-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, NCJqNqC3tQJ0eA6NN1xZcGWTvakgzPoth//3m/QHbqUccYWhk3jT7ItNIhdN/CvE eeMgWDTD+jpn+Bi37bGNfA== 0000744455-08-000008.txt : 20080331 0000744455-08-000008.hdr.sgml : 20080331 20080331154243 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000744455-08-000008 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080331 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GREAT WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000744455 IRS NUMBER: 840467907 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-01173 FILM NUMBER: 08724402 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8515 E ORCHARD RD CITY: GREENWOOD VILLAGE STATE: CO ZIP: 80111 BUSINESS PHONE: 303-737-3000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8515 E ORCHARD RD STREET 2: 2T3 CITY: GREENWOOD VILLAGE STATE: CO ZIP: 80111 10-K 1 d73977_10k.htm


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, 2007

 

 

OR

o

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

            For the transition period from _________to_________

Commission file number 333-1173

GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

COLORADO

 

84-0467907

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8515 EAST ORCHARD ROAD, GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80111
(Address of principal executive offices)

(303) 737-3000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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.

Yes o          No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.

Yes o          No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x          No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§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. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.

 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer x

Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.

Yes o          No x

As of June 30, 2007, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $0.

As of March 1, 2008, 7,032,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding, all of which were owned by the registrant’s parent company.

 

 

NOTE:

This Form 10-K is filed by the registrant only as a consequence of the sale by the registrant of a market value adjusted annuity product.





Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Part I

Item 1.

Business

3

 

1.1

Organization and Corporate Structure

3

 

1.2

Business of the Company

3

 

1.3

Company Segments

6

 

1.4

Investment Operations

9

 

1.5

Regulation

11

 

1.6

Ratings

14

 

1.7

Employees

14

 

1.8

Available information

14

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

14

 

Item 2.

Properties

19

 

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

19

 

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

19

 

Part II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

19

 

5.1

Equity Security Holders and Market Information

19

 

5.2

Dividends

19

 

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

19

 

Item 7.

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

20

 

7.1

Executive Summary

21

 

7.2

Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates

22

 

7.3

Company Results of Operations

27

 

7.4

Individual Markets Segment Results of Operations

31

 

7.5

Retirement Services Segment Results of Operations

34

 

7.6

Other Segment Results of Operations

39

 

7.7

Investment Operations

40

 

7.8

Liquidity and Capital Resources

43

 

7.9

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

44

 

7.10

Contractual Obligations

44

 

7.11

Application of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

46

 

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

49

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

52

 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

104

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

104

 

Item 9B.

Other Information

104

 

Part III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

104

 

10.1

Identification of Directors

104

 

10.2

Identification of Executive Officers

106

 

10.3

Code of Ethics

108

 

 

10.4

Security Holder Communications

108

 

 

10.5

Audit Committee Financial Expert

108

 

 

ITEM 11.

Executive Compensation

109

 

 

11.1

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

109

 

 

11.2

Compensation Committee Report

111

 

 

11.3

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

112

 

 

11.4

Summary Compensation Table

113

 

 

11.5

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2007

115

 

 

11.6

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2007 Fiscal Year End

115

 

 

11.7

Option Exercises for 2007

116

 

 

11.8

Pension Benefits for 2007

116

 

 

11.9

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for 2007

118

 

 

11.10

Compensation of Directors for 2007

119

 

 

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

120

 

 

12.1

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

120

 

 

12.2

Security Ownership of Management

121

 

 

Item 13.

Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons

123

 

 

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

123

 

 

14.1

Principal Accounting Fees

123

 

 

14.2

Pre-approval Policies and Procedures

124

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

124

 

 

15.1

Index to Financial Statements

124

 

 

15.2

Index to Exhibits

124

 

 

           SIGNATURES

126

 




Part I

Item 1.
Business

1.1 Organization and Corporate Structure

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a stock life insurance company originally organized on March 28, 1907. Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company is domiciled in the state of Colorado.

The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of GWL&A Financial Inc. (“GWL&A Financial”), a Delaware holding company. The Company is indirectly owned by Great-West Lifeco Inc. (“Lifeco”), a Canadian holding company. Lifeco operates in the United States primarily through the Company and through Putnam Investments, LLC, and in Canada and Europe through The Great-West Life Assurance Company (“Great-West Life”) and its subsidiaries, London Life Insurance Company and The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”). Lifeco is a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation (“Power Financial”), a Canadian holding company with substantial interests in the financial services industry. Power Corporation of Canada (“Power Corporation”), a Canadian holding and management company, has voting control of Power Financial. Mr. Paul Desmarais, through a group of private holding companies that he controls, has voting control of Power Corporation.

The shares of Lifeco, Power Financial, and Power Corporation are traded publicly in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

1.2 Business of the Company

The Company is authorized to engage in the sale of life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuities. It is licensed, and conducts all of its business, in all states in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the United States Virgin Islands.

On November 26, 2007, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a definitive Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of their healthcare business to a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation (“CIGNA”), subject to regulatory and certain other approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2008. The business to be sold, formerly reported as the Company’s Healthcare segment, is the vehicle through which the Company markets and administers group life and health insurance to small and mid-sized employers. CIGNA will acquire from the Company the stop loss, group life, group disability, group medical, group dental, group vision, group prescription drug coverage and group accidental death and dismemberment insurance business in the United States and the Company’s supporting information technology infrastructure through a combination of 100% indemnity reinsurance agreements, renewal rights, related administrative service agreements and the acquisition of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company will retain a small portion of its Heathcare business and will report it within its Individual Markets segment. The business operations of the Company’s Healthcare segment are now referred to and reported as discontinued operations in this report on Form 10-K.

On January 1, 2007, the Company’s business segments were redefined from prior periods whereby the Individual Markets and Retirement Services segments (formerly combined as the Company’s Financial Services segment) were identified and reported separately. The segment reporting for prior periods in this report on Form 10-K has been restated to reflect this change in business segments.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company’s three remaining business segments are the following.

 

 

Individual Markets segment

 

 

Retirement Services segment

 

 

Other segment

Financial information, including revenues, net income and total assets of the Company’s three operating segments is provided in Note 19 “Segment Information” of the accompanying consolidated financial

3



statements. No customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenues during 2007, 2006 or 2005. In addition, no segment of the Company’s business is dependent upon a single customer or a few customers, the loss of which would have a significant effect on it or its business segment’s operations. The loss of business from any one, or a few, independent brokers or agents would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business segments.

On July 10, 2003, Lifeco completed its acquisition of Canada Life Financial Corporation (“CLFC”), the parent company of The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”), Canada Life Insurance Company of America (“CLICA”) and Canada Life Insurance Company of New York (“CLINY”). Immediately thereafter, Lifeco transferred all of the common shares of CLFC it acquired to its subsidiary, Great-West Life. On December 31, 2003, CLAC transferred all of the outstanding common shares of CLICA and CLINY owned by it to the Company. These acquisitions have been accounted for as a “reorganization of businesses under common control” and, accordingly, the assets and liabilities of CLICA and CLINY were recorded at Lifeco’s cost basis, and the results of operations of CLICA and CLINY subsequent to July 10, 2003 are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Sales of new individual life and annuity products in the United States by CLAC, CLICA and CLNY were discontinued during 2003, shortly after the acquisition of CLFC by Lifeco.

On December 30, 2005, Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of South Carolina (“GWSC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, was licensed as a special purpose financial captive insurance company. Following licensing, CLAC retroceded, on a funds withheld basis, a particular block of United States term life insurance business to GWSC, whereby the excess of U.S. statutory reserves over funds withheld was backed by a letter of credit. A second letter of credit funds $50 million of capital in GWSC. On July 3, 2007, GWSC and CLAC amended their reinsurance agreement pursuant to which the Company assumed additional term life insurance from CLAC.

On October 2, 2006, the Company purchased several parts of the full service-bundled, small and midsized 401(k) as well as some defined benefit plan business from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (“MetLife”). The acquisition included the associated dedicated distribution group, including wholesalers, relationship managers and sales associates. As a result of the acquisition, the Company added approximately 280,000 participants in the 401(k) full service segment and increased its distribution capacity.

The purchase included a 100% coinsurance agreement reinsuring the acquired general account business and a 100% modified-coinsurance agreement reinsuring the acquired separate account business. The Company will replace the acquired MetLife policies with its policies over a three year period. As these policies are replaced, they will no longer be subject to the reinsurance agreements. Under the coinsurance agreement, the Company acquired all of the insurance liabilities associated with these contracts and received from MetLife cash to support these liabilities, net of the purchase price. Under the modified-coinsurance agreement, MetLife retained the approximate $2.3 billion of separate account assets and liabilities but cedes to the Company all of the net profits and losses and related net cash flows. In addition, the Company receives fee income by providing administrative services and recordkeeping functions on approximately $3.2 billion of participant account values.

The following table presents an allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as adjusted for revisions to the original purchase price allocation at October 2, 2006 (In thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 





 

Cash acquired, net of cash consideration

 

$

1,384,117

 

Value of business acquired

 

 

46,033

 

Goodwill

 

 

56,981

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

6,337

 

Other assets

 

 

650

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

$

1,494,118

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 





 

Policy reserves

 

$

1,486,147

 

Other liabilities

 

 

7,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

1,494,118

 

 

 



 


On December 31, 2006, the Company purchased the full service-bundled, defined contribution business from U.S Bank. The acquired business primarily relates to the administration of approximately 1,900 401(k) plans which represent more than 195,000 members and more than $9.0 billion in retirement plan assets. The acquisition included the retention of relationship managers and sales and client service specialists. In

4



addition, the Company and U.S. Bank established a preferred provider relationship to support ongoing 401(k) needs of U.S. Bank’s customers. The following table presents an allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as adjusted for revisions to the original purchase price allocation at December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 





 

Cash consideration

 

($

72,000

)

Goodwill

 

 

38,990

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

35,010

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

  $

2,000

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 





 

Other liabilities

 

$

2,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

2,000

 

 

 



 



On August 31, 2003, the Company and CLAC entered into an indemnity reinsurance agreement pursuant to which the Company reinsured 80% (originally 45% coinsurance and 35% coinsurance with funds withheld) of certain United States life, health, and annuity business of CLAC’s United States branch. On June 1, 2007, the Company terminated this reinsurance agreement. The Company recorded, at fair value, the following on June 1, 2007 in its consolidated balance sheet in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement (In thousands).

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 





 

Fixed maturities

 

($

1,177,180

)

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

(196,743

)

Policy loans

 

 

(219,149

)

Reinsurance receivable

 

 

(310,865

)

Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

(68,809

)

Investment income due and accrued

 

 

(15,837

)

Premiums in course of collection

 

 

(3,540

)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(18,274

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

($

2,010,397

)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 





 

Policy reserves

 

($

1,976,028

)

Policy and contract claims

 

 

(20,256

)

Policyholders’ funds

 

 

(20,464

)

Provision for policyholder dividends

 

 

(31,841

)

Undistributed earnings on participating business

 

 

8,161

 

Other liabilities

 

 

103

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

 

(2,040,325

)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

7,684

 

Retained earnings

 

 

22,244

 

 

 



 

Total stockholder’s equity

 

 

29,928

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity

 

($

2,010,397

)

 

 



 



The Company recorded the following on June 1, 2007 in its consolidated statement of income in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement (In thousands).

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income, related party

 

($

1,387,179

)

Net investment income

 

 

58,569

 

Net realized losses on investments

 

 

(14,797

)

 

 



 

Total revenues

 

 

(1,343,407

)

 

 



 

Decrease in reserves, related party

 

 

(1,453,145

)

Provision for policyholders’ share of earnings on participating business

 

 

8,161

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

62,961

 

 

 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

(1,382,023

)

 

 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

38,616

 

Income taxes

 

 

16,372

 

 

 



 

Net income

 

  $

22,244

 

 

 



 

On August 1, 2007, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with Franklin Templeton Investments whereby Franklin Templeton would transition its 401(k) recordkeeping business to the Company. The Company’s affiliate, FASCore, LLC, has been supporting Franklin Templeton’s recordkeeping business

5



since 2006. Under the new agreement, the Company entered into a direct contractual relationship with each plan sponsor and assumed additional product servicing and custodial responsibilities for approximately 300 plans, representing about 60,000 participants. The transaction was completed in the fourth quarter of 2007.

1.3 Company Segments

Individual Markets Segment Principal Products

The Company’s Individual Markets segment distributes life insurance and individual annuity products to both individuals and businesses through various distribution channels. Life insurance products in-force include participating and non-participating term life, whole life, universal life and variable universal life. Participating policyholders share in the financial results of the participating business in the form of dividends. The Company no longer actively markets participating products. The provision for participating policyholder earnings is reflected in liabilities in undistributed earnings on participating business in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Participating policyholder earnings are not included in the Company’s consolidated net income.

Term life provides coverage for a stated period and pays a death benefit only if the insured dies within the period. Whole life provides guaranteed death benefits and level premium payments for the life of the insured. Universal life products include a cash value component that is credited with interest at regular intervals. The Company’s universal life earnings result from the difference between the investment income and interest credited on customer cash values and from differences between charges for mortality and actual death claims. Universal life cash values are charged for the cost of insurance coverage and for administrative expenses.

Sales of life insurance products typically have initial marketing expenses which are deferred. These expenses are shown as deferred acquisition costs in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over the life of the contracts in proportion to the emergence of gross profits or premium revenues recognized. Therefore, retention is an important factor in profitability and is encouraged through product features. For example, the Company’s universal and whole life insurance contracts typically impose a surrender charge on policyholder balances withdrawn within the first ten years of the contract’s inception. The period of time and level of the charge vary by product. In addition, more favorable credited rates may be offered after policies have been in-force for a period of time.

During 2007, the Company continued its efforts to partner with large financial institutions to provide individual term and whole life insurance to the general population. Some of those institutional partners include Bank of America, Citibank, US Bank, Regions and Huntington Bank.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had $4.7 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively, of policy reserves on individual insurance products sold to corporations to provide coverage on the lives of certain employees, also known as Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (“COLI”). Due to legislation that phased out the interest deductions on COLI policy loans, leveraged COLI product sales have ceased.

The Company has shifted its emphasis from COLI to the Business-Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) market. The BOLI market was not affected by the aforementioned legislation. These products are interest-sensitive whole life, universal life and variable universal life policies that indirectly fund post retirement benefits for employees and non-qualified executive benefit plans. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $2.1 billion of fixed and $2.4 billion of separate account BOLI policy reserves, compared to $1.9 billion of fixed and $2.0 billion of separate account BOLI reserves at December 31, 2006.

The Company also has a marketing agreement with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) to sell the OneSource Variable Annuity. The fixed product is a Guarantee Period Fund that was established as a non-unitized separate account in which the owner does not participate in the performance of the assets. The assets accrue solely to the benefit of the Company and any gain or loss in the Guarantee Period Fund is borne entirely by the Company. The Company is currently offering guarantee period durations of three to ten years. Distributions from the amounts allocated to a Guarantee Period Fund more than six months prior to the maturity date result in a market value adjustment (“MVA”). The MVA reflects the relationship as of the

6



time of its calculation between the current U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield and the U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield at the inception of the contract.

On a limited basis, the Company also offers single premium annuities and guaranteed certificates that provide guarantees of principal and interest with a fixed maturity date.

Certain of the Company’s life insurance and group annuity products allow policy owners to borrow against their policies. At December 31, 2007, approximately 8% (8% in 2006 and 10% in 2005) of outstanding policy loans were on individual life policies that had fixed interest rates ranging from 5% to 8%. The remaining 92% of outstanding policy loans had variable interest rates averaging 6.15% at December 31, 2007. Investment income from policy loans was $205.5 million, $208.5 million and $202.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

See Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for certain financial information of the Company’s Individual Markets segment.

Retirement Services Segment Principal Products

Under the Great-West Retirement Services brand, the Company provides full service bundled and unbundled employer-sponsored defined contribution/defined benefit products as well as comprehensive administrative and record-keeping services for financial institutions. Defined contribution plans provide for benefits based upon the value of contributions to, and investment returns on, an individual’s account. This has been the fastest growing portion of the pension marketplace in recent years.

The marketing focus is directed towards providing bundled full service and investment products under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), 408, and 457 to state and local governments, hospitals, non-profit organizations, public school districts and corporations. Record-keeping and administrative services for defined contribution plans may also be provided to this target market. Through a subsidiary, FASCore, LLC, the Company is focused on partnering with other large institutions to provide third-party record-keeping and administration services.

The Company offers both guaranteed interest rate investment options for various lengths of time and variable annuity products designed to meet the specific needs of the customer. In addition, the Company offers both customized annuity and non-annuity products.

From the guaranteed interest rate option, the Company earns investment margins on the difference between the income earned on investments in its general account and the interest credited to the participant’s account balance. The Company’s general account assets support the guaranteed investment product. The Company also manages separate account fixed interest rate options where it is paid a management fee.

The Company’s variable investment options provide the opportunity for participants to assume the risks of, and receive the benefits from, the investment of retirement assets. The variable product assets are invested, as designated by the participant, in separate accounts that in turn invest in shares of underlying funds managed by the Company or its affiliates and by selected external fund managers.

The Company is compensated by separate account fees for mortality and expense risks pertaining to the variable annuity contract and/or for providing administrative services. The Company is reimbursed by external mutual funds for marketing, sales and service costs under various revenue sharing agreements.

The Company also receives fees for providing third-party administrative and recordkeeping services to financial institutions and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Customer retention is a key factor for the profitability of group annuity products. To encourage customer retention, annuity contracts may impose a surrender charge on policyholder balances withdrawn for a period of time after the contract’s inception. The period of time and level of the charge vary by product as well as other factors such as size of the prospective group, projected annual contributions for all participants in the group, frequency of projected withdrawals, type and frequency of administrative and sales services provided, level of other charges, type and level of communication services provided and the number and types of plans. Existing federal tax penalties on distributions prior to age 59½ provide an additional disincentive to

7



premature surrenders of balances held under the group annuity contract, but do not impede transfers of those balances to products of competitors.

See Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for certain financial information of the Company’s Retirement Services segment.

Method of Distribution of Products Within the Individual Markets and Retirement Services Segments

The Individual Markets segment distributes individual life insurance through marketing agreements with various retail financial institutions. BOLI is distributed through specialized benefit consulting organizations and through financial services organizations such as Great-West Retirement Services. Annuity products are also offered through Schwab.

The Great-West Retirement Services segment distributes pension products through a subsidiary, GWFS Equities, Inc., as well as through over 400 pension consultants, representatives and service personnel. Record-keeping and administrative services are also distributed through institutional partners.

Competition Within the Individual Markets and Retirement Services Segments

The life insurance, savings and investments marketplace is highly competitive. The Company’s competitors include mutual fund companies, insurance companies, banks, investment advisers and certain service and professional organizations. No one competitor or small number of competitors is dominant. Competition focuses on service, technology, cost, variety of investment options, investment performance, product features and price and financial strength as indicated by ratings issued by nationally recognized agencies. For more information on the Company’s ratings strength, see Item 1.8, Ratings.

Life Insurance In-Force and Policy Reserve Liabilities

The amount of fixed annuity products in-force is measured by policy reserves. The following table shows group and individual annuity policy reserves supported by the Company’s general account as well as the annuity balances in Individual Markets and Retirement Services separate accounts for the years indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In millions)
Year Ended
December 31,

 

General Account
Annuity Reserves

 

Retirement Services
Separate Accounts

 

Individual Markets
Separate Accounts

 


 


 


 


 

2007

 

 

$

8,193

 

 

 

$

13,760

 

 

 

$

1,533

 

 

2006

 

 

 

8,635

 

 

 

 

12,724

 

 

 

 

1,405

 

 

2005

 

 

 

7,913

 

 

 

 

11,272

 

 

 

 

1,237

 

 

2004

 

 

 

7,965

 

 

 

 

11,152

 

 

 

 

1,237

 

 

2003

 

 

 

8,410

 

 

 

 

10,289

 

 

 

 

1,244

 

 

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had $9.0 billion and $10.1 billion, respectively, of policy reserves on individual insurance in its consolidated balance sheets. The following table summarizes individual life insurance in-force prior to reinsurance ceded for the years indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Life insurance in-force

 

$

60,679

 

$

68,129

 

$

67,000

 

$

65,027

 

$

67,645

 

In the Individual Markets segment, reserves for all fixed individual life insurance contracts are computed on the basis of assumed investment yield, mortality, morbidity and expenses, including a margin for adverse deviation. These reserves are calculated as the present value of future benefits (including dividends) and expenses less the present value of future net premiums. The assumptions used in calculating the reserves generally vary by plan, year of issue and policy duration.

For all life insurance contracts, reserves are established for claims that have been incurred but not reported based on factors derived from past experience.

8



In both the Individual Markets and Retirement Services segments, reserves for investment-type policies (primarily deferred annuities and 401(k)) are established at the contract holder’s account value, which is equal to cumulative deposits and credited interest, less withdrawals and mortality and expense and/or administrative service charges.

Reserves for limited payment contracts (immediate annuities) are computed on the basis of assumed investment yield, mortality (where payouts are contingent on survivorship) and expenses. These assumptions generally vary by plan, year of issue and policy duration. Reserves for immediate annuities without life contingent payouts are computed on the basis of assumed investment yield and expenses.

The aforementioned reserves are computed amounts that, with additions from premiums and deposits to be received and with interest on such reserves, are expected to be sufficient to meet the Company’s policy obligations (such as paying expected death or retirement benefits or surrender requests) and to generate profits.

Reinsurance Within the Individual Markets and Retirement Services Segments

The Company enters into reinsurance transactions as both a provider and a purchaser of reinsurance. When purchasing reinsurance, the Company seeks to limit its exposure to loss on any single insured and to recover a portion of benefits paid by ceding risks to other insurance enterprises under excess coverage and coinsurance contracts. Under the terms of these contracts, the reinsurer agrees to reimburse the Company for the ceded amount in the event a claim is paid. However, the Company remains liable to its policyholders with respect to the ceded insurance if a reinsurer fails to meet the obligations it assumed. Accordingly, the Company only cedes insurance to highly rated, well-capitalized companies. The Company retains a maximum of $3.5 million of coverage per individual life.

Other Segment

The Company’s Other segment includes corporate items not directly allocated to any of its other business segments, interest expense on long-term debt and the activities of GWSC whose sole business is the assumption of a certain block of term life insurance retroceded by CLAC under the December 31, 2005 reinsurance agreement, as amended. Reserves for term life insurance contracts are computed on the basis of assumed investment yield, mortality, morbidity and expenses (including a margin for adverse deviation). These reserves are calculated as the present value of future benefits (including dividends) and expenses less the present value of future net premiums. The assumptions used in calculating the reserves generally vary by plan, year of issue and policy duration. Reserves are also established for claims that have been incurred but not reported based on factors derived from past experience.

The following table shows policy reserves and life insurance in-force at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Policy reserves

 

$

277

 

$

221

 

Life insurance in-force

 

 

85,618

 

 

70,281

 

See Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for certain financial information of the Company’s Other segment.

 

 

1.4 Investment Operations

The Company’s investment division manages and administers the investments of its general and separate accounts in support of the cash and liquidity requirements of its insurance and investment products. The Company’s principal investments are in fixed maturities and mortgage loans on real estate, all of which are exposed to three primary sources of investment risk: credit, interest rate and market valuation. Total investments at December 31, 2007, were $37.5 billion, comprised of general account investment assets in the amount of $19.4 billion and separate account assets in the amount of $18.1 billion. Total investments at

9



December 31, 2006, were $38.1 billion, comprised of general account investment assets in the amount of $21.8 billion and separate account assets in the amount of $16.3 billion.

The Company’s general account investments are in a broad range of asset classes, primarily domestic fixed maturities. Fixed maturity investments include public and privately placed corporate bonds, government bonds and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Company’s mortgage loans on real estate are comprised exclusively of commercial loans. The Company does not originate any single family residential mortgage loans.

The Company manages the characteristics of its investment assets, such as liquidity, currency, yield and duration, to reflect the underlying characteristics of related insurance and policyholder liabilities that vary among its principal product lines. The Company observes strict asset and liability matching guidelines designed to ensure that the investment portfolio will appropriately meet the cash flow and income requirements of its liabilities. In connection with its investment strategy, the Company makes limited use of derivative instruments in hedging transactions to manage certain portfolio related risks such as variability in cash flows or changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability. Derivative instruments are not used for speculative purposes. For more information on derivatives, see Notes 1 and 6 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements that are included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The Company routinely monitors and evaluates the status of its investments in light of current economic conditions, trends in capital markets, and other factors. These other factors include investment size, quality, concentration by issuer and industry and other diversification considerations relevant to the Company’s fixed maturity investments.

The Company’s available for sale and held for trading fixed maturity investments comprised 70.0% and 70.3% of its general account investment assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company reduces credit risk for the portfolio as a whole by investing primarily in investment grade fixed maturities. As of both December 31, 2007 and 2006, 98.2% of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio carried an investment grade rating.

The Company’s equity investments comprised 0.2% and 0.1% of total general account investment assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company’s mortgage loans on its real estate portfolio comprised 6.2% and 6.1% of general account investment assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

At December 31, 2007, 19.4% of investment assets were invested in policy loans and 2.4% were invested in short-term investments compared to 17.4% and 4.4%, respectively, at December 31, 2006.

The Company’s investment in limited partnership interests comprised 1.7% and 1.6% of total general account investment assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

10



The following table sets forth the distribution of invested assets, cash and accrued investment income for the Company’s general account as of the end of the years indicated. Information is presented at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 as previously disclosed and has not been restated for discontinued operations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

Carrying Value (In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government direct obligations and U.S. agencies

 

$

2,734

 

$

3,675

 

$

3,368

 

$

3,154

 

$

3,199

 

Obligations of U.S. states and their foreign subdivisions

 

 

1,273

 

 

1,318

 

 

1,302

 

 

1,255

 

 

1,209

 

Foreign governments

 

 

2

 

 

14

 

 

21

 

 

16

 

 

58

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

5,324

 

 

5,755

 

 

5,489

 

 

5,423

 

 

5,597

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

4,218

 

 

4,548

 

 

3,587

 

 

3,377

 

 

3,074

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturity investments

 

 

13,551

 

 

15,310

 

 

13,767

 

 

13,225

 

 

13,137

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity investments available-for-sale

 

 

30

 

 

29

 

 

159

 

 

295

 

 

211

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

1,207

 

 

1,338

 

 

1,461

 

 

1,544

 

 

1,894

 

Policy loans

 

 

3,768

 

 

3,798

 

 

3,716

 

 

3,548

 

 

3,389

 

Fixed maturities held for trading

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments available-for-sale

 

 

473

 

 

961

 

 

1,070

 

 

709

 

 

852

 

Other limited partnership investments

 

 

327

 

 

345

 

 

365

 

 

342

 

 

217

 

Other investments

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total investments

 

$

19,383

 

$

21,785

 

$

20,543

 

$

19,663

 

$

19,700

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

55

 

$

33

 

$

58

 

$

110

 

$

151

 

Accrued investment income

 

 

143

 

 

160

 

 

151

 

 

159

 

 

165

 


















The following table summarizes the Company’s general account investment results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

(In millions)
Net Investment Income

 

Earned Net
Investment Income Rate

 


 


 


 

2007

 

 

$

1,140

 

 

5.98

%

 

2006

 

 

 

1,110

 

 

5.81

%

 

2005

 

 

 

1,044

 

 

5.82

%

 

2004

 

 

 

1,050

 

 

5.37

%

 

2003

 

 

 

988

 

 

6.23

%

 


 

 

1.5 Regulation

Insurance Regulation

The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are licensed to transact life insurance business, accident and health insurance business and annuity business in, and are subject to regulation and supervision by, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. The extent of such regulation varies, but most jurisdictions have laws and regulations governing the financial aspects of insurers, including standards of solvency, statutory reserves, reinsurance and capital adequacy and the business conduct of insurers. In addition, statutes and regulations usually require the licensing of insurers and their agents, the approval of policy forms and certain other related materials and, for certain lines of insurance, the approval of rates. Such statutes and regulations also prescribe the permitted types and concentration of investments.

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to, and comply with, insurance holding company regulations in applicable states. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are each required to file reports, generally including detailed annual financial statements, with insurance regulatory authorities in each of the

11



jurisdictions in which they do business, and their operations and accounts are subject to periodic examination by such authorities. These subsidiaries must also file, and in many jurisdictions and in some lines of insurance, obtain regulatory approval for, rules, rates and forms relating to the insurance written in the jurisdictions in which they operate.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC”) has established a program of accrediting state insurance departments. NAIC accreditation permits accredited states to conduct periodic examinations of insurers domiciled in such states. NAIC-accredited states will not accept reports of examination of insurers from unaccredited states, except under limited circumstances. As a direct result, insurers domiciled in unaccredited states may be subject to financial examination by accredited states in which they are licensed, in addition to any examinations conducted by their domiciliary states. The Colorado Department of Insurance (“CO DOI”), the Company’s principal insurance regulator, has received this NAIC accreditation.

State and federal insurance and securities regulatory authorities and other state law enforcement agencies and attorneys general from time to time make inquiries regarding compliance by the Company and its insurance subsidiaries with insurance, securities and other laws and regulations regarding the conduct of the Company’s insurance and securities businesses.

• Insurance Company Regulation - The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation under the insurance company laws of various jurisdictions. The insurance company laws and regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but generally require an insurance company that is a member of an insurance holding company system (two or more affiliated persons, one or more of which is an insurer) to register with state regulatory authorities and to file with those authorities certain reports, including information concerning their capital structure, ownership, financial condition, certain intercompany transactions and general business operations. In addition, various state jurisdictions have broad administrative powers with respect to such matters as admittance of assets, premium rating methodology, policy forms, establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards, maximum interest rates on life insurance policy loans and minimum rates for accumulation of surrender values, the type and amounts and valuation of investments permitted.

State insurance statutes also typically place restrictions and limitations on the amount of dividends or other distributions payable by insurance companies to their parent companies, as well as on transactions between an insurer and its affiliates.

• Guaranty Associations and Similar Arrangements - Most of the jurisdictions in which the Company and its insurance subsidiaries are admitted to transact business require life insurers doing business within their jurisdiction to participate in guaranty associations, which are organized to pay certain contractual insurance benefits owed pursuant to insurance policies issued by impaired, insolvent or failed insurers. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired, insolvent or failed insurer is engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. The Company has historically recovered more than half of the guaranty assessments through these offsets. The Company has a prepaid asset associated with guaranty fund assessments in the amounts of $1.8 million and $0.9 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

• Statutory Insurance Examinations - As part of their regulatory oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed examinations of the books, records, accounts, and business practices of insurers domiciled in their states. During the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, these examinations produced no significant adverse findings regarding the operations or accounts of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries.

• Policy and Contract Reserve Sufficiency Analysis - Annually, the Company and its insurance subsidiaries are required to conduct an analysis of the sufficiency of all statutory reserves. In each case, a qualified actuary must submit an opinion which states that the statutory reserves, when considered in light of the assets held with respect to such reserves, make good and sufficient provision for the associated contractual obligations and related expenses of the insurer. If such an opinion cannot be provided, the insurer must set up additional reserves by moving funds from surplus. Since inception of this requirement, the Company and

12



its insurance subsidiaries which are required by their states of domicile to provide these opinions have provided such opinions without qualification.

• Surplus and Capital - The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to the supervision of the regulators in each jurisdiction in which they are licensed to transact business. Regulators have discretionary authority, in connection with the continued licensing of these insurance subsidiaries, to limit or prohibit sales to policyholders if, in their judgment, the regulators determine that such insurer has not maintained the minimum surplus or capital or that the further transaction of business will be hazardous to policyholders. As of December 31, 2007, the Company and its insurance subsidiaries have surplus and capital well in excess of that required by the regulators.

• Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”) - The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to certain RBC requirements and report their RBC based on a formula calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and statutory reserve items. The formula takes into account the risk characteristics of the insurer, including asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk and business risk. The formula is used as an early warning regulatory tool to identify possible inadequately capitalized insurers for purposes of initiating regulatory action and not as a means to rank insurers generally. As of the date of the most recent statutory financial statements filed with insurance regulators, the total adjusted capital of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries was in excess of the RBC amount.

• Codification - The NAIC adopted the Codification of Statutory Accounting Principles (the “Codification”) in 2001. Codification was intended to standardize regulatory accounting and reporting to state insurance departments. However, statutory accounting principles continue to be established by individual state laws and permitted practices. The CO DOI has adopted Codification with certain modifications for the preparation of statutory financial statements.

• Regulation of Investments - The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to state laws and regulations that require diversification of its investment portfolios and limit the amount of investments in certain asset categories, such as below investment grade fixed income securities, other equity investments, and derivatives. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations would cause investments exceeding regulatory limitations to be treated as non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring surplus, and, in some instances, would require divestiture of such non-qualifying investments.

• Federal Initiatives - Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives often have an impact on the Company’s business in a variety of ways. From time to time, federal measures are proposed which may significantly affect the insurance business; the potential for this resides primarily in the tax-writing committees. At the present time, management does not know of any federal legislative initiatives that, if enacted, would adversely impact the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Broker-Dealer and Securities Regulation

One of the Company’s subsidiaries is subject to regulation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. This subsidiary acts as the underwriter and distributor for variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by the Company and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company.

Environmental Considerations

As an owner and operator of real property, the Company is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Inherent in such ownership and operation is also the risk that there may be potential environmental liabilities and costs in connection with any required remediation of such properties. Management cannot provide assurance that unexpected environmental liabilities will not arise. However, based on information currently available to management, it believes that any costs associated with compliance with environmental laws and regulations or any remediation of such properties will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

13



ERISA Considerations

The Company provides products and services to certain employee benefit plans that are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As such, the Company’s activities are subject to the restrictions imposed by ERISA and the Code, including the requirement under ERISA that fiduciaries must perform their duties solely in the interests of ERISA plan participants and beneficiaries and the requirement under ERISA and the Code that fiduciaries may not cause a covered plan to engage in prohibited transactions with persons who have certain relationships with respect to such plans. The applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code are subject to enforcement by the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

1.6 Ratings

The Company is rated by a number of nationally recognized rating agencies. The ratings represent the opinion of the rating agencies regarding the financial strength of the Company and its ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. The Company’s financial strength ratings as of the date of this filing are as follows.

 

 

 

 

 

Rating Agency

 

Measurement

 

Current Rating


 


 


A.M. Best, Inc.

 

Financial strength, operating performance and business profile

 

A+ 1

Fitch Ratings

 

Financial strength

 

AA+ 2

Moody’s Investor Service

 

Financial strength

 

Aa3 3

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services

 

Financial strength

 

AA 2


 

 

1

Superior (highest category out of ten categories).

 

 

2

Very Strong (second highest category out of nine categories).

 

 

3

Excellent (second highest category out of nine categories).

1.7 Employees

The Company had approximately 6,600 employees at December 31, 2007.

1.8 Available Information

The Company files periodic reports and other information with the SEC. Such reports and other information may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at its Headquarters Office, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington D.C. 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1 202 551 8090 (Public Reference Room) or 1 800 SEC 0330 (Office of Investor Education and Assistance). In addition, the SEC maintains an internet website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including the Company.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors

In the normal course of its business, the Company is exposed to certain operational, regulatory and financial risks and uncertainties. The most significant risks include the following.

Competition could negatively affect the ability of the Company to maintain or increase market share or profitability.

The industry in which the Company operates is highly competitive. The Company’s competitors include insurance companies, mutual fund companies, banks, investment advisers and certain service and professional organizations. Although there has been consolidation in some sectors, no one competitor is dominant. Customer retention is a key factor for continued profitability. Management cannot assure that the

14



Company will be able to maintain its current competitive position in the markets in which it operates, or that it will be able to expand its operations into new markets. If the Company fails to do so, its business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

See Item 1.3 for a further discussion of competition.

The insurance industry is heavily regulated and changes in regulation may reduce profitability.

Federal and state regulatory reform that increases the compliance requirements imposed on the Company or that change the way that the Company is able to do business may significantly harm its business or adversely impact the results of operations in the future. It is not possible to predict whether future legislation or regulation adversely affecting the Company’s business will be enacted and, if enacted, the extent to which such legislation will have an effect on the Company or its competitors. Furthermore, there can be no assurance as to which of the Company’s specific products would be impacted by any such legislative or regulatory reform.

The Company’s operations and accounts are subject to examination by the CO DOI and other regulators at specified intervals. The NAIC has also prescribed RBC rules and other financial ratios for life insurance companies. The calculations set forth in these rules are used by regulators to assess the sufficiency of an insurer’s capital and measure the risk characteristics of an insurer’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items. RBC is calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and liability items. Although the Company has risk-based capital levels well in excess of those required by its regulators, there can be no assurances made that it will continue to maintain these levels.

See Item 1.5 for a further discussion of regulation.

A downgrade or potential downgrade in the Company’s financial strength or claims paying ratings could result in a loss of business and negatively affect results of operations and financial condition.

The Company is rated by a number of nationally recognized rating agencies. The ratings represent the opinion of the rating agencies regarding the Company’s financial strength and its ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. Claims paying ability and financial strength ratings are factors in establishing the competitive position of insurers. A rating downgrade, or the potential for such a downgrade, of the Company or any of its rated insurance subsidiaries could, among other things, materially increase the number of policy surrenders and withdrawals by policyholders of cash values from their policies, adversely affecting relationships with broker-dealers, banks, agents, wholesalers and other distributors of its products and services. This may result in cash payments requiring the Company to sell invested assets, including illiquid assets such as privately placed fixed maturity investments and mortgage loans on real estate, at a price that may result in realized investment losses. These cash payments to policyholders result in a decrease in total invested assets and a decrease in net income. Among other things, early withdrawals may also cause the Company to accelerate amortization of policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired, reducing net income. In addition, a downgrade may negatively impact new sales and adversely affect the Company’s ability to compete and thereby have a material affect on its business, results of operations, and financial condition. Negative changes in credit ratings may also increase the Company’s cost of funding.

See Item 1.6 for the Company’s current ratings.

Deviations from assumptions regarding future persistency, mortality and interest rates used in calculating reserves for future policyholder benefits and claims could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

The Company maintains policy and contract reserves to cover its estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for both reported and unreported claims incurred. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what management expects the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based upon management’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, as well as estimates of future trends in persistency (how long a contract stays with the Company), claims severity and

15



frequency, judicial theories of liability, interest rates and other factors. These variables are affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, catastrophic events, inflation, judicial trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable in advance. The Company’s life insurance products are exposed to the risk of catastrophic events, such as a pandemic, terrorism, or other such events that cause a large number of deaths. Additionally, there may be a significant reporting delay between the occurrence of an insured event and the time it is reported.

The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of liabilities, particularly those in which the various considerations affecting the type of claim are subject to change and in which long periods of time may elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made. Reserve estimates are continually refined in a regular and ongoing process as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled. Adjustments to reserves are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of income in the period in which adjustments are determined. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, there can be no assurance that current reserves will prove to be adequate in light of subsequent events.

See Item 1.3 for a further discussion of reserves.

The Company may be required to accelerate the amortization of deferred acquisition costs or valuation of business acquired, or recognize impairment in the value of goodwill, which could adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) represent the costs that vary with and are related primarily to the acquisition of new insurance and annuity contracts and is amortized over the expected lives of the contracts. Valuation of business acquired (“VOBA”) represents the present value of future profits embedded in acquired insurance, annuity and investment type contracts and is amortized over the expected effective lives of the acquired contracts. Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts the Company paid to acquire subsidiaries and other businesses over the fair value of their net assets at the date of acquisition. The Company, on an ongoing basis, tests the DAC and VOBA recorded on the consolidated balance sheets to determine if these amounts are recoverable under current assumptions. In addition, management regularly reviews the estimates and assumptions underlying DAC and VOBA for those products for which DAC and VOBA are amortized in proportion to gross profits or gross premiums. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually based upon estimates of the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill relates. Given changes in facts and circumstances, these tests and reviews could lead to reductions in DAC, VOBA and/or goodwill that could have an adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition.

If the companies that provide reinsurance default or fail to perform or the Company is unable to obtain adequate reinsurance for some of the risks underwritten, the Company could incur significant losses adversely affecting results of operations and financial condition.

The Company purchases reinsurance by transferring, or ceding, part of the risk it assumes to a reinsurance company in exchange for part of the premium it receives in connection with the risk. The part of the risk the Company retains for its own account is known as the retention. Through reinsurance, the Company has the contractual right to collect the amount above its retention from its reinsurers. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to the Company to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, it does not relieve it of its full liability to its policyholders. Accordingly, the Company bears credit risk with respect to its reinsurers. Management cannot make assurances that the Company’s reinsurers will pay all of its reinsurance claims, or that they will pay claims on a timely basis. If the Company becomes liable for risks it has ceded to reinsurers or if its reinsurers cease to meet their obligations to the Company, whether because they are in a weakened position as a result of incurred losses or otherwise, the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

The Company’s reinsurance facilities are generally subject to annual renewal. However, no assurances can be made that the Company can maintain its current reinsurance facilities or that it can obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favorable rates. If the Company is unable to renew its expiring facilities or to obtain new reinsurance facilities, either its net exposures would increase or, if it is unwilling to bear an increase in net exposures, it would have to reduce the level of its underwriting commitments. Either of these potential developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.

16



See Item 1.3 for a further discussion of reinsurance.

Interest rate fluctuations could have a negative impact on results of operations and financial condition.

In periods of rapidly increasing interest rates, policy loans, surrenders and withdrawals may increase. Premiums in flexible premium policies may decrease as policyholders seek investments with higher perceived returns. This activity may result in the Company making cash payments requiring that it sell invested assets at a time when the prices of those assets are adversely affected by the increase in market interest rates. Among other things, early withdrawals may also cause the Company to accelerate the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired, reducing net income.

During periods of sustained low interest rates, life insurance and annuity products may be affected by increased premium payments on products with flexible premium features and a higher percentage of insurance policies remaining in-force from year to year. During such a period, investment earnings may be lower because the interest earnings on new fixed income investments will likely have declined with the market interest rates. Although the Company invests in a broad range of asset classes, it is primarily invested in domestic fixed income securities. Accordingly, during periods of sustained low interest rates, net income may decline as a result of a decrease in the spread between either the interest rates credited to policyholders or the rates assumed in reserve calculations.

Although the Company engages in hedging activities including investing in interest rate derivatives, there can be no assurance that it would be fully insulated from realizing any losses on sales of securities. In addition, regardless of whether the Company realized an investment loss, potential withdrawals would produce a decrease in invested assets, with an adverse effect on future earnings.

Market fluctuations and general economic conditions may adversely affect results of operations and financial condition.

The Company manages or administers its general and separate accounts in support of cash and liquidity requirements of its insurance and investment products. The Company’s general account investment portfolio is diversified over a broad range of asset classes, primarily domestic fixed income securities. The fair value of these and other general account invested assets fluctuate depending upon, among other factors, general economic and market conditions. In general, the market value of the Company’s general account fixed maturity securities portfolio increases or decreases in inverse relationship with fluctuations in interest rates.

The occurrence of a major economic downturn, acts of corporate malfeasance or other events that adversely affect the issuers of the Company’s fixed maturity and equity securities could cause the value of these securities and net income to decline and the default rate of the fixed maturity securities to increase. A ratings downgrade affecting particular issuers or securities could have a similar effect. Any event reducing the value of these securities other than on a temporary basis could have an adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition.

Additionally, the Company may, from time to time, for business, regulatory, or other reasons, elect or be required to sell certain of its general account invested assets at a time when their fair values are less than their original cost, resulting in realized capital losses, which would reduce net income.

The risk of fluctuations in market value of substantially all of the separate account assets is borne by the policyholders. The Company’s fee income for administering separate account assets, however, is generally set as a percentage of those assets. Accordingly, fluctuations in the market value of separate account assets may result in fluctuations in revenue from policy charges.

See Item 7A for a further discussion of market risk.

17



Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could make some of the Company’s products less attractive to consumers and increase its tax costs.

Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could make some of the Company’s products less attractive to consumers. For example, the following events could adversely affect the Company’s business.

 

changes in tax laws that would reduce or eliminate tax-deferred accumulation of earnings on the premiums paid by the holders of annuities and life insurance products;

 

 

reductions in the federal income tax that investors are required to pay on long-term capital gains and on some dividends paid on stock may provide an incentive for some of the Company’s customers and potential customers to shift assets into mutual funds and away from products, including life insurance and annuities, designed to defer taxes payable on investment returns;

 

 

changes in applicable regulations that could restrict the ability of some companies to purchase certain BOLI products;

 

 

changes in the availability of, or rules concerning the establishment and operation of, Section 401, 403(b), 408 and 457 plans and

 

 

repeal of the federal estate tax.

The Company cannot predict whether any other legislation will be enacted, what the specific terms of any such legislation will be or how, if at all, this legislation or any other legislation could have an adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

Congress, as well as state and local governments, also considers from time to time legislation that could increase the Company’s tax costs. If such legislation is adopted, the results of operations could decline.

The Company may be subject to litigation resulting in substantial awards or settlements, and this may adversely affect its reputation and results of operations.

In recent years, life, accident and health insurance and financial service companies have been named as defendants in lawsuits, including class actions. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial jury awards and settlements. There can be no assurance that any future litigation relating to matters such as the provision of health coverage or pricing and sales practices will not have a material adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

The Company’s risk management policies and procedures may leave it exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial condition.

Management of operational, legal and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies and procedures to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events. Management has devoted significant resources to develop the Company’s risk management and disaster recovery policies and procedures. However, policies and procedures may not be fully effective and may leave the Company exposed to unidentified and unanticipated risks. The Company may be subject to disruptions of its operating systems or its ability to conduct business from events that are wholly or partially beyond its control such as a natural catastrophe, act of terrorism, pandemic, or electrical/telecommunications outage. A failure of the computer systems or a compromise of their security could also subject the Company to regulatory sanctions or other claims, harm its reputation, interrupt operations and adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company may experience difficulty in marketing and distributing products through its current and future distribution channels.

The Company distributes its life, health, and savings products through a variety of distribution channels, including brokers, independent agents, consultants, retail financial institutions and its own internal sales force. In some areas the Company generates a significant portion of its business through third-party arrangements. Management periodically negotiates provisions and renewals of these relationships and there can be no assurance that such terms will remain acceptable to either party. An interruption in the continuing relationship with certain of these third parties could materially affect the Company’s ability to

18



market its products. The Company must attract and retain productive internal sales representatives to sell its products. If the Company is unsuccessful in attracting and retaining sales representatives with demonstrated abilities, its results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Item 2.
Properties

The Company’s corporate office facility consists of an 882,000 square foot complex located in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The Company owns its corporate office facilities. The Company leases sales and claims processing offices throughout the United States. Management believes that the Company’s properties are suitable and adequate for its current and anticipated business operations.

Item 3.
Legal Proceedings

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their property is the subject.

Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2007.

Part II

Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

5.1 Equity Security Holders and Market Information

There is no established public trading market for the Company’s common equity. GWL&A Financial is the sole shareholder of the Company’s common equity securities.

5.2 Dividends

In the three most recent fiscal years, the Company has paid dividends on its common shares. Dividends paid on the Company’s common stock were $605.0 million, $249.4 million and $221.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Under Colorado law, the Company cannot, without the approval of the Colorado Commissioner of Insurance, pay a dividend if as a result of such payment, the total of all dividends paid in the preceding twelve months, would exceed the greater of (i) 10% of the Company’s statutory surplus as regards policyholders as of the preceding year ended December 31; or (ii) the Company’s statutory net gain, not including realized capital gains, for the twelve-month period ending the next preceding December 31 not including pro rata distributions of the Company’s own securities.

Item 6.
Selected Financial Data

The following is a summary of selected consolidated financial information for the Company. The selected consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and at December 31, 2007 and 2006 has been derived in part from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements discusses the significant accounting policies of the Company. The selected consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 has been derived in part from the Company’s consolidated financial statements not included elsewhere herein and has not been restated for discontinued operations. However, certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform

19



to the presentation at and for the year ended December 31, 2007. The following information should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by the information contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At and for the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Total revenues

 

$

744

 

$

2,024

 

$

2,012

 

$

2,694

 

$

4,137

 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

385

 

 

1,768

 

 

1,764

 

 

2,218

 

 

3,665

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

359

 

 

256

 

 

248

 

 

476

 

 

472

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

119

 

 

72

 

 

66

 

 

150

 

 

154

 

Income from discontinued operations 1

 

 

179

 

 

153

 

 

190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Net income

 

$

419

 

$

337

 

$

372

 

$

326

 

$

318

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared

 

$

605

 

$

249

 

$

221

 

$

163

 

$

76

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment assets

 

$

19,383

 

$

21,785

 

$

20,543

 

$

19,663

 

$

19,700

 

Separate account assets

 

 

18,090

 

 

16,290

 

 

14,456

 

 

14,155

 

 

13,175

 

Total assets

 

 

40,291

 

 

41,482

 

 

37,779

 

 

37,093

 

 

36,610

 

Due to parent and affiliates

 

 

535

 

 

548

 

 

241

 

 

221

 

 

207

 

Total shareholder’s equity

 

 

1,991

 

 

2,129

 

 

2,062

 

 

2,044

 

 

1,887

 


 

 

1

See Item 1.2, Business of the Company and Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the Company’s discontinued operations.


Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and that relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. In particular, statements using verbs such as “expected,” “anticipate,” “believe,” or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements include statements that represent the Company’s beliefs concerning future or projected levels of sales of its products, investment spreads or yields, or the earnings or profitability of the Company’s activities. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and many of which, with respect to future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments, some of which may be national in scope, such as general economic conditions and interest rates, some of which may be related to the insurance industry generally, such as pricing competition, regulatory developments and industry consolidation and others of which may relate to the Company specifically, such as credit, volatility and other risks associated with its investment portfolio and other factors. Readers should also consider other matters, including any risks and uncertainties, discussed in documents filed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 8.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the three years ended December 31, 2007 follows. This management discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial data contained in Item 6, Selected Financial Data, and in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

20



7.1 Executive Summary

The Company and its subsidiaries are providers of insurance and other financial service products to a large spectrum of individual, corporate, institutional and governmental customers. The Company offers life insurance and annuities to individuals, while corporations and other institutions are offered retirement and savings products and services.

On November 26, 2007, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a definitive Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of their healthcare insurance business to a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation (“CIGNA”), subject to regulatory and certain other approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2008. The business to be sold, formerly reported as the Company’s Healthcare segment, is the vehicle through which the Company markets and administers group life and health insurance to small and mid-sized employers. CIGNA will acquire from the Company the stop loss, group life, group disability, group medical, group dental, group vision, group prescription drug coverage and group accidental death and dismemberment insurance business in the United States and the Company’s supporting information technology infrastructure through a combination of 100% indemnity reinsurance agreements, renewal rights, related administrative service agreements and the acquisition of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries.

The Company’s operations are organized into three business segments: Individual Markets, Retirement Services and Other. There is no legal separation of the three segments.

In assessing the performance of the Individual Markets and Retirement Services segments, management considers the ability to continue to expand its presence in the United States defined contribution and institutional insurance markets to be its primary points of focus. The life insurance, savings and investments marketplace is also highly competitive. Competitors include mutual fund companies, insurance companies, banks, investment advisors and certain service and professional organizations.

Strong sales and strategic partnerships led the way to another year of growth for both the Individual Markets and Retirement Services segments in 2007.

In 2007 Individual Markets focused on strengthening relationships with key distributors which translated into substantial sales growth. New relationships developed in 2007 should contribute to continued sales growth in 2008. With the Company’s independent distributors, it will continue to focus its efforts on growing market share in the community bank, regional bank and mid-sized corporate markets. Substantial opportunities exist for growth through the Retirement Services distribution channel with the Individual Retirement Bonus product, introduced in November 2007. This product provides a tax advantaged non-qualified retirement savings vehicle for small business owners and their key employees.

The Retirement Services area completed the transition and integration of the MetLife and U.S. Bank 401(k) businesses acquired in 2006. Retirement Services expanded distribution in 2007 by adding new advisor and brokerage relationships as wells as new national distribution channels. The combined sales force, including wholesalers, relationship managers and client service specialists, now includes over 400 individuals who are fully dedicated to expanding the retirement block of business along with providing excellent customer service. The expansion of our distribution channels contributed to record organic growth in 401(k) plan sales in 2007. Large plan sales in government markets in 2007, which will be implemented in early 2008, will add more than 250,000 participants.

In 2007, the Company’s registered investment advisor subsidiary, Advised Assets Group, LLC, continued to meet plan sponsor demand for the tools to help participants deal with the complexities of retirement planning and investing. The Company experienced record growth in sales of managed accounts reaching $1.7 billion in assets under management. In 2008, the Company will continue to offer the managed account service to existing and new customers within Retirement Services.

The Company is committed to providing exceptional service and high value to life and annuity policyholders. It has a dedicated service unit to work in collaboration with its brokers and agents to ensure that policyholders continue to receive the information and service they need to make sound financial decisions with respect to their policies.

21



In 2007, the Company’s Other segment grew as a result of the amendment to the reinsurance agreement between GWSC and CLAC.

7.2 Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the Company’s management to adopt accounting policies to enable them to make a significant variety of accounting and actuarial estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect, among other things, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results can differ from the amounts previously estimated, which were based on information available at the time the estimates were made.

Critical accounting estimates are those that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition and which require them to make difficult, subjective and/or complex judgments. Critical accounting estimates cover accounting and actuarial matters that are inherently uncertain because the future resolution of such matters is unknown. The Company believes that its most critical accounting estimates include the following. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries.

 

 

Valuation of investments and other-than-temporary impairments

 

 

Recognition of income on certain investments

 

 

Valuation and accounting for derivative instruments

 

 

Policy and contract reserves and claims

 

 

Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

Employee benefit plans

 

 

Taxes on income

Valuation of investments, other-than-temporary impairments and recognition of income on certain investments

The Company’s principal investments are in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities, mortgage and policy loans, limited partnership interests and other invested assets. The Company’s investments are exposed to three primary sources of risk: credit, interest rate and market valuation. The financial statement risks, stemming from such investment risks, are those associated with the determination of fair values, the recognition of impairments and the recognition of income on certain investments.

The Company classifies the majority of its fixed maturity and all of its equity investments as available-for-sale and records them at their estimated fair value with the related net unrealized gains or losses, net of policyholder related amounts and deferred taxes, being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the stockholder’s equity section in its consolidated balance sheet.

The fair values for public fixed maturity and equity securities are based upon quoted market prices or estimates from independent pricing services. However, in cases where quoted market prices are not readily available, such as for private fixed maturity investments, fair values are estimated. To determine estimated fair value for these instruments, the Company utilizes discounted cash flows calculated at current market rates on investments of similar quality and term. The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about financial instruments, including estimates of the timing and amounts of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of the issuer or counterparty. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts of the Company’s financial instruments. The fair value of approximately 28% of the Company’s fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2007 are estimated using these methodologies.

One of the significant estimates related to the fair value of available-for-sale securities is the evaluation of investments for other-than-temporary impairments. The assessment of whether an other-than-temporary

22



impairment has occurred is based on management’s case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in fair value. Management considers a wide range of factors, as described below, regarding the security issuer and uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in its estimated fair value and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations and future earnings potential of the issuer.

Considerations used by the Company’s management in the impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

Fair value is significantly below cost.

 

 

The decline in fair value is attributable to specific adverse conditions affecting a particular instrument, its issuer, an industry or geographic area.

 

 

The decline in fair value has existed for an extended period of time.

 

 

A debt security has been downgraded by a credit rating agency.

 

 

The financial condition of the issuer has deteriorated.

 

 

Dividends have been reduced or eliminated or scheduled interest payments have not been made.

The Company writes down to fair value securities that it deems to be other-than-temporarily impaired in the period the securities are deemed to be so impaired. The Company records write-downs as realized losses and adjusts the cost basis of the securities accordingly. The Company does not adjust the revised cost basis for subsequent recoveries in value.

Mortgage loans, which comprise 6.2% of the Company’s investments at December 31, 2007, are carried at their unpaid principal balances, net of allowances for credit losses. The determination of the calculation and the adequacy of the mortgage loan allowance and mortgage impairments are subjective. Our periodic evaluation and assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for losses and the need for mortgage impairments is based on known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions, loss experience and other relevant factors. In determining the ultimate adequacy of the allowance for mortgage loans, greater consideration is given to the individual mortgage characteristics and related collateral.

See Notes 6 and 7 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s invested assets and their fair valuation.

The recognition of income on certain investments (e.g. loan-backed securities including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) is dependent upon market conditions, which could result in prepayments and changes in amounts to be earned.

Valuation and accounting for derivative instruments

The Company enters into limited derivative transactions which include the use of interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, foreign currency exchange contracts and United States government treasury futures. The Company uses these derivative instruments to manage various risks, including interest rate risk, market credit risk and foreign exchange risk associated with its invested assets. Derivative instruments are not used for speculative reasons.

The Company controls the credit risk of its derivative contracts through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. Risk of loss is generally limited to the fair value of derivative instruments and not to the notional or contractual amounts of the derivatives. Essential to the analysis of fair value is the risk of counterparty default. As the Company enters into derivative transactions only with high quality institutions, no losses associated with non-performance of derivative financial instruments have occurred or are expected to occur.

Fair value of derivatives is determined by quoted market prices or though the use of pricing models. The determination of fair value, when quoted market values are not available, is based on valuation methodologies and assumptions deemed appropriate under the circumstances. Values can be affected by

23



changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, credit spreads, market volatility and liquidity.

The accounting for derivative instruments is complex. The Company designates its derivative financial instruments as (i) fair value hedges, (ii) cash flow hedges and (iii) derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting.

•          Fair value hedges - Written call options are used in conjunction with interest rate swap agreements to effectively convert fixed rate bonds to variable rate bonds as part of the Company’s overall asset/liability matching program. Changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument that has been designated as a fair value hedge are recorded in current period earnings.

•          Cash flow hedges - Interest rate swap agreements are used to convert the interest rate on certain debt securities from a floating rate to a fixed rate. Interest rate caps are interest rate protection instruments that require the payment by a counterparty to the Company of an interest rate differential only if interest rates rise to certain levels. The differential represents the difference between current interest rates and an agreed upon rate, the strike rate, applied to a notional principal amount. Foreign currency exchange contracts are used to hedge the foreign exchange rate risk associated with bonds denominated in other than U.S. dollars. Purchased put options are used to protect against significant drops in equity markets. Interest rate futures are used to hedge the interest rate risks of forecasted acquisitions of fixed rate maturity investments. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one party to the agreement at each due date. The effective portion of the changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument that is designated as a cash flow hedge is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and is reclassified to earnings when the cash flow of the hedged item impacts earnings. The ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges is recorded as an adjustment to net investment income.

•          Derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting - The Company attempts to match the timing of when interest rates are committed on insurance products with other new investments. However, timing differences may occur and can expose the Company to fluctuating interest rates. To offset this risk, the Company utilizes United States government treasury futures as a method of adjusting the duration of the overall portfolio. A change in the fair value of a derivative instrument that does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment is recognized in net investment income in the period of the change and may result in significant volatility.

See Note 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s derivative instruments.

Policy and contract reserves and claims

 

 

Policy and contract reserves

The Company establishes liabilities for amounts payable under insurance policies and annuity contracts. Generally, amounts are payable over an extended period of time and related liabilities are calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be paid, reduced by the present value of future expected premiums. Such liabilities are established based upon methods and underlying assumptions in accordance with GAAP and applicable actuarial standards. Principal assumptions used in the establishment of liabilities for future policy benefits are mortality, morbidity, policy lapse, renewal, retirement, investment returns, inflation, expenses and other contingent events as appropriate to the respective product type. These assumptions are established at the time the policy is issued and are intended to estimate the experience for the period the policy benefits are payable. Utilizing these assumptions, liabilities are established on a block of business basis. If experience is less favorable than the assumptions employed, additional liabilities may be required, resulting in a charge to current period earnings.

 

 

Policy and contract claims

Policy and contract liabilities for unpaid claims and claim expenses for life and health policies represent the amount estimated for claims that have been reported but not yet settled and claims incurred but not yet reported. Liabilities for unpaid claims are valued in accordance with the terms of the related policies and

24



contracts. Liabilities for claims incurred but not yet reported are estimated based upon the Company’s historical experience and other actuarial assumptions that consider the effects of current developments, anticipated trends and risk management programs. The effects of changes in estimated liabilities are included in the results of operations in the period in which the changes occur.

•          Reinsurance reserves

The Company enters into reinsurance transactions as both a provider and a purchaser of reinsurance. Policy reserves ceded to other insurance companies are presented as reinsurance receivables in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The cost of reinsurance related to long-duration contracts is accounted for over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies. Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations under these contracts could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer defaults.

See Notes 1 and 8 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s policy and contract reserves.

Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”)

The Company incurs significant costs in connection with acquiring new and renewal insurance business. DAC varies with and relates to costs that consist primarily of commissions and agency and policy issue expenses. VOBA is an intangible asset that reflects the estimated fair value of in-force life insurance contracts acquired and represents the portion of the purchase price allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from the acquired business. VOBA is based upon actuarially determined projections, by block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality and morbidity, performance, surrenders, operating expenses, investment returns and other factors. DAC and VOBA are amortized over the expected lives of the related contracts based upon the level and timing of either gross profits or gross premiums, depending upon the type of contract as discussed below. The recovery of both DAC and VOBA is dependent upon the future profitability of the related business. DAC and VOBA are aggregated in the consolidated financial statements for reporting purposes.

DAC and VOBA associated with annuity and investment-type products are being amortized over the life of the contracts in proportion to the emergence of estimated gross profits. DAC and VOBA associated with traditional life insurance products are amortized over the premium-paying period of the related policies in proportion to the present value of estimated premium revenues recognized.

Each reporting period, the Company updates the estimated present values of gross profits and premium revenue for that period. When the actual gross profits or premium change from previous estimates, the cumulative DAC and VOBA amortization is re-estimated and adjusted by the cumulative charge or credit to current period earnings. When actual gross profits or premiums exceed those previously estimated, the DAC and VOBA amortization will increase, resulting in a current period charge to earnings. The opposite result occurs when the actual gross profits and premiums are below those previously estimated. These adjustments are made when the Company revises its estimates for such factors as investment yield, realized investment gains and losses and policyholder retention.

See Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s recorded DAC and VOBA.

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the cost over the fair value of assets acquired less the fair value of liabilities assumed. The establishment of goodwill requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions about the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The allocation process includes, among other measures, a review of relevant information about the assets and liabilities,

25



independent appraisals and other valuation methodologies. Goodwill is assigned to the Company’s operating segment where the assets and liabilities are recorded.

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate or the segment’s future earning potential, indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test.

The fair value of the reporting segment is determined using an earnings and equity analysis which is compared with a similar measure of peer companies. If the carrying value of recorded goodwill exceeds its fair value, the excess is recognized as an impairment and recorded as a charge against earnings in the period in which the impairment was identified.

See Note 10 to the accompanying consolidated statements for more information regarding the Company’s recorded goodwill.

Employee benefit plans

The Company sponsors pension and other post retirement benefit plans in various forms covering employees who meet specified eligibility requirements. The obligations and expenses associated with these plans require an extensive use of estimates and assumptions, such as the discount rate applied to pension obligations, expected rate of return on plan assets, rate of future compensation increases, healthcare cost trend rates, as well as assumptions regarding participant demographics such as rate and age of retirements, withdrawal rates and mortality. Management, in consultation with its independent consulting actuarial firm, determines these assumptions based upon a variety of factors such as historical performance of the plan and its assets, currently available market and industry data and expected benefit payout streams. The assumptions used will differ, and may differ materially, from actual results due to, among other factors, changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates and changes in participant demographics. These assumptions are subjective in many cases and have an important effect on the Company’s pension and post retirement benefit obligations.

See Note 16 to the accompanying consolidated statements for more information regarding the Company’s employee benefit plans.

Taxes on income

The Company’s effective tax rate is based upon expected income and statutory income tax rates and prudent available tax planning opportunities. In the determination of the Company’s effective income tax rate, management considers judgments regarding its business plans, planning opportunities and expectations about their future outcomes. Certain changes or future events, such as changes in tax legislation and the commencement or completion of tax audits, could have an impact on management’s estimates and the Company’s effective tax rate.

Accounting and tax regulations require that items be included in income tax returns at different times from when they are reflected in financial statements. These timing differences give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities. A deferred tax liability is recognized for temporary differences that will result in taxable amounts or nondeductible expenses in future years. A deferred tax asset is recognized for temporary differences that will result in tax deductible amounts or nontaxable income in future years, including carryforwards.

The application of GAAP requires management to evaluate the recoverability of its deferred tax assets. Although realization is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

As described more fully in Item 7.11, Application of Recent Accounting Pronouncements, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. Under FIN 48, the Company determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded in the consolidated financial statements. A tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater

26



than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits due to tax uncertainties that do not meet the threshold are included within other liabilities and are charged to earnings in the period that such determination is made.

The amount of income taxes paid by the Company is subject to ongoing audits in the various jurisdictions in which it carries on business. During the current year, the Company executed closing agreements with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) for all federal examinations on tax years 1994 through 2004. Tax years 2005 and 2006 are still open to federal examination by the IRS. The Company is not currently under federal examination.

See Note 17 to the accompanying consolidated statements for more information regarding taxes on income.

7.3 Company Results of Operations

As more fully described in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, on June 1, 2007 the Company’s Individual Markets segment terminated one of its reinsurance agreements with an affiliate, The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”), pursuant to which it had assumed 80% of certain United States life, health and annuity business on a coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld basis.

As more fully described in Note 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Retirement Services segment closed on two separate agreements to acquire certain 401(k) business in the fourth quarter of 2006. The first of these agreements closed on October 2, 2006. The agreement was a 100% reinsurance transaction to acquire several parts of the full service-bundled, small and midsized 401(k) as well as some defined benefit plan business from MetLife. The second agreement, which closed on December 29, 2006, acquired the bundled, full-service defined contribution business from U.S. Bank. The combination of the two agreements resulted in the addition of nearly 4,300 plans and 440,000 participant accounts with participant account values in excess of $16.7 billion.

Year ended December 31, 2007 compared with the year ended December 31, 2006

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

($

857

)

$

582

 

Fee income

 

 

463

 

 

341

 

Net investment income

 

 

1,140

 

 

1,110

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(2

)

 

(9

)

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

744

 

 

2,024

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

(225

)

 

1,321

 

Operating expenses

 

 

610

 

 

447

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

385

 

 

1,768

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

359

 

 

256

 

Income tax expense

 

 

119

 

 

72

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

240

 

 

184

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

179

 

 

153

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

 $

419

 

$

337

 

 

 



 



 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

 $

2,892

 

$

2,459

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts 1

 

 

1,248

 

 

1,041

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

2,037

 

 

1,826

 

27



1 Includes $75 million and $68 million during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts purchased by affiliated funds or other separate account investment options as discussed in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Net Income

The Company’s consolidated net income increased by $82 million, or 24.3%, to $419 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase in net income is primarily due to a $26 million increase in income from the discontinued operations of the Company’s former Healthcare segment, a $22 million gain recognized upon the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement and a $24 million increase in Retirement Services due to higher fee income as a result of the addition to assets under management resulting from the acquisitions of the MetLife 401(k) business and the U.S. Bank block of business.

Revenues

Excluding the one time recording of negative premium revenue in the amount of $1,387 million resulting from the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement, premium revenues decreased by $52 million, or 8.9%, to $530 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $582 million in 2006. The decrease in premium revenue is primarily due to the absence of premiums for the majority of 2007 due to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Fee income increased by $122 million, or 35.7%, to $463 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $341 million in 2006. The increase is attributable to the addition of participant accounts and related account balances from the acquired blocks of business from MetLife and U.S. Bank in late 2006 and improvements in the United States equity markets during 2007.

Policyholder Benefits

Policyholder benefit expenses include amounts paid or credited to policyholders, changes in policy liabilities, claims, surrenders and annuity and maturity payments. Excluding the one time recording of a decrease in policy reserves of $1,453 million resulting from the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement, policyholder benefits decreased by $93 million, or 7.0%, to $1,228 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $1,321 in 2006. The decrease is primarily due to the absence of the reinsured life, health and annuity business in the Individual Markets segment for the majority of 2007 due to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses include general and administrative expenses, commissions, premium taxes, interest on long-term debt, and amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired. Total operating expenses increased by $163 million, or 36.5%, to $610 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $447 in 2006. The increase is attributable to $62 million of amortization of deferred acquisition cost associated with the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement, increased administrative costs and commissions associated with the MetLife 401(k) and U.S. Bank acquisitions and higher interest expense associated with the issuance of the $333 million surplus note in mid 2006.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense increased by $46 million, or 63.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. This increase was primarily due to the 39.7% increase in the Company’s pretax income and the increase in the Company’s 2007 effective tax rate, from 28.2% during 2006 to 33.1% during 2007, as a result of lower tax credits and a reduction in tax contingencies during 2006 that did not reoccur in 2007.

Income From Discontinued Operations

28



Income from discontinued operations increased by $26 million, or 17.0%, to $179 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is primarily the result of higher net investment gains, improved specific stop loss margins on the healthcare business and higher fee revenue, inclusive of pharmacy revenue.

Other

In evaluating the results of its operations, management considers changes in deposits to separate accounts, deposits received for and withdrawals paid from investment-type contracts.

Deposits for separate accounts increased by $433 million, or 17.6%, to $2,892 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $2,459 when compared to 2006. The increase is due primarily to an increase in business owned life insurance and individual annuity sales in the Individual Markets segment, increases due to activity related to the acquired blocks of business from MetLife and U.S. Bank and higher sales and transfers from unaffiliated retail investment options.

Deposits to investment-type contracts increased by $207 million, or 19.9%, to $1,248 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 from$ 1,041 in 2006. This increase is primarily attributable to higher sales and additional deposits from the MetLife 401(k) acquisition, partially offset by the absence of investment-type contract activity associated with the terminated CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $211 million, or 11.6%, to $2,037 during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $1,826 in 2006. This increase is primarily attributable to $497 million of withdrawals related to the terminated CLAC reinsurance agreement which was partially offset by a decrease in contractually scheduled maturities of guaranteed investment contracts.

Year ended December 31, 2006 compared with the year ended December 31, 2005

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2006

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

$

582

 

$

646

 

Fee income

 

 

341

 

 

303

 

Net investment income

 

 

1,110

 

 

1,044

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(9

)

 

19

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

2,024

 

 

2,012

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

1,321

 

 

1,404

 

Operating expenses

 

 

447

 

 

360

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

1,768

 

 

1,764

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

256

 

 

248

 

Income tax expense

 

 

72

 

 

67

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

184

 

 

181

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

153

 

 

191

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

337

 

$

372

 

 

 



 



 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

$

2,459

 

$

2,126

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts 1

 

 

1,041

 

 

1,159

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

1,826

 

 

1,392

 

29



1 Includes $68 million and $363 million during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts purchased by affiliated funds or other separate account investment options as discussed in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Net Income

The Company’s consolidated net income decreased by $35 million, or 9.4%, to $337 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $372 million in 2005. The decrease in net income was primarily within the discontinued operations of the Company’s former Healthcare segment. During 2006, the discontinued operations of the Company’s former Healthcare segment experienced a deterioration in the aggregate stop loss claims experience in all segments, except Specialty Markets, and individual stop loss claims experience in all segments. The income from continuing operations increased slightly.

Revenues

Total revenues increased slightly by $12 million, or 0.5%, to $2,024 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $2,012 million in 2005. Premium revenue decreased by $64 million partially due to the run-off of older closed blocks of traditional life insurance and annuity business in the Individual Markets segment.

Offsetting the decrease in premium income was an increase in fee income of $38 million, or 12.5%, to $341 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $303 million, principally in the Retirement Services segment. Variable asset-based fees fluctuate with changes in participant account balances. Participant account balances change due to cash flow and unrealized market gains and losses associated with changes in the United States equities market.

Net investment income increased by $66 million, or 6.3%, to $1,110 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $1,044 million in 2005. This increase is primarily due to a $21 million reduction in the loss resulting from the change in the market value of the embedded derivative on the CLAC funds withheld reinsurance agreement during the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to 2005 and an increase in invested assets resulting from the MetLife 401(k) acquisition.

The net realized gains on investments of $19 million in 2005 are primarily the result of a large one time gain on the sale of an equity investment.

Policyholder Benefits

Total policyholder benefits decreased by $84 million, or 6.0%, to $1,320 during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $1,404 in 2005. The decrease was also primarily due to the aforementioned run-off of older closed blocks of traditional life insurance and annuity business in the Individual Markets segment.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased by $87 million, or 24.2%, to $447 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005 primarily as a result of:

•          an increase of $26 million of general and administrative expenses and commissions associated with the 2006 activity from the GWSC reinsurance agreement with CLAC;

•          an increase of $31 million, or 32.0%, of 401(k) business operating expenses primarily related to the acquisition of the MetLife business;

•          an increase in the Individual Markets segment commissions of $12 million, or 40.1%, primarily due to increased BOLI sales and

•          an increase in interest expense of $16 million due to the issuance of a $333 million surplus note in May of 2006.

30



Income Taxes

Income tax expense increased by $6 million, or 9.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. This increase was primarily due to the slight 3.6% increase in the Company’s pretax income and an increase in its 2006 effective tax rate, from 26.9% during 2005 to 28.2% during 2006.

Income From Discontinued Operations

Net income from discontinued operations decreased by $38 million, or 19.9%, to $153 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $191 million in 2005. The decrease is the result of a deterioration in the aggregate stop loss claims experience in all segments. These results were partially offset by increased investment gains, administrative fees on higher membership and Pharmacy Benefit Management revenue.

Other

Deposits for separate accounts increased by $333 million, or 15.7%, to $2,459 million, during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $2,126 in 2005. The increase is due primarily to an increase in business owned life insurance and individual annuity sales in the Individual Markets segment.

Deposits to investment-type contracts decreased by $118 million, or 10.2%, to $1,041 million, during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $1,159 in 2005. This decrease is primarily attributable to the purchase in 2005 of $363 million of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts by the Maxim Series Fund, Inc. as compared to the purchase of $68 million during 2006. This decrease was partially offset by a $132 million increase in BOLI sales during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $434 million, or 31.2%, to $1,826 million during the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1,392 in 2005. This increase is primarily attributable to increased transfers from general account investment options to separate account investment and unaffiliated retail investment options and from increased policy maturities.

 

 

7.4 Individual Markets Segment Results of Operations

As more fully described in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, on June 1, 2007 the Company’s Individual Markets segment terminated one of its reinsurance agreements with an affiliate, The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”), pursuant to which the Company had assumed 80% of certain United States life, health and annuity business on a coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld basis.

Year ended December 31, 2007 compared with the year ended December 31, 2006

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Individual Markets segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

($

1,027

)

$

447

 

Fee income

 

 

69

 

 

42

 

Net investment income

 

 

759

 

 

766

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(8

)

 

(3

)

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

(207

)

 

1,252

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

(578

)

 

1,011

 

Operating expenses

 

 

191

 

 

101

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

(387

)

 

1,112

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

180

 

 

140

 

Income tax expense

 

 

60

 

 

48

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

 $

120

 

$

92

 

 

 



 



 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

 $

601

 

$

408

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts

 

 

292

 

 

321

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

824

 

 

628

 

31



The following is a summary of the Individual Markets segment participant accounts at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Policy and Participant Accounts

 

 

424

 

 

441

 

Net Income

The Individual Markets segment net income increased by $28 million, or 30.4%, to $120 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $92 million during 2006. The increase in net income is primarily due to a gain of $22 million resulting from the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement and increased fee revenues.

Revenues

Excluding the one time recording of negative premium revenue of $1,387 million resulting from the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement, total premiums decreased by $87 million, or 19.5%, to $360 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $447 during 2006. The decrease is primarily due to the absence of the reinsured life, health and annuity business for the majority of 2007 due to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Fee income increased by $27 million, or 64.3%, to $69 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $42 million in 2006. The increase is due to higher participant account values primarily due to increased sales of the BOLI separate account product and individual annuity separate account product. Variable asset-based fees fluctuate with changes in participant account balances. Participant account balances change due to cash flow and unrealized market gains and losses associated with changes in the United States equities market.

Net investment income decreased by $7 million, or 1.0%, to $759 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $766 million in 2006.

Net realized losses on investments increased by $5 million to a loss of $8 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to a loss of $3 million during 2006.

Benefits and Expenses

Excluding the one time recording of a decrease in policy reserves of $1,453 million related to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement, policyholder benefits decreased by $135 million, or 13.4% to $875 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The decrease is primarily due to the absence of the reinsured life, health and annuity business for the majority of 2007 due to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Operating expenses increased by $90 million, or 89.1% to $191 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is primarily attributable to an additional $63 million in VOBA amortization related to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement and a $19 million increase in VOBA amortization in the normal course of business.

Other

Deposits to separate accounts increased by $193 million, or 47.3%, to $601 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is due primarily to increased sales of the BOLI separate account product.

32



Deposits to investment-type contracts decreased by $29 million, or 9.0%, to $292 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. This decrease is largely due to the absence of reinsurance activity in the second half of 2007 from the business in the terminated CLAC reinsurance agreement.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $196 million, or 31.2%, during the year ended December 31, 2007, when compared to 2006. This increase is primarily attributable to $497 million of withdrawals related to the CLAC reinsurance agreement which was partially offset by a decrease in contractually scheduled maturities of guaranteed investment contracts.

The slight decrease in participant accounts is primarily the result of maturities and policy surrenders.

Year ended December 31, 2006 compared with the year ended December 31, 2005

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Individual Markets segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2006

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

$

447

 

$

473

 

Fee income

 

 

43

 

 

40

 

Net investment income

 

 

766

 

 

755

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(4

)

 

16

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

1,252

 

 

1,284

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

1,010

 

 

1,052

 

Operating expenses

 

 

101

 

 

100

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

1,111

 

 

1,152

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

141

 

 

132

 

Income tax expense

 

 

49

 

 

37

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

92

 

$

95

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

$

408

 

$

172

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts

 

 

321

 

 

96

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

628

 

 

572

 

The following is a summary of the Individual Markets segment participant accounts at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Policy and Participant Accounts

 

 

441

 

 

454

 

Net Income

The Individual Markets segment net income decreased slightly by $3 million, or 3.1%, to $92 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $95 million during 2005.

Revenues

Premium revenue decreased by $26 million, or 5.5%, to $447 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. The decrease is due to the run-off of the older closed blocks of traditional life insurance and annuity business.

Net investment income increased slightly by $11 million, or 1.5%, to $766 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $755 million in 2005.

33



Benefits and Expenses

Total benefits and expenses decreased by $41 million, or 3.6%, to $1,111 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. This also is primarily due to the run-off of the closed traditional blocks of business.

Other

Deposits for separate accounts increased by $236 million, or 137.2%, to $408 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is primarily due to increased sales of the BOLI separate account product.

Deposits for investment-type contracts increased by $225 million, or 234.4%, during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. The increase was due to increased sales of the BOLI general account product.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $56 million, or 9.87%, during the year ended December 31, 2006, when compared to 2005. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in contractually scheduled maturities of guaranteed investment contracts.

Outlook

The Company recognizes that the financial services marketplace is very dynamic and continues to change. By continued reinvestment in the Company’s infrastructure through technology enhancements and through service and product offerings, the Company plans to continue to grow the business in 2008.

In 2007 Individual Markets focused on strengthening relationships with key distributors, which translated into substantial sales growth. New relationships developed in 2007 should contribute to continued sales growth in 2008. With our independent distributors, we will continue to focus our efforts on growing our market share in the community bank, regional bank and mid-sized corporate markets. We see substantial opportunities for growth through our Retirement Services distribution channel with the Individual Retirement Bonus product, introduced in November 2007. This product provides a tax advantaged non-qualified retirement savings vehicle for small business owners and their key employees.

 

 

7.5 Retirement Services Segment Results of Operations

As more fully described in Note 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Retirement Services segment closed on two separate agreements to acquire certain 401(k) business in the fourth quarter of 2006. The first of these agreements closed on October 2, 2006. The agreement was a 100% reinsurance transaction to acquire several parts of the full service-bundled, small and midsized 401(k) as well as some defined benefit plan business from MetLife. The second agreement, which closed on December 29, 2006, acquired the bundled, full-service defined contribution business from U.S. Bank. The combination of the two agreements resulted in the addition of nearly 4,300 plans and 440,000 participant accounts with participant account values in excess of $16.7 billion.

Year ended December 31, 2007 compared with the year ended December 31, 2006

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Retirement Services segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

34



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

$

5

 

$

10

 

Fee income

 

 

389

 

 

294

 

Net investment income

 

 

351

 

 

304

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

5

 

 

(5

)

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

750

 

 

603

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

225

 

 

195

 

Operating expenses

 

 

339

 

 

274

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

564

 

 

469

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

186

 

 

134

 

Income tax expense

 

 

58

 

 

30

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

128

 

$

104

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

$

2,290

 

$

2,050

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts 1

 

 

948

 

 

720

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

1,213

 

 

1,198

 

1 Includes $75 million and $68 million during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts purchased by affiliated funds or other separate account investment options as discussed in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The following is a summary of the Retirement Services segment participant accounts at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In thousands)

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Participant Accounts

 

 

3,520

 

 

3,414

 

Net Income

The Retirement Services segment net income increased by $24 million, or 23.1%, to $128 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $104 million during 2006. The increase in the Retirement Services segment’s net income was primarily attributed to the net income from the MetLife and U.S. Bank acquisitions which were acquired during the fourth quarter of 2006.

Revenues

Fee income increased by $95 million, or 32.3%, to $389 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $294 million during 2006. The increase is primarily related to increased participant accounts and increased participant balances from the acquired blocks of business and improvements in the United States equity markets.

Net investment income increased by $47 million, or 15.4%, to $351 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from $304 million in 2006. This increase is primarily due to increased invested assets related to the MetLife acquisition in October 2006.

Net realized gains (losses) on investments increased by $10 million to a gain of $5 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to a loss of $5 million during 2006. The increase is primarily attributable to gains on repurchase agreement financing transactions.

Benefits and Expenses

Policyholder benefits increased by $30 million, or 15.3% to $225 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is largely due to the increased benefits from the MetLife and U.S. Bank acquisitions.

35



Operating expenses increased by $65 million, or 23.7%, to $339 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is attributable to an increase in the 401(k) line of business primarily related to the acquisition of the MetLife and U.S. Bank business in 2006.

Other

Deposits for separate accounts increased by $240 million, or 11.7%, to $2,290 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. The increase is due primarily to activity related to the acquired blocks, higher sales and transfers from unaffiliated retail investment options.

Deposits to investment-type contracts increased by $228 million, or 31.7%, to $948 million, during the year ended December 31, 2007 when compared to 2006. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and additional deposits from the MetLife acquisition.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $15 million, or 1.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2007, when compared to 2006. This increase is primarily attributable to withdrawals from participant accounts acquired from MetLife.

The following table provides information for the Retirement Services’ participant account values at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

General Account - Fixed Options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public / Non-profit

 

$

3,342

 

$

3,517

 

401(k)

 

 

2,656

 

 

2,555

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

5,998

 

$

6,072

 

 

 



 



 

Separate Accounts - Variable Options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public / Non-profit

 

$

6,457

 

$

6,004

 

401(k)

 

 

6,920

 

 

6,363

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

13,377

 

$

12,367

 

 

 



 



 

Unaffiliated Retail:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Options and Administrative Services Only:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public / Non-profit

 

$

46,319

 

$

41,501

 

401(k)

 

 

22,386

 

 

23,580

 

Institutional

 

 

27,509

 

 

26,044

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

96,214

 

$

91,125

 

 

 



 



 

Retirement participant accounts, including third-party administration and institutional accounts, at December 31, 2006 of 3,520 thousand increased by 3.1% from 3,414 thousand at December 31, 2006. Higher sales and organic growth on existing plans and new institutional recordkeeping clients contributed to the increase.

Account values invested in the general account fixed investment options have decreased by 1.2% at December 31, 2007 compared to 2006.

Account values invested in the separate account variable investment options have increased by 8.2% at December 31, 2007 compared to 2006 due to higher sales, additional deposits from the blocks acquired at the end of 2006 and the improvement in the United States equity markets.

Participant account values invested in unaffiliated retail investment options and participant account values where only administrative services and recordkeeping functions are provided have increased by 5.6% at December 31, 2007 compared to 2006. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in participants and improvement in the United States equity markets.

36



Year ended December 31, 2006 compared with the year ended December 31, 2005

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Retirement Services segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2006

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

$

10

 

$

6

 

Fee income

 

 

293

 

 

258

 

Net investment income

 

 

304

 

 

277

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(4

)

 

7

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

603

 

 

548

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

195

 

 

186

 

Operating expenses

 

 

274

 

 

237

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

469

 

 

423

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

134

 

 

125

 

Income tax expense

 

 

30

 

 

32

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

104

 

$

93

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits to separate accounts

 

$

2,050

 

$

1,954

 

Deposits to investment-type contracts 1

 

 

720

 

 

1,063

 

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts

 

 

1,198

 

 

820

 

1 Includes $68 million and $363 million during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts purchased by affiliated funds or other separate account investment options as discussed in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The following is a summary of the Retirement Services segment participant accounts at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In thousands)

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Participant Accounts

 

 

3,414

 

 

2,767

 

Net Income

The Retirement Services segment net income increased by $11 million, or 11.8%, to $104 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $93 million during 2005. The increase in the Retirement Services

37



segment’s net income was primarily attributed to higher fee and net investment income during 2006 net of higher policyholder benefits and other operating expenses.

Revenues

Fee income increased by $35 million, or 13.6%, to $293 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $258 million during 2005. The increase is primarily related to new institutional partner relationships and improvement in the United States equity markets. Retirement participant accounts, including third-party administration and institutional accounts, increased by 23.4% during 2006 from 2,767 thousand at December 31, 2005 to 3,414 thousand at December 31, 2006.

Net investment income increased by $27 million, or 9.7%, to $304 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from $277 million in 2005. This increase is primarily due to increased invested assets from the MetLife acquisition.

Benefits and Expenses

Total policyholder benefits and operating expenses increased by $46 million, or 10.9%, to $469 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. This increase is primarily due to the MetLife acquisition.

Other

Deposits to the separate accounts increased by $96 million, or 4.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. The increase was primarily due to increased sales.

Deposits for investment-type contracts decreased by $343 million, or 32.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2006 when compared to 2005. This decrease is primarily attributable to the purchase during 2005 of $363 million of the Company’s guaranteed interest annuity contracts by an affiliate, Maxim Series Fund, Inc. as compared to the purchase of $68 million during 2006.

Withdrawals from investment-type contracts increased by $378 million, or 46.1%, during the year ended December 31, 2006, when compared to 2005. This increase is primarily attributable to increased transfers from general account investment options to separate account investment and unaffiliated retail investment options and from increased policy maturities.

Outlook

Strong sales and strategic partnerships led the way to another year of growth for the Retirement Services segment in 2007.

The Retirement Services area completed the transition and integration of two important blocks of 401(k) business acquired in 2006. Retirement Services expanded distribution in 2007 by adding new advisor and brokerage relationships as wells as new national distribution channels. The combined sales force, including wholesalers, relationship managers and client service specialists, now includes over 400 individuals who are fully dedicated to expanding the retirement block of business along with providing excellent customer service. The expansion of our distribution channels contributed to record organic growth in 401(k) plan sales in 2007. Large plan sales in government markets in 2007, which will be implemented in early 2008, will add over 250,000 participants.

In 2007, the Company’s registered investment advisor subsidiary, Advised Assets Group, LLC, continued to meet plan sponsor demand for the tools to help participants deal with the complexities of retirement planning and investing. The Company experienced record growth in sales of managed accounts reaching over $1.7

38



billion in assets under management. In 2008, the Company will continue to offer the managed account service to existing and new customers within Retirement Services.

 

 

7.6 Other Segment Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2007 compared with the year ended December 31, 2006

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Company’s Other segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

 $

165

 

 $

125

 

Fee income

 

 

5

 

 

5

 

Net investment income

 

 

30

 

 

40

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

1

 

 

(1

)

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

201

 

 

169

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

128

 

 

115

 

Operating expenses

 

 

80

 

 

72

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

208

 

 

187

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

(7

)

 

(18

)

Income tax expense

 

 

1

 

 

(6

)

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

($

8

)

($

12

)

 

 



 



 

The results of operations of the Company’s Other segment is substantially comprised of the activity under the assumption reinsurance agreement between GWSC and CLAC. During the year ended December 31, 2007, premium income and policyholder benefits increased by 32.0% and 11.3%, respectively, when compared to 2006. The increase in both is primarily attributable to the $34 million of both premium income and increase in reserves that was recorded pursuant to the July 3, 2007 reinsurance agreement amendment partially offset by a $31 million decrease in reserves in the normal course of business. The remaining activity in the Other segment is largely comprised of an increase in interest expense of $8 million due to the issuance of a $333 million surplus note in May of 2006 and minor fluctuations within the corporate area of the Company’s business.

Year ended December 31, 2006 compared with the year ended December 31, 2005

The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Company’s Other segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

39



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

Income Statement Data (In millions)

 

2006

 

2005

 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

 $

125

 

 $

167

 

Fee income

 

 

5

 

 

5

 

Net investment income

 

 

40

 

 

12

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(1

)

 

(4

)

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

169

 

 

180

 

 

 



 



 

Policyholder benefits

 

 

115

 

 

166

 

Operating expenses

 

 

72

 

 

23

 

 

 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

187

 

 

189

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

(18

)

 

(9

)

Income tax expense

 

 

(6

)

 

(2

)

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

($

12

)

($

7

)

 

 



 



 

On December 31, 2005, the Company recorded $167 million in both premium income and increase in reserves when GWSC and CLAC entered into the aforementioned reinsurance agreement. The decrease in both premium income and policyholder benefits is the result of the normal reinsurance activity during 2006. Net investment income and operating expenses include $12 million and $26 million, respectively, of GWSC reinsurance activity in 2006 compared to $0 in 2005. The remaining activity in the Other segment is largely comprised of an increase in interest expense of $14 million due to the issuance of a $333 million surplus note in May of 2006 and minor fluctuations within the corporate area of the Company’s business.

 

 

7.7 Investment Operations

The Company’s primary investment objective is to acquire assets with duration and cash flow characteristics reflective of its liabilities, while meeting industry, size, issuer, and geographic diversification standards. Formal liquidity and credit quality parameters have also been established.

The Company follows rigorous procedures to control interest rate risk and observes strict asset and liability matching guidelines. These guidelines ensure that even under changing market conditions, the Company’s assets should meet the cash flow and income requirements of its liabilities. Using dynamic modeling to analyze the effects of a range of possible market changes upon investments and policyholder benefits, the Company works to ensure that its investment portfolio is appropriately structured to fulfill financial obligations to its policyholders.

A summary of the Company’s general account invested assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

(In millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

 

$

13,551

 

$

15,310

 

Fixed maturities held for trading

 

 

23

 

 

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

1,207

 

 

1,338

 

Short-term investments, available-for-sale

 

 

473

 

 

961

 

Equity investments available-for-sale

 

 

30

 

 

29

 

Policy loans

 

 

3,768

 

 

3,798

 

Other limited partnership investments

 

 

327

 

 

345

 

Other investments

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

 



 



 

Total invested assets

 

$

19,383

 

$

21,785

 

 

 



 



 

Fixed Maturity Investments

Fixed maturity investments include public and privately placed corporate bonds, government bonds, and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Company’s strategy related to mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities is to focus on those investments with low prepayment risk and minimal credit risk. The Company does not invest in higher-risk collateralized mortgage obligations such as interest-only and principal-only strips, and currently has no plans to invest in such securities.

40



Private placement investments are generally less marketable than publicly traded assets, yet they typically offer enhanced covenant protection that allows the Company, if necessary, to take appropriate action to protect its investment. The Company believes that the cost of the additional monitoring and analysis required by private placements is more than offset by their enhanced yield.

One of the Company’s primary objectives is to ensure that its fixed maturity portfolio is maintained at a high average quality to limit credit risk. If not externally rated, the securities are rated by the Company on a basis intended to be similar to that of the rating agencies.

The distribution of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio by credit rating at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

Credit Rating

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

AAA

 

 

59.5

%

 

61.2

%

AA

 

 

7.9

%

 

7.5

%

A

 

 

14.3

%

 

14.7

%

BBB

 

 

16.5

%

 

14.8

%

BB and below (Non-investment grade)

 

 

1.8

%

 

1.8

%

 

 


 


 

Total

 

 

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

 

 


 


 

At December 31,2007, the Company had 13 bonds in default with carrying values in the amount of $11.1 million (0.1% of the total fixed maturity investment portfolio), compared to 19 bonds with carrying values in the amount of $13.0 million (0.1% of the total fixed maturity investment portfolio) at December 31, 2006.

The following tables summarize the fair values and gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity investments, where the estimated fair value has declined and remained below amortized cost by 20% or more at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2007

 

Number of
Securities

 

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

 


 


 

 


 

 


 

 

Six months or less

 

 

11

 

 

$

74

 

 

$

22

 

 

Six to twelve months

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than twelve months

 

 

3

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

Total

 

 

15

 

 

$

84

 

 

$

50

 

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2006

 

Number of
Securities

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

 


 



 



 

 



 

 

Six months or less

 

 

6

 

$

 

 

$

1

 

 

Six to twelve months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than twelve months

 

 

1

 

 

13

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

 



 




 




 

Total

 

 

7

 

$

13

 

 

$

46

 

 

 

 



 




 




 

For the year ended December 31, 2007, the unrealized losses are generally related to mortgaged-backed securities. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the unrealized losses are generally related to asset-

41



backed securities with small business loan collateral. The Company considers these investments to be only temporarily impaired.

During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments in the fair value of its fixed maturity investments in the amounts of $34.5 million and $6.1 million, respectively. The write-downs during the year ended December 31, 2007 generally related to assets the Company no longer had the intent to hold until recovery due to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement and assets associated with repurchase agreement financing transactions. The write-downs during the year ended December 31, 2006 generally related to asset-backed securities with manufactured housing collateral and corporate debt securities in the automobile industry.

See Note 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of impaired fixed maturity investments.

Mortgage Loans

During 2007, the mortgage loan portfolio decreased by 9.8% to $1.2 billion, net of allowances for credit losses.

The Company follows a comprehensive approach with the management of mortgage loans that includes ongoing analysis of key mortgage characteristics such as debt service coverage, net collateral cash flow, property condition, loan-to-value ratios and market conditions. Collateral valuations are performed for those mortgages that, after review, are determined by management to present possible risks and exposures. These valuations are then incorporated into the determination of the Company’s allowance for credit losses.

The average balance of impaired loans decreased to $6.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $11.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2006. There were no properties acquired through foreclosure during 2007 or 2006. The low levels of problematic mortgage loans relative to the Company’s overall financial position are due to its active loan management program.

Occasionally, the Company elects to restructure certain mortgage loans if the economic benefits to it are believed to be more advantageous than those achieved by acquiring the collateral through foreclosure. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio included $6.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of non-impaired restructured loans. The Company anticipates limited participation in the real estate market during 2008.

See Note 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of mortgage loans.

Other Investments

Other investments consist primarily of policy loans, equity investments, and short-term investments. The Company anticipates limited participation in the equity markets during 2008.

See Note 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of impaired equity investments.

Derivatives

The Company uses certain derivatives, such as futures, options and swaps, for purposes of hedging interest rate, market and foreign currency exchange risks. These derivatives, when taken alone, may subject the Company to varying degrees of market and credit risk; however, when used for hedging, these instruments typically reduce risk. The Company controls the credit risk of its financial contracts through established credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. The Company has also developed controls within its operations to ensure that only derivative transactions authorized by the Board of Directors are executed. Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements contain a discussion of the Company’s derivative position.

42



Outlook

The Company’s investment portfolio is well positioned for the current interest rate environment. The portfolio is diversified and comprised of high quality, relatively stable assets. It is the Company’s philosophy and intent to maintain its proactive portfolio management policies in an ongoing effort to maintain the quality and performance of its investments.

7.8 Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity refers to a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the needs of its operations. The Company manages its operations to create stable, reliable and cost-effective sources of cash flows to meet all of its obligations.

The principal sources of the Company’s liquidity are premium, fee, and investment income and investment maturities and sales. The principal uses of the Company’s liquidity relate to benefit payments, payments to policy and contract holders in connection with surrenders and withdrawals, purchase of investments, commissions and general and administrative expenses.

The Company’s operations have liquidity requirements that vary among its principal product lines. Life insurance and pension plan reserves are primarily long-term liabilities. Accident and health reserves, including long-term disability, consist of both short-term and long-term liabilities. Life insurance and pension plan reserve requirements are usually stable and predictable, and are supported primarily by long-term, fixed income investments. Accident and health claim demands are usually stable and predictable but generally shorter term, requiring greater liquidity.

Generally, the Company has met its operating requirements by maintaining appropriate levels of liquidity in its investment portfolio and utilizing cash flows from operations. Liquidity for the Company has remained strong, as evidenced by the amounts of short-term investments and cash that totaled $527 million and $994 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, at December 31, 2007 and 2006, 98.2% of the bond portfolio carried an investment grade rating, thereby providing significant liquidity to the Company’s overall investment portfolio.

Funds provided by premiums and fees, investment income and maturities of investment assets are reasonably predictable and normally exceed liquidity requirements for payment of claims, benefits and expenses. However, since the timing of available funds cannot always be matched precisely to commitments, imbalances may arise when demands for funds exceed those on hand. In addition, a demand for funds may arise as a result of the Company taking advantage of current investment opportunities. The sources of the funds that may be required in such situations include the issuance of commercial paper or other debt instruments. Management believes that the liquidity profile of its assets is sufficient to satisfy the liquidity requirements of reasonably foreseeable scenarios.

The Company’s financial strength provides the capacity and flexibility to enable it to raise funds in the capital markets through the issuance of commercial paper. The Company continues to be well capitalized, with sufficient borrowing capacity to meet the anticipated needs of its business. The Company had $95.6 million and $95.0 million of commercial paper outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The commercial paper has been given a rating of A-1+ by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and a rating of P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, each being the highest rating available.

The Company also has available a corporate credit facility agreement in the amount of $50 million for general corporate purposes. The Company had no borrowings under the credit facility at either December 31, 2007 or 2006.

Capital resources provide protection for policyholders and financial strength to support the underwriting of insurance risks and allow for continued business growth. The amount of capital resources that may be needed is determined by the Company’s senior management and Board of Directors, as well as by regulatory requirements. The allocation of resources to new long-term business commitments is designed

43



to achieve an attractive return, tempered by considerations of risk and the need to support the Company’s existing business.

7.9 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company makes commitments to fund partnership interests in the normal course of its business. The amounts of these unfunded commitments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $19 million and $27 million, respectively. The timing of the fulfillment of the commitment cannot be predicted. There are no other obligations or liabilities arising from such arrangements that are reasonably likely to become material.

The Company makes commitments to lend funds for mortgage loan investments in the normal course of its business. The amounts of mortgage loan commitments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $71 million and $36 million, respectively. There are no other obligations or liabilities arising from such arrangements that are reasonably likely to become material.

The Company, as lessee, has entered into various lease and sublease agreements primarily for the rental of office space. See Note 20 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of operating leases.

The Company maintains a corporate credit facility agreement in the amount of $50 million for general corporate purposes. The Company had no borrowings under the credit facility at either December 31, 2007 or 2006. See Note 21 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of the credit facility.

In connection with certain acquisitions, the Company agreed to pay additional consideration in future periods, based upon the attainment by the acquired entity of defined operating objectives. The contingent consideration obligations are not considered contractual obligations and are not accrued for prior to the attainment of the objectives. The maximum future potential future consideration pursuant to such arrangements, to be resolved over the following two years, cannot be estimated. Any such contingent payments will be considered as additional purchase consideration and will result in an adjustment to the purchase price allocation in the period in which the contingency is resolved.

7.10 Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes the Company’s major contractual obligations at December 31, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payment due by period

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Less than
one year

 

One to
three years

 

Three to
five years

 

More than
five years

 

Total

 

Amount per
balance
sheet

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Policy reserves 1

 

$

1,413,649

 

$

2,819,899

 

$

2,262,324

 

$

33,532,301

 

$

40,028,173

 

$

17,376,694

 

Policy and contract claims 2

 

 

187,916

 

 

20,888

 

 

16,117

 

 

99,198

 

 

324,119

 

 

262,503

 

Policyholders’ funds 3

 

 

302,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

302,957

 

 

302,957

 

Provision for policyholder dividends 4

 

 

78,276

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

78,276

 

 

78,276

 

Undistributed earnings on participating business 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

209,036

 

 

209,036

 

 

209,036

 

Related party long-term debt - principal 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

528,400

 

 

528,400

 

 

528,400

 

Related party long-term debt - interest 7

 

 

37,177

 

 

74,355

 

 

74,355

 

 

1,089,424

 

 

1,275,311

 

 

N/A

 

Repurchase agreements 8

 

 

138,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

138,537

 

 

138,537

 

Commercial paper 8

 

 

95,667

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95,667

 

 

95,667

 

Payable under securities lending agreements 9

 

 

93,472

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93,472

 

 

93,472

 

Investment purchase obligations 10

 

 

97,201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

97,201

 

 

N/A

 

Operating leases 11

 

 

26,481

 

 

38,545

 

 

6,034

 

 

 

 

 

71,060

 

 

N/A

 

Other liabilities 12

 

 

64,014

 

 

27,779

 

 

32,267

 

 

106,646

 

 

230,706

 

 

95,977

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

2,535,347

 

$

2,981,466

 

$

2,391,097

 

$

35,565,005

 

$

43,472,915

 

$

19,181,519

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

1, 2 Policy reserves and policy and contract claims - The Company has estimated payments to be made to policy and contract holders for future policy benefits. Insurance and investment contract liabilities include

44



various investment-type products with contractually scheduled maturities, including periodic payments of a term certain nature. However, a significant portion of policy benefits and claims to be paid do not have stated contractual maturity dates and ultimately may not result in any payment obligation.

Estimated future policyholder obligations have been developed in accordance with industry accepted actuarial standards based upon the estimated timing of cash flows related to the policies or contracts, the Company’s historical experience and its expectation of future payment patterns. Management has incorporated significant assumptions in developing these estimates, many of which are outside of the Company’s control and include assumptions relating to mortality, morbidity, policy renewals and terminations, retirement, inflation, disability recovery rates, investment returns, future interest crediting levels, policy loans, future premium receipts on current policies in-force and other contingent events as may be appropriate to the respective product type. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results.

The amounts presented in the table above are undiscounted as to interest. Accordingly, the sum of the estimated cash payment presented significantly exceeds the liability amount on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet principally due to the time value of money.

Separate account liabilities have been excluded from the table above. Separate account obligations are legally insulated from general account assets. Separate account liabilities represent funds maintained by the Company to meet the specific investment objectives of the contract holders who bear the related investment risk. It is generally expected that the separate account liabilities will be fully funded by the separate account assets.

Policy and contract claims consist of reserves associated with installment claims on certain long-term disability policies. Because the timing of the payment of these obligations is based upon assumptions of disability recovery rates, the amounts presented could differ from actual results.

3 Policyholders’ funds - Policyholders’ funds consist primarily of reserves associated with policyholder deposits, participating policy dividends left on deposit and provisions for experience rating refunds. Because the timing of the payment of some of these obligations is unknown and beyond the control of the Company, the obligations related to these liabilities are presented in the table above in the less than one year category in the amounts of the liabilities presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

4 Provision for policyholder dividends - The provision for policyholders’ dividends payable represents the liabilities related to dividends payable in the following year on participating policies. As such, the obligations related to these liabilities are presented in the table above in the less than one year category in the amounts of the liabilities presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

5 Undistributed earnings on participating business - The timing of the payment of the liability for undistributed earnings on participating business is unknown by its nature and subject to significant long-term uncertainty. As such, the obligation related to this liability is presented in the table above in the more than five year category in the amount of the liability presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

6 Related party long-term debt – principal - Represents contractual maturities of principal due to the Company’s parent, GWL&A Financial, under the terms of two long-term surplus notes. The amounts shown in this table differ from the amounts included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet because the amounts shown above do not consider the discount upon the issuance of one of the surplus notes.

7 Related party long-term debt – interest - One long-term surplus note bears interest at a fixed rate through maturity. The second surplus note bears interest initially at a fixed rate that will change in the future based upon the then current three-month LIBOR rate. The interest payments shown in this table are calculated based upon the contractual rates in effect on December 31, 2007 and do not consider the impact of future interest rate changes.

8 Repurchase agreements and commercial paper - The Company’s obligations under its commercial paper and repurchase agreement programs are short-term in nature. The amounts presented represent the

45



amounts due upon maturity of the instrument. The obligations related to these liabilities are presented in the table above in the less than one year category as presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

9 Payable under securities lending agreements - The Company accepts both cash and non-cash collateral in connection with its securities lending program. Since the securities lending transactions generally expire within one year or the timing of the return of the collateral is uncertain, the obligations related to these liabilities are presented in the table above in the less than one year category in the amounts of the liabilities presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

10 Investment purchase obligations - The Company commits to fund partnership interests, mortgage loan and other investments in the normal course of its business. As the timing of the fulfillment of the commitment to fund partnership interests cannot be predicted, such obligations are presented in the less than one year category. The timing of the funding of mortgage loans is based on the expiration date of the commitment.

11 Operating leases - The Company is obligated under various non-cancelable operating leases, primarily for office space. Contractual provisions exist that could increase the lease obligations presented, including operating expense escalation clauses. Management does not consider the impact of any such clauses to be material to the Company’s operating lease obligations.

From time to time, the Company enters into agreements or contracts, including capital leases, to purchase goods or services in the normal course of its business. However, these agreements and contracts are not material and are excluded from the table above.

12 Other liabilities - Other liabilities include those other liabilities which represent contractual obligations not included elsewhere in the table above. If the timing of the payment of any other liabilities was sufficiently uncertain, the amounts were included in the less than one year category. Other liabilities presented in the table above include:

 

 

 

 

Liabilities under reinsurance arrangements.

 

 

 

 

Liabilities related to securities purchased but not yet settled.

 

 

 

 

Liabilities related to derivative obligations.

 

 

 

 

Statutory state escheat liabilities.

 

 

 

 

Expected benefit payments to the Company’s defined benefit pension and post retirement medical plans through 2017.

7.11 Application of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”). SFAS No. 123R replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”). SFAS No. 123R requires a company to use the fair value method to recognize the cost of its stock-based employee compensation and to provide certain other additional disclosures. Previously, the Company elected only to disclose the proforma impact of recording the fair value of stock options under the provisions of SFAS No. 123 in the notes to its consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets or the results of its operations (See Note 19).

In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position No. 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”). SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting by insurance enterprises for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses From the Sale of

46



Investments.” SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of 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. SOP 05-1 is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted SOP 05-1 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.

In November 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” (“FSP 115-1 and 124-1”). FSP 115-1 and 124-1 supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” and amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 124 “Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations” and Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18 “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.” FSP 115-1 and 124-1 addresses the determination as to when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other-than-temporary in nature and the measurement of an impairment loss. FSP 115-1 and 124-1 also includes provisions for accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments. FSP 115-1 and 124-1 was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005 with earlier adoption permitted. The Company adopted FSP 115-1 and 124-1 during its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005. The adoption of FSP 115-1 and 124-1 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.

In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” (“SFAS No. 155”). SFAS No. 155 permits any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” to be carried at fair value in its entirety, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. In addition, SFAS No. 155 requires that beneficial interests in securitized financial assets be analyzed to determine whether they are freestanding derivatives or contain an embedded derivative. SFAS No. 155 is applicable to new or modified financial instruments in fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006, however it may be applied to instruments that an entity holds at the date of adoption on an instrument-by-instrument basis. The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 155 increased stockholder’s equity by $115.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 decreased stockholder’s equity by $6,195.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“SFAS No. 158”). For fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, SFAS No. 158 requires a company to recognize in its balance sheet an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status and recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the other comprehensive income section of stockholder’s equity in the year in which the changes occur, and provide additional disclosures. The Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 as of December 31, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 decreased accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by $6,734. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 did not affect the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006. For fiscal years ended after December 15, 2008, SFAS No. 158 requires a company to measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of its fiscal year. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of the

47



measurement date provision of SFAS No. 158 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In September 2006, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB No. 108”). SAB No. 108 provides guidance on how prior year misstatements should be considered when quantifying misstatements in current year financial statements for purposes of assessing materiality. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify errors using both a balance sheet and income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that, when relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. SAB No. 108 permits companies to initially apply its provisions by either restating prior financial statements or recording a cumulative effect adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006 with an offsetting adjustment to retained earnings for errors that were previously deemed immaterial but are material under the guidance in SAB No. 108. The Company adopted SAB No. 108 on December 31, 2006. The adoption of SAB No. 108 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

Accounting pronouncements that will be adopted in the future

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 also provides expanded information about the extent to which a company measures assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS No. 157 is applicable whenever other authoritative pronouncements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of its operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No.159”). SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure financial instruments and certain other items at estimated fair value. Most of the provisions of SFAS No. 159 are elective; however, the amendment to FASB No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, applies to all entities that own trading and available-for-sale securities. The fair value option created by SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure eligible items at fair value as of specified election dates. The fair value option (a) may generally be applied instrument by instrument, (b) is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs, and (c) must be applied to the entire instrument and not to only a portion of the instrument. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of its operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Accounting and Reporting of Non-controlling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). These statements change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions and non-controlling (minority) interests in consolidated financial statements. Some of the significant changes include the recognition of one hundred percent of the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and non-controlling interest of acquired businesses; recognition of contingent consideration arrangements at their acquisition date fair values with subsequent changes in fair value reflected in earnings; recognition of acquisition related transaction costs as expense when incurred; and recognition of acquisition related restructuring cost accruals in acquisition accounting only if certain criteria are met as of the acquisition date. SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 are required to be adopted simultaneously and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company will adopt the provisions of these statements for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009. The Company is

48



evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 will have on its consolidated financial position and the results of its operations.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company has established processes and procedures to effectively identify, monitor, measure and manage the risks associated with its invested assets and its interest rate sensitive insurance and annuity products. Management has identified investment portfolio management, including the use of derivative instruments, insurance and annuity product design and asset/liability management as three critical means to accomplish a successful risk management program.

The major risks to which the Company is exposed include the following.

 

 

 

 

Market risk - the potential of loss arising from adverse fluctuations in interest rates and equity market prices and the levels of their volatility.

 

 

 

 

Insurance risk - the potential of loss resulting from claims and expenses exceeding reserves held.

 

 

 

 

Credit risk - the potential of loss arising from an obligator’s inability or unwillingness to meet its obligations to the Company.

 

 

 

 

Sub-prime market risk – the potential for loss associated with the sub-prime mortgage security market.

 

 

 

 

Operational and corporate risk - the potential of direct or indirect loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from other external events.

Market risk

The Company’s exposure to interest rate changes results from its significant holdings of fixed maturity securities and its interest rate sensitive liabilities. The fixed maturity security holdings primarily consist of direct obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies, direct obligations of U.S. states and their subdivisions, corporate debt securities and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. All of these securities are exposed to changes in medium and long-term interest rates. Interest rate sensitive product liabilities, primarily those liabilities associated with guaranteed income contracts and annuity contracts, have the same type of interest rate risk exposure as fixed maturity securities.

To reduce interest rate risk, the Company performs periodic projections of asset and liability cash flows in order to evaluate the interest rate sensitivity of its fixed maturity securities and its product liabilities to interest rate movements. In addition, the Company supports a hedging strategy program. The hedging program consists of the use of various derivative instruments including financial futures, financial forwards, interest rate swaps, caps, floors and options. The Company has strict operating policies which prohibit the use of derivative instruments for speculative purposes, permit derivative transactions only with approved counterparties, specify limits on concentration of risk and provide requirements of reporting and monitoring systems.

 

 

 

 

Financial futures and financial forwards are commitments to either purchase or sell designated financial instruments at a future date for a specified price.

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps involve the periodic exchange of cash flows with third parties at specified intervals calculated using agreed upon rates or other financial variables.

 

 

 

 

Interest rate cap and floor contracts entitle the purchaser to receive from the issuer at designated dates the amount by which a specified market rate exceeds the cap strike interest rate or falls below the floor strike interest rate.

 

 

 

 

Option contracts grant the purchaser, in consideration for the payment of a premium, the right to either purchase from or sell to the issuer a financial instrument at a specified price within a specified time period or on a stated date.

The Company has estimated the possible effects of interest rate changes at December 31, 2007. If interest rates increased by 100 basis points (1.00%), the December 31, 2007 fair value of the fixed income assets in the general account would decrease by approximately $698 million. This calculation uses projected

49



asset cash flows, discounted back to December 31, 2007. The cash flow projections are shown in the table below. The table below shows cash flows rather than expected maturity dates because many of the Company’s assets have substantial expected principal payments prior to the final maturity date. The fair value shown in the table below was calculated using spot discount interest rates that varied by the year in which the cash flows are expected to be received. The spot rates in the benchmark calculation range from 4.10% to 7.33%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projected cash flows by
calendar years (In millions)

 

Benchmark

 

Interest rate
increase one percent


 


 


2008

 

$

2,488

 

$

2,385

 

2009

 

 

2,163

 

 

2,102

 

2010

 

 

2,109

 

 

2,031

 

2011

 

 

2,003

 

 

2,011

 

2012

 

 

1,856

 

 

1,844

 

Thereafter

 

 

9,593

 

 

10,066

 

 

 



 



 

Undiscounted total

 

$

20,212

 

$

20,439

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

14,791

 

$

14,110

 

The Company does not have significant equity risk exposure associated with its equity invested assets as this type of investment is minimal.

The Company administers separate account variable annuities and provides other investment and retirement services where fee income is earned and profitability is determined based upon a percentage of account balances or assets under management. Fluctuations in fund asset levels occur as a result of both changes in cash flow and general market conditions. There is a market risk of reduced fee income if equity markets decline. If equity markets were to decline by 10%, the Company’s associated fee income in 2008 would decline by approximately $23.5 million.

The Company’s surplus assets include equity investments. There is a market risk of reduced asset values if equity markets decline. If equity markets were to decline by 10%, the Company would have an unrealized loss of approximately $8.4 million on equity investments in non-affiliates. This unrealized loss would not impact net income but would reduce stockholder’s equity.

The Company has sold variable annuities with various forms of guaranteed minimum death benefits. The Company is required to hold reserves for these guaranteed death benefits. If equity markets were to decline by 10%, the reserve liability for these benefits would increase by approximately $0.6 million.

The Company’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations is minimal since only nominal foreign investments are held. To manage foreign currency exchange risk, the Company uses currency swaps to convert foreign currency back to United States dollars. These swaps are purchased each time a foreign currency denominated asset is purchased.

Insurance risk

The Company utilizes reinsurance programs to control its exposure to general insurance risks. Reinsurance agreements do not relieve the Company from its direct obligations to its insureds. However, an effective reinsurance program limits the Company’s exposure to potentially large losses. The failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. To manage this risk, the Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. The Company currently retains a maximum liability in the amount of $3,500,000 of coverage per individual life.

The Company manages the risks associated with its insurance and other contractual liabilities through the use of actuarial modeling techniques. These techniques utilize significant assumptions including morbidity, mortality, persistency, product pricing and the cash flow stream of benefit payments. Through these

50



techniques, the Company attempts to match the anticipated cash flow streams of its invested assets with the anticipated cash flow streams of its insurance and other contractual obligations. The cash flows associated with these policy liabilities are not interest rate sensitive but will vary based upon the timing and amount of benefit payments. The primary risks associated with these liabilities are that the benefits will exceed those anticipated in the actuarial modeling or that the actual timing of the payment of benefits will differ from what was anticipated.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk the Company assumes if its debtors, customers or other counterparties and intermediaries may be unable or unwilling to pay their contractual obligations when they come due and may manifest itself through the downgrading of credit ratings of counterparties. It is the Company’s policy to acquire only investment grade assets to enable it to provide for future policy obligations and to minimize undue concentrations of assets in any single geographic area, industry or entity. To minimize this risk, management regularly reviews the credit ratings of the entities in which the Company invests. These credit ratings are obtained from recognized external credit rating agencies and/or by internal credit review.

Sub-prime market risk

The Company has evaluated the possible risk associated with the sub-prime mortgage security market and determined that it has minimal exposure. Of the Company’s total investments of $19.4 billion as of December 31, 2007, approximately $1.2 billion, or 6.2%, are home equity loan asset backed securities with potential exposure to the sub-prime market. All of these securities are investment grade rated, 99.5% of which have the highest possible rating of AAA. Of these securities, 86% are backed by fixed rate mortgages which will not result in payment shocks or increasing mortgage payments to borrowers. None were downgraded as a result of the 2007 rating agency actions on sub-prime securities.

Operational and corporate risk

The Company manages and mitigates internal operational risk through integrated and complementary policies, procedures, processes and practices. Human Resource hiring practices, performance evaluations and promotion and compensation practices are designed to attract, retain and develop the skilled personnel required. A comprehensive job evaluation process is in place and training and development programs are supported. Each business area provides training designed for their specific needs and has developed appropriate internal controls. Processes and controls are monitored and redefined by the business areas and periodically reviewed by the Company’s internal audit staff. Financial reporting processes and controls are further examined by external auditors. The Company applies a robust project management discipline to all significant initiatives.

Appropriate security measures protect premises and information. The Company has emergency procedures in place for short-term incidents and is committed to maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery plans at every business location for the recovery of critical functions in the event of a disaster, including offsite data backup and work area facilities.

The Company’s businesses are subject to various regulatory requirements imposed by regulation or legislation applicable to insurance companies and companies providing financial services. These regulations are primarily intended to protect policyholders and beneficiaries. Material changes in the regulatory framework or the failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company monitors compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements in all jurisdictions in which it conducts business and assesses trends in legal and regulatory change to keep business areas current and responsive.

In the course of its business activities, the Company may be exposed to the risk that some actions may lead to damaging its reputation and hence damage its future business prospects. These actions may include

51



unauthorized activities of employees or others associated with the Company, inadvertent actions of the Company that become publicized and damage its reputation, regular or past business activities of the Company that become the subject of regulator or media scrutiny and, due to a change of public perception, cause damage to the Company. To manage or mitigate this risk, the Company has ongoing controls to limit the unauthorized activities of people associated with it. The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which sets out the standards of business conduct to be followed by all of its directors, officers and employees.

 

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
Greenwood Village, Colorado

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule 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. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 4, the Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes, as required by accounting guidance on January 1, 2007, and changed its method of accounting for defined benefit and other post retirement plans and share based payments as required by accounting guidance which the Company adopted on December 31, 2006, and January 1, 2006, respectively.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Denver, Colorado
March 27, 2008

52



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2007 and 2006
(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $13,592,003 and $15,367,735)

 

$

13,551,233

 

$

15,309,951

 

Fixed maturities held for trading, at fair value (amortized cost $22,855 and $0)

 

 

23,060

 

 

 

Mortgage loans on real estate (net of allowances of $9,448 and $15,661)

 

 

1,207,169

 

 

1,338,193

 

Equity investments available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $19,749 and $17,875)

 

 

29,576

 

 

28,242

 

Policy loans

 

 

3,767,872

 

 

3,797,585

 

Short-term investments, available-for-sale (cost approximates fair value)

 

 

472,633

 

 

960,999

 

Limited partnership interests

 

 

326,971

 

 

345,192

 

Other investments

 

 

4,169

 

 

4,413

 

 

 



 



 

Total investments

 

 

19,382,683

 

 

21,784,575

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

 

54,814

 

 

32,589

 

Reinsurance receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related party

 

 

381,931

 

 

531,389

 

Other

 

 

123,176

 

 

176,368

 

Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

443,302

 

 

505,134

 

Investment income due and accrued

 

 

142,801

 

 

159,778

 

Premiums in course of collection

 

 

5,443

 

 

10,327

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

155,548

 

 

163,796

 

Collateral under securities lending agreements

 

 

93,472

 

 

382,423

 

Due from parent and affiliates

 

 

29,138

 

 

10,650

 

Goodwill

 

 

101,655

 

 

102,374

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

39,234

 

 

43,293

 

Other assets

 

 

522,685

 

 

494,399

 

Assets of discontinued operations

 

 

724,766

 

 

794,785

 

Separate account assets

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

40,290,632

 

$

41,481,854

 

 

 



 



 

53



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2007 and 2006
(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Liabilities and stockholder’s equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy benefit liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related party

 

$

2,493,511

 

$

4,639,829

 

Other

 

 

14,883,183

 

 

14,547,742

 

Policy and contract claims

 

 

262,503

 

 

309,442

 

Policyholders’ funds

 

 

302,957

 

 

272,707

 

Provision for policyholders’ dividends

 

 

78,276

 

 

109,700

 

Undistributed earnings on participating business

 

 

209,036

 

 

188,198

 

 

 



 



 

Total policy benefit liabilities

 

 

18,229,466

 

 

20,067,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to parent and affiliates

 

 

534,956

 

 

547,951

 

Repurchase agreements

 

 

138,537

 

 

744,117

 

Commercial paper

 

 

95,667

 

 

95,020

 

Payable under securities lending agreements

 

 

93,472

 

 

382,423

 

Other liabilities

 

 

648,857

 

 

622,513

 

Liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

468,496

 

 

603,283

 

Separate account liabilities

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities

 

 

38,299,435

 

 

39,352,899

 

 

 



 



 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholder’s equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $1 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,032,000 shares issued and outstanding

 

 

7,032

 

 

7,032

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

747,533

 

 

737,857

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(1,518

)

 

(46,537

)

Retained earnings

 

 

1,238,150

 

 

1,430,603

 

 

 



 



 

Total stockholder’s equity

 

 

1,991,197

 

 

2,128,955

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity

 

$

40,290,632

 

$

41,481,854

 

 

 



 



 


 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(Concluded)

54



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related party (net of related party premiums ceded of $1,391,980, $4,827 and $5,185)

 

($

1,146,908

)

$

275,169

 

$

321,663

 

Other (net of premiums ceded of $40,380, $47,122 and $61,996

 

 

289,641

 

 

307,283

 

 

324,373

 

Fee income

 

 

463,265

 

 

341,372

 

 

302,961

 

Net investment income

 

 

1,139,541

 

 

1,110,136

 

 

1,044,081

 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

(2,028

)

 

(9,465

)

 

18,697

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total revenues

 

 

743,511

 

 

2,024,495

 

 

2,011,775

 

 

 



 



 



 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and other policy benefits (net of reinsurance recoveries of $39,640, $58,012 and $95,566)

 

 

624,381

 

 

702,262

 

 

632,098

 

Increase (decrease) in policy reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related party

 

 

(1,539,777

)

 

29,245

 

 

147,466

 

Other

 

 

79,254

 

 

11,132

 

 

49,571

 

Interest paid or credited to contractholders

 

 

497,438

 

 

470,416

 

 

477,381

 

Provision for policyholders’ share of earnings on participating business

 

 

20,296

 

 

9,061

 

 

(3,039

)

Dividends to policyholders

 

 

93,544

 

 

98,605

 

 

100,613

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total benefits

 

 

(224,864

)

 

1,320,721

 

 

1,404,090

 

General insurance expenses

 

 

432,426

 

 

367,315

 

 

294,081

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

135,570

 

 

46,191

 

 

51,528

 

Interest expense

 

 

41,713

 

 

33,623

 

 

14,396

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

384,845

 

 

1,767,850

 

 

1,764,095

 

 

 



 



 



 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

358,666

 

 

256,645

 

 

247,680

 

Income tax expense

 

 

118,791

 

 

72,603

 

 

66,545

 

 

 



 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

239,875

 

 

184,042

 

 

181,135

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes of $85,707, $79,291 and $94,899

 

 

178,853

 

 

153,160

 

 

190,420

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net income

 

 $

418,728

 

$

337,202

 

$

371,555

 

 

 



 



 



 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

55



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(In Thousands)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common
Stock

 

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Securities

 

Employee
Benefit Plan
Adjustments

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Total

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Balances, January 1, 2005

 

$

7,032

 

$

725,935

 

$

133,546

 

($

14,751

)

$

1,192,599

 

$

2,044,361

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

371,555

 

 

371,555

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(125,280

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(125,280

)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,333

)

 

 

 

 

(10,333

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

235,942

 

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(221,358

)

 

(221,358

)

Income tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

2,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,766

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Balances, December 31, 2005

 

$

7,032

 

$

728,701

 

$

8,266

 

($

25,084

)

$

1,342,796

 

$

2,061,711

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

337,202

 

 

337,202

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,974

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,974

)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

989

 

 

 

 

 

989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

314,217

 

Impact of adopting SFAS No. 158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,734

)

 

 

 

 

(6,734

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(249,395

)

 

(249,395

)

Capital contribution - stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

4,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,525

 

Income tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Balances, December 31, 2006

 

$

7,032

 

$

737,857

 

($

15,708

)

($

30,829

)

$

1,430,603

 

$

2,128,955

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

418,728

 

 

418,728

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,903

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,998

 

 

 

 

 

34,998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

463,629

 

Impact of adopting SFAS No. 155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

 

115

 

Impact of adopting FIN No. 48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,195

)

 

(6,195

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(604,983

)

 

(604,983

)

Capital contribution - stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

3,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,816

 

Income tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

5,860

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,860

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Balances, December 31, 2007

 

$

7,032

 

$

747,533

 

($

5,687

)

$

4,169

 

$

1,238,150

 

$

1,991,197

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

56



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

418,728

 

$

337,202

 

$

371,555

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings allocated to participating policyholders

 

 

20,296

 

 

9,061

 

 

(3,039

)

Amortization of (premiums) accretion of discounts on investments, net

 

 

(58,067

)

 

(55,218

)

 

(52,712

)

Net realized (gains) losses on investments

 

 

(2,155

)

 

12,076

 

 

(38,977

)

Net purchases of trading securities

 

 

(20,825

)

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

176,560

 

 

77,256

 

 

81,847

 

Deferral of acquisition costs

 

 

(73,062

)

 

(60,187

)

 

(50,437

)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(5,239

)

 

32,807

 

 

20,108

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy benefit liabilities

 

 

85,799

 

 

197,465

 

 

86,845

 

Reinsurance receivable

 

 

(106,382

)

 

40,279

 

 

120,793

 

Accrued interest and other receivables

 

 

26,695

 

 

(16,501

)

 

1,022

 

Other, net

 

 

46,513

 

 

(25,994

)

 

(189,526

)

 

 



 



 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

508,861

 

 

548,246

 

 

347,479

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales, maturities and redemptions of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

 

 

4,052,791

 

 

7,486,226

 

 

5,783,036

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

159,959

 

 

325,291

 

 

250,112

 

Equity investments and other limited partnership interests

 

 

51,596

 

 

209,453

 

 

240,886

 

Purchases of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

 

 

(4,015,650

)

 

(9,146,358

)

 

(5,933,327

)

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

(228,746

)

 

(209,079

)

 

(122,078

)

Equity investments and other limited partnership interests

 

 

(35,372

)

 

(56,350

)

 

(121,881

)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

 

(15,208

)

 

1,301,372

 

 

 

Net change in short-term investments

 

 

1,132,840

 

 

3,459

 

 

(574,229

)

Net change in repurchase agreements

 

 

(625,242

)

 

7,874

 

 

192,658

 

Other, net

 

 

(36,643

)

 

(33,629

)

 

64,505

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

440,325

 

 

(111,741

)

 

(220,318

)

 

 



 



 



 


 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(Continued)

57



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract deposits

 

$

1,228,154

 

$

1,065,805

 

$

1,166,502

 

Contract withdrawals

 

 

(1,491,994

)

 

(1,603,285

)

 

(1,195,166

)

Change in due to parent and affiliates

 

 

(31,483

)

 

323,018

 

 

60,426

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(604,983

)

 

(249,395

)

 

(221,358

)

Net commercial paper borrowings (repayments)

 

 

647

 

 

(44

)

 

20

 

Change in bank overdrafts

 

 

(23,523

)

 

(1,566

)

 

7,034

 

Income tax benefit of stock option exercises

 

 

5,860

 

 

4,631

 

 

2,766

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(917,322

)

 

(460,836

)

 

(179,776

)

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

 

31,864

 

 

(24,331

)

 

(52,615

)

Cash, continuing and discontinued operations, beginning of year

 

 

33,572

 

 

57,903

 

 

110,518

 

 

 



 



 



 

Cash, continuing and discontinued operations, end of year

 

 

65,436

 

 

33,572

 

 

57,903

 

Less cash, discontinued operations, end of year

 

 

(10,622

)

 

(983

)

 

(2,382

)

 

 



 



 



 

Cash, end of year

 

$

54,814

 

$

32,589

 

$

55,521

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 

$

121,847

 

$

63,619

 

$

93,608

 

Interest

 

 

41,713

 

 

30,959

 

 

17,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing transactions during the years:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets transferred from The Canada Life Assurance Company (See Note 5)

 

$

 

$

87,622

 

$

468,123

 

Fair value of assets acquired in settlement of fixed maturity investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,659

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

3,816

 

 

4,525

 

 

 

Return of invested reinsurance assets to The Canada Life Assurance Company (See Note 5)

 

 

1,608,909

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(Concluded)

58



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

1. Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization - Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of GWL&A Financial Inc. (“GWL&A Financial”), a holding company formed in 1998. GWL&A Financial is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (“Lifeco”). The Company offers a wide range of life insurance and retirement and investment products to individuals, businesses and other private and public organizations throughout the United States. The Company is an insurance company domiciled in the State of Colorado, and is subject to regulation by the Colorado Division of Insurance.

Basis of presentation - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required to account for policy reserves, allowances for credit losses on mortgage loans on real estate, deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired, goodwill and other intangible assets, derivative instruments, valuation of privately placed and non-actively traded public investments, employee benefits plans and taxes on income. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

A reclassification was made in the 2006 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the 2007 presentation. Certain equity investments which in 2007 are presented in limited partnership interests were presented as equity investments in 2006.

Reclassifications were also made to the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2006 and the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 to reflect the Company’s discontinued operations. See Note 2.

The reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income, total assets or total stockholder’s equity and were made in order to further enhance the readers’ understanding of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies

Investments - Investments are reported as follows:

 

 

1.

The Company classifies the majority of its fixed maturity and all of its equity investments as available-for-sale and records them at fair value with the related net unrealized gain or loss, net of policyholder related amounts and deferred taxes, recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the stockholder’s equity section in the consolidated balance sheets. Net unrealized gains and losses related to participating contract policies are recorded as undistributed earnings on participating business in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

 

Premiums and discounts are recognized as a component of net investment income using the scientific interest method. Realized gains and losses and declines in value determined to be other-than-temporary are included in net realized gains (losses) on investments.

 

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company purchased fixed maturity securities which were classified as held for trading. Assets in the held for trading category are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in net investment income.

59



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

The recognition of income on certain investments (e.g. loan-backed securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) is dependent upon market conditions, which may result in prepayments and changes in amounts to be earned.

 

 

2.

Mortgage loans on real estate are commercial loans and are carried at their unpaid balances adjusted for any unamortized premiums or discounts and allowances for credit losses. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Discounts and premiums are amortized to net investment income using the scientific interest method. Accrual of interest is discontinued on any impaired loans where collection of interest is doubtful.

 

 

 

The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses at a level that, in management’s opinion, is sufficient to absorb credit losses on its impaired loans. Management’s judgment is based upon extensive situational analysis of each individual loan and may consider past loss experience and current and projected economic conditions. The measurement of impaired loans is based upon the fair value of the underlying collateral.

 

 

3.

Equity investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the stockholder’s equity section of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in which it has more than a minority interest and has influence in the entity’s operating and financial policies, but does not have a controlling interest. Realized gains and losses and declines in value, determined to be other-than-temporary, are included in net realized gains (losses) on investments.

 

 

4.

Limited partnership interests are valued under the cost method of accounting. The Company uses this method since it has a minority equity interest and virtually no influence over the entity’s operations. Also included in other limited partnership interests are limited partnerships established for the purpose of investing in low-income housing that qualify for federal and state tax credits. These securities are carried at amortized cost as determined using the effective yield method.

 

 

5.

Policy loans are carried at their unpaid balances.

 

 

6.

Short-term investments include securities purchased with initial maturities of one year or less and are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. The Company classifies its short-term investments as available-for-sale.

 

 

7.

Gains and losses realized on disposal of investments are determined on a specific identification basis.

 

 

8.

The Company may employ a trading strategy that involves the sale of securities with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase similar securities at a future date at an agreed-upon price. Proceeds of the sale are reinvested in other securities and may enhance the current yield and total return. The difference between the sales price and the future repurchase price is recorded as an adjustment to net investment income. During the period between the sale and repurchase, the Company will not be entitled to receive interest and principal payments on the securities sold. Losses may arise from changes in the value of the securities or if the counterparty enters bankruptcy proceedings or becomes insolvent. In such cases, the Company’s right to repurchase the security may be restricted. Amounts owed to brokers under these arrangements are included in repurchase agreements in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The liability is collateralized by securities with approximately the same fair value.

 

 

9.

The Company receives collateral for lending securities that are held as part of its investment portfolio. The Company requires collateral in an amount greater than or equal to 102% of the market value of domestic securities loaned and 105% of foreign securities loaned. Such collateral is used to replace

60



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

the securities loaned in event of default by the borrower. The Company’s securities lending transactions are accounted for as collateralized borrowings. Collateral is defined as government securities, letters of credit and/or cash collateral. The borrower can return and the Company can request the loaned securities at any time. The Company maintains ownership of the securities at all times and is entitled to receive from the borrower any payments for interest or dividends received on such securities during the loan term.

Derivative financial instruments - All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities at fair value. Accounting for the ongoing changes in the fair value of a derivative depends upon the intended use of the derivative and its designation as determined when the derivative contract is entered into. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in its fair value and of the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings in net investment income. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of the changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and are recognized in the consolidated income statements when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting and the over effective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized in net investment income in the period of the change.

Cash - Cash includes only amounts in demand deposit accounts.

Bank overdrafts - The Company’s cash management system provides for the reimbursement of all major bank disbursement accounts on a daily basis. Checks issued but not yet presented to banks for payment can result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes and are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, these liabilities were $48,449 and $35,167, respectively.

Internal use software - Capitalized internal use software development costs, net of accumulated depreciation, in the amounts of $38,537 and $43,521, are included in other assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company capitalized $3,504, $9,329 and $8,732 of internal use software development costs during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”) - DAC, which primarily consists of sales commissions and costs associated with the Company’s sales representatives related to the production of new business or through the acquisition of insurance or annuity contracts through indemnity reinsurance transactions, have been deferred to the extent recoverable. VOBA represents the estimated fair value of insurance or annuity contracts acquired either directly through the acquisition of another insurance company or through the acquisition of insurance or annuity contracts through assumption reinsurance transactions. The recoverability of such costs is dependent upon the future profitability of the related business. DAC and VOBA associated with the annuity products and flexible premium universal life insurance products are being amortized over the life of the contracts in proportion to the emergence of gross profits. Retrospective adjustments of these amounts are made when the Company revises its estimates of current or future gross profits. DAC and VOBA associated with traditional life insurance are amortized over the premium-paying period of the related policies in proportion to premium revenues recognized. See Note 9 for additional information regarding deferred acquisition costs and the value of business acquired.

Goodwill and other intangible assets - Goodwill is the excess of cost over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with an acquisition. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value, the excess is recognized as an impairment and recorded as a charge against net income in the period in which the impairment is identified. There were no impairments of goodwill recognized during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 or 2005.

61



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

Other intangible assets represent the estimated fair value of the portion of the purchase price that was allocated to the value of customer relationships, preferred provider networks and healthcare provider networks in various acquisitions. These intangible assets have been assigned values using various methodologies, including present value of projected future cash flows, analysis of similar transactions that have occurred or could be expected to occur in the market, and replacement or reproduction cost. The initial valuations of these intangible assets were supported by an independent valuation study that was commissioned by the Company and executed by qualified valuation experts. Other identified intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which initially ranged from 4 to 14 years (weighted average 13 years), primarily based upon the cash flows generated by these assets.

Separate accounts - Separate account assets and related liabilities are carried at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s separate accounts invest in shares of Maxim Series Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company, and Putnam Funds which are affiliates of the Company, in addition to shares of other non-affiliated mutual funds and government and corporate bonds. Investment income and realized capital gains and losses of the separate accounts accrue directly to the contract holders and, therefore, are not included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Revenues to the Company from the separate accounts consist of contract maintenance fees, administrative fees and mortality and expense risk charges. The Company’s separate accounts include mutual funds or other investment options that, beginning in 2005, purchase guaranteed interest annuity contracts issued by the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, these purchases totaled $74,855 and $67,546, respectively. As the general account investment contracts are also included in the separate account balances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, the Company has reduced the separate account assets and liabilities by $383,319 and $356,992 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, to avoid the overstatement of assets and liabilities in its consolidated balance sheets at those dates.

Life insurance and annuity reserves - Life insurance and annuity reserves with life contingencies in the amounts of $11,330,656 and $12,826,595 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are computed on the basis of estimated mortality, investment yield, withdrawals, future maintenance and settlement expenses and retrospective experience rating premium refunds. Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies in the amounts of $5,998,749 and $6,318,534 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are established at the contract holder’s account value.

Reinsurance - Policy reserves and policy and contract claims ceded to other insurance companies are carried as a reinsurance receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cost of reinsurance related to long duration contracts is accounted for over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies.

Policy and contract claims - Policy and contract claims include provisions for claims incurred but not reported and claims in the process of settlement. The provision for claims incurred but not reported is valued based primarily on the Company’s prior experience. The claims in the process of settlement are valued in accordance with the terms of the related policies and contracts.

Participating fund account - The policies in which the policyholder shares in the Company’s participating earnings through policyholder dividends that reflect the difference between the assumptions used in the premium charged and the actual experience. The amount of dividends to be paid is determined annually by the Board of Directors.

Participating life and annuity policy reserves are $6,019,015 and $6,793,239 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Participating business approximates 8.3% and 12.8% of the Company’s individual life insurance in-force at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 32.4%, 58.0% and 42.0% of individual life insurance premium income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

62



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company has established a Participating Policyholder Experience Account (“PPEA”) for the benefit of all participating policyholders, which is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  In the event that the assets of the PPEA are insufficient to provide contractually guaranteed benefits, the Company must provide such benefits from its general account assets.

The Company has also established a Participation Fund Account (“PFA”) for the benefit of the participating policyholders previously assumed from The Great-West Life Assurance Company (“GWL”) under an assumption reinsurance transaction. The PFA is part of the PPEA. Earnings derived from the operation of the PFA, net of a management fee paid to the Company, accrue for the benefit of the participating policyholders.

Recognition of premium and fee income and benefits and expenses - Life insurance premiums are recognized when due. Annuity contract premiums with life contingencies are recognized as received. Revenues for annuity and other contracts without significant life contingencies consist of contract charges for the cost of insurance and contract administration and surrender fees that have been assessed against the contract account balance during the period and are recognized when earned. Fees from assets under management, which consist of contract maintenance fees, administration fees and mortality and expense risk charges, are recognized when due. Benefits and expenses on policies with life contingencies are associated with earned premiums so as to result in recognition of profits over the life of the contracts.

Income taxes - Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in either the Company’s consolidated financial statements or consolidated tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events, other than the enactments or changes in the tax laws or rules, are considered. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized.

As described more fully in Note 4, the Company adopted FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”(“FIN 48”) effective January 1, 2007. Among other things, under FIN 48, the Company determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Stock options - Lifeco maintains the Great-West Lifeco Inc. Stock Option Plan (the “Lifeco plan”) that provides for the granting of options on its common shares to certain of its officers and employees and those of its subsidiaries, including the Company. On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) which requires it to use the fair value method to recognize the cost of share-based employee compensation. Previously, the Company elected only to disclose the proforma impact of recording the fair value of stock options under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” in the notes to its consolidated financial statements (See Notes 4 and 19).

Regulatory requirements - In accordance with the requirements of the Colorado Division of Insurance, the Company must demonstrate that it maintains adequate capital. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company was in compliance with the requirement. (See Note 12).

In accordance with the requirements of the regulatory authorities in the states in which the Company conducts its business, it is required to maintain deposits with those authorities for the purpose of security for policy and contract holders. The Company fulfills this requirement generally with the deposit of United States government obligations.

63



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

2. Discontinued Operations and Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale

On November 26, 2007, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a definitive Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of their healthcare insurance business to a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation (“CIGNA”) for $1.5 billion in cash, subject to regulatory and certain other approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2008. The business to be sold, formerly reported as the Company’s Healthcare segment, is the vehicle through which the Company markets and administers group life and health insurance to small and mid-sized employers. CIGNA will acquire from the Company the stop loss, group life, group disability, group medical, group dental, group vision, group prescription drug coverage and group accidental death and dismemberment insurance business in the United States and the Company’s supporting information technology infrastructure through a combination of 100% indemnity reinsurance agreements, renewal rights, related administrative service agreements and the acquisition of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company will retain a small portion of its Healthcare business and reports it within its Individual Markets segment. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, the Company’s business will be that of its Individual Markets, Retirement Services and Other segments (See Note 18). As required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the statements of income and balance sheets of these business activities are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.

In addition, the Company and CIGNA will enter into a Transition Services Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) whereby the Company will provide certain intellectual technology and administrative and legal services on behalf of CIGNA for a period of up to twenty-four months, which may be extended, following the completion of the proposed transaction. CIGNA will pay the Company pre-determined monthly fees for these services and will reimburse it for other expenditures it makes under the terms of the Transition Agreement.

The following table summarizes the major classifications of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

Assets

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

 

$

181,051

 

$

176,704

 

Short-term investments, available-for-sale

 

 

70,044

 

 

95,706

 

Receivables related to uninsured accident and health plan claims, net

 

 

134,397

 

 

150,854

 

Reinsurance receivable

 

 

46,772

 

 

81,987

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

 

58,238

 

 

47,475

 

Premiums in course of collection

 

 

91,162

 

 

97,547

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(9,673

)

 

9,263

 

Other

 

 

152,775

 

 

135,249

 

 

 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

724,766

 

$

794,785

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy reserves

 

$

103,219

 

$

148,184

 

Policy and contract claims

 

 

84,662

 

 

103,580

 

Policyholders’ funds

 

 

106,563

 

 

113,594

 

Other

 

 

174,052

 

 

237,925

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

468,496

 

$

603,283

 

 

 



 



 

64



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table summarizes selected financial information included in income from discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Total revenues from discontinued operations

 

$

1,343,961

 

$

1,609,654

 

$

1,303,960

 

Total benefits and expenses from discontinued operations

 

 

1,079,401

 

 

1,377,203

 

 

1,018,641

 

 

 



 



 



 

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

 

 

264,560

 

 

232,451

 

 

285,319

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

85,707

 

 

79,291

 

 

94,899

 

 

 



 



 



 

Income from discontinued operations

 

$

178,853

 

$

153,160

 

$

190,420

 

 

 



 



 



 

3. Acquisitions

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s 401(k) and defined benefit business

On October 2, 2006, the Company purchased several parts of the full service-bundled, small and midsized 401(k) as well as certain defined benefit plan business from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (“MetLife”). The assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the results of operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since that date. The acquisition included the associated dedicated distribution group, including wholesalers, relationship managers and sales associates. As a result of the acquisition, the Company added approximately 280,000 participants in the 401(k) full service segment and increased its distribution capacity.

The purchase included a 100% coinsurance agreement reinsuring the acquired general account business and a 100% modified-coinsurance agreement reinsuring the acquired separate account business. The Company will replace the acquired MetLife policies with its policies over a three year period. As these policies are replaced, they will no longer be subject to the reinsurance agreements. Under the coinsurance agreement, the Company acquired all of the insurance liabilities associated with these contracts and received from MetLife cash to support these liabilities, net of the purchase price. Under the modified-coinsurance agreement, MetLife retained the approximate $2.3 billion of separate account assets and liabilities but cedes to the Company all of the net profits and losses and related net cash flows. In addition, the Company acquired the rights to provide administrative services and recordkeeping functions for approximately $3.2 billion of participant account values.

The purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using management’s best estimate of their fair values as of the acquisition date and the use of a third-party business valuation expert to estimate the value of business acquired (“VOBA”) and goodwill. The following table presents an allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as adjusted for revisions to the original purchase price allocation at October 2, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 





 

Cash acquired, net of cash consideration

 

$

1,384,117

 

Value of business acquired

 

 

46,033

 

Goodwill

 

 

56,981

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

6,337

 

Other assets

 

 

650

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

$

1,494,118

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 





 

Policy reserves

 

$

1,486,147

 

Other liabilities

 

 

7,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

1,494,118

 

 

 



 



VOBA reflects the estimated fair value of in-force contracts acquired and represents the portion of the purchase price that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from the contracts in force at the acquisition date. VOBA is based on actuarially determined projections, by each block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality and morbidity, separate account

65



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

performance, surrenders, operating expenses, investment returns and other factors. Actual experience of the purchased business may vary from these projections. If estimated gross profits or premiums differ from expectations, the amortization of VOBA for these annuity products is adjusted to reflect actual experience. The VOBA has an expected amortization period of 14 years.

The value of the identifiable intangible assets reflects the estimated fair value of customer relationships for the recordkeeping business acquired and amounted to $6,337 as a result of this acquisition. This intangible will be amortized in relation to the expected economic benefits of the agreement. If actual experience with customer relationships differs from expectations, the amortization will be adjusted to reflect actual experience. The customer relationship intangible asset has an expected weighted average amortization period of 14 years.

Goodwill is the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill resulting from the acquisition amounted to $56,981, all of which has been allocated to the Retirement Services segment. For income tax purposes, all of this goodwill will be deductible over 15 years.

U.S. Bank’s defined contribution business

On December 31, 2006, the Company purchased the full service-bundled, defined contribution business from U.S. Bank. The results of operations of this business have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since that date. The acquired business primarily relates to the administration of approximately 1,900 401(k) plans which represent approximately 195,000 members and more than $9.0 billion in retirement plan assets. The acquisition includes the retention of relationship managers and sales and client service specialists. An adjustment to the purchase price may be paid to or received from U.S. Bank in 2008. The adjustment is contingent upon the attainment of certain revenue and contract retention targets. Any adjustment either paid to or received from U.S. Bank in future years will be recorded as an adjustment to the purchase price allocation in the period in which the contingency is resolved.

The purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using management’s best estimate of their fair values as of the acquisition date and the use of a third-party business valuation expert to estimate the value of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired. The following table presents an allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as adjusted for revisions to the original purchase price allocation at December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 





 

Cash consideration

 

($

72,000

)

Goodwill

 

 

38,990

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

35,010

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

 $

2,000

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 





 

Other liabilities

 

$

2,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

2,000

 

 

 



 



Goodwill is the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill resulting from the acquisition amounted to $38,990, all of which has been allocated to the Retirement Services segment. For income tax purposes, all of this goodwill will be deductible over 15 years.

The value of the identifiable intangible assets reflects the estimated fair value of customer relationships acquired of $27,040 and the estimated fair value of the preferred provider agreement of $7,970. These intangibles will be amortized in relation to the expected economic benefits of the agreement. If actual experience differs from expectations, the amortization will be adjusted to reflect actual experience. The intangibles have an expected weighted average amortization period of 14 years.

66



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

4. Application of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”). SFAS No. 123R replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”). SFAS No. 123R requires a company to use the fair value method to recognize the cost of its stock-based employee compensation and to provide certain other additional disclosures. Previously, the Company elected only to disclose the proforma impact of recording the fair value of stock options under the provisions of SFAS No. 123 in the notes to its consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets or the results of its operations (See Note 19).

In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position No. 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”). SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting by insurance enterprises for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses From the Sale of Investments.” SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of 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. SOP 05-1 is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted SOP 05-1 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.

In November 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” (“FSP 115-1 and 124-1”). FSP 115-1 and 124-1 supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” and amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 124 “Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations” and Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18 “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.” FSP 115-1 and 124-1 addresses the determination as to when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other-than-temporary in nature and the measurement of an impairment loss. FSP 115-1 and 124-1 also includes provisions for accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments. FSP 115-1 and 124-1 was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005 with earlier adoption permitted. The Company adopted FSP 115-1 and 124-1 during its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005. The adoption of FSP 115-1 and 124-1 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.

In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” (“SFAS No. 155”). SFAS No. 155 permits any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” to be carried at fair value in its entirety, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. In addition, SFAS No. 155 requires that beneficial interests in securitized financial assets be analyzed to determine whether they are freestanding derivatives or contain an embedded derivative. SFAS No. 155 is applicable to new or

67



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

modified financial instruments in fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006, however it may be applied to instruments that an entity holds at the date of adoption on an instrument-by-instrument basis. The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 155 increased stockholder’s equity by $115.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 decreased stockholder’s equity by $6,195.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“SFAS No. 158”). For fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, SFAS No. 158 requires a company to recognize in its balance sheet an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status and recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the other comprehensive income section of stockholder’s equity in the year in which the changes occur, and provide additional disclosures. The Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 as of December 31, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 decreased accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by $6,734. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 did not affect the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006. For fiscal years ended after December 15, 2008, SFAS No. 158 requires a company to measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of its fiscal year. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of the measurement date provision of SFAS No. 158 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In September 2006, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB No. 108”). SAB No. 108 provides guidance on how prior year misstatements should be considered when quantifying misstatements in current year financial statements for purposes of assessing materiality. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify errors using both a balance sheet and income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that, when relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. SAB No. 108 permits companies to initially apply its provisions by either restating prior financial statements or recording a cumulative effect adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006 with an offsetting adjustment to retained earnings for errors that were previously deemed immaterial but are material under the guidance in SAB No. 108. The Company adopted SAB No. 108 on December 31, 2006. The adoption of SAB No. 108 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

Accounting pronouncements that will be adopted in the future

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 also provides expanded information about the extent to which a company measures assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS No. 157 is applicable whenever other authoritative pronouncements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of its operations.

68



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No.159”). SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure financial instruments and certain other items at estimated fair value. Most of the provisions of SFAS No. 159 are elective; however, the amendment to FASB No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, applies to all entities that own trading and available-for-sale securities. The fair value option created by SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure eligible items at fair value as of specified election dates. The fair value option (a) may generally be applied instrument by instrument, (b) is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs, and (c) must be applied to the entire instrument and not to only a portion of the instrument. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of its operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Accounting and Reporting of Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). These statements change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions and noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated financial statements. Some of the significant changes include the recognition of one hundred percent of the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and non-controlling interest of acquired businesses; recognition of contingent consideration arrangements at their acquisition date fair values with subsequent changes in fair value reflected in earnings; recognition of acquisition related transaction costs as expense when incurred; and recognition of acquisition related restructuring cost accruals in acquisition accounting only if certain criteria are met as of the acquisition date. SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 are required to be adopted simultaneously and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company will adopt the provisions of these statements for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 will have on its consolidated financial position and the results of its operations.

5. Related Party Transactions

The Company performs administrative services for the United States operations of The Great-West Life Assurance Company (“GWL”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeco and investment services for London Reinsurance Group, an indirect subsidiary of GWL. The Company provides administrative and operational services for the United States operations of The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeco. The following table presents revenue and expense reimbursement from related parties for services provided pursuant to these service agreements. These amounts, in accordance with the terms of the various contracts, are based upon estimated costs incurred, including a profit charge, and resources expended based upon the number of policies, certificates in-force and/or administered assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Investment management revenue included in net investment income

 

$

7,959

 

$

6,772

 

$

7,377

 

Administrative and underwriting expense reimbursements included as a reduction to general insurance expenses

 

 

1,255

 

 

1,399

 

 

1,367

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

9,214

 

$

8,171

 

$

8,744

 

 

 



 



 



 

69



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

          The following table summarizes amounts due from parent and affiliates at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Related party

 

Indebtedness

 

Due Date

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 


 


 

GWL&A Financial Inc.

 

On account

 

On demand

 

$

25,932

 

$

 

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Capital (Nova Scotia) Co.

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

521

 

 

229

 

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Capital (Nova Scotia) Co. II

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

1,370

 

 

865

 

Putnam Investments LLC

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

1,315

 

 

 

The Canada Life Assurance Company

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

 

 

9,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

29,138

 

$

10,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

          The following table summarizes amounts due to parent and affiliates at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Related party

 

Indebtedness

 

Due Date

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 


 


 

GWL&A Financial Inc. 1

 

Surplus note

 

November 2034

 

$

194,194

 

$

194,184

 

GWL&A Financial Inc. 2

 

Surplus note

 

May 2046

 

 

333,400

 

 

333,400

 

GWL&A Financial Inc.

 

Note interest

 

May 2008

 

 

5,095

 

 

4,701

 

GWL&A Financial Inc.

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

 

 

12,907

 

Great-West Lifeco Finance LP

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

582

 

 

 

The Great-West Life Assurance Company

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

1,046

 

 

2,759

 

The Canada Life Assurance Company

 

On account

 

On demand

 

 

639

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

534,956

 

$

547,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 


 

 

1

A note payable to GWL&A Financial was issued as a surplus note on November 15, 2004, with a face amount of $195,000 and carrying amounts of $194,194 and $194,184 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The surplus note bears interest at the rate of 6.675% per annum, payable in arrears on each May 14 and November 14. The note matures on November 14, 2034.

 

 

2

A note payable to GWL&A Financial was issued as a surplus note on May 19, 2006, with a face amount and carrying amount of $333,400. The surplus note bears interest initially at the rate of 7.203% per annum, payable in arrears on each May 16 and November 16 until May 16, 2016. After May 16, 2016, the surplus note bears an interest rate of 2.588% plus the then current three-month LIBOR rate. The surplus note is redeemable by the Company at the principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest after May 16, 2016. The note matures on May 16, 2046.

 

 

 

Payments of principal and interest under the surplus notes shall be made only out of surplus funds of the Company and only with prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Colorado when the Commissioner of Insurance is satisfied that the financial condition of the Company warrants such action pursuant to applicable Colorado law. Payments of principal and interest on the surplus notes are payable only if at the time of such payment and after giving effect to the making thereof, the Company’s surplus would not fall below two and one half times the authorized control level as required by the most recent risk-based capital calculations.

 

 

 

Interest expense attributable to these related party debt obligations was $37,042, $28,848 and $14,396 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

70



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

On June 1, 2007, the Company’s Individual Markets segment terminated its reinsurance agreement with an affiliate, The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”), pursuant to which it had assumed 80% of certain United States life, health and annuity business on a coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld basis. The Company recorded, at fair value, the following on June 1, 2007 in its consolidated balance sheet in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 






Fixed maturities

 

($

1,177,180

)

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

(196,743

)

Policy loans

 

 

(219,149

)

Reinsurance receivable

 

 

(310,865

)

Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

(68,809

)

Investment income due and accrued

 

 

(15,837

)

Premiums in course of collection

 

 

(3,540

)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(18,274

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total assets

 

($

2,010,397

)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 






Policy reserves

 

($

1,976,028

)

Policy and contract claims

 

 

(20,256

)

Policyholders’ funds

 

 

(20,464

)

Provision for policyholder
dividends

 

 

(31,841

)

Undistributed earnings on
participating business

 

 

8,161

 

Other liabilities

 

 

103

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities

 

 

(2,040,325

)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

7,684

 

Retained earnings

 

 

22,244

 

 

 



 

Total stockholder’s equity

 

 

29,928

 

 

 



 

Total liabilities and stockholder’s
equity

 

($

2,010,397

)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company recorded the following on June 1, 2007 in its consolidated statement of income in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income, related party

 

($

1,387,179

)

Net investment income

 

 

58,569

 

Net realized losses on investments

 

 

(14,797

)

 

 



 

Total revenues

 

 

(1,343,407

)

 

 



 

Decrease in reserves, related party

 

 

(1,453,145

)

Provision for policyholders’ share of earnings on participating business

 

 

8,161

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

 

 

62,961

 

 

 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

(1,382,023

)

 

 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

38,616

 

Income taxes

 

 

16,372

 

 

 



 

Net income

 

 $

22,244

 

 

 



 

On July 3, 2007, Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of South Carolina (“GWSC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and CLAC amended their reinsurance agreement pursuant to which the Company assumed additional term life insurance from CLAC. As a result of this amendment, the Company recorded $33,677 in both premium income and increase in reserves in the consolidated statement of income on July 3, 2007. GWL&A Financial obtained two letters of credit for the benefit of the Company during December 2005 as collateral under the GWSC and CLAC reinsurance agreement for on-balance sheet policy liabilities and capital support. The first is for $802,100 and renews automatically until it expires on December 31, 2025. The second letter of credit is for $70,000 and renews automatically. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were no outstanding amounts related to these lines of credit.

71



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

As a result of this amendment, the Company also recorded the following in the consolidated balance sheet on July 3, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 






Reinsurance receivable

 

$

33,677

 

 

 



 

 

 

$

33,677

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

 

 






Policy reserves

 

$

33,677

 

 

 



 

 

 

$

33,677

 

 

 



 

Included within reinsurance receivable in the consolidated balance sheets are $334,169 and $231,842 of funds withheld assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. CLAC pays the Company interest on the funds withheld balance at a rate of 4.55% per annum.

The Company’s separate accounts invest in shares of Maxim Series Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company, and Putnam Funds which are affiliates of the Company, and shares of other non-affiliated mutual funds and government and corporate bonds. The Company’s separate accounts include mutual funds or other investment options that purchase guaranteed interest annuity contracts issued by the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, these purchases totaled $74,855 and $67,546 respectively. As the general account investment contracts are also included in the separate account balances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, the Company has reduced the separate account assets and liabilities by $383,319 and $356,992 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, to eliminate these amounts in its consolidated balance sheets at those dates.

6. Summary of Investments

The following table summarizes fixed maturity investments and equity securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

Fixed Maturities:

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Carrying
Value

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

U.S. government direct obligations and U.S. agencies

 

$

2,701,076

 

$

40,661

 

$

7,287

 

$

2,734,450

 

$

2,734,450

 

Obligations of U.S. states and their subdivisions

 

 

1,213,378

 

 

61,168

 

 

1,129

 

 

1,273,417

 

 

1,273,417

 

Foreign governments

 

 

1,801

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

1,770

 

 

1,770

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

5,327,480

 

 

90,847

 

 

94,403

 

 

5,323,924

 

 

5,323,924

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

4,348,268

 

 

26,109

 

 

156,705

 

 

4,217,672

 

 

4,217,672

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

13,592,003

 

$

218,785

 

$

259,555

 

$

13,551,233

 

$

13,551,233

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total equity investments

 

$

19,749

 

$

10,414

 

$

587

 

$

29,576

 

$

29,576

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

72



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table summarizes fixed maturity investments and equity securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

Fixed Maturities:

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Carrying
Value

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

U.S. government direct obligations and U.S. agencies

 

$

3,681,682

 

$

21,168

 

$

28,231

 

$

3,674,619

 

$

3,674,619

 

Obligations of U.S. states and their subdivisions

 

 

1,320,202

 

 

20,367

 

 

22,783

 

 

1,317,786

 

 

1,317,786

 

Foreign governments

 

 

14,591

 

 

 

 

132

 

 

14,459

 

 

14,459

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

5,761,584

 

 

83,393

 

 

90,398

 

 

5,754,579

 

 

5,754,579

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

4,589,676

 

 

29,374

 

 

70,542

 

 

4,548,508

 

 

4,548,508

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

15,367,735

 

$

154,302

 

$

212,086

 

$

15,309,951

 

$

15,309,951

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity investments

 

$

17,875

 

$

10,372

 

$

5

 

$

28,242

 

$

28,242

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

See Note 7 for additional information on policies regarding estimated fair value of fixed maturity and equity investments.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity investments classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity date, are shown in the table below. Actual maturities will likely differ from these projections because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

 


 


 

Maturing in one year or less

 

$

947,857

 

$

941,378

 

Maturing after one year through five years

 

 

2,527,759

 

 

2,591,909

 

Maturing after five years through ten years

 

 

1,686,852

 

 

1,712,933

 

Maturing after ten years

 

 

1,554,714

 

 

1,534,061

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

6,874,821

 

 

6,770,952

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

13,592,003

 

$

13,551,233

 

 

 



 



 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities include collateralized mortgage obligations that consist primarily of sequential and planned amortization classes with final stated maturities of two to thirty years and expected average lives of less than one to fifteen years. Prepayments on all mortgage-backed securities are monitored monthly and amortization of the premium and/or the accretion of the discount associated with the purchase of such securities are adjusted by such prepayments.

The following table summarizes information regarding the sales of fixed maturity investments classified as available-for-sale for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Proceeds from sales

 

$

2,488,042

 

$

5,944,439

 

$

3,921,643

 

Gross realized gains from sales

 

 

30,834

 

 

47,746

 

 

33,049

 

Gross realized losses from sales

 

 

(4,309

)

 

(54,221

)

 

(38,911

)

Gross realized gains and losses from sales were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates, sales of securities acquired in the current year and gains on repurchase agreement transactions.

73



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company has fixed maturity securities with fair values in the amounts of $11,156 and $12,922 that have been non-income producing for the twelve months preceding December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These securities were written down to their fair value in the period they were deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Derivative financial instruments - The Company makes limited use of derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate, market credit and foreign exchange risk associated with its invested assets. Derivatives are not used for speculative purposes.

The Company controls the credit risk of its derivative contracts through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. Risk of loss is generally limited to the fair value of derivative instruments and not to the notional or contractual amounts of the derivatives. As the Company enters into derivative transactions only with high quality institutions, no losses associated with non-performance of derivative financial instruments have occurred or are expected to occur.

Fair value hedges - Written call options are used in conjunction with interest rate swap agreements to effectively convert fixed rate bonds to variable rate bonds as part of the Company’s overall asset/liability matching program.

The Company’s use of derivatives treated as fair value hedges has been nominal during the last three years. Hedge ineffectiveness in the amounts of $0, $224 and $0 were recorded as an increase to net investment income during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Cash flow hedges - Interest rate swap agreements are used to convert the interest rate on certain debt securities from a floating rate to a fixed rate. Foreign currency exchange contracts are used to hedge the foreign exchange rate risk associated with bonds denominated in other than U.S. dollars. Interest rate futures are used to hedge the interest rate risks of forecasted acquisitions of fixed rate maturity investments. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one party to the agreement at each due date.

Hedge ineffectiveness in the amount of $606 was recorded as an increase to net investment income during the year ended December 31, 2007, while $89 was recorded as a decrease to net investment income during the year ended December 31, 2006 and $567 was recorded as an increase to net investment income during the year ended December 31, 2005.

Unrealized derivative gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings at the time interest income is recognized. A derivative net loss in the amount of $1,275 was reclassified to net investment income during the year ended December 31, 2007 while derivative net gains in the amounts of $1,709 and $7,853 were reclassified to net investment income during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. As of December 31, 2007, the Company estimates that $1,225 of net derivative gains included in other accumulated comprehensive income will be reclassified into net income within the next twelve months.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - The Company attempts to match the timing of when interest rates are committed on insurance products with other new investments. However, timing differences may occur and can expose the Company to fluctuating interest rates. To offset this risk, the Company uses U.S. Treasury futures contracts. The Company also utilizes U.S. Treasury futures as a method of adjusting the duration of the overall portfolio. Although management believes the above-mentioned derivatives are effective hedges from an economic standpoint, they do not meet the requirements for hedge accounting treatment under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”

74



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company occasionally purchases a financial instrument that contains a derivative instrument that is “embedded” in the financial instrument. Upon purchasing the instrument, the Company assesses whether the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the financial instrument (i.e. the host contract) and whether a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument could meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When it is determined that (1) the embedded derivative possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and (2) a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument. The Company has the option of separating the embedded derivative from the host contract and carrying it at its fair value or under SFAS No. 155, the Company may carry the entire hybrid instrument at fair value with gains and losses recognized in earnings. Upon adopting SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007, the Company no longer bifurcates its credit default swaps.

During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, decreases in the amounts of $75, $264 and $833, respectively, were recognized in net income from market value changes of derivatives not receiving hedge accounting treatment.

The following tables summarize derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Notional Amount

 

Strike/Swap Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 


 


 


 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

$

338,075

 

 

3.94%-4.70%

 

November 2008-
February 2045

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

 

52,001

 

 

N/A

 

March 2014-
December 2016

 

Futures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten year U.S. Treasury
Long position

 

 

 

30,900

 

 

N/A

 

March 2008

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Notional Amount

 

Strike/Swap Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 


 


 


 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

$

344,876

 

 

2.72%-5.37%

 

April 2007-
February 2045

 

Credit default swaps

 

 

 

98,295

 

 

N/A

 

January 2007-
November 2007

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

N/A

 

December 2016

 

Futures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten year U.S. Treasury:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long position

 

 

 

2,100

 

 

N/A

 

March 2007

 

Five year U.S. Treasury:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long position

 

 

 

23,500

 

 

N/A

 

March 2007

 

Total return swap:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivable for coinsurance with funds withheld

 

 

 

386,499

 

 

Variable

 

Indeterminable

 

75



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

Mortgage loans - The following table summarizes information with respect to impaired mortgage loans at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Impaired loans, net of related allowance for credit losses of $0 and $6,213

 

$

 

$

4,869

 

Impaired loans with no related allowance for credit losses

 

 

 

 

1,344

 

Average balance of impaired loans during the year

 

 

6,213

 

 

11,773

 

Interest income recognized while impaired

 

 

 

 

50

 

Interest income received and recorded while impaired using the cash basis method of recognition

 

 

 

 

109

 

As part of its active loan management policy and in the interest of maximizing the future return of each individual loan, the Company may from time to time modify the original terms of certain loans. These restructured loans, all performing in accordance with their modified terms, aggregated $6,223 and $6,491 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The following table summarizes activity in the allowance for mortgage loan credit losses for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Balance, January 1

 

$

15,661

 

$

15,661

 

$

30,339

 

Release of provision

 

 

(6,213

)

 

 

 

(8,000

)

Amounts written off, net of recoveries

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,678

)

 

 



 



 



 

Balance, December 31

 

$

9,448

 

$

15,661

 

$

15,661

 

 

 



 



 



 

The changes to the allowance for mortgage loan credit losses are recorded in net realized gains (losses) on investments.

Equity investments - The carrying value of the Company’s equity investments was $29,576 and $28,242 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Limited partnership interests - At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had $326,971 and $345,192, respectively, invested in limited partnerships and limited liability corporations. The Company makes commitments to fund partnership interests in the normal course of its business. The amounts of unfunded commitments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $18,849 and $27,441, respectively.

Securities pledged, restricted assets and special deposits - The Company pledges investment securities it owns to unaffiliated parties through certain transactions, including securities sold under agreements to repurchase, futures contracts and state regulatory deposits.

The Company had securities on deposit with governmental authorities as required by certain insurance laws with fair values in the amounts of $35,539 and $59,177 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

76



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company participates in a securities lending program whereby securities, which are included in invested assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, are loaned to third parties. Securities with a cost or amortized cost in the amounts of $84,851 and $365,219 and estimated fair values in the amounts of $90,087 and $365,341 were on loan under the program at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company was liable for collateral under its control in the amounts of $93,472 and $382,423 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Additionally, the fair value of margin deposits related to futures contracts was approximately $496 and $820 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Impairment of fixed maturity and equity investments classified as available-for-sale - The Company classifies the majority of its fixed maturity and all of its equity investments as available-for-sale and records them at fair value with the related net unrealized gain or loss, net of policyholder related amounts and deferred taxes, being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the stockholder’s equity section in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All available-for-sale securities with gross unrealized losses at the balance sheet date are subjected to the Company’s process for the identification and evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments.

The Company writes down to fair value securities that it deems to be other-than-temporarily impaired in the period the securities are deemed to be so impaired. The Company records write-downs as investment losses and adjusts the cost basis of the securities accordingly. The Company does not adjust the revised cost basis for subsequent recoveries in value.

The assessment of whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred is based upon management’s case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in fair value. Management considers a wide range of factors, as described below, regarding the security issuer and uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in its estimated fair value and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations and future earnings potential of the issuer.

Considerations used by the Company in the impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

Fair value is significantly below cost.

 

 

The decline in fair value is attributable to specific adverse conditions affecting a particular instrument, its issuer, an industry or geographic area.

 

 

The decline in fair value has existed for an extended period of time.

 

 

A debt security has been downgraded by a credit rating agency.

 

 

The financial condition of the issuer has deteriorated.

 

 

Dividends have been reduced or eliminated or scheduled interest payments have not been made.

While all available information is taken into account, it is difficult to predict the ultimate recoverable amount from a distressed or impaired security.

77



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

Unrealized losses on fixed maturity and equity investments classified as available-for-sale

The following tables summarize unrealized investment losses by class of investment at December 31, 2007 and 2006. The Company considers these investments to be only temporarily impaired:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Less than twelve months

 

Twelve months or longer

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 

Fixed Maturities

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

U.S. government direct obligations and U.S. agencies

 

$

93,564

 

$

1,035

 

$

584,237

 

$

6,252

 

$

677,801

 

$

7,287

 

Obligations of U.S. states and their subdivisions

 

 

18,748

 

 

427

 

 

83,482

 

 

702

 

 

102,230

 

 

1,129

 

Foreign governments

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,770

 

 

31

 

 

1,770

 

 

31

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

483,359

 

 

19,290

 

 

1,907,778

 

 

75,113

 

 

2,391,137

 

 

94,403

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

873,956

 

 

74,461

 

 

2,097,427

 

 

82,244

 

 

2,971,383

 

 

156,705

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

1,469,627

 

$

95,213

 

$

4,674,694

 

$

164,342

 

$

6,144,321

 

$

259,555

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity investments

 

$

3,615

 

$

587

 

$

 

$

 

$

3,615

 

$

587

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position

 

 

133

 

 

 

 

 

667

 

 

 

 

 

800

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Less than twelve months

 

Twelve months or longer

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 

Fixed Maturities

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Unrealized
Loss

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

U.S. government direct obligations and U.S. agencies

 

$

1,480,131

 

$

8,560

 

$

900,247

 

$

19,671

 

$

2,380,378

 

$

28,231

 

Obligations of U.S. states and their subdivisions

 

 

279,895

 

 

6,251

 

 

456,157

 

 

16,532

 

 

736,052

 

 

22,783

 

Foreign governments

 

 

1,217

 

 

7

 

 

13,242

 

 

125

 

 

14,459

 

 

132

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

1,155,371

 

 

15,950

 

 

2,159,779

 

 

74,448

 

 

3,315,150

 

 

90,398

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

 

 

722,367

 

 

7,782

 

 

2,089,050

 

 

62,760

 

 

2,811,417

 

 

70,542

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

3,638,981

 

$

38,550

 

$

5,618,475

 

$

173,536

 

$

9,257,456

 

$

212,086

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity investments

 

$

309

 

$

1

 

$

79

 

$

4

 

$

388

 

$

5

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position

 

 

978

 

 

 

 

 

1,455

 

 

 

 

 

2,433

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments - At December 31, 2007 and 2006, less than 3% and less than 1%, respectively, of these securities were rated non-investment grade. Approximately $21,400 of unrealized losses on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities were related to a decrease in credit quality; however, the fair value is still approximately 92% of the book value of these securities. The unrealized losses on the remaining securities are primarily attributable to fluctuations in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads since the securities were acquired. These fluctuations, caused by market interest rate changes, have little bearing on whether or not the investment will be ultimately recoverable. The Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007.

78



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had $94,403 and $90,398, respectively, of unrealized losses related to its corporate debt fixed maturity securities. Management has classified these securities by sector, calculated as a percentage of total unrealized losses, as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

Corporate sector

 

2007

 

2006

 


 


 


 

Finance

 

53

%

17

%

Utility

 

19

%

36

%

Consumer

 

10

%

13

%

Natural resources

 

8

%

12

%

Transportation

 

5

%

10

%

Other

 

5

%

12

%

 

 


 


 

 

 

100

%

100

%

 

 


 


 

The increase in unrealized losses in the Finance industry was primarily related to perpetual floating-interest rate securities issued by Canadian and foreign banks. None of the losses were related to a ratings downgrade. All these securities are rated A or above. The Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007.

Equity investments - The increase in unrealized losses from 2006 to 2007 is related to issues in the airline industry. At December 31, 2007, the Company has no information indicating that any of these investments are other-than-temporarily impaired.

Other-than-temporary impairment recognition

The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity investments in the amounts of $34,485, $6,094 and $12,958 during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Of the $34,485, $20,750 was recognized in connection to the termination of the CLAC reinsurance agreement (See Note 5) because the Company no longer had the intent to hold the investments until recovery. The remaining impairments were primarily related to repurchase agreement financing transactions, corporate debt securities in the auto industry and asset-backed securities with manufactured housing collateral. During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments on equity securities in the amounts of $389, $469 and $261, respectively.

7. Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 


 

Assets

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

$

14,046,926

 

$

14,046,926

 

$

16,270,950

 

$

16,270,950

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

1,207,169

 

 

1,220,186

 

 

1,338,193

 

 

1,340,089

 

Equity investments

 

 

29,576

 

 

29,576

 

 

28,242

 

 

28,242

 

Policy loans

 

 

3,767,872

 

 

3,767,872

 

 

3,797,585

 

 

3,797,585

 

Limited partnership interests

 

 

326,971

 

 

326,971

 

 

345,192

 

 

345,192

 

Derivative instruments

 

 

8,734

 

 

8,734

 

 

2,127

 

 

2,127

 

Collateral under securities lending agreements

 

 

93,472

 

 

93,472

 

 

382,423

 

 

382,423

 

Reinsurance receivable

 

 

131,506

 

 

131,506

 

 

133,211

 

 

133,211

 

Separate account assets

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

79



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 


 

Liabilities

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 


 


 


 


 


 

Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies

 

$

5,998,749

 

$

6,041,886

 

$

6,320,290

 

$

6,312,243

 

Policyholders’ funds

 

 

302,957

 

 

302,957

 

 

272,707

 

 

272,707

 

Repurchase agreements

 

 

138,537

 

 

138,537

 

 

744,117

 

 

744,117

 

Commercial paper

 

 

95,667

 

 

95,667

 

 

95,020

 

 

95,020

 

Payable under securities lending agreements

 

 

93,472

 

 

93,472

 

 

382,423

 

 

382,423

 

Derivative instruments

 

 

3,634

 

 

3,634

 

 

7,757

 

 

7,757

 

Notes payable

 

 

532,689

 

 

532,689

 

 

532,285

 

 

532,285

 

Separate account liabilities

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

16,289,974

 

Fixed maturity and equity securities

The fair values for public fixed maturity and equity securities are based upon quoted market prices or estimates from independent pricing services. However, in cases where quoted market prices are not readily available, such as for private fixed maturity investments, fair values are estimated. To determine estimated fair value for these instruments, the Company generally utilizes discounted cash flow calculated at current market rates on investments of similar quality and term. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about financial instruments, including estimates of the timing and amounts of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of the issuer or counterparty. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts of the Company’s financial instruments.

Mortgage loans on real estate

Mortgage loan fair value estimates are generally based on discounted cash flows. A discount rate matrix is incorporated whereby the discount rate used in valuing a specific mortgage generally corresponds to that mortgage’s remaining term and credit quality. The rates selected for inclusion in the discount rate matrix reflect rates that the Company would quote if placing loans representative in size and quality to those currently in its portfolio.

Policy loans

Policy loans accrue interest at variable rates with no fixed maturity dates; therefore, estimated fair values approximate carrying values.

Short-term investments, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and collateral under securities lending agreements

The carrying value of short-term investments, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and collateral under securities lending agreements is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to their short-term nature.

Reinsurance receivables

The estimated fair values and carrying amounts of reinsurance receivables at December 31, 2006 include a reduction of $58,569 representing the estimated fair value of the embedded derivative associated with the Company’s reinsurance receivable under its coinsurance with funds withheld agreement with the United States branch of CLAC (See Note 5). Valuation of the derivative is based upon the estimated fair value of the segregated pool of assets from which the Company derives its return on the reinsurance receivable.

80



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies

The estimated fair values of annuity contract reserves without life contingencies are estimated by discounting the cash flows to maturity of the contracts utilizing current interest crediting rates for similar products.

Policyholders’ funds

The estimated fair values of policyholders’ funds are the same as the carrying amounts since the Company can change the interest crediting rates with 30 days notice.

Derivatives

Included in other assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are derivative financial instruments in the amounts of $8,734 and $2,127, respectively. Included in other liabilities at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are derivative financial instruments in the amounts of $3,634 and $7,757, respectively. The estimated fair values of over-the-counter derivatives, primarily consisting of interest rate swaps, which are held for other than trading purposes, are the estimated amounts the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at each year-end, taking into consideration current interest rates and other relevant factors.

Notes payable

The estimated fair values of the notes payable to GWL&A Financial are based upon discounted cash flows at current market rates on high quality investments.

Separate account assets and liabilities

Separate account assets and liabilities are adjusted to a net asset value on a daily basis, which approximates fair value.

 

 

8. Reinsurance

The Company enters into reinsurance transactions as both a provider and purchaser of reinsurance. In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to limit its exposure to loss on any single insured and to recover a portion of benefits paid by ceding risks to other insurance enterprises under excess coverage and coinsurance contracts. The Company retains a maximum liability in the amount of $3,500 of coverage per individual life.

Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. The failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the reinsurance receivables had carrying values in the amounts of $505,107 and $707,757, respectively. Included in these amounts are $381,931 and $531,389 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, associated with reinsurance agreements with related parties. There were no allowances for potential uncollectible reinsurance receivables at either December 31, 2007 or 2006.

81



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following tables summarize life insurance in-force and total premium income at, and for the year ended, December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Insurance In-Force

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual

 

Group

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 

Written direct

 

$

52,406,664

 

$

31,359,824

 

$

83,766,488

 

Reinsurance ceded

 

 

(12,229,471

)

 

 

 

(12,229,471

)

Reinsurance assumed

 

 

93,804,317

 

 

 

 

93,804,317

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net

 

$

133,981,510

 

$

31,359,824

 

$

165,341,334

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

Percentage of amount assumed to net

 

 

70.0

%

 

0.0

%

 

56.7

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium Income

 

 

 


 

 

 

Life Insurance

 

Accident
and Health

 

Annuities

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Written direct

 

 $

292,972

 

$

24,367

 

 $

5,058

 

 $

322,397

 

Reinsurance ceded

 

 

(1,403,899

)

 

(2,853

)

 

(25,608

)

 

(1,432,360

)

Reinsurance assumed

 

 

252,645

 

 

 

 

51

 

 

252,696

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net

 

($

858,282

)

$

21,514

 

($

20,499

)

($

857,267

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

The following tables summarize life insurance in-force and total premium income at, and for the year ended, December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Insurance In-Force

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual

 

Group

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 

Written direct

 

$

51,586,508

 

$

30,452,054

 

$

82,038,562

 

Reinsurance ceded

 

 

(12,307,112

)

 

 

 

(12,307,112

)

Reinsurance assumed

 

 

86,823,557

 

 

 

 

86,823,557

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net

 

$

126,102,953

 

$

30,452,054

 

$

156,555,007

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

Percentage of amount assumed to net

 

 

68.9

%

 

0.0

%

 

55.5

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium Income

 

 

 


 

 

 

Life Insurance

 

Accident
and Health

 

Annuities

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Written direct

 

$

276,929

 

$

39,760

 

$

11,087

 

$

327,776

 

Reinsurance ceded

 

 

(43,025

)

 

(8,752

)

 

(172

)

 

(51,949

)

Reinsurance assumed

 

 

306,572

 

 

 

 

53

 

 

306,625

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net

 

$

540,476

 

$

31,008

 

$

10,968

 

$

582,452

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The following table summarizes total premium income for the year ended, December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium Income

 

 

 


 

 

 

Life Insurance

 

Accident
and Health

 

Annuities

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Written direct

 

$

309,151

 

$

44,361

 

$

4,677

 

$

358,189

 

Reinsurance ceded

 

 

(51,904

)

 

(14,520

)

 

(757

)

 

(67,181

)

Reinsurance assumed

 

 

352,619

 

 

 

 

2,409

 

 

355,028

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net

 

$

609,866

 

$

29,841

 

$

6,329

 

$

646,036

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

82



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

9. Deferred Acquisition Costs (“DAC”) and Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”)

The following table summarizes activity in deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAC

 

VOBA

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 

Balance, January 1, 2005

 

$

384,251

 

$

3,837

 

$

388,088

 

Capitalized additions

 

 

50,437

 

 

 

 

50,437

 

Amortization

 

 

(51,306

)

 

(222

)

 

(51,528

)

Unrealized investment gains

 

 

33,433

 

 

12

 

 

33,445

 

Purchase accounting adjustment

 

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

6,000

 

 

 



 



 



 

Balance, December 31, 2005

 

 

416,815

 

 

9,627

 

 

426,442

 

Capitalized additions

 

 

60,186

 

 

46,033

 

 

106,219

 

Amortization

 

 

(44,526

)

 

(1,665

)

 

(46,191

)

Unrealized investment gains (losses)

 

 

18,740

 

 

(76

)

 

18,664

 

 

 



 



 



 

Balance, December 31, 2006

 

 

451,215

 

 

53,919

 

 

505,134

 

Capitalized additions

 

 

73,062

 

 

 

 

73,062

 

Amortization

 

 

(128,575

)

 

(6,995

)

 

(135,570

)

Unrealized investment gains

 

 

1,121

 

 

118

 

 

1,239

 

Purchase accounting adjustment

 

 

 

 

(563

)

 

(563

)

 

 



 



 



 

Balance, December 31, 2007

 

$

396,823

 

$

46,479

 

$

443,302

 

 

 



 



 



 

DAC includes $82,162 and $81,408 at December 31, 2006, and 2005 as the result of the CLAC indemnity reinsurance agreement which was terminated on June 1, 2007 as discussed in Note 5.

The estimated future amortization of VOBA for the years ended December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2012 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Amount

 


 


 

2008

 

$

6,288

 

2009

 

 

4,190

 

2010

 

 

3,757

 

2011

 

 

3,399

 

2012

 

 

3,096

 


 

 

10. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The balances of and changes in goodwill, all of which is within the Retirement Services segment, for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement
Services

 

 

 


 

Balance, January 1, 2006

 

$

5,784

 

Additions through acquisitions

 

 

96,060

 

Purchase accounting adjustment

 

 

530

 

 

 



 

Balance, December 31, 2006

 

 

102,374

 

Purchase accounting adjustment

 

 

(719

)

 

 



 

Balance, December 31, 2007

 

$

101,655

 

 

 



 

See Note 3 for further discussion on acquisitions.

83



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following tables summarize other intangible assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net Book Value

 

 

 


 


 


 

Customer relationships

 

$

36,999

 

($

4,154

)

$

32,845

 

Preferred provider agreements

 

 

7,970

 

 

(1,581

)

 

6,389

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

44,969

 

($

5,735

)

$

39,234

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net Book Value

 

 

 


 


 


 

Customer relationships

 

$

29,839

 

($

1,036

)

$

28,803

 

Preferred provider agreements

 

 

14,490

 

 

 

 

14,490

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

44,329

 

($

1,036

)

$

43,293

 

 

 



 



 



 

Amortization expense for other intangible assets included in general insurance expenses was $4,699, $497 and $289 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Except for goodwill, the Company has no intangible assets with indefinite lives.

The estimated future amortization of other intangible assets using current assumptions, which are subject to change, for the years ended December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2012 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Amount

 


 


 

2008

 

$

4,464

 

2009

 

 

4,258

 

2010

 

 

4,052

 

2011

 

 

3,845

 

2012

 

 

3,639

 

11. Commercial Paper

The Company has a commercial paper program that is partially supported by a $50,000 corporate credit facility (See Note 21).

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s commercial paper program at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Commercial paper outstanding

 

$

95,667

 

$

95,020

 

Maturity range (days)

 

 

7 - 88

 

 

10 - 89

 

Interest rate range

 

 

4.80% - 5.48%

 

 

5.31%- 5.38%

 

12. Stockholder’s Equity and Dividend Restrictions

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had 50,000,000 shares of $1 par value preferred stock authorized, none of which were issued or outstanding at either date. In addition, the Company has 50,000,000 shares of $1 par value common stock authorized, 7,032,000 of which were issued and outstanding at both December 31, 2007 and 2006.

84



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company’s net income and capital and surplus, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles and practices as prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

518,339

 

$

280,875

 

$

391,631

 

Capital and surplus

 

 

1,800,863

 

 

1,862,338

 

 

1,538,887

 

Dividends are paid as determined by the Board of Directors, subject to restrictions as discussed below. Dividends in the amount of $604,983, $249,395 and $221,358 were paid to the holder of the Company’s common stock during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  In March 2008 the Company also paid a dividend in the amount of  $299,985.

The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to stockholders by insurance companies domiciled in the State of Colorado, without prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner, is subject to restrictions relating to statutory capital and surplus and statutory net gain from operations. Unaudited statutory capital and surplus and net gain from operations at and for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $1,800,863 and $693,306, respectively. The Company may pay up to $693,306 (unaudited) of dividends during 2008 without the prior approval of the insurance commissioner.

13. Other Comprehensive Income

The following table presents the composition of other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Before-tax
Amount

 

Tax (Expense)
Benefit

 

Net-of-tax
Amount

 

 

 


 


 


 

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net changes during the year related to cash flow hedges

 

$

12,317

 

($

4,311

)

$

8,006

 

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year

 

 

3,833

 

 

(1,342

)

$

2,491

 

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income

 

 

3,098

 

 

(1,084

)

 

2,014

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

19,248

 

 

(6,737

)

 

12,511

 

Reserve, DAC and VOBA adjustment

 

 

(4,013

)

 

1,405

 

 

(2,608

)

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

15,235

 

 

(5,332

)

 

9,903

 

Employee benefit plan adjustment

 

 

53,843

 

 

(18,845

)

 

34,998

 

 

 



 



 



 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

69,078

 

($

24,177

)

$

44,901

 

 

 



 



 



 

85



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table presents the composition of other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Before-tax
Amount

 

Tax (Expense) Benefit

 

Net-of-tax
Amount

 

 

 


 


 


 

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net changes during the year related to cash flow hedges

 

($

7,805

)

$

2,732

 

($

5,073

)

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year

 

 

(52,398

)

 

18,339

 

 

(34,059

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income

 

 

3,535

 

 

(1,237

)

 

2,298

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

(56,668

)

 

19,834

 

 

(36,834

)

Reserve, DAC and VOBA adjustment

 

 

19,785

 

 

(6,925

)

 

12,860

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

(36,883

)

 

12,909

 

 

(23,974

)

Employee benefit plan adjustment

 

 

1,521

 

 

(532

)

 

989

 

 

 



 



 



 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

($

35,362

)

$

12,377

 

($

22,985

)

 

 



 



 



 

The following table presents the composition of other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 

 

 

Before-tax
Amount

 

Tax (Expense)
Benefit

 

Net-of-tax
Amount

 

 

 


 


 


 

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net changes during the year related to cash flow hedges

 

$

5,753

 

($

2,014

)

$

3,739

 

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year

 

 

(256,982

)

 

89,142

 

 

(167,840

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income

 

 

(3,474

)

 

1,216

 

 

(2,258

)

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

(254,703

)

 

88,344

 

 

(166,359

)

Reserve, DAC and VOBA adjustment

 

 

63,393

 

 

(22,314

)

 

41,079

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

(191,310

)

 

66,030

 

 

(125,280

)

Employee benefit plan adjustment

 

 

(15,897

)

 

5,564

 

 

(10,333

)

 

 



 



 



 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

($

207,207

)

$

71,594

 

($

135,613

)

 

 



 



 



 

86



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

14. Net Investment Income and Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments

The following table summarizes net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Investment income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity and short-term investments

 

$

782,013

 

$

780,272

 

$

722,441

 

Equity investments

 

 

2,260

 

 

5,794

 

 

11,818

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

66,994

 

 

79,316

 

 

92,239

 

Policy loans

 

 

205,772

 

 

208,511

 

 

202,944

 

Limited partnership interests

 

 

10,887

 

 

13,818

 

 

6,428

 

Interest on funds withheld balances under reinsurance agreements

 

 

21,199

 

 

49,952

 

 

56,616

 

Change in fair value of an embedded derivative contained in a reinsurance agreement

 

 

(5,521

)

 

(18,986

)

 

(24,346

)

Other, including interest income from related parties of $5,240, $22,505 and $32,723

 

 

71,734

 

 

6,986

 

 

(7,691

)

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

1,155,338

 

 

1,125,663

 

 

1,060,449

 

Investment expenses

 

 

(15,797

)

 

(15,527

)

 

(16,368

)

 

 



 



 



 

Net investment income

 

$

1,139,541

 

$

1,110,136

 

$

1,044,081

 

 

 



 



 



 

The following table summarizes net realized gains (losses) on investments for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net realized gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity and short-term investments

 

($

9,570

)

($

8,978

)

($

17,377

)

Equity investments

 

 

(48

)

 

(2,768

)

 

24,972

 

Mortgage loans on real estate

 

 

3,202

 

 

2,725

 

 

(3,375

)

Limited partnership interests

 

 

(38

)

 

(835

)

 

 

Other

 

 

590

 

 

(123

)

 

(200

)

Provision for mortgage impairments, net of recoveries

 

 

3,836

 

 

514

 

 

14,677

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

($

2,028

)

($

9,465

)

$

18,697

 

 

 



 



 



 

Included in net investment income and net realized gains (losses) on investments are amounts allocable to the participating fund account. This allocation is based upon the activity in a specific block of invested assets that are segmented for the benefit of the participating fund account. The amounts of net investment income allocated to the participating fund account were $373,244, $373,278 and $351,149 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The amounts of net realized losses allocated to the participating fund account were $4,669, $12,465 and $3,300 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

87



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

15. General Insurance Expenses

The following table summarizes the components of general insurance expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Compensation

 

$

281,670

 

$

251,345

 

$

231,806

 

Commissions

 

 

128,003

 

 

103,488

 

 

61,998

 

Premium and other taxes

 

 

21,366

 

 

19,209

 

 

13,302

 

Capitalization of DAC

 

 

(73,062

)

 

(60,186

)

 

(50,437

)

Rent, net of sublease income

 

 

5,752

 

 

7,873

 

 

5,579

 

Other

 

 

68,697

 

 

45,586

 

 

31,833

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total general insurance expenses

 

$

432,426

 

$

367,315

 

$

294,081

 

 

 



 



 



 

16. Employee Benefit Plans

On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158. SFAS No. 158 required the Company to recognize the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan or the accumulated post retirement benefit obligation for the Post Retirement Medical Plan) of its pension plan and post retirement medical plan beginning in its December 31, 2006 statement of financial position, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses, unrecognized prior service costs and unrecognized transition obligation remaining from the initial adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employer’s Accounting for Pensions” (“SFAS No. 87”) all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status in the Company’s statement of financial position pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 87. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as net periodic pension cost pursuant to the Company’s historical accounting policy for amortizing such amounts. Further, actuarial gains and losses that arise in subsequent periods and are not recognized as net periodic pension cost in the same periods will be recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. Those amounts will be subsequently recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost on the same basis as the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at the time of adoption of SFAS No. 158.

Defined Benefit Pension and Post Retirement Medical Plans - The Company has a noncontributory Defined Benefit Pension Plan covering substantially all of its employees that were hired before January 1, 1999. Pension benefits are based principally on an employee’s years of service and compensation levels near retirement. The Company’s policy for funding the defined benefit pension plans is to make annual contributions, which equal or exceed regulatory requirements.

The Company sponsors an unfunded Post Retirement Medical Plan (the “medical plan”) that provides health benefits to retired employees who are not Medicare eligible. The medical plan is contributory and contains other cost sharing features, which may be adjusted annually for the expected general inflation rate. The Company’s policy is to fund the cost of the medical plan benefits in amounts determined at the discretion of management.

During December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”) was signed into law. Under the Act, which took effect on January 1, 2006, employers who sponsor postretirement plans that provide for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare Part D may be entitled to a subsidy payment. In conjunction with the effect of this legislation, the Company amended its post retirement medical plan, whereby it eliminated the provision of medical benefits for retired employees once

88



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

they become Medicare eligible. The adoption of the amendment resulted in a reduction of the Company’s estimated post retirement medical plan benefit obligation in the amount of $34,965 on January 1, 2006.

A November 30 measurement date is used for the Defined Benefit Pension and Post Retirement Medical plans. Prepaid benefit costs and intangible assets are included in other assets and accrued benefit costs and unfunded status amounts are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets, and the under funded status for the Company’s Defined Benefit Pension and Post Retirement Medical plans as of the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation, January 1

 

$

300,773

 

$

275,646

 

$

25,647

 

$

23,923

 

Service cost

 

 

9,685

 

 

9,406

 

 

2,050

 

 

1,851

 

Interest cost

 

 

17,293

 

 

15,970

 

 

1,489

 

 

1,309

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

 

(41,275

)

 

6,166

 

 

(2,007

)

 

(433

)

Benefits paid

 

 

(8,230

)

 

(7,463

)

 

(971

)

 

(1,003

)

Plan change

 

 

 

 

1,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Benefit obligation, December 31

 

$

278,246

 

$

300,773

 

$

26,208

 

$

25,647

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of plan assets, January 1

 

$

256,533

 

$

208,753

 

$

 

$

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

 

22,849

 

 

19,243

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions

 

 

3,300

 

 

36,000

 

 

971

 

 

1,003

 

Benefits paid

 

 

(8,230

)

 

(7,463

)

 

(971

)

 

(1,003

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Value of plan assets, December 31

 

$

274,452

 

$

256,533

 

$

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Funded (under funded) status at
December 31

 

($

3,794

)

($

44,240

)

($

26,208

)

($

25,647

)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid benefit cost (accrued benefit liability)

 

($

3,794

)

($

44,240

)

($

51,663

)

($

52,171

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

(11,674

)

 

(59,213

)

 

25,455

 

 

26,523

 

The accumulated benefit obligation for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan was $260,147 and $279,828 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

89



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table provides information regarding amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs at December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net gain (loss)

 

($

16,531

)

($

10,745

)

($

8,154

)

($

5,300

)

Net prior service (cost) credit

 

 

(1,199

)

 

(779

)

 

33,609

 

 

21,846

 

Net transition asset (obligation)

 

 

6,056

 

 

3,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

($

11,674

)

($

7,587

)

 $

25,455

 

 $

16,546

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The following table provides information regarding amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs during the year ended December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net gain (loss)

 

$

 

$

 

($

408

)

($

266

)

Net prior service (cost) credit

 

 

(218

)

 

(142

)

 

3,727

 

 

2,423

 

Net transition asset (obligation)

 

 

1,514

 

 

984

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

$

1,296

 

$

842

 

 $

3,319

 

 $

2,157

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The expected benefit payments for the Company’s Defined Benefit Pension and Post Retirement Medical Plans for the years indicated are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit
Pension Plan

 

Post Retirement
Medical Plan

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

2008

 

 

$

9,626

 

$

986

 

 

2009

 

 

 

10,403

 

 

1,164

 

 

2010

 

 

 

11,019

 

 

1,378

 

 

2011

 

 

 

12,046

 

 

1,652

 

 

2012

 

 

 

13,380

 

 

1,875

 

 

2013 through 2017

 

 

 

87,195

 

 

14,060

 

Net periodic (benefit) cost of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan and the Post Retirement Medical Plan included in general insurance expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, includes the following components.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined benefit pension plan

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Components of net periodic (benefit) cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

9,685

 

$

9,406

 

$

8,498

 

Interest cost

 

 

17,293

 

 

15,970

 

 

14,537

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(20,166

)

 

(16,835

)

 

(15,610

)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

 

(1,514

)

 

(1,514

)

 

(1,514

)

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

 

 

218

 

 

462

 

 

632

 

Amortization of loss from earlier periods

 

 

4,877

 

 

5,447

 

 

4,035

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net periodic (benefit) cost

 

$

10,393

 

$

12,936

 

$

10,578

 

 

 



 



 



 

90



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Components of net periodic (benefit) cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

2,050

 

$

1,851

 

$

2,385

 

Interest cost

 

 

1,489

 

 

1,309

 

 

2,421

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

 

 

(3,727

)

 

(3,727

)

 

(1,868

)

Amortization of loss from earlier periods

 

 

651

 

 

633

 

 

532

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net periodic (benefit) cost

 

$

463

 

$

66

 

$

3,470

 

 

 



 



 



 

The following table presents the assumptions used in determining benefit obligations of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan and the Post Retirement Medical Plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Discount rate

 

 

6.75

%

 

5.75

%

 

5.75

%

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

8.00

%

 

8.00

%

 

8.00

%

Rate of compensation increase

 

 

3.19

%

 

3.19

%

 

3.19

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Discount rate

 

 

6.75

%

 

5.75

%

 

5.75

%

The discount rate has been set based upon the rates of return on high-quality fixed-income investments currently available and expected to be available during the period the benefits will be paid. In particular, the yields on bonds rated AA or better on the measurement date have been used to set the discount rate.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the Post Retirement Medical Plan. For measurement purposes, a 9.00% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits was assumed and that the rate would gradually decrease to a level of 5.25% by 2016.

The following table presents what a one-percentage-point change would have on assumed healthcare cost trend rates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One percentage
point increase

 

One percentage
point decrease

 

 

 


 


 

Increase (decrease) on total service and interest cost on components

 

 

$

4,058

 

 

 

($

3,098

)

 

Increase (decrease) on post-retirement benefit obligation

 

 

 

519

 

 

 

 

(441

)

 

91



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table presents how the Company’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan assets are invested at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Equity securities

 

 

73

%

 

70

%

Debt securities

 

 

25

%

 

28

%

Other

 

 

2

%

 

2

%

 

 



 



 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

 



 



 

The following table presents the Company’s target allocation for invested Defined Benefit Pension Plan assets at December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 


 

Equity securities

 

70

%

 

Debt securities

 

25

%

 

Other

 

5

%

 

 

 


 

 

Total

 

100

%

 

 

 


 

 

Management estimates the value of these investments will be recoverable. The Company does not expect any plan assets to be returned to it during the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company made a contribution in the amount of $3,300 to its Defined Benefit Pension Plan during the year ended December 31, 2007. The Company expects to contribute approximately $986 to its Post Retirement Medical Plan during the year ended December 31, 2008.

The investment objective of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan is to provide an attractive risk-adjusted return that will ensure the payment of benefits while protecting against the risk of substantial investment losses. Correlations among the asset classes are used to identify an asset mix that the Company believes will provide the most attractive returns. Long-term return forecasts for each asset class using historical data and other qualitative considerations to adjust for projected economic forecasts are used to set the expected rate of return for the entire portfolio.

Supplemental executive retirement plan - The Company also provides supplemental executive retirement plans to certain key executives. These plans provide key executives with certain benefits upon retirement, disability or death based upon total compensation. The Company has purchased individual life insurance policies with respect to each employee covered by this plan. The Company is the owner and beneficiary of the insurance contracts. The Company’s expense for these plans was $4,869, $4,942 and $3,732 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The liability associated with these plans was $41,676 and $46,084 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

92



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following tables summarize changes in the benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status for the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan

 

 

 






 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation, January 1

 

$

46,085

 

$

45,771

 

Service cost

 

 

1,044

 

 

964

 

Interest cost

 

 

2,589

 

 

2,565

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

 

(6,136

)

 

(1,270

)

Benefits paid

 

 

(1,906

)

 

(1,946

)

 

 



 



 

Benefit obligation, December 31

 

$

41,676

 

$

46,084

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan

 

 

 






 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets, January 1

 

$

 

$

 

Employer contributions

 

 

1,906

 

 

1,946

 

Benefits paid

 

 

(1,906

)

 

(1,946

)

 

 



 



 

Fair value of plan assets, December 31

 

$

 

$

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan

 

 

 


 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

Underfunded status

 

($

41,676

)

($

46,084

)

Accumulated other comprehensive expense (income)

 

 

(123

)

 

219

 

The following table provides information regarding amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs at December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

 

 


 


 

Net gain (loss)

 

($

283

)

($

184

)

Net prior service (cost) credit

 

 

(7,085

)

 

(4,606

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

($

7,368

)

($

4,790

)

 

 



 



 

The following table provides information regarding amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs for the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans during the year ended December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Net of tax

 

 

 


 


 

Net gain (loss)

 

$

250

 

$

162

 

Net prior service (cost) credit

 

 

986

 

 

642

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

1,236

 

$

804

 

 

 



 



 

93



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The expected benefit payments for the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans for the years indicated are estimated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

1,768

 

 

2009

 

 

2,058

 

 

2010

 

 

2,230

 

 

2011

 

 

2,483

 

 

2012

 

 

2,478

 

 

2013 through 2017

 

 

16,293

 

Net periodic cost of the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans included in general insurance expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, includes the following components:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Components of net periodic (benefit) cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

1,044

 

$

964

 

$

818

 

Interest cost

 

 

2,589

 

 

2,564

 

 

2,147

 

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

 

 

986

 

 

1,024

 

 

598

 

Amortization of loss from earlier periods

 

 

250

 

 

390

 

 

169

 

 

 



 



 



 

Net periodic cost

 

$

4,869

 

$

4,942

 

$

3,732

 

 

 



 



 



 

The following table presents the assumptions used in determining benefit obligations for the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Discount rate

 

6.75

%

 

5.75

%

 

5.75

%

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

6.00

%

 

6.00

%

 

6.00

%

 

Other employee benefit plans - The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan, which provides eligible participants with the opportunity to defer up to 50% of base compensation. The Company matches 50% of the first 5% of participant pre-tax contributions for employees hired before January 1, 1999. For all other employees, the Company matches 50% of the first 8% of participant pre-tax contributions. Company contributions for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $9,573, $8,825 and $8,153, respectively.

The Company has an executive deferred compensation plan providing key executives with the opportunity to participate in an unfunded deferred compensation program. Under the program, participants may defer base compensation and bonuses and earn interest on the amounts deferred. The program is not qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. Participant balances, which are reflected in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, are $17,934 and $18,495 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The participant deferrals earned interest at the average rates of 6.50% and 6.49% during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The interest rate is based on the Moody’s Average Annual Corporate Bond Index rate plus 0.45% for actively employed participants and fixed rates ranging from 6.41% to 8.30% for retired participants. Interest expense related to this plan was $1,261, $1,295 and $1,199 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and is included in general insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

94



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company has a deferred compensation plan for select sales personnel with the opportunity to participate in an unfunded deferred compensation program. Under this program, participants may defer compensation and earn interest on the amounts deferred. The program is not qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2005, this program no longer accepted participant deferrals. Participant balances, which are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, are $5,257 and $5,658 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The participant deferrals earned interest at the average rate of 4.6% and 4.5% during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The interest rate is based on an annual rate determined by the Company. The interest expense related to this plan was $258, $269 and $282 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and is included in general insurance expense in the consolidated statements of income.

The Company offers an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan to a select group of management and highly compensated individuals. Participants defer a portion of their compensation and realize potential market gains or losses on the invested contributions. The program is not qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. Participant balances, which are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, are $14,533 and $12,531 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Unrealized gains on invested participant deferrals were $997, $1,556 and $542 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

17. Federal Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Current

 

$

60,813

 

$

35,892

 

$

52,304

 

Deferred

 

 

57,978

 

 

36,711

 

 

14,241

 

 

 



 



 



 

Total income tax provision

 

$

118,791

 

$

72,603

 

$

66,545

 

 

 



 



 



 

The following table presents a reconciliation between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective federal income tax rate from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

Statutory federal income tax rate

 

35.0

%

 

35.0

%

 

35.0

%

 

Income tax effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reduction in tax contingency

 

 

 

(1.8

%)

 

(0.5

%)

 

Investment income not subject to federal tax

 

(1.6

%)

 

(2.5

%)

 

(2.3

%)

 

Tax credits

 

(2.8

%)

 

(4.8

%)

 

(4.6

%)

 

State income taxes net of federal benefit

 

0.5

%

 

0.7

%

 

0.9

%

 

Other, net

 

2.0

%

 

1.6

%

 

(1.6

%)

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

Effective federal income tax rate from continuing operations

 

33.1

%

 

28.2

%

 

26.9

%

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized approximately an $87,427 increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, of which $6,195 was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings, $4,505 was accounted for as a reduction to a liability previously accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 “Accounting for Contingencies”, and a $76,727 increase related to temporary items. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

95



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1, 2007

 

$

87,427

 

Additions for tax positions in the current year

 

 

3,957

 

Additions for tax positions in prior years

 

 

21,749

 

Reductions for tax positions in prior years

 

 

(51,847

)

 

 



 

Balance, December 31, 2007

 

$

61,286

 

 

 



 








 

Included in the unrecognized tax benefits of $61,286 at December 31, 2007 was $4,086 of tax benefits that, if recognized, would increase the annual effective tax rate.

The Company recognizes interest and accrues penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in current income tax expense. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recognized approximately $1,300 in interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions. The Company had accrued approximately $5,632 for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2007.

During the current year, the Company executed closing agreements with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) for all federal examinations on tax years 1994 through 2004. Tax years 2005 and 2006 are still open to federal examination by the IRS. The Company is not currently under federal examination. The Company does not expect significant increases or decreases to the unrecognized tax benefits in 2008. Also, the Company does not expect significant increases or decreases relating to state and local audits.

The Company has reduced its liability for tax contingencies in each of the last three years due to the completion of Internal Revenue Service examinations.

Deferred income taxes represent the tax effect of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The tax effect of temporary differences, which give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

Deferred
Tax Asset

 

Deferred
Tax Liability

 

Deferred
Tax Asset

 

Deferred
Tax Liability

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Policyholder reserves

 

$

 

$

45,769

 

$

97,442

 

$

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

55,363

 

 

 

 

39,917

 

Investment assets

 

 

 

 

39,351

 

 

 

 

93,596

 

Policyholder dividends

 

 

29,942

 

 

 

 

29,939

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

 

 

208,714

 

 

 

 

172,709

 

 

 

Other

 

 

57,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,781

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total deferred taxes

 

$

296,031

 

$

140,483

 

$

300,090

 

$

136,294

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Amounts presented for investment assets above include $(3,082) and $4,329 related to the unrealized (gains) losses on the Company’s fixed maturity and equity investments, which are classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company, together with certain of its subsidiaries, and GWL&A Financial have entered into an income tax allocation agreement whereby GWL&A Financial files a consolidated federal income tax return. Under the agreement, these companies are responsible for and will receive the benefits of any income tax liability or benefit computed on a separate tax return basis. Certain other subsidiaries file their federal income tax returns separately.

96



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company has federal net operating loss carry forwards generated by a subsidiary that files an income tax return separate from the GWL&A Financial consolidated federal income tax return. As of December 31, 2007, the subsidiary had net operating loss carry forwards expiring as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

Amount

 


 


 

2025

 

$

371,058

 

2026

 

 

113,001

 

2027

 

 

112,267

 

 

 



 

Total

 

$

596,326

 

 

 



 

Included in due from parent and affiliates at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $31,376 and ($14,707), respectively, of income taxes receivable (payable) to GWL&A Financial related to the consolidated income tax return filed by the Company and certain subsidiaries. Included in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $135 and $12,034 of income taxes payable in other liabilities related to the separate federal income tax returns filed by certain subsidiaries and other state income tax receivables.

18. Segment Information

The Company has three business segments: Individual Markets, Retirement Services and Other. The Individual Markets segment distributes life insurance and individual annuity products to both individuals and businesses through various distribution channels. Life insurance products in-force include participating and non-participating term life, whole life, universal life and variable universal life. The Retirement Services segment provides enrollment services, communication materials, various investment options and education services to employer-sponsored defined contribution and voluntary 403(b) plans, as well as comprehensive administrative and record-keeping services for financial institutions and employers. The Company’s Other segment includes corporate items not directly allocated to any of its other business segments, interest expense on long-term debt and the activities of a wholly owned subsidiary whose sole business is the assumption of a certain block of term life insurance from an affiliated company. The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services. They are managed separately as each segment has its own unique distribution channels.

On January 1, 2007, the Company’s business segments were redefined from prior periods whereby the Individual Markets and Retirement Services segments (formerly combined as the Company’s Financial Services segment) were identified and reported separately. As discussed in Note 2, substantially all of the Company’s former Healthcare segment has been reclassified as discontinued operations and, accordingly, is no longer reported as a separate business segment. The Company will retain a small portion of its Healthcare business and will report it within its Individual Markets segment. The segment reporting for prior periods has been restated to reflect these changes in business segments.

The accounting policies of each of the business segments are the same as those described in Note 1. The Company evaluates performance of its reportable segments based on their profitability from operations after income taxes. All material inter-segment transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s operations are not materially dependent on one or a few customers, brokers or agents.

97



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following tables summarize segment financial information for the year ended and as of December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income

 

($

1,027,417

)

$

4,729

 

$

165,421

 

($

857,267

)

Fee income

 

 

69,535

 

 

388,959

 

 

4,771

 

 

463,265

 

Net investment income

 

 

759,037

 

 

350,382

 

 

30,122

 

 

1,139,541

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(8,081

)

 

4,885

 

 

1,168

 

 

(2,028

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total revenue

 

 

(206,926

)

 

748,955

 

 

201,482

 

 

743,511

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

 

 

(577,592

)

 

224,413

 

 

128,315

 

 

(224,864

)

Expenses

 

 

190,721

 

 

338,677

 

 

80,311

 

 

609,709

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

(386,871

)

 

563,090

 

 

208,626

 

 

384,845

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net operating income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

179,945

 

 

185,865

 

 

(7,144

)

 

358,666

 

Income taxes

 

 

59,863

 

 

58,474

 

 

454

 

 

118,791

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

120,082

 

$

127,391

 

($

7,598

)

$

239,875

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

$

11,157,282

 

$

5,899,077

 

$

2,326,324

 

$

19,382,683

 

Other assets

 

 

1,204,911

 

 

637,061

 

 

251,227

 

 

2,093,199

 

Separate account assets

 

 

4,607,371

 

 

13,482,613

 

 

 

 

18,089,984

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Assets from continuing operations

 

 

16,969,564

 

 

20,018,751

 

 

2,577,551

 

 

39,565,866

 

Assets from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

724,766

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

16,969,564

 

$

20,018,751

 

$

2,577,551

 

$

40,290,632

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The following tables summarize segment financial information for the year ended and as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income

 

$

446,662

 

$

10,661

 

$

125,129

 

$

582,452

 

Fee income

 

 

42,780

 

 

293,784

 

 

4,808

 

 

341,372

 

Net investment income

 

 

766,350

 

 

304,139

 

 

39,647

 

 

1,110,136

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(3,561

)

 

(5,105

)

 

(799

)

 

(9,465

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total revenue

 

 

1,252,231

 

 

603,479

 

 

168,785

 

 

2,024,495

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

 

 

1,010,613

 

 

194,928

 

 

115,180

 

 

1,320,721

 

Expenses

 

 

100,845

 

 

274,223

 

 

72,061

 

 

447,129

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

1,111,458

 

 

469,151

 

 

187,241

 

 

1,767,850

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net operating income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

140,773

 

 

134,328

 

 

(18,456

)

 

256,645

 

Income taxes

 

 

48,648

 

 

30,181

 

 

(6,226

)

 

72,603

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

92,125

 

$

104,147

 

($

12,230

)

$

184,042

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

98



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

$

12,443,617

 

$

6,243,185

 

$

3,097,773

 

$

21,784,575

 

Other assets

 

 

1,492,304

 

 

748,715

 

 

371,501

 

 

2,612,520

 

Separate account assets

 

 

3,803,591

 

 

12,486,383

 

 

 

 

16,289,974

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Assets from continuing operations

 

 

17,739,512

 

 

19,478,283

 

 

3,469,274

 

 

40,687,069

 

Assets from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

794,785

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

17,739,512

 

$

19,478,283

 

$

3,469,274

 

$

41,481,854

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

The following tables summarize segment financial information for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 

 

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium income

 

$

473,071

 

$

6,277

 

$

166,688

 

$

646,036

 

Fee income

 

 

40,174

 

 

258,064

 

 

4,723

 

 

302,961

 

Net investment income

 

 

754,377

 

 

277,121

 

 

12,583

 

 

1,044,081

 

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

16,334

 

 

7,059

 

 

(4,696

)

 

18,697

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total revenue

 

 

1,283,956

 

 

548,521

 

 

179,298

 

 

2,011,775

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Benefits and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

 

 

1,052,039

 

 

185,714

 

 

166,337

 

 

1,404,090

 

Expenses

 

 

99,692

 

 

237,214

 

 

23,099

 

 

360,005

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total benefits and expenses

 

 

1,151,731

 

 

422,928

 

 

189,436

 

 

1,764,095

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net operating income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

132,225

 

 

125,593

 

 

(10,138

)

 

247,680

 

Income taxes

 

 

37,152

 

 

32,161

 

 

(2,768

)

 

66,545

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

95,073

 

$

93,432

 

($

7,370

)

$

181,135

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

19. Share-Based Compensation

Lifeco, of which the Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, has a stock option plan (the “Lifeco plan”) that provides for the granting of options on its common shares to certain of its officers and employees and those of its subsidiaries, including the Company. Options are granted with exercise prices not less than the market price of the shares on the date of the grant. Termination of employment prior to the vesting of the options results in the forfeiture of the unvested options. The Lifeco plan provides for the granting of options with varying terms and vesting requirements. Generally, options under the Lifeco plan vest and become exercisable twenty percent per year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant and expire ten years from the date of grant.

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006, applying the modified prospective transition method of adoption; accordingly, the results of prior years have not been restated. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based payment awards under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB No. 25 and the related interpretations, as permitted by SFAS No. 123. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized $3,816 and $4,525, respectively, in its consolidated statements of income related to share-based compensation expense which is included in general insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of income. No share-based compensation cost was recognized in the consolidated statement of income during the year ended December 31, 2005 since the stock options granted prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123R had exercise prices equal to the market value of the underlying Lifeco common stock on the date of grant.

99



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

Under the modified prospective transition method, share-based compensation cost related to the unvested portion of awards outstanding at the time of adoption of SFAS No. 123R is recognized in earnings rateably over the future vesting periods of the awards. For share-based compensation awards that are granted or modified after the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, compensation cost is recognized in earnings using the accelerated attribution method permitted under SFAS No. 123R.

The Lifeco plan contains a provision that permits a retiring option holder with unvested stock options on the date of retirement to continue to vest in them post retirement for a period of up to five years. Upon the retirement of an option holder with unvested options, the Company accelerates the recognition period to the date of retirement for any unrecognized share-based compensation cost related thereto and recognizes it in its earnings at that time. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $6,663, net of estimated forfeitures, of unrecognized share-based compensation costs, which will be recognized in its earnings through 2014. The weighted average period over which these costs will be recognized in earnings is 2.3 years.

The following table summarizes the status of, and changes in, the Lifeco plan options granted to Company employees which are outstanding at December 31, 2007. The options granted relate to stock traded in Canadian dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange, therefore, the amounts, which are presented in United States dollars, will fluctuate as a result of exchange rate fluctuations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Shares
Under Option

 

Exercise
Price
(Whole Dollars)

 

Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value 1

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Outstanding, January 1, 2007

 

4,906,603

 

 

$

14.82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

760,000

 

 

37.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(1,118,492

)

 

 

13.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2007

 

4,548,111

 

 

21.85

 

 

4.9

 

$

64,034

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested and expected to vest, December 31, 2007

 

4,480,821

 

 

$

21.78

 

 

 

4.9

 

$

63,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable, December 31, 2007

 

3,115,211

 

 

$

16.96

 

 

 

4.0

 

$

59,107

 

1 The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market price of Lifeco common shares on December 31, 2007 and the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of options.

The following table illustrates the proforma effect on net income for the year ended December 31, 2005 as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 

Net income, as reported

 

 

$

371,555

 

 

Less: compensation for fair value of stock options, net of related income tax effect

 

 

 

(3,061

)

 

 

 

 



 

 

Proforma net income

 

 

$

368,494

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

As a result of adopting SFAS No. 123R, the Company’s income before income taxes and net income were lower by $3,816 and $3,366, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2007 and by $4,525 and $4,038, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2006 than if it had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB No. 25. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have an effect on the Company’s cash flow. The cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options are received and retained by Lifeco.

100



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The following table presents other information regarding options under the Lifeco plan during the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

Weighted average fair value of options granted

 

 

$

7.46

 

 

Intrinsic value of options exercised 1

 

 

$

23,432

 

 

Fair value of options vested

 

 

$

3,440

 

 

1 The intrinsic value of options exercised is calculated as the difference between the market price of Lifeco common shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of options exercised.

The fair value of each option granted during the year was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend yield

 

 

2.84

%

Expected volitility

 

 

19.06

%

Risk free interest rate

 

 

4.02

%

Expected duration (years)

 

 

7.9

 

20. Obligations Relating to Debt and Leases

The Company enters into operating leases primarily for the rental of office space. The following table shows, as of December 31, 2007, scheduled related party debt principal repayments and minimum annual rental commitments for operating leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year during the years ended December 31, 2008 through 2012 and thereafter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Related Party
Notes

 

Operating
Leases

 

Total
Contractual
Obligations

 


 


 


 


 

2008

 

$

 

$

26,481

 

$

26,481

 

2009

 

 

 

 

26,534

 

 

26,534

 

2010

 

 

 

 

12,011

 

 

12,011

 

2011

 

 

 

 

3,780

 

 

3,780

 

2012

 

 

 

 

2,254

 

 

2,254

 

Thereafter

 

 

528,400

 

 

 

 

528,400

 

21. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, the resolution of these proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.

The Company has entered into a corporate credit facility agreement in the amount of $50,000 for general corporate purposes. The credit facility matures on May 26, 2010. Interest accrues at a rate dependent upon various conditions and terms of borrowings. The agreement requires the Company to maintain a minimum adjusted net worth of $900,000 plus 50% of its net income, if positive (both compiled by the unconsolidated statutory accounting basis prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), for each quarter ending after March 31, 2005. The Company had no borrowings under the credit facility at either December 31, 2007 or 2006 and was in compliance with all covenants.

101



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

The Company makes commitments to fund partnership interests and other investments in the normal course of its business. The amounts of these unfunded commitments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $97,201 and $65,267, respectively, all of which is due within one year from the dates indicated.

In connection with certain acquisitions, the Company agreed to pay additional consideration in future periods, based upon the attainment by the acquired entity of defined operating objectives. The contingent consideration obligations are not considered contractual obligations and are not accrued for prior to the attainment of the objectives. Any such contingent payments will be considered as additional purchase consideration and will result in an adjustment to the purchase price allocation in the period in which the contingency is resolved.

102



GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Schedule III
Supplemental Insurance Information
(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 


 

Operations:

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

$

143,839

 

$

252,984

 

$

 

$

396,823

 

Future policy benefits, losses, claims and expenses

 

 

11,044,711

 

 

5,990,779

 

 

277,220

 

 

17,312,710

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

 

63,985

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,985

 

Other policy claims and benefits payable

 

 

852,505

 

 

267

 

 

 

 

852,772

 

Premium income

 

 

(1,027,417

)

 

4,729

 

 

165,421

 

 

(857,267

)

Net investment income

 

 

759,037

 

 

350,382

 

 

30,122

 

 

1,139,541

 

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses

 

 

(577,592

)

 

224,413

 

 

128,315

 

 

(224,864

)

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

 

104,345

 

 

24,230

 

 

 

 

128,575

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

86,376

 

 

314,447

 

 

80,311

 

 

481,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 

Operations:

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

$

217,735

 

$

233,480

 

$

 

$

451,215

 

Future policy benefits, losses, claims and expenses

 

 

12,840,101

 

 

6,067,691

 

 

221,092

 

 

19,128,884

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

 

58,687

 

 

 

 

 

 

58,687

 

Other policy claims and benefits payable

 

 

879,971

 

 

76

 

 

 

 

880,047

 

Premium income

 

 

446,662

 

 

10,661

 

 

125,129

 

 

582,452

 

Net investment income

 

 

766,350

 

 

304,139

 

 

39,647

 

 

1,110,136

 

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses

 

 

1,010,613

 

 

194,928

 

 

115,180

 

 

1,320,721

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

 

23,785

 

 

20,739

 

 

 

 

44,524

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

77,060

 

 

253,484

 

 

72,061

 

 

402,605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 

Operations:

 

Individual
Markets

 

Retirement
Services

 

Other

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 

Premium income

 

$

473,071

 

$

6,277

 

$

166,688

 

$

646,036

 

Net investment income

 

 

754,377

 

 

277,121

 

 

12,583

 

 

1,044,081

 

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses

 

 

1,052,039

 

 

185,714

 

 

166,337

 

 

1,404,090

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

 

26,824

 

 

24,482

 

 

 

 

51,306

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

72,868

 

 

212,732

 

 

23,099

 

 

308,699

 

103



 

 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure


 

 

 

There has been no change in the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm nor have there been any disagreements on accounting or financial disclosure matters.


 

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures


 

 

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.

 

 

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this evaluation, management used criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2007.

 

 

 

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer hereby confirm that there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 

 

Item 9B.

Other Information

          None.

Part III

 

 

Item 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant


 

 

10.1

Identification of Directors


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

Age

 

Served as
Director
from

 

Principal Occupation(s)
for last Five Years


 


 


 


James Balog*
‚„…†

 

79

 

1993

 

Corporate Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John L. Bernbach
„…†

 

 

 

2006

 

President, Not Traditional Media, Inc.; previously Partner, Barnet-Bernbach-Cardune, LLC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orest T. Dackow*
‚„ˆ

 

71

 

1991

 

Corporate Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

André Desmarais, O.C.*
‚„†‡ˆ

 

51

 

1997

 

President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Power Corporation; Deputy Chairman, Power Financial Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Desmarais, Jr., O.C.*
‚„†‡ˆ

 

53

 

1991

 

Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Power Corporation; Chairman, Power Financial Corporation

104



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Gratton*
‚„†ˆ

 

64

 

1991

 

Chairman of the Board of the Company; Chairman of the Board of Power Financial Corporation; Chairman of the Boards of Lifeco, Great-West Life, CLAC and London Life Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin P. Kavanagh, C.M.*
ƒˆ

 

75

 

1986

 

Corporate Director; Chancellor Emeritus, Brandon University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alain Louvel
ƒ

 

62

 

2006

 

Corporate Director; previously Head of Risk, BNP Paribas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Mackness*
‚…

 

69

 

1991

 

Corporate Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William T. McCallum
ˆ

 

65

 

1990

 

Corporate Director, previously President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond L. McFeetors*
‚ˆ

 

63

 

2006

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifeco, Great-West Life, CLAC and London Life Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry E.A. Nickerson
ƒˆ

 

71

 

1994

 

Chairman of the Board, H.B. Nickerson & Sons Limited (a management and holding company)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David A. Nield*
‚ˆ

 

69

 

2003

 

Corporate Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R. Jeffrey Orr*
‚„†ˆ

 

49

 

2005

 

President and Chief Executive Officer, Power Financial Corporation since 2005; previously President and Chief Executive Officer of IGM Financial Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michel Plessis-Bélair,*
F.C.A.‚ƒˆ

 

65

 

1991

 

Vice Chairman, Power Corporation;
previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Power Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philip K. Ryan*
‚ƒˆ

 

52

 

2008

 

Chief Financial Officer, Power Corporation
since January, 2008; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Power Financial since January 2008; previously Chief Financial Officer, Credit Suisse Group, since 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian E. Walsh*
‚ƒ„†

 

54

 

1995

 

Managing Partner, QVan Capital, LLC
(a merchant banking company)


 

 

 

 

*

Member of the Executive Committee.

 

 

 

 

Member of the Investment and Credit Committee.

 

 

 

 

ƒ

Member of the Audit Committee.

 

 

 

 

Member of the Compensation Committee.

105



 

 

 

 

Member of the Conduct Review Committee

 

 

 

 

Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

 

 

 

 

Mr. André Desmarais and Mr. Paul Desmarais, Jr. are brothers

 

 

 

 

ˆ

Also a director of Great-West Life.

 

 

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all of the directors have been engaged for not less than five years in their present principal occupations or in another executive capacity with the companies or firms identified.

 

 

 

Directors are elected annually to serve until the following annual meeting of shareholders.

 

 

 

The following is a list of directorships held by the directors of the Company, on companies whose securities are traded publicly in the United States or that are investment companies (other than the Company) registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

 

 

 

 

J. Balog  Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.
P. Desmarais, Jr.

SUEZ

TOTAL S.A.

A. Desmarais Neurichem, Inc.

 

 

W.T. McCallum Maxim Series Fund, Inc.

10.2

Identification of Executive Officers


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Officer

 

Age

 

Served as
Executive
Officer
from

 

Principal Occupation(s)
for last Five Years


 


 


 


Raymond L. McFeetors
President and Chief
Executive Officer

 

63

 

2006

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifeco, Great-West Life, CLAC and London Life Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Financial Officer

 

52

 

1997

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Putnam Investments, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard F. Rivers
Executive Vice
President, Healthcare

 

54

 

2002

 

Executive Vice-President, Healthcare of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Douglas L. Wooden
Executive Vice President,
Financial Services
(until February 2008)

 

51

 

1991

 

Executive Vice President, Operations Technology and Administration, Putnam Investments, LLC; previously Executive Vice President, Financial Services of the Company, until February, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George C. Bogdewiecz
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources

 

56

 

2006

 

Senior Vice President, Human Resources of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kent. G. Boyer
Senior Vice President,
Specialty Markets

 

51

 

2007

 

Senior Vice President, Specialty Markets of the Company

106



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Mark Corbett
Senior Vice President,
Investments

 

48

 

2001

 

Senior Vice President, Investments of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher H. Cumming
Senior Vice President,
Marketing/Healthcare/
National Accounts 401(K)

 

 

 

2007

 

Senior Vice President, Marketing/Healthcare/ National Accounts 401(K) of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen R. Derback
Senior Vice President
and Controller

 

56

 

2003

 

Senior Vice President and Controller of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles R. Edwards
Senior Vice President,
FASCore Operations

 

48

 

2006

 

Senior Vice President, FASCore Operations, of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry L. Fouts
Senior Vice President
and Chief Medical
Officer

 

64

 

2003

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John R. Gabbert
Senior Vice President
and Chief Information
Officer, Healthcare

 

53

 

2000

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Healthcare of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donna A. Goldin
Senior Vice President,
Healthcare Operations

 

60

 

1996

 

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Operations of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne T. Hoffmann
Senior Vice President,
Investments

 

52

 

2001

 

Senior Vice President, Investments of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher M. Knackstedt
Senior Vice President, Healthcare Management

 

39

 

2005

 

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Management of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron J. Laeyendecker
Senior Vice President,
Executive Benefits Markets

 

43

 

2007

 

Senior Vice President, Executive Benefits Markets of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James L. McCallen
Senior Vice President
and Actuary

 

57

 

2003

 

Senior Vice President and Actuary of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graham R. McDonald
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Administration

 

61

 

2003

 

Senior Vice President, Corporate Administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scot A. Miller
Senior Vice President,
Financial Services
Systems

 

49

 

2006

 

Senior Vice President, Financial Services Systems

107



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles P. Nelson
Senior Vice President,
Retirement Services

 

47

 

1998

 

Senior Vice President, Retirement Services of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Rosenbaum
Senior Vice President,
Healthcare Finance

 

55

 

1997

 

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Finance of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory E. Seller
Senior Vice President,
Government Markets

 

54

 

1999

 

Senior Vice President, Government Markets of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert K. Shaw
Senior Vice President,
Individual Markets

 

52

 

1998

 

Senior Vice President, Individual Markets of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Douglas J. Stefanson
Senior Vice President,
Healthcare Underwriting

 

52

 

2003

 

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Underwriting of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil J. Waldron
Senior Vice President,
Group Health

 

55

 

2007

 

Senior Vice President, Group Health of of the Company; previously Head of Sales, Aetna, Inc.


 

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all of the executive officers have been engaged for not less than five years in their present principal occupations or in another executive capacity with the companies or firms identified.

 

 

 

The appointments of executive officers are confirmed annually.


 

 

10.3

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that is applicable to its senior financial officers, as well as to other officers and employees. All of the items identified as elements of a “code of ethics” as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission regulations adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are substantively covered by the Code. A copy of the Code is available without charge upon written request to David C. Aspinwall, Chief Compliance Officer, 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.

 

 

10.4

Security Holder Communications

As a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Board of Directors does not have a process for security holders to send communications to the Board of Directors.

 

 

10.5

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Directors has reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of the members of the Audit Committee and determined that, although no one member of the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the Rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the combined qualifications and experience of the members of the Audit Committee give the Committee collectively the financial expertise necessary to discharge its responsibilities.

108



 

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


 

 

11.1

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

 

1.

General

The executive compensation programs adopted by the Company and applied to the executive officers (including the Named Executive Officers) are designed to attract, retain and reward qualified and experienced executives who will contribute to the success of the Company. Executive officers are motivated through the programs to meet annual corporate, divisional, and individual performance goals and to enhance long-term shareholder and policyholder value.

In determining overall compensation, the Company gathers market data in relation to the healthcare and financial services industries. It also considers surveys prepared by external professional compensation consultants such as Tower Perrin, Hewitt, Mercer and McLagan Partners with respect to over forty companies in such industries.

 

 

2.

Base Salary and Incentive Bonus

 

 

(a)

Determination

The Company’s Compensation Committee determines base salary and annual incentive bonus for the Company’s executive officers, other than the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee provides input and recommends for approval by the Board the base salary for the President and Chief Executive Officer, with respect to services provided to the Company.

The President and Chief Executive Officer participates in the compensation setting process for the other Named Executive Officers by evaluating individual performance, establishing individual performance targets and objectives and recommending salary levels.

 

 

(b)

Base Salary

Base salaries for the executive officers are set annually, having regard to the individual’s job responsibilities, experience and proven or expected performance.

 

 

(c)

Annual Bonus Plan

To relate the compensation of the executive officers to the performance of the Company, the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) participate in the Company’s annual incentive bonus plan (the “Annual Bonus Plan”), which is an essential part of their compensation. Targets and objectives are set annually, and are comprised of at least the following three elements:

 

 

(i)

earnings, expense and sales targets of the Company and/or a division/business unit of the Company; and/or

 

 

(ii)

earnings of the Company; and/or

 

 

(iii)

specific individual objectives related to strategic initiatives or acquisition related integration and/or synergy achievements.

These targets and objectives are designed to be integrated with the Company’s overall goals and initiatives. They are set high enough to drive performance while still being reasonable in terms of the likelihood of being met if individuals perform to the levels expected by the Company.

Bonus opportunity is expressed as a percentage of base salary and varies by office. Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents can earn bonuses of up to 100% and 75%, respectively, of base salary if all targets and objectives are met. Bonus amounts are established against each target or objective at the beginning of each year.

For 2007:

109



 

 

(i)

the bonus for the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer was based 100% on Company earnings;

 

 

(ii)

the bonus for the Executive Vice President, Financial Services was based 100% on the earnings of the Financial Services Division;

 

 

(iii)

the bonus for the Executive Vice President, Healthcare were based 100% on the earnings of the Healthcare Division; and

 

 

(iv)

the bonus for the Senior Vice President, Financial Services was based 73% on the earnings of the Financial Services Division and business units within the Financial Services Division, and 27% on sales related targets.

In 2007, all Company and division/business unit earnings targets were met.

 

 

(d)

Special Bonuses

From time to time, special bonuses may be provided related to significant projects such as acquisitions. See Footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table for a description of a special bonus which was paid to a Named Executive Officer in 2007.

 

 

3.

Stock Options

To provide a long-term component to the executive compensation program, certain officers and employees of the Company participate in the Lifeco Stock Option Plan (the “Lifeco Option Plan”). The granting of options under the Lifeco Option Plan is also an essential part of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers.

While the Company’s Compensation Committee makes recommendations from time to time with respect to the granting of Lifeco options, the Compensation Committee of Lifeco (the “Lifeco Committee”) is responsible for approving the granting of Lifeco options to officers under the Lifeco Option Plan. Lifeco options are not granted on a fixed schedule. Options are not granted based on the timing of the disclosure of non-public material information with respect to Lifeco.

The duties, responsibilities and contributions of participants to the success of the Company, together with market compensation data, are taken into account when the Lifeco Committee determines whether, and how many, new option grants should be made. The granting of options is subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Lifeco Option Plan, and any additional terms and conditions fixed by the Lifeco Committee at the time of the grant. The Lifeco Committee sets the exercise price of the options, but under no circumstances can it be less than the weighted average trading price per Lifeco common share on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days preceding the date of the grant. Options are either regular options or contingent options. Regular options are granted with specific allotments over a period of time, become exercisable commencing one year after the date of the grant, and expire ten years following the date of the grant. Contingent options do not become exercisable unless and until conditions prescribed by the Lifeco Committee have been satisfied, and generally expire ten years following the date of the grant. In the event of the death of a participant or the termination of a participant’s employment, then the period within which the options may be exercised is generally reduced depending on the circumstances surrounding the death or termination of employment. Options are not assignable by participants otherwise than by will or pursuant to the laws of succession. Lifeco does not provide any financial assistance to participants to facilitate the purchase of common shares under the Lifeco Option Plan. Subject to any regulatory or shareholder approval required by law, the Lifeco Board of Directors may currently amend the Lifeco Option Plan.

The Compensation Committees of the Company and Lifeco believe that long-term incentives in the form of stock options, with delayed vesting provisions, play an important part in aligning the interests of the executive officers with those of the shareholders and in contributing to the achievement of the results that have been attained by the Company.

110



 

 

4.

Pension Benefits

 

 

(a)

Defined Benefit Plan

The Company has a qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Defined Benefit Plan”) which is available to all employees hired before January 1, 1999. See Section 11.8 below for information on the participation of the Named Executive Officers in the Defined Benefit Plan and a description of the terms of the Defined Benefit Plan.

 

 

(b)

SERP

To provide market competitive compensation to certain key executives, the Company also has a nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”), which provides benefits above the compensation limits applicable to the Defined Benefit Plan. See Section 11.8 below for information on the participation of the Named Executive Officers in the SERP and a description of the terms of the SERP.

 

 

(c)

401(k) Plan

All employees, including the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer), may participate in the Company’s qualified defined contribution 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). Under the 401(k) Plan, employees may make contributions of between 1% and 50% of base salary, subject to applicable Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limits. For employees participating in the Defined Benefit Plan, the Company matches 50% of the first 5% of pre-tax contributions. For employees who do not participate in the Defined Benefit Plan, the Company matches 50% of the first 8% of pre-tax contributions. The 401(k) Plan offers a variety of investment options, including variable funds, collective funds, guaranteed certificate funds, Lifeco common shares (company matching contributions only) and a self-directed investment option.

 

 

5.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

To provide market competitive compensation to certain key executives, the Company also has a a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (“NDCP”) and a nonqualified executive deferred compensation plan (“EDCP”). See Section 11.9 below for information on the participation of the Named Executive Officers in these plans and a description of the terms of the plans.

 

 

6.

Perquisites Program

The Company has a limited perquisites program in which the Named Executive Officers participate. A perquisites account of up to $5,500 is available to the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) for reimbursement of expenses such as club dues, employee recognition or other miscellaneous expenses. In addition, these Named Executive Officers have available a one time membership perquisite of up to $10,000. The President and Chief Executive Officer receives a yearly car lease benefit. Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents receive a fixed car allowance of $800 per month and $600 per month, respectively.

 

 

7.

Compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifeco and other major operating subsidiaries of Lifeco. In relation to his services to the Company, the Company pays a portion of the President and Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and certain other compensation as set out in the Summary Compensation Table. All other compensation is paid for by other operating subsidiaries of Lifeco in respect of services provided to them. Additional information regarding the compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer can be found in the Management Proxy Circular of Lifeco, dated February 25, 2008.

 

 

11.2

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management of the Company and based on such review and discussions, recommends to the Board of Directors that the Compensation and Analysis be included in this Form 10-K.

Compensation Committee Members:

R. Gratton (Chairman)
J. Balog
J.L. Bernbach
O.T. Dackow

111



A. Desmarais
P. Desmarais, Jr.
R.J. Orr
B.E. Walsh

 

 

11.3

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

There are no inter-relationships as described in the applicable regulation.

112



 

 

11.4

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets out compensation paid by the Company to the individuals who were, at December 31, 2007, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the other three most highly compensated executive officers of the Company (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and
Principal
Position

 

Year

 

Salary
($)

 

Bonus ($)

 

Option
Awards
($)(3)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(4)

 

Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings ($)

 

All Other
Compen-
sation
($)(9)

 

Total ($)


















Raymond L.
McFeetors,
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer
(1)

 

2007
2006

 

560,000
532,984

 


 


 


 


 

156,320
141,992

 

716,320
674,976

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell T. G.
Graye,
Executive
Vice
President
and Chief
Financial
Officer

 

2007
2006

 

658,750
640,000

 


 

291,760
403,920

 

658,750
480,000

 

0
317,835

 (5)

20,500
19,825

 

1,629,760
1,861,580

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Douglas L.
Wooden,
Executive
Vice
President,
Financial
Services

 

2007
2006

 

658,750
640,000

 


100,000


(2)

291,760
291,760

 

658,750
480,000

 

0
274,190

 (6)

20,225
20,100

 

1,629,485
1,806,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard F.
Rivers,
Executive
Vice
President,
Healthcare

 

2007
2006

 

656,250
630,000

 


 


355,200

 

656,250
472,500

 

94,821
141,160

 (7)

22,350
22,350

 

1,429,671
1,621,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles P.
Nelson,
Senior Vice
President,
Retirement
Services

 

2007
2006

 

455,334
440,000

 

50,000
100,000

 (2)
(2)


172,560

 

341,500
319,390

 

0
220,748

 (8)

18,039
17,845

 

864,873
1,270,543

(1) See Section 11.1(7) above for additional information regarding Mr. McFeetors’ compensation.

(2) These were special bonuses paid with respect to the acquisition of blocks of defined contribution business.

(3) This relates to Lifeco options granted under the Lifeco Option Plan. See Section 11.1(3) for a description of the Lifeco Option Plan. The amount reflected is the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123R in 2007 (without regard to the estimate of forfeitures related to service based vesting conditions), with respect to all options granted to the Named Executive Officers. For further information, see Footnote 19 to the Company’s December 31, 2007 Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

(4) These are bonuses earned under the Annual Bonus Plan (see Section 11.1(2)(c) for a description of the Annual Bonus Plan).

113



(5) For 2007, Mr. Graye had a change in actuarial present value under the Defined Benefit Plan of negative $7,006 and a change in actuarial present value under the SERP of negative $1,472. For the Named Executive Officers, any change in actuarial present value under the Defined Benefit Plan and/or the SERP resulted from an increased discount rate applied after a valuation review of the plans but does not affect the individual’s defined benefit entitlement under the terms of the plan(s).

(6) For 2007, Mr. Wooden had a change in actuarial present value under the Defined Benefit Plan of negative $19,271, a change in actuarial present value under the SERP of negative $29,206, and above market earnings under the EDCP of $1,743. For each of the Named Executive Officers participating in the EDCP, above average earnings in 2007 equaled 1.06% of total earnings (the plan rate at December 31, 2007 of 6.6%, less 5.54% which was 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate at December 31, 2007).

(7) For 2007, Mr. Rivers had a change in actuarial present value under the SERP of $94,232 and above market earnings under the EDCP of $589.

(8) For 2007, Mr. Nelson had a change in actuarial present value under the Defined Benefit Plan of negative $41,619, a change in actuarial present value under the SERP of $8,503, and above market earnings under the EDCP of $211.

(9) Under All Other Compensation, Mr. McFeetors received a car lease benefit in 2007 in the amount of $9,992. The Company also owns a house in Greenwood Village, Colorado for use by Mr. McFeetors. The Company purchased the house for cash. The cost to the Company for the house in 2007 was $116,025. This was determined by calculating a lost investment return on the money used to purchase the house equal to the 30-year agency mortgage backed security rate of 6% in effect on January 24, 2006, the purchase date, less a 35% corporate tax rate on income earned. Mr. McFeetors also received a benefit in 2007 of $30,303 in respect of directors’ meeting fees (see Section 11.10 below for further information on these fees). The following table contains a breakdown of the compensation in 2007 included as All Other Compensation for the remaining Named Executive Officers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Car
Allowance ($)

 

Perquisites
Account
Program ($)

 

401(k) Plan
Employer
Contribution
($)

 

Total ($)

 

 











 

M.T.G. Graye

 

9,600

 

5,275

 

5,625

 

20,500

 

 

D.L. Wooden

 

9,600

 

5,000

 

5,625

 

20,225

 

 

R.F. Rivers

 

9,600

 

5,000

 

7,750

 

22,350

 

 

C.P. Nelson

 

7,200

 

5,214

 

5,625

 

18,039

 

114



 

 

11.5

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR 2007

The following table sets out information with respect to grants to the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) under the Annual Bonus Plan and Lifeco Option Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1)

 

All Other Option
Awards: Number
of Securities
Underlying
Options (#)(2)

 

 

 





Name

 

Threshold ($)

 

Target($)

 

Maximum ($)

 

 

 










 

M. T. G. Graye

 

0

 

658,750

 

658,750

 

 

 

D. L. Wooden

 

0

 

658,750

 

658,750

 

 

 

R.F. Rivers

 

0

 

656,250

 

656,250

 

 

 

C.P. Nelson

 

0

 

341,500

 

341,500

 

110,000

 

(1) See Section 11.1(2)(c) for a description of the terms of the Annual Bonus Plan.

(2) These are Lifeco options granted under the Lifeco Option Plan (see Section 11.1(3) for a description of the Lifeco Option Plan).

 

 

11.6

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2007 FISCAL YEAR END

The following table sets out Lifeco options held by the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) under the Lifeco Option Plan as of December 31, 2007. See Section 11.1(3) for a description of the Lifeco Option Plan. Lifeco options are issued with an exercise price in Canadian dollars, which have been translated to U.S. dollars at the year end Bank of Canada noon rate of 1/.99 (the “Market Rate”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Option Awards

 


Name

 

Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#) Exercisable

 

Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#) Unexercisable

 

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 


M.T.G. Graye

 

125,002

 

 

11.25

 

4/26/10

 

 

 

80,000

 

 

17.71

 

4/25/11

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

19.62

 

7/9/13

 

 

 

112,000

 

168,000

(1)

30.14

 

12/13/15

 

D.L. Wooden

 

395,502

 

 

11.25

 

4/26/10

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

19.62

 

7/9/13

 

 

 

112,000

 

168,000

(1)

30.14

 

12/13/15

 

C.P. Nelson

 

120,000

 

 

17.31

 

12/3/11

 

 

 

 

110,000

(2)

37.60

 

2/27/17

 

(1) 56,000 of these options vest on each of December 14, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

(2) These options vest as follows: 4,400 on February 28, 2008; 8800 on February 28, 2009; 16,132 each on February 28, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and 16,140 on August 28, 2014.

115



 

 

11.7

OPTION EXERCISES FOR 2007

The following table sets out Lifeco options exercised by the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) in 2007. See Section 11.1(3) for a description of the Lifeco Option Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

 


 

Name

 

Number of Shares Acquired on
Exercise (#)

 

Value Realized on Exercise ($)

 







M.T.G. Graye

 

161,000

 

3,375,505

 

R.F. Rivers

 

240,000

 

4,330,802

 

D.L. Wooden

 

277,400

 

6,987,875

 


 

 

11.8

PENSION BENEFITS FOR 2007

 

 

1.

Table

The following table sets out information with respect to the participation of the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) in the Defined Benefit Plan and the SERP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Plan Name

 

Number of Years
of Credited
Services (#)

 

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit ($)

 

Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
($)

 











M.T.G. Graye

 

Defined Benefit
Plan

 

15

 

190,816

 

 

 

 

SERP

 

15

 

1,435,575

 

 

D.L. Wooden

 

Defined Benefit
Plan

 

17

 

254,392

 

 

 

 

SERP

 

17

 

1,476,995

 

 

R.F. Rivers

 

Defined Benefit
Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERP

 

5

 

493,160

 

 

C.P. Nelson

 

Defined Benefit
Plan

 

25

 

382,034

 

 

 

 

SERP

 

25

 

924,367

 

 

The amounts shown in the table above are calculated according to the terms of the plan based on age and years of service as of December 31, 2007. These amounts are based on pay through December 31, 2007. The assumptions used for these calculations are consistent with actuarial valuations of the plan under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions (FAS 87) except as follows: (i) the Named Executive Officers are assumed to retire at the first age at which an unreduced benefit is payable under the terms of the plan; and (ii) the Named Executive Officers are assumed to remain employed until the assumed retirement age. The present value of accumulated benefit under the plan equals the actuarial present value of the annuity earned as of December 31, 2007 payable on the assumed retirement date and discounted to December 31, 2007 at the applicable FAS 87 discount rate for December 31, 2007.

116



 

 

2.

Narrative Description of Pension Plans


 

 

(a)

Defined Benefit Plan

The Defined Benefit Plan is designed to provide regular income at retirement to eligible employees. In general, an eligible employee is any employee hired prior to January 1, 1999. Participants in the Defined Benefit Plan are entitled to benefits at age 65 if they have 5 or more years of service. The benefit formula for participants hired before January 1, 1992 is 1.5% for each of the first 30 years of service multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation, plus 0.5% for each of the next 5 years of service multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation, plus 0.5% for each year of service to retirement up to a maximum of 35 years multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation minus the covered compensation amount (as determined by the IRS). If a participant made required or voluntary contributions to the Defined Benefit Plan prior to July 1, 1979, the participant’s benefit is increased to reflect these contributions and interest accrued thereon, so long as the employee contributions plus interest have not been withdrawn in a lump sum. The benefit formula for participants hired on and after January 1, 1992 is 1.0% for each of the first 30 years of service multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation, plus 0.5% for each of the next 5 years of service multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation, plus 0.5% for each year of service to retirement up to a maximum of 35 years multiplied by the participant’s average annual compensation minus the covered compensation amount (as determined by the IRS).

Participants who have terminated service prior to age 65 and who have at least 5 years of service may begin receiving benefits as early as age 55. Benefits that begin prior to age 65 are reduced by approximately 5% for each year prior to age 65. Benefits are not offset by social security benefits but are reduced by any amounts received under the Company’s long-term disability plan. The normal form of benefit for a married participant is a joint and 50% survivor annuity. The normal form of benefit for an unmarried participant is a life only annuity. Other optional forms of pension payment are available on an actuarially equivalent basis.

 

 

(b)

SERP

The SERP is designed to provide retirement benefits to certain key executive officers who are subject to qualified pension plan compensation limits. At the Company’s discretion, executive officers may be designated to participate in the SERP. Participants in the SERP are entitled to benefits at age 62 if they have 15 or more years of service. The benefit is equal to 60% of final average compensation if the participant has 30 years of service. The benefit is prorated for less than 30 years of service. Final average compensation is the average of the highest 60 consecutive months of compensation during the last 84 months of employment. Compensation includes salary and bonuses prior to any deferrals. Benefits are offset by benefits under the Defined Benefit Plan and 50% of social security benefits payable at retirement. Participants who retire between age 57 and before age 62 with 15 or more years of service will receive a reduction in benefit. This early retirement benefit reduction is calculated by reducing the bonus used in determining final average compensation by 5/6% for each month prior to age 62 and reducing the years of service factor by 5/12% for each month prior to age 62. Participants who separate from service prior to age 57 with 15 or more years of service will also receive a reduction in benefit. This termination benefit is calculated by reducing the years of service factor by the appropriate early retirement factor in the Defined Benefit Plan at age 62. The normal form of benefit is a life only annuity. Other optional forms of pension payment are available on an actuarially equivalent basis.

117



 

 

11.9 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR 2007

 

 

1.

Table

The following table sets out information with respect to the participation of the Named Executive Officers (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) in the NDCP and/or EDCP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Plan Name

 

Executive
Contributions in
Last FY($)

 

Aggregate
Earnings in Last
FY($)

 

Aggregate
withdrawals/
distributions
($)

 

Aggregate
balance at
last FYE($)

 













D.L. Wooden

 

EDCP

 

 

164,460

 

 

2,621,406

 

R.F. Rivers

 

NDCP

 

94,500(1)

 

9,682

 

 

104,182

 

 

 

EDCP

 

131,250(1)

 

55,526

 

 

953,743

 

C.P. Nelson

 

EDCP

 

 

19,888

 

 

317,015

 


 

 

(1)

These amounts are included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table for Mr. Rivers.


 

 

2.

Narrative Description of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan and Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

All officers at the level of Vice President and above, and others at the discretion of the Company, are eligible to participate in the NDCP. At the Company’s discretion, executive officers may be designated to participate in the EDCP. Under the NDCP and EDCP, a participant may defer between 5% and 90% of base salary and bonus. Under the NDCP, participants specify one or more investment preferences in which deferrals are deemed to be invested. Participant accounts are adjusted for interest, earnings or losses equal to the actual results of the underlying investment(s). Under the EDCP, participant deferrals earn an interest rate equal to the Moody’s Average Annual Corporate Bond Index rate plus .45% for actively employed participants and fixed rates ranging from 6.41% to 8.3% for retired participants. Amounts deferred under both plans and the earnings from the plans are distributed to a participant upon termination of employment, if not distributed earlier. The amounts are generally paid in either a lump sum or installments over 3,5,10 or 15 years at the election of the participant. Following a change in control of the Company, the Board of Directors may terminate one or both plans in its discretion and pay all amounts due under a terminated plan to participants. Certain payments following termination of employment or after a change in control may be delayed to comply with requirements under the Internal Revenue Code.

118



 

 

11.10

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS FOR 2007


 

 

1.

Table

The following sets out compensation paid by the Company in 2007 to the Directors identified in part 10.1 of this Form 10-K for services rendered to the Company in 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Fees Earned Or
Paid In
Cash($)(1)

 

Stock Awards
($)(2)

 

All Other Compensation
($)(3)

 

Total ($)

 











J. Balog

 

 

67,883

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

113,039

 

J.L. Bernbach

 

 

55,883

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

101,039

 

O.T. Dackow

 

 

67,883

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

113,039

 

A. Desmarais

 

 

28,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,283

 

P. Desmarais, Jr.

 

 

34,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,343

 

R. Gratton

 

 

87,879

 

 

 

 

 

 

87,879

 

K.P. Kavanagh

 

 

28,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,283

 

A. Louvel

 

 

56,883

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

102,039

 

W. Mackness

 

 

64,528

 

 

45,455

 

158

 

 

 

110,141

 

W.T. McCallum

 

 

443,883

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

489,039

 

R.L. McFeetors

 

 

30,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,303

 

J.E.A. Nickerson

 

 

24,242

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,242

 

D.A. Nield

 

 

30,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,303

 

R.J. Orr

 

 

34,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,343

 

M. Plessis-Bélair

 

 

38,384

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,384

 

B.E. Walsh

 

 

78,887

 

 

45,000

 

156

 

 

 

124,043

 

(1) These amounts are cash payments and contributions made under the voluntary component of the Great-West Life U.S. Resident Director Deferred Share Unit Plan (“U.S. DSUP”) or the Great-West Life Canadian Resident Deferred Share Unit Plan (“Canadian DSUP”), as applicable. Director fees are paid in the currency of the country of residence of the Director. Amounts paid or contributed in Canadian dollars have been translated to U.S. dollars at the Market Rate.

(2) These amounts represent contributions made by the Company under the mandatory component of the U.S. DSUP or Canadian DSUP, as applicable. Contributions made in Canadian dollars have been translated to U.S. dollars at the Market Rate.

(3) Life insurance premiums paid under the Great-West Life Director’s Group Life Insurance Plan. Premiums paid in Canadian dollars have been translated to U.S. dollars at the Market Rate.

 

 

2.

Narrative Description of Directors Compensation

For each Director of the Company who is not also a Director of Great-West Life, the Company pays an annual retainer fee in the amount of $75,000, $45,000 of which is paid in Deferred Share Units of Lifeco (“Deferred Share Units”) under the U.S. DSUP or Canadian DSUP, as applicable. A Director serving on the Audit Committee who is not also a Director of Great-West Life receives an additional retainer fee in the amount of $3,000. The Company pays all Directors a meeting fee in the amount of $2,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof attended. Mr. Gratton, as the Chairman of the Executive Committee, receives an annual fee in the amount of $25,000 and as Chairman of the Investment Committee, receives an annual fee in the amount of $20,000. Mr. McCallum receives an annual fee of $400,000 as Vice-Chairman of the Board. At their option, in lieu of cash payments, Directors may receive additional Deferred Share Units under the U.S. DSUP or Canadian DSUP, as applicable.

Each Director who is not also a Director of Great-West Life receives $45,000 of his annual retainer fee in the form of Deferred Share Units under the mandatory component of the U.S. DSUP or Canadian DSUP, as applicable. Each Director who is not also a Director of Great-West Life may elect to receive the remainder of his annual retainer fee and meeting fees entirely in the form of Deferred Share Units, entirely in cash, or equally in cash and

119



Deferred Share Units. Each Director who is also a Director of Great-West Life may elect to receive his meeting fees entirely in the form of Deferred Share Units entirely in cash, or equally in cash and Deferred Share Units. Under both the mandatory and voluntary components, the number of Deferred Share Units granted is determined by dividing the amount of remuneration payable to the Director by the weighted average Canadian dollar trading price per Lifeco common share on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the last five trading days of the preceding fiscal quarter (such weighted average trading price being the “value of a Deferred Share Unit”). Directors receive additional Deferred Share Units in respect of dividends payable on the common shares based on the value of a Deferred Share Unit at that time. Deferred Share Units are redeemable at the time that an individual ceases to be a Director by a lump sum cash payment, based on the value of the Deferred Share Units on the date of redemption.

The following are the number of Deferred Share Units held by the Directors, as of December 31, 2007, with respect to contributions made by the Company and/or its subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Deferred Share Units

 





J. Balog

 

 

34,816

 

J.L. Bernbach

 

 

2205

 

O.T. Dackow

 

 

6621

 

A. Desmarais

 

 

7,056

 

P. Desmarais, Jr.

 

 

 

R. Gratton

 

 

15,006

 

K.P. Kavanagh

 

 

 

A. Louvel

 

 

2063

 

W. Mackness

 

 

5,850

 

W.T. McCallum

 

 

 

R.L. McFeetors

 

 

1,734

 

J.E.A. Nickerson

 

 

 

D.A. Nield

 

 

 

R.J. Orr

 

 

2,757

 

M. Plessis-Bélair

 

 

 

B.E. Walsh

 

 

19,675

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

12.1   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Set forth below is certain information, as of March 1, 2008, concerning beneficial ownership of the voting securities of the Company by entities and persons who beneficially own more than 5% of the voting securities of the Company. The determinations of “beneficial ownership” of voting securities are based upon Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This rule provides that securities will be deemed to be “beneficially owned” where a person has, either solely or in conjunction with others, (1) the power to vote or to direct the voting of securities and/or the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the securities or (2) the right to acquire any such power within 60 days after the date such “beneficial ownership” is determined.

 

 

 

 

(1)

100% of the Company’s 7,032,000 outstanding common shares are owned by GWL&A Financial Inc., 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.

 

 

 

 

(2)

100% of the outstanding common shares of GWL&A Financial Inc. are owned by Great-West Lifeco U.S. Inc., 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.

 

 

 

 

(3)

100% of the outstanding common shares of Great-West Lifeco U.S. Inc. are owned by Great-West Financial (Nova Scotia) Co., Suite 800, 1959 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2X2.

120



 

 

 

 

(4)

100% of the outstanding common shares of Great-West Financial (Nova Scotia) Co. are owned by Great-West Financial (Canada) Inc., 100 Osborne Street North, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3A5.

 

 

 

 

(5)

100% of the outstanding common shares of Great-West Financial (Canada) Inc. are owned by Great-West Lifeco Inc., 100 Osborne Street North, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3A5.

 

 

 

 

(6)

70.4% of the outstanding common shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc. are controlled by Power Financial Corporation, 751 Victoria Square, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2J3, representing approximately 65% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc.

 

 

 

 

(7)

66.4% of the outstanding common shares of Power Financial Corporation are owned by 171263 Canada Inc., 751 Victoria Square, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2J3.

 

 

 

 

(8)

100% of the outstanding common shares of 171263 Canada Inc. are owned by 2795957 Canada Inc., 751 Victoria Square, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2J3.

 

 

 

 

(9)

100% of the outstanding common shares of 2795957 Canada Inc. are owned by Power Corporation of Canada, 751 Victoria Square, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2J3.

 

 

 

 

(10)

Mr. Paul Desmarais, 751 Victoria Square, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2J3, directly and through a group of private holding companies which he controls, has voting control of Power Corporation of Canada.

As a result of the chain of ownership described in paragraphs (1) through (10) above, each of the entities and persons listed in paragraphs (1) through (10) would be considered under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act to be a “beneficial owner” of 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company.

12.2   Security Ownership of Management

 

 

 

The following tables set out the number of equity securities and exercisable options (including options that will become exercisable within 60 days) for equity securities of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries, beneficially owned, as of March 1, 2008, by (i) the directors of the Company (ii) the Named Executive Officers and (iii) the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors

 

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (1)

 

Power Financial
Corporation

 

Power Corporation
of Canada ƒ








J. Balog

 

 

 

J.L. Bernbach

 

 

 

O.T. Dackow

 

137,284

 

 

A. Desmarais

 

103,318

 

43,200

 

2,273,473
965,000 options

P. Desmarais, Jr.

 

87,318

 

 

47,138
1,465,500 options

R. Gratton

 

665,477

 

11,180,000
6,000,000 options

 

44,305

K.P. Kavanagh

 

20,140
4,000 Preferred (Series D)

 

 

A. Louvel

 

 

 

W. Mackness

 

18,000

 

 

W.T. McCallum

 

79,318

 

 

R.L. McFeetors

 

1,600,162

2,400,000 options

 

170,500

 

J.E.A. Nickerson

 

5,000

 

9,788

 

13,826

121



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.A. Nield

 

62,000
2,777 Preferred (Series E)
38,553 Preferred (Series F)

 

 

R.J. Orr

 

20,000

 

300,400
806,000 options

 

20,000

M. Plessis-Bélair

 

40,000

 

600,000

 

161,933
142,000 options

P.K. Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.E. Walsh

 

17,771

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Named Executive
Officers

 

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (1)

 

Power Financial
Corporation

 

Power Corporation
of Canada ƒ








R.L. McFeetors

 

1,600,162
2,400,000options

 

170,500

 

M.T.G. Graye

 

585,002 options

 

75,000

 

D.L. Wooden

 

183,700
775,502 options

 

 

R.F. Rivers

 

 

 

C.P. Nelson

 

  options

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and
Executive Officers
as a Group

 

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (1)

 

Power Financial
Corporation

 

Power Corporation
of Canada ƒ








 

 

3,039,488
3,99,504 options
4,000 Preferred (Series D)
2,777 Preferred (Series E)
38,553 Preferred (Series F)

 

11,784,888

6,806,000 options

 

2,560,675

2,572,500 options


 

 

(1)

All holdings are common shares, or where indicated, preferred shares or exercisable options for common shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc.

 

 

All holdings are common shares, or where indicated, exercisable options for common shares of Power Financial Corporation.

 

 

ƒ

All holdings are subordinate voting shares, or where indicated, exercisable options for subordinate voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada.

The number of common shares and exercisable options for common shares of Power Financial Corporation held by Robert Gratton represents 2.4% of the total number of common shares and exercisable options for common shares of Power Financial Corporation outstanding. The number of common shares and exercisable options for common shares of Power Financial Corporation held by the directors and executive officers as a group represents 2.4% of the total number of common shares and exercisable options for common shares of Power Financial Corporation outstanding.

The number of subordinate voting shares and exercisable options for subordinate voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada held by André Desmarais represents 1% of the total number of subordinate voting shares and exercisable options for subordinate voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada outstanding. The number of subordinate voting shares and exercisable options for subordinate voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada held by the directors and executive officers as a group represents 1.9% of the total number of subordinate voting shares and exercisable options for subordinate voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada outstanding.

122



 

 

 

None of the remaining holdings set out above exceeds 1% of the total number of shares and exercisable options for shares of the class outstanding.

Item 13. Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons

(a) There are no transactions to report.

(b) The Company’s Board of Directors has a Conduct Review Committee which acts pursuant to a written Charter and procedures (together, the “procedures”). Messrs. Balog, Bernbach and Mackness serve on the Conduct Review Committee.

The Conduct Review Committee, in accordance with the procedures, considers and approves transactions between the Company or its subsidiaries and (i) the directors and senior officers of the Company or its affiliates, including their spouses and minor children; (ii) its affiliates; and (iii) companies controlled by a director or senior officer of the Company or its affiliates, or their spouses or minor children. Control and affiliation is defined as a 10% voting interest or 25% ownership interest, but does not include subsidiaries of the Company.

Among other criteria, the Conduct Review Committee considers whether such transactions were on market terms and conditions, including interest rates and fees, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties. Such review also considers the Company’s established conflict of interest guidelines with respect to the transaction, as set forth in the Company’s Code.

There were no reportable related party transactions during the Registrant’s most recently completed fiscal year, following the establishment of the Conduct Review Committee, where the aforementioned procedures did not require review, approval or ratification or where the procedures were not followed.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

14.1  Principal Accounting Fees

For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, professional services were performed by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”). The total fees for these services were $5,507,591 and $4,924,630 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and were composed of the following:

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed for the audit of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, were $4,205,900 and $4,021,930, respectively.

Audit Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed for audit related services for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $502,300 and $319,300, respectively. These services included “SAS 70” internal control reports and audits of the Company’s employee benefit plans.

Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed for tax services for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $210,300 and $25,500, respectively. These services included tax compliance services for the Company’s affiliated mutual fund, Maxim Series Fund, Inc., as well as tax planning and compliance services for the Company and its subsidiaries.

All Other Fees

The aggregate fees for services not included above were $589,091 and $557,900, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

123



14.2  Pre-approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee pre-approves all services, including both audit and non-audit services, provided by D&T. Each year, the Committee receives a schedule of the audit, audit-related and tax services that it is asked to approve for the year before D&T may be engaged.

None of the services described in this Item 14 were approved by the Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, the de minimis safe harbor exemption from pre-approval requirements. The amount of hours expended on D&T’s audit of the Company’s financial statements for 2007 attributable to work performed by persons other than D&T’s full-time, permanent employees was less than 50%.

Part IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

The documents identified below are filed as a part of this report:

15.1   Index to Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 


 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule III – Supplemental Insurance Information

 

103  

 


 

 

 

All other schedules and separate financial statements of the Registrant are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

15.2   Index to Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Number

 

Title

 

Page

 

 


 


 


 

 

3(i)

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 3(i) to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3(ii)

 

Bylaws of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company

 

 

 

124



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 3(ii) to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

Material Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Great-West Lifeco Inc. Stock Option Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description of amendment to the Great-West Lifeco Inc. Stock Option Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference. Amendment No. 3 to Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.4

 

Deferred Share Unit Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.5

 

Executive Long Term Disability Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.6

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.7 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

 

Asset & Stock Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed as Exhibit 99.1 by way of a Form 8-K on December 6, 2007 and incorporated herein by

 

 

 

125



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

Directors’ Powers of Attorney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors’ Powers of Attorney filed as Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, Exhibit 24 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer filed herewith.

 

 

 

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.

GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

 


 

 

 

Raymond L. McFeetors, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 31, 2008

 

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.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature and Title

 

Date

 

 

 


 


 

 

/s/

 

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

 

Glen R. Derback

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen R. Derback
Senior Vice President and Controller

 

 

126



 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

James Balog*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

James Balog, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

John L. Bernbach*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

John L. Bernbach, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Orest T. Dackow*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Orest T. Dackow, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

André Desmarais*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

André Desmarais, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Paul Desmarais, Jr.*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Paul Desmarais, Jr., Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Robert Gratton*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Robert Gratton, Chairman of the Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Kevin P. Kavanagh*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Kevin P. Kavanagh, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Alain Louvel*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Alain Louvel, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

William Mackness*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

William Mackness, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

William T. McCallum*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

William T. McCallum, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Jerry E.A. Nickerson*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Jerry E.A. Nickerson, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

David A. Nield*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

David A. Nield, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

R. Jeffrey. Orr*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

R. Jeffrey. Orr, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Michel Plessis-Bélair*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Michel Plessis-Bélair, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Philip K. Ryan*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Philip K. Ryan, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

 

Brian E.Walsh*

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Brian E. Walsh, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*By:/s/

 

Glen R. Derback

 

March 31, 2008

 

 


 

 

 

 

Glen R. Derback

 

 

 

 

Attorney-in-fact pursuant to filed Power of Attorney

 

 

127


EX-21 3 d73977_ex21.htm

EXHIBIT 21

SUBSIDIARIES OF GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

Subsidiary

 

Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization

Advised Assets Group, LLC

 

Colorado

Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, Inc.

 

Montana

Allegiance Life & Health Insurance Company, Inc.

 

Montana

Allegiance COBRA Services, Inc.

 

Montana

Allegiance Re, Inc.

 

Montana

Allegiance Provider Direct, LLC

 

Montana

Alta Health & Life Insurance Company

 

Indiana

Benefit Management Corp.

 

Montana

BenefitsCorp, Inc. (1)

 

Delaware

BenefitsCorp, Inc. of Wyoming

 

Wyoming

Community Health Network

 

Montana

GWFS Equities, Inc.

 

Delaware

Canada Life Insurance Company of America

 

Michigan

FASCore, LLC

 

Colorado

Emjay Corporation

 

Wisconsin

EMJAY Retirement Plan Services, Inc.

 

Wisconsin

First Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company

 

New York

Great-West Benefit Services, Inc.

 

Delaware

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of South Carolina

 

South Carolina

GW Capital Management, LLC (2)

 

Colorado

GWL Properties, Inc.

 

Colorado

Intermountain Underwriters, Inc.

 

Montana

Maxim Series Fund, Inc.

 

Maryland

National Plan Coordinators of Delaware, Inc.

 

Delaware

Great-West Healthcare Holdings, Inc.

 

Colorado

Great-West Healthcare, Inc.

 

Vermont

Great-West Healthcare of Arizona, Inc.

 

Arizona

Great-West Healthcare of California, Inc.

 

California

Great-West Healthcare of Colorado, Inc.

 

Colorado

Great-West Healthcare of Florida, Inc.

 

Florida

Great-West Healthcare of Georgia, Inc.

 

Georgia

Great-West Healthcare of Illinois, Inc.

 

Illinois

Great-West Healthcare of Indiana, Inc.

 

Indiana

Great-West Healthcare of Kansas/Missouri, Inc.

 

Kansas

Great-West Healthcare of Massachusetts, Inc.

 

Massachusetts

Great-West Healthcare of New Jersey, Inc.

 

New Jersey

Great-West Healthcare of North Carolina, Inc.

 

North Carolina

Great-West Healthcare of Ohio, Inc.

 

Ohio

Great-West Healthcare of Oregon, Inc.

 

Oregon

Great-West Healthcare of Pennsylvania, Inc.

 

Pennsylvania

Great-West Healthcare of Tennessee, Inc.

 

Tennessee

Great-West Healthcare of Texas, Inc.

 

Texas

Great-West Healthcare of Washington, Inc.

 

Washington

Mediversal, Inc.

 

Nevada

One Orchard Equities, Inc.

 

Colorado

Orchard Capital Management, LLC

 

Colorado

Orchard Trust Company

 

Colorado

Star Point, LLC

 

Montana

Universal Claims Administration

 

Nevada

Westkin Properties Ltd.

 

California

128




 

 

 

IHN, Inc.

 

Indiana

Lottery Receivable Company ONE LLC

 

Delaware

LR Company II, L.L.C.

 

Delaware

Singer Collateral Trust IV

 

Delaware

Singer Collateral Trust V

 

Delaware


 

 

(1)

Also doing business as Benefits Insurance Services, Inc.

(2)

Also doing business as Maxim Capital Management, LLC.

129


EX-24 4 ryanex24.htm

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

RE

 

GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

 

Know all men by these presents, that I, Philip K. Ryan, a Member of the Board of Directors of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, a Colorado corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint each of R.G. Schultz and G.R. Derback as my true and lawful attorney and agent for me and in my name and on my behalf to, individually and without the concurrence of the other attorney and agent, sign my name, in my capacity as a Member of the Board of Directors of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, on Form 10-K Annual Reports of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, and to any and all amendments thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of February 2008.

 

 

 

/s/ Philip K. Ryan

 

Member, Board of Directors of

 

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance

 

Company

 

 

Witness:

 

 

/s/ Richard Schultz

Signature

 

Richard Schultz

Name (Printed)

 

 

 

EX-31 5 d73977_ex31-1.htm

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Raymond L. McFeetors, certify that:

 

 

 

 

 

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the “registrant”);

 

 

 

 

2.

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

 

 

 

 

3.

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

 

 

 

 

4.

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

 

 

 

 

 

a)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

b)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

d)

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

 

 

 

 

 

5.

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

 

 

 

 

 

a)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


 

 

Date: March 31, 2008

 

 

/s/

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

130


EX-31 6 d73977_ex31-2.htm

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Mitchell T.G. Graye, certify that:

 

 

 

 

 

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the “registrant”);

 

 

 

 

2.

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

 

 

 

 

3.

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

 

 

 

 

4.

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

 

 

 

 

 

e)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

f)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

g)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

h)

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

 

 

 

 

 

5.

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

 

 

 

 

 

a)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


 

 

 

Date: March 31, 2008

 

 

 

/s/

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

131


EX-32 7 d73977_ex32.htm

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, a Colorado corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

March 31, 2008

 

/s/

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond L. McFeetors

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

March 31, 2008

 

/s/

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell T.G. Graye

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-K or as a separate disclosure document.

132


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