believe that a variation in assumptions in a range of plus or minus 1% in total is reasonably likely to occur.

Sensitivity of Unpaid Policy Claims Liability

 

(In millions)    Total Severity  
Total Frequency    Decrease
by 2%
     Decrease
by 1%
     Unchanged      Increase
by 1%
     Increase
by 2%
 

Increase by 2%

   $ 0       $ 22       $ 45       $ 68       $ 91   

Increase by 1%

     (22      0         22         45         68   

Unchanged

     (44      (22      0         22         45   

Decrease by 1%

     (66      (44      (22      0         22   

Decrease by 2%

     (87      (66      (44      (22      0   
   

 

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The table below reflects the growth of future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.

Future Policy Benefits

 

(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)      2010        2009        2008  

Aflac U.S.

     $ 6,078         $ 5,779         $ 5,442   

Growth rate

       5.2        6.2        9.8
   

Aflac Japan

     $ 66,023         $ 55,720         $ 53,866   

Growth rate

       18.5        3.4        32.3
   

Consolidated

     $ 72,103         $ 61,501         $ 59,310   

Growth rate

       17.2        3.7        29.9
   

Yen/dollar exchange rate (end of period)

       81.49           92.10           91.03   
   

Aflac Japan (in yen)

       5,380           5,132           4,903   

Growth rate

       4.8        4.7        5.5
   

The growth of the future policy benefits liability in dollars has been primarily due to the aging of our in-force block of business and the addition of new business in Japan. This growth in dollars was enhanced by the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar in 2010 and 2008; however, it was offset in 2009 by the weakening of the yen against the U.S. dollar.

Income Taxes

Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary differences to reverse. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with GAAP is a two-step process. Under the first step, the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The second step is measurement, whereby a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.

See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

New Accounting Pronouncements

During the last three years, various accounting standard-setting bodies have been active in soliciting comments and issuing statements, interpretations and exposure drafts. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on our financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table is a presentation of items impacting net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the years ended December 31.

Items Impacting Net Earnings

 

      In Millions      Per Diluted Share  
      2010      2009      2008      2010      2009      2008  

Net earnings

   $ 2,344       $ 1,497       $ 1,254       $ 4.95       $ 3.19       $ 2.62   

Items impacting net earnings, net of tax:

                 

Realized investment gains (losses):

                 

Securities transactions and impairments

     (273      (788      (655      (.58      (1.67      (1.37

Impact from ASC 810

     (1      0         0         .00         .00         .00   

Impact from ASC 815

     0         (3      (3      .00         (.01      .00   

Gain on extinguishment of debt

     0         11         0         .00         .02         .00   
   

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Our investment strategy is to invest in fixed-income securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s profitability. This investment strategy aligns our assets with our liability structure, which our assets support. We do not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio maintenance and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of our insurance products, which are the principal drivers of our profitability.

Securities Transactions and Impairments

In 2010, we realized pretax investment losses of $459 million ($298 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment gains, net of losses, of $38 million ($25 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.

In 2009, we realized pretax investment losses of $1,361 million ($884 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses of $101 million ($66 million after-tax) from the exchange of certain perpetual security investments into fixed-maturity securities. The losses were partially offset by pretax investment gains of $250 million ($162 million after-tax) that were generated primarily from a bond-swap program that took advantage of tax loss carryforwards.

In 2008, we realized pretax investment losses of $753 million ($489 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We also realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $254 million ($166 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.

The following table details our pretax impairment losses by investment category for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010            2009        2008  

Perpetual securities

   $ 160         $ 729         $ 379   

Corporate bonds

     285           458           160   

Collateralized debt obligations

     0           148           213   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     12           24           0   

Equity securities

     2           2           1   
   

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses realized

   $ 459         $ 1,361         $ 753   
   

 

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Impact from ASC 810

Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted updated accounting guidance in ASC 810, “Consolidation,” which resulted in the consolidation of certain VIEs in which we have an investment. Upon consolidation, the beneficial interest in these VIEs was derecognized and the underlying collateral assets (fixed-maturity securities and perpetual securities) and corresponding foreign currency, interest rate and credit default swaps were recognized. The change in value of the swaps is recorded through current period earnings, and the change in value of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity and perpetual securities associated with these swaps is recorded through other comprehensive income. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $1 million ($.7 million after-tax) from valuing foreign currency, interest rate and credit default swaps related to our consolidated VIEs.

For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Impact from ASC 815

For a description of items that would be included in the Impact from ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” see the Hedging Activities subsection of MD&A and Notes 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Debt Extinguishment

We did not extinguish any debt during 2010. During 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We realized a total gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income.

Foreign Currency Translation

Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. We translate Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated income statement into dollars using an average exchange rate for the reporting period, and we translate its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period. However, it is important to distinguish between translating and converting foreign currency. Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not actually convert yen into dollars.

Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. As a result, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting issue for Aflac and not an economic event to our Company or shareholders. Because changes in exchange rates distort the growth rates of our operations, management evaluates Aflac’s financial performance excluding the impact of foreign currency translation.

Income Taxes

Our combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 34.6% in 2010, 33.0% in 2009 and 34.5% in 2008. The effective tax rate declined in 2009 due primarily to the settlement of an examination by the Internal Revenue Service that reduced the ASC 740 tax liability by $24 million. Total income taxes were $1.2 billion in 2010, compared with $738 million in 2009 and $660 million in 2008. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan’s results account for most of our consolidated income tax expense. See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

 

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Earnings Guidance

We communicate earnings guidance in this report based on the growth in net earnings per diluted share. However, certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside of management’s control may have a significant impact on actual results. Therefore, our comparison of net earnings includes certain assumptions to reflect the limitations that are inherent in projections of net earnings. In comparing period-over-period results, we exclude the effect of realized investment gains and losses (securities transactions, impairments, and the impact from ASC 810), the impact from ASC 815, and nonrecurring items. We also assume no impact from foreign currency translation on the Aflac Japan segment and the Parent Company’s yen-denominated interest expense for a given year in relation to the prior year.

Subject to the preceding assumptions, our objective for 2010 was to increase net earnings per diluted share by 9% to 12% over 2009. We reported 2010 net earnings per diluted share of $4.95. Adjusting that number for realized investment losses ($.58 per diluted share), the impact from ASC 815 (nil per diluted share), and foreign currency translation (a gain of $.19 per diluted share), we met our objective for the year.

Our objective for 2011 is to increase net earnings per diluted share by 8% to 12% over 2010, excluding the effect of realized investment gains and losses, the impact from ASC 815, nonrecurring items, and foreign currency translation. If we achieve our objective, the following table shows the likely results for 2011 net earnings per diluted share, including the impact of foreign currency translation using various yen/dollar exchange rate scenarios.

2011 Net Earnings Per Share (EPS) Scenarios(1)

 

Weighted-Average

Yen/Dollar

Exchange Rate

  

Net Earnings Per

Diluted Share

  

% Growth

Over 2010

 

Yen Impact

on EPS

80.00

   $6.34 - 6.56    14.6 - 18.6%   $.37

85.00

     6.09 - 6.31     10.1 - 14.1     .12

  87.69(2)

     5.97 - 6.19       8.0 - 11.9       0

90.00

     5.87 - 6.09       6.1 - 10.1   (.10)

95.00

     5.68 - 5.90       2.7 - 6.7     (.29)
 

 

(1)

Excludes realized investment gains/losses (securities transactions, impairments, and the impact from ASC 810), the impact from ASC 815, and nonrecurring items in 2011 and 2010

(2)

Actual 2010 weighted-average exchange rate

If interest rates remain at historically low levels, earnings growth in 2011 would likely be at the low end of the 8% to 12% range. If we assume 8% earnings per share growth, we would earn $5.97 per diluted share, excluding the effect of realized investment gains and losses, the impact from ASC 815, nonrecurring items, and foreign currency translation. If the yen/dollar exchange rate averages 80 to 85 for the full year, we would expect reported net earnings to be in the range of $6.09 to $6.34 per diluted share, on the basis described above.

INSURANCE OPERATIONS

Aflac’s insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan, which operates as a branch of Aflac, is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual financial statements. Furthermore, we are required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets.

We measure and evaluate our insurance segments’ financial performance using operating earnings on a pretax basis. We define segment operating earnings as the profits we derive from our operations before realized investment gains and losses (securities transactions, impairments, and the impact from ASC 810), the impact from ASC 815, and nonrecurring items. We believe that an analysis of segment pretax operating earnings is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of our insurance business. Furthermore, because a significant portion of our business is conducted in Japan, we believe it is equally important to understand the impact of translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars.

 

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We evaluate our sales efforts using new annualized premium sales, an industry operating measure. New annualized premium sales, which include both new sales and the incremental increase in premiums due to conversions, represent the premiums that we would collect over a 12-month period, assuming the policies remain in force. For Aflac Japan, new annualized premium sales are determined by applications submitted during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., new annualized premium sales are determined by applications that are issued during the reporting period. Premium income, or earned premiums, is a financial performance measure that reflects collected or due premiums that have been earned ratably on policies in force during the reporting period.

AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT

Aflac Japan Pretax Operating Earnings

Changes in Aflac Japan’s pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.

Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Premium income

   $ 13,487       $ 12,178       $ 10,674   

Net investment income:

        

Yen-denominated investment income

     1,645         1,510         1,312   

Dollar-denominated investment income

     808         755         741   
                            

Net investment income

     2,453         2,265         2,053   

Other income (loss)

     37         43         15   
                            

Total operating revenues

     15,977         14,486         12,742   
                            

Benefits and claims

     9,553         8,746         7,972   

Operating expenses:

        

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

     597         523         405   

Insurance commissions

     1,103         1,060         970   

Insurance and other expenses

     1,441         1,357         1,145   
                            

Total operating expenses

     3,141         2,940         2,520   
                            

Total benefits and expenses

     12,694         11,686         10,492   
                            

Pretax operating earnings(1)

   $ 3,283       $ 2,800       $ 2,250   
                            

Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate

     87.69         93.49         103.46   
   

 

        In Dollars      In Yen  
Percentage change over previous year:      2010      2009      2008      2010      2009      2008  

Premium income

       10.8      14.1      18.1      3.8      3.3      3.5

Net investment income

       8.3         10.3         14.0         1.6         (.1      .0   

Total operating revenues

       10.3         13.7         17.3         3.4         3.0         2.8   

Pretax operating earnings(1)

       17.3         24.4         23.6         10.0         12.4         8.4   
                                                         
(1)

See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.

The percentage increases in premium income reflect the growth of premiums in force. The increases in annualized premiums in force in yen of 4.6% in 2010, 3.3% in 2009 and 3.2% in 2008 reflect the high persistency of Aflac Japan’s business and the sales of new policies. Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2010, were 1.26 trillion yen, compared with 1.20 trillion yen in 2009 and 1.16 trillion yen in 2008. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $15.4 billion in 2010, $13.0 billion in 2009, and $12.8 billion in 2008.

Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). Dollar-denominated investment income from these assets accounted for approximately 33% of Aflac Japan’s investment income in 2010 and 2009, compared with 36% in 2008. In years when

 

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the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. On a constant currency basis, dollar-denominated investment income accounted for approximately 34% of Aflac Japan’s investment income during 2010, compared with 36% in 2009 and 39% in 2008. The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had yen/dollar exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year.

Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year

(Yen Operating Results)

 

        Including Foreign
Currency Changes
     Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes
(2)
        2010    2009   2008      2010    2009    2008

Net investment income

     1.6%    (.1)%     .0%      3.8%    3.4%    5.0%

Total operating revenues

       3.4      3.0     2.8        3.8      3.5      3.8

Pretax operating earnings(1)

     10.0    12.4     8.4      12.1    15.1    13.8
 

 

(1)

See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.

(2)

Amounts excluding foreign currency changes on dollar-denominated items were determined using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as each respective prior year.

The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.

 

Ratios to total revenues:      2010     2009     2008  

Benefits and claims

       59.8     60.4     62.5

Operating expenses:

        

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

       3.7        3.6        3.2   

Insurance commissions

       6.9        7.3        7.6   

Insurance and other expenses

       9.0        9.4        9.0   
   

Total operating expenses

       19.6        20.3        19.8   

Pretax operating earnings(1)

       20.6        19.3        17.7   
   

 

(1)

See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.

The benefit ratio has declined over the past several years, driven primarily by favorable claim trends in our cancer product line. We expect this improvement to continue. However, this improvement is partially offset by the effect of low investment yields which impacts our profit margin by reducing the spread between investment yields and required interest on policy reserves (see table and discussion in the Interest Rate Risk section of this MD&A). Our operating ratios have also been impacted by strong sales results in our Ordinary products including Child Endowment and WAYS. These products have higher benefit ratios and lower expense ratios than our third sector products. Due to improvement in the benefit ratio and operating expense ratio, the pretax operating profit margin expanded in 2010. In 2011, we expect further improvement in the benefit and expense ratios, resulting in continued expansion in the profit margin.

Aflac Japan Sales

Our stated objective for 2010 was for sales to be flat to up 5%. We exceeded our objective with an 11.0% increase in sales during 2010. The following table presents Aflac Japan’s new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.

 

        In Dollars      In Yen  
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)      2010      2009      2008      2010      2009      2008  

New annualized premium sales

     $ 1,554       $ 1,310       $ 1,115         135.8         122.3         114.7   

Increase (decrease) over prior year

       18.6      17.5      14.4      11.0      6.7      .0
                                                         

 

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The following table details the contributions to new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.

 

              2010                       2009                       2008           

Medical

     34      39      39

Cancer

     22         28         34   

Ordinary life:

        

Child endowment

     19         9         2   

WAYS

     9         6         5   

Other ordinary life

     12         14         16   

Other

     4         4         4   
                            

Total

     100      100      100
   

The medical insurance product was the principal contributor to total sales for 2010. In 2010, we maintained our position as the number one seller of medical insurance policies in Japan. Medical insurance sales decreased 3.2% during 2010, compared with 2009, reflecting a difficult comparison to prior year sales which had benefited from the introduction of a new version of EVER, our popular medical product. In June 2010, we introduced a revision to Gentle EVER, our non-standard medical product. This new product offers more benefits than the original non-standard medical product that we began offering in 2007. We believe it will continue to meet the needs of certain consumers who cannot qualify for our base EVER plan. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, we expect the need for medical products will continue to rise in the future, and we remain encouraged about the outlook for the medical insurance market.

Cancer insurance sales declined 13.5% during 2010, compared with 2009; despite this decrease, we remained the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan. We are convinced that the affordable cancer products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of our product portfolio. In June 2010, we introduced a product called Corsage, which is a female-specific rider to our cancer insurance product. In Japan, young women are more likely to suffer from cancer than young men. Corsage provides surgery benefits that address the high cost of treating female-specific cancers. As the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan, we believe this new product will further strengthen our brand, and most importantly, provide valuable benefits to consumers who are looking for solutions to cancer-related costs.

The bank channel generated new annualized premium sales of 19.9 billion yen in 2010, an increase of 165.1% compared with 2009. As the bank channel has become a larger contributor to sales, Aflac Japan has enhanced its product portfolio to better meet the needs of banks. These products include our child endowment product and WAYS, a product that we first introduced in 2006 and introduced to the bank channel in 2009. The child endowment product is primarily used to help fund the higher costs associated with a child entering high school and college in Japan. We have successfully linked the marketing of our child endowment product to the new government subsidy that was first paid in June 2010 to families with children age 15 and younger. Sales of our child endowment product were 25.3 billion yen during 2010, an increase of 132.0% compared with 2009. We believe that life insurance products, like our child endowment plan, provide further opportunities for us to sell our third sector cancer and medical products.

WAYS is a unique hybrid product that starts out as a whole life policy. When policyholders reach a predetermined age, they can choose to convert a large part of their life benefit to a fixed annuity, medical coverage or nursing care benefits. Sales of WAYS were 12.1 billion yen during 2010, an increase of 65.7% compared with 2009. With the importance of the bank channel distribution outlet, we expect sales of this innovative and flexible product to grow substantially.

At December 31, 2010, we had agreements with 364 banks, or more than 90% of the total number of banks in Japan, to sell our products. Of all the banks we now have enrolling our products, there are still many branches in their system that are not actively selling yet, which indicates there is still significant sales growth potential through this channel. We continue to have significantly more banks selling our third sector insurance products than any other insurer operating in Japan. We believe our long-standing and strong relationships within the Japanese banking sector, along with our strategic preparations, have proven to be an advantage as this channel opened up for our types of products.

 

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We remain committed to selling through our traditional channels, which allows us to reach consumers through affiliated corporate agencies, independent corporate agencies and individual agencies. In 2010, we recruited approximately 4,800 new sales agencies, an increase of 4.4% over 2009. At December 31, 2010, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 19,600 sales agencies and more than 115,400 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies.

We believe that there is still a continued need for our products in Japan. Following strong sales growth in 2009 and 2010, our objective for 2011 is for new annualized premium sales to be in the range of down 2% to up 3% in Japan.

Aflac Japan Investments

Growth of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on dollar-denominated investment income. Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds, while still adhering to prudent standards for credit quality. All of our privately issued securities are rated investment grade at the time of purchase. These securities are generally issued with documentation consistent with standard medium-term note programs. In addition, many of these investments have protective covenants appropriate to the specific issuer, industry and country. These covenants often require the issuer to adhere to specific financial ratios and give priority to repayment of our investment under certain circumstances.

The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan’s investment yields for the years ended December 31.

 

        2010        2009        2008  

New money yield – yen only

       2.39        2.80        3.20

New money yield – blended

       2.63           3.03           3.43   

Return on average invested assets, net of investment expenses

       3.48           3.65           3.82   
                                  

The decrease in the Aflac Japan new money yield reflects the low level of interest rates and tightening credit spreads. At December 31, 2010, the yield on Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio, including dollar-denominated investments, was 3.56%, compared with 3.77% a year ago. In order to address our challenge of investing in Japan’s low-interest-rate environment, in 2010 we started increasing the amount Aflac Japan invests in higher-yielding dollar-denominated securities.

The overall credit quality of Aflac Japan’s investments remained high. At the end of 2010, 93.6% of Aflac Japan’s debt and perpetual securities were rated investment grade, on an amortized cost basis. See Notes 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Analysis of Financial Condition section of this MD&A for additional information on our investments.

Japanese Economy

The Bank of Japan’s January 2011 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments stated that Japan’s economy still shows signs of moderate recovery, however the recovery pace has slowed. The employment and income situation has been depressed, but seems to be easing. Exports have been weak, however they are expected to increase moderately again. Private consumption is expected to pick up. The report projected that Japan’s economy is expected to gradually return to a moderate recovery path.

Japan’s system of compulsory public health care insurance provides medical coverage to every Japanese citizen. These public medical expenditures are covered by a combination of premiums paid by insureds and their employers, taxes and copayments from the people who receive medical service. However, given Japan’s aging population, the resources available to these publicly funded social insurance programs have come under increasing pressure. As a result, copayments and other out-of-pocket expenses have been rising and affecting more people. We believe higher out-of-pocket expenses will lead consumers to purchase more supplemental medical insurance. Many insurance companies have recognized the opportunities for selling supplemental medical insurance in Japan

 

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and have launched new products in recent years. However, we believe our favorable cost structure compared with other insurers makes us a very effective competitor. In addition, we believe our brand, customer service and financial strength also benefit our market position.

Japanese Regulatory Environment

We expect that our distribution system will continue to evolve in Japan. Regulatory changes that took effect in December 2007 enabled banks to sell our type of insurance products to their customers. Our strong brand as the leading seller of cancer and medical insurance products in Japan and our many long-term relationships within the Japan banking sector place us in a strong position to sell through this channel.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) maintains a solvency standard, which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. The FSA will apply a revised method of calculating the solvency margin ratio for life insurance companies as of fiscal year-end 2011 (March 31, 2012) and requires the disclosure of the ratio as reference information for fiscal year-end 2010 (March 31, 2011). The FSA has stated that the revision would generally reduce life insurance companies’ solvency margin ratios to approximately half the level of those reported under the current calculation method. We do not expect our relative position within the industry to materially change.

In 2005, legislation aimed at privatizing Japan’s postal system (Japan Post) was enacted into law. The privatization laws split Japan Post into four entities that began operating in October 2007. In 2007, one of these entities selected Aflac Japan as its provider of cancer insurance to be sold through its post offices, and, in 2008, we began selling cancer insurance through these post offices. Japan Post has historically been a popular place for consumers to purchase insurance products. Currently, our products are being offered in approximately 1,000 post offices.

Japan Post reform legislation was introduced in the 2010 Japanese ordinary Diet session, but the session ended before the legislation could be passed. The legislation again failed to pass in the 2010 fall Diet session and is scheduled to be taken up in the 2011 ordinary Diet session, which opened on January 24, 2011. Given that the ruling coalition no longer controls a majority in the Diet’s upper house following its defeat in the July 2010 election, it is unclear whether the postal reform legislation will be passed in the 2011 ordinary Diet session. Regardless, we believe that the Diet debate on postal reform is unlikely to change Aflac Japan’s relationship with the post office company.

 

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AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT

Aflac U.S. Pretax Operating Earnings

Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.

Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Premium income

     $ 4,586         $ 4,444         $ 4,272   

Net investment income

       549           499           505   

Other income

       11           10           10   
                                  

Total operating revenues

       5,146           4,953           4,787   
                                  

Benefits and claims

       2,553           2,561           2,527   

Operating expenses:

              

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

       433           419           370   

Insurance commissions

       534           508           488   

Insurance and other expenses

       702           689           657   
                                  

Total operating expenses

       1,669           1,616           1,515   
                                  

Total benefits and expenses

       4,222           4,177           4,042   
                                  

Pretax operating earnings(1)

     $ 924         $ 776         $ 745   
                                  

Percentage change over previous year:

              
                                  

Premium income

       3.2        4.0        8.5

Net investment income

       9.9           (1.1        .9   

Total operating revenues

       3.9           3.5           7.7   

Pretax operating earnings(1)

       19.2           4.1           7.6   
   
(1)

See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.

Annualized premiums in force increased .3% in 2010, 3.5% in 2009 and 6.2% in 2008. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 were $5.0 billion in 2010 and 2009, compared with $4.8 billion in 2008.

The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.

 

Ratios to total revenues:      2010        2009        2008  

Benefits and claims

       49.6        51.7        52.8

Operating expenses:

              

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

       8.4           8.5           7.7   

Insurance commissions

       10.4           10.3           10.2   

Insurance and other expenses

       13.6           13.8           13.7   
                                  

Total operating expenses

       32.4           32.6           31.6   

Pretax operating earnings(1)

       18.0           15.7           15.6   
                                  
(1)

See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.

The pretax operating profit margin expanded during 2010, compared with 2009, primarily driven by the loss of a large payroll account in 2010. The loss of this account resulted in the release of the future policy benefit reserves and amortization of the deferred policy acquisition costs for policies associated with this account. The net result had a positive impact on the profit margin. In 2011, we expect the benefit and operating expense ratios and the pretax operating profit margin to be in a range similar to the levels experienced in 2009 and 2008.

 

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Aflac U.S. Sales

The economic climate in the United States continued to pose challenges for Aflac U.S. sales growth in 2010. The following table presents Aflac’s U.S. new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

New annualized premium sales

     $ 1,382         $ 1,453         $ 1,551   

Increase (decrease) over prior year

       (4.9 )%         (6.4 )%         (.4 )% 
                                  

The following table details the contributions to new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.

 

   

        2010        2009        2008  

Accident/disability

       48        48        49

Cancer

       17           18           19   

Hospital indemnity

       18           18           16   

Life

       6           6           6   

Fixed-benefit dental

       5           5           5   

Other

       6           5           5   
                                  

Total

       100        100        100
                                  

New annualized premium sales for accident/disability insurance, our leading product category, decreased 5.2%, cancer insurance sales decreased 10.9%, and hospital indemnity insurance sales decreased 3.2% in 2010, compared with 2009.

As part of our U.S. sales strategy we continue to focus on growing and enhancing the effectiveness of our U.S. sales force. We recruited more than 22,100 new sales associates during 2010, resulting in more than 72,500 licensed sales associates at December 31, 2010. Although recruitment of sales associates in the fourth quarter of 2010 was down 8.5%, it showed significant improvement over the 25.4% decline in recruiting for the first nine months of the year, compared with the same periods in 2009. To improve our recruiting results next year and beyond, we have amended the bonus structure for our state and regional coordinators from one that was based entirely on sales results to a structure that incorporates a people development component. We have also initiated a national recruiting contest that incentivizes producer recruitment. In addition, we provide a recruiting workshop that focuses on improving coordinator productivity by emphasizing candidate sourcing, interviewing, and contract acceptance.

In addition to expanding the size and capabilities of our traditional sales force, we are encouraged about the opportunities to broaden our distribution by pursuing and strengthening relationships with insurance brokers. Insurance brokers have been a historically underleveraged sales channel for Aflac, and we are developing relationships that will complement our traditional distribution system with the Aflac for BrokersSM initiative that we launched in 2009. We assembled a management team experienced in broker sales, and we are supporting this initiative with streamlined products, targeted broker-specific advertising campaigns, customized enrollment technology, and competitive compensation. Additionally, a new level of management has been introduced to deliver this initiative. More than 100 broker development coordinators have been hired to be single points of contact for brokers across the country. Broker development coordinators are responsible for building relationships with new brokers as well as strengthening relationships with our current brokers. These coordinators are assisted by a team of certified case managers whose role is to coordinate and manage the account enrollments for brokers.

Furthering our initiatives in the broker arena, we purchased CAIC in 2009. CAIC, now branded as Aflac Group Insurance, equips us with a platform for offering voluntary group insurance products for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. New annualized premium sales for Aflac U.S. in 2010 included sales from Aflac Group Insurance of $83 million. These sales of group insurance products represented 6% of total U.S. sales production. Group insurance sales from the fourth quarter of 2010 of $43 million were 58.7% higher than the same quarter in prior year and represented 51.4% of Aflac Group Insurance production for the full year. We expect group products to enhance sales opportunities not only for brokers but also for our traditional sales force of individual associates, especially when they pursue larger payroll accounts.

 

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Although we remain cautious in our short-term sales outlook for Aflac U.S., our longer-term view has not changed. We believe the need for our products we sell remains strong, and that the United States provides a vast and accessible market for our products. We are taking measures to better reach potential customers through our product and distribution strategy, which includes broadening our product portfolio to include group products in addition to our traditional individually issued products. Following the passage of health care reform in 2010, we believe employers and consumers will increasingly come to understand the need for the products we offer, just as they have in Japan. For 2011, our objective is for Aflac U.S. new annualized premium sales to be flat to up 5%, however we remain cautious until we see further stability in the economy.

Aflac U.S. Investments

The following table presents the results of Aflac’s U.S. investment yields for the years ended December 31.

 

      2010      2009      2008  

New money yield

     5.82      7.26      7.60

Return on average invested assets, net of investment expenses

     6.37         6.66         6.77   
                            

The decrease in the U.S. new money yield in 2010 reflects a low level of interest rates and tightening credit spreads. At December 31, 2010, the portfolio yield on Aflac’s U.S. portfolio was 6.92%, compared with 7.17% a year ago. We have $200 million of variable interest rate collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) that support $200 million of variable interest rate funding agreements issued by Aflac U.S. Because these CDOs do not support our core policyholder benefit obligations, the yield on these CDOs is not included in the Aflac U.S. portfolio yield or in the yields listed in the above table.

The overall credit quality of Aflac U.S. investments remained high. At the end of 2010, 95.7% of Aflac U.S. debt and perpetual securities were rated investment grade, on an amortized cost basis. See the Credit Risk section of this MD&A for additional information.

See Notes 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Analysis of Financial Condition section of this MD&A for additional information on our investments.

U.S. Economy

Operating in the U.S. economy continues to be challenging. Ongoing low confidence levels from consumers and small businesses coupled with fewer employees at the worksite continue to pose challenges to our U.S. sales growth. Most of our business continues to revolve around small business owners and accounts with fewer than 100 employees. Small businesses, in particular, have proven to be especially vulnerable to ongoing economic weakness, and both small-business owners and their workers are anxious about the future. Workers at small businesses are holding back on increasing their spending for voluntary insurance products. Although we believe that the weakened U.S. economy has been a contributing factor to slower sales growth, we also believe our products remain affordable to the average American consumer. We believe that consumers’ underlying need for our U.S. product line remains strong, and that the United States remains a sizeable and attractive market for our products.

U.S. Regulatory Environment

In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to give Americans of all ages and income levels access to comprehensive major medical health insurance. The primary subject of the new legislation is major medical insurance; therefore, the PPACA, as enacted, does not directly affect the design of our insurance products or our sales model. Our experience with Japan’s national health care environment leads us to believe that the need for our products will only increase over the coming years.

In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as the Dodd-Frank Act, which, among other things, created a Financial Stability and Oversight Council. The Council may designate by a two-thirds vote whether certain insurance companies and insurance holding companies pose a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States, in which case such nonbank

 

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financial companies would become subject to prudential regulation by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve, including capital requirements, leverage limits, liquidity requirements and examinations. The Board may limit such company’s ability to enter into merger transactions, restrict its ability to offer financial products, require it to terminate one or more activities, or impose conditions on the manner in which it conducts activities. The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Traditionally, U.S. insurance companies have been regulated primarily by state insurance departments. The Dodd-Frank Act requires extensive rule-making and other future regulatory action, which in some cases will take a period of years to implement. Despite the lack of regulations to implement this law, we believe that Aflac would not likely be considered a company that would pose a systemic risk to the financial stability of the United States. However, at the current time, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty what impact, if any, the Dodd-Frank Act will have on our U.S. business, financial condition, or results of operations.

OTHER OPERATIONS

Corporate operating expenses consist primarily of personnel compensation, benefits and facilities expenses. Corporate expenses, excluding investment income, were $67 million in 2010, $77 million in 2009 and $61 million in 2008. The increase in expenses in 2009 was due primarily to an increase in realized foreign currency losses on yen cash held by the Parent Company and an increase in expense for our unfunded supplemental retirement plans. Investment income included in reported corporate expenses was $11 million in 2010, $9 million in 2009 and $20 million in 2008.

ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

Our financial condition has remained strong in the functional currencies of our operations. The yen/dollar exchange rate at the end of each period is used to translate yen-denominated balance sheet items to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes.

The following table demonstrates the effect of the change in the yen/dollar exchange rate by comparing select balance sheet items as reported at December 31, 2010, with the amounts that would have been reported had the exchange rate remained unchanged from December 31, 2009.

Impact of Foreign Exchange on Balance Sheet Items

 

(In millions)   

As

Reported

    

Exchange

Effect

     Net of
Exchange Effect
 

Yen/dollar exchange rate(1)

     81.49            92.10   
   

Investments and cash

   $ 88,230       $ 8,101       $ 80,129   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     9,734         802         8,932   

Total assets

     101,039         9,072         91,967   

Policy liabilities

     82,456         8,626         73,830   

Total liabilities

     89,983         9,103         80,880   
   
(1)

The exchange rate at December 31, 2010, was 81.49 yen to one dollar, or 13.0% stronger than the December 31, 2009, exchange rate of 92.10.

Market Risks of Financial Instruments

Our investment philosophy is to maximize investment income while emphasizing liquidity, safety and quality. Our investment objective, subject to appropriate risk constraints, is to fund policyholder obligations and other liabilities in a manner that enhances shareholders’ equity. We seek to achieve this objective through a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the characteristics of the liabilities it supports. Aflac invests primarily within the fixed income securities markets.

 

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The following table details investment securities by segment as of December 31.

Investment Securities by Segment

 

        Aflac Japan        Aflac U.S.  
(In millions)      2010        2009        2010      2009  

Securities available for sale, at fair value:

                 

Fixed maturities

     $ 39,485         $ 29,952         $ 8,750 (1)     $ 6,712 (1) 

Perpetual securities

       7,233           7,041           279         222   

Equity securities

       23           24           0         0   
   

Total available for sale

       46,741           37,017           9,029         6,934   
   

Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost:

                 

Fixed maturities

       30,084           26,487           0         200   
   

Total held to maturity

       30,084           26,487           0         200   
   

Total investment securities

     $ 76,825         $ 63,504         $ 9,029       $ 7,134   
   
(1)

Excludes investment-grade, available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities held by the Parent Company of $120 in 2010 and $117 in 2009.

Because we invest in fixed-income securities, our financial instruments are exposed primarily to three types of market risks: currency risk, interest rate risk and credit risk.

Currency Risk

The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operation is the Japanese yen. All of Aflac Japan’s premiums, claims and commissions are received or paid in yen, as are most of its investment income and other expenses. Furthermore, most of Aflac Japan’s investments, cash and liabilities are yen-denominated. When yen-denominated securities mature or are sold, the proceeds are generally reinvested in yen-denominated securities. Aflac Japan holds these yen-denominated assets to fund its yen-denominated policy obligations. In addition, Aflac Incorporated has yen-denominated debt obligations.

Although we generally do not convert yen into dollars, we do translate financial statement amounts from yen into dollars for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, reported amounts are affected by foreign currency fluctuations. We report unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments), which exposes Aflac to changes in foreign exchange rates. This foreign currency effect is accounted for as a component of unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities in accumulated other comprehensive income. When the yen strengthens against the dollar, shareholders’ equity is negatively impacted and, conversely, when the yen weakens against the dollar, shareholders’ equity is positively impacted. Aflac Japan invests a portion of its assets in reverse-dual currency securities to provide a higher yield than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds, while still adhering to prudent standards of credit quality. The yen/dollar exchange rate would have to strengthen to approximately 50 before the yield on these instruments would equal that of a comparable yen-denominated instrument.

On a consolidated basis, we attempt to minimize the exposure of shareholders’ equity to foreign currency translation fluctuations. We accomplish this by investing a portion of Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio in dollar-denominated securities and by the Parent Company’s issuance of yen-denominated debt (for additional information, see the discussion under Hedging Activities as follows in this section of MD&A). As a result, the effect of currency fluctuations on our net assets is reduced.

 

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The following table demonstrates the effect of foreign currency fluctuations by presenting the dollar values of our yen-denominated assets and liabilities, and our consolidated yen-denominated net asset exposure at selected exchange rates as of December 31.

Dollar Value of Yen-Denominated Assets and Liabilities

at Selected Exchange Rates

 

(In millions)    2010     2009  

Yen/dollar exchange rates

     66.49        81.49 (1)      96.49        77.10         92.10 (1)      107.10   
                    

Yen-denominated financial instruments:

             

Assets:

             

Securities available for sale:

             

Fixed maturities

   $ 35,905      $ 29,296      $ 24,742      $ 31,373       $ 26,263      $ 22,585   

Fixed maturities – consolidated variable interest entities

     3,637        2,968        2,506        0         0        0   

Perpetual securities

     6,911        5,638        4,762        8,350         6,990        6,011   

Perpetual securities – consolidated variable interest entities

     1,745        1,424        1,203        0         0        0   

Equity securities

     23        19        16        23         19        17   

Securities held to maturity:

             

Fixed maturities

     36,119        29,470        24,889        31,640         26,487        22,777   

Fixed maturities – consolidated variable interest entities

     752        614        518        0         0        0   

Cash and cash equivalents

     939        766        647        1,088         911        783   

Other financial instruments

     153        125        105        111         93        80   
                                                   

Subtotal

     86,184        70,320        59,388        72,585         60,763        52,253   
                                                   

Liabilities:

             

Notes payable

     1,280        1,044        882        1,616         1,353        1,163   

Japanese policyholder protection corporation

     132        108        91        153         128        110   
                                                   

Subtotal

     1,412        1,152        973        1,769         1,481        1,273   
                                                   

Net yen-denominated financial instruments

     84,772        69,168        58,415        70,816         59,282        50,980   

Other yen-denominated assets

     10,338        8,435        7,124        8,630         7,225        6,213   

Other yen-denominated liabilities

     95,441        77,873        65,767        77,327         64,733        55,667   
                                                   

Consolidated yen-denominated net assets (liabilities) subject to foreign currency fluctuation

   $ (331   $ (270   $ (228   $ 2,119       $ 1,774      $ 1,526   
                                                   
(1)

Actual period-end exchange rate

Effective January 1, 2010, we were required to consolidate certain VIEs upon the adoption of new accounting guidance. Prior to the adoption of this new accounting guidance, our beneficial interest in certain VIEs was a yen-denominated available-for-sale fixed maturity security. Upon consolidation on January 1, 2010, the original yen-denominated investment was derecognized and the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-maturity or perpetual securities and cross-currency swaps were recognized. While the combination of a U.S. dollar-denominated investment and cross-currency swap economically creates a yen-denominated investment, these investments will create foreign currency fluctuations but have no impact on our net investment hedge position. For additional information, see the Hedging Activities subsection of MD&A.

Some of the consolidated VIEs in our Aflac Japan portfolio use foreign currency swaps to convert foreign denominated cash flows to yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan, in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations. Foreign currency swaps exchange an initial principal amount in two currencies, agreeing to re-exchange the currencies at a future date, at an agreed upon exchange rate. There may also be periodic exchanges of payments at specified intervals based on the agreed upon rates and notional amounts.

 

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We are exposed to economic currency risk only when yen funds are actually converted into dollars. This primarily occurs when we repatriate funds from Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S., which is generally done annually. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of repatriation will differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. A portion of the repatriation may be used to service Aflac Incorporated’s yen-denominated notes payable with the remainder converted into dollars.

Interest Rate Risk

Our primary interest rate exposure is to the impact of changes in interest rates on the fair value of our investments in debt and perpetual securities. We use a modified duration analysis modeling approach, which measures price percentage volatility, to estimate the sensitivity of the fair values of our investments to interest rate changes on the debt and perpetual securities we own. For example, if the current duration of a debt security or perpetual security is 10, then the fair value of that security will increase by approximately 10% if market interest rates decrease by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant. Likewise, the fair value of the debt security or perpetual security will decrease by approximately 10% if market interest rates increase by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant.

The estimated effect of potential increases in interest rates on the fair values of debt and perpetual securities we own, interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, notes payable, and our obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation as of December 31 follows:

Sensitivity of Fair Values of Financial Instruments

to Interest Rate Changes

 

        2010      2009  
(In millions)      Fair
Value
     +100
Basis
Points
     Fair
Value
     +100
Basis
Points
 

Assets:

             

Debt and perpetual securities:

             

Fixed-maturity securities:

             

Yen-denominated

     $ 62,733       $ 55,518       $ 51,989       $ 46,199   

Dollar-denominated

       16,091         14,764         10,620         9,668   

Perpetual securities:

             

Yen-denominated

       7,062         6,444         6,990         6,376   

Dollar-denominated

       450         411         273         251   
                                       

Total debt and perpetual securities

     $ 86,336       $ 77,137       $ 69,872       $ 62,494   
                                       

Interest rate and foreign currency swaps

     $ 564       $ (251    $ 0       $ 0   
                                       

Liabilities:

             

Notes payable(1)

     $ (3,248    $ (3,060    $ (2,683    $ (2,557

Interest rate and foreign currency swaps

       (398      (8      (3      0   

Japanese policyholder protection corporation

       (108      (108      (128      (128
                                       
(1)

Excludes capitalized lease obligations

There are various factors that affect the fair value of our investment in debt and perpetual securities. Included in those factors are changes in the prevailing interest rate environment. Changes in the interest rate environment directly affect the balance of unrealized gains or losses for a given period in relation to a prior period. Decreases in market yields generally improve the fair value of debt and perpetual securities while increases in market yields generally have a negative impact on the fair value of our debt and perpetual securities. However, we do not expect to realize a majority of any unrealized gains or losses because we have the intent and ability to hold such securities until a recovery of value, which may be maturity. For additional information on unrealized losses on debt and perpetual securities, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.

 

(In years)      2010        2009  

Yen-denominated debt and perpetual securities

       12           12   

Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years

       14           14   

Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force

       10           10   
   

The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac U.S. dollar-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.

 

(In years)      2010        2009  

Dollar-denominated debt and perpetual securities

       10           9   

Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years

       7           7   

Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force

       6           6   
   

The following table shows a comparison of average required interest rates for future policy benefits and investment yields, based on amortized cost, for the years ended December 31.

Comparison of Interest Rates for Future Policy Benefits

and Investment Yields

(Net of Investment Expenses)

 

     2010     2009     2008  
         U.S.             Japan(1)             U.S.             Japan(1)             U.S.             Japan(1)      

Policies issued during year:

           

Required interest on policy reserves

    5.50     2.39     5.50     2.51     5.50     2.74

New money yield on investments

    5.79        2.44        7.22        2.88        7.56        3.27   

Policies in force at year-end:

           

Required interest on policy reserves

    6.03        4.40        6.06        4.47        6.12        4.55   

Return on average invested assets

    6.37        3.48        6.66        3.65        6.77        3.82   
                                                 
(1)

Represents yen-denominated investments for Aflac Japan that support policy obligations and therefore excludes Aflac Japan’s annuity products, and dollar-denominated investments and related investment income

We continue to monitor the spread between our new money yield and the required interest assumption for newly issued products in both the United States and Japan and will re-evaluate those assumptions as necessary.

Over the next two years, we have yen-denominated securities that will mature with yields in excess of Aflac Japan’s current net investment yield of 3.34%. These securities total $3.8 billion at amortized cost and have an average yield of 5.14%. Currently, when debt and perpetual securities we own mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, adding riders to our older policies has helped offset negative investment spreads on these policies. Overall, adequate profit margins exist in Aflac Japan’s aggregate block of business because of profits that have emerged from changes in the mix of business and favorable experience from mortality, morbidity and expenses.

We have entered into interest rate swap agreements related to our 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. These agreements effectively swap the variable interest rate Uridashi notes to fixed rate notes to eliminate the volatility in our interest expense. We also have interest rate swaps related to some of our consolidated VIEs. These interest rate swaps are primarily used to convert interest receipts on floating-rate fixed-maturity securities contracts to fixed rates. For further information, see Notes 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Credit Risk

Our investment activities expose us to credit risk, which is a consequence of extending credit and/or carrying investment positions. However, we continue to adhere to prudent standards for credit quality. We accomplish this by considering our product needs and overall corporate objectives, in addition to credit risk. In evaluating the initial rating, we look at the overall senior issuer rating, the explicit rating for the actual issue or the rating for the security class, and, where applicable, the appropriate designation from the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). All of our securities have ratings from either a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or the SVO of the NAIC. In addition, we perform extensive internal credit reviews to ensure that we are consistent in applying rating criteria for all of our securities.

We use specific criteria to judge the credit quality of both existing and prospective investments. Furthermore, we use several methods to monitor these criteria, including credit rating services and internal credit analysis. The distributions by credit rating of our purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:

Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating

 

                2010                         2009                         2008           

AAA

       1.0        7.6        9.9

AA

       60.7           58.9           36.4   

A

       24.5           31.4           42.0   

BBB

       13.8           2.1           11.7   
                                  

Total

       100.0        100.0        100.0
                       

Our purchases of securities from year to year are determined based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities, while meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality. We did not purchase any perpetual securities during the periods presented in the table above.

The distributions of debt and perpetual securities we own, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:

Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating

 

      2010      2009  
          Amortized    
Cost
         Fair    
Value
         Amortized    
Cost
         Fair    
Value
 

AAA

     3.3      3.6      3.3      3.4

AA

     35.7         36.5         34.6         35.8   

A

     36.0         36.6         39.6         39.8   

BBB

     18.8         18.7         15.6         15.2   

BB or lower

     6.2         4.6         6.9         5.8   
                                     

Total

     100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0
                                     

As of December 31, 2010, our direct and indirect exposure to securities in our investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.

Subordination Distribution

The majority of our total investments in debt and perpetual securities was senior debt at December 31, 2010, and 2009. We also maintained investments in subordinated financial instruments that primarily consisted of Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II, and Tier I securities, listed in order of seniority. The Lower Tier II (LTII) securities are debt instruments with fixed maturities. Our Upper Tier II (UTII) and Tier I investments consisted of debt instruments with fixed maturities and perpetual securities, which have an economic maturity as opposed to a stated maturity.

 

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The following table shows the subordination distribution of our debt and perpetual securities as of December 31.

Subordination Distribution of Debt and Perpetual Securities

 

      2010     2009  
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
     Percentage
of Total
    Amortized
Cost
     Percentage
of Total
 

Senior notes

   $ 68,407         79.5   $ 54,971         76.5
   

Subordinated securities:

          

Fixed maturities (stated maturity date):

          

Lower Tier II

     8,679         10.1        7,944         11.1   

Upper Tier II

     15         .0        178         .2   

Tier I(1)

     613         .7        754         1.0   

Surplus notes

     335         .4        336         .5   

Trust preferred - non-banks

     85         .1        85         .1   

Other subordinated - non-banks

     52         .1        52         .1   
   

Total fixed maturities

     9,779         11.4        9,349         13.0   
   

Perpetual securities (economic maturity date):

          

Upper Tier II

     5,285         6.1        5,200         7.2   

Tier I

     2,542         3.0        2,354         3.3   
   

Total perpetual securities

     7,827         9.1        7,554         10.5   
   

Total debt and perpetual securities

   $ 86,013         100.0   $ 71,874         100.0
   
(1)

Includes trust preferred securities

Portfolio Composition

For information regarding the amortized cost for our investments in debt and perpetual securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments, refer to Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investment Concentrations

As of December 31, 2010, our largest investment industry sector concentration was banks and financial institutions. Throughout 2008 and during the first half of 2009, concerns related to troubled residential mortgages in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe spread to structured investment securities. As a result, banks and financial institutions suffered significant write-downs of asset values, which pressured banks and financial institutions to seek capital and liquidity support. National governments responded with various forms of support, ranging from guarantees on new and existing debt to significant injections of capital. In the second half of 2009, asset valuations generally improved, and banks and other institutions continued to use exchanges and tender offers to enhance their core capital. However, 2010 brought new concerns about the fiscal integrity of peripheral European sovereign nations. As a result, Greece and Ireland were forced to accept external funding aid in various forms to meet their financial obligations, as public markets were not accessible. The financial institutions of these countries have faced both liquidity and asset valuation pressures. Nationalization and/or recapitalization, along with loss-sharing among bondholders, all remain distinct risks for financial institutions in these countries and others facing similar fiscal pressures. While European politicians have become increasingly hesitant to put taxpayers at risk, with few exceptions, nationalizations and burden-sharing among debt holders remain options of last resort as governments try to remain generally supportive of the classes of investments that we own.

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our investment discipline, further discussion of our largest investment industry sector concentration (banks and financial institutions), and disclosure on our investment exposure to certain Eurozone countries (Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain).

 

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Our largest global investment exposures as of December 31, 2010, were as follows:

Largest Global Investment Positions

 

                       Ratings
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
     % of Total      Seniority    Moody’s    S&P    Fitch

Japan National Government(1)

   $ 16,342         19.0    Senior    Aa2    AA    AA-

Israel Electric Corp.

     990         1.2       Senior    Baa2    BB+    -

Republic of Tunisia

     936         1.1       Senior    Baa2    BBB    BBB

HSBC Holdings PLC

     821         1.0               

HSBC Finance Corporation (formerly Household Finance)

     639         .7       Senior    A3    A    AA-

Republic New York Corp.

     11         -       LTII    A2    A+    AA-

HSBC Holdings PLC

     15         -       UTII    A1    A    AA-

HSBC Bank PLC (RAV Int’l. Ltd.)

     40         .1       UTII    A3    A    A+

The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking
Corporation Ltd.

     80         .1       UTII    Aa3    -    -

HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC Capital Funding LP)

     36         .1       Tier I    A3    A-    A+

Republic of South Africa

     750         .9       Senior    A3    BBB+    BBB+

Commerzbank AG (includes Dresdner Bank)

     713         .9               

Commerzbank AG

     468         .6       LTII    A1    A-    A

Dresdner Bank AG (Dresdner Funding Trust IV)

     190         .2       LTII    A1    A-    A

Dresdner Bank AG (Dresdner Funding Trust I)

     55         .1       Tier I    Baa3    CCC    B

Bank of America Corp. (includes Merrill Lynch)

     649         .7               

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.

     333         .4       Senior    A2    A    A+

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.

     12         -       LTII    A3    A-    A

Bank of America Corp. (includes Fleet Financial Group Inc., Nationsbank Corporation)

     286         .3       LTII    A3    A-    A

Bank of America Corp. (NB Capital Trust, Bankamerica Instit-A)

     18         -       Tier I    Baa3    BB+    BBB-

Mizuho Financial Group Inc.

     637         .7               

Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Finance Cayman & Aruba

     637         .7       UTII    A2    A-    -

UniCredit SpA

     616         .7               

Unicredito Bank Austria

     11         -       LTII    Aa3    AA+    -

Hypovereinsbank (Unicredit Bank AG)

     245         .3       LTII    A2    A-    A

Hypovereinsbank (HVB Funding Trust I, III & VI)

     360         .4       Tier I    Baa3    BBB    BBB

BNP Paribas (includes Fortis)

     553         .6               

BNP Paribas

     123         .1       Senior    Aa2    AA    AA-

Fortis Bank SA-NV

     307         .4       UTII    A3    A    A-

Fortis Luxembourg Finance SA

     123         .1       UTII    Baa2    A    A-

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.

     552         .6               

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU Curacao Holdings NV)

     552         .6       LTII    Aa3    A    A-

Erste Group Bank AG

     527         .6               

Erste Group Bank

     123         .1       LTII    A1    A-    A-

Erste Group Bank (Erste Finance Jersey Ltd. 3 & 5)

     404         .5       Tier I    Ba2    -    BBB-

Investcorp SA

     504         .6               

Investcorp Capital Limited

     504         .6       Senior    Ba2    -    BB+

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.

     491         .6               

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

     123         .1       LTII    Aa3    A    A-

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC International Finance)

     368         .5       UTII    A1    A-    -

Telecom Italia SpA

     491         .6               

Telecom Italia Finance SA

     491         .6       Senior    Baa2    BBB    BBB

National Grid PLC

     490         .6               

National Grid Gas PLC

     245         .3       Senior    A3    A-    A

National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC

     245         .3       Senior    A3    A-    A

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (including Bear Stearns)

     486         .6               

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (including Bear Stearns Companies Inc.)

     429         .6       Senior    Aa3    A+    AA-

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (FNBC)

     29         -       Senior    Aa1    AA-    -

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (Bank One Corp.)

     17         -       LTII    A1    A    A+

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NBD Bank)

     11         -       LTII    Aa2    A+    A+

Citigroup Inc.

     484         .5               

Citigroup Inc. (includes Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., Associates Corp.)

     483         .5       Senior    A3    A    A+

Citigroup Inc. (Citicorp)

     1         -       LTII    Baa1    A-    A

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

     479         .5               

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

     123         .1       LTII    Aa2    AA-    AA-

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

     245         .3       UTII    -    A+    -

Bankwest

     111         .1       UTII    Aa2    AA-    -

Barclays Bank PLC

     477         .5               

Barclays Bank PLC

     184         .2       LTII    Baa1    A    A+

Barclays Bank PLC

     245         .3       UTII    Baa2    A-    A

Barclays Bank PLC

     48         -       Tier I    Baa3    A-    A
           

Total

   $ 27,988         32.5            
           

Total debt and perpetual securities

   $ 86,013         100.0            
           
(1)

JGBs or JGB-backed securities

 

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As previously disclosed, we own long-dated debt instruments in support of our long-dated policyholder obligations. Included in our largest global investment holdings are legacy positions that date back many years. Additionally, the concentration of certain of our holdings of individual credit exposures has grown over time through merger and consolidation activity. Beginning in 2005, we have generally limited our investment exposures to issuers to no more than 5% of total adjusted capital (TAC) on a statutory accounting basis, with the exception of obligations of the Japanese and U.S. governments. However, existing investment exposures that exceeded 5% of TAC at the time this guidance was adopted, or exposures that may exceed this threshold from time to time through merger and consolidation activity, are not automatically reduced through sales of the issuers’ securities but rather are reduced over time consistent with our investment policy.

We have investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The outstanding amount of a particular issuance, as well as the level of activity in a particular issuance and market conditions, including credit events and the interest rate environment, affect liquidity regardless of whether it is publicly or privately issued.

The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.

Investment Securities by Type of Issuance

 

      2010        2009  
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

Publicly issued securities:

                 

Fixed maturities

   $ 31,098         $ 32,457         $ 20,649         $ 21,087   

Perpetual securities

     235           256           116           122   

Equity securities

     13           14           14           15   
   

Total publicly issued

     31,346           32,727           20,779           21,224   
   

Privately issued securities:

                 

Fixed maturities

     47,088           46,367           43,671           41,522   

Perpetual securities

     7,592           7,256           7,438           7,141   

Equity securities

     9           9           8           9   
   

Total privately issued

     54,689           53,632           51,117           48,672   
   

Total investment securities

   $ 86,035         $ 86,359         $ 71,896         $ 69,896   
   

The following table details our privately issued investment securities as of December 31.

Privately Issued Securities

 

(Amortized cost, in millions)      2010        2009  

Privately issued securities as a percentage of total debt and perpetual securities

       63.6        71.1
   

Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan

     $ 51,702         $ 48,639   

Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan as a percentage of total debt and perpetual securities

       60.1        67.7
   

Reverse-Dual Currency Securities(1)

 

(Amortized cost, in millions)      2010        2009  

Privately issued reverse-dual currency securities

     $ 12,790         $ 14,070   

Publicly issued collateral structured as reverse-dual currency securities(2)

       2,844           0   
   

Total reverse-dual currency securities

     $ 15,634         $ 14,070   
   

Reverse-dual currency securities as a percentage of total debt and perpetual securities

       18.2        19.6
   
(1)

Principal payments in yen and interest payments in dollar

(2)

Publicly issued securities held as collateral of former QSPEs

 

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Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds. Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers and have longer maturities, thereby allowing us to improve our asset/liability matching and our overall investment returns. Most of our privately issued securities are issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings of the issuer, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants are required.

Below-Investment-Grade and Split-Rated Securities

In the event of a credit rating downgrade to below-investment-grade status, we do not automatically liquidate our position. However, if the security is in the held-to-maturity portfolio and we no longer have the intent to hold the security until its maturity, we immediately transfer it to the available-for-sale portfolio so that the security’s fair value and its unrealized gain or loss are reflected on the balance sheet.

Debt and perpetual securities classified as below investment grade at December 31, 2010 and 2009 were generally reported as available for sale and carried at fair value. Each of the below-investment-grade securities was investment grade at the time of purchase and was subsequently downgraded by credit rating agencies. Below-investment-grade debt and perpetual securities represented 6.2% of total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2010, compared with 6.9% of total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2009, at amortized cost.

 

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The below-investment-grade securities at December 31 were as follows:

Below-Investment-Grade Securities

 

     2010     2009  
(In millions)   Par
Value
    Amortized
Cost
   

Fair

Value

    Unrealized
Gain/Loss
    Par
Value
    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
    Unrealized
Gain/Loss
 

Investcorp Capital Limited

  $ 504      $ 504      $ 337      $ (167   $ 452      $ 452      $ 223      $ (229

Irish Life and Permanent PLC(1)

    454        112        112        0        402        204        197        (7

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (includes HBOS in 2009)(1)

    440        364        387        23        896        597        612        15   

EFG Eurobank Ergasias

    417        416        131        (285     *        *        *        *   

UPM-Kymmene

    380        380        290        (90     337        337        224        (113

Ford Motor Credit Company

    368        368        374        6        326        326        302        (24

NBG (National Bank of Greece)

    368        368        146        (222     *        *        *        *   

Alpha Bank

    368        368        115        (253     *        *        *        *   

Dexia SA (includes Dexia Bank Belgium & Dexia Overseas)(1)

    368        264        186        (78     326        233        233        0   

Swedbank(1)

    356        299        314        15        152        117        119        2   

CSAV (Tollo Shipping Co. S.A.)

    295        295        161        (134     261        261        135        (126

Hella KG Hueck & Co.

    270        269        224        (45     239        238        148        (90

KBL European Private Bankers S.A. (Part of KBC Group NV)(1)

    245        137        144        7        217        121        182        61   

Allied Irish Banks PLC

    245        77        77        0        *        *        *        *   

Aiful Corporation

    184        67        67        0        175        175        74        (101

BAWAG Capital Finance Jersey(1)

    172        120        116        (4     152        131        114        (17

IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG

    160        160        104        (56     141        141        73        (68

Hypo Vorarlberg Capital Finance(1)

    135        108        97        (11     *        *        *        *   

Finance For Danish Industry (FIH)

    123        123        104        (19     109        109        81        (28

Royal Bank of Scotland
Group PLC(1)

    58        19        42        23        329        134        132        (2

Commerzbank AG (formerly Dresdner Bank AG) (Tier I only)

    53        55        46        (9     216        218        172        (46

Macy’s Inc.

    53        58        58        0        53        58        50        (8

Countrywide Home Loans(2)

    33        28        24        (4     129        114        82        (32

Takefuji Corporation

    0        0        0        0        363        194        194        0   

Terra(3)

    **        **        **        **        129        114        95        (19

Investkredit Funding II Ltd.(1)

    0        0        0        0        76        46        46        0   

Eirles Two Limited 310 A(3)

    0        0        0        0        54        20        28        8   

Various Other Issuers (below $50 million of par value)(4)

    353        338        302        (36     847        610        517        (93
                                   

Total

  $ 6,402      $ 5,297      $ 3,958      $ (1,339   $ 6,381      $ 4,950      $ 4,033      $ (917
                                   
* Investment grade at respective reporting date
** Beginning January 1, 2010, these investments are consolidated and are no longer reported as a single investment.
(1)

Perpetual security

(2)

Collateralized mortgage obligation

(3)

Collateralized debt obligation

(4)

Includes 18 different issuers in 2010 and 19 different issuers in 2009

Occasionally, a debt or perpetual security will be split rated. This occurs when one rating agency rates the security as investment grade while another rating agency rates the same security as below investment grade. Our policy is to review each issue on a case-by-case basis to determine if a split-rated security should be classified as investment grade or below investment grade. Our review includes evaluating the issuer’s credit position as well as current market pricing and other factors, such as the issuer’s or security’s inclusion on a credit rating downgrade watch list. Split-rated securities totaled $2.4 billion and $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively,

 

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and represented 3% of total debt and perpetual securities, at amortized cost, during each of those years. The 10 largest split-rated securities as of December 31, 2010, were as follows:

Split-Rated Securities

 

(In millions)      Amortized
Cost
       Investment-Grade
Status

Israel Electric Corp.

     $ 990         Investment Grade

Erste Group Bank(1)

       404         Investment Grade

SLM Corp.

       398         Investment Grade

Dexia Overseas Limited(1)

       184         Investment Grade

Sparebanken Vest(1)

       60         Investment Grade

Macy’s Inc.

       58         Below Investment Grade

Commerzbank (formerly Dresdner Bank AG) (Tier I only)

       55         Below Investment Grade

Mead Corp.

       36         Investment Grade

Frontier North Inc

       33         Investment Grade

Tennessee Gas Pipeline

       31         Investment Grade
 
(1)

Perpetual security

Other-than-temporary Impairment

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our impairment policy.

Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses

The following table provides details on amortized cost, fair value and unrealized gains and losses for our investments in debt and perpetual securities by investment-grade status as of December 31, 2010.

 

(In millions)    Total
Amortized
Cost
     Total
Fair
Value
     Percentage
of Total Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 

Available-for-sale securities:

             

Investment-grade securities

   $ 50,632       $ 51,909         60.1   $ 2,452       $ 1,175   

Below-investment-grade securities

     5,297         3,958         4.6        84         1,423   

Held-to-maturity securities:

             

Investment-grade securities

     30,084         30,469         35.3        1,148         763   
            

Total

   $ 86,013       $ 86,336         100.0   $ 3,684       $ 3,361   
            

The following table presents an aging of debt and perpetual securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2010.

Aging of Unrealized Losses

 

(In millions)

 

Total

Amortized

Cost

   

Total

Unrealized

Loss

    Less than Six Months     Six Months to Less
than 12 Months
   

12 Months

or Longer

 
      Amortized
Cost
    Unrealized
Loss
    Amortized
Cost
    Unrealized
Loss
    Amortized
Cost
    Unrealized
Loss
 

Available-for-sale securities:

               

Investment-grade securities

  $ 16,852      $ 1,175      $ 5,588      $ 140      $ 2,503      $ 154      $ 8,761      $ 881   

Below-investment- grade securities

    3,848        1,423        432        79        120        4        3,296        1,340   

Held-to-maturity securities:

               

Investment-grade securities

    13,304        763        2,119        52        245        5        10,940        706   
                                   

Total

  $ 34,004      $ 3,361      $ 8,139      $ 271      $ 2,868      $ 163      $ 22,997      $ 2,927   
                                   

 

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The following table presents a distribution of unrealized losses on debt and perpetual securities by magnitude as of December 31, 2010.

Percentage Decline From Amortized Cost

 

(In millions)  

Total

Amortized

Cost

   

Total

Unrealized

Loss

    Less than 20%     20% to 50%     Greater than 50%  
     

Amortized

Cost

   

Unrealized

Loss

   

Amortized

Cost

   

Unrealized

Loss

   

Amortized

Cost

   

Unrealized

Loss

 

Available-for-sale securities:

                                                               

Investment-grade securities

  $ 16,852      $ 1,175      $ 16,132      $ 963      $ 720      $ 212      $ 0      $ 0   

Below-investment-grade securities

    3,848        1,423        1,064        99        1,632        563        1,152        761   

Held-to-maturity securities:

               

Investment-grade securities

    13,304        763        12,690        610        614        153        0        0   
                                   

Total

  $ 34,004      $ 3,361      $ 29,886      $ 1,672      $ 2,966      $ 928      $ 1,152      $ 761   
                                   

The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in our portfolio as of December 31, 2010.

 

(In millions)    Credit
Rating
   Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
 

EFG Eurobank Ergasias

   BB    $ 416       $ 131       $ (285

Alpha Bank

   BB      368         115         (253

NBG (National Bank of Greece)

   BB      368         146         (222

Investcorp Capital Limited

   BB      504         337         (167

Dexia Overseas Limited(1)

   BB      447         288         (159

CSAV (Tollo Shipping Co. S.A.)

   B      295         161         (134

SLM Corp

   BBB      398         293         (105

UPM-Kymmene

   BB      380         290         (90

Banco Espirito Santo

   A      368         308         (60

IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG

   BB      160         104         (56
   
(1)

Perpetual security

Declines in fair value noted above resulted from changes in interest rates and credit spreads, yen/dollar exchange rates, and issuer credit status. However, we believe it would be inappropriate to recognize impairment charges because we believe the changes in fair value are temporary.

Investment Valuation and Cash

We estimate the fair values of our securities available for sale on a monthly basis. We monitor the estimated fair values obtained from our custodian and pricing brokers and those derived from our discounted cash flow pricing model for consistency from month to month, while considering current market conditions. We also periodically discuss with our custodian and pricing brokers the pricing techniques they use to monitor the consistency of their approach and periodically assess the appropriateness of the valuation level assigned to the values obtained from them. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair value hierarchy classification of our securities available for sale as of December 31, 2010.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $2.1 billion, or 2.4% of total investments and cash, as of December 31, 2010, compared with $2.3 billion, or 3.2%, at December 31, 2009. For a discussion of the factors causing the change in our cash balance, see the Operating Activities, Investing Activities and Financing Activities sections of this MD&A.

For additional information concerning our investments, see Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

The following table presents deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        % Change  

Aflac Japan

     $ 6,964         $ 5,846           19.1 %(1) 

Aflac U.S.

       2,770           2,687           3.1   
   

Total

     $ 9,734         $ 8,533           14.1
   
(1)

Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs increased 5.4% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2010.

The increase in Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs was primarily driven by the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar and new annualized premium sales. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our deferred policy acquisition costs.

Policy Liabilities

The following table presents policy liabilities by segment for the years ending December 31.

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        % Change  

Aflac Japan

     $ 74,872         $ 62,055           20.7 %(1) 

Aflac U.S.

       7,581           7,187           5.5   

Other

       3           3           .0   
   

Total

     $ 82,456         $ 69,245           19.1
   
(1)

Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities increased 6.8% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2010.

The increase in Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities was primarily the result of the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar and the growth and aging of our in-force business. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our policy liabilities.

Notes Payable

Notes payable totaled $3.0 billion at December 31, 2010, compared with $2.6 billion at December 31, 2009. In August 2010, we issued $450 million and $300 million in senior notes that are due in August 2040 and August 2015, respectively. In July 2010, we paid $447 million to redeem 39.4 billion yen of our Samurai notes upon their maturity. The ratio of debt to total capitalization (debt plus shareholders’ equity, excluding the unrealized gains and losses on investment securities and derivatives) was 21.7% as of December 31, 2010, compared with 22.3% a year ago. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our notes payable.

Benefit Plans

Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on our Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Policyholder Protection Corporation

The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. On December 12, 2008, legislation was enacted extending the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC), which included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC through March 2012.

Hedging Activities

Net Investment Hedge

Our primary exposure to be hedged is our investment in Aflac Japan, which is affected by changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. To mitigate this exposure, we have taken the following courses of action. First, Aflac Japan

 

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maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. Second, we have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated liabilities (Samurai and Uridashi notes and yen-denominated loans) as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. At the beginning of each quarter, we make our net investment hedge designation. If the total of our designated yen-denominated liabilities is equal to or less than our net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective and the related exchange effect is reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. Should these designated yen-denominated liabilities exceed our investment in Aflac Japan, the foreign exchange effect on the portion of the liabilities that exceeds our investment in Aflac Japan would be recognized in net earnings. We estimate that if our yen-denominated liabilities exceeded our investment in Aflac Japan by 10 billion yen, we would report a foreign exchange gain/loss of approximately $1 million for every 1% yen weakening/strengthening in the end-of-period yen/dollar exchange rate. For hedge designation purposes, Aflac Japan yen-denominated net assets exceeded the Parent Company’s designated yen-denominated liabilities at the beginning of each of the quarters in 2010. As a result, our net investment hedge was effective during the year ended December 31, 2010, and therefore there was no impact on net earnings during the year.

We recognized an immaterial loss in net earnings during the second quarter of 2009 for the negative foreign exchange effect on the Parent Company yen-denominated liabilities that exceeded our yen net asset position in Aflac Japan. Our net investment hedge was effective during the other quarters of 2009 and the full year ended December 31, 2008; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings during those periods.

Starting in 2010, the yen net asset figure calculated for hedging purposes differs from the yen-denominated net asset position as discussed in the Currency Risk subsection of MD&A. As disclosed in that subsection, the consolidation of the underlying assets in certain VIEs on January 1, 2010, required that we derecognize our yen-denominated investment in the VIE and recognize the underlying U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-maturity or perpetual securities and cross-currency swaps. While these U.S. dollar investments will create foreign currency fluctuations, the combination of the U.S. dollar-denominated investment and the cross-currency swap economically creates a yen-denominated investment that qualifies for inclusion as a component of our investment in Aflac Japan.

The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, including certain VIEs as yen-denominated investments for net investment hedging purposes as discussed above, are summarized as follows (translated at end-of-period exchange rates) for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)    2010      2009  

Aflac Japan yen-denominated net assets

   $ 3,282       $ 2,736   

Parent Company yen-denominated net liabilities

     (1,041      (962
   

Consolidated yen-denominated net assets (liabilities) subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations

   $ 2,241       $ 1,774   
   

The increase in our yen-denominated net asset position was due primarily to the strengthening of the yen and improvement in the fair values of Aflac Japan’s investments.

Cash Flow Hedges

Effective January 1, 2010, as a result of the adoption of new accounting guidance and the corresponding consolidation of additional VIEs, we have freestanding derivative instruments that are reported in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and are reported in other assets and other liabilities. Several of these freestanding derivatives qualify for hedge accounting, including interest rate and foreign currency swaps. Interest rate and foreign currency swaps are used within VIEs to hedge the risk arising from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, respectively. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded immediately in current period earnings as net realized investment gains and losses. While an immaterial amount of ineffectiveness was recorded during 2010, these hedging relationships were effective during the year ended December 31, 2010. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

We have interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in our interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated

 

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these interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes, and the swaps had no value at inception. GAAP requires that the change in the fair value of the swap contracts be recorded in other comprehensive income so long as the hedge is deemed effective. Any ineffectiveness is recognized in net earnings. This hedge was effective during the three-year period ended December 31, 2010; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2010, we had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on our balance sheet.

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

Aflac provides the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through dividends and management fees. The following table presents the amounts provided for the years ended December 31:

Liquidity Provided by Aflac to Parent Company

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Dividends declared or paid by Aflac

   $ 370         $ 464         $ 1,062   

Management fees paid by Aflac

     205           124           71   
   

The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness. The Parent Company’s sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable and are not expected to change materially in the future. For additional information, see the Financing Activities subsection of this MD&A.

The Parent Company also accesses debt security markets to provide additional sources of capital. In March 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows us to issue an indefinite amount of senior and subordinated debt, in one or more series, from time to time through May 2012. We issued $450 million and $300 million of senior notes in August 2010, $400 million of senior notes in December 2009, and $850 million of senior notes in May 2009, under this registration statement. In November 2009, we filed an additional shelf registration statement with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows us to issue up to 100 billion yen of yen-denominated Samurai notes in Japan (approximately $1.2 billion, using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate) through November 2011. If issued, these Samurai notes would not be available to U.S. persons. We believe outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. For additional information, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The principal sources of cash for our insurance operations are premiums and investment income. The primary uses of cash by our insurance operations are policy claims, commissions, operating expenses, income taxes and payments to the Parent Company for management fees and dividends. Both the sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable.

When making an investment decision, our first consideration is based on product needs. Our investment objectives provide for liquidity through the purchase of investment-grade debt securities. These objectives also take into account duration matching, and because of the long-term nature of our business, we have adequate time to react to changing cash flow needs.

As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments. We expect our future cash flows from premiums and our investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet our cash needs for benefits and expenses.

 

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Our financial statements adequately convey our financing arrangements during the periods presented. We have not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in our balance sheet. We do not have any restrictive financial covenants related to our notes payable, and we were in compliance with all of the covenants of our notes payable at December 31, 2010. We have not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards, including securities lending transactions. See Notes 1 and 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our securities lending accounting policy and activity. We do not have a known trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would reasonably result in our liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount. Our cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure.

The following table presents the estimated payments by period of our major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010. We translated our yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.

Distribution of Payments by Period

 

(In millions)    Total
Liability
(1)
    Total
Payments
     Less
Than
One Year
     One to
Three Years
     Four to
Five Years
     After
Five Years
 

Future policy benefits liability (Note 7)

   $ 72,103      $ 316,411       $ 10,156       $ 19,990       $ 19,501       $ 266,764   

Unpaid policy claims liability (Note 7)

     3,719        3,719         2,741         576         234         168   

Long-term debt – principal (Note 8)

     3,032        3,038         429         327         484         1,798   

Long-term debt – interest (Note 8)

     31        2,369         159         298         289         1,623   

Policyholder protection corporation (Note 2)

     108        108         40         68         0         0   

Operating service agreements (Note 14)

     N/A (2)      571         136         214         205         16   

Operating lease obligations (Note 14)

     N/A (2)      146         59         37         26         24   

Capitalized lease obligations (Note 14)

     6        6         2         3         1         0   

Marketing commitments (Note 14)

     N/A (2)      23         23         0         0         0   
                     

Total contractual obligations

   $ 78,999      $ 326,391       $ 13,745       $ 21,513       $ 20,740       $ 270,393   
                     

Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $16 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.

(1)

Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010.

(2)

Not applicable

The distribution of payments for future policy benefits is an estimate of all future benefit payments for policies in force as of December 31, 2010. These projected values contain assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality and morbidity. The distribution of payments for unpaid policy claims includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of both future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above. We anticipate that the future policy benefit liability of $72.1 billion at December 31, 2010, along with future net premiums and investment income, will be sufficient to fund future policy benefit payments.

The distribution of payments due in less than one year for long-term debt consists of 35 billion yen for our Uridashi notes ($429 million at the December 31, 2010, exchange rate) that are due in September 2011. We plan to use existing cash to redeem these notes.

For more information on our major contractual obligations, see the applicable Note in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the line items in the table above.

 

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Consolidated Cash Flows

We translate cash flows for Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.

The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Operating activities

   $ 6,989       $ 6,161       $ 4,965   

Investing activities

     (7,432      (5,476      (4,283

Financing activities

     161         699         (1,383

Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents

     80         (2      79   
                            

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (202    $ 1,382       $ (622
                            

Operating Activities

 

Consolidated cash flow from operations increased 13% in 2010, compared with 2009. The following table summarizes operating cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.

 

  

   

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Aflac Japan

   $ 6,327       $ 5,177       $ 4,225   

Aflac U.S. and other operations

     662         984         740   
                            

Total

   $ 6,989       $ 6,161       $ 4,965   
                            

The increase in Aflac Japan operating cash flows during 2010 was due primarily to the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar. Despite an overall increase in 2010, Aflac U.S. operating cash flows have been reduced by the payout of lump-sum return-of-premium benefits to policyholders on a closed block of U.S. cancer insurance business. These benefit payouts began in 2008 and will conclude in 2012. We paid out $104 million in 2010, $152 million in 2009, and $63 million in 2008, and we anticipate paying out an additional $109 million over the next two years.

Investing Activities

Operating cash flow is primarily used to purchase debt securities to meet future policy obligations. The following table summarizes investing cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Aflac Japan

   $ (6,221    $ (5,156    $ (3,874

Aflac U.S. and other operations

     (1,211      (320      (409
                            

Total

   $ (7,432    $ (5,476    $ (4,283
                            

Prudent portfolio management dictates that we attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. Currently, when our debt and perpetual securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of our business and our strong cash flows provide us with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. When market opportunities arise, we dispose of selected debt and perpetual securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of our assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or rebalance our portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year. Dispositions before maturity were approximately 7% of the annual average investment portfolio of debt and perpetual securities available for sale during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with 12% in 2009 and 4% in 2008. The decrease in dispositions before maturity in 2010 was due primarily to a bond-swap program that we executed in 2009 to generate investment gains to take advantage of tax loss carryforwards.

 

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Financing Activities

Consolidated cash provided by financing activities was $161 million in 2010 and $699 million in 2009, compared with consolidated cash used by financing activities of $1.4 billion in 2008. Cash returned to shareholders through dividends and treasury stock purchases was $656 million in 2010, compared with $524 million of dividends in 2009 and $1.9 billion of dividends and treasury stock purchases in 2008.

In August 2010, the Parent Company issued $450 million and $300 million in senior notes that are due in August 2040 and August 2015, respectively. In July 2010, we paid $447 million to redeem 39.4 billion yen of our Samurai notes upon their maturity.

In December 2009, the Parent Company issued $400 million in senior notes that are due in December 2039, and in May 2009, issued $850 million in senior notes that are due in May 2019. In April 2009, we redeemed our $450 million senior notes and settled the related cross-currency, interest rate swaps that were used to convert the original dollar-denominated debt obligation into yen. In August 2009, the Parent Company executed a 5 billion yen loan that is due in August 2015. In July 2009, the Parent Company executed a 10 billion yen loan that is due in July 2015.

During 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We paid 4.4 billion yen to extinguish 6.0 billion yen of debt, yielding a realized gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income.

In September 2011, 35 billion yen (approximately $430 million using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate) of our Uridashi notes will mature. We plan to use existing cash to redeem these notes.

The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.

Treasury Stock Purchased

 

(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)    2010        2009        2008  

Treasury stock purchases

   $ 121         $ 10         $ 1,490   
                                

Number of shares purchased:

            

Open market

     2,000           0           23,201   

Other

     192           264           146   
                                

Total shares purchased

     2,192           264           23,347   
                                

Treasury Stock Issued

 

(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)    2010        2009        2008  

Stock issued from treasury

   $ 45         $ 17         $ 32   
                                

Number of shares issued

     1,834           1,043           2,001   
                                

We resumed our share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2010 and purchased 2.0 million shares of our common stock on the open market. During 2009, we did not repurchase any shares, and in 2008, under share repurchase authorizations from our board of directors, we repurchased 23.2 million shares of our common stock in the open market. See Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

As of December 31, 2010, a remaining balance of 30.4 million shares of our common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors. The 30.4 million shares available for purchase were comprised of .4 million shares remaining from an authorization from the board of directors in 2006 and 30.0 million shares remaining from a board authorization in 2008. We anticipate repurchasing six to 12 million shares of our common stock in 2011.

 

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Cash dividends paid to shareholders in 2010 of $1.14 per share increased 1.8% over 2009. The 2009 dividend paid of $1.12 per share increased 16.7% over 2008. The following table presents the sources of dividends to shareholders for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Dividends paid in cash

   $ 535         $ 524         $ 434   

Dividends declared but not paid

     0           (131        131   

Dividends through issuance of treasury shares

     0           0           20   
   

Total dividends to shareholders

   $ 535         $ 393         $ 585   
   

In February 2011, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2011 cash dividend of $.30 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2011.

Regulatory Restrictions

Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to its regulations. The Nebraska insurance department imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid by Aflac to the Parent Company. A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency.

The continued long-term growth of our business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of our insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings or equity contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings. The NAIC’s risk-based capital (RBC) formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations. Aflac’s company action level RBC ratio was 555% as of December 31, 2010. Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2010, Aflac’s total adjusted capital exceeded the amounts to achieve a company action level RBC of 400% and 350% by $1.9 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on our statutory capital and surplus. Currently, the NAIC has ongoing regulatory initiatives relating to revisions to the RBC formula as well as numerous initiatives covering insurance products, investments, and other actuarial and accounting matters.

In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, Japan’s FSA may not allow profit repatriations from Aflac Japan if the transfers would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of policyholders. The FSA maintains its own solvency standard. As of December 31, 2010, Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio was 897.5%, which significantly exceeded regulatory minimums. See the Japanese Regulatory Environment subsection of this MD&A for a discussion of upcoming changes to the calculation of the solvency margin ratio.

Payments are made from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and remittances of earnings. The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the years ended December 31.

 

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Aflac Japan Remittances

 

(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)    2010      2009      2008  

Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company

   $ 30       $ 26       $ 26   

Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan

     37         37         36   

Aflac Japan profit remittances to Aflac U.S. in dollars

     317         230         598   
                            

Aflac Japan profit remittances to Aflac U.S. in yen

     28.7         20.0         64.1   
                            

For additional information on regulatory restrictions on dividends, profit repatriations and other transfers, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other

For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information required by Item 7A is incorporated by reference from the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in Part II, Item 7, of this report.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under this framework, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, which is included herein.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Aflac Incorporated:

We have audited Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Aflac Incorporated’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

LOGO

Atlanta, Georgia

February 25, 2011

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Aflac Incorporated:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of evaluating consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs) and qualified special purpose entities (QSPEs) due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), effective January 1, 2010. Also as discussed in Note 1, the Company changed its method of evaluating other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the FASB, effective January 1, 2009.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 25, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

LOGO

Atlanta, Georgia

February 25, 2011

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)    2010      2009      2008  

Revenues:

        

Premiums, principally supplemental health insurance

   $ 18,073       $ 16,621       $ 14,947   

Net investment income

     3,007         2,765         2,578   

Realized investment gains (losses):

        

Other-than-temporary impairment losses:

        

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (459      (1,387      (753

Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income

     0         26         0   
   

Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized

     (459      (1,361      (753

Sales and redemptions

     38         149         (254

Derivative gains (losses)

     (1      0         0   
   

Total realized investment gains (losses)

     (422      (1,212      (1,007

Other income

     74         80         36   
   

Total revenues

     20,732         18,254         16,554   
   

Benefits and expenses:

        

Benefits and claims

     12,106         11,308         10,499   

Acquisition and operating expenses:

        

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

     1,030         942         775   

Insurance commissions

     1,637         1,568         1,460   

Insurance expenses

     2,062         1,977         1,743   

Interest expense

     149         72         29   

Other operating expenses

     163         152         134   
   

Total acquisition and operating expenses

     5,041         4,711         4,141   
   

Total benefits and expenses

     17,147         16,019         14,640   
   

Earnings before income taxes

     3,585         2,235         1,914   
   

Income tax expense:

        

Current

     862         830         636   

Deferred

     379         (92      24   
   

Total income taxes

     1,241         738         660   
   

Net earnings

   $ 2,344       $ 1,497       $ 1,254   
   

Net earnings per share:

        

Basic

   $ 5.00       $ 3.21       $ 2.65   

Diluted

     4.95         3.19         2.62   
   

Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in computing earnings per share (In thousands):

        

Basic

     469,038         466,552         473,405   

Diluted

     473,085         469,063         478,815   
   

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31,

 

(In millions)    2010      2009  

Assets:

     

Investments and cash:

     

Securities available for sale, at fair value:

     

Fixed maturities (amortized cost $43,133 in 2010 and $37,633 in 2009)

   $ 43,100       $ 36,781 (1) 

Fixed maturities - consolidated variable interest entites (amortized cost $4,969 in 2010)

     5,255         0 (1) 

Perpetual securities (amortized cost $6,209 in 2010 and $7,554 in 2009)

     5,974         7,263 (1) 

Perpetual securities - consolidated variable interest entites (amortized cost $1,618 in 2010)

     1,538         0 (1) 

Equity securities (cost $22 in 2010 and $22 in 2009)

     23         24   

Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost:

     

Fixed maturities (fair value $29,899 in 2010 and $25,828 in 2009)

     29,470         26,687 (1) 

Fixed maturities - consolidated variable interest entites (fair value $570
in 2010)

     614         0 (1) 

Other investments

     135         114   

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,121         2,323   
   

Total investments and cash

     88,230         73,192   

Receivables

     661         764   

Accrued investment income

     738         649   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     9,734         8,533   

Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation

     620         593   

Other

     1,056 (2)       375   
   

Total assets

   $ 101,039       $ 84,106   
   
(1)

Due to prospective application of accounting guidance adopted in 2010, consolidated fixed-maturity and perpetual-security variable interest entities (VIEs) are only disclosed separately in 2010.

(2)

Includes $564 of derivatives from consolidated VIEs

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(continued)

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)

December 31,

 

(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)    2010      2009  

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

     

Liabilities:

     

Policy liabilities:

     

Future policy benefits

   $ 72,103       $ 61,501   

Unpaid policy claims

     3,719         3,270   

Unearned premiums

     1,197         926   

Other policyholders’ funds

     5,437         3,548   
   

Total policy liabilities

     82,456         69,245   

Notes payable

     3,038         2,599   

Income taxes

     1,969         1,653   

Payables for return of cash collateral on loaned securities

     191         483   

Other

     2,329 (3)       1,709   

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 14)

     
   

Total liabilities

     89,983         75,689   
   

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000 shares in 2010 and 2009; issued 662,660 shares in 2010 and 661,209 shares in 2009

     66         66   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,320         1,228   

Retained earnings

     14,194         12,410   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

     

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains

     926         776   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:

     

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities not other-than- temporarily impaired

     36         (622

Unrealized gains (losses) on other-than-temporarily impaired securities

     (3      (16

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

     31         (2

Pension liability adjustment

     (128      (107

Treasury stock, at average cost

     (5,386      (5,316
   

Total shareholders’ equity

     11,056         8,417   
   

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 101,039       $ 84,106   
   
(3)

Includes $741 of derivatives from consolidated VIEs

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions, except for per-share amounts)    2010     2009     2008  

Common stock:

      

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 66      $ 66      $ 66   
   

Balance, end of period

     66        66        66   
   

Additional paid-in capital:

      

Balance, beginning of period

     1,228        1,184        1,054   

Exercise of stock options

     59        11        44   

Share-based compensation

     37        35        40   

Gain (loss) on treasury stock reissued

     (4     (2     46   
   

Balance, end of period

     1,320        1,228        1,184   
   

Retained earnings:

      

Balance, beginning of period

     12,410        11,306        10,637   

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes

     (25     0        0   

Net earnings

     2,344        1,497        1,254   

Dividends to shareholders ($1.14 per share in 2010, $.84 per share in 2009, and $1.24 per share in 2008)

     (535     (393     (585
   

Balance, end of period

     14,194        12,410        11,306   
   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

      

Balance, beginning of period

     29        (582     934   

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period, net of income taxes:

      

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes

     (320     0        0   

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period, net of income taxes

     470        26        621   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities during period, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustments:

      

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes

     180        0        0   

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities not other-than-temporarily impaired, net of income taxes

     478        587        (2,085

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on other-than- temporarily impaired investment securities, net of income taxes

     13        (16     0   

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period, net of income taxes

     33        0        0   

Pension liability adjustment during period, net of income taxes

     (21     14        (52
   

Balance, end of period

     862        29        (582
   

Treasury stock:

      

Balance, beginning of period

     (5,316     (5,335     (3,896

Purchases of treasury stock

     (121     (10     (1,490

Cost of shares issued

     51        29        51   
   

Balance, end of period

     (5,386     (5,316     (5,335
   

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 11,056      $ 8,417      $ 6,639   
   

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

              

Net earnings

     $ 2,344         $ 1,497         $ 1,254   

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

              

Change in receivables and advance premiums

       1,078           406           (10

Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs

       (416        (358        (462

Increase in policy liabilities

       3,448           3,019           3,235   

Change in income tax liabilities

       128           139           (271

Realized investment (gains) losses

       422           1,212           1,007   

Other, net

       (15        246           212   
   

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

       6,989           6,161           4,965   
   

Cash flows from investing activities:

              

Proceeds from investments sold or matured:

              

Securities available for sale:

              

Fixed maturities sold

       2,724           4,798           897   

Fixed maturities matured or called

       1,243           1,976           1,496   

Perpetual securities sold

       700           595           484   

Equity securities sold

       328           2           0   

Securities held to maturity:

              

Fixed maturities matured or called

       196           212           247   

Costs of investments acquired:

              

Securities available for sale:

              

Fixed maturities acquired

       (9,943        (7,521        (4,042

Equity securities acquired

       (330        (2        0   

Securities held to maturity:

              

Fixed maturities acquired

       (2,010        (4,167        (3,973

Purchase of subsidiary

       0           (83        0   

Cash received as collateral on loaned securities, net

       (312        (1,214        670   

Other, net

       (28        (72        (62
   

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

       (7,432        (5,476        (4,283
   

Cash flows from financing activities:

              

Purchases of treasury stock

       (121        (10        (1,490

Proceeds from borrowings

       748           1,405           0   

Principal payments under debt obligations

       (451        (560        (5

Dividends paid to shareholders

       (535        (524        (434

Change in investment-type contracts, net

       419           364           471   

Treasury stock reissued

       45           17           32   

Other, net

       56           7           43   
                                  

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

       161           699           (1,383
                                  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

       80           (2        79   
                                  

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

       (202 )         1,382           (622

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

       2,323           941           1,563   
                                  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     $ 2,121         $ 2,323         $ 941   
   

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

              

Income taxes paid

     $ 1,017         $ 627         $ 765   

Interest paid

       134           61           27   

Impairment losses included in realized investment losses

       459           1,361           753   

Noncash financing activities:

              

Capitalized lease obligations

       3           2           3   

Dividends declared

       0           0           131   

Treasury stock issued for:

              

Associate stock bonus

       0           7           43   

Shareholder dividend reinvestment

       0           0           20   

Share-based compensation grants

       2           4           2   
   

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Net earnings

   $ 2,344       $ 1,497       $ 1,254   
                            

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:

        

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period

     131         65         164   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:

        

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities during period

     370         (342      (4,078

Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on investment securities included in net earnings

     421         1,217         926   

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period

     51         0         (2

Pension liability adjustment during period

     (32      22         (81
                            

Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes

     941         962         (3,071

Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)

     (32      351         (1,555
                            

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes

     973         611         (1,516
                            

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 3,317       $ 2,108       $ (262
   

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business. Aflac Japan’s revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 75% of the Company’s total revenues in 2010, 73% in 2009 and 72% in 2008. The percentage of the Company’s total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 86% at December 31, 2010, and 85% at December 31, 2009.

Basis of Presentation

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, references to GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates when recording transactions resulting from business operations based on currently available information. The most significant items on our balance sheet that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to changes in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. These accounting estimates and actuarial determinations are sensitive to market conditions, investment yields, mortality, morbidity, commission and other acquisition expenses, and terminations by policyholders. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates will be revised and reflected in operating results. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, we believe the amounts provided are adequate.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, its subsidiaries and those entities required to be consolidated under applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Significant Accounting Policies

Translation of Foreign Currencies: The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operations is the Japanese yen. We translate our yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the year. The resulting currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. We include in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions. Realized currency exchange gains and losses were immaterial during the three-year period ended December 31, 2010.

Aflac Japan maintains an investment portfolio of dollar-denominated securities on behalf of Aflac U.S. The functional currency for these investments is the U.S. dollar. The related investment income and realized/unrealized investment gains and losses are also denominated in U.S. dollars.

We have designated the yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai notes and yen-denominated loans issued by the Parent Company as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan (see the section in this note titled, “Derivatives and Hedging”). Outstanding principal and related accrued interest on these items are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates. Currency translation adjustments are recorded through other comprehensive income and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

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Insurance Revenue and Expense Recognition: The supplemental health and life insurance policies we issue are classified as long-duration contracts. The contract provisions generally cannot be changed or canceled during the contract period; however, we may adjust premiums for supplemental health policies issued in the United States within prescribed guidelines and with the approval of state insurance regulatory authorities.

Insurance premiums for health and life policies are recognized ratably as earned income over the premium payment periods of the policies. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.

The calculation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, we review our actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, we evaluate deferred policy acquisition costs by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues. Any resulting adjustment is charged against net earnings.

Advertising expense is reported as incurred in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased.

Investments: Our debt securities consist of fixed-maturity securities, which are classified as either held to maturity or available for sale. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that we have the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost. All other fixed-maturity debt securities, our perpetual securities and our equity securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. If the fair value is higher than the amortized cost for debt and perpetual securities, or the purchase cost for equity securities, the excess is an unrealized gain, and if lower than cost, the difference is an unrealized loss.

The net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, plus the unamortized unrealized gains and losses on debt securities transferred to the held-to-maturity portfolio, less related deferred income taxes, are recorded through other comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Amortized cost of debt and perpetual securities is based on our purchase price adjusted for accrual of discount, or amortization of premium, and recognition of impairment charges, if any. The amortized cost of debt and perpetual securities we purchase at a discount or premium will equal the face or par value at maturity or the call date, if applicable. Interest is reported as income when earned and is adjusted for amortization of any premium or discount.

We have investments in variable interest entities (VIEs) and qualified special purpose entities (QSPEs). In periods prior to 2010, VIEs were evaluated for consolidation based on the variable interest created by a VIE, and QSPEs were exempt from consolidation. Our investments in VIEs and QSPEs were accounted for as fixed-maturity or perpetual securities. The majority of our investments in VIEs and QSPEs were held in our available-for-sale portfolio.

Subsequent to the adoption of updated accounting guidance on VIEs and QSPEs on January 1, 2010, our accounting treatment for these investments changed. The concept of QSPEs and their exemption from consolidation was eliminated, therefore, the former QSPEs are now VIEs which are evaluated for consolidation. We adopted the new criteria for evaluating VIEs for consolidation, which, instead of focusing on a quantitative approach, focuses on identifying which enterprise has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (1) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or (2) the right to receive benefits from the entity. As a result of the application of this new guidance, we are the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs. While the VIEs generally operate within a defined set of documents, there are certain powers that are retained by us that are considered significant in our conclusion that we are the primary beneficiary. These powers vary by structure but generally include the initial selection of the underlying collateral or, for collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), the reference credits to include in the structure; the ability to obtain the underlying collateral in the event of default; and the ability to appoint or dismiss key parties in the structure. In particular, our powers surrounding the underlying collateral were the most significant powers since those most significantly impact the

 

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economics of the VIE. We have no obligation to provide any continuing financial support to any of the entities in which we are the primary beneficiary. Our maximum loss is limited to our original investment. Neither we nor any of our creditors have the ability to obtain the underlying collateral. Nor do we have control over the instruments in the VIEs, unless there is an event of default. This collateral is reported separately under the captions fixed maturities- and perpetual securities- consolidated variable interest entities on our balance sheet.

For those entities where we are the primary beneficiary, the assets consolidated are fixed-maturity securities, perpetual securities and derivative instruments. The calculation method of the yields on these investments did not change as a result of adoption of the new accounting guidance.

For the collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) held in our fixed-maturity securities portfolio, we recognize income using a constant effective yield, which is based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. The net investment in CMO securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied at the time of acquisition. This adjustment is reflected in net investment income.

We use the specific identification method to determine the gain or loss from securities transactions and report the realized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of earnings. Securities transactions are accounted for based on values as of the trade date of the transaction.

Our credit analysts/research personnel routinely monitor and evaluate the difference between the amortized cost and fair value of our investments. Additionally, credit analysis and/or credit rating issues related to specific investments may trigger more intensive monitoring to determine if a decline in fair value is other than temporary. For investments with a fair value below amortized cost, the process includes evaluating, among other factors, the length of time and the extent to which amortized cost exceeds fair value, the financial condition, operations, credit and liquidity posture, and future prospects of the issuer as well as our intent or need to dispose of the security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost. This process is not exact and requires consideration of risks such as credit risk, which to a certain extent can be controlled, and interest rate risk, which cannot be controlled. Therefore, if an investment’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value solely due to changes in interest rates, impairment may not be appropriate.

In periods prior to 2009, if, after monitoring and analyses, management believed that a decline in fair value was other than temporary, we adjusted the amortized cost of the security to fair value and reported a realized loss in the consolidated statements of earnings. Subsequent to the adoption of updated accounting guidance on impairments in 2009, our accounting policy changed. If, after monitoring and analyses, management believes that fair value will not recover to amortized cost prior to the disposal of the security, we recognize an other-than-temporary impairment of the security. Once a security is considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired, the impairment loss is separated into two separate components: the portion of the impairment related to credit and the portion of the impairment related to factors other than credit. We automatically recognize a charge to earnings for the credit-related portion of other-than-temporary impairments. Impairments related to factors other than credit are charged to earnings in the event we intend to sell the security prior to the recovery of its amortized cost or if it is more likely than not that we would be required to dispose of the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost; otherwise, non-credit-related other-than-temporary impairments are charged to other comprehensive income.

We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security lending transactions. These securities continue to be carried as investment assets on our balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. We receive cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans collateralized by securities, the collateral is not reported as an asset or liability.

For further information regarding our investments, see Note 3.

Derivatives and Hedging: We do not use derivatives for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions.

 

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Freestanding derivative instruments are reported in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and are reported in other assets and other liabilities, with changes in value reported in earnings and/or other comprehensive income. These freestanding derivatives are interest rate swaps, credit default swaps (CDSs) and/or foreign currency swaps. Interest rate and foreign currency swaps are used within VIEs to hedge the risk arising from interest rate and currency exchange risk, while the CDSs are used to increase the yield and improve the diversification of the portfolio. Interest rate swaps are used to hedge the variability of interest cash flows associated with our variable rate Uridashi notes.

From time to time, we purchase certain investments that contain an embedded derivative. We assess whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset that serves as its host contract. If we deem that the embedded derivative’s terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, unless we have elected the fair value option, the derivative is separated from that contract, held at fair value and reported with the host instrument in the consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value reported in earnings. If we have elected the fair value option, the embedded derivative is not bifurcated, and the entire investment is held at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings.

For those relationships where we seek hedge accounting, we contemporaneously document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objectives for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking derivatives and nonderivatives that are designated as hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We also assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives and nonderivatives used in hedging activities are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. The assessment of hedge effectiveness determines the accounting treatment of noncash changes in fair value.

Changes in the fair value of any of our derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income as long as they are deemed effective. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded immediately in current period earnings as a realized investment gain or loss. Periodic derivative net coupon settlements are recorded in the line item of the consolidated statements of earnings in which the cash flows of the hedged item are recorded. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges are carried at fair value with all changes in fair value recorded as a realized investment gain or loss. We include the fair value of all freestanding derivatives in either other assets or other liabilities on the balance sheet.

We have designated our yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes and yen-denominated loans (see Note 8) as nonderivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure to our investment in Aflac Japan. At the beginning of each quarter, we make our net investment hedge designation. If the total of our designated yen-denominated liabilities is equal to or less than our net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective and the related exchange effect is reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. Should these designated yen-denominated liabilities exceed our investment in Aflac Japan, the foreign exchange effect on the portion of the liabilities that exceeds our investment in Aflac Japan would be recognized in net earnings (other income).

For further information regarding derivatives and hedging, see Note 4.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs: The costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized with interest over the premium payment periods in proportion to the ratio of annual premium income to total anticipated premium income. Anticipated premium income is estimated by using the same mortality, persistency and interest assumptions used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits. In this manner, the related acquisition expenses are matched with revenues. Deferred costs include the excess of current-year commissions over ultimate renewal-year commissions and certain direct and allocated policy issue, underwriting and marketing expenses. All of these costs vary with and are primarily related to the production of new business.

 

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For some products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights or coverages by exchanging a contract for a new contract or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. These transactions are known as internal replacements. For internal replacement transactions where the resulting contract is substantially unchanged, the policy is accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs from the original policy continue to be amortized over the expected life of the new policy, and the costs of replacing the policy are accounted for as policy maintenance costs and expensed as incurred. Internal replacement transactions that result in a policy that is not substantially unchanged are accounted for as an extinguishment of the original policy and the issuance of a new policy. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs on the original policy that was replaced are immediately expensed, and the costs of acquiring the new policy are capitalized and amortized in accordance with our accounting policies for deferred acquisition costs.

Policy Liabilities: Future policy benefits represent claims that are expected to occur in the future and are computed by a net level premium method using estimated future investment yields, persistency and recognized morbidity and mortality tables modified to reflect our experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued.

Unpaid policy claims are estimates computed on an undiscounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims experience adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The ultimate liability may vary significantly from such estimates. We regularly adjust these estimates as new claims experience emerges and reflect the changes in operating results in the year such adjustments are made.

For internal replacements that are determined to not be substantially unchanged, policy liabilities related to the original policy that was replaced are immediately released, and policy liabilities are established for the new insurance contract.

Income Taxes: Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary differences to reverse. We record deferred tax assets for tax positions taken based on our assessment of whether the tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that an amount will not be realized.

Policyholder Protection Corporation and State Guaranty Association Assessments: In Japan, the government has required the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation. We recognize a charge for our estimated share of the industry’s obligation once it is determinable. We review the estimated liability for policyholder protection corporation contributions on an annual basis and report any adjustments in Aflac Japan’s expenses.

In the United States, each state has a guaranty association that supports insolvent insurers operating in those states. To date, our state guaranty association assessments have not been material.

Treasury Stock: Treasury stock is reflected as a reduction of shareholders’ equity at cost. We use the weighted-average purchase cost to determine the cost of treasury stock that is reissued. We include any gains and losses in additional paid-in capital when treasury stock is reissued.

Share-Based Compensation: We measure compensation cost related to our share-based payment transactions at fair value on the grant date, and we recognize those costs in the financial statements over the vesting period during which the employee provides service in exchange for the award.

Earnings Per Share: We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of unrestricted shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the shares representing the dilutive effect of share-based awards.

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-year amounts to conform to current-year reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or total shareholders’ equity.

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting for embedded credit derivatives: In March 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance on embedded credit derivatives. This guidance clarifies the type of embedded credit derivative that is exempt from embedded derivative bifurcation requirements. We adopted this guidance as of July 1, 2010. The adoption did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Fair value measurements and disclosures: In January 2010, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance on fair value disclosures. This guidance requires new disclosures about transfers in and out of fair value hierarchy Levels 1 and 2. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2010. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Accounting for variable interest entities and transfers of financial assets: In June 2009, the FASB issued amended guidance on accounting for VIEs and transfers of financial assets. As discussed above, this guidance defines new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE; increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE; eliminates the exemption for the consolidation of QSPEs; establishes conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale; modifies the financial asset derecognition criteria; and requires additional disclosures. We adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2010, prospectively. As a result, we were required to consolidate certain of the VIEs with which we are currently involved. We were not required to deconsolidate any VIEs on January 1, 2010.

Upon the initial consolidation of the VIEs on January 1, 2010, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of the VIEs were recorded at their carrying values, which is the amounts at which the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests would have been carried in the consolidated financial statements when we first met the conditions to be the primary beneficiary. For any of the VIEs that were required to be consolidated, we also considered whether any of the derivatives in these structures qualified on January 1, 2010, as a cash flow hedge of the changes in cash flows attributable to foreign currency and/or interest rate risk. Certain of the swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting since the swap had a fair value on January 1, 2010. Other swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting since they increased, rather than reduced, cash flow risk. See Note 4 for further discussion.

The impact of consolidating these VIEs as of January 1, 2010, includes three primary components. The first component is the valuation differences associated with the underlying securities and derivatives included in the VIE structures. Prior to the consolidation of these VIEs, we utilized a pricing model to value our beneficial interests and did not separately consider the fair value of the financial instruments included within the structures. The cumulative impact of these valuation adjustments was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or retained earnings depending on whether the valuation adjustment was associated with the underlying debt securities and whether the derivative qualified as a cash flow hedge.

Another component of the impact of consolidation was related to the currency translation adjustments that were previously recognized for our beneficial interests in the VIEs that were yen-denominated. Since some of the underlying assets in the VIEs are dollar-denominated, the previously recognized currency translation adjustment was reversed.

The final component primarily relates to the fair value of CDSs included in the CDOs that had been designated as held to maturity. Under U.S. GAAP, these credit default swaps were recorded at fair value as a cumulative effect adjustment through retained earnings. The CDSs are not eligible for hedge accounting.

 

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The following table summarizes the cumulative after-tax consolidation impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010:

 

(In millions)    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
     Retained
Earnings
     Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Cumulative valuation adjustments

   $ 180       $ 0       $ 180   

Currency translation adjustments

     (320      0         (320

Swaps

     0         (26      (26

Other

     0         1         1   
                            

Total

   $ (140    $ (25    $ (165
   

For additional information concerning our investments in VIEs and derivatives, see Notes 3 and 4, respectively.

Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption

Accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts: In October 2010, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance on accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. Only incremental direct costs associated with the successful acquisition of a new or renewal contract may be capitalized. The amendment also prohibits capitalizing direct-response advertising costs unless they meet certain criteria. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our financial position and results of operations.

Fair value measurements and disclosures: In January 2010, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance on fair value disclosures. This guidance requires the activity in fair value hierarchy Level 3 for purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements to be reported on a gross, rather than net, basis. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.

SEC Guidance

On October 14, 2008, the SEC issued a letter to the FASB addressing questions raised by various interested parties regarding declines in the fair value of perpetual preferred securities, or so-called “hybrid securities,” and the assessment of those declines under existing accounting guidelines for other-than-temporary impairments. In its letter, the SEC recognized that hybrid securities are often structured in equity form but generally possess significant debt-like characteristics. The SEC also recognized that existing accounting guidance does not specifically address the impact, if any, of the debt-like characteristics of these hybrid securities on the assessment of other-than-temporary impairments.

After consultation with and concurrence of the FASB staff, the SEC concluded that it will not object to the use of an other-than-temporary impairment model that considers the debt-like characteristics of hybrid securities (including the anticipated recovery period), provided there has been no evidence of a deterioration in credit of the issuer (for example, a decline in the cash flows from holding the investment or a downgrade of the rating of the security below investment grade), in filings after the date of its letter until the matter can be addressed further by the FASB.

We maintain investments in subordinated financial instruments, or hybrid securities. Within this class of investments, we own perpetual securities. These perpetual securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than the issuers’ equity securities. Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments, along with unique features that create economic maturity dates for the securities. Although perpetual securities have no contractual maturity date, they have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their issuance and subsequently change to a floating short-term rate of interest of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance. We believe this interest step-up penalty has the effect of creating an economic maturity date for our perpetual securities. We accounted for and reported perpetual securities as debt securities and classified them as both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities until the third quarter of 2008.

 

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We concluded in the third quarter of 2008 that all of our investments in perpetual securities should be classified as available-for-sale securities. We also concluded that our perpetual securities should be evaluated for other-than-temporary impairments using an equity security impairment model for periods prior to June 30, 2008, as opposed to our previous policy of using a debt security impairment model. We recognized realized investment losses of $294 million ($191 million after-tax) in the third quarter of 2008 as a result of applying our equity impairment model to this class of securities through June 30, 2008, with the recognized losses consisting of amounts relating to 2008 and each prior year starting with 2004. The impact of classifying all of our perpetual securities as available-for-sale securities and assessing them for other-than-temporary impairments under our equity impairment model was determined to be immaterial to our results of operations and financial position for any previously reported period. Consistent with the previously mentioned SEC letter regarding the appropriate impairment model for hybrid securities, we have applied our debt security impairment model to our perpetual securities in periods subsequent to June 30, 2008, with the exception of certain securities that are rated below investment grade and are therefore being evaluated under our equity impairment model. We will continue with this approach pending further guidance from the SEC or the FASB.

Recent accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable or did not have an impact to our business.

2. BUSINESS SEGMENT AND FOREIGN INFORMATION

The Company consists of two reportable insurance business segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S., both of which sell supplemental health and life insurance. Operating business segments that are not individually reportable are included in the “Other business segments” category.

We do not allocate corporate overhead expenses to business segments. We evaluate and manage our business segments using a financial performance measure called pretax operating earnings. Our definition of operating earnings excludes the following items from net earnings on an after-tax basis: realized investment gains/losses (securities transactions, impairments, and the impact from ASC 810), the impact from ASC 815 (“Derivatives and Hedging”), and nonrecurring items. We then exclude income taxes related to operations to arrive at pretax operating earnings. Information regarding operations by segment for the years ended December 31 follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Revenues:

            

Aflac Japan:

            

Earned premiums:

            

Cancer

   $ 6,852         $ 6,406         $ 5,718   

Medical and other health

     4,574           4,110           3,547   

Life insurance

     2,061           1,662           1,409   

Net investment income

     2,453           2,265           2,053   

Other income

     37           43           15   
                                

Total Aflac Japan

     15,977           14,486           12,742   
                                

Aflac U.S.:

            

Earned premiums:

            

Accident/disability

     2,104           2,012           1,941   

Cancer

     1,239           1,245           1,197   

Other health

     1,026           989           958   

Life insurance

     217           198           176   

Net investment income

     549           499           505   

Other income

     11           10           10   
                                

Total Aflac U.S.

     5,146           4,953           4,787   
                                

Other business segments

     51           51           38   
                                

Total business segment revenues

     21,174           19,490           17,567   

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (422        (1,212        (1,007

Corporate

     217           137           85   

Intercompany eliminations

     (237        (161        (91
                                

Total revenues

   $ 20,732         $ 18,254         $ 16,554   
   

 

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(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Pretax earnings:

            

Aflac Japan

     $3,283           $2,800           $2,250   

Aflac U.S.

     924           776           745   

Other business segments

     (3        0           (1
                                

Total business segment pretax earnings

     4,204           3,576           2,994   

Interest expense, noninsurance operations

     (140        (73        (26

Corporate and eliminations

     (57        (68        (42
                                

Pretax operating earnings

     4,007           3,435           2,926   

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (422        (1,212        (1,007

Impact from ASC 815

     0           (4        (5

Gain on extinguishment of debt

     0           16           0   
                                

Total earnings before income taxes

     $3,585           $2,235           $1,914   
   

Income taxes applicable to pretax operating earnings

     $1,389           $1,158           $1,015   

Effect of foreign currency translation on operating earnings

     92           124           111   
                                

Assets as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Assets:

         

Aflac Japan

     $ 87,061           $71,639   

Aflac U.S.

       13,095           11,779   

Other business segments

       155           142   
                       

Total business segments

       100,311           83,560   

Corporate

       14,047           11,261   

Intercompany eliminations

       (13,319        (10,715
                       

Total assets

     $ 101,039           $84,106   
                       

Yen-Translation Effects: The following table shows the yen/dollar exchange rates used for or during the periods ended December 31. Exchange effects were calculated using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as for each respective prior year.

 

      2010      2009      2008    

Statements of Earnings:

        

Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate

     87.69         93.49         103.46   

Yen percent strengthening (weakening)

     6.6      10.7      14.0

Exchange effect on net earnings (in millions)

     $191         $55         $55   
                            

 

      2010        2009  

Balance Sheets:

     

Yen/dollar exchange rate at December 31

     81.49         92.10   

Yen percent strengthening (weakening)

     13.0      (1.2 )% 

Exchange effect on total assets (in millions)

     $9,073         $(799

Exchange effect on total liabilities (in millions)

     9,104         (778
                   

 

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Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serves as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated notes payable as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, which are subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations for financial reporting purposes, are summarized as follows at December 31 (translated at end-of-period exchange rates):

 

(In millions)   2010        2009  

Aflac Japan net assets

  $ 8,907         $ 6,736   

Aflac Japan dollar-denominated net assets

    (5,625        (4,000
                    

Aflac Japan yen-denominated net assets

    3,282           2,736   

Parent Company yen-denominated net liabilities

    (1,041        (962
                    

Consolidated yen-denominated net assets (liabilities) subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations

  $ 2,241         $ 1,774   
                    

Transfers of funds from Aflac Japan: Aflac Japan makes payments to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and profit repatriations. Information on transfers for each of the years ended December 31 is shown below. See Note 12 for information concerning restrictions on transfers from Aflac Japan.

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Management fees

   $ 30         $ 26         $ 26   

Allocated expenses

     37           37           36   

Profit repatriation

     317           230           598   
                                

Total transfers from Aflac Japan

   $ 384         $ 293         $ 660   
                                

Policyholder Protection Corporation: The total liability accrued for our obligations to the Japanese Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) was $108 million (8.8 billion yen) at December 31, 2010, compared with $128 million (11.8 billion yen) a year ago. The obligation is payable in semi-annual installments through 2013.

Property and Equipment:  The costs of buildings, furniture and equipment are depreciated principally on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (maximum of 45 years for buildings and 10 years for furniture and equipment). Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; expenditures for betterments are capitalized and depreciated. Classes of property and equipment as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Property and equipment:

            

Land

   $ 170         $ 153         $ 146   

Buildings

     550           501           505   

Equipment

     309           293           265   
                                

Total property and equipment

     1,029           947           916   

Less accumulated depreciation

     409           354           319   
                                

Net property and equipment

   $ 620         $ 593         $ 597   
                                

Receivables:  Receivables consist primarily of monthly insurance premiums due from individual policyholders or their employers for payroll deduction of premiums, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. At December 31, 2010, $293 million, or 44.3% of total receivables, were related to Aflac Japan’s operations, compared with $397 million, or 52.0%, at December 31, 2009.

 

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3. INVESTMENTS

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Fixed-maturity securities

   $ 2,695         $ 2,413         $ 2,204   

Perpetual securities

     328           367           375   

Equity securities and other

     4           3           3   

Short-term investments and cash equivalents

     6           6           22   

Gross investment income

     3,033           2,789           2,604   

Less investment expenses

     26           24           26   

Net investment income

   $ 3,007         $ 2,765         $ 2,578   
                                

Investment Holdings

The amortized cost for our investments in debt and perpetual securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments at December 31 are shown in the following tables.

 

     2010  
(In millions)   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
 

Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:

          

Fixed maturities:

          

Yen-denominated:

          

Japan government and agencies

  $ 16,607       $ 584       $ 14       $ 17,177   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    1,224         35         15         1,244   

Public utilities

    2,554         117         80         2,591   

Sovereign and supranational

    903         47         12         938   

Banks/financial institutions

    5,927         152         1,177         4,902   

Other corporate

    5,733         136         457         5,412   

Total yen-denominated

    32,948         1,071         1,755         32,264   

Dollar-denominated:

          

U.S. government and agencies

    32         4         0         36   

Municipalities

    1,006         9         42         973   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities(1)

    485         90         13         562   

Collateralized debt obligations

    5         0         0         5   

Public utilities

    2,568         246         36         2,778   

Sovereign and supranational

    395         63         2         456   

Banks/financial institutions

    3,496         143         108         3,531   

Other corporate

    7,167         662         79         7,750   

Total dollar-denominated

    15,154         1,217         280         16,091   

Total fixed maturities

    48,102         2,288         2,035         48,355   

Perpetual securities:

          

Yen-denominated:

          

Banks/financial institutions

    7,080         172         533         6,719   

Other corporate

    328         15         0         343   

Dollar-denominated:

          

Banks/financial institutions

    419         61         30         450   

Total perpetual securities

    7,827         248         563         7,512   

Equity securities

    22         3         2         23   

Total securities available for sale

  $ 55,951       $ 2,539       $ 2,600       $ 55,890   
                                    
(1)

Includes $4 of other-than-temporary non-credit-related losses

 

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      2010  
(In millions)    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
 

Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:

           

Fixed maturities:

           

Yen-denominated:

           

Japan government and agencies

   $ 344       $ 4       $ 4       $ 344   

Municipalities

     407         18         2         423   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     146         5         0         151   

Public utilities

     6,339         326         120         6,545   

Sovereign and supranational

     4,951         305         65         5,191   

Banks/financial institutions

     12,618         216         526         12,308   

Other corporate

     5,279         274         46         5,507   

Total yen-denominated

     30,084         1,148         763         30,469   

Total securities held to maturity

   $ 30,084       $ 1,148       $ 763       $ 30,469   
                                     

 

      2009  
(In millions)    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
 

Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:

           

Fixed maturities:

           

Yen-denominated:

           

Japan government and agencies

   $ 11,710       $ 405       $ 174       $ 11,941   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     549         13         0         562   

Public utilities

     2,284         145         79         2,350   

Collateralized debt obligations

     165         97         24         238   

Sovereign and supranational

     833         28         96         765   

Banks/financial institutions

     5,248         144         784         4,608   

Other corporate

     6,401         112         714         5,799   

Total yen-denominated

     27,190         944         1,871         26,263   

Dollar-denominated:

           

U.S. government and agencies

     221         3         7         217   

Municipalities

     519         4         28         495   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities(1)

     586         9         78         517   

Collateralized debt obligations

     24         7         2         29   

Public utilities

     1,587         123         42         1,668   

Sovereign and supranational

     353         48         9         392   

Banks/financial institutions

     2,668         75         259         2,484   

Other corporate

     4,485         339         108         4,716   

Total dollar-denominated

     10,443         608         533         10,518   

Total fixed maturities

     37,633         1,552         2,404         36,781   

Perpetual securities:

           

Yen-denominated:

           

Banks/financial institutions

     6,964         311         604         6,671   

Other corporate

     291         28         0         319   

Dollar-denominated:

           

Banks/financial institutions

     299         30         56         273   

Total perpetual securities

     7,554         369         660         7,263   

Equity securities

     22         4         2         24   

Total securities available for sale

   $ 45,209       $ 1,925       $ 3,066       $ 44,068   
                                     
(1)

Includes $25 of other-than-temporary non-credit-related losses

 

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     2009  
(In millions)   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
 

Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:

          

Fixed maturities:

          

Yen-denominated:

          

Japan government and agencies

  $ 217       $ 6       $ 0       $ 223   

Municipalities

    281         1         4         278   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    167         2         6         163   

Collateralized debt obligations

    109         0         14         95   

Public utilities

    5,235         180         138         5,277   

Sovereign and supranational

    4,248         161         143         4,266   

Banks/financial institutions

    11,775         140         984         10,931   

Other corporate

    4,455         142         104         4,493   

Total yen-denominated

    26,487         632         1,393         25,726   

Dollar-denominated:

          

Collateralized debt obligations

    200         0         98         102   

Total dollar-denominated

    200         0         98         102   

Total securities held to maturity

  $ 26,687       $ 632       $ 1,491       $ 25,828   
                                    

The methods of determining the fair values of our investments in debt securities, perpetual securities and equity securities are described in Note 5.

Included in the available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio are securities with embedded derivatives for which we have elected the fair value option. These securities were recorded at a fair value of $619 million at December 31, 2010, and $539 million at December 31, 2009. We recognized investment losses of $1 million and less than $1 million during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in earnings for the changes in fair value of these securities, which excludes the effects of foreign currency translation and additional fair value option elections.

As discussed in Note 1, we adopted new accounting guidance for VIEs on January 1, 2010, that resulted in the consolidation of most of our investments in CDOs. As a result, these investments are no longer reported as a single investment. In addition, in conjunction with this change in accounting for VIEs, certain VIEs, totaling $309 million at amortized cost as of January 1, 2010, are no longer classified as held to maturity. The underlying collateral for these VIEs is classified as available for sale as of January 1, 2010.

During 2010, we reclassified six investments from the held-to maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of significant declines in the issuers’ creditworthiness. Three of these were investments in Greek financial institutions that, at the time of transfer, had an aggregate amortized cost of $998 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $599 million. One of these was an investment in Greek sovereign debt that had an amortized cost of $178 million and an unrealized loss of $66 million at the time of transfer. This investment was sold at a pretax realized loss of $59 million prior to the end of the second quarter of 2010. The remaining two securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $267 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $165 million at the time of the transfer.

During 2009, we reclassified 12 investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of significant declines in the issuers’ creditworthiness. At the time of transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $1.3 billion and an aggregate unrealized loss of $548 million.

During 2008, we transferred four CDO debt securities from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of the bankruptcy filing and subsequent default of the swap counterparty, Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (LBSF). At the time of the transfer and after an impairment loss of $20 million ($13 million after-tax), the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $245 million and an aggregate unrealized gain of $3 million. We subsequently redeemed these CDO securities in the fourth quarter of 2009 and received the underlying collateral assets.

 

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We transferred four other debt securities from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio during 2008 as a result of significant deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness. At the time of the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $268 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $131 million.

Contractual and Economic Maturities

The contractual maturities of our investments in fixed maturities at December 31, 2010, were as follows:

 

      Aflac Japan        Aflac U.S.  
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

Available for sale:

                 

Due in one year or less

   $ 1,373         $ 1,411         $ 94         $ 98   

Due after one year through five years

     4,485           4,809           308           341   

Due after five years through 10 years

     2,840           3,050           818           949   

Due after 10 years

     29,626           28,745           6,734           7,026   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     1,365           1,470           345           336   

Total fixed maturities available for sale

   $ 39,689         $ 39,485         $ 8,299         $ 8,750   
                                           

Held to maturity:

                 

Due in one year or less

   $ 683         $ 689         $ 0         $ 0   

Due after one year through five years

     1,104           1,154           0           0   

Due after five years through 10 years

     3,477           3,879           0           0   

Due after 10 years

     24,674           24,596           0           0   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     146           151           0           0   

Total fixed maturities held to maturity

   $ 30,084         $ 30,469         $ 0         $ 0   
                                           

At December 31, 2010, the Parent Company had a portfolio of investment-grade available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities totaling $114 million at amortized cost and $120 million at fair value, which is not included in the table above.

Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

The majority of our perpetual securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than the issuer’s equity securities. Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments, along with unique features that create economic maturity dates for the securities. Although perpetual securities have no contractual maturity date, they have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their issuance and subsequently change to a floating short-term interest rate of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance, thereby creating an economic maturity date. The economic maturities of our investments in perpetual securities, which were all reported as available for sale at December 31, 2010, were as follows:

 

      Aflac Japan        Aflac U.S.  
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

Due in one year or less

   $ 399         $ 395         $ 0         $ 0   

Due after one year through five years

     1,559           1,632           5           5   

Due after five years through 10 years

     1,065           1,094           0           0   

Due after 10 years

     4,566           4,112           233           274   

Total perpetual securities available for sale

   $ 7,589         $ 7,233         $ 238         $ 279   
                                           

 

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Investment Concentrations

Our investment discipline begins with a top-down approach for each investment opportunity we consider. Consistent with that approach, we first approve each country in which we invest. In our approach to sovereign analysis, we consider the political, legal and financial context of the sovereign entity in which an issuer is domiciled and operates. Next we approve the issuer’s industry sector, including such factors as the stability of results and the importance of the sector to the overall economy. Specific credit names within approved countries and industry sectors are evaluated for their market position and specific strengths and potential weaknesses. Structures in which we invest are chosen for specific portfolio management purposes, including asset/liability management, portfolio diversification and net investment income.

Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity as of December 31 were as follows:

 

      2010      2009  
(In millions)    Credit
Rating
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
     Credit
Rating
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

Japan National Government

   AA      $16,342      $16,861        AA         $ 11,167         $ 11,375   

Israel Electric Corp.

   *      *      *        BBB           889           869   

Republic of Tunisia

   *      *      *        BBB           868           862   
                                                     
* Less than 10% of shareholders' equity at reporting date

Our largest investment industry sector concentration is banks and financial institutions. Within the countries we approve for investment opportunities, we primarily invest in financial institutions that are strategically crucial to each approved country’s economy. The bank and financial institution sector is a highly regulated industry and plays a strategic role in the global economy. We achieve some degree of diversification in the bank and financial institution sector through a geographically diverse universe of credit exposures. Within this sector, the more significant concentration of our credit risk by geographic region or country of issuer at December 31, 2010, based on amortized cost, was: Europe, excluding the United Kingdom (47%); United States (20%); United Kingdom (8%); Japan (8%); and other (17%).

As a result of the consolidation of additional VIEs as disclosed in Note 1, $120 million in additional perpetual securities in the bank and financial institution sector were recognized effective January 1, 2010, since the securities were included in the former QSPE structures.

 

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Our total investments in the bank and financial institution sector as of December 31, including those classified as perpetual securities, were as follows:

 

      2010     2009  
      Total Investments in
Banks and Financial
Institutions Sector
(in millions)
     Percentage of
Total Investment
Portfolio
    Total Investments in
Banks and Financial
Institutions Sector
(in millions)
     Percentage of
Total Investment
Portfolio
 

Debt Securities:

          

Amortized cost

   $ 22,041         26   $ 19,691         28

Fair value

     20,741         24        18,023         26   

Perpetual Securities:

          

Upper Tier II:

          

Amortized cost

   $ 4,957         6   $ 4,909         7

Fair value

     4,748         5        4,938         7   

Tier I:

          

Amortized cost

     2,542         3        2,354         3   

Fair value

     2,421         3        2,006         3   

Total:

          

Amortized cost

   $ 29,540         35   $ 26,954         38

Fair value

     27,910         32        24,967         36   
                                    

As of December 31, 2010, our investment exposure to sovereign debt and financial institutions in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain consisted of the following:

Investments in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain

 

(In millions)      Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

Sovereign and supranational:

  

    

Italy

     $ 307         $ 306   

Spain

       730           782   

Total

     $ 1,037         $ 1,088   
                       

Banks and financial institutions:

         

Greece

     $ 1,152         $ 391   

Ireland

       710           659   

Italy

       184           183   

Portugal

       859           770   

Spain

       526           503   

Total

     $ 3,431 (1)       $ 2,506   
                       
(1)

Represents 12% of total investments in the banks and financial institutions sector and 4% of total investments in debt and perpetual securities

During the fourth quarter of 2010, we recognized pretax other-than-temporary impairment losses of $287 million for two Irish financial institution securities that were rated below investment grade. Subsequent to December 31, 2010, we sold one of these Irish financial securities at its impaired price.

During the second quarter of 2010, the Greek financial institutions, which are Lower Tier II investments, were downgraded to below investment grade. As a result of the downgrades, we reclassified these investments from held to maturity to available for sale. While these financial institutions have significant investments in Greek Government Bonds (GGBs), we believe that these institutions will be solvent even if there is a future restructuring of GGBs and that they will have the ability to meet their obligations to us. In addition, we have the intent to hold these investments to recovery in value. As a result, we have not recognized an other-than-temporary impairment for these investments as of December 31, 2010.

 

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With the exception of the securities discussed above, all other securities included in the table above were rated investment grade as of December 31, 2010.

During the second quarter of 2010, the creditworthiness of the Greek sovereign debt deteriorated, and we expected further deterioration in the performance of Greek debt as a result of the stressed economic environment. As a result, in June 2010 we sold our entire holdings of Greek sovereign debt and recognized an after-tax investment loss of $67 million.

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding pretax realized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Realized investment gains (losses) on securities:

            

Debt securities:

            

Available for sale:

            

Gross gains from sales

   $ 117         $ 258         $ 10   

Gross losses from sales

     (212        (18        (265

Net gains (losses) from redemptions

     1           1           3   

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (297        (630        (298

Held to maturity:

            

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     0           0           (75

Net gains (losses) from redemptions

     2           1           0   

Total debt securities

     (389        (388        (625

Perpetual securities:

            

Available for sale:

            

Gross gains from sales

     133           4           0   

Gross losses from sales

     0           (101        0   

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (160        (729        (379

Held to maturity:

            

Gross gains from sales

     0           0           5   

Total perpetual securities

     (27        (826        (374

Equity securities:

            

Gross losses from sales

     (2        0           0   

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (2        (2        (1

Total equity securities

     (4        (2        (1

Other assets:

            

Derivative gains (losses)

     (1        0           0   

Other long-term assets

     (1        4           (7

Total other assets

     (2        4           (7

Total realized investment gains (losses)

   $ (422      $ (1,212      $ (1,007
                                

In 2010, we realized pretax investment losses of $459 million ($298 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment gains, net of losses, of $38 million ($25 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business. We realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $1 million ($.7 million after-tax) from valuing foreign currency, interest rate and credit default swaps related to certain VIEs that were required to be consolidated following the adoption of the new accounting guidance effective January 1, 2010.

In 2009, we realized pretax investment losses of $1,361 million ($884 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses of $101 million ($66 million after-tax) from the exchange of certain perpetual security investments into fixed-maturity securities. The losses were partially offset by pretax investment gains of $250 million ($162 million after-tax) that were generated primarily from a bond-swap program that took advantage of tax loss carryforwards.

 

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In 2008, we realized pretax investment losses of $753 million ($489 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $254 million ($166 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.

Other-than-temporary Impairment

The fair value of our debt and perpetual security investments fluctuates based on changes in credit spreads in the global financial markets. Credit spreads are most impacted by market rates of interest, the general and specific credit environment and global market liquidity. We believe that fluctuations in the fair value of our investment securities related to changes in credit spreads have little bearing on whether our investment is ultimately recoverable. Therefore, we consider such declines in fair value to be temporary even in situations where an investment remains in an unrealized loss position for a year or more.

However, in the course of our credit review process, we may determine that it is unlikely that we will recover our investment in an issuer due to factors specific to an individual issuer, as opposed to general changes in global credit spreads. In this event, we consider such a decline in the investment’s fair value, to the extent below the investment’s cost or amortized cost, to be an other-than-temporary impairment of the investment and write the investment down to its fair value. The determination of whether an impairment is other than temporary is subjective and involves the consideration of various factors and circumstances, which includes but is not limited to the following:

 

   

issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows

 

   

credit status of the issuer

 

   

the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment

 

   

published reports

 

   

general economic environment

 

   

regulatory, legislative and political environment

 

   

the severity of the decline in fair value

 

   

the length of time the fair value is below cost

 

   

other factors as may become available from time to time

In addition to the usual investment risk associated with a debt instrument, our perpetual security holdings may be subject to the risk of nationalization of their issuers in connection with capital injections from an issuer’s sovereign government. We cannot be assured that such capital support will extend to all levels of an issuer’s capital structure. In addition, certain governments or regulators may consider imposing interest and principal payment restrictions on issuers of hybrid securities to preserve cash and build capital. In addition to the cash flow impact that additional deferrals would have on our portfolio, such deferrals could result in ratings downgrades of the affected securities, which in turn could impair the fair value of the securities and increase our regulatory capital requirements. We take factors such as these into account in our credit review process.

Another factor we consider in determining whether an impairment is other than temporary is an evaluation of our intent or requirement to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. We perform ongoing analyses of our liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of our policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments and other cash flow and liquidity needs. Our cash flow testing includes extensive duration matching of our investment portfolio and policy liabilities. Based on our analyses, we have concluded that we have sufficient excess cash flows to meet our liquidity needs without liquidating any of our investments prior to their maturity. In addition, provided that our credit review process results in a conclusion that we will collect all of our cash flows and recover our investment in an issuer, we generally do not sell investments prior to their maturity.

The majority of our investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using our debt impairment model. Our debt impairment model focuses on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from our investments. Our investments in perpetual securities that are rated below investment grade are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment under our equity impairment model. Our equity impairment model focuses on the severity of a security’s decline in fair value coupled with the length of time the fair value of the security has been below amortized cost.

 

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The following table details our pretax other-than-temporary impairment losses by investment category for the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010            2009        2008  

Perpetual securities

   $ 160         $ 729         $ 379   

Corporate bonds

     285           458           160   

Collateralized debt obligations

     0           148           213   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     12           24           0   

Equity securities

     2           2           1   

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses realized

   $ 459         $ 1,361         $ 753   
                                

We apply the debt security impairment model to our perpetual securities provided there has been no evidence of deterioration in credit of the issuer, such as a downgrade of the rating of a perpetual security to below investment grade. As of December 31, 2010, the perpetual securities of nine issuers we own had been downgraded to below investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, we were required to evaluate these securities for other-than-temporary impairment using the equity security impairment model rather than the debt security impairment model. Use of the equity security model limits the forecasted recovery period that can be used in the impairment evaluation and, accordingly, affects both the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairment losses. As a result of market conditions and the extent of changes in ratings on our perpetual securities, we recognized other-than-temporary impairment losses for perpetual securities from evaluation under our equity impairment model of $41 million ($27 million after-tax) during 2010 and $729 million ($474 million after-tax) during 2009. We recognized an additional other-than-temporary impairment loss of $119 million ($77 million after-tax) during 2010 for one of these perpetual securities due to further deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness.

Impairments on mortgage- and asset-backed securities during 2010 were credit-related. During our review of certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities during 2009, we determined that a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment of the securities was credit-related. However, we concluded that a portion of the reduction in fair value below amortized cost was due to non-credit factors, which we believe we will recover. As a result, we recognized an impairment charge in earnings for credit-related declines in value of $24 million ($15 million after-tax) during 2009. We recorded an unrealized loss in other comprehensive income of $26 million ($17 million after-tax) during 2009 for the portion of the other-than-temporary impairment of these securities resulting from non-credit factors. We recorded an unrealized pretax investment gain of $21 million in 2010 and $1 million during 2009 in other comprehensive income for some of these mortgage- and asset-backed securities to reflect the change in fair value subsequent to their other-than-temporary impairment recognized previously in 2009.

 

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The other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized during 2009, of which a portion was transferred to other comprehensive income, related only to the other-than-temporary impairment of certain of our investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The other-than-temporary impairment charges related to credit and all other factors other than credit were determined using statistical modeling techniques. The model projects expected cash flows from the underlying mortgage pools assuming various economic recession scenarios including, more significantly, geographical and regional home data, housing valuations, prepayment speeds, and economic recession statistics. The following table summarizes cumulative credit-related impairment losses on securities still held at the end of the reporting period, for which other-than-temporary losses have been recognized and only the amount related to credit loss was recognized in earnings during the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Cumulative credit loss impairments, beginning of period

     $ 24         $ 0   

Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was
not previously recognized

       0           24   

Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was
previously recognized

       1           0   

Securities sold during period

       (12        0   

Cumulative credit loss impairments, end of period

     $ 13         $ 24   
                       

Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding changes in unrealized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Changes in unrealized gains (losses):

            

Debt securities:

            

Available for sale

   $ 1,105         $ 170         $ (2,134

Transferred to held to maturity

     (12        (31        (165

Perpetual securities:

            

Available for sale

     (24        736           (850

Equity securities

     (1        (1        (3

Total change in unrealized gains (losses)

   $ 1,068         $ 874         $ (3,152
                                

Effect on Shareholders’ Equity

The net effect on shareholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses from investment securities at December 31 was as follows:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale

     $ (61      $ (1,141

Unamortized unrealized gains on securities transferred to held to maturity

       135           148   

Deferred income taxes

       (41        356   

Other

       0           (1

Shareholders' equity, unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities

     $ 33         $ (638
                       

 

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Gross Unrealized Loss Aging

The following tables show the fair value and gross unrealized losses, including the portion of other-than-temporary impairment recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, of our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31.

 

      2010  
      Total      Less than 12 months      12 months or longer  
(In millions)    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

                 

Japan government and agencies:

                 

Yen-denominated

   $ 1,634       $ 18       $ 1,634       $ 18       $ 0       $ 0   

Municipalities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     682         42         632         28         50         14   

Yen-denominated

     59         2         0         0         59         2   

Mortgage- and asset- backed securities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     78         13         20         0         58         13   

Yen-denominated

     415         15         415         15         0         0   

Public utilities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     556         36         498         28         58         8   

Yen-denominated

     2,877         200         766         47         2,111         153   

Sovereign and supranational:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     45         2         12         0         33         2   

Yen-denominated

     1,579         77         428         1         1,151         76   

Banks/financial institutions:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     1,484         108         753         22         731         86   

Yen-denominated

     10,609         1,703         1,506         40         9,103         1,663   

Other corporate:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     1,741         79         1,456         52         285         27   

Yen-denominated

     4,503         503         507         45         3,996         458   

Total fixed maturities

     26,262         2,798         8,627         296         17,635         2,502   

Perpetual securities:

                                                     

Dollar-denominated

     208         30         149         19         59         11   

Yen-denominated

     4,171         533         1,793         119         2,378         414   

Total perpetual securities

     4,379         563         1,942         138         2,437         425   

Equity securities

     13         2         13         1         0         1   

Total

   $ 30,654       $ 3,363       $ 10,582       $ 435       $ 20,072       $ 2,928   
                                                       

 

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      2009  
      Total      Less than 12 months      12 months or longer  
(In millions)    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

                 

U.S. government and agencies:

                 

Dollar-denominated

   $ 175       $ 7       $ 112       $ 3       $ 63       $ 4   

Japan government and agencies:

                 

Yen-denominated

     5,760         174         5,456         153         304         21   

Municipalities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     378         28         322         11         56         17   

Yen-denominated

     223         4         223         4         0         0   

Mortgage- and asset- backed securities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     338         78         78         3         260         75   

Yen-denominated

     54         6         35         0         19         6   

Collateralized debt obligations:(1)

                 

Dollar-denominated

     117         100         0         0         117         100   

Yen-denominated

     181         38         0         0         181         38   

Public utilities:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     465         42         200         10         265         32   

Yen-denominated

     3,290         217         592         37         2,698         180   

Sovereign and supranational:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     92         9         43         3         49         6   

Yen-denominated

     2,331         239         948         31         1,383         208   

Banks/financial institutions:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     1,325         259         305         14         1,020         245   

Yen-denominated

     10,306         1,768         807         313         9,499         1,455   

Other corporate:

                 

Dollar-denominated

     1,393         108         535         13         858         95   

Yen-denominated

     6,084         818         1,643         93         4,441         725   

Total fixed maturities

     32,512         3,895         11,299         688         21,213         3,207   

Perpetual securities:

                                                     

Dollar-denominated

     181         56         0         0         181         56   

Yen-denominated

     3,117         604         373         28         2,744         576   

Total perpetual securities

     3,298         660         373         28         2,925         632   

Equity securities

     6         2         3         1         3         1   

Total

   $ 35,816       $ 4,557       $ 11,675       $ 717       $ 24,141       $ 3,840   
                                                       
(1)

Beginning January 1, 2010, these investments are consolidated and are no longer reported as a single investment.

Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions

The unrealized losses on our investments have been primarily related to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or the widening of credit spreads rather than specific issuer credit-related events. In addition, because we do not intend to sell and do not believe it is likely that we will be required to sell these investments before a recovery of fair value to amortized cost, we do not consider any of these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010. The following summarizes our evaluation of investment categories with significant unrealized losses and securities that were rated below investment grade. All other investment categories with securities in an unrealized loss position that are not specifically discussed below were comprised of investment grade fixed maturities.

Municipalities and Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities

As of December 31, 2010, 82% of the unrealized losses on investment securities in the municipalities sector and 54% of the unrealized losses on investment securities in the mortgage- and asset-backed securities sector were related to investments that were investment grade, compared with 74% and 39%, respectively, at the end of 2009.

 

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We have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in these sectors were caused by widening credit spreads. However, we have determined that the ability of the issuers to service our investments has not been compromised. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish.

Bank and Financial Institution Investments

The following table shows the composition of our investments in an unrealized loss position in the bank and financial institution sector by fixed-maturity securities and perpetual securities. The table reflects those securities in that sector that were in an unrealized loss position as a percentage of our total investment portfolio in an unrealized loss position and their respective unrealized losses as a percentage of total unrealized losses at December 31.

 

     2010     2009  
     Percentage of
Total Investments in
an Unrealized Loss
Position
    Percentage of
Total
Unrealized
Losses
    Percentage of
Total Investments in
an Unrealized Loss
Position
    Percentage of
Total
Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities

    39     54     33     44

Perpetual securities:

       

Upper Tier II

    9        10        5        5   

Tier I

    5        7        4        10   

Total perpetual securities

    14        17        9        15   

Total

    53     71     42     59
                                 

As of December 31, 2010, 53% of the $2.4 billion in unrealized losses on investments in the bank and financial institution sector, including perpetual securities, were related to investments that were investment grade, compared with 75% at December 31, 2009. The decrease in this percentage is primarily due to investments in Greek financial institutions that were downgraded to below investment grade in the second quarter of 2010, as discussed previously in the Investment Concentrations section. Of the $16.5 billion in investments, at fair value, in the bank and financial institution sector in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2010, only $1.5 billion ($1.1 billion in unrealized losses) were below investment grade. Four investments comprised nearly 83% of the $1.1 billion unrealized loss. The remaining investments that comprised the unrealized loss were divided among 11 issuers with average unrealized losses per investment of less than $17 million. We conduct our own independent credit analysis for investments in the bank and financial institution sector. Our assessment includes analysis of financial information, as well as consultation with the issuers from time to time. Based on our credit analysis, we have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in this sector were caused by widening credit spreads, the downturn in the global economic environment and, to a lesser extent, changes in foreign exchange rates. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity, the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish. In particular, for our investments rated below investment grade, we have observed improvements in the fair value of those investments during the last half of 2009 and continuing into 2010 resulting from improvements in the issuers’ capital structure, operating fundamentals and, to a lesser extent, the global economic environment. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligations to us.

Other Corporate Investments

As of December 31, 2010, 51% of the unrealized losses on investments in the other corporate sector were related to investments that were investment grade, compared with 58% at the end of 2009. For any credit-related declines in market value, we perform a more focused review of the related issuer’s credit ratings, financial statements and other available financial data, timeliness of payment, competitive environment and any other significant data related to the issuer. From those reviews, we evaluate the issuers’ continued ability to service our investments. We have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in the other corporate sector were caused by widening credit spreads. Also impacting the unrealized losses in this sector is the decline in creditworthiness of certain issuers in the other corporate sector. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligation to us.

 

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Perpetual Securities

As of December 31, 2010, 83% of the unrealized losses on investments in perpetual securities were related to investments that were investment grade, compared with 92% at December 31, 2009. The majority of our investments in Upper Tier II and Tier I perpetual securities were in highly rated global financial institutions. Upper Tier II securities have more debt-like characteristics than Tier I securities and are senior to Tier I securities, preferred stock, and common equity of the issuer. Conversely, Tier I securities have more equity-like characteristics, but are senior to the common equity of the issuer. They may also be senior to certain preferred shares, depending on the individual security, the issuer’s capital structure and the regulatory jurisdiction of the issuer.

Details of our holdings of perpetual securities as of December 31 were as follows:

 

Perpetual Securities  
            2010     2009  
(In millions)   Credit
Rating
    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 

Upper Tier II:

             
    AA      $ 190      $ 201      $ 11      $ 1,074      $ 1,121      $ 47   
    A        3,279        3,250        (29     2,514        2,552        38   
    BBB        1,274        1,164        (110     774        780        6   
    BB or lower        542        476        (66     838        803        (35

Total Upper Tier II

            5,285        5,091        (194     5,200        5,256        56   

Tier I:

                                                       
    AA        0        0        0        329        255        (74
    A        632        568        (64     1,308        1,027        (281
    BBB        1,386        1,296        (90     275        208        (67
    BB or lower       524        557        33        442        517        75   

Total Tier I

            2,542        2,421        (121     2,354        2,007        (347

Total

          $ 7,827      $ 7,512      $ (315   $ 7,554      $ 7,263      $ (291
                                                         

With the exception of the Icelandic bank securities that we completely impaired in 2008, our Lloyds Banking Group plc dollar-denominated Tier I perpetual securities (par value of $33 million at December 31, 2010), and our RBS Capital Trust II dollar-denominated Tier I perpetual security (par value of $38 million at December 31, 2010), all of the perpetual securities we own were current on interest and principal payments at December 31, 2010. Based on amortized cost as of December 31, 2010, the geographic breakdown of our perpetual securities by issuer was as follows: European countries, excluding the United Kingdom (71%); the United Kingdom (10%); Japan (14%); and other (5%). To determine any credit-related declines in market value, we perform a more focused review of the related issuer’s credit ratings, financial statements and other available financial data, timeliness of payment, competitive environment and any other significant data related to the issuer. From those reviews, we evaluate the issuer’s continued ability to service our investment.

We have determined that the majority of our unrealized losses in the perpetual security category was principally due to widening credit spreads, largely as the result of the contraction of liquidity in the capital markets. Based on our reviews, we concluded that the ability of the issuers to service our investment has not been compromised by these factors. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as the investments near economic maturity, the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish. Based on our credit analyses, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligations to us.

Qualified Special Purpose Entities (QSPEs) and Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

As discussed in Note 1, effective January 1, 2010, we have consolidated all of the components of each former QSPE investment, including a fixed-maturity or perpetual investment and a corresponding derivative transaction. Our

 

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risk of loss over the life of each investment is limited to the amount of our original investment. In addition, new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE that was effective January 1, 2010, has resulted in the consolidation of additional VIE investments. Under accounting guidance in effect at December 31, 2009, QSPEs were exempt from consolidation and VIEs were evaluated for consolidation using a quantitative approach.

The following table details our investments in VIEs and former QSPEs as of December 31.

Investments in Qualified Special Purpose Entities

and Variable Interest Entities

 

      2010        2009  
(In millions)    Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
       Amortized
Cost
       Fair
Value
 

QSPEs:

                 

Total QSPEs

   $ 0         $ 0         $ 4,405         $ 4,089   
                                           

VIEs:

                 

Consolidated:

                 

Total VIEs consolidated

   $ 7,201 (1)       $ 7,363 (1)       $ 1,809         $ 1,522   

Not consolidated:

                                         

CDOs

     5           5           498           464   

Other

     13,914           13,214           727           689   

Total VIEs not consolidated

     13,919           13,219           1,225           1,153   

Total VIEs

   $ 21,120         $ 20,582         $ 3,034         $ 2,675   
                                           
(1)

Includes CDOs and former QSPEs consolidated beginning on January 1, 2010

VIEs

As a condition to our involvement or investment in a VIE, we enter into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of our investment or our beneficial interest in the VIE.

Our involvement with all of the VIEs in which we have an interest is passive in nature, and we are not the arranger of these entities. Except as relates to our review and evaluation of the structure of these VIEs in the normal course of our investment decision-making process, we have not been involved in establishing these entities. Further, we have not been nor are we required to purchase the securities issued in the future by any of these VIEs.

Our ownership interest in the VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. All of the VIEs in which we invest are static with respect to funding and have no ongoing forms of funding after the initial funding date. We have no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor do we have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. We have not provided any assistance or any other type of financing support to any of the VIEs we invest in, nor do we have any intention to do so in the future. The weighted-average lives of our notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.

Our risk of loss related to our interests in any of our VIEs is limited to our investment in the debt securities issued by them.

VIEs - Consolidated

We are substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, we have the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and are therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that we consolidate. We also participate in substantially all of the variability created by these VIEs. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding debt and perpetual securities and interest rate, foreign currency, and/or credit default swaps, as appropriate, and utilizing the cash flows from these securities to service our investment. Neither we nor

 

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any of our creditors are able to obtain the underlying collateral of the VIEs unless there is an event of default. Further, we are not a direct counterparty to the swap contracts and have no control over them. Our loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to our original investment.

Prior to January 1, 2010, we had interests in VIEs that we were not required to consolidate as reflected in the above table. Included in the VIEs that we did not consolidate are CDOs issued through VIEs originated by third parties. These VIEs combine highly rated underlying assets as collateral for the CDOs with CDSs to produce an investment security that consists of multiple asset tranches with varying levels of subordination within the VIE. However, subsequent to the adoption of new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we have consolidated the majority of these investments effective January 1, 2010.

The underlying collateral assets and funding of these VIEs are generally static in nature. These VIEs are limited to holding the underlying collateral and CDS contracts on specific corporate entities and utilizing the cash flows from the collateral and CDS contracts to service our investment therein. The underlying collateral and the reference corporate entities covered by the CDS contracts are all investment grade at the time of issuance. These VIEs do not rely on outside or ongoing sources of funding to support their activities beyond the underlying collateral and CDS contracts. We currently own only senior CDO tranches within these VIEs.

Consistent with our other debt and perpetual securities we own, we are exposed to credit losses within these CDOs that could result in principal losses to our investments. We have mitigated our risk of credit loss through the structure of the VIE, which contractually requires the subordinated tranches within these VIEs to absorb the majority of the expected losses from the underlying credit default swaps. Based on our statistical analysis models, each of the VIEs can sustain a reasonable number of defaults in the underlying CDS pools with no loss to our investment.

VIEs – Not Consolidated

With the exception of one CDO investment, the VIEs that we are not required to consolidate are investments that are limited to loans in the form of debt obligations from the VIEs that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents. These VIEs are the primary financing vehicle used by their corporate sponsors to raise financing in the international capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. We do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, nor do we have (1) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or (2) the right to receive benefits from the entity. As such, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and are therefore not required to consolidate them. These VIE investments are comprised of securities from 155 separate issuers which have an average credit rating of A. The increase in the amounts disclosed for VIEs not consolidated of $12.7 billion at amortized cost at December 31, 2010, compared with December 31, 2009, was due to a change in disclosure requirements that was effective January 1, 2010.

Securities Lending and Pledged Securities

We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. Our security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or unrestricted cash received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. The following table presents our security loans outstanding and the corresponding collateral held as of December 31:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009  

Security loans outstanding, fair value

   $ 186         $ 467   

Cash collateral on loaned securities

     191           483   
                     

All security-lending agreements are callable by us at any time.

At December 31, 2010, debt securities with a fair value of $19 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in the United States and Japan. We retain ownership of all securities on deposit and receive the related investment income.

For general information regarding our investment accounting policies, see Note 1.

 

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4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. The majority of our freestanding derivatives are interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps that are associated with investments in special-purpose entities, including VIEs where we are the primary beneficiary. The remaining derivatives are interest rate swaps associated with our variable interest rate yen-denominated debt.

Derivative Types

Interest rate and credit default swaps involve the periodic exchange of cash flows with other parties, at specified intervals, calculated using agreed upon rates or other financial variables and notional principal amounts. Generally, no cash or principal payments are exchanged at the inception of the contract. Typically, at the time a swap is entered into, the cash flow streams exchanged by the counterparties are equal in value. Interest rate swaps are primarily used to convert interest receipts on floating-rate fixed-maturity securities contracts to fixed rates. These derivatives are predominantly used to better match cash receipts from assets with cash disbursements required to fund liabilities.

Credit default swaps are used to assume credit risk related to an individual security or an index. These contracts entitle the consolidated VIE to receive a periodic fee in exchange for an obligation to compensate the derivative counterparty should the referenced security issuers experience a credit event, as defined in the contract. The consolidated VIE is also exposed to credit risk due to embedded derivatives associated with credit-linked notes.

Foreign currency swaps exchange an initial principal amount in two currencies, agreeing to re-exchange the currencies at a future date, at an agreed upon exchange rate. There may also be periodic exchanges of payments at specified intervals based on the agreed upon rates and notional amounts. Foreign currency swaps are used primarily in the consolidated VIEs in our Aflac Japan portfolio to convert foreign denominated cash flows to yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan, in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations.

Credit Risk Assumed through Derivatives

Our exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to our interest rate swaps associated with our variable interest rate Uridashi notes as of December 31, 2010, was immaterial. For the interest rate, foreign currency, and credit default swaps associated with our VIE investments for which we are the primary beneficiary, we do not bear the risk of loss for counterparty default. We are not a direct counterparty to those contracts.

As a result of consolidation of certain VIE investments on January 1, 2010, we began recognizing related credit default swaps that assume credit risk from an asset pool. Those consolidated VIEs will receive periodic payments based on an agreed upon rate and notional amount and will only make a payment by delivery of associated collateral, which consists of highly rated asset-backed securities, if there is a credit event. A credit event payment will typically be equal to the notional value of the swap contract less the value of the referenced obligations. A credit event is generally defined as a default on contractually obligated interest or principal payments or bankruptcy of the referenced entity. The credit default swaps in which the consolidated VIE assumes credit risk primarily reference investment grade baskets. The diversified portfolios of corporate issuers are established within sector concentration limits.

 

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The following table presents the maximum potential risk, fair value, weighted-average years to maturity, and underlying referenced credit obligation type for credit default swaps as of December 31, 2010.

 

    

Less than

one year

   

One to

three years

   

Three to

five years

   

Five to

ten years

    Total  
(In millions)   Maximum
potential
risk
    Estimated
fair value
    Maximum
potential
risk
    Estimated
fair value
    Maximum
potential
risk
    Estimated
fair value
    Maximum
potential
risk
    Estimated
fair value
    Maximum
potential
risk
    Estimated
fair value
 

Index exposure:

                   

Corporate bonds

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ (340   $ (118   $ (416   $ (225   $ (756   $ (343
                                                                                 

Derivative Balance Sheet Classification

The tables below summarize the balance sheet classification of the Company’s derivative fair value amounts, as well as the gross asset and liability fair value amounts, at December 31. The fair value amounts presented do not include income accruals. The notional amount of derivative contracts represents the basis upon which pay or receive amounts are calculated. Notional amounts are not reflective of credit risk.

 

      2010  
(In millions)    Net Derivatives     Asset
Derivatives
     Liability
Derivatives
 
Hedge Designation/ Derivative Type    Notional Amount      Fair Value     Fair Value      Fair Value  

Cash flow hedges:

          

Interest rate swaps

   $ 245       $ (2   $ 0       $ (2

Foreign currency swaps

     615         170        180         (10

Total cash flow hedges

     860         168        180         (12

Non-qualifying strategies:

          

Interest rate swaps

     743         56        124         (68

Foreign currency swaps

     3,815         (58     260         (318

Credit default swaps

     756         (343     0         (343

Total non-qualifying strategies

     5,314         (345     384         (729

Total cash flow hedges and
non-qualifying strategies

   $ 6,174       $ (177   $ 564       $ (741
                                    

Balance Sheet Location

 

          

Other assets

   $ 2,364       $ 564      $ 564       $ 0   

Other liabilities

     3,810         (741     0         (741

Total derivatives

   $ 6,174       $ (177   $ 564       $ (741
                                    

 

      2009  
(In millions)    Net Derivatives     Asset
Derivatives
       Liability
Derivatives
 
Hedge Designation/ Derivative Type    Notional Amount      Fair Value     Fair Value        Fair Value  

Cash flow hedges:

            

Interest rate swaps

   $ 217       $ (3   $ 0         $ (3
                                      

Balance Sheet Location

            

Other liabilities

   $ 217       $ (3   $ 0         $ (3

Total derivatives

   $ 217       $ (3   $ 0         $ (3
                                      

 

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Hedging

As part of the adoption of the new accounting requirements associated with VIEs, we considered whether the interest rate and/or foreign currency swaps in the consolidated VIEs would qualify for hedge accounting treatment on January 1, 2010. For those that qualified, the Company designated the derivative on January 1, 2010, as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a forecasted transaction or of amounts to be received or paid related to a recognized asset (“cash flow” hedge). We expect to continue this hedging activity for a weighted-average period of approximately 22 years. The remaining derivatives that did not qualify for hedge accounting were designated on January 1, 2010, as held for other investment purposes (“non-qualifying strategies”).

We have interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes (see Note 8). By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in the interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated these interest rate swaps as a cash flow hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The swaps had no value at inception. Changes in the fair value of the swap contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income so long as the hedge is deemed effective. Should any portion of the hedge be deemed ineffective, that value would be reported in net earnings.

Hedge Documentation and Effectiveness Testing

To qualify for hedge accounting treatment, a derivative must be highly effective in mitigating the designated changes in cash flow of the hedged item. At hedge inception, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction. The documentation process includes linking derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the statement of financial position or to specific forecasted transactions and defining the effectiveness and ineffectiveness testing methods to be used. The Company also formally assesses both at the hedge’s inception and ongoing on a quarterly basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been and are expected to continue to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Hedge effectiveness is assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods may include the comparison of critical terms of the derivative to the hedged item. Quantitative methods include regression or other statistical analysis of changes in cash flows associated with the hedge relationship. Hedge ineffectiveness of the hedge relationships is measured each reporting period using the “Hypothetical Derivative Method.”

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in current earnings as a component of realized investment gains (losses). All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Discontinuance of Hedge Accounting

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (1) it is determined that the derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item; (2) the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument; or (3) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised.

When hedge accounting is discontinued on a cash-flow hedge, including those where the derivative is sold, terminated or exercised, amounts previously deferred in other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings when earnings are impacted by the cash flow of the hedged item.

Cash Flow Hedges

The only cash flow hedges that we had in 2009 and 2008 were related to the interest rate swaps on our variable interest rate Uridashi debt. These hedges were effective during those years, and the unrealized loss recognized for those interest rate swaps in other comprehensive income was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Upon consolidation of certain VIEs and their related interest rate, foreign currency, and credit default swaps on January 1, 2010, some of the interest rate and foreign currency swaps qualified for hedge accounting as cash flow hedges.

 

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The following table presents the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualified as cash flow hedges for the year ended December 31, 2010:

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

 

(In millions)    Gain (Loss) Recognized in
Other Comprehensive Income
on Derivative (Effective Portion)
     Net Realized Investment Gains
(Losses) Recognized in Income
on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
 

Interest rate swaps

   $ 1       $ 0   

Foreign currency swaps

     50         20   

Total

   $ 51       $ 20   
                   

There was no gain or loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings related to our cash flow hedges for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. As of December 31, 2010, pretax deferred net gains on derivative instruments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months are immaterial.

Non-qualifying Strategies

In 2009 and 2008, we did not have any derivatives that did not qualify for hedge accounting. Upon consolidation of certain VIEs and their related interest rate, foreign currency, and credit default swaps on January 1, 2010, some of the swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting. For those swaps that did not qualify for hedge accounting, all changes in their fair value are reported in current period earnings as net realized investment gains (losses). The following table presents the gain or loss recognized in income on non-qualifying strategies for the year ended December 31, 2010:

Non-qualifying Strategies

Gain (Loss) Recognized within Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 

(In millions)        

Interest rate swaps

   $ 7   

Foreign currency swaps

     3   

Credit default swaps

     (31

Total

   $ (21
          

The amount of gain or loss recognized in earnings for our VIEs is attributable to the derivatives in those investment structures. While the change in value of the swaps is recorded through current period earnings, the change in value of the available-for-sale fixed income or perpetual securities associated with these swaps is recorded through other comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the change in value of our total investment in these VIEs, consisting of swaps and their associated fixed income or perpetual securities, had an impact of $613 million on total shareholders’ equity.

Nonderivative Hedges

We have designated a majority of the Parent Company’s yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes and yen-denominated loans (see Note 8) as nonderivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. Our net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2008; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings during those years for the foreign exchange effect of the designated Parent Company yen-denominated liabilities. We recognized an immaterial loss in net earnings during the year ended December 31, 2009, for the negative foreign exchange effect on the Parent Company yen-denominated liabilities that exceeded our yen net asset position in Aflac Japan. There was no gain or loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings related to our net investment hedge for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

For additional information on our financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 5.

 

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5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We determine the fair values of our debt, derivative, perpetual and privately issued equity securities primarily using three pricing approaches or techniques: quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets, a discounted cash flow (DCF) pricing model, and price quotes we obtain from outside brokers.

Our DCF pricing model incorporates an option adjusted spread and utilizes various market inputs we obtain from both active and inactive markets. The estimated fair values developed by the DCF pricing model is most sensitive to prevailing credit spreads, the level of interest rates (yields) and interest rate volatility. Prior to March 31, 2010, credit spreads were derived based on pricing data obtained from investment brokers and took into account the current yield curve, time to maturity and subordination levels for similar securities or classes of securities. Subsequent to March 31, 2010, credit spreads are derived from using a bond index to create a credit spread matrix which takes into account the current credit spread, ratings and remaining time to maturity, and subordination levels for securities that are included in the bond index. Our DCF pricing model is based on a widely used global bond index that is comprised of investments in active markets. The index provides a broad-based measure of the global fixed-income bond market. This widely used bond index extensively covers bonds issued by European and American issuers, which account for the majority of bonds that we hold. We validate the reliability of the DCF pricing model periodically by using the model to price investments for which there are quoted market prices from active and inactive markets or, in the alternative, are quoted by our custodian for the same or similar securities.

The pricing data and market quotes we obtain from outside sources are reviewed internally for reasonableness. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the inputs are re-examined and the value is confirmed or revised.

In recent years, we have noted a continued reduction in the availability of pricing data from market sources. This decline is due largely to a reduction in the overall number of sources to provide pricing data. As a result, we have noted that available pricing data has become more volatile. The reduction in available pricing sources coupled with the increase in price volatility has increased the degree of management judgment required in the final determination of fair values. We assess the reasonableness of the pricing data we receive by comparing it to relevant market indices and other performance measurements. The final pricing data used to determine fair values is based on management’s judgment.

Fair Value Hierarchy

GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. These two types of inputs create three valuation hierarchy levels. Level 1 valuations reflect quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 valuations reflect quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets or model-derived valuations in which all significant valuation inputs are observable in active markets. Level 3 valuations reflect valuations in which one or more of the significant valuation inputs are not observable in an active market. The vast majority of our financial instruments subject to the classification provisions of GAAP relate to our investment securities classified as securities available for sale in our investment portfolio. We determine the fair value of our securities available for sale using several sources or techniques based on the type and nature of the investment securities.

 

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The following tables present the fair value hierarchy levels of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31.

 

      2010  
(In millions)    Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

                 

Fixed maturities:

                 

Government and agencies

   $ 16,534         $ 679         $ 0         $ 17,213   

Municipalities

     0           973           0           973   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     0           1,539           267           1,806   

Public utilities

     0           5,369           0           5,369   

Collateralized debt obligations

     0           0           5           5   

Sovereign and supranational

     0           1,394           0           1,394   

Banks/financial institutions

     0           8,047           386           8,433   

Other corporate

     0           13,162           0           13,162   

Total fixed maturities

     16,534           31,163           658           48,355   

Perpetual securities:

                                         

Banks/financial institutions

     0           7,169           0           7,169   

Other corporate

     0           343           0           343   

Total perpetual securities

     0           7,512           0           7,512   

Equity securities

     14           5           4           23   

Other assets:

                                         

Interest rate swaps

     0           124           0           124   

Foreign currency swaps

     0           151           289           440   

Total other assets

     0           275           289           564   

Total assets

   $ 16,548         $ 38,955         $ 951         $ 56,454   
                                           

Liabilities:

                 

Interest rate swaps

   $ 0         $ 70         $ 0         $ 70   

Foreign currency swaps

     0           280           48           328   

Credit default swaps

     0           0           343           343   

Total liabilities

   $ 0         $ 350         $ 391         $ 741   
                                           

 

      2009  
(In millions)    Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

                 

Fixed maturities:

                 

Government and agencies

   $ 10,178         $ 1,980         $ 0         $ 12,158   

Municipalities

     0           495           0           495   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

     0           1,017           62           1,079   

Public utilities

     35           3,486           497           4,018   

Collateralized debt obligations(1)

     0           0           267           267   

Sovereign and supranational

     0           864           293           1,157   

Banks/financial institutions

     0           5,852           1,240           7,092   

Other corporate

     13           9,254           1,248           10,515   

Total fixed maturities

     10,226           22,948           3,607           36,781   

Perpetual securities:

                                         

Banks/financial institutions

     0           5,503           1,441           6,944   

Other corporate

     0           319           0           319   

Total perpetual securities

     0           5,822           1,441           7,263   

Equity securities

     15           0           9           24   

Total assets

   $ 10,241         $ 28,770         $ 5,057         $ 44,068   
                                           

Liabilities:

                 

Interest rate swaps

   $ 0         $ 3         $ 0         $ 3   

Total liabilities

   $ 0         $ 3         $ 0         $ 3   
                                           
(1)

Beginning January 1, 2010, the majority of these investments are consolidated and are no longer reported as a single investment.

 

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Approximately 45% of our fixed income and perpetual investments classified as Level 2 are valued by obtaining quoted market prices from our investment custodian. The custodian obtains price quotes from various pricing services that estimate fair values based on observable market transactions for similar investments in active markets, market transactions for the same investments in inactive markets or other observable market data where available.

The fair value of approximately 51% of our Level 2 fixed income and perpetual investments is determined using our DCF pricing model. The significant valuation inputs to the DCF model are obtained from, or corroborated by, observable market sources from both active and inactive markets.

For the remaining Level 2 investments that are not quoted by our custodian and cannot be priced under the DCF pricing model, we obtain specific broker quotes from up to three outside securities brokers and generally use the average of the quotes to estimate the fair value of the securities.

We use derivative instruments to manage the risk associated with certain assets. However, the derivative instrument may not be classified with the same fair value hierarchy as the associated asset. Derivative instruments are reported in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, except CDSs and certain foreign currency swaps which are classified as Level 3.

The interest rate and certain foreign currency derivative instruments classified as Level 2 were priced by broker quotations using inputs that are observable in the market. Inputs used to value derivatives include, but are not limited to, interest rates, foreign currency forward and spot rates, and interest volatility. For derivatives associated with any of our VIEs where we are the primary beneficiary, we are not the direct counterparty to the swap contracts. As a result, the fair value measurements provided by the broker incorporate the credit risk of the collateral associated with the VIE and counterparty credit risk.

The fair value of our interest rate swap contracts associated with our variable interest rate yen-denominated debt is based on the amount we would expect to receive or pay to terminate the swaps. The prices used to determine the value of the swaps are obtained from the respective swap counterparties and take into account current interest rates, duration and credit risk.

The fixed maturities, perpetual securities and derivatives classified as Level 3 consist of securities for which there are limited or no observable valuation inputs. We estimate the fair value of these securities by obtaining broker quotes from a limited number of brokers. These brokers base their quotes on a combination of their knowledge of the current pricing environment and market conditions. We consider these inputs unobservable. The equity securities classified in Level 3 are related to investments in Japanese businesses, each of which are insignificant and in the aggregate are immaterial. Because fair values for these investments are not readily available, we carry them at their original cost. We review each of these investments periodically and, in the event we determine that any are other-than-temporarily impaired, we write them down to their estimated fair value at that time.

Historically, we have not adjusted the quotes or prices we obtain from the brokers and pricing services we use.

 

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The following tables present the changes in our available-for-sale investments and derivatives classified as Level 3 for the years ended December 31.

 

                                 2010                              
(In millions)   Balance,
Beginning
of Period
    Effect of
Change in
Accounting
Principle(1)
    Revised
Balance,
Beginning
of Period
    Realized
Gains or
Losses
Included
in
Earnings
    Unrealized
Gains or
Losses
Included in
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Purchases,
Issuances,
Sales, and
Settlements
    Transfers
Into
and/or
Out of
Level 3
    Balance,
End of
Period
    Change in
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
Still Held(2)
 

Fixed maturities:

                 

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

  $ 62      $ 0      $ 62      $ (1   $ 20      $ (7   $ 193      $ 267      $ 0   

Public utilities

    497        0        497        0        (9     (2     (486     0        0   

Collateralized debt obligations

    267        (263     4        1        0        0        0        5        0   

Sovereign and supranational

    293        0        293        0        5        0        (298     0        0   

Banks/financial institutions

    1,240        0        1,240        6        69        (177     (752     386        0   

Other corporate

    1,248        0        1,248        0        6        0        (1,254     0        0   
                                                                         

Total fixed maturities

    3,607        (263     3,344        6        91        (186     (2,597     658        0   
                                                                         

Perpetual securities:

                 

Banks/financial institutions

    1,441        0        1,441        108        51        (585     (1,015     0        0   
                                                                         

Total perpetual securities

    1,441        0        1,441        108        51        (585     (1,015     0        0   
                                                                         

Equity securities

    9        0        9        0        0        0        (5     4        0   
                                                                         

Derivatives:

                 

Foreign currency swaps

    0        0        0        1        0        0        240        241        1   

Credit default swaps

    0        (312     (312     (31     0        0        0        (343     (31
                                                                         

Total derivatives

    0        (312     (312     (30     0        0        240        (102     (30
                                                                         

Total

  $ 5,057      $ (575   $ 4,482      $ 84      $ 142      $ (771   $ (3,377   $ 560      $ (30
                                                                         
(1)

Change in accounting for VIEs effective January 1, 2010. See Notes 1, 3 and 4 for additional information.

(2)

Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at December 31, 2010

 

     2009  
(In millions)   Balance,
Beginning
of Period
    Realized
Gains or
Losses
Included in
Earnings
    Unrealized
Gains or
Losses
Included in
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Purchases,
Issuances,
Sales and
Settlements
    Transfers
Into
and/or
Out of
Level 3
    Balance,
End of
Period
    Change in
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
Still Held(1)
 

Fixed maturities:

             

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

  $ 35      $ 0      $ (1   $ 31      $ (3   $ 62      $ 0   

Public utilities

    502        0        (14     0        9        497        0   

Collateralized debt obligations(2)

    19        (140     275        (14     127        267        (148

Sovereign and supranational

    260        0        33        0        0        293        0   

Banks/financial institutions

    876        (75     194        (243     488        1,240        0   

Other corporate

    898        0        150        0        200        1,248        0   
                                                         

Total fixed maturities

    2,590        (215     637        (226     821        3,607        (148
                                                         

Perpetual securities:

             

Banks/financial institutions

    412        (426     510        0        945        1,441        (427
                                                         

Total perpetual securities

    412        (426     510        0        945        1,441        (427
                                                         

Equity securities

    4        0        (1     0        6        9        0   
                                                         

Total

  $ 3,006      $ (641   $ 1,146      $ (226   $ 1,772      $ 5,057      $ (575
                                                         
(1)

Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at December 31, 2009

(2)

Beginning January 1, 2010, the majority of these investments are consolidated and are no longer reported as a single investment.

 

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The inputs we receive from pricing brokers for forward exchange rates and the credit spreads for certain issuers, including liquidity risk, have become increasingly difficult for us to observe or corroborate in the markets for our investments in CDOs (prior to January 1, 2010), callable reverse-dual currency securities (RDCs), securities rated below investment grade, and to a lesser extent less liquid sinking fund securities. This has resulted in the transfer of affected fixed maturities available for sale from the Level 2 valuation category into the Level 3 valuation category.

As discussed in Notes 1 and 3, we adopted new accounting guidance on VIEs effective January 1, 2010, and as a result have consolidated certain VIE investments. Upon consolidation, the beneficial interest was derecognized and the underlying securities and derivatives were recognized. In many cases, the fair value hierarchy level differed between the original beneficial interest asset and the underlying securities that are now being recognized. In the Level 3 rollforward, we have separately disclosed the impact of consolidating these VIE investments that were previously categorized as Level 3 and now the underlying securities are Level 2. As noted in the Level 3 rollforward above, the CDSs which are separately recognized as a result of this change in accounting are reported as Level 3 investments. In addition, approximately $1.0 billion of Level 2 investments were reclassified upon the adoption of this guidance, and their underlying securities are being reported as Level 1 as of January 1, 2010.

During the year ended December 31, 2010, we transferred investments totaling $716 million into Level 3 from Level 2 as a result of lack of visibility to observe significant inputs to price and due to credit downgrades of respective issuers of securities to below investment grade. We also transferred $240 million of foreign currency swaps into Level 3 from Level 2 as a result of lack of visibility to observe significant inputs to price. During the same period, we transferred investments totaling $4.3 billion into Level 2 from Level 3 as a result of changing our pricing methodology to using a pricing index for estimating fair value instead of obtaining pricing of the securities from brokers or arrangers. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we transferred investments totaling $1.8 billion into Level 3 as a result of credit downgrades of the respective issuers of the securities to below investment grade.

The significant valuation inputs that are used in the valuation process for the below-investment-grade, callable RDC and private placement investments classified as Level 3 include forward exchange rates, yen swap rates, dollar swap rates, interest rate volatilities, credit spread data on specific issuers, assumed default and default recovery rates, certain probability assumptions, and call option data.

Some of these securities require the calculation of a theoretical forward exchange rate which is developed by using yen swap rates, U.S. dollar swap rates, interest rate volatilities, and spot exchange rates. The forward exchange rate is then used to convert all future dollar cash flows of the bond, where applicable, into yen cash flows. Additionally, credit spreads for the individual issuers are key valuation inputs of these securities. Finally, in pricing securities with a call option, the assumptions regarding interest rates in the U.S. and Japan are considered to be significant valuation inputs. Collectively, these valuation inputs are included to estimate the fair values of these securities at each reporting date.

In obtaining the above valuation inputs, we have determined that certain pricing assumptions and data used by our pricing sources are becoming increasingly more difficult to validate or corroborate by the market and/or appear to be internally developed rather than observed in or corroborated by the market. The use of these unobservable valuation inputs causes more subjectivity in the valuation process for these securities and consequently, causes more volatility in their estimated fair values.

 

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31 were as follows:

 

      2010        2009  
(In millions)    Carrying
Value
       Fair
Value
       Carrying
Value
       Fair
Value
 

Assets:

                 

Fixed-maturity securities

   $ 72,570         $ 72,999         $ 63,468         $ 62,609   

Fixed-maturity securities - consolidated
variable interest entites

     5,869           5,825           0           0   

Perpetual securities

     5,974           5,974           7,263           7,263   

Perpetual securities - consolidated variable
interest entites

     1,538           1,538           0           0   

Equity securities

     23           23           24           24   

Interest rate, foreign currency, and credit default swaps

     564           564           0           0   

Liabilities:

                 

Notes payable (excluding capitalized leases)

     3,032           3,248           2,593           2,683   

Interest rate, foreign currency, and credit default swaps

     741           741           3           3   

Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation

     108           108           128           128   
                                           

As mentioned previously, we determine the fair values of our debt, perpetual and privately issued equity securities and our derivatives using three basic pricing approaches or techniques: quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets, pricing models, and price quotes we obtain from outside brokers.

The fair values of notes payable with fixed interest rates were obtained from an independent financial information service. The fair value of the obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation is our estimated share of the industry’s obligation calculated on a pro rata basis by projecting our percentage of the industry’s premiums and reserves and applying that percentage to the total industry obligation payable in future years.

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accrued investment income, accounts payable, cash collateral and payables for security transactions approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Consequently, such instruments are not included in the above table. The preceding table also excludes liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims as these liabilities are not financial instruments as defined by GAAP.

DCF Sensitivity

Our DCF pricing model utilizes various market inputs we obtain from both active and inactive markets. The estimated fair values developed by the DCF pricing models are most sensitive to prevailing credit spreads, the level of interest rates (yields) and interest rate volatility. Management believes that under normal market conditions, a movement of 50 basis points (bps) in the key assumptions used to estimate these fair values would be reasonably likely. Therefore, we selected a uniform magnitude of movement (50 bps) and provided both upward and downward movements in the assumptions. Since the changes in fair value are relatively linear, readers of these financial statements can make their own judgments as to the movement in interest rates and the change in fair value based upon this data. The following scenarios provide a view of the sensitivity of our securities priced by our DCF pricing model.

The fair values of our available-for-sale fixed-maturity and perpetual securities valued by our DCF pricing model totaled $19.9 billion at December 31, 2010. The estimated effect of potential changes in interest rates, credit spreads and interest rate volatility on these fair values as of such date is as follows:

 

            Interest Rates        Credit Spreads        Interest Rate Volatility  

Factor

change

     Change in
fair value
(in millions)
       Factor
change
       Change in
fair value
(in millions)
       Factor
change
       Change in
fair value
(in millions)
 

+50 bps

     $ (1,095        +50 bps         $ (1,091        +50 bps         $ (211

-50 bps

       1,206           -50 bps           1,176           -50 bps           28   
                                                        

 

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The fair values of our held-to-maturity fixed-maturity securities valued by our DCF pricing model totaled $28.8 billion at December 31, 2010. The estimated effect of potential changes in interest rates, credit spreads and interest rate volatility on these fair values as of such date is as follows:

 

Interest Rates   Credit Spreads   Interest Rate Volatility

Factor

change

  Change in
fair value
(in millions)
 

Factor

change

 

Change in

fair value
(in millions)

 

Factor

change

 

Change in

fair value
(in millions)

+50 bps

  $(1,822)      +50 bps   $(1,656)      +50 bps   $(396)   

-50 bps

  1,889   -50 bps   1,692   -50 bps   496
                     

The two tables above illustrate the differences on the fair values of our investment portfolio among each of the inputs for interest rates, credit spreads and interest volatility. These differences are driven principally by the securities in our portfolio that have call features. These call features cause the fair values of the affected securities to react differently depending on the inputs used to price these securities.

For additional information on our investments and financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 4.

6. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Insurance Expenses: Consolidated policy acquisition costs deferred during the year were $1.44 billion in 2010, compared with $1.30 billion in 2009 and $1.24 billion in 2008. The following table presents a rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.

 

      2010        2009  
(In millions)    Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.  

Deferred policy acquisition costs:

                 

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 5,846         $ 2,687         $ 5,644         $ 2,593   

Capitalization

     929           516           787           513   

Amortization

     (597        (433        (523        (419

Foreign currency translation and other

     786           0           (62        0   
                                           

Balance, end of year

   $ 6,964         $ 2,770         $ 5,846         $ 2,687   
                                           

Commissions deferred as a percentage of total acquisition costs deferred were 77% in 2010 and 76% in both 2009 and 2008.

Personnel, compensation and benefit expenses as a percentage of insurance expenses were 44% in 2010 and 43% in both 2009 and 2008. Advertising expense, which is included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, was as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Advertising expense:

              

Aflac Japan

     $ 112         $ 106         $ 86   

Aflac U.S.

       116           107           118   
                                  

Total advertising expense

     $ 228         $ 213         $ 204   
                                  

Depreciation and other amortization expenses, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Depreciation expense

     $ 60         $ 60         $ 57   

Other amortization expense

       22           21           17   
                                  

Total depreciation and other amortization expense(1)

     $ 82         $ 81         $ 74   
                                  
(1)

Aflac Japan accounted for $48 in 2010, $46 in 2009 and $43 in 2008.

 

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Lease and rental expense, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Lease and rental expense:

            

Aflac Japan

   $ 68         $ 72         $ 68   

Aflac U.S.

     8           8           9   

Other

     1           1           1   
                                

Total lease and rental expense

   $ 77         $ 81         $ 78   
                                

7. POLICY LIABILITIES

Policy liabilities primarily include future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 87% and 5% of total policy liabilities at December 31, 2010, respectively. We regularly review the adequacy of our policy liabilities in total and by component. The liability for future policy benefits as of December 31 consisted of the following:

 

                  Liability Amounts        Interest Rates  
(In millions)      Policy
Issue Year
       2010        2009        Year of
Issue
    In 20
Years
 

Health insurance:

                     

Japan:

       2005 - 2010         $ 1,577         $ 798           1.5 -2.75     1.5 -2.75
       1999 - 2010           13,034           10,815           3.0        3.0   
       1997 - 1999           3,942           3,438           3.5        3.5   
       1995 - 1996           434           372           4.0        4.0   
       1994 - 1996           5,649           4,927           4.5        4.5   
       1987 - 1994           24,420           21,563           5.25 - 5.5        5.25 - 5.5   
       1978 - 1986           5,634           5,084           6.5 - 6.75        5.5   
       1974 - 1979           993           939           7.0        5.0   

U.S.:

       2005 - 2010           2,293           1,935           5.5        5.5   
       1998 - 2004           1,123           1,122           7.0        7.0   
       1988 - 2004           845           940           8.0        6.0   
       1986 - 2004           1,337           1,349           6.0        6.0   
       1985 - 1986           24           24           6.5        6.5   
       1981 - 1986           188           196           7.0        5.5   
       Other           26           28          

Life insurance:

                     

Japan:

       2010           262           0           2.25        2.25   
       2007 - 2010           503           402           2.75        2.75   
       2006 - 2010           753           462           2.5        2.5   
       2001 - 2010           1,163           904           1.65 -1.85        1.65 -1.85   
       1999 - 2010           2,543           1,660           3.0        3.0   
       1997 - 2009           904           782           3.5        3.5   
       1994 - 1996           1,334           1,173           4.0        4.0   
       1985 - 1993           2,877           2,401           5.25 -5.65        5.25 -5.65   

U.S.:

       1956 - 2010           245           187           4.0 - 6.0        4.0 - 6.0   
                                                     

Total

          $ 72,103         $ 61,501          
                                                     

The weighted-average interest rates reflected in the consolidated statements of earnings for future policy benefits for Japanese policies were 4.4% in 2010, 4.5% in 2009 and 4.6% in 2008; and for U.S. policies, 6.0% in 2010 and 6.1% in both 2009 and 2008.

 

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Changes in the liability for unpaid policy claims were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Unpaid supplemental health claims, beginning of year

   $ 3,105         $ 2,959         $ 2,332   

Add claims incurred during the year related to:

            

Current year

     7,262           6,864           6,127   

Prior years

     (332        (398        (253
                                

Total incurred

     6,930           6,466           5,874   
                                

Less claims paid during the year on claims incurred during:

            

Current year

     5,003           4,683           4,177   

Prior years

     1,787           1,618           1,476   
                                

Total paid

     6,790           6,301           5,653   
                                

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on unpaid claims

     279           (19        406   
                                

Unpaid supplemental health claims, end of year

     3,524           3,105           2,959   

Unpaid life claims, end of year

     195           165           159   
                                

Total liability for unpaid policy claims

   $ 3,719         $ 3,270         $ 3,118   
                                

The incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable development in the unpaid policy claims liability previously provided for. There are no additional or return of premium considerations associated with that development.

8. NOTES PAYABLE

A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009  

8.50% senior notes due May 2019

   $ 850         $ 850   

6.45% senior notes due August 2040

     448 (1)         0   

6.90% senior notes due December 2039

     396 (2)         396 (2) 

3.45% senior notes due August 2015

     300           0   

Yen-denominated Uridashi notes:

       

1.52% notes due September 2011 (principal amount 15 billion yen)

     184           163   

2.26% notes due September 2016 (principal amount 8 billion yen)

     98           87   

Variable interest rate notes due September 2011 (.66% at December 2010, principal amount 20 billion yen)

     245           217   

Yen-denominated Samurai notes:

       

.71% notes paid July 2010 (principal amount 39.4 billion yen)

     0           428   

1.87% notes due June 2012 (principal amount 26.6 billion yen)

     327           289   

Yen-denominated loans:

       

3.60% loan due July 2015 (principal amount 10 billion yen)

     123           109   

3.00% loan due August 2015 (principal amount 5 billion yen)

     61           54   

Capitalized lease obligations payable through 2016

     6           6   
                     

Total notes payable

   $ 3,038         $ 2,599   
                     
(1)

$450 issuance net of a $2 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes

(2)

$400 issuance net of a $4 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes

In 2010 and 2009, we issued a total of $2.0 billion of senior notes through U.S. public debt offerings. The details of these notes are as follows. In August 2010, we issued $450 million and $300 million of senior notes that have 30-year and five-year maturities, respectively. In December 2009, we issued $400 million of senior notes that have a 30-year maturity. In May 2009, we issued $850 million of senior notes that have a 10-year maturity. These senior notes pay interest semi-annually and are redeemable at our option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the principal amount of the notes or (ii) the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

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In September 2006, the Parent Company issued three tranches of Uridashi notes totaling 45 billion yen. The first tranche totaled 15 billion yen and has a five-year maturity. The second tranche totaled 10 billion yen and has a 10-year maturity. The third tranche totaled 20 billion yen and has a five-year maturity and a variable interest coupon of six-month yen LIBOR plus a spread. We have entered into interest rate swaps related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate notes (see Note 4). Each tranche of Uridashi notes pays interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and is not available to U.S. persons.

The Parent Company issued yen-denominated Samurai notes totaling 30 billion yen in June 2007 and 40 billion yen in July 2005. These Samurai notes each have five-year maturities. In July 2010, we redeemed the Samurai notes issued in 2005 upon their maturity. The Samurai notes pay interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and are not available to U.S. persons.

During 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We extinguished 2.0 billion yen (par value) of our Uridashi notes due September 2016 at a cost of 1.4 billion yen, yielding a gain of .6 billion yen. We extinguished 3.4 billion yen (par value) of our Samurai notes due June 2012 at a cost of 2.5 billion yen, yielding a gain of .9 billion yen. We extinguished .6 billion yen (par value) of our Samurai notes due July 2010 at a cost of .5 billion yen, yielding a gain of .1 billion yen. Through these transactions, we realized a total gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income.

For our yen-denominated loans, the principal amount as stated in dollar terms will fluctuate from period to period due to changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. We have designated all of our yen-denominated notes payable as a nonderivative hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have also designated the interest rate swaps on our variable interest rate Uridashi notes as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with these notes.

The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2010, are as follows:

 

(In millions)   Long-term
Debt
       Capitalized
Lease
Obligations
       Total
Notes
Payable
 

2011

  $ 429         $ 2         $ 431   

2012

    327           2           329   

2013

    0           1           1   

2014

    0           1           1   

2015

    484           0           484   

Thereafter

    1,798           0           1,798   
                               

Total

  $ 3,038         $ 6         $ 3,044   
                               

We have no restrictive financial covenants related to our notes payable. We were in compliance with all of the covenants of our notes payable at December 31, 2010. No events of default or defaults occurred during 2010 and 2009.

 

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9. INCOME TAXES

The components of income tax expense (benefit) applicable to pretax earnings for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)   Japan        U.S.        Total  

2010:

           

Current

  $ 513         $ 349         $ 862   

Deferred

    546           (167        379   
                               

Total income tax expense

  $ 1,059         $ 182         $ 1,241   
                               

2009:

           

Current

  $ 565         $ 265         $ 830   

Deferred

    62           (154        (92
                               

Total income tax expense

  $ 627         $ 111         $ 738   
                               

2008:

           

Current

  $ 409         $ 227         $ 636   

Deferred

    109           (85        24   
                               

Total income tax expense

  $ 518         $ 142         $ 660   
                               

Income tax expense in the accompanying statements of earnings varies from the amount computed by applying the expected U.S. tax rate of 35% to pretax earnings. The principal reasons for the differences and the related tax effects for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)   2010        2009        2008  

Income taxes based on U.S. statutory rates

  $ 1,255         $ 782         $ 670   

Utilization of foreign tax credit

    (31        (29        (27

Nondeductible expenses

    10           11           11   

Other, net

    7           (26        6   
                               

Income tax expense

  $ 1,241         $ 738         $ 660   
                               

Total income tax expense for the years ended December 31 was allocated as follows:

 

(In millions)   2010        2009        2008  

Statements of earnings

  $ 1,241         $ 738         $ 660   
                               

Other comprehensive income (loss):

           

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period

    (339        39           (457

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:

           

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities during period

    447           728           (716

Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on investment securities included in net earnings

    (147        (424        (353

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period

    18           0           0   

Pension liability adjustment during period

    (11        8           (29
                               

Total income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)

    (32        351           (1,555
                               

Additional paid-in capital (exercise of stock options)

    (31        (3        (16

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

    (89        0           0   
                               

Total income taxes

  $ 1,089         $ 1,086         $ (911
                               

Changes in unrealized foreign currency translation gains/losses included a deferred income tax benefit of $337 million in 2010, compared with a deferred income tax expense of $14 million in 2009 and a deferred income tax benefit of $329 million in 2008.

 

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The income tax effects of the temporary differences that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Deferred income tax liabilities:

         

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     $ 2,814         $ 2,422   

Unrealized gains on investment securities

       114           0   

Difference in tax basis of investment in Aflac Japan

       0           369   

Premiums receivable

       151           149   

Policy benefit reserves

       1,583           751   

Other

       297           0   
                       

Total deferred income tax liabilities

       4,959           3,691   
                       

Deferred income tax assets:

         

Depreciation

       144           109   

Policyholder protection corporation obligation

       22           27   

Difference in tax basis of investment in Aflac Japan

       244           0   

Other basis differences in investment securities

       1,557           426   

Unfunded retirement benefits

       44           44   

Other accrued expenses

       70           64   

Unrealized losses on investment securities

       0           700   

Policy and contract claims

       107           83   

Unrealized exchange loss on yen-denominated notes payable

       142           124   

Deferred compensation

       168           118   

Capital loss carryforwards

       374           188   

Other

       385           505   
                       

Total deferred income tax assets

       3,257           2,388   
                       

Net deferred income tax liability

       1,702           1,303   

Current income tax liability

       267           350   
                       

Total income tax liability

     $ 1,969         $ 1,653   
                       

A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. In prior years, we established valuation allowances primarily for alternative minimum tax credit and non-life operating loss carryforwards that exceeded projected future offsets. As of December 31, 2010, no valuation allowances were required. Under U.S. income tax rules, only 35% of non-life operating losses can be offset against life insurance taxable income each year. For current U.S. income tax purposes, there were non-life operating loss carryforwards of $17 million and $39 million expiring in 2029 and 2030, respectively, and no tax credit carryforwards available at December 31, 2010. The Company has capital loss carryforwards of $1,070 million available to offset capital gains, of which $7 million expires in 2011, $214 million expires in 2013, $299 million expires in 2014 and $550 million expires in 2015.

We file federal income tax returns in the United States and Japan as well as state or prefecture income tax returns in various jurisdictions in the two countries. U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years before 2007 are no longer subject to examination. In Japan, the National Tax Agency (NTA) has completed exams through tax year 2007.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 17 (1)       $ 57 (1) 

Additions for tax positions of prior years

       7           1   

Settlements

       0           (37

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

       0           (4
                       

Balance, end of year

     $ 24 (1)       $ 17 (1) 
                       
(1)

Amounts do not include tax deductions of $8 at December 31, 2010, $6 at December 31, 2009, and $20 at January 1, 2009.

 

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Included in the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2010, are $24 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility, compared with $16 million at December 31, 2009. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect the annual effective tax rate, but would accelerate the payment of cash to the taxing authority to an earlier period. The Company has accrued approximately $2 million as of December 31, 2010, for permanent uncertainties, which if reversed would not have a material effect on the annual effective rate.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. We recognized approximately $3 million in interest and penalties in 2010, compared with $1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2008. The Company has accrued approximately $14 million for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2010, compared with $11 million a year ago.

As of December 31, 2010, there were no material uncertain tax positions for which the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.

10. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table is a reconciliation of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31.

 

(In thousands of shares)    2010      2009      2008  

Common stock - issued:

        

Balance, beginning of year

     661,209         660,035         658,604   

Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares

     1,451         1,174         1,431   
                            

Balance, end of year

     662,660         661,209         660,035   
                            

Treasury stock:

        

Balance, beginning of year

     192,641         193,420         172,074   

Purchases of treasury stock:

        

Open market

     2,000         0         23,201   

Other

     192         264         146   

Dispositions of treasury stock:

        

Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan

     0         (355      (1,523

Exercise of stock options

     (1,752      (556      (413

Other

     (82      (132      (65
                            

Balance, end of year

     192,999         192,641         193,420   
                            

Shares outstanding, end of year

     469,661         468,568         466,615   
                            

Outstanding share-based awards are excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic earnings per share. The following table presents the approximate number of share-based awards to purchase shares, on a weighted-average basis, that were considered to be anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share at December 31:

 

(In thousands)    2010      2009      2008  

Anti-dilutive share-based awards

     3,252         9,603         2,179   
                            

The weighted-average shares used in calculating earnings per share for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

 

(In thousands of shares)    2010      2009      2008  

Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating basic EPS

     469,038         466,552         473,405   

Dilutive effect of share-based awards

     4,047         2,511         5,410   
                            

Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating diluted EPS

     473,085         469,063         478,815   
                            

 

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Share Repurchase Program: During 2010, we repurchased 2.0 million shares of our common stock in the open market. During 2009, we did not repurchase any shares and in 2008, we repurchased 23.2 million shares of our common stock in the open market.

As of December 31, 2010, a remaining balance of 30.4 million shares of our common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors. The 30.4 million shares available for purchase were comprised of .4 million shares remaining from an authorization by the board of directors in 2006 and 30.0 million shares remaining from a board authorization in 2008.

Voting Rights: In accordance with the Parent Company’s articles of incorporation, shares of common stock are generally entitled to one vote per share until they have been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of 48 months, at which time they become entitled to 10 votes per share.

11. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

As of December 31, 2010, the Company has outstanding share-based awards under two long-term incentive compensation plans.

The first plan, which expired in February 2007, is a stock option plan which allowed grants for incentive stock options (ISOs) to employees and non-qualifying stock options (NQSOs) to employees and non-employee directors. The options have a term of 10 years and generally vest after three years. The exercise price of options granted under this plan is equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. Options granted before the plan’s expiration date remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

The second long-term incentive compensation plan allows awards to Company employees for ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Non-employee directors are eligible for grants of NQSOs, restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights. Generally, the awards vest based upon time-based conditions or time- and performance-based conditions. Performance-based vesting conditions generally include the attainment of goals related to Company financial performance. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 16.4 million shares were available for future grants under this plan, and the only performance-based awards issued and outstanding were restricted stock awards.

Share-based awards granted to U.S.-based grantees are settled with authorized but unissued Company stock, while those issued to Japan-based grantees are settled with treasury shares.

The following table presents the expense recognized in connection with share-based awards for the periods ended December 31.

 

(In millions, except for per-share amounts)    2010        2009        2008  

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 39         $ 38         $ 42   

Earnings before income taxes

     39           38           42   

Net earnings

     27           27           29   
                                

Net earnings per share:

            

Basic

   $ .06         $ .06         $ .06   

Diluted

     .06           .06           .06   
                                

We estimate the fair value of each stock option granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option approach. Expected volatility is based on historical periods generally commensurate with the estimated terms of the options. We use historical data to estimate option exercise and termination patterns within the model. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise patterns are stratified and considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of our option model and represents the weighted-average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. We base the risk-free interest rate on the Treasury note rate with a term comparable to that of the estimated term of the options. The weighted-average fair value of options at their grant date was $17.81 for 2010, compared with $8.89 for 2009 and $17.21 in 2008. The following table presents the assumptions used in valuing options granted during the years ended December 31.

 

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      2010        2009        2008  

Expected term (years)

     6.9           6.6           7.0   

Expected volatility

     36.0        32.0        25.0

Annual forfeiture rate

     1.8           1.6           .8   

Risk-free interest rate

     3.1           3.2           3.5   

Dividend yield

     1.3           1.3           1.3   
                                

The following table summarizes stock option activity.

 

(In thousands of shares)      Stock
Option
Shares
       Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

       16,577         $ 34.46   

Granted in 2008

       1,703           59.78   

Canceled in 2008

       (146        44.69   

Exercised in 2008

       (1,798        25.91   
                       

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

       16,336           37.95   

Granted in 2009

       2,220           26.74   

Canceled in 2009

       (161        35.62   

Exercised in 2009

       (1,978        26.13   
                       

Outstanding at December 31, 2009

       16,417           37.89   

Granted in 2010

       1,342           48.41   

Canceled in 2010

       (187        36.77   

Exercised in 2010

       (3,066        27.55   
                       

Outstanding at December 31, 2010

       14,506         $ 41.06   
                       

 

(In thousands of shares)    2010        2009        2008  

Shares exercisable, end of year

     10,720           12,523           12,382   
                                

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010.

 

(In thousands of shares)      Options Outstanding        Options Exercisable  

Range of
Exercise Prices

Per Share

     Stock Option
Shares
Outstanding
       Wgtd.-Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Yrs.)
       Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share
       Stock Option
Shares
Exercisable
       Wgtd.-Avg.
Exercise
Price
Per Share
 

$14.99 - $31.47    

       3,210           4.8           $26.03           1,968           $28.53   

31.48 -   40.23  

       2,679           4.3           36.73           2,574           36.69   

40.30 -   43.67  

       2,981           4.1           41.85           2,955           41.84   

43.94 -   47.25  

       2,468           7.0           46.28           1,439           46.03   

47.33 -   61.81  

       3,053           7.2           54.80           1,735           52.20   

61.84 -   67.67  

       115           7.2           64.72           49           62.87   
                                                        

$14.99 - $67.67    

       14,506           5.4           $41.06           10,720           $40.50   
                                                        

The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the quoted closing common stock price of $56.43 as of December 31, 2010, for those awards that have an exercise price currently below the closing price. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding was $230 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 5.4 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable at that same date was $173 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 4.4 years.

 

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The following table summarizes stock option activity during the years ended December 31.

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Total intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 68         $ 34         $ 59   

Cash received from options exercised

     73           22           38   

Tax benefit realized as a result of options exercised and
restricted stock releases

     30           15           23   
                                

The value of restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31.

 

(In thousands of shares)      Shares        Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Per  Share
 

Restricted stock at December 31, 2007

       974         $ 45.65   

Granted in 2008

       302           61.00   

Canceled in 2008

       (17        52.86   

Vested in 2008

       (262        39.95   
                       

Restricted stock at December 31, 2008

       997           51.68   

Granted in 2009

       579           23.79   

Canceled in 2009

       (15        39.97   

Vested in 2009

       (342        47.30   
                       

Restricted stock at December 31, 2009

       1,219           39.81   

Granted in 2010

       468           47.53   

Canceled in 2010

       (41        41.31   

Vested in 2010

       (372        47.80   
                       

Restricted stock at December 31, 2010

       1,274         $ 40.26   
                       

As of December 31, 2010, total compensation cost not yet recognized in our financial statements related to restricted stock awards was $22 million, of which $10 million (637 thousand shares) was related to restricted stock awards with a performance-based vesting condition. We expect to recognize these amounts over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.3 years. There are no other contractual terms covering restricted stock awards once vested.

12. STATUTORY ACCOUNTING AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

Our insurance subsidiary is required to report its results of operations and financial position to state insurance regulatory authorities on the basis of statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such authorities. Aflac’s statutory financial statements are prepared on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NEDOI). The NEDOI recognizes statutory accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by the state of Nebraska for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company, and for determining a company’s solvency under Nebraska insurance law. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, (SAP) has been adopted by the state of Nebraska as a component of those prescribed or permitted practices. Additionally, the Director of the NEDOI has the right to permit other specific practices which deviate from prescribed practices. Aflac has been given explicit permission by the Director of the NEDOI for three such permitted practices. These permitted practices, which do not impact the calculation of net income on a statutory basis or prevent the triggering of a regulatory event in the Company’s risk-based capital calculation, are as follows:

 

   

Aflac has reported as admitted assets the refundable lease deposits on the leases of commercial office space which house Aflac Japan’s sales operations. These lease deposits are unique and part of the ordinary course of doing business in the country of Japan; these assets would be non-admitted under SAP.

 

   

Aflac utilizes book value accounting for certain guaranteed separate account funding agreements instead of fair value accounting as required by SAP. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the underlying separate account assets had unrealized losses of $113 million and $98 million, respectively.

 

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Aflac utilizes the services of two Japanese rating agencies – Rating and Investment Information, Incorporated (R&I) and Japan Credit Rating Agency, Limited (JCR) – for rating Aflac’s investment holdings in Tohoku Electric Power Company Incorporated (Tohoku). The securities issued by Tohoku are no longer rated by an NAIC Acceptable Rating Organization (ARO), causing NAIC rating downgrades only due to lack of coverage by these organizations. For 2010 and 2009, there was no impact on surplus due to unrealized losses for this permitted practice as the fair value of these investments exceeds book/adjusted carrying value. There was also no impact on surplus from the calculation of the Asset Valuation Reserve (AVR) on these investments due to the large amount of realized capital losses already in the calculation.

A reconciliation of Aflac’s capital and surplus between SAP and practices permitted by the state of Nebraska is shown below:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009  

Capital and surplus, Nebraska state basis

   $ 6,740         $ 5,768   

State Permitted Practice:

       

Refundable lease deposits – Japan

     (51        (46

Separate Account Funding Agreements

     (113        (98
                     

Capital and surplus, NAIC basis

   $ 6,576         $ 5,624   
                     

As determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis, Aflac’s net income was $1.5 billion in 2010, $1.4 billion in 2009 and $1.2 billion in 2008. Capital and surplus was $6.7 billion at December 31, 2010 and $5.8 billion at December 31, 2009.

Net assets of the insurance subsidiaries aggregated $12.9 billion at December 31, 2010, on a GAAP basis, compared with $10.1 billion a year ago. Aflac Japan accounted for $8.9 billion, or 68.5% of net assets at December 31, 2010, compared with $6.7 billion, or 66.7%, at December 31, 2009.

Reconciliations of Aflac’s net assets on a GAAP basis to capital and surplus determined on a Nebraska statutory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(In millions)      2010        2009  

Net assets on GAAP basis

     $ 12,902         $ 10,086   

Adjustment of carrying values of investments

       148           990   

Elimination of deferred policy acquisition cost asset

       (9,566        (8,395

Adjustment to policy liabilities

       2,309           2,348   

Adjustment to deferred income taxes

       670           695   

Other, net

       277           44   
                       

Capital and surplus, Nebraska state basis

     $ 6,740         $ 5,768   
                       

Aflac Japan must report its results of operations and financial position to the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as prescribed by the FSA. Capital and surplus (unaudited) of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, aggregated $2.3 billion at December 31, 2010, and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2009. Japanese regulatory accounting practices differ in many respects from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held to maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; and premium income is recognized on a cash basis.

The Parent Company depends on its subsidiaries for cash flow, primarily in the form of dividends and management fees. Consolidated retained earnings in the accompanying financial statements largely represent the undistributed earnings of our insurance subsidiary. Amounts available for dividends, management fees and other payments to the Parent Company by its insurance subsidiary may fluctuate due to different accounting methods required by regulatory authorities. These payments are also subject to various regulatory restrictions and approvals

 

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related to safeguarding the interests of insurance policyholders. Our insurance subsidiary must maintain adequate risk-based capital for U.S. regulatory authorities and our Japan branch must maintain adequate solvency margins for Japanese regulatory authorities. Additionally, the maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac without prior approval of Nebraska’s director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2011 in excess of $1.4 billion would require such approval. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2010 were $370 million.

A portion of Aflac Japan earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, can be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. after complying with solvency margin provisions and satisfying various conditions imposed by Japanese regulatory authorities for protecting policyholders. Profit repatriations to the United States can fluctuate due to changes in the amounts of Japanese regulatory earnings. Among other items, factors affecting regulatory earnings include Japanese regulatory accounting practices and fluctuations in currency translation of Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investments and related investment income into yen. Profits repatriated by Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S. were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

        In Dollars        In Yen  
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)      2010        2009        2008        2010        2009        2008  

Profit repatriation

     $ 317         $ 230         $ 598           28.7           20.0           64.1   
                                                                   

13. BENEFIT PLANS

Our basic employee defined-benefit pension plans cover substantially all of our full-time employees in Japan and the United States.

Reconciliations of the funded status of the basic employee defined-benefit pension plans with amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31 were as follows:

 

     2010        2009  

(In millions)

    Japan           U.S.           Japan           U.S.   

Projected benefit obligation:

                

Benefit obligation, beginning of year

    $181           $235           $169           $201   

Service cost

    14           12           13           10   

Interest cost

    5           13           4           12   

Actuarial loss (gain)

    9           26           0           16   

Benefits paid

    (4        (5        (3        (4

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

    25           0           (2        0   
                                          

Benefit obligation, end of year

    230           281           181           235   
                                          

Plan assets:

                

Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year

    114           169           94           128   

Actual return on plan assets

    1           25           8           35   

Employer contribution

    20           20           17           10   

Benefits paid

    (4        (5        (4        (4

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

    16           0           (1        0   
                                          

Fair value of plan assets, end of year

    147           209           114           169   
                                          

Funded status

    $ (83        $ (72        $ (67        $ (66
                                          

Accumulated benefit obligation

    $199           $218           $156           $181   
                                          

At December 31, 2010, other liabilities included a liability for both plans in the amount of $155 million, compared with $133 million a year ago. We plan to make contributions of $21 million to the Japanese plan and $20 million to the U.S. plan in 2011.

 

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The following table summarizes the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31.

 

      2010        2009        2008  
(In millions)    Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.  

Net actuarial loss

   $ 71         $ 100         $ 56         $ 92         $ 64         $ 102   

Prior service cost (credit)

     (5        1           (5        1           (5        1   

Transition obligation

     2           0           2           0           2           0   
                                                                 

Total

   $ 68         $ 101         $ 53         $ 93         $ 61         $ 103   
                                                                 

The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in other comprehensive loss (income) for the years ended December 31.

 

      2010        2009        2008  
(In millions)    Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.  

Net actuarial loss (gain)

   $ 11         $ 13         $ (5      $ (6      $ 17         $ 57   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     (3        (5        (3        (4        (2        (2
                                                                 

Total

   $ 8         $ 8         $ (8      $ (10      $ 15         $ 55   
                                                                 

No prior service costs or credits or transition obligations arose during 2010, and the amounts of prior service costs and credits and transition obligations amortized to expense were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Amortization of actuarial losses to expense in 2011 is estimated to be $3 million for the Japanese plan and $6 million for the U.S. plan, while the amortization of prior service costs and credits and transition obligation are expected to be negligible.

The components of retirement expense and actuarial assumptions for the Japanese and U.S. pension plans for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

 

     2010     2009     2008  
(In millions)   Japan     U.S.     Japan     U.S.     Japan     U.S.  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

           

Service cost

    $14        $12        $13        $10        $11        $10   

Interest cost

    5        13        4        12        3        11   

Expected return on plan assets

    (4     (12     (3     (12     (2     (12

Amortization of net actuarial loss

    3        5        3        4        2        2   
                                                 

Net periodic benefit cost

    $18        $18        $17        $14        $14        $11   
                                                 

Weighted-average actuarial assumptions used in the calculations:

           

Discount rate - net periodic benefit cost

    2.50     5.75     2.50     6.25     2.50     6.00

Discount rate - benefit obligations

    2.25        5.50        2.50        5.75        2.50        6.25   

Expected long-term return on plan assets

    2.50        7.50        2.50        8.00        2.50        8.00   

Rate of compensation increase

    N/A (1)      4.00        N/A (1)      4.00        N/A (1)      4.00   
                                                 
(1)

Not applicable

We determine our discount rate assumption for our pension retirement obligations based on indices for AA corporate bonds with an average duration of approximately 20 years for the Japan pension plan and 17 years for the U.S. pension plan, and determination of the U.S. pension plan discount rate utilizes the 85-year extrapolated yield curve. In Japan, participant salary and future salary increases are not factors in determining pension benefit cost or the related pension benefit obligation.

We base our assumption for the long-term rate of return on assets on historical trends (10-year historical rates of return for the Japanese plan assets and 15-year historical rates of return for the U.S. plan assets), expected future market movement, as well as the portfolio mix of securities in the asset portfolio including, but not limited to,

 

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style, class and equity and fixed income allocations. In addition, our consulting actuaries evaluate our assumptions for long-term rate of returns under Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP). Under the ASOP, the actual portfolio type, mix and class is modeled to determine a range of long-term rates of return. We in turn use those results to further validate our own assumptions.

The investment objective of our Japanese and U.S. plans is to preserve the purchasing power of the plan’s assets and earn a reasonable inflation-adjusted rate of return over the long term. Furthermore, we seek to accomplish these objectives in a manner that allows for the adequate funding of plan benefits and expenses. In order to achieve these objectives, our goal is to maintain a conservative, well-diversified and balanced portfolio of high-quality equity, fixed-income and money market securities. As a part of our strategy, we have established strict policies covering quality, type and concentration of investment securities. For our Japanese plan, these policies include limitations on investments in derivatives including futures, options and swaps, and low-liquidity investments such as real estate, venture capital investments, and privately issued securities. For our U.S. plan, these policies prohibit investments in precious metals, limited partnerships, venture capital, and direct investments in real estate. We are also prohibited from trading on margin.

Target asset allocations for Japanese plan assets are 7% domestic equity securities, 19% international equity securities, 59% fixed-income securities and 15% other investments. Target asset allocations for U.S. plan assets are 43% domestic equity securities, 22% international equity securities and 35% fixed-income securities.

The composition of plan assets as of December 31 was as follows:

 

      2010        2009  
      Japan        U.S.        Japan        U.S.  

Equity securities

     29        66        31        67

Fixed-income securities

     57           31           55           28   

Cash and cash equivalents

     0           0           0           1   

Other

     14           3           14           4   
                                           

Total

     100        100        100        100
                                           

The Japanese pension plan assets totaling $147 million and $114 million at fair value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were all categorized as Level 2 because their fair values are based on quoted prices for similar assets in markets that are not active, other inputs that are observable, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates, or other market-corroborated inputs.

The U.S. pension plan assets, with the exception of Aflac Incorporated common stock, were converted to $168 million in cash as of January 6, 2010, due to a change in pension asset investment managers. The cash was invested in securities subsequent to the change in investment manager. As of December 31, 2010, the U.S. pension plan assets consisted of $106 million and $103 million of investments at fair value categorized as Level 1 and Level 2, respectively. The Level 1 investments in our U.S. plan included approximately $3 million (2% of plan assets) of Aflac Incorporated common stock at December 31, 2010 and 2009. The fair values of Level 1 investments are based on quoted market prices for identical securities traded in active markets that are readily and regularly available to us. Level 2 investments are based on quoted prices for similar assets in markets that are not active, other inputs that are observable, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates, or other market-corroborated inputs.

Expected future benefit payments for the Japanese and U.S. plans are as follows:

 

(In millions)   Japan        U.S.  

2011

  $ 5         $ 6   

2012

    6           6   

2013

    7           7   

2014

    8           8   

2015

    9           9   

2016 - 2020

    47           60   
                    

 

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In addition to the benefit obligations for funded employee plans, we also maintain unfunded supplemental retirement plans for certain officers and beneficiaries. Retirement expense for these unfunded supplemental plans was $21 million in 2010, $23 million in 2009 and $11 million in 2008. The accrued retirement liability for the unfunded supplemental retirement plans was $240 million at December 31, 2010, compared with $224 million a year ago. The assumptions used in the valuation of these plans were the same as for the funded plans.

Aflac U.S. maintains an unfunded retiree medical plan for eligible retired employees. The expense for this plan was $15 million in 2010, $3 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2008. The accrued liability for the retiree medical plan was $67 million at December 31, 2010, compared with $53 million at December 31, 2009. The discount rates used in the valuation of this plan were the same as for the funded plans.

Stock Bonus Plan: Aflac U.S. maintains a stock bonus plan for eligible U.S. sales associates. Plan participants receive shares of Aflac Incorporated common stock based on their new annualized premium sales and their first-year persistency of substantially all new insurance policies. The cost of this plan, which is included in deferred policy acquisition costs, amounted to $34 million in 2010, $40 million in 2009 and $46 million in 2008.

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

We have three outsourcing agreements with IBM. The first agreement provides mainframe computer operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of five years and an aggregate remaining cost of 19.9 billion yen ($244 million using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate). The second agreement provides distributed computer mid-range server operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of five years and an aggregate remaining cost of 17.5 billion yen ($215 million using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate). The third agreement provides application maintenance and development services for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of two years and an aggregate remaining cost of 2.7 billion yen ($33 million using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate).

We have an outsourcing agreement with Accenture to provide application maintenance and development services for our Japanese operation. The agreement has a remaining term of seven years with an aggregate remaining cost of 6.4 billion yen ($79 million using the December 31, 2010, exchange rate).

We lease office space and equipment under agreements that expire in various years through 2019. Future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2010, were as follows:

 

(In millions)        

2011

   $ 59   

2012

     22   

2013

     15   

2014

     13   

2015

     13   

Thereafter

     24   
          

Total future minimum lease payments

   $ 146   
          

In a strategic marketing effort to continue to reach business decision makers and the large and loyal NASCAR fan base to grow our U.S. business, we entered into an agreement with Roush Fenway for the primary sponsorship of racing driver Carl Edwards for the years 2009 through 2011. As of December 31, 2010, the remaining cost of the marketing agreement was $23 million, however contracts with co-sponsors during the remaining term of this agreement will reduce our total cost.

We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

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Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data

In management’s opinion, the following quarterly financial information fairly presents the results of operations for such periods and is prepared on a basis consistent with our annual audited financial statements.

 

(In millions, except for per-share amounts)    March 31,
2010
     June 30,
2010
     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2010
 

Premium income

   $ 4,348       $ 4,333       $ 4,607       $ 4,785   

Net investment income

     726         727         765         789   

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (46      (89      9         (295

Other income

     37         9         13         15   
                                     

Total revenues

     5,065         4,980         5,394         5,294   

Total benefits and expenses

     4,091         4,091         4,339         4,627   
                                     

Earnings before income taxes

     974         889         1,055         667   

Total income tax

     338         308         365         230   
                                     

Net earnings

   $ 636       $ 581       $ 690       $ 437   
                                     

Net earnings per basic share

   $ 1.36       $ 1.24       $ 1.47       $ .93   

Net earnings per diluted share

     1.35         1.23         1.46         .92   
                                     

Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

 

  

(In millions, except for per-share amounts)    March 31,
2009
     June 30,
2009
     September 30,
2009
     December 31,
2009
 

Premium income

   $ 4,115       $ 3,995       $ 4,165       $ 4,347   

Net investment income

     688         668         692         717   

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (9      (383      (347      (472

Other income

     24         33         16         5   
                                     

Total revenues

     4,818         4,313         4,526         4,597   

Total benefits and expenses

     3,947         3,840         3,977         4,254   
                                     

Earnings before income taxes

     871         473         549         343   

Total income tax

     302         159         186         92   
                                     

Net earnings

   $ 569       $ 314       $ 363       $ 251   
                                     

Net earnings per basic share

   $ 1.22       $ .67       $ .78       $ .54   

Net earnings per diluted share

     1.22         .67         .77         .53   
                                     

Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

 

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

There have been no changes in, or disagreements with, accountants on accounting and financial disclosure matters during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

  (a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

  (b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

  (c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter of 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

 

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PART III

Pursuant to General Instruction G to Form 10-K, Items 10 through 14 are incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive Notice and Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 18, 2011, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee Report and Compensation Committee Report to be included in such proxy statement shall be deemed to be furnished in this report and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 as a result of such furnishing in Items 11 and 12, respectively.

 

           

Refer to the Information Contained in the Proxy
Statement under Captions (filed electronically)

ITEM 10.

  

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Executive Officers -

see Part I, Item 4 herein

     1. Election of Directors; Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance; The Audit Committee; Audit Committee Report; Director Nominating Process; and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

ITEM 11.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION      Director Compensation; The Compensation Committee; Compensation Committee Report; Compensation Discussion and Analysis; 2010 Summary Compensation Table; 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards; 2010 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End; 2010 Option Exercises and Stock Vested; Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation; Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control; and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

ITEM 12.

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS      Principal Shareholders; 1. Election of Directors; Security Ownership of Management; and Equity Compensation Plan Information

ITEM 13.

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE      Related Person Transactions; and Director Independence

ITEM 14.

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES      4. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; and The Audit Committee

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

    (a) 1.   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   Page(s)  
     Included in Part II, Item 8, of this report:   
    

Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries:

  
    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     73   
    

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each of the years in the three- year period ended December 31, 2010

     74   
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

     75   
    

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010

     77   
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010

     78   
    

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010

     79   
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     80   
    

Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data

     131   
          2.   

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

      
     Included in Part IV of this report:   
    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedules

     139   
    

Schedule II -

   Condensed Financial Information of Registrant as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010      140   
    

Schedule III -

   Supplementary Insurance Information as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010      146   
    

Schedule IV -

   Reinsurance for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010      147   
          3.   

EXHIBIT INDEX

      
     An “Exhibit Index” has been filed as part of this Report beginning on the following page and is incorporated herein by this reference.   

Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required, are not material, are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this annual report, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:

 

   

should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;

 

   

have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;

 

   

may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and

 

   

were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.

Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.

 

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(b)

EXHIBIT INDEX(1):

 

      3.0   -    Articles of Incorporation, as amended – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2008, Exhibit 3.0 (File No. 001-07434).
      3.1   -    Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2010, Exhibit 3.1 (File No. 001-07434).
      4.1   -    Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 21, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).
      4.2   -    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 8.500% Senior Note due 2019) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 21, 2009, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).
      4.3   -    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 6.900% Senior Note due 2039) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 14, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).
      4.4   -    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 9, 2010, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 6.45% Senior Note due 2040) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated August 4, 2010, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).
      4.5   -    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 9, 2010, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York and Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 3.45% Senior Note due 2015) – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated August 4, 2010, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.0*   -    American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, as amended and restated October 1, 1989 – incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.1*   -    Amendment to American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, dated December 8, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.2*   -    Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated January 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.3*   -    Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.9 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.4*   -    First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated June 1, 2009 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2009, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.5*   -    Aflac Incorporated Amended and Restated 2009 Management Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from the 2008 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).
     10.6*   -    First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Amended and Restated 2009 Management Incentive Plan, dated December 19, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.11 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.7*   -    Aflac Incorporated Sales Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from 2007 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.8 (File No. 001-07434).
     10.8*   -    1999 Aflac Associate Stock Bonus Plan, as amended, dated February 11, 2003 – incorporated by reference from 2002 Form 10-K, Exhibit 99.2 (File No. 001-07434).

 

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    10.9*   -    Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from the 1997 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).
    10.10*   -    Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.11*   -    Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.12*   -    Notice of grant of stock options and stock option agreement to officers under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.7 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.13*   -    2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 3, 2004 – incorporated by reference from the 2004 Notice and Proxy Statement, Exhibit B (File No. 001-07434).
    10.14*   -    First Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 2, 2005 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.15*   -    Second Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated February 14, 2006 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2006, Exhibit 10.32 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.16*   -    Third Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated December 19, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.21 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.17*   -    Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (NQSO) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.18*   -    Notice of grant of stock options to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.19*   -    Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.20*   -    Notice of restricted stock award to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.21*   -    Form of Officer Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.22*   -    Notice of restricted stock award to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.23*   -    Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.24*   -    Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
    10.25*   -    Notice of grant of stock options to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).

 

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      10.26*      -    Aflac Incorporated Retirement Plan for Directors Emeritus, as amended and restated, dated February 9, 2010 – incorporated by reference from 2009 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.26 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.27*      -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Retirement Plan for Directors Emeritus, as amended and restated, dated August 10, 2010 – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2010, Exhibit 10.27 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.28*      -    Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, dated August 1, 1993 – incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.29*      -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, dated December 8, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.32 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.30*      -    Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated February 14, 1992, and as amended November 12, 1993 – incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.31*      -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated November 3, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.34 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.32*      -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated December 19, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.35 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.33*      -    Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Paul S. Amos II, dated January 1, 2005 – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.34*      -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Paul S. Amos II, dated December 19, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.39 (File No. 001-07434).
      10.35*      -    Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Joey Loudermilk, dated September 12, 1994 and as amended December 10, 2008 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.40 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.36   -    Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Tohru Tonoike, effective February 1, 2007 – incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.41 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.37   -    Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Tohru Tonoike, dated February 9, 2010 – incorporated by reference from 2009 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.36 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.38   -    Aflac Retirement Agreement with E. Stephen Purdom, dated February 15, 2000 – incorporated by reference from 2000 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.13 (File No. 001-07434).
  11      -    Statement regarding the computation of per-share earnings for the Registrant.
  12      -    Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the Registrant.
  21      -    Subsidiaries.
  23      -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement Nos. 333-135324 and 333-158969 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.
  -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-27883 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan.
  -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement Nos. 333-135327 and 333-161269 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

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  -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-115105 with respect to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan.
  -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-155678 with respect to the AFL Stock Plan.
  -    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-159111 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated shelf registration statement.
      31.1      -    Certification of CEO dated February 25, 2011, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      31.2      -    Certification of CFO dated February 25, 2011, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      32      -    Certification of CEO and CFO dated February 25, 2011, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
      101.INS      -    XBRL Instance Document.(2)
      101.SCH      -    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
      101.CAL      -    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
      101.DEF      -    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
      101.LAB      -    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
      101.PRE      -    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

(1)

Copies of any exhibit are available upon request by calling the Investor Relations Department at 800.235.2667 – Option 3

 

(2)

Includes the following materials contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, (vii) Financial Statement Schedules.

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(b) of this report

 

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(c) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Aflac Incorporated:

Under date of February 25, 2011, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2010, and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, which are included herein. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related consolidated financial statement schedules as listed in Item 15. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.

In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of evaluating consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs) and qualified special purpose entities (QSPEs) due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), effective January 1, 2010. Also as discussed in Note 1, the Company changed its method of evaluating other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the FASB, effective January 1, 2009.

LOGO

Atlanta, Georgia

February 25, 2011

 

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SCHEDULE II

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)

Condensed Statements of Earnings

 

        Years ended December 31,  
(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Revenues:

              

Dividends from subsidiaries(1)

     $ 370         $ 464         $ 1,062   

Management and service fees from subsidiaries(1)

       206           124           71   

Net investment income

       11           9           20   

Interest from subsidiaries(1)

       8           9           6   

Realized investment gains (losses)

       0           0           (4

Change in fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps

       0           (4        (5

Other income (loss)

       1           (11        0   

Total revenues

       596           591           1,150   

Operating expenses:

              

Interest expense

       140           73           26   

Other operating expenses

       66           65           61   

Total operating expenses

       206           138           87   

Earnings before income taxes and equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

       390           453           1,063   

Income tax expense (benefit):

              

Current

       0           13           (2

Deferred

       (3        (4        (3

Total income taxes

       (3        9           (5

Earnings before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

       393           444           1,068   

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries(1)

       1,951           1,053           186   

Net earnings

     $ 2,344         $ 1,497         $ 1,254   
                                  
(1)

Eliminated in consolidation

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

        December 31,  
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)      2010        2009  

Assets:

         

Investments and cash:

         

Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $114 in 2010 and $118 in 2009)

     $ 120         $ 117   

Investments in subsidiaries(1)

       13,125           10,287   

Other investments

       6           7   

Cash and cash equivalents

       693           498   

Total investments and cash

       13,944           10,909   

Due from subsidiaries(1)

       140           146   

Other assets

       80           73   

Total assets

     $ 14,164         $ 11,128   
   

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

         

Liabilities:

         

Notes payable

     $ 3,098         $ 2,657   

Employee benefit plans

       154           153   

Income taxes

       (287        (213

Other liabilities

       143           114   

Total liabilities

       3,108           2,711   

Shareholders' Equity:

         

Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000 shares in 2010 and 2009; issued 662,660 shares in 2010 and 661,209 shares in 2009

       66           66   

Additional paid-in capital

       1,320           1,228   

Retained earnings

       14,194           12,410   

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

         

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains

       926           776   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities

       33           (638

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

       31           (2

Pension liability adjustment

       (128        (107

Treasury stock, at average cost

       (5,386        (5,316

Total shareholders' equity

       11,056           8,417   

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

     $ 14,164         $ 11,128   
                       
(1)

Eliminated in consolidation

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

        Years ended December 31,  
(In millions)      2010        2009        2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

              

Net earnings

     $ 2,344         $ 1,497         $ 1,254   

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from operating activities:

              

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries(1)

       (1,951        (1,053        (187

Change in income tax liabilities

       (77        26           0   

Other, net

       153           47           25   

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

       469           517           1,092   

Cash flows from investing activities:

              

Fixed maturity securities sold

       12           4           1   

Fixed maturity securities purchased

       (8        (12        (8

Other investments sold (purchased)

       0           0           1   

Purchase of subsidiary

       0           (97        0   

Additional capitalization of subsidiaries(1)

       0           (505        0   

Other, net

       0           1           0   

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

       4           (609        (6

Cash flows from financing activities:

              

Purchases of treasury stock

       (121        (10        (1,490

Proceeds from borrowings

       748           1,405           0   

Principal payments under debt obligations

       (447        (556        0   

Dividends paid to shareholders

       (535        (524        (434

Treasury stock reissued

       45           24           75   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

       27           8           27   

Net change in amount due to/from subsidiaries(1)

       5           (15        (40

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

       (278 )         332           (1,862

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

       195           240           (776

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

       498           258           1,034   

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     $ 693         $ 498         $ 258   
                                  
(1)

Eliminated in consolidation

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)

Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

        Years ended December 31,  
(In millions)        2010            2009            2008    

Net earnings

     $ 2,344         $ 1,497         $ 1,254   

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:

              

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

              

Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period - parent only

       (127        72           (378

Equity in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) of subsidiaries during period

       258           (7        542   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:

              

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities during period - parent only

       7           10           (7

Equity in unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities held by subsidiaries during period

       363           (352        (4,071

Equity in reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses of subsidiaries included in net earnings

       421           1,217           926   

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period

       51           0           (2

Pension liability adjustment during period

       (32        22           (81

Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes

       941           962           (3,071

Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)

       (32        351           (1,555

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of
income taxes

       973           611           (1,516

Total comprehensive income (loss)

     $ 3,317         $ 2,108         $ (262
                                  

See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

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SCHEDULE II

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

(A) Notes Payable

A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:

 

(In millions)    2010        2009  

8.50% senior notes due May 2019

   $ 850         $ 850   

6.45% senior notes dues August 2040

     448 (1)         0   

6.90% senior notes due December 2039

     396 (2)         396 (2) 

3.45% senior notes due August 2015

     300           0   

Yen-denominated Uridashi notes:

       

1.52% notes due September 2011 (principal amount 15 billion yen)

     184           163   

2.26% notes due September 2016 (principal amount 10 billion yen)

     123           108   

Variable interest rate notes due September 2011 (.66% at December 2010, principal amount 20 billion yen)

     245           217   

Yen-denominated Samurai notes:

       

.71% notes paid July 2010 (principal amount 40 billion yen)

     0           434   

1.87% notes due June 2012 (principal amount 30 billion yen)

     368           326   

Yen-denominated loans:

       

3.60% loan due July 2015 (principal amount 10 billion yen)

     123           109   

3.00% loan due August 2015 (principal amount 5 billion yen)

     61           54   
   

Total notes payable

   $ 3,098         $ 2,657   
   
(1)

$450 issuance net of a $2 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes

(2)

$400 issuance net of a $4 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes

During 2009, Aflac Japan bought on the open market 6.0 billion yen of yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai notes issued by the Parent Company. In consolidation, those notes have been extinguished; however, they remain an outstanding liability for the Parent Company until their maturity date.

The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2010, are as follows:

 

(In millions)        

2011

   $ 429   

2012

     368   

2013

     0   

2014

     0   

2015

     484   

Thereafter

     1,823   
   

Total

   $ 3,104   
   

For further information regarding notes payable, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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(B) Derivatives

We do not use derivatives for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. At December 31, 2010, the Parent Company’s only outstanding freestanding derivative contracts were interest rate swaps related to its 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. For further information regarding these derivatives, see Notes 1, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. From time to time, we purchase certain investments that contain an embedded derivative. We assess whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset that serves as its host contract. If we deem that the embedded derivative’s terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the derivative is separated from that contract, held at fair value and reported with the host instrument in the consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value reported in earnings.

(C) Income Taxes

The Parent Company and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Income tax liabilities or benefits are recorded by each principal subsidiary based upon separate return calculations, and any difference between the consolidated provision and the aggregate amounts recorded by the subsidiaries is reflected in the Parent Company financial statements. For further information on income taxes, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(D) Dividend Restrictions

See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding dividend restrictions.

(E) Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

 

(In millions)    2010        2009        2008  

Interest paid

   $ 124         $ 61         $ 27   

Noncash financing activities:

            

Treasury shares issued

     0           0           20   
   

 

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SCHEDULE III

SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Years ended December 31,

 

(In millions)    Deferred Policy
Acquisition
Costs
     Future Policy
Benefits & Unpaid
Policy Claims
     Unearned
Premiums
     Other
Policyholders'
Funds
 

2010:

           

Aflac Japan

   $ 6,964       $ 68,615       $ 1,092       $ 5,165   

Aflac U.S.

     2,770         7,204         105         272   

All other

     0         3         0         0   
   

Total

   $ 9,734       $ 75,822       $ 1,197       $ 5,437   
   

2009:

           

Aflac Japan

   $ 5,846       $ 57,966       $ 818       $ 3,271   

Aflac U.S.

     2,687         6,802         108         277   

All other

     0         3         0         0   
   

Total

   $ 8,533       $ 64,771       $ 926       $ 3,548   
   

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions)    Premium
Revenue
     Net
Investment
Income
     Benefits and
Claims
     Amortization of
Deferred Policy
Acquisition Costs
     Other
Operating
Expenses
     Premiums
Written
 

2010:

                 

Aflac Japan

   $ 13,487       $ 2,453       $ 9,553       $ 597       $ 2,544       $ 14,586   

Aflac U.S.

     4,586         549         2,553         433         1,236         4,568   

All other

     0         5         0         0         231         0   
   

Total

   $ 18,073       $ 3,007       $ 12,106       $ 1,030       $ 4,011       $ 19,154   
   

2009:

                 

Aflac Japan

   $ 12,178       $ 2,265       $ 8,746       $ 523       $ 2,417       $ 12,485   

Aflac U.S.

     4,444         499         2,561         419         1,197         4,443   

All other

     0         1         1         0         155         0   
   

Total

   $ 16,622       $ 2,765       $ 11,308       $ 942       $ 3,769       $ 16,928   
   

2008:

                 

Aflac Japan

   $ 10,674       $ 2,053       $ 7,972       $ 405       $ 2,115       $ 10,786   

Aflac U.S.

     4,272         505         2,527         370         1,145         4,277   

All other

     1         20         0         0         106         0   
   

Total

   $ 14,947       $ 2,578       $ 10,499       $ 775       $ 3,366       $ 15,063   
   

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.

 

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SCHEDULE IV

REINSURANCE

Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Years Ended December 31,

 

(In millions)    Gross
Amount
     Ceded to
Other
Companies
     Assumed
from Other
companies
     Net
Amount
     Percentage
of Amount
Assumed
to Net
 

2010:

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 149,045       $ 4,000       $ 2       $ 145,047         0
                                              

Premiums:

              

Health insurance

   $ 15,784       $ 9       $ 18       $ 15,793         0

Life insurance

     2,291         12         1         2,280         0   
                                              

Total earned premiums

   $ 18,075       $ 21       $ 19       $ 18,073         0
                                              

2009:

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 128,649       $ 3,594       $ 5       $ 125,060         0
                                              

Premiums:

              

Health insurance

   $ 14,759       $ 4       $ 6       $ 14,761         0

Life insurance

     1,872         13         1         1,860         0   
                                              

Total earned premiums

   $ 16,631       $ 17       $ 7       $ 16,621         0
                                              

2008:

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 123,200       $ 3,728       $ 0       $ 119,472         0
                                              

Premiums:

              

Health insurance

   $ 13,363       $ 2       $ 0       $ 13,361         0

Life insurance

     1,598         12         0         1,586         0   
                                              

Total earned premiums

   $ 14,961       $ 14       $ 0       $ 14,947         0
                                              

See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Premiums by type may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Aflac Incorporated     

By:

  

/s/ Daniel P. Amos

    

February 25, 2011

   (Daniel P. Amos)     
   Chief Executive Officer,     
   Chairman of the Board of Directors     

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Daniel P. Amos

(Daniel P. Amos)

  

Chief Executive Officer,

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

February 25, 2011

/s/ Kriss Cloninger III

(Kriss Cloninger III)

   President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ June Howard

(June Howard)

   Senior Vice President, Financial Services; Chief Accounting Officer  

February 25, 2011

 

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/s/ J. Shelby Amos II

(J. Shelby Amos II)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Paul S. Amos II

(Paul S. Amos II)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Michael H. Armacost

(Michael H. Armacost)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Joe Frank Harris

(Joe Frank Harris)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Elizabeth J. Hudson

(Elizabeth J. Hudson)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Douglas W. Johnson

(Douglas W. Johnson)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Robert B. Johnson

(Robert B. Johnson)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Charles B. Knapp

(Charles B. Knapp)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ E. Stephen Purdom

(E. Stephen Purdom)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Barbara K. Rimer

(Barbara K. Rimer)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Marvin R. Schuster

(Marvin R. Schuster)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ David G. Thompson

(David G. Thompson)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Robert L. Wright

(Robert L. Wright)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

/s/ Takuro Yoshida

(Takuro Yoshida)

   Director  

February 25, 2011

 

149