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3. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting (Policy)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements  
Use of estimates

In preparing these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions are made in the determination of EGPs and estimated gross margins (“EGMs”) used in the valuation and amortization of assets and liabilities associated with universal life and annuity contracts; policyholder liabilities and accruals; valuation of investments in debt and equity securities: limited partnerships and other investments; valuation of deferred tax assets; pension and other post-employment benefits liabilities; and accruals for contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Adoption of new accounting standards

Amendments to the Presentation of Comprehensive Income

 

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued amended guidance to ASC 220, Comprehensive Income, with respect to the presentation of comprehensive income as part of the effort to establish common requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This amended guidance requires entities to present all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments do not affect which components of comprehensive income are recognized in net income or comprehensive income, or when an item of other comprehensive income must be classified to net income. The computation and presentation of earnings per share also does not change. This guidance was adopted in the first quarter of 2012. Other than additional disclosures, adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Amendments to Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, with respect to measuring fair value and related disclosures as part of the effort to establish common requirements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The amended guidance clarifies that the concept of highest and best use should only be used in the valuation of non-financial assets, specifies how to apply fair value measurements to instruments classified in stockholders’ equity and requires that premiums or discounts be applied consistent with what market participants would use absent Level 1 inputs. The amendment also explicitly requires additional disclosures related to the valuation of assets categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Additional disclosures include quantitative information about unobservable inputs, the sensitivity of fair value measurement to changes in unobservable outputs and information on the valuation process used. This guidance was adopted in the first quarter of 2012. Disclosures in Note 8 reflect the prospective adoption of this guidance. Other than additional disclosures, adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

 

In October 2010, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 944, Financial Services – Insurance, to address the diversity in practice for accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The amendment clarifies the definition of acquisition costs (i.e., costs which qualify for deferral) to incremental direct costs that result directly from, and are essential to, a contract and would not have been incurred by the insurance entity had the contract transaction not occurred. Therefore, only costs related to successful efforts of acquiring a new, or renewal, contract should be deferred. This guidance was retrospectively adopted on January 1, 2012 and included in the restated and amended financial statements contained in the 2012 Form 10-K. The cumulative effect of retrospective adoption reduced deferred policy acquisition costs and beginning stockholders’ equity as of January 1, 2012 by $166.5 million primarily related to lower deferrals associated with expenses not directly related to new policy sales.

Accounting standards not yet adopted

Reporting Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued updated guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income (ASU 2013-02). Under the guidance, an entity would separately present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component as well as changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances by component in either the financial statements or the notes to the financial statements. The guidance does not change the items that are reported in other comprehensive income. The guidance does not change when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income and does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income. The guidance is effective for the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2012 and should be applied prospectively. This guidance is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position or cash flows. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and equity and the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 210, Balance Sheet, with respect to disclosure of offsetting assets and liabilities as part of the effort to establish common requirements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This amended guidance requires the disclosure of both gross information and net information about both financial instruments and derivative instruments eligible for offset in our consolidated balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This guidance is effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, with respective disclosures required retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2013 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are presented in the notes to our restated and amended consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 contained in the 2012 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes since the filing of the restated year-end December 31, 2011 consolidated financial statements discussed above.