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Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies Level 1 (Notes)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
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 Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which differ materially from the accounting practices prescribed by various insurance regulatory authorities.
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 ("Talcott Resolution Sale Transaction").
In conjunction with the sale, the Company entered into a transition services agreement with The Hartford for a period up to three years to provide general ledger, cash management, and information technology infrastructure services. Many of the transition services have been exited with the exception of the information technology infrastructure services. In March, 2019, a five year administrative services agreement was entered into for investment accounting services which replaced the services previously provided under the transition services agreement.
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. The Company 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 acquired and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. 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 periods subsequent to HHLP’s acquisition of TLI are 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.
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 ("Commonwealth Annuity Reinsurance Agreement") 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 Resolution Sale Transaction, 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 net of amortization of $933 is recorded in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet related to this reinsurance agreement and will be amortized over the life of the underlying policies reinsured.
Consolidation
The 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 materially 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 mortgage loans; 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 Consolidated Financial Statements.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial information to conform to the current year presentation.
Pushdown Accounting (Successor Company)
The table below shows the main balance sheet line items impacted in pushdown accounting as of the date of the Talcott Resolution Sale Transaction.
Cash and invested assets
$
27,038

VOBA
805

Deferred income taxes
998

Intangible assets
55

Reinsurance recoverable and other assets
22,615

Separate account assets
110,773

Total assets
162,284

 
 
Reserves for future policy benefits
18,057

Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
29,560

Other liabilities
2,127

Separate account liabilities
110,773

Total liabilities
160,517

 
 
Equity
1,767

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity
$
162,284

Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Amortizing intangible assets primarily consist of internally developed software amortized over a period not to exceed five years. 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.
Investments
In pushdown accounting, the acquired investments are recorded at fair value through adjustments to additional paid in capital at the acquisition date.
Value of Business Acquired/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. Consistent with the acquisition being recorded at fair value, deferred acquisition costs which do not represent future cash flows are eliminated in pushdown accounting. The fair value of certain acquired obligations of the Company exceeded the book value of assumed in-force policy liabilities resulting in additional reserve liabilities. In pushdown accounting these liabilities were increased to fair value, which is presented separately from VOBA as additional insurance liability in Reserves for future policy benefits and Other policyholder funds and benefits payable. The additional liability is amortized to income over the policy or other relevant time period.
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 permitted 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 (Predecessor 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 (Predecessor 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 $84 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (Successor Company), $54 for the period of June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (Successor Company), $40 for the period of January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 (Predecessor Company) and $58 for the year ended December 31, 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.
Hedging Activities
The FASB issued updated guidance on hedge accounting. The updates allow hedge accounting for new types of interest rate hedges of financial instruments and simplify documentation requirements to qualify for hedge accounting. In addition, any gain or loss from hedge ineffectiveness will be reported in the same income statement line with the effective hedge results and the hedged transaction. For cash flow hedges, the ineffectiveness will be recognized in earnings only when the hedged transaction affects earnings; otherwise, the ineffectiveness gains or losses will remain in AOCI. Under current accounting, total hedge ineffectiveness is reported separately in realized gains and losses apart from the hedged transaction. The updated guidance is effective January 1, 2019 through a cumulative effect adjustment that will reclassify cumulative ineffectiveness on open cash flow hedges from retained earnings to AOCI. 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 December 31, 2018 (Successor Company), the Company had no derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting, therefore there was no impact on the Company's financial statements upon adoption.
Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement
On August 28, 2018 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2018-13 which removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. As permitted by the guidance, the Company early adopted amendments in this guidance effective December 31, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses
In June 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which updated guidance for recognition and measurement of credit losses on certain financial instruments, including reinsurance recoverables. Since its release, certain targeted improvements and transition relief amendments have been made to ASU 2016-13 and have been published in ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-10, and ASU 2019-11. Collectively, the new guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. This guidance will replace the “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” model for recognizing credit losses for instruments carried at other than fair value, which will initially result in the recognition of greater allowances for losses. The allowance will be an estimate of credit losses expected over the life of financial instruments, such as mortgage loans, reinsurance recoverables and receivables. The measurement of the expected credit loss estimate will be based on historical loss data, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Credit losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale carried at fair value will continue to be measured similar to previous guidance for other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI"); however, the losses will be recognized through an allowance and no longer as an adjustment to the cost basis. Recoveries of OTTI will be recognized as reversals of valuation allowances recognized through net realized capital gains and losses and no longer accreted as net investment income through an adjustment to the investment yield. The Company will adopt the updated guidance January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis, through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings for the change in the allowance for credit losses for financial instruments carried at other than fair value. For fixed maturities available-for-sale, this guidance will be applied prospectively. While the Company is in the process of finalizing the effect on its consolidated financial statements, we currently estimate the cumulative impact of the adoption will not materially impact the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long Duration Contracts
The FASB issued ASU 2018-12 on August 15, 2018 which impacts the existing recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for certain long duration contracts issued by an insurance company. The guidance is intended to improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits by requiring annual or more frequent updates of insurance assumptions and modifying the rate used to discount future cash flows. Cash flows under the new guidance are required to be discounted using an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yield. The discount rate is required to be updated at each reporting date, with the effect of discount rate changes on the liability recorded in OCI. This is a change from current GAAP which utilizes assumptions, including discount rate, "locked in" at policy issuance and until such time significant changes in experience or assumptions may require the Company to establish premium deficiency reserves. When this occurs, premium deficiency reserves are recognized by unlocking reserve assumptions to eliminate a reserve deficiency under current GAAP.
Further, the guidance seeks to improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with account balance contracts and improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures. These market risk benefit features are required to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in net income with the exception of changes in the fair value attributable to a change in the instrument's credit risk, which are required to be recognized in OCI. Additionally, this ASU requires new disclosures including liability rollforwards and information about significant inputs, judgments, assumptions, and methods used in the measurement.
This ASU, as amended, is effective January 1, 2022 with early adoption permitted. The Company has started its implementation efforts and is currently reviewing its policies, processes, and applicable systems to assess the impact this standard will have on its operations and financial results. While it is not possible to reasonably estimate the expected impact of adoption at this time, given the nature and extent of the required changes to a significant portion of the Company’s operations, adoption is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. This guidance represents a significant change from existing GAAP; however, it does not change the underlying economics of the business or its related cash flows. The Company has not yet determined the timing of its adoption.
Significant Accounting Policies
The Company’s significant accounting policies are as follows:
Segment Information
The Company has no reportable segments and is comprised of annuity, institutional and private-placement life insurance businesses. The Company's determination that it has no reportable segments is based on the fact that the Company's chief operating decision maker reviews the Company's financial performance at a consolidated level.
Revenue Recognition
For investment and universal life-type contracts, the amounts collected from policyholders are considered deposits and are not included in revenue. Fee income for variable annuity and other universal life-type contracts consists of policy charges for policy administration, cost of insurance charges and surrender charges assessed against policyholders’ account balances and are recognized in the period in which services are provided. For the Company’s traditional life products, premiums are recognized as revenue when due from policyholders.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred taxes for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years the temporary differences are expected to reverse. A deferred tax provision is recorded for the tax effects of differences between the Company's current taxable income and its income before tax under generally accepted accounting principles in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For deferred tax assets, the Company records a valuation allowance that is adequate to reduce the total deferred tax asset to an amount that will more likely than not be realized.
Investments
Overview
The Company’s investments in fixed maturities include bonds, structured securities, redeemable preferred stock and commercial paper. Most of these investments are classified as AFS and are carried at fair value. The after-tax difference between fair value and cost or amortized cost is reflected in stockholder's equity as a component of AOCI, after adjustments for the effect of deducting certain life and annuity deferred policy acquisition costs (Predecessor Company), VOBA (Successor Company) and reserve adjustments. Effective January 1, 2018, equity securities are now measured at fair value with any changes in valuation reported in net income. For further information, see Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement discussion above. Fixed maturities for which the Company elected the fair value option are classified as FVO, generally certain securities that contain embedded credit derivatives, and are carried at fair value with changes in value recorded in realized capital gains and losses. Policy loans are carried at outstanding balance. Mortgage loans are recorded at the outstanding principal balance adjusted for amortization of premiums or discounts and net of valuation allowances. Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Limited partnerships and other alternative investments are reported at their carrying value and are primarily accounted for under the equity method with the Company’s share of earnings included in net investment income. Recognition of income related to limited partnerships and other alternative investments is delayed due to the availability of the related financial information, as private equity and other funds are generally on a three-month delay and hedge funds on a one-month delay. Accordingly, income for the year ended December 31, 2019 (Successor Company), the period of June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (Successor Company), the period of January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 (Predecessor Company) and the year ended December 31, 2017 (Predecessor Company) may not include the full impact of current year changes in valuation of the underlying assets and liabilities of the funds, which are generally obtained from the limited partnerships and other alternative investments’ general partners. Other investments primarily consist of derivative instruments which are carried at fair value.
Net Realized Capital Gains and Losses
Net realized capital gains and losses from investment sales are reported as a component of revenues and are determined on a specific identification basis. Net realized capital gains and losses also result from fair value changes in fixed maturities, FVO, equity securities and derivatives contracts (both free-standing and embedded) that do not qualify, or are not designated, as a hedge for accounting purposes. Impairments and mortgage loan valuation allowances are recognized as net realized capital losses in accordance with the Company’s impairment and mortgage loan valuation allowance policies as discussed in Note 3 - Investments of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Foreign currency transaction remeasurements are also included in net realized capital gains and losses.
Net Investment Income
Interest income from fixed maturities and mortgage loans is recognized when earned on the constant effective yield method based on estimated timing of cash flows. The amortization of premium and accretion of discount for fixed maturities also takes into consideration call and maturity dates that produce the lowest yield. For securitized financial assets subject to prepayment risk, yields are recalculated and adjusted periodically to reflect historical and/or estimated future prepayments using the retrospective method; however, if these investments are impaired and for certain other asset-backed securities, any yield adjustments are made using the prospective method. Prepayment fees and make-whole payments on fixed maturities and mortgage loans are recorded in net investment income when earned. For equity securities, dividends are recognized as investment income on the ex-dividend date. Limited partnerships and other alternative investments primarily use the equity method of accounting to recognize the Company’s share of earnings. For impaired debt securities, the Company accretes the new cost basis to the estimated future cash flows over the expected remaining life of the security by prospectively adjusting the security’s yield, if necessary. The Company’s non-income producing investments were not material for the year ended December 31, 2019, (Successor Company), the period of June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (Successor Company), the period of January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 (Predecessor Company) and the year ended December 31, 2017 (Predecessor Company).
Derivative Instruments
Overview
The Company utilizes a variety of over-the-counter ("OTC") transactions cleared through central clearing houses ("OTC-cleared") and exchange traded derivative instruments as part of its overall risk management strategy as well as to enter into replication transactions. The types of instruments may include swaps, caps, floors, forwards, futures and options to achieve one of four Company-approved objectives:
•
to hedge risk arising from interest rate, equity market, commodity market, credit spread and issuer default, price or currency exchange rate risk or volatility;
•
to manage liquidity;
•
to control transaction costs;
•
to enter into synthetic replication transactions.
Interest rate and credit default swaps involve the periodic exchange of cash flows with other parties, at specified intervals, calculated using agreed upon rates or other financial variables and notional principal amounts. Generally, little to no cash or principal payments are exchanged at the inception of the contract. Typically, at the time a swap is entered into, the cash flow streams exchanged by the counterparties are equal in value.
Interest rate cap and floor contracts entitle the purchaser to receive from the issuer at specified dates, the amount, if any, by which a specified market rate exceeds the cap strike interest rate or falls below the floor strike interest rate, applied to a notional principal amount. A premium payment determined at inception is made by the purchaser of the contract and no principal payments are exchanged.
Forward contracts are customized commitments that specify a rate of interest or currency exchange rate to be paid or received on an obligation beginning on a future start date and are typically settled in cash.
Financial futures are standardized commitments to either purchase or sell designated financial instruments, at a future date, for a specified price and may be settled in cash or through delivery of the underlying instrument. Futures contracts trade on organized exchanges. Margin requirements for futures are met by pledging securities or cash, and changes in the futures’ contract values are settled daily in cash.
Option contracts grant the purchaser, for a premium payment, the right to either purchase from or sell to the issuer a financial instrument at a specified price, within a specified period or on a stated date. The contracts may reference commodities, which grant the purchaser the right to either purchase from or sell to the issuer commodities at a specified price, within a specified period or on a stated date. Option contracts are typically settled in cash.
Foreign currency swaps exchange an initial principal amount in two currencies, agreeing to re-exchange the currencies at a future date, at an agreed upon exchange rate. There may also be a periodic exchange of payments at specified intervals calculated using the agreed upon rates and exchanged principal amounts.
The Company’s derivative transactions conducted in insurance company subsidiaries are used in strategies permitted under the derivative use plans required by the State of Connecticut and the State of New York insurance departments.
Accounting and Financial Statement Presentation of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Derivative instruments are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and are reported in Other Investments and Other Liabilities. For balance sheet presentation purposes, the Company has elected to offset the fair value amounts, income accruals, and related cash collateral receivables and payables of OTC derivative instruments executed in a legal entity and with the same counterparty or under a master netting agreement, which provides the Company with the legal right of offset.
The Company clears certain interest rate swap and credit default swap derivative transactions through central clearing houses. OTC-cleared derivatives require initial collateral at the inception of the trade in the form of cash or highly liquid securities, such as U.S. Treasuries and government agency investments. Central clearing houses also require additional cash as variation margin based on daily market value movements. For information on collateral, see the derivative collateral arrangements section in Note 4 - Derivative Instruments of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, OTC-cleared transactions include price alignment amounts either received or paid on the variation margin, which are reflected in realized capital gains and losses or, if characterized as interest, in net investment income.
On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as (1) a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a forecasted transaction or of amounts to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow” hedge), (2) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation (“net investment” hedge) or (3) held for other investment and/or risk management purposes, which primarily involve managing asset or liability related risks and do not qualify for hedge accounting.
Cash Flow Hedges - Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, including foreign-currency cash flow hedges, are recorded in AOCI and are reclassified into earnings when the variability of the cash flow of the hedged item impacts earnings. Gains and losses on derivative contracts that are reclassified from AOCI to current period earnings are included in the line item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in which the cash flows of the hedged item are recorded. For periods prior to 2019, hedge ineffectiveness was recorded immediately in current period earnings as net realized capital gains and losses. With the January 1, 2019 adoption of the updated FASB hedging guidance, ineffectiveness is recognized in earnings only when the hedged transaction affects earnings; otherwise, the ineffectiveness gains and losses remain in AOCI. Periodic derivative net coupon settlements are recorded in the line item of the Consolidated Statements of Operations in which the cash flows of the hedged item are recorded. Cash flows from cash flow hedges are presented in the same category as the cash flows from the items being hedged on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Other Investment and/or Risk Management Activities - The Company’s other investment and/or risk management activities primarily relate to strategies used to reduce economic risk or replicate permitted investments and do not receive hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value, including periodic derivative net coupon settlements, of derivative instruments held for other investment and/or risk management purposes are reported in current period earnings as net realized capital gains and losses.
Hedge Documentation and Effectiveness Testing
To qualify for hedge accounting treatment, a derivative must be highly effective in mitigating the designated changes in fair value or cash flow of the hedged item. At hedge inception, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction. The documentation process includes linking derivatives that are designated as fair value, cash flow, or net investment hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific forecasted transactions and defining the effectiveness testing methods to be used. The Company also formally assesses both at the hedge’s inception and ongoing on a quarterly basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been and are expected to continue to be highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values, cash flows or net investment in foreign operations of hedged items. Hedge effectiveness is assessed primarily using quantitative methods as well as using qualitative methods. Quantitative methods include regression or other statistical analysis of changes in fair value or cash flows associated with the hedge relationship. Qualitative methods may include comparison of critical terms of the derivative to the hedged item.
Discontinuance of Hedge Accounting
The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (1) it is determined that the qualifying criteria are no longer met; (2) the derivative is no longer designated as a hedging instrument; or (3) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised.
When cash flow hedge accounting is discontinued because the Company becomes aware that it is not probable that the forecasted transaction will occur, the derivative continues to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, and gains and losses that were accumulated in AOCI are recognized immediately in earnings.
In other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, including those where the derivative is sold, terminated or exercised, amounts previously deferred in AOCI are reclassified into earnings when earnings are impacted by the hedged item.
Embedded Derivatives
The Company purchases investments and has previously issued financial products that contain embedded derivative instruments. 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 embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host for measurement purposes. The embedded derivative, which is reported with the host instrument on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in net realized capital gains and losses.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is defined as the risk of financial loss due to uncertainty of an obligor’s or counterparty’s ability or willingness to meet its obligations in accordance with agreed upon terms. Credit exposures are measured using the market value of the derivatives, resulting in amounts owed to the Company by its counterparties or potential payment obligations from the Company to its counterparties. The Company generally requires that OTC derivative contracts, other than certain forward contracts, be governed by International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") agreements which are structured by legal entity and by counterparty, and permit right of offset. Some agreements require daily collateral settlement based upon agreed upon thresholds. For purposes of daily derivative collateral maintenance, credit exposures are generally quantified based on the prior business day’s market value and collateral is pledged to and held by, or on behalf of, the Company to the extent the current value of the derivatives exceed the contractual thresholds. For the Company’s domestic derivative programs, the maximum uncollateralized threshold for a derivative counterparty for a single legal entity is $10. The Company also minimizes the credit risk of derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties primarily rated A or better, which are monitored and evaluated by the Company’s risk management team and reviewed by senior management. OTC-cleared derivatives are governed by clearing house rules. Transactions cleared through a central clearing house reduce risk due to their ability to require daily variation margin and act as an independent valuation source. In addition, the Company monitors counterparty credit exposure on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with Company policies and statutory limitations.
Cash
Cash represents cash on hand and demand deposits with banks or other financial institutions.
Reinsurance
The Company cedes insurance to unaffiliated insurers to enable the Company to manage capital and risk exposure. Such arrangements do not relieve the Company of its primary liability to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company also assumes reinsurance from other insurers.
Reinsurance accounting is followed for ceded and assumed transactions that provide indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk (i.e., risk transfer). To meet risk transfer requirements, a reinsurance agreement must include insurance risk, consisting of underwriting, investment, and timing risk, and a reasonable possibility of a significant loss to the reinsurer. If the ceded and assumed transactions do not meet risk transfer requirements, the Company accounts for these transactions as financing transactions.
Premiums, benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses reflect the net effects of ceded and assumed reinsurance transactions. Included in other assets are prepaid reinsurance premiums, which represent the portion of premiums ceded to reinsurers applicable to the unexpired terms of the reinsurance agreements. Included in reinsurance recoverables are balances due from reinsurance companies for paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and are presented net of any necessary allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.
The Company reinsures certain of its risks to other reinsurers under yearly renewable term, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance arrangements, and variations thereof. 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.
The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and concentrations of credit risk. Reinsurance is placed with reinsurers that meet strict financial criteria established by the Company.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Predecessor Company)/Value of Business Acquired (Successor Company)
Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") represent costs that are directly related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts and incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that are incurred in transactions with either independent third parties or employees. Such costs primarily include commissions, premium taxes, costs of policy issuance and underwriting, and certain other expenses that are directly related to successfully issued contracts. As a result of the Talcott Resolution Sale Transaction being recorded at fair value, DAC which does not represent future cash flows, was eliminated in pushdown accounting.
VOBA represents the estimated value assigned to the right to receive future gross profits from cash flows and earnings of acquired insurance and investment contracts as of the date of the transaction. It is based on the actuarially estimated present value of future cash flows from the acquired 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.
For universal life-type contracts (including variable annuities), the DAC asset is amortized over the estimated life of the contracts acquired in proportion to the present value of estimated gross profits ("EGPs"). The Company also uses the present value EGPs to determine reserves for universal life type contracts (including variable annuities) with death or other insurance benefits such as guaranteed minimum death, life-contingent guaranteed minimum withdrawal and universal life insurance secondary guarantee benefits. These benefits are accounted for and collectively referred to as death and other insurance benefit reserves and are held in addition to the account value liability representing policyholder funds.
For most life insurance product contracts, including variable annuities, the Company estimates gross profits over 20 years as EGPs emerging subsequent to that time frame are immaterial. Future gross profits are projected over the estimated lives of the underlying contracts, based on future account value projections for variable annuity products. The projection of future account values requires the use of certain assumptions including: separate account returns; separate account fund mix; fees assessed against the contract holder’s account balance; full and partial surrender rates; interest credited; mortality; and annuitization rates. Changes in these assumptions and changes to other assumptions such as expenses and hedging costs cause EGPs to fluctuate, which impacts earnings.
The Company determines EGPs using a set of stochastic reversion to mean ("RTM") separate account return projections which is an estimation technique commonly used by insurance entities to project future separate account returns. Through this estimation technique, the Company’s VOBA model is adjusted to reflect actual market returns at the end of each quarter. Through a consideration of recent market returns, the Company will unlock ("Unlock"), or adjust, projected returns over a future period so that the account value returns to the long-term expected rate of return, providing that those projected returns do not exceed certain caps. This Unlock for future separate account returns is determined each quarter.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company completed a comprehensive policyholder behavior assumption study which resulted in a non-market related after-tax charge and incorporated the results of that study into its projection of future gross profits. Additionally, throughout the year, the Company evaluates various aspects of policyholder behavior and will revise its policyholder assumptions if credible emerging data indicates that changes are warranted. Upon completion of an annual assumption study or evaluation of credible new information, the Company will revise its assumptions to reflect its current best estimate. These assumption revisions will change the projected account values and the related EGPs in the VOBA models, as well as EGPs used in the death and other insurance benefit reserving models.
All assumption changes that affect the estimate of future EGPs including the update of current account values, the use of the RTM estimation technique, and policyholder behavior assumptions are considered an Unlock in the period of revision. An Unlock adjusts the VOBA (successor), death and other insurance benefit reserve balances on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with an offsetting benefit or charge on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period of the revision. An Unlock revises EGPs to reflect the Company's current best estimate assumptions. The Company also tests the aggregate recoverability of VOBA (successor) by comparing the existing balance to the present value of future EGPs. An Unlock that results in an after-tax benefit generally occurs as a result of actual experience or future expectations of product profitability being favorable compared to previous estimates. An Unlock that results in an after-tax charge generally occurs as a result of actual experience or future expectations of product profitability being unfavorable compared to previous estimates.
Policyholders or their beneficiaries may make modifications to existing contracts. If the new modification results in a substantially changed replacement contract, the existing VOBA is written off through income. If the modified contract is not substantially changed, the existing VOBA continues to be amortized and incremental costs are expensed in the period incurred.
Reserve for Future Policy Benefits
Reserve for Future Policy Benefits on Universal Life-type Contracts
Certain contracts classified as universal life-type include death and other insurance benefit features including guaranteed minimum death benefit ("GMDB") and the life-contingent portion of guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit ("GMWB") riders offered with variable annuity contracts, as well as secondary guarantee benefits offered with universal life insurance contracts. Universal life insurance secondary guarantee benefits ensure that the policy will not terminate, and will continue to provide a death benefit, even if there is insufficient policy value to cover the monthly deductions and charges. GMDB riders on variable annuities provide a death benefit during the accumulation phase that is generally equal to the greater of (a) the contract value at death or (b) premium payments less any prior withdrawals and may include adjustments that increase the benefit, such as for maximum anniversary value ("MAV"). For the Company's products with life-contingent GMWB riders, the withdrawal benefit can exceed the guaranteed remaining balance ("GRB"), which is generally equal to premiums less withdrawals. In addition to recording an account value liability that represents policyholder funds, the Company records a death and other insurance benefit liability for GMDBs, the life-contingent portion of GMWBs and the universal life insurance secondary guarantees. This death and other insurance benefit liability is reported in reserve for future policy benefits on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the death and other insurance benefit reserves are recorded in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The death and other insurance benefit liability is determined by estimating the expected present value of the benefits in excess of the policyholder’s expected account value in proportion to the present value of total expected assessments and investment margin. Total expected assessments are the aggregate of all contract charges, including those for administration, mortality, expense, and surrender. The liability is accrued as actual assessments are earned. The expected present value of benefits and assessments are generally derived from a set of stochastic scenarios that have been calibrated to our RTM separate account returns and assumptions including market rates of return, volatility, discount rates, lapse rates and mortality experience. Consistent with the Company’s policy on the Unlock, the Company regularly evaluates estimates used and adjusts the liability, with a related charge or credit to benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses. For further information on the Unlock, see the Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Predecessor Company)/Value of Business Acquired (Successor Company) accounting policy section within this footnote.
The Company reinsures a portion of its in-force GMDB, GMWB, and all of its universal life insurance secondary guarantees. Net reinsurance costs are recognized ratably over the accumulation period based on total expected assessments.
Reserve for Future Policy Benefits on Traditional Annuity and Other Contracts
Traditional annuities recorded within the reserve for future policy benefits primarily include life-contingent contracts in the payout phase such as structured settlements and terminal funding agreements. Other contracts within the reserve for policyholder benefits include whole life and guaranteed term life insurance contracts. The reserve for future policy benefits is calculated using standard actuarial methods considering the present value of future benefits and related expenses to be paid less the present value of the portion of future premiums required using assumptions “locked in” at the time the policies were issued, including discount rate, withdrawal, mortality and expense assumptions deemed appropriate at the issue date. Future policy benefits are computed at amounts that, with additions from any estimated premiums to be received and with interest on such reserves compounded annually at assumed rates, are expected to be sufficient to meet the Company’s policy obligations at their maturities or in the event of an insured’s death. While assumptions are locked in upon issuance of new contracts and annuitizations of existing contracts, significant changes in experience or assumptions may require the Company to establish premium deficiency reserves. Premium deficiency reserves, if any, are established based on current assumptions without considering a provision for adverse deviation. Changes in or deviations from the assumptions used can significantly affect the Company’s reserve levels and results from operations.
The Company uses reinsurance for a portion of its fixed and payout annuity businesses.
Other Policyholder Funds and Benefits Payable
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable primarily include the non-variable account values associated with variable annuity and other universal life-type contracts, investment contracts, the non-life contingent portion of GMWBs that are accounted for as embedded derivatives at fair value as well as other policyholder account balances associated with our life insurance businesses. Investment contracts are non-life contingent and include institutional and governmental deposits, structured settlements and fixed annuities. The liability for investment contracts is equal to the balance that accrues to the benefit of the contract holder as of the financial statement date, which includes the accumulation of deposits plus credited interest, less withdrawals, payments and assessments through the financial statement date. For discussion of fair value of GMWBs that represent embedded derivatives, see Note 2 - Fair Value Measurements of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Separate Account Liabilities
The Company records the variable account value portion of variable annuities, variable life insurance products and institutional and governmental investment contracts within separate accounts. Separate account assets are reported at fair value and separate account liabilities are reported at amounts consistent with separate account assets. Investment income and gains and losses from those separate account assets accrue directly to the policyholder, who assumes the related investment risk, and are offset by change in the related liability. Changes in the value of separate account assets and separate account liabilities are reported in the same line item on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company earns fee income for investment management, certain administrative services and mortality and expense risks.