Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company, formerly Hartford Life Insurance Company, (together with its subsidiaries, “TL,” “Company,” “we” or “our”) is a provider of insurance and investment products in the United States (“U.S.”) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Talcott Resolution Life, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("TLI"). Hopmeadow Holdings LP (“Hopmeadow Holdings", or "HHLP ”) is the ultimate parent of the Company.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information, which differ materially from the accounting practices prescribed by various insurance regulatory authorities. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's 2017 Form 10-K Annual Report (“Predecessor Company”).

On May 31, 2018 the Company's indirect parent, Hartford Holding, Inc. ("HHI") completed the sale of the Company's parent to a group of investors led by Cornell Capital LLC, Atlas Merchant Capital LLC, TRB Advisors LP, Global Atlantic Financial Group ("Global Atlantic"), Pine Brook and J. Safra Group. Although Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company is no longer affiliated with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. ("The Hartford") or any of its subsidiaries, The Hartford retained a 9.7 percent ownership interest in HHLP. On June 1, 2018, TL executed reinsurance agreements to reinsure certain fixed immediate and deferred annuity contracts, variable payout separate account annuity contracts, standard mortality structured settlements, and period certain structured settlement annuity contracts to Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company ("Commonwealth"), a subsidiary of Global Atlantic which is a member of the acquiring investment group. TL reinsured an 85% quota share, except 75% for standard mortality structured settlements, in exchange for a $357 ceding commission that was fixed based on reinsuring approximately $9.3 billion of reserves as of December 31, 2016, plus annuitizations through closing and annuitizations from market value adjusted annuities post-close. The reinsurance agreement was executed after the Talcott Acquisition Date and as such, the accounting for the agreement was recorded after the TL balance sheet was adjusted to fair value in purchase and pushdown accounting. A deferred gain of $1 billion was recorded in Other liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to this reinsurance agreement and will be amortized over the life of the underlying policies reinsured.

In conjunction with the sale, the Company has entered into a transition services agreement with The Hartford to provide general ledger and cash management, investment accounting and information technology infrastructure services for a period of up to two years. These transition services are not considered a material change in internal controls as the controls are substantially similar to those that existed prior to the Talcott Resolution Sale Transaction. The Company monitors and maintains oversight of the control environment provided by The Hartford covering these services and considers these controls in the evaluation of our internal control environment.

HHLP’s May 31, 2018 acquisition of TLI was accounted for by HHLP using business combination accounting. Under this method, the purchase price paid by the investor group was assigned to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date based on their fair value. HHLP elected to apply "pushdown" accounting by applying the guidance permitted under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805 Business Combinations. By the application of pushdown accounting, the Company’s assets, liabilities and equity were accordingly adjusted to fair value on May 31, 2018 which generated both intangible assets and Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”). Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. While we do not anticipate material changes to the initial valuation of assets and liabilities in purchase and pushdown accounting, new information related to acquisition date valuations may give rise to a measurement period adjustment. The measurement period is not to exceed one year from the acquisition date. Due to the application of pushdown accounting, TL’s financial statements and footnote disclosures are presented in two distinct periods to indicate the application of two different bases of accounting. The periods prior to June 1, 2018 are identified herein as “Predecessor,” while the period subsequent to HHLP’s acquisition of TLI is identified as “Successor.” As a result of the change in the basis of accounting from historical GAAP to reflect HHLP’s purchase cost, the financial statements for the Predecessor period are not comparable to the Successor periods. Operating results for the period of June 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 (Successor Company) and the period of January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 (Predecessor Company) are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018 (Successor Company).

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes are unaudited. These financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The Company's significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's 2017 Form 10-K Annual Report (Predecessor Company). Other than the accounting matters resulting from the application of pushdown accounting in connection with ASC Topic 805, the Company did not make significant changes to accounting policies during the three months ended June 30, 2018.

Pushdown Accounting [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of TL and entities the Company directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest in, which the Company is required to consolidate. Entities in which TL has significant influence over the operating and financing decisions, but is not required to consolidate, are reported using the equity method. All intercompany transactions and balances between TL and its subsidiaries have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The most significant estimates include those used in determining estimated gross profits used in the valuation and amortization of assets (including VOBA) and liabilities associated with variable annuity and other universal life-type contracts; evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities and valuation allowances on investments; living benefits required to be fair valued; valuation of investments and derivative instruments; valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; amortization of the deferred gain on reinsurance; and contingencies relating to corporate litigation and regulatory matters. Certain of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial information to conform to the current year presentation.

Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Amortizable intangible assets primarily consist of internally developed software amortized over a period not to exceed five years.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Indefinite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible assets with indefinite lives, primarily insurance licenses, are not amortized but are reviewed annually in the Company's impairment analysis. They will be tested for impairment more frequently if events or circumstances indicate the fair value of the indefinitely lived intangibles is less than the carrying value.

Intangible Assets Arising from Insurance Contracts Acquired in Business Combination, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Value of Business Acquired/DAC/Additional Reserves

In conjunction with the acquisition of TLI, a portion of the purchase price was allocated to the right to receive future gross profits from cash flows and earnings of the Company's insurance and investment contracts as of the date of the transaction. This intangible asset is called VOBA and is based on the actuarially estimated present value of future cash flows from the Company's insurance and investment contracts in-force as of the date of the transaction. The estimated fair value calculation of VOBA is based on certain assumptions, including mortality, persistency, expenses, interest rates, and other factors that the Company expects to experience in future years. Actual experience on the acquired contracts may vary from these projections and the recovery of VOBA is dependent upon the future profitability of the related business. The Company amortizes VOBA over estimated gross profits and it is reviewed for recoverability quarterly.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Reclassification of Effect of Tax Rate Change from AOCI to Retained Earnings

In February 2018, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities related to items recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") resulting from legislated tax reform enacted on December 22, 2017. The tax reform reduced the federal tax rate applied to the Company’s deferred tax balances from 35% to 21% on enactment. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company recorded the total effect of the change in enacted tax rates on deferred tax balances as a charge to income tax expense within net income, including the change in deferred tax balances related to components of AOCI. The new accounting guidance permits the Company to reclassify the “stranded” tax effects out of AOCI and into retained earnings that resulted from recording the tax effects of unrealized investment gains at a 35% tax rate because the 14 point reduction in tax rate was recognized in net income instead of other comprehensive income. On January 1, 2018, the Company (Predecessor company) adopted the new guidance and recorded a reclassification of $193 which increased AOCI and reduced retained earnings.

Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted updated guidance issued by the FASB for the recognition and measurement of financial instruments through a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balances of retained earnings and AOCI. The new guidance requires investments in equity securities to be measured at fair value with any changes in valuation reported in net income except for investments that are consolidated or are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The new guidance also requires a deferred tax asset resulting from net unrealized losses on available-for-sale fixed maturities that are recognized in AOCI to be evaluated for recoverability in combination with the Company’s other deferred tax assets. Under prior guidance, the Company reported equity securities, available for sale ("AFS"), at fair value with changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income. As of January 1, 2018, the Company (Predecessor Company) reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings net unrealized gains of $11, after tax, related to equity securities having a fair value of $154. Beginning in 2018, the Company reports equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value reported in net realized capital gains and losses.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB’s updated guidance for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers, which excludes insurance contracts and financial instruments. Revenue subject to the guidance is recognized when, or as, goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that an entity is expected to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The updated guidance is consistent with previous guidance for the Company’s transactions and did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or net income.

Revenue from customers for other than insurance and investment contracts was $8 for the period June 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 (Successor Company), $16 for the period April 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018, $13 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, $40 for the period January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 and $27 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (Predecessor Company). The Company earns revenues from these contracts primarily for administrative and distribution services fees from offering certain fund families as investment options in its variable annuity products. Fees are primarily based on the average daily net asset values of the funds and are recorded in the period in which the services are provided and collected monthly. Fluctuations in domestic and international markets and related investment performance, volume and mix of sales and redemptions of the funds, and other changes to the composition of assets under management are all factors that ultimately have a direct effect on fee income earned.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

The Company will record an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) for fixed maturities if the Company intends to sell or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before a recovery in value. A corresponding charge is recorded in net realized capital losses equal to the difference between the fair value and amortized cost basis of the security.

The Company will also record an OTTI for those fixed maturities for which the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis. For these securities, the excess of the amortized cost basis over its fair value is separated into the portion representing a credit OTTI, which is recorded in net realized capital losses, and the remaining non-credit amount, which is recorded in OCI. The credit OTTI amount is the excess of its amortized cost basis over the Company’s best estimate of discounted expected future cash flows. The non-credit amount is the excess of the best estimate of the discounted expected future cash flows over the fair value. The Company’s best estimate of discounted expected future cash flows becomes the new cost basis and accretes prospectively into net investment income over the estimated remaining life of the security.

The Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows is a quantitative and qualitative process that incorporates information received from third-party sources along with certain internal assumptions regarding the future performance. The Company's considerations include, but are not limited to, (a) changes in the financial condition of the issuer and the underlying collateral, (b) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, (c) credit ratings, (d) payment structure of the security and (e) the extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost of the security.

For non-structured securities, assumptions include, but are not limited to, economic and industry-specific trends and fundamentals, security-specific developments, industry earnings multiples and the issuer’s ability to restructure and execute asset sales.

For structured securities, assumptions include, but are not limited to, various performance indicators such as historical and projected default and recovery rates, credit ratings, current and projected delinquency rates, loan-to-value ("LTV") ratios, average cumulative collateral loss rates that vary by vintage year, prepayment speeds, and property value declines. These assumptions require the use of significant management judgment and include the probability of issuer default and estimates regarding timing and amount of expected recoveries which may include estimating the underlying collateral value.

Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company recorded an OTTI for certain equity securities with debt-like characteristics if the Company intended to sell or it was more likely than not that the Company was required to sell the security before a recovery in value as well as for those equity securities for which the Company did not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis. The Company also recorded an OTTI for equity securities where the decline in the fair value was deemed to be other-than-temporary. For further discussion of these policies, see Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments within Note 3 - Investments of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K Annual Report (Predecessor Company).

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company carries certain financial assets and liabilities at estimated fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants. Our fair value framework includes a hierarchy that gives the highest priority to the use of quoted prices in active markets, followed by the use of market observable inputs, followed by the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy levels are as follows:


Level 1	Fair values based primarily on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets, or liabilities, in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.


Level 2	Fair values primarily based on observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, or based on prices for similar assets and liabilities.

Level 3

Fair values derived when one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk). With little or no observable market, the determination of fair values uses considerable judgment and represents the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a market exchange for the asset or liability. Also included are securities that are traded within illiquid markets and/or priced by independent brokers.

The Company will classify the financial asset or liability by level based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the determination of the fair value. In most cases, both observable inputs (e.g., changes in interest rates) and unobservable inputs (e.g., changes in risk assumptions) are used to determine fair values that the Company has classified within Level 3.



Valuation Inputs Used in Level 2 and 3 Measurements for Securities and Freestanding Derivatives
	Level 2 Primary Observable Inputs	Level 3 Primary Unobservable Inputs
Fixed Maturity Investments
Structured securities (includes ABS, CDOs, CMBS and RMBS)
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Monthly payment information • Collateral performance, which varies by vintage year and includes delinquency rates, loss severity rates and refinancing assumptions • Credit default swap indices Other inputs for ABS and RMBS: • Estimate of future principal prepayments, derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure • Prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the collateral	• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve Other inputs for less liquid securities or those that trade less actively, including subprime RMBS: • Estimated cash flows • Credit spreads, which include illiquidity premium • Constant prepayment rates • Constant default rates • Loss severity
Corporates
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Reported trades, bids, offers of the same or similar securities • Issuer spreads and credit default swap curves Other inputs for investment grade privately placed securities that utilize internal matrix pricing : • Credit spreads for public securities of similar quality, maturity, and sector, adjusted for non-public nature	• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve Other inputs for below investment grade privately placed securities: • Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads for public securities of similar quality, maturity, and sector, adjusted for non-public nature
U.S Treasuries, Municipals and Foreign government/government agencies
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Issuer credit default swap curves • Political events in emerging market economies • Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board reported trades and material event notices • Issuer financial statements	• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve
Equity Securities
	• Quoted prices in markets that are not active	• For privately traded equity securities, internal discounted cash flow models utilizing earnings multiples or other cash flow assumptions that are not observable
Short Term Investments
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Reported trades, bids, offers • Issuer spreads and credit default swap curves • Material event notices and new issue money market rates	Not applicable
Derivatives
Credit derivatives
	• Swap yield curve • Credit default swap curves	Not applicable
Equity derivatives
	• Equity index levels • Swap yield curve	• Independent broker quotes • Equity volatility
Foreign exchange derivatives
	• Swap yield curve • Currency spot and forward rates • Cross currency basis curves	Not applicable
Interest rate derivatives
	• Swap yield curve	• Independent broker quotes • Interest rate volatility

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company utilizes a variety of OTC, OTC-cleared and exchange traded derivative instruments as a part of its overall risk management strategy as well as to enter into replication transactions. Derivative instruments are used to manage risk associated with interest rate, equity market, credit spread, issuer default, price and currency exchange rate risk or volatility. Replication transactions are used as an economical means to synthetically replicate the characteristics and performance of assets that are permissible investments under the Company’s investment policies. The Company also may enter into and has previously issued financial instruments and products that either are accounted for as free-standing derivatives, such as certain reinsurance contracts, or as embedded derivative instruments, such as certain GMWB riders included with certain variable annuity products.

Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Hedge Documentation [Policy Text Block]

Strategies that Qualify for Hedge Accounting

The Company's derivatives may satisfy hedge accounting requirements as outlined in Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's 2017 Form 10-K Annual Report (Predecessor Company). Typically, these hedging instruments include interest rate swaps and, to a lesser extent, foreign currency swaps where the terms or expected cash flows of the hedged item closely match the terms of the swap. The interest rate swaps are typically used to manage interest rate duration of certain fixed maturity securities or liability contracts. As a result of pushdown accounting, derivative instruments that qualified for hedge accounting were recorded at fair value through adjustments to additional paid in capital at the acquisition date. As of June 30, 2018 (Successor Company), the Company has no derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting. The hedge strategies by hedge accounting designation have previously included:

Cash Flow Hedges

Interest rate swaps have been predominantly used to manage portfolio duration and better match cash receipts from assets with cash disbursements required to fund liabilities. These derivatives primarily converted interest receipts on floating-rate fixed maturity securities to fixed rates. The Company also previously entered into forward starting swap agreements to hedge the interest rate exposure related to the future purchase of fixed-rate securities, primarily to hedge interest rate risk inherent in the assumptions used to price certain product liabilities.

Foreign currency swaps have been used to convert foreign currency-denominated cash flows related to certain investment receipts and liability payments to U.S. dollars in order to reduce cash flow fluctuations due to changes in currency rates.

Non-qualifying Strategies

Derivative relationships that do not qualify for hedge accounting (“non-qualifying strategies”) primarily include the hedge program for the Company's variable annuity products as well as the hedging and replication strategies that utilize credit default swaps. In addition, hedges of interest rate, foreign currency and equity risk of certain fixed maturities, equities and liabilities do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Derivatives Not Designated or Qualifying as Hedges [Policy Text Block]

Non-qualifying Strategies

The non-qualifying strategies include:

Interest Rate Swaps and Futures

The Company uses interest rate swaps, swaptions, and futures to manage interest rate duration between assets and liabilities in certain investment portfolios. In addition, the Company enters into interest rate swaps to terminate existing swaps, thereby offsetting the changes in value of the original swap. As of June 30, 2018 (Successor Company) and December 31, 2017 (Predecessor Company), the notional amount of interest rate swaps in offsetting relationships was $2.7 billion.

Foreign Currency Swaps and Forwards

The Company enters into foreign currency swaps to convert the foreign currency exposures of certain foreign currency-denominated fixed maturity investments to U.S. dollars. The Company also enters into foreign currency forwards to hedge non-U.S. dollar denominated cash and, previously, to hedge equity securities.

Fixed Payout Annuity Hedge

The Company has obligations for certain yen denominated fixed payout annuities under an assumed reinsurance contract. The Company invests in U.S. dollar denominated assets to support the assumed reinsurance liability. The Company has in place pay U.S. dollar, receive yen swap contracts to hedge the currency and yen interest rate exposure between the U.S. dollar denominated assets and the yen denominated fixed liability reinsurance payments.

Credit Contracts

Credit default swaps are used to purchase credit protection on an individual entity or referenced index to economically hedge against default risk and credit-related changes in the value of fixed maturity securities. Credit default swaps are also used to assume credit risk related to an individual entity or referenced index as a part of replication transactions. These contracts require the Company to pay or receive a periodic fee in exchange for compensation from the counterparty should the referenced security issuers experience a credit event, as defined in the contract. In addition, the Company enters into credit default swaps to terminate existing credit default swaps, thereby offsetting the changes in value of the original swap going forward.

Equity Index Swaps and Options

The Company enters into equity index options to hedge the impact of a decline in the equity markets on the investment portfolio. The Company previously entered into total return swaps to hedge equity risk of specific common stock investments which were accounted for using fair value option in order to align the accounting treatment within net realized capital gains (losses). In addition, the Company formerly offered certain equity indexed products that remain in force, a portion of which contained embedded derivatives that require changes in value to be bifurcated from the host contract. The Company uses equity index swaps to economically hedge the equity volatility risk associated with the equity indexed products.

GMWB Derivatives, net

The Company formerly offered certain variable annuity products with GMWB riders. The GMWB product is a bifurcated embedded derivative (“GMWB product derivatives”) that has a notional value equal to the GRB. The Company uses reinsurance contracts to transfer a portion of its risk of loss due to GMWB. The reinsurance contracts covering GMWB (“GMWB reinsurance contracts”) are accounted for as free-standing derivatives with a notional amount equal to the GRB reinsured.