XML 19 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.23.4
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, (collectively, "TL," the "Company," "we" or "our") is a life insurance and annuity company and comprehensive risk solutions-provider in the United States ("U.S.") and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TR Re, Ltd. ("TR Re"), a Bermuda based entity. Talcott Resolution Life, Inc. ("TLI"), a Delaware corporation and Talcott Holdings, L.P. ("THLP") are indirect parents of the Company and the Company has an ultimate parent of Talcott Financial Group, Ltd. ("TFG" or "Talcott Financial Group").
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”), which differ materially from the accounting practices prescribed by various insurance regulatory authorities. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current year presentation.
On June 30, 2021, the Company’s previous indirect owner, Hopmeadow Holdings GP LLC, completed the sale of the Company (the "Sixth Street Acquisition") through the merger of an affiliate of Sixth Street, a global investment firm, with and into THLP pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement"). Through the Agreement, TFG indirectly obtained 100% control of THLP and its life and annuity operating subsidiaries for a total purchase price of approximately $2.2 billion, comprised of a $500 pre-closing dividend and cash of $1.7 billion. The merger was accounted for using business combination accounting, together with an election to apply pushdown accounting. Under this method, the purchase price paid was assigned to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date based on their fair value. 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. The Company’s financial statements and footnote disclosures are presented into two distinct periods. The periods prior to the consummation of the Agreement are labeled ("Predecessor Company") and the periods subsequent to that date are labeled ("Successor Company") to distinguish between the different basis of accounting between the periods presented. As a result of the application of purchase accounting, the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and period of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, are not comparable to the prior periods presented. In addition, as a result of the acquisition the Company conformed to TFG’s accounting policies and modified its presentation for certain transactions.
Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements
We have restated herein our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company).
Restatement Background
On December 30, 2021, the Company entered into affiliated reinsurance agreements (“Reinsurance Agreements”) with TR Re, in which liabilities were ceded on a modified coinsurance basis. Upon further investigation, the Company’s management has concluded that the retrocession of certain U.S. GAAP net losses within the Reinsurance Agreements were incorrectly calculated for year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company), which resulted in an overstatement of reinsurance recoverables and stockholder's equity on the consolidated balance sheets of $314 and $258, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company), the impact of correcting the error was a $258 decrease to the previously reported net income of $617. In addition, certain disclosures were corrected as a result of the error. There was no impact from the restatement on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 (Predecessor Company) and in the consolidated statements of income the periods of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 (Successor Company) and January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 (Predecessor Company).
Other Immaterial Misstatements
As part of the restatement, we made a correction to previously identified errors that the Company determined to be immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2022. This resulted in an increase of other liabilities by $13 for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company) as well as corrections to certain Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Impact of the Restatement:
The following tables present the amounts previously reported and a reconciliation to the restated amounts reported on the restated consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 (Successor Company) and the restated consolidated statements of operations, the restated consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), the restated consolidated statements of changes in stockholder’s equity and the restated consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company).
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Successor Company
As of December 31, 2022
(In millions, except for share data)As Previously
Reported
Restatement ImpactsAs
Restated
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value$15,383 $— $15,383 
Fixed maturities, at fair value, using fair value option331 — 331 
Equity securities, at fair value179 — 179 
Mortgage loans2,520 — 2,520 
Policy loans1,495 — 1,495 
Limited partnerships and other alternative investments1,300 — 1,300 
Other investments 95 — 95 
Short-term investments1,489 — 1,489 
Total investments22,792  22,792 
Cash173 — 173 
Reinsurance recoverables40,714 (314)40,400 
VOBA and DAC518 — 518 
Deferred income taxes, net1,051 69 1,120 
Goodwill and other intangible assets155 — 155 
Other assets453 — 453 
Separate account assets87,255 — 87,255 
Total assets153,111 (245)$152,866 
Liabilities
Reserve for future policy benefits21,432 — 21,432 
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable31,302 — 31,302 
Funds withheld liability10,485 — 10,485 
Other liabilities2,023 13 2,036 
Separate account liabilities87,255 — 87,255 
Total liabilities152,497 13 152,510 
Stockholder’s Equity
Common stock—1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding, par value $5,690
— 
Additional paid-in capital1,877 — 1,877 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax(2,166)— (2,166)
Retained earnings897 (258)639 
Total stockholder’s equity614 (258)356 
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity$153,111 $(245)$152,866 
Consolidated Statement of Operations
Successor Company
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
(In millions)As Previously
Reported
Restatement
Impact
As
Restated
Revenues
Policy charges and fee income$506 $— $506 
Premiums109 — 109 
Net investment income778 — 778 
Net realized capital gains (losses)317 (327)(10)
Amortization of deferred gains33 — 33 
Total revenues1,743 (327)1,416 
Benefits, losses and expenses
Benefits and losses637 — 637 
Amortization of VOBA and DAC79 — 79 
Insurance operating costs and other expenses294 — 294 
Other intangible asset amortization— 
Dividends to policyholders— 
Total benefits, losses and expenses1,019  1,019 
Income before income taxes724 (327)397 
Income tax expense107 (69)38 
Net income$617 $(258)$359 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss
 Successor Company
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
(In millions)As Previously
Reported
Restatement
Impact
As
Restated
Net income$617 $(258)$359 
Other comprehensive loss ("OCI"):
Change in net unrealized loss on fixed maturities, AFS(2,129)— (2,129)
Change in net gain or loss on cash flow hedging instruments(27)— (27)
OCI, net of tax(2,156) (2,156)
Comprehensive loss$(1,539)$(258)$(1,797)
Consolidated Statement of Stockholder's Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company)
As Previously
Reported
Restatement
Impacts
As
Restated
Common Stock
Beginning balance$$— $
Ending balance6  6 
Additional Paid-In Capital
Beginning balance1,877 — 1,877 
Ending balance1,877  1,877 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance(10)— (10)
Other comprehensive loss(2,156)— (2,156)
Ending balance(2,166) (2,166)
Retained Earnings
Beginning balance280 — 280 
Net income617 (258)359 
Ending balance897 (258)639 
Total stockholder's equity, ending balance$614 $(258)$356 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Successor Company
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
(In millions)As Previously
Reported
Restatement
Impacts
As
Restated
Operating Activities
Net income$617 $(258)$359 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Net realized capital (gains) losses(317)327 10 
Amortization of deferred reinsurance gain(33)— (33)
Amortization of VOBA79 — 79 
Depreciation and amortization227 — 227 
Deferred income tax expense125 (69)56 
Interest credited on investment and universal life-type contracts534 — 534 
Other operating activities, net(38)— (38)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in reinsurance recoverables(758)— (758)
Increase for future policy benefits and unearned premiums230 — 230 
Net changes in other assets and other liabilities93 — 93 
Net proceeds from reinsurance transactions121 — 121 
Net cash provided by operating activities880  880 
Investing Activities
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale6,185 — 6,185 
Equity securities, at fair value26 — 26 
Mortgage loans258 — 258 
Partnerships64 — 64 
Payments for the purchase of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale(4,255)— (4,255)
Fixed maturities, fair value option(352)— (352)
Equity securities, at fair value(22)— (22)
Mortgage loans(667)— (667)
Partnerships(158)— (158)
Net proceeds from repurchase agreements program25 — 25 
Net payments for derivatives(559)— (559)
Net payments for policy loans(11)— (11)
Net payments for short-term investments(255)— (255)
Net cash provided by investing activities279  279 
Financing Activities
Deposits and other additions to investment and universal life-type contracts2,033 — 2,033 
Withdrawals and other deductions from investment and universal life-type contracts(8,109)— (8,109)
Net transfers from separate accounts related to investment and universal life-type contracts5,140 — 5,140 
Net decrease in securities loaned or sold under agreements to repurchase(99)— (99)
Net cash used for financing activities(1,035) (1,035)
Net increase in cash124 — 124 
Cash — beginning of period49 — 49 
Cash — end of period$173 $ $173 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Income taxes received$142 $— $142 
Description of Business
As of December 31, 2022, the Company managed approximately 490 thousand annuity contracts with an account value of approximately $36.7 billion, gross of reinsurance, and private placement life insurance with an account value of approximately $39.0 billion. Upon the Company's acquisition by Sixth Street, the Company's strategy changed to be one of a life insurance aggregator through reinsurance. Since the Sixth Street acquisition, the Company has participated in multiple assumed reinsurance transactions that have positioned the Company, as part of the Talcott Financial Group, as a leading participant in this area of the life insurance marketplace. As part of the Company's growth strategy, the Company assumes life insurance blocks of business, providing external insurers with solutions to create capital flexibility and risk management efficiencies. Since the Sixth Street Acquisition and as of December 31, 2022, the Company has assumed fixed indexed annuities of $6.4 billion and variable annuities of $6.6 billion.
On November 1, 2022, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (“GIAC” or "Guardian") to reinsure $7.1 billion in variable annuity reserves, primarily comprised of contracts with living withdrawal benefit and death benefit riders. The Company assumed 100% of $439 in general account reserves on a coinsurance basis and assumed 100% of $6.7 billion in separate account reserves on a modified coinsurance basis. The Company acquired general account assets to support the assumed reserves and received $121 in cash from GIAC upon closing, primarily relating to a ceding commission of $65 and cash settlements. A deferred gain on reinsurance was recorded in other liabilities upon the effective date for approximately $90 and will be recognized in income over the expected life of the underlying policies. As part of this transaction, the Company entered into an administration services agreement for the reinsured block and will ultimately administer the reinsured block within two years following the close of the transaction.
On December 30, 2021, pursuant to a reorganization approved by the Connecticut Department of Insurance ("CTDOI") on November 18, 2021, TLI contributed the Company to TR Re and TR Re subsequently became the Company's direct parent. TR Re was formed on June 28, 2021 and is an approved Class E insurer under the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
On December 30, 2021, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz") to assume approximately $8.0 billion of fixed indexed annuities ("FIA") reserves ("Inforce Agreement"). The Company assumed 100% of one block (approximately $5.0 billion of FIA reserves) and 5% of another block (approximately $3.0 billion of FIA reserves) on a coinsurance basis and the Company acquired general account assets to support these assumed reserves. Certain of the FIAs included living withdrawal benefits. The Company paid $693 to Allianz upon closing, primarily relating to a ceding commission of $866, offset by cash settlements. The Company will participate in an aggregated hedging pool administered by Allianz, whereby the Company will pay Allianz a fee in order to participate in the pool and will receive an index credit payout based on the level of participation in the pool. A deferred gain on reinsurance was recorded in other liabilities upon the effective date for approximately $25 and will be recognized in income over the expected life of the underlying policies. On July 29, 2022, the Company executed a flow reinsurance agreement with Allianz. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company assumed certain FIA contracts issued by Allianz after August 2, 2022 on a coinsurance basis ("Flow Agreement"). Allianz will continue to service and administer the policies reinsured under the Inforce Agreement and Flow Agreement as the direct insurer of the business. On December 31, 2022, the Company retroceded 75% of the business assumed from Allianz to TR Re on a modified coinsurance basis. As a result of the retrocession, the Company recorded a deferred gain of $137.
On December 30, 2021, the Company entered into an affiliated reinsurance agreement with its parent TR Re. The Company generally ceded 50% of reserves related to variable and payout annuity blocks, with 100% of certain variable annuity guarantees and certain structured settlement contracts ceded at a lesser quota share percentage. All but the Company’s terminal funding block was ceded on a modified coinsurance basis, with the terminal funding block ceded on a coinsurance with funds withheld basis. The reinsured business ceded was the Company's direct written business and was not previously assumed. This affiliate reinsurance transaction was accounted for in accordance with reinsurance accounting. Under this method, a deferred gain on reinsurance was recorded in other liabilities of approximately $805 and will be recognized in income over the expected life of the underlying policies. The Company will continue to service and administer the policies as insurer of the reinsured block of business and will remain responsible for fulfilling its obligations to policyholders. The Company paid TR Re $100 in ceding commission and an additional $84 to settle tax balances associated with the transaction as part of the arrangement.
On September 17, 2021, the Company executed a flow reinsurance transaction with Lincoln National Corporation's ("Lincoln") insurance subsidiary, The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. The Company coinsured a living benefit rider on variable annuity contracts issued by Lincoln between April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 up to a maximum of $1.5 billion of reinsured deposits. In June 2022, the Company entered into an extension of the agreement through June 30, 2023, at a lower quota share for contracts issued subsequent to June 30, 2022. Lincoln will continue to service and administer the policies as direct insurer of the business.
For additional information regarding reinsurance transactions, refer to Note 5 - Reinsurance.
In conjunction with the sale from The Hartford Financial Services Group ("The Hartford") in 2018, the Company entered into a five year transition services agreement with The Hartford to provide general ledger, cash management, investment accounting and information technology infrastructure services. In March 2019, the Company converted its existing transition services agreement for investment accounting services into an administrative service agreement, which expires in May 2023. The transition services agreement with The Hartford for the remaining services ended in 2020, as those services had fully transitioned to the Company.
Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and entities the Company directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest in which the Company is required to consolidate. Entities in which the Company 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 the Company 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:
Valuation of investments, including the underlying investments within the funds withheld liability;
Evaluation of credit losses on fixed maturities, available for sale ("AFS");
Allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on mortgage loans;
Valuation of derivative assets and liabilities, including embedded derivatives;
Valuation of liabilities associated with FIA;
Estimated gross profits ("EGPs") used to amortize VOBA and liabilities associated with variable annuities, FIA, and other universal life-type contracts, as well as certain deferred reinsurance amounts;
Evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment;
Valuation of living withdrawal benefits and FIA required to be recorded at fair value;
Valuation of value of business acquired ("VOBA"), deferred gains on reinsurance, and deferred acquisition costs ("DAC");
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets;
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.
Pushdown Accounting
Sixth Street
The Sixth Street Acquisition was accounted for using business combination accounting, together with an election to apply pushdown accounting. The goodwill from the Sixth Street Acquisition is attributable to the Company's expectation that the combined group can leverage its insurance platform to become a life insurance aggregator. Goodwill for the Sixth Street Acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
The following table represents the final determination of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the Sixth Street Acquisition:
Cash and invested assets$19,711 
VOBA565 
Deferred income taxes737 
Goodwill97 
Other intangible assets67 
Reinsurance recoverables and other assets [1]30,481 
Separate account assets112,857 
Total assets164,515 
Reserves for future policy benefits21,122 
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable25,961 
Funds withheld liability [1]1,039 
Other liabilities1,653 
Separate account liabilities112,857 
Total liabilities162,632 
Stockholder's equity1,883 
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity$164,515 
[1]    Previously reported table was updated to reflect the gross presentation for modified coinsurance reinsurance transactions.
The Successor Company's assets and liabilities are recognized based on TFG’s accounting basis, with an offset to additional paid-in capital. In addition, retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of the Predecessor Company are not carried forward, as a new basis of accounting has been established.
Invested Assets
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 the Company, 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 Sixth Street Acquisition. 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 equity market returns, mortality, persistency, expenses, discount 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 EGPs and it is reviewed for recoverability quarterly. 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. These liabilities were increased to fair value, which is presented separately from VOBA as an additional insurance liability in other policyholder funds and benefits payable. The additional liability is amortized to income over the life of the underlying policies.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost of an acquired business over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at the entity or reporting unit level annually or when events or circumstances arise, such as adverse changes in the business climate, that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the entity or a reporting unit below its carrying value. Our methodology for conducting this goodwill impairment testing contains both a qualitative and quantitative assessment.
The Company has the option to initially perform an assessment of qualitative factors in order to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the entity or a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The qualitative factors may include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance of the entity or a reporting unit and other company and entity-level or reporting unit-specific events. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the entity or reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we then perform the impairment evaluation using a more detailed quantitative assessment. If the carrying values of the entity or reporting units were to exceed their fair value under that quantitative assessment, the amount of the impairment would be calculated and goodwill would be adjusted accordingly. The Company could directly perform this quantitative assessment, bypassing the qualitative assessment and perform a quantitative impairment test.
As a result of the quantitative review performed for the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of TL exceeded its respective carrying value and that goodwill was not impaired. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company determined that the goodwill associated with TL was not impaired.
For a discussion of goodwill from the Sixth Street Acquisition, refer to Note 7 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Other Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Amortizing intangible assets primarily consists of internally developed software amortized over a period not to exceed seven 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 indefinitely lived intangibles is less than the carrying value.
The Company determined during its reviews for December 31, 2022 and 2021 that its other indefinite-lived intangible assets and finite-lived intangible assets were not impaired.
For a discussion of other intangible assets from the Sixth Street Acquisition, refer to Note 7 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures
The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures (“ASU 2022-02”) in March 2022, which eliminates the accounting guidance on troubled debt restructurings for creditors and amends the guidance on vintage disclosures. The amendments require that an entity evaluate whether the loan modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan, and introduce new requirements related to modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Additionally, ASU 2022-02 enhances disclosures for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, by requiring current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for creditors with respect to loan refinancing and restructurings and internal risk ratings for financing receivables. ASU 2022-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the amendments of ASU 2022-02 prospectively in the first quarter of 2023 and does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company.
Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions
The FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions (“ASU 2022-03”) in June 2022. ASU 2022-03 clarifies that a contractual sales restriction is not considered in measuring an equity security at fair value and to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value. ASU 2022-03 applies to both holders and issuers of equity and equity-linked securities measured at fair value. The amendments in ASU 2022-03 are effective for the Company in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adopted permitted. The Company will adopt the provisions of ASU 2022-03 in the first quarter of 2024 and does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company.
Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers
The FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2021-08”) in October 2021, which requires acquiring entities to apply Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers upon recognizing and measuring contract assets and liabilities in a business combination. This update is intended to improve comparability after a business combination, by providing consistent recognition and measurement of revenue contracts with customers acquired and not acquired in a business combination. ASU 2021-08 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted.
The amendments in ASU 2021-08 should be applied prospectively. We will adopt the provisions of this ASU in the first quarter of 2023 and do not expect it to have a material impact on the Company.
Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long Duration Contracts
The FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts ("ASU 2018-12") in August 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 ("LFPB"), by requiring annual or more frequent updates of insurance assumptions and modifying rates used to discount future cash flows. Further, the guidance seeks to improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with account balance contracts, simplify the amortization of DAC and other balances amortized on a basis consistent with DAC, and improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.
This guidance was amended through the issuance of ASU 2020-11, which deferred the effective date the Company is required to adopt the guidance to January 1, 2023 with early adoption permitted. Through the issuance of ASU 2022-05, an insurance entity is permitted, prior to the effective date, to exclude certain contracts from applying the amendments in ASU 2018-12, when those contracts have been derecognized because of a sale or disposal of an individual or a group of contracts or legal entities and in which the insurance entity has no significant continuing involvement with the derecognized contracts. The Company does not currently intend to apply this accounting policy election.
The Company intends to use the full retrospective adoption method, as of the date of the Sixth Street Acquisition. The Company does not expect an impact to stockholder's equity as a result of the adoption of ASU 2018-12, due to the application of purchase accounting; whereby assets and liabilities were transacted at fair value as of the date of the acquisition. Upon the adoption of ASU 2018-12, the change in the carrying value of insurance assets and liabilities as of July 1, 2021 are recorded with an equal and offsetting adjustment to VOBA or an additional reserve. Refer below for further discussion of other impacts upon adoption to the new standard. The adoption is expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations due to the updating of cash flow assumptions for LFPB, recognition of changes to the fair value of market risk benefits (“MRB”), and the change in amortization methodology for DAC and other DAC-like balances.
The Company has made key accounting policy decisions, including insurance policy groupings for recognition and measurement of LFPB, discount rate methodology, development of liability cash flow and claim expense assumptions, and DAC and other DAC-like amortization methodology. Outlined below are four key areas of change, although there are other less significant policy changes not noted below.
Amended TopicDescriptionAdoption Method and Transition Impact
Cash flow and discount rate assumptions underlying insurance liabilitiesFor nonparticipating traditional and limited-payment insurance contracts, the Company will evaluate, at least annually in the same fiscal quarter, as to whether an update to cash flow assumptions is needed. The Company will update the cash flows used to measure the LFPB, for both changes in future assumptions and actual experience, at least annually.

The updating of cash flows impacts the amount of the deferred profit liability (“DPL”) recorded for limited-payment contracts. The DPL will be adjusted concurrently with any updating of the LFPB.

Cash flows are required to be discounted with an upper-medium grade (or low credit risk) fixed-income instrument yield, with the effect of discount rate changes on the liability recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The discount rate utilized is intended to reflect the duration characteristics of the corresponding insurance liabilities. The Company will obtain yield curves and spreads for a range of tenors to determine spot yields to discount the cash flows of the insurance liabilities as of each valuation date.
The Company will adopt the guidance for LFPB, as of the date of the Sixth Street Acquisition. As of the acquisition date, the Company expects there will be a decrease to LFPB (and the associated reinsurance recoverable), which will be offset by a net increase to an additional reserve. This is due to the application of purchase accounting associated with the Sixth Street Acquisition, which employed lower discount rates for the fair value calculations than the required discount rates to value the cash flows on the insurance liabilities under ASU 2018-12.
Amended TopicDescriptionAdoption Method and Transition Impact
MRBThe Company currently offers and assumes certain guarantees and product features on variable annuity and FIA products, which protect the contractholder from other-than-nominal capital market risk and expose the Company to other-than-nominal capital market risk. These MRB features are required to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in net income, with the exception of the changes in MRB liabilities attributable to a change in an entity’s nonperformance risk, which is required to be recognized in OCI. For products that are reinsured, the portion of the change in MRB attributable to changes in the reinsurer’s nonperformance risk is recognized in income. The Company shall maximize the use of relevant observable information and minimize the use of unobservable information in determining the balance of the MRB upon adoption.The Company will adopt the guidance for MRB using the full retrospective method. As of the acquisition date, the Company expects there to be an increase to the MRB liability (and the associated reinsurance recoverable) and a decrease to VOBA, as a result of the difference between the establishment of the MRB recorded at fair value under ASU 2018-12 and reserves previously recorded for those benefits.
Amortization of DAC and other DAC-like balancesThe Company will amortize DAC and other DAC-like balances on a constant-level basis over the expected term for a group of contracts consistent with the groupings used in estimating the associated LFPB. The constant-level basis for the group approximates a pattern of straight-line amortization at an individual contract level by using a method specific to the underlying product. The amortization rate utilized is calculated at the end of the current reporting period, including actual experience and any assumption updates. The revised amortization rate is applied prospectively from the beginning of the current reporting period.As a result of amortizing DAC and other DAC-like balances on a constant-level basis, the Company does not expect a significant impact upon the adoption of ASU 2018-12.
Reporting and DisclosuresASU 2018-12 requires certain enhanced presentation and disclosures including disaggregated rollforwards for LFPB, policyholder account balances, MRB, separate account liabilities, DAC and other DAC-like balances, and information about significant inputs, judgments and methods used in the LFPB measurement. The enhanced disclosures are intended to improve the ability of users of the financial statements to evaluate the timing, amount, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from long-duration contracts.The Company’s implementation efforts and the evaluation of the impacts of the guidance on its consolidated financial statements, as well as its systems, processes, and controls, continue to progress. Given the nature and extent of the required changes to a significant portion of the Company’s operations, the adoption of this guidance is expected to have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations. In addition, there will be a significant increase in required disclosures.
Significant Accounting Policies
The Company’s significant accounting policies are as follows:
Segment Information
The Company has no reportable segments and its principal products and services are comprised of variable, fixed and payout annuities, FIAs, and private-placement life insurance. 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. Policy charges and fee income for variable annuity, FIA, deferred annuity and other universal life-type contracts primarily 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.
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, net of ACL. 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 VOBA and reserve adjustments. Equity securities are measured at fair value with any changes in valuation reported in net income. Mortgage loans are recorded at the outstanding principal balance adjusted for amortization of premiums or discounts, net of ACL. Policy loans are carried at outstanding balance. 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 accounted for under the equity method is delayed due to the availability of the related financial information, as private equity and other funds are generally on a three-month lag and hedge funds generally on a one-month lag. Accordingly, income for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company), the period of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 (Successor Company), the period of January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 (Predecessor Company), and the year ended December 31, 2020 (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 consist of derivative instruments which are carried at fair value and real estate acquired in satisfaction of debt. Short-term investments, including cash equivalents, are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Fair Value Option ("FVO")
The Company has elected the FVO for rated feeder fund investments, where a single entity issues both debt securities and equity interests and the Company owns both the debt security and equity interest portions of the investment. The Company has elected the FVO for these investments to reflect changes in fair value in earnings and to align the timing of the fair value measurement for its multiple investments in that single entity.
Credit Losses
An ACL is recognized as an estimate of credit losses expected over the life of financial instruments, such as mortgage loans, reinsurance recoverables and off-balance sheet credit exposures that the Company cannot unconditionally cancel. The measurement of the expected credit loss estimate is based on historical loss data, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.
Credit losses on fixed maturities, AFS carried at fair value are measured through an other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"); however, losses are recognized through the ACL and no longer as an adjustment to the amortized cost. Recoveries of OTTI on fixed maturities, AFS are recognized as reversals of the ACL recognized through net realized capital gains and losses and no longer accreted as net investment income through an adjustment to the investment yield. Additionally, purchased financial assets with a more-than-insignificant amount of credit deterioration since original issuance establishes an ACL at acquisition, which is recorded with the purchase price to establish the initial amortized cost of the investment.
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 equity securities, derivatives contracts (both freestanding and embedded) that do not qualify, or are not designated, as a hedge for accounting purposes, and certain investments where the FVO has been elected. The entire change in fair value of the FVO investment includes the components related to dividends and interest income. Impairments and changes in the ACL on fixed maturities, AFS; mortgage loans; and reinsurance recoverables are recognized as net realized capital losses in accordance with the Company’s impairment and ACL 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.
Interest income from fixed maturities, FVO is recognized when earned on the constant effective yield method based on estimated timing of cash flows.
Net Investment Income
Interest income from fixed maturities, AFS 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 have previously recognized an ACL 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. Expected credit losses on fixed maturities, AFS are recorded through an ACL. The Company’s non-income producing investments were not material for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Successor Company), the period of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 (Successor Company), the period of January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 (Predecessor Company), and the year ended December 31, 2020 (Predecessor Company). In addition, net investment income includes a portion of the change in funds withheld at interest, as a result of the change in the risk-free rate on the host contract.
Derivative Instruments
Overview
The Company utilizes a variety of over-the-counter ("OTC") transactions, OTC 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 - Derivatives 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. 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 and assumed via reinsurance 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 $7. 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, as well as money market funds.
Reinsurance
The Company cedes to affiliated and unaffiliated insurers to enable the Company to manage capital and risk exposure. The Company also assumes from unaffiliated insurers to provide our counterparties with risk management solutions. The Company's historical reinsurance cessions provided a level of risk mitigation desired by prior ownership. The Company's current reinsurance assumptions and internal retrocessions provide strategic business growth opportunities. In ceding and assuming risks, the Company may use various types of reinsurance including coinsurance, modified coinsurance, coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, and yearly renewable term. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. Ceded reinsurance arrangements do not discharge the Company as the primary insurer, except for instances where the primary policy or policies have been novated.
Premiums and benefits and losses 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 are presented net of an ACL which is based on the expectation of lifetime credit loss.
Reinsurance accounting is followed for ceded and assumed transactions that provide indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk (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. The deferred gain or acquisition cost 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 and is primarily amortized on a constant-level basis.
Under coinsurance arrangements, reserves and investment assets are transferred from the ceding insurer to the reinsurer. In certain arrangements, the reinsurer will hold the assets supporting the reserves in a trust for the benefit of the ceding insurer.
Under modified coinsurance arrangements, both the ceded reserves and the investment assets that support the reserves are retained by the cedant and profit and loss with respect to the obligations and investment returns flow through periodic net settlements. Under coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, ceded reserves are transferred to the reinsurer, however, investment assets that support the reserves are retained by the cedant, and profit and loss with respect to only the investment returns flow through periodic net settlements. Both modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements require the cedant to establish a mechanism which legally segregates the underlying assets. The Company has the right of offset on general account assets and liabilities reinsured on a modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld basis, but have elected to present balances due to and due from reinsurance counterparties on a gross basis, within reinsurance recoverables and funds withheld liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Modified coinsurance of assumed separate accounts accounted for under reinsurance accounting is presented on a net basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of the net presentation of the reinsured separate account assets and liabilities, we have revenue recorded from the reinsurance separate accounts as fee income, but not an associated asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
A funds withheld liability is established which represents the fair value of investment assets segregated under ceded modified coinsurance or coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance arrangements. The funds withheld liability is comprised of a host contract and an embedded derivative. For ceded reinsurance agreements, the cedant has an obligation to pay the total return on the assets supporting the funds withheld liability. Interest accrues at a risk-free rate on the host contract and is recorded as net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The embedded derivative is similar to a total return swap on the income generated by the underlying assets held by the cedant. The change in the embedded derivative is recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).
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.
Value of Business Acquired
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 acquisition. 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 acquisition. The principal assumptions used in estimating VOBA include equity market returns, mortality, persistency, expenses, and discount rates, in addition to 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. For certain transactions, the fair value of acquired obligations of the Company exceed the book value of assumed in-force policy liabilities resulting in additional insurance liabilities. In pushdown accounting, these liabilities were increased to fair value, which is presented separately from VOBA as an additional insurance liability included in other policyholder funds and benefits payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company amortizes VOBA over EGPs and it is reviewed for recoverability quarterly.
The Company also uses the present value of EGPs to determine reserves for universal life type contracts (including VA) with death or other insurance benefits such as guaranteed minimum death benefits, 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.
In the third quarter of 2022, 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 behavior 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 and policyholder behavior assumptions are considered an Unlock in the period of revision. An Unlock adjusts the VOBA, 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 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.
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 U.S. GAAP 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.
Separate Accounts
The Company records the variable account value portion of variable annuities, variable life insurance products and individual, 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 the change in the related liability. The Company earns fee income for investment management, certain administrative services and mortality and expense risks.
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. These features include guaranteed minimum death benefit ("GMDB") and the life-contingent portion of guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit ("GMWB") riders offered with variable annuity contracts, including assumed variable annuity contracts, secondary guarantee benefits offered with universal life insurance contracts, as well as GLWB riders and guaranteed annuitization benefits offered by assumed variable annuity and FIA contracts. 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. 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. GLWBs on FIA contracts allow guaranteed lifetime withdrawals even if account value is otherwise insufficient. Certain FIA contracts contain a second notional account value which provides additional annuitization benefits. 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 and losses in 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 assumed market rates of return and assumptions including 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 and losses. For further information on the Unlock, see the Value of Business Acquired accounting policy section within this footnote.
The Company reinsures a majority of its FIA, a portion of its in-force GMDB and GMWB risks, and all of its universal life insurance secondary guarantees.
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 and its life insurance business.
Other Policyholder Funds and Benefits Payable
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable primarily include the non-variable account values associated with variable annuities, including account values for assumed variable annuities, assumed FIA and other universal life-type contracts, investment contracts, assumed FIAs and the non-life contingent portion of variable annuity GMWBs that are accounted for as embedded derivatives at fair value as well as other policyholder account balances associated with our life insurance businesses and assumed reinsurance. 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 the fair value of GMWBs and assumed FIAs that represent embedded derivatives, refer to Note 2 - Fair Value Measurements of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.