10-K405 1 nlicfin01.txt NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 ----------- FORM 10-K The Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and(b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format. [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 333-58520 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) ARIZONA 36-3001527 (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 3100 SANDERS ROAD NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS 60062 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: 847/402-5000 SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: NONE INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS, AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS. YES |X| NO |_| INDICATE BY CHECK MARK IF DISCLOSURE OF DELINQUENT FILIERS PURSUANT TO ITEM 405 OF REGULATION S-K IS NOT CONTAINED HEREIN, AND WILL NOT BE CONTAINED, TO THE BEST OF THE REGISTRANT'S KNOWLEDGE, IN DEFINITIVE PROXY OR INFORMATION STATEMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PART III OF THIS FORM 10-K OR ANY AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM 10-K. YES |X| NO |_| AS OF MARCH 29, 2002, THERE WERE 25,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING, PAR VALUE $100 PER SHARE, ALL OF WHICH SHARES ARE HELD BY ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ---- PART I Item 1. Business* 2 Item 2. Properties* 3 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 3 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders** N/A PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters 3 Item 6. Selected Financial Data** N/A Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 4 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 14 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 14 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 14 PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant** N/A Item 11. Executive Compensation** N/A Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management** N/A Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions** N/A PART IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K 15 Signatures 16 Index to Financial Statements 18
* Item prepared in accordance with General Instruction I(2) of Form 10-K. **Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I(2) of Form 10-K. PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS Northbrook Life Insurance Company ("Northbrook Life" or the "Company") is a stock life insurance company originally organized under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1978. In 1998, the Company was redomesticated to the State of Arizona. Since its inception, the Company has done business continuously as "Northbrook Life Insurance Company." Northbrook Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"), a stock life insurance company incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. ALIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC"), a stock property-liability insurance company incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. All of the outstanding capital stock of AIC is owned by The Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation"), a Delaware company which has several different classes of securities, including common stock, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Northbrook Life, a single segment entity, markets a diversified group of products to meet consumer's lifetime needs in the areas of protection and retirement solutions exclusively through Morgan Stanley DW, Inc. ("MSDW"). MSDW, a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. These products include interest-sensitive life, including single premium life and variable life; fixed annuities including market value adjusted annuities; immediate annuities; and variable annuities. MSDW, along with its various insurance agency affiliates, also serves as the general agent for the sale of Northbrook's insurance products. Approximately 15,000 MSDW Financial Advisors have been appointed by Northbrook to sell its products. MSDW Financial Advisors are employees of MSDW. Northbrook Life and ALIC entered into reinsurance agreements, effective December 31, 1987, under which Northbrook Life reinsures substantially all of its business with ALIC. Under these agreements, premiums, contract charges, credited interest, policy benefits and certain expenses under substantially all general account contracts are reinsured with ALIC. ALIC is bound to stand behind the Company's contractual obligations to its policyholders. However, the obligations of ALIC under the reinsurance agreements are to the Company. The Company continues to have primary liability as the direct insurer for risks reinsured. In addition, assets of the Company that relate to insurance in-force, excluding Separate Accounts assets, are transferred to ALIC. Therefore, the funds necessary to support the operations of the Company are provided by ALIC and the Company is not required to obtain additional capital to support in-force or future business. Under the Company's reinsurance agreements with ALIC, the Company reinsures substantially all reserve liabilities with ALIC. The assets which support these liabilities are owned and managed by ALIC. The assets and liabilities of the variable contracts are held in legally-segregated, unitized Separate Accounts and are retained by the Company. Contract charge revenue is reinsured to ALIC and consists of charges assessed against the account values of the Separate Accounts. Northbrook Life's and ALIC's general account assets must be invested in accordance with applicable state laws. These laws govern the nature and quality of investments that may be made by life insurance companies and the percentage of their assets that may be committed to any particular type of investment. Northbrook Life is engaged in a business that is highly competitive because of the large number of stock and mutual life insurance companies and other entities competing in the sale of insurance and annuities. As of December 2000, the last year for which current information is available, there were approximately 1,400 stock, mutual and other types of insurers in business in the United States. Several independent rating agencies regularly evaluate life insurer's claims paying ability, quality of investments and overall stability. A.M. Best Company has assigned A+ (Superior) to ALIC, which automatically reinsures all net business of Northbrook Life. A.M. Best Company also has assigned Northbrook Life the rating of A+(r) because Northbrook Life automatically reinsures substantially all business with ALIC. Standard & Poor's Insurance Rating Services has assigned AA+ (very strong) to the Company's claims-paying ability, and Moody's Investors Service has assigned an Aa2 (excellent) financial strength rating to the Company. Northbrook Life shares the same ratings of its parent, ALIC. In February 2002, Standard & Poor's affirmed its December 31, 2001 ratings. Standard & Poor's revised its outlook for ALIC and its rated subsidiaries and affiliates to "negative" from "stable". This revision is part of an ongoing life insurance industry review recently initiated by Standard & Poor's. Moody's and A.M. Best reaffirmed its ratings and outlook for the Company and ALIC. 2 The Company's business is subject to the effects of a changing social, economic and regulatory environment. State and federal regulatory initiatives have varied and have included employee benefit regulations, removal of barriers preventing banks from engaging in the securities and insurance businesses, tax law changes affecting the taxation of insurance companies, the tax treatment of insurance products and its impact on the relative desirability of various personal investment vehicles, and the overall expansion of regulation. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain. Northbrook Life is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an issuer of registered products. The SEC also regulates certain Northbrook Life Separate Accounts that issue variable life contracts or, together with the Company, issue variable annuity contracts. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES Northbrook Life occupies office space provided by AIC in Northbrook, Illinois. Expenses associated with these offices are allocated to Northbrook Life. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company and its Board of Directors know of no material legal proceedings pending to which the Company is a party or which would materially affect the Company. The Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation in the normal course of its business in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate the ultimate liability arising from such pending or threatened litigation to have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS All of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock are owned by its parent, ALIC. ALIC's outstanding shares are owned directly or indirectly by AIC. All of the outstanding shares of AIC are owned by the Corporation. 3 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS SIGNIFICANT FACTORS INFLUENCING RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION OF NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (THE "COMPANY"). IT SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES. TO CONFORM WITH THE 2001 PRESENTATION, CERTAIN PRIOR YEAR AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES In response to the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") release "Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure about Critical Accounting Policies", the Company identified critical accounting policies by considering policies that involve the most complex or subjective judgments or assessments. The Company has identified three policies as critical accounting policies because they involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. A brief summary of each critical accounting policy follows. For a more complete discussion of the judgments and other factors affecting the measurement of these items, see the referenced sections of Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). - INVESTMENTS -All fixed income securities are carried at fair value and may be sold prior to their contractual maturity ("available for sale"). The difference between the amortized cost of fixed income securities and fair value, net of deferred income taxes, is reflected as a component of Shareholder's equity. The Company closely monitors its fixed income portfolios for declines in value that are other than temporary. Securities are placed on non-accrual status when they are in default or when timing or receipt of principal or interest payments are in doubt. Provisions for losses are recognized for declines in the value of fixed income securities that are deemed to be other than temporary. Such write-downs are included in Realized capital gains and losses. - LIFE INSURANCE RESERVES AND CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS - Reserves for life-contingent contract benefits, which relate to immediate annuities with life contingencies are computed on the basis of long-term actuarial assumptions as to future investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations and expenses. These assumptions include provisions for adverse deviation and generally vary by such characteristics as type of coverage, year of issue and policy duration. Contractholder funds arise from the issuance of contracts that include an investment component, including fixed annuities, interest-sensitive life policies and other investment contracts. Deposits received are recorded as interest-bearing liabilities. Contractholder funds are equal to deposits received and interest credited to the benefit of the contractholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses. The Company reinsures substantially all reserve liabilities with Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"). - REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE - The Company has reinsurance agreements whereby substantially all premiums, contract charges, credited interest, policy benefits and certain expenses are ceded to ALIC. Reinsurance does not extinguish the Company's primary liability under the policies written. The Company also discloses its significant accounting policies in Note 2 to the financial statements. OVERVIEW The Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALIC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation"), markets a diversified group of products to meet consumer's lifetime needs in the area of protection and retirement solutions exclusively through Morgan Stanley DW, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. Northbrook Life Insurance Company's products include interest-sensitive life, including single premium life and variable life; fixed annuities including market value adjusted annuities; immediate annuities; and variable annuities. The Company has identified itself as a single segment entity. 4 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS) 2001 2000 1999 --------- --------- --------- Net investment income $ 6,098 $ 6,802 $ 6,010 Realized capital gains and losses 95 (230) 510 Income tax expense 2,159 2,293 2,264 --------- --------- --------- Net income $ 4,034 $ 4,279 $ 4,256 ========= ========= =========
The Company has reinsurance agreements under which substantially all contract and policy related transactions are transferred to ALIC. The Company's results of operations include only net investment income and realized capital gains and losses earned on the assets of the Company that are not transferred under reinsurance agreements. Net income in 2001 decreased 5.7% to $4.0 million compared to $4.3 million in 2000 due to the decrease in net investment income partially offset by the increase in realized capital gains from the sale of fixed income securities. In 2000, net income was comparable to 1999 as the increase in net investment income was offset by realized capital losses. Net investment income decreased 10.3% to $6.1 million in 2001 compared to 2000 due to lower investment balances, excluding unrealized gains and losses, and lower yields. In 2000, net investment income increased 13.2% to $6.8 million compared to 1999 due to higher investment balances and higher yields. Investments, excluding Separate Accounts and unrealized gains and losses on fixed income securities, decreased 1.0% and increased 2.8% in 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company expects to experience lower investment yields due, in part, to the reinvestment of proceeds from calls and maturities in securities yielding less than the average portfolio rate. Realized capital gains, after-tax, were $62 thousand in 2001 compared to realized capital losses, after-tax, of $150 thousand and $332 thousand in 2000 and 1999, respectively. In 2001, 2000 and 1999, realized capital gains and losses resulted from the sale of corporate bonds. Period to period fluctuations in realized capital gains and losses are the result of timing of sales decisions reflecting management's decision on positioning the portfolio, assessments of individual securities, overall market conditions and write-downs when an assessment is made by the Company that a decline in value of a security is other than temporary. 5 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FINANCIAL POSITION
2001 2000 ------------- ------------- (IN THOUSANDS) Fixed income securities (1) $ 91,969 $ 93,030 Short-term 5,746 3,859 ------------- ------------- Total investments $ 97,715 $ 96,889 ============= ============= Reinsurance recoverable from ALIC $ 2,046,987 $ 1,975,150 ============= ============= Contractholder funds $ 1,896,647 $ 1,826,062 ============= ============= Reserves for life-contingent contract benefits $ 150,349 $ 149,111 ============= ============= Separate Accounts assets and liabilities $ 6,236,902 $ 7,614,673 ============= =============
(1) Fixed income securities are carried at fair value. Amortized cost for these securities was $88.3 million and $91.1 million at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Total investments were $97.7 million at December 31, 2001 compared to $96.9 million at December 31, 2000. In 2001, the decrease in fixed income securities due to sales was more than offset by an increase in unrealized capital gains and short-term investments. FIXED INCOME SECURITIES The Company's fixed income securities portfolio consists of publicly traded corporate bonds, U.S. government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, privately placed corporate obligations, taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds and foreign government bonds. The Company generally holds its fixed income securities to maturity, but has classified all of these securities as available for sale to allow maximum flexibility in portfolio management. At December 31, 2001 unrealized net capital gains on fixed income securities were $3.7 million compared to $1.9 million at December 31, 2000. The increase in the unrealized capital gain position is primarily attributable to interest rate fluctuations from year to year. As of December 31, 2001, 99.5% of the fixed income securities portfolio was invested in taxable securities. The Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") evaluates the fixed income securities investments of insurers for regulatory reporting purposes and assigns securities to one of six investment categories called "NAIC designations." The NAIC designations parallel the credit ratings of the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations for marketable securities. NAIC designations 1 and 2 include securities considered investment grade (rated "Baa3" or higher by Moody's, or rate "BBB-" or higher by Standard & Poor's ("S&P")) by such rating organizations. NAIC designations 3 through 6 include securities considered below investment grade (rated "Ba1" or lower by Moody's, or rated "BB+" or lower by S&P). At December 31, 2001, substantially all of the Company's fixed income securities portfolio was rated investment grade, which is defined by the Company as a security having a NAIC rating of 1 or 2, a Moody's rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa, or a comparable Company internal rating. The quality mix of the Company's fixed income securities portfolio at December 31, 2001 is presented in the following table:
(IN THOUSANDS) NAIC RATINGS MOODY'S EQUIVALENT DESCRIPTION FAIR VALUE PERCENT TO TOTAL ------- ------------------------------ ---------- ---------------- 1 Aaa/Aa/A $ 74,677 81.2% 2 Baa 16,270 17.7 3 Ba 1,022 1.1 --------- --------- $ 91,969 100.0% ========= =========
As of December 31, 2001, the fixed income securities portfolio contained $1.7 million of privately placed corporate obligations. There were no investments in such securities at December 31, 2000. The benefits of privately placed securities as compared to public securities are generally higher yields, improved cash flow predictability through pro-rata sinking funds on many 6 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS bonds, and a combination of covenant and call protection features designed to better protect the holder against losses resulting from credit deterioration, reinvestment risk and fluctuations in interest rates. A relative disadvantage of privately placed securities as compared to public securities is relatively reduced liquidity. At December 31, 2001, 100% of the privately placed securities were rated as investment grade by either the NAIC or the Company's internal ratings. The Company determines the fair value of privately placed fixed income securities based on discounted cash flows using current interest rates for similar securities. At December 31, 2001 and 2000, $14.3 million and $20.2 million, respectively, of the fixed income securities portfolio was invested in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS"). The MBS portfolio consists primarily of securities that were issued by or have underlying collateral that is guaranteed by U.S. government agencies. Therefore, the MBS portfolio has relatively low credit risk. The Company closely monitors its fixed income securities portfolios for rating changes or other declines in value that are other than temporary. Securities are placed on non-accrual status when they are in default or when the timing or receipt of principal or interest payments are in doubt. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS The Company's short-term investment portfolio was $5.7 million and $3.9 million at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company invests available cash balances primarily in taxable short-term securities having a final maturity date or redemption date of one year or less. REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE FROM ALIC, CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS AND RESERVES FOR LIFE-CONTINGENT CONTRACT BENEFITS Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), when reinsurance contracts do not relieve the ceding company of legal liability to policyholders, the ceding company is required to report reinsurance recoverables arising from these contracts separately as assets. The liabilities for the contracts are reported as contractholder funds or reserves for life-contingent contract benefits, depending on the characteristics of the contracts. Under the reinsurance agreements with ALIC, substantially all policyholder obligations are reinsured to ALIC. At December 31, 2001, Contractholder funds increased to $1.90 billion from $1.83 billion at December 31, 2000 as the result of additional fixed annuity deposits and credited interest partially offset by surrenders and withdrawals. Reserves for life-contingent contract benefits increased $1.2 million to $150.3 million at December 31, 2001 resulting from increased sales of immediate annuity contracts with life contingencies partially offset by benefits paid. Reinsurance recoverable from ALIC increased correspondingly by $71.8 million due to the increase in policyholder obligations discussed above. SEPARATE ACCOUNTS Separate Accounts assets and liabilities decreased 18.1% to $6.24 billion in 2001. The decrease was primarily attributable to unfavorable investment performance of the Separate Accounts' investment portfolios which more than offset sales of variable annuity contracts. The assets and liabilities related to variable contracts are legally segregated and reflected as Separate Accounts. The assets of the Separate Accounts are carried at fair value. Separate Accounts liabilities represent the contractholders' claims to the related assets and are carried at the fair value of the assets. Investment income and realized capital gains and losses of the Separate Accounts accrue directly to the contractholders and therefore, are not included in the Company's statements of operations. Revenues to the Company from the Separate Accounts consist of contract maintenance and administration fees and mortality, surrender and expense charges and are ceded to ALIC. Absent any contract provision wherein the Company guarantees either a minimum return or account value upon death or annuitization, variable annuity and variable life contractholders bear the investment risk that the Separate Accounts' funds may not meet their stated objectives. MARKET RISK Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in equity prices or interest rates. The Company's primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates, although the Company also has certain exposures to changes in equity prices. 7 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS CORPORATE OVERSIGHT The Company administers and oversees investment risk management processes primarily through its Board of Directors and the Credit and Risk Management Committee ("CRMC"). The Board of Directors provides executive oversight of investment activities. The CRMC is a senior investment management committee consisting of the Chief Investment Officer, the Investment Risk Manager, and other investment officers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of investment risk. The CRMC meets at least monthly to provide detailed oversight of investment risk, including market risk. The Company has investment guidelines that define the overall framework for managing market and other investment risks, including the accountabilities and controls over these activities. In addition, the Company has a specific Board of Directors-approved investment policy delineating the investment limits and strategies that are appropriate for the Company's liquidity, surplus, product and regulatory requirements. The day-to-day management of market risk within defined tolerance ranges occurs as portfolio managers buy and sell within their respective markets based upon the acceptable boundaries established by the investment policy. The Company has implemented a comprehensive daily measurement process, administered by the Investment Risk Manager, for monitoring compliance to limits established by the investment policy. INTEREST RATE RISK Interest rate risk is the risk that the Company will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in interest rates, as the Company invests substantial funds in interest-sensitive assets. One of the measures used to quantify this exposure is duration. Duration measures the sensitivity of the fair value of assets to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, the fair value of an asset with a duration of 5 is expected to decrease in value by approximately 5%. At December 31, 2001, the Company's asset duration was approximately 4.6, versus 4.4 at December 31, 2000. To calculate duration, the Company projects asset cash flows, and discounts them to a net present value basis using a risk-free market rate adjusted for credit quality, sector attributes, liquidity and other specific risks. Duration is calculated by revaluing these cash flows at an alternative level of interest rates, and determining the percentage change in fair value from the base case. The projections include assumptions (based upon historical market experience and Company specific experience) reflecting the impact of changing interest rates on the prepayment and/or option features of instruments, where applicable. Such assumptions relate primarily to mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and municipal and corporate obligations. Based upon the information and assumptions the Company uses in its duration calculation and interest rates in effect at December 31, 2001, management estimates that a 100 basis point immediate, parallel increase in interest rates ("rate shock") would decrease the net fair value of its assets identified above by approximately $4.2 million, the same amount reported at December 31, 2000. The selection of a 100 basis point immediate parallel increase in interest rates should not be construed as a prediction by the Company's management of future market events, but only as an illustration of the potential impact of such an event. To the extent that actual results differ from the assumptions utilized, the Company's duration and rate shock measures could be significantly impacted. Additionally, the Company's calculation assumes that the current relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates (the term structure of interest rates) will remain constant over time. As a result, these calculations may not fully capture the impact of non-parallel changes in the term structure of interest rates and/or large changes in interest rates. EQUITY PRICE RISK Equity price risk is the risk that the Company will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in a particular stock, stock fund or stock index. At December 31, 2001, the Company had Separate Accounts assets totaling $6.24 billion. This is a decrease from the $7.61 billion of Separate Accounts assets at December 31, 2000. The Company earns mortality and expense fees as a percentage of account value in the Separate Accounts. In the event of an immediate decline of 10% in the account values due to equity market declines, the Company would earn approximately $9.5 million less in annualized fee income, which would be ceded to ALIC. This is a slight decrease from the $10.6 million amount determined at December 31, 2000. The contractholder of a variable annuity product may elect to purchase a minimum death benefit guarantee or a minimum income benefit guarantee, generally at the time of purchase. Both guarantees may subject the Company to additional equity price risk, as the beneficiary or contractholder may receive their benefit for 8 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS an amount greater than the fund balance under contractually defined circumstances and terms. These guarantees are ceded to ALIC. The Company expects growth in its variable annuity products in the future, stemming from both new sales as well as market value appreciation, which will increase the Company's, as well as ALIC's, exposure to equity price risk. CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company's capital resources consist of shareholder's equity. The following table summarizes the capital resources for the year ended December 31:
(IN THOUSANDS) 2001 2000 1999 ---------- ---------- ---------- Common stock and retained income $ 93,009 $ 88,975 $ 88,696 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 2,409 1,228 (1,435) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total shareholder's equity $ 95,418 $ 90,203 $ 87,261 ========== ========== ==========
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY Shareholder's equity increased for 2001 and 2000 due to Net income and increased Unrealized net capital gains. DEBT The Company had no outstanding debt at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company has entered into an intercompany loan agreement with the Corporation. The amount of funds available to the Company is at the discretion of the Corporation. The maximum amount of loans the Corporation will have outstanding to all its eligible subsidiaries at any given point in time is limited to $1.00 billion. No amounts were outstanding for the Company under the intercompany loan agreement at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Corporation uses commercial paper borrowings and bank lines of credit to fund intercompany borrowings. FINANCIAL RATINGS AND STRENGTH Financial strength ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and, generally, may be expected to have an effect on an insurance company's sales. On an ongoing basis, rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers. A downgrade, while not expected, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company's current financial strength ratings are dependent on ALIC's financial strength ratings and are listed below:
RATING AGENCY RATING RATING STRUCTURE Aa2 Second highest of nine ratings categories Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Excellent") and mid-range within the category based on modifiers (e.g., Aa1, Aa2 and Aa3 are "Excellent") AA Second highest of nine ratings categories Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("Very Strong") and highest within the category based on modifiers (e.g., AA+, AA and AA- are "Very Strong") A.M. Best Company, Inc. A+ Highest of nine ratings categories and ("Superior") second highest within the category based on modifiers (e.g., A++ and A+ are "Superior" while A and A- are "Excellent")
In February 2002, Standard & Poor's affirmed its December 31, 2001 ratings. Standard & Poor's revised its outlook for ALIC and its rated subsidiaries and affiliates to "negative" from "stable". This revision is part of an ongoing life insurance industry 9 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS review recently initiated by Standard & Poor's. Moody's and A.M. Best reaffirmed its ratings and outlook for the Company and ALIC. The NAIC has a standard for assessing the solvency of insurance companies, which is referred to as risk-based capital ("RBC"). The standard is based on a formula for determining each insurer's RBC and a model law specifying regulatory actions if an insurer's RBC falls below specified levels. The RBC formula, which regulators use to assess the sufficiency of an insurer's capital, measures the risk characteristics of a company's assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items. RBC is calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and liability items. Within a given risk category, these factors are higher for those items with greater underlying risk and lower for items with lower underlying risk. At December 31, 2001, the Company's RBC was significantly above levels that would require regulatory actions. The NAIC has also developed a set of financial relationships or tests known as the Insurance Regulatory Information System to assist state regulators in monitoring the financial condition of insurance companies and identifying companies that require special attention or action from insurance regulatory authorities. The NAIC analyzes data provided by insurance companies using prescribed financial data ratios each with defined "usual ranges." Generally, regulators will begin to monitor an insurance company if its ratios fall outside the usual ranges for four or more of the ratios. If an insurance company has insufficient capital, regulators may act to reduce the amount of insurance it can issue. The Company is currently not under regulatory scrutiny based on these ratios. LIQUIDITY The primary sources of funds for the Company are collection of principal and interest from the investment portfolio, capital contributions from ALIC and intercompany loans from the Corporation. The primary uses of these funds are to purchase investments, pay costs associated with the maintenance of the Company's investment portfolio, income taxes, dividends to ALIC and the repayment of intercompany loans from the Corporation. Under the terms of reinsurance agreements, substantially all premiums and deposits, excluding those relating to Separate Accounts, are transferred to ALIC, which maintains the investment portfolios supporting the Company's products. Substantially all payments of policyholder claims, benefits, contract maturities, contract surrenders and withdrawals and certain operating costs are also reimbursed by ALIC, under the terms of the reinsurance agreements. The Company continues to have primary liability as a direct insurer for risks reinsured. The Company's ability to meet liquidity demands on the reinsured products is dependent on ALIC's ability to meet those demands. The ability of the Company to pay dividends is dependent on business conditions, income, cash requirements of the Company and other relevant factors. The payment of shareholder dividends by the Company without the prior approval of the state insurance regulator is limited by Arizona law to formula amounts based on statutory surplus and statutory net gain from operations, as well as the timing and amount of dividends paid in the preceding twelve months. The maximum amount of dividends that the Company can distribute during 2002 without prior approval of the Arizona Department of Insurance is $4.1 million. The Company did not pay any dividends for the year ending December 31, 2001. In December of 2000, the Company paid a cash dividend of $4.0 million to ALIC. REGULATION AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company's business is subject to the effects of a changing social, economic and regulatory environment. State and federal initiatives have varied and have included employee benefit regulations, removal of barriers preventing banks from engaging in the securities and insurance businesses, tax law changes affecting the taxation of insurance companies, the tax treatment of insurance products and its impact on the relative desirability of various personal investment vehicles and the overall expansion of regulation. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain. From time to time, the Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation in the normal course of business in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, in one or more of these actions in excess of amounts currently reserved is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company. STATE INSURANCE REGULATION State insurance authorities have broad administrative powers with respect to all aspects of the life insurance business including: - Licensing to transact business - Licensing agents 10 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Admittance of assets to support statutory surplus - Approving policy forms - Regulating unfair trade and claims practices - Establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards - Regulating the type, amounts and valuations of investments permitted and other matters State insurance laws require the Company to file financial statements with insurance departments in all states in which the Company does business. The operations of the Company and the accounts are subject to examination by those departments at any time. The Company prepares statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices and procedures prescribed or permitted by these departments. State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. MARKET CONDUCT REGULATION State insurance laws and regulations include numerous provisions governing the marketplace activities of insurers, including provisions governing the form and content of disclosure to consumers, illustrations, advertising, sales practices and complaint handling. State regulatory authorities generally enforce these provisions through periodic market conduct examinations. FEDERAL REGULATION AND SECURITIES OPERATIONS The Company's variable annuity and variable life insurance products generally are considered securities within the meaning of federal and state securities laws and are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to regulation by the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") and state securities regulations. The Company's Separate Accounts are registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940. GUARANTY FUNDS Under state insurance guaranty fund laws, insurers doing business in a state can be assessed, up to prescribed limits, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Amounts assessed to each company are typically related to its proportion of business written in a particular state. The Company's expenses related to these funds are immaterial and are ceded to ALIC under reinsurance agreements. PENDING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In December 2001, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee ("AcSEC") issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 01-6, "Accounting by Certain Entities (Including Entities With Trade Receivables) That Lend to or Finance the Activities of Others", which is effective for interim and annual financial statements issued for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2001. The SOP conforms accounting and financial reporting practices for certain lending and financing activities, eliminating various specialized accounting practices that developed from the issuance of AICPA finance company, bank, and credit union audit guides. The SOP also explicitly incorporates lending and financing activities of insurance companies within its scope. The Company's adoption of SOP 01-6 is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS This document contains "forward-looking statements" that anticipate results based on management's plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "believes," "likely," and other words with similar meanings. These statements may address, among other things, our strategy for growth, product development, regulatory approvals, market position, expenses, financial results and reserves. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations of future events. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be accurate. However, we believe that our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable, current expectations and assumptions. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments. If the expectations or assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if risks or uncertainties 11 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. In addition to the normal risks of business, the Company is subject to significant risk factors, including those listed below which apply to it as an insurance business and a provider of other financial services. - In December 2001, the NAIC announced that it reached an agreement regarding the wording of insurance policy exclusions for acts of terrorism for commercial lines. In January 2002, the NAIC issued the following statement, "It is the sense of NAIC membership that terrorism exclusions are generally not necessary in personal lines property and casualty products to maintain a competitive market, and they may violate state law. However we recognize that state laws vary in their authority and discretion. Further, there may be unique company circumstances that need to be considered in individual cases. We expect these cases to be limited." In addition, several states have announced that they will not approve terrorism exclusions for personal and/or commercial lines of property and casualty insurance. Currently, the Corporation is examining the potential exposure in any of its insurance operations from acts of terrorism. The Corporation is also examining how best to address this exposure, if any, considering the interests of policyholders, shareholders, the lending community, regulators and others. The Company generally does not have exclusions for terrorist events included in its life insurance policies. In the event that a terrorist act occurs, the Company may be adversely impacted, depending on the nature of the event. With respect to the Company's investment portfolio, in the event that commercial insurance coverage for terrorism becomes unavailable or very expensive, there could be significant adverse impacts on some portion of the Company's portfolio, particularly in sectors such as airlines and real estate. For example, certain debt obligations might be adversely affected due to the inability to obtain coverage to restore the related real estate or other property, thereby creating the potential for increased default risk. - Changes in market interest rates can have adverse effects on the Company's investment portfolio and investment income. Increases in market interest rates have an adverse impact on the value of the investment portfolio by decreasing unrealized capital gains on fixed income securities. In addition, increases in market interest rates as compared to rates offered on some of the Company's products could make those products less attractive and lead to lower sales and/or increase the level of surrenders on these products. Declining market interest rates could have an adverse impact on the Company's investment income as the Company reinvests proceeds from positive cash flows from operations and proceeds from maturing and called investments into new investments that could be yielding less than the portfolio's average rate. - The impact of decreasing Separate Accounts balances as a result of volatile market conditions could cause contract charges realized by the Company, as well as ALIC, to decrease and increase the exposure to guaranteed minimum income and death benefits. - In order to manage interest rate risk, from time to time the Company adjusts the effective duration of the assets of the investment portfolio. Those adjustments may have an impact on the value of the investment portfolio and on investment income. - The Company amortizes DAC related to contractholder funds in proportion to gross profits over the estimated lives of the contract periods. Periodically, the Company updates the assumptions underlying the gross profits, which include estimated future fees, investment margins and expense margins, in order to reflect actual experience. Updates to these assumptions result in adjustments to the cumulative amortization of DAC. These adjustments may have a material effect on results of operations. DAC and any related adjustments are ceded to ALIC. - It is possible that the assumptions and projections used by the Company in establishing prices for the guaranteed minimum death benefits and guaranteed minimum income benefits on variable annuities, particularly assumptions and projections about investment performance, do not accurately anticipate the level of costs that the Company will ultimately incur and cede to ALIC in providing those benefits. - Management believes the reserves for life-contingent contract benefits are adequate to cover ultimate policy benefits, despite the underlying risks and uncertainties associated with their determination when payments will not occur until well into the future. Reserves are based on many assumptions and estimates, including estimated premiums received over the assumed life of the policy, the timing of the event covered by the insurance policy, the amount of benefits on claims to be paid and the investment returns on the assets purchased with the premium received. The Company periodically reviews and revises its estimates. If future experience differs from assumptions, it may have a material impact on results of operations ceded to ALIC. - Under current U.S. tax law and regulations, deferred and immediate annuities and life insurance, including interest-sensitive products, receive favorable policyholder tax treatment. Any legislative or regulatory changes that adversely alter this treatment are likely to negatively affect the demand for these products. In addition, recent changes in the federal estate tax laws will affect the demand for the types of life insurance used in estate planning. 12 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - The Company distributes its products under an agreement with another member of the financial services industry that is not affiliated with the Company. Termination of this agreement due to, for example, changes in control of this entity could have a detrimental effect on the Company's sales. This risk may be exacerbated by the enactment of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, which eliminated many federal and state law barriers to affiliations among banks, securities firms, insurers and other financial service providers. - The Corporation's liquidity could be significantly constrained by a catastrophe which results in extraordinary losses, a downgrade of the Corporation's current long-term debt rating of A1 and A+ (from Moody's and Standard & Poor's, respectively) to non-investment grade status of below Baa3/BBB-, a downgrade in AIC's financial strength rating from Aa2, AA and A+ (from Moody's Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best, respectively) to below Baa/BBB/B, or a downgrade in ALIC's or the Company's financial strength rating from Aa2, AA+ and A+ (from Moody's, Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best, respectively) to below Aa3/AA-/A-. In the event of a downgrade of the Corporations' rating, ALIC and its subsidiaries would also experience a similar downgrade. - In the wake of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the plane crash in Pennsylvania, the resulting disruption in the financial markets revealed weaknesses in the physical and operational infrastructure that underlies the U.S. and worldwide financial systems. Those weaknesses did not impair the Company's liquidity in the wake of September 11. However, if an event of similar or greater magnitude occurs in the future and if the weaknesses in the physical and operational infrastructure of the U.S. and worldwide financial systems are not remedied, the Company could encounter significant difficulties in transferring funds, buying and selling securities and engaging in other financial transactions that support its liquidity. - State insurance regulatory authorities require insurance companies to maintain specified levels of statutory capital and surplus. In addition, competitive pressures require the Company to maintain financial strength ratings. These restrictions affect the Company's ability to pay shareholder dividends and to use its capital in other ways. - Financial strength ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and may be expected to have an effect on an insurance company's sales. On an ongoing basis, rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers. A downgrade of either the Company or ALIC, while not expected, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, including the competitiveness of the Company's product offerings, its ability to market products, and its financial condition and results of operations. - Following enactment of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, federal legislation that allows mergers that combine commercial banks, insurers and securities firms, state insurance regulators have been collectively participating in a reexamination of the regulatory framework that currently governs the United States insurance business in an effort to determine the proper role of state insurance regulation in the U. S. financial services industry. We cannot predict whether any state or federal measures will be adopted to change the nature or scope of the regulation of the insurance business or what affect any such measures would have on the Company. - The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 permits mergers that combine commercial banks, insurers and securities firms under one holding company. Until passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Glass Steagall Act of 1933 had limited the ability of banks to engage in securities-related businesses and the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 had restricted banks from being affiliated with insurers. With the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, bank holding companies may acquire insurers and insurance holding companies may acquire banks. In addition, grand-fathered unitary thrift holding companies, including the Allstate Corporation, may engage in activities that are not financial in nature. The ability of banks to affiliate with insurers may materially adversely affect all of the Company's product lines by substantially increasing the number, size and financial strength of potential competitors. - In some states, mutual insurance companies can convert to a hybrid structure known as a mutual holding company. This process converts insurance companies owned by their policyholders to become stock insurance companies owned (through one or more intermediate holding companies) partially by their policyholders and partially by stockholders. Also some states permit the conversion of mutual insurance companies into stock insurance companies (demutualization). The ability of mutual insurance companies to convert to mutual holding companies or to demutualize may materially adversely affect all of our product lines by substantially increasing competition for capital in the financial services industry. 13 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK The pertinent provisions of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA See Index to Financial Statements filed with this report. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE No disclosure is required by this Item. 14 PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Documents Filed as Part of this Report 1. Financial Statements. The Registrant's financial statements, as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, together with the Report of Independent Accountants, are set forth on pages F-1 to F-16 of this report. 2. Financial Statement Schedules. The following is included in Part IV of this report: Schedule IV - Reinsurance: page F-17 All other schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto. 3. Exhibits. The exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed under the caption "Exhibits" in Item 14(c). (b) Reports on Form 8-K No reports on Form 8-K were filed for the year ended December 31, 2001. (c) Exhibits
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3(i) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Redomestication of 3(i) Northbrook Life Insurance Company (previously filed in Form 10-K, dated March 30, 1999) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3(ii) Amended and Restated By-laws of Northbrook Life Insurance Company (previously filed in form 10-K, dated March 30, 1999) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.1 Form of General Agency Agreement dated as of October 1, 1993 between Northbrook Life Insurance Company and Morgan Stanley DW, Inc. (formerly Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.). Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(B) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to Registration Statement No. 33-35412. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Service and Expense Agreement among Allstate Insurance Company and The Allstate 10.2 Corporation and Certain Insurance Subsidiaries. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.3 Investment management agreement and amendment to certain service and expense agreements among Allstate Investments, LLC and Allstate Insurance Company and the Allstate Corporation and certain affiliates effective as of January 1, 2002. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Independent Auditor's Consent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY /s/ THOMAS J. WILSON, II By: ------------------------ Thomas J. Wilson, II President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) Date: March 28, 2002 --------------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By: /s/ THOMAS J. WILSON, II ------------------------ Thomas J. Wilson, II President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ STEVEN E. SHEBIK -------------------- Steven E. Shebik Vice President and Director (Principal Financial Officer) Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ SAMUEL H. PILCH ------------------- Samuel H. Pilch Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ MICHAEL J. VELOTTA ---------------------- Michael J. Velotta Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ MARLA G. FRIEDMAN --------------------- 16 Marla G. Friedman Vice President and Director Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ MARGARET G. DYER ------------------- Margaret G. Dyer Director Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ JOHN C. LOUNDS ----------------- John C. Lounds Director Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ By: /s/ J. KEVIN MCCARTHY --------------------- J. Kevin McCarthy Director Date: March 28, 2002 ------------------ 17 Financial Statements INDEX
PAGE ---- Independent Auditors' Report F-1 Financial Statements: Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 F-2 Statements of Financial Position December 31, 2001 and 2000 F-3 Statements of Shareholder's Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 F-4 Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 F-5 Notes to Financial Statements F-6 Schedule IV- Reinsurance for the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 F-17
18 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have audited the accompanying Statements of Financial Position of Northbrook Life Insurance Company (the "Company", an affiliate of The Allstate Corporation) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, Shareholder's Equity and Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001. Our audits also included Schedule IV--Reinsurance. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, Schedule IV--Reinsurance, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Chicago, Illinois February 20, 2002 F-1 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2001 2000 1999 -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) REVENUES Net investment income..................................... $6,098 $6,802 $6,010 Realized capital gains and losses......................... 95 (230) 510 ------ ------ ------ INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE............ 6,193 6,572 6,520 Income Tax Expense.......................................... 2,159 2,293 2,264 ------ ------ ------ NET INCOME.................................................. 4,034 4,279 4,256 ------ ------ ------ OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), AFTER-TAX Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses......... 1,181 2,663 (4,802) ------ ------ ------ COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)................................. $5,215 $6,942 $ (546) ====== ====== ======
See notes to financial statements. F-2 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
DECEMBER 31, ------------------------- 2001 2000 ----------- ----------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PAR VALUE DATA) ASSETS Investments Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $88,263 and $91,141)..................................... $ 91,969 $ 93,030 Short-term................................................ 5,746 3,859 ---------- ---------- Total investments......................................... 97,715 96,889 Receivable from affiliates, net............................. 202 -- Reinsurance recoverable from Allstate Life Insurance Company................................................... 2,046,987 1,975,150 Other assets................................................ 2,561 4,817 Separate Accounts........................................... 6,236,902 7,614,673 ---------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS.......................................... $8,384,367 $9,691,529 ========== ========== LIABILITIES Contractholder funds........................................ $1,896,647 $1,826,062 Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits............... 150,349 149,111 Current income taxes payable................................ 2,057 2,078 Deferred income taxes....................................... 2,994 2,279 Payable to affiliates, net.................................. -- 7,123 Separate Accounts........................................... 6,236,902 7,614,673 ---------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES..................................... 8,288,949 9,601,326 ---------- ---------- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (NOTE 8) SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY Common stock, $100 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding.................................... 2,500 2,500 Additional capital paid-in.................................. 56,600 56,600 Retained income............................................. 33,909 29,875 Accumulated other comprehensive income: Unrealized net capital gains and losses................... 2,409 1,228 ---------- ---------- Total accumulated other comprehensive income.......... 2,409 1,228 ---------- ---------- TOTAL SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY............................ 95,418 90,203 ---------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY............ $8,384,367 $9,691,529 ========== ==========
See notes to financial statements. F-3 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2001 2000 1999 -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) COMMON STOCK................................................ $ 2,500 $ 2,500 $ 2,500 ------- ------- ------- ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PAID IN.................................. 56,600 56,600 56,600 ------- ------- ------- RETAINED INCOME Balance, beginning of year.................................. 29,875 29,596 25,340 Net income.................................................. 4,034 4,279 4,256 Dividends................................................... -- (4,000) -- ------- ------- ------- Balance, end of year........................................ 33,909 29,875 29,596 ------- ------- ------- ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Balance, beginning of year.................................. 1,228 (1,435) 3,367 Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses........... 1,181 2,663 (4,802) ------- ------- ------- Balance, end of year........................................ 2,409 1,228 (1,435) ------- ------- ------- TOTAL SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY.............................. $95,418 $90,203 $87,261 ======= ======= =======
See notes to financial statements. F-4 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2001 2000 1999 -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income.................................................. $ 4,034 $ 4,279 $ 4,256 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Amortization and other non-cash items................... 684 756 559 Realized capital gains and losses....................... (95) 230 (510) Changes in: Life-contingent contract benefits and contractholder funds................................................ (14) 5 (68) Income taxes payable.................................. 58 7 355 Payable to affiliates................................. (7,325) 1,133 (596) Other operating assets and liabilities................ 1,432 (31) 1,520 -------- -------- -------- Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities..... (1,226) 6,379 5,516 -------- -------- -------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Fixed income securities Proceeds from sales....................................... 13,493 6,780 17,992 Investment collections.................................... 4,317 2,933 6,555 Investments purchases..................................... (14,697) (11,561) (32,050) Change in short-term investments, net..................... (1,887) (552) 2,008 -------- -------- -------- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities..... 1,226 (2,400) (5,495) -------- -------- -------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Dividends paid.............................................. -- (4,000) -- -------- -------- -------- Net cash used in financing activities................... -- (4,000) -- -------- -------- -------- NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH............................. -- (21) 21 CASH AT BEGINNING OF YEAR................................... -- 21 -- -------- -------- -------- CASH AT END OF YEAR......................................... $ -- $ -- $ 21 ======== ======== ========
See notes to financial statements. F-5 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. GENERAL BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Northbrook Life Insurance Company (the "Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"), which is wholly owned by Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation"). These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). To conform with the 2001 presentation, certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements and notes have been reclassified. NATURE OF OPERATIONS The Company markets a diversified group of products to meet consumer's lifetime needs in the area of protection and retirement solutions exclusively through Morgan Stanley DW, Inc., ("MSDW") (see Note 4), a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. Northbrook Life Insurance Company's products include interest-sensitive life, including single premium life and variable life; fixed annuities including market value adjusted annuities; immediate annuities; and variable annuities. In 2001, substantially all of the Company's statutory premiums and deposits were from annuities. Statutory premiums and deposits is a measure used by management to analyze sales trends. Statutory premiums and deposits includes premiums and annuity considerations determined in conformity with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance regulatory authorities of the state of Arizona, and all other funds received from customers on deposit-type products which are treated as liabilities. The statutory accounting practices differ in certain, material aspects from GAAP. Annuity contracts and life insurance policies issued by the Company are subject to discretionary surrender or withdrawal by customers, subject to applicable surrender charges. These policies and contracts are reinsured primarily with ALIC (see Note 3), which invests premiums and deposits to provide cash flows that will be used to fund future benefits and expenses. The Company monitors economic and regulatory developments that have the potential to impact its business. Federal legislation has allowed banks and other financial organizations to have greater participation in the securities and insurance businesses. This legislation may present an increased level of competition for sales of the Company's products. Furthermore, under current U.S. tax law and regulations, deferred and immediate annuities and life insurance, including interest-sensitive products, receive favorable policyholder tax treatment. Any legislative or regulatory changes that adversely alter this treatment are likely to negatively affect the demand for these products. In addition, recent changes in the federal estate tax laws will affect the demand for the types of life insurance used in estate planning. Additionally, traditional demutualizations of mutual insurance companies and enacted and pending state legislation to permit mutual insurance companies to convert to a hybrid structure known as a mutual holding company could have a number of significant effects on the Company by (1) increasing industry competition through consolidation caused by mergers and acquisitions related to the new corporate form of business; and (2) increasing competition in the capital markets. The Company is authorized to sell life and investment products in all states except New York, as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The top geographic locations for statutory premiums and deposits for the Company were California, Florida, and Texas for the year ended December 31, 2001. No other jurisdiction accounted for more than 5% of statutory premiums and deposits. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES INVESTMENTS Fixed income securities include bonds and mortgage-backed securities. All fixed income securities are carried at fair value and may be sold prior to their contractual maturity ("available for sale"). The fair value of exchange traded fixed income securities are based upon quoted market prices or dealer quotes. The fair value of non-exchange traded fixed income securities is based on either independent third party pricing sources or widely accepted pricing valuation models which utilize internally developed ratings and independent third party data as inputs. The difference between amortized cost and fair value, net of deferred income taxes, is reflected as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income. Short-term investments are carried at cost or amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Investment income consists primarily of interest. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis. Interest income on mortgage-backed securities is determined on the effective yield method, based on the estimated principal repayments. Accrual of income is suspended for fixed income securities that are in default or when the receipt of interest payments is in doubt. F-6 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- Realized capital gains and losses are determined on a specific identification basis. They include gains and losses on portfolio trading and write-downs in value due to other than temporary declines in fair value. The Company monitors its fixed income portfolios for ratings changes or other events that may result in declines in value that are other than temporary. Factors considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other than temporary are: 1) the Company's ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in value; 2) the duration for and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; and 3) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE The Company has reinsurance agreements whereby substantially all premiums, contract charges, credited interest, policy benefits and certain expenses are ceded to ALIC (See Note 3). Such amounts are reflected net of such reinsurance in the statements of operations and comprehensive income. Reinsurance recoverable and the related reserve for life- contingent contract benefits and contractholder funds are reported separately in the statements of financial position. Reinsurance does not extinguish the Company's primary liability under the policies written and therefore reinsurers and amounts recoverable are regularly evaluated by the Company. Investment income earned on the assets which support contractholder funds and the reserve for life-contingent contract benefits is not included in the Company's financial statements as those assets are owned and managed under terms of reinsurance agreements. RECOGNITION OF INSURANCE REVENUE AND RELATED BENEFITS AND INTEREST CREDITED Immediate annuities with life contingencies, including certain structured settlement annuities, provide insurance protection over a period that extends beyond the period in which premiums are collected. Gross premiums in excess of the net premium on immediate annuities with life contingencies are deferred and recognized over the contract period. Contract benefits are recognized in relation to such revenues so as to result in the recognition of profits over the life of the policy. Interest-sensitive life contracts, such as single premium life, are insurance contracts whose terms are not fixed and guaranteed. The terms that may be changed include premiums paid by the contractholder, interest credited to the contractholder account balance and one or more amounts assessed against the contractholder. Premiums from these contracts are reported as deposits to contractholder funds. Contract charges consist of fees assessed against the contractholder account balance for the cost of insurance (mortality risk), contract administration and surrender charges. These revenues are recognized when levied against the contract balance. Contract benefits include life- contingent benefit payments in excess of the reserves held. Contracts that do not subject the Company to significant risk arising from mortality or morbidity are referred to as investment contracts. Fixed annuities, market value adjusted annuities and immediate annuities without life contingencies are considered investment contracts. Deposits received for such contracts are reported as deposits to contractholder funds. Contract charges for investment contracts consist of fees assessed against the contractholder account balance for contract administration and surrender charges. These revenues are recognized when levied against the contractholder account balance. Interest credited to contractholders' funds represents contractual interest accrued or paid for interest-sensitive life contracts and investment contracts. Crediting rates for fixed rate annuities and interest-sensitive life contracts are adjusted periodically by the Company to reflect current market conditions. Separate Account products include variable annuity and variable life contracts. The assets supporting these products are legally segregated and available only to settle Separate Accounts contract obligations. Deposits received are reported as Separate Accounts liabilities. Contract charges for these contracts consist of fees assessed against the Separate Accounts fund balances for contract maintenance, administration, mortality, expense and surrenders. Contract benefits incurred for Separate Accounts include, for example, guaranteed minimum death benefits paid on variable annuity contracts. All premiums, contract charges, contract benefits and interest credited are reinsured. INCOME TAXES The income tax provision is calculated under the liability method and presented net of reinsurance. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates. The principal assets and liabilities giving rise to such differences are unrealized capital gains and losses on fixed income securities carried at fair value and differences in the tax bases of investments. SEPARATE ACCOUNTS The assets and liabilities related to variable annuity and variable life contracts are legally segregated and reflected as Separate Accounts. The assets of the Separate Accounts are carried at fair value. Separate Accounts liabilities represent the contractholders' claims to the related assets and are carried at the fair value of the assets. Investment income and realized capital gains and losses of the Separate Accounts F-7 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- accrue directly to the contractholders and therefore, are not included in the Company's statements of operations. Revenues to the Company from the Separate Accounts consist of contract maintenance and administration fees and mortality, surrender and expense charges and are ceded to ALIC. Absent any contract provision wherein the Company guarantees either a minimum return or account value upon death or annuitization, contractholders bear the investment risk that the Separate Accounts' funds may not meet their stated objectives. RESERVE FOR LIFE-CONTINGENT CONTRACT BENEFITS The reserve for life-contingent contract benefits, which relates to immediate annuities with life contingencies, is computed on the basis of long-term actuarial assumptions as to future investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations and expenses. These assumptions include provisions for adverse deviation and generally vary by such characteristics as type of coverage, year of issue and policy duration. Detailed reserve assumptions and reserve interest rates are outlined in Note 7. CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS Contractholder funds arise from the issuance of interest-sensitive life policies and investment contracts. Deposits received are recorded as interest-bearing liabilities. Contractholder funds are equal to deposits received and interest credited to the benefit of the contractholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses. Detailed information on crediting rates and surrender and withdrawal protection on contractholder funds are outlined in Note 7. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. PENDING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In December 2001, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee ("AcSEC") issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 01-6, "Accounting by Certain Entities (Including Entities With Trade Receivables) That Lend to or Finance the Activities of Others", which is effective for interim and annual financial statements issued for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2001. The SOP conforms accounting and financial reporting practices for certain lending and financing activities, eliminating various specialized accounting practices that developed from the issuance of AICPA finance company, bank, and credit union audit guides. The SOP also explicitly incorporates lending and financing activities of insurance companies within its scope. The Company's adoption of SOP 01-6 is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position. 3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS REINSURANCE The Company has reinsurance agreements whereby substantially all premiums, contract charges, credited interest, policy benefits and certain expenses are ceded to ALIC and reflected net of such reinsurance in the statements of operations and comprehensive income. Reinsurance recoverable and the related reserve for life-contingent contract benefits and contracholder funds are reported separately in the statements of financial position. The Company continues to have primary liability as the direct insurer for risks reinsured. Investment income earned on the assets which support contractholder funds and the reserve for life-contingent contract benefits is not included in the Company's financial statements as those assets are owned and managed under the terms of the reinsurance agreements. The following table summarizes amounts that were ceded to ALIC under reinsurance agreements:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 1999 (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- -------- Premiums $ 977 $ 289 $ 2,966 Contract charges 108,600 124,250 118,290 Credited interest, policy benefits, and certain expenses 217,500 224,265 222,513
BUSINESS OPERATIONS The Company utilizes services provided by AIC and ALIC and business facilities owned or leased, and operated by AIC in conducting its business activities. The Company reimburses AIC and ALIC for the operating expenses incurred on behalf of the Company. The Company is charged for the cost of these operating expenses based on the level of services provided. Operating expenses, including compensation and retirement and other benefit programs, allocated to the Company were $32.4 million, $22.0 million and $33.9 million in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Of these costs, the Company retains investment related expenses. All other costs are ceded to ALIC under reinsurance agreements. INCOME TAXES The Company is a party to a federal income tax allocation agreement with the Corporation (Note 9). DEBT The Company has entered into an intercompany loan agreement with the Corporation. The amount of funds available to the Company at a given point in time is dependent upon the debt position of the Corporation. No amounts were F-8 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- outstanding for the Company under the intercompany loan agreement at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. 4. EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT The Company has a strategic alliance with MSDW to develop, market and distribute proprietary insurance products through Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisors. Affiliates of MSDW are the investment managers for the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series and the Universal Institutional Funds, Inc., the funds in which certain assets of the Separate Accounts products are invested. Under the terms of the alliance, the Company has agreed to use MSDW as an exclusive distribution channel for the Company's products. In addition to the Company's products, MSDW markets other products that compete with those of the Company. Pursuant to the alliance agreement, MSDW provides approximately half of the statutory capital necessary to maintain these products on the Company's books through loans to a subsidiary of AIC. AIC unconditionally guarantees the repayment of these loans and interest thereon issued to MSDW under terms of a distribution agreement to the Northbrook Corporation. Under a reinsurance agreement with ALIC, the assets of this alliance are held in a trust. The Company shares approximately half the net profits with MSDW on contracts written under the alliance. The strategic alliance is cancelable for new business by either party by giving 30 days written notice, however, the Company believes the benefits derived by MSDW will preserve the alliance. 5. INVESTMENTS FAIR VALUES The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value for fixed income securities are as follows:
GROSS UNREALIZED AMORTIZED ------------------- FAIR AT DECEMBER 31, 2001 COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE -------------------- --------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) U.S. government and agencies $20,129 $1,120 $ (3) $21,246 Municipal 1,030 2 (3) 1,029 Corporate 53,326 1,926 (249) 55,003 Mortgage-backed securities 13,372 948 (53) 14,267 Foreign government 406 18 -- 424 ------- ------ ----- ------- Total fixed income securities $88,263 $4,014 $(308) $91,969 ======= ====== ===== ======= AT DECEMBER 31, 2000 -------------------- U.S. government and agencies $10,778 $1,193 $ -- $11,971 Municipal 1,095 4 (38) 1,061 Corporate 59,449 656 (720) 59,385 Mortgage-backed securities 19,413 958 (186) 20,185 Foreign government 406 22 -- 428 ------- ------ ----- ------- Total fixed income securities $91,141 $2,833 $(944) $93,030 ======= ====== ===== =======
SCHEDULED MATURITIES The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows at December 31, 2001:
AMORTIZED FAIR COST VALUE (IN THOUSANDS) --------- -------- Due in one year or less $ 5,757 $ 5,888 Due after one year through five years 28,486 29,945 Due after five years through ten years 26,843 27,087 Due after ten years 13,805 14,782 ------- ------- 74,891 77,702 Mortgage-backed securities 13,372 14,267 ------- ------- Total $88,263 $91,969 ======= =======
Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments by the issuers. NET INVESTMENT INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 1999 ----------------------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) Fixed income securities $6,036 $6,635 $5,881 Short-term investments 253 249 261 ------ ------ ------ Investment income, before expense 6,289 6,884 6,142 Investment expense 191 82 132 ------ ------ ------ Net investment income $6,098 $6,802 $6,010 ====== ====== ======
F-9 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- REALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES, AFTER TAX
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 1999 ----------------------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) Fixed income securities $ 95 $(230) $ 510 ---- ----- ----- Realized capital gains and losses 95 (230) 510 Income taxes (33) 80 (178) ---- ----- ----- Realized capital gains and losses, after tax $ 62 $(150) $ 332 ==== ===== =====
Excluding calls and prepayments, gross gains of $203 thousand, $78 thousand and $629 thousand were realized on sales of fixed income securities during 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, and gross losses of $108 thousand, $308 thousand and $119 thousand were realized on sales of fixed income securities during 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES Unrealized net capital gains and losses on fixed income securities included in shareholder's equity at December 31, 2001 are as follows:
GROSS COST/ UNREALIZED AMORTIZED FAIR ------------------- UNREALIZED COST VALUE GAINS LOSSES NET GAINS (IN THOUSANDS) --------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- Fixed income securities $88,263 $91,969 $4,014 $(308) $ 3,706 ======= ======= ====== ===== Deferred income taxes (1,297) ------- Unrealized net capital gains and losses $ 2,409 =======
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 1999 ----------------------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) Fixed income securities $1,817 $ 4,096 $(7,387) Deferred income taxes (636) (1,433) 2,585 ------ ------- ------- Increase (decrease) in unrealized net capital gains and losses $1,181 $ 2,663 $(4,802) ====== ======= =======
SECURITIES ON DEPOSIT At December 31, 2001, fixed income securities with a carrying value of $6.4 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities as required by law. 6. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS In the normal course of business, the Company invests in various financial assets and incurs various financial liabilities. The fair value estimates of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might pay or receive in actual market transactions. Potential taxes and other transaction costs have not been considered in estimating fair value. The disclosures that follow do not reflect the fair value of the Company as a whole since a number of the Company's significant assets (including reinsurance recoverable) and liabilities (including interest-sensitive life insurance reserves and deferred income taxes) are not considered financial instruments and are not carried at fair value. Other assets and liabilities considered financial instruments, such as accrued investment income and cash are generally of a short-term nature. Their carrying values are deemed to approximate fair value. FINANCIAL ASSETS The carrying value and fair value of financial assets at December 31, are as follows:
2001 2000 ----------------------- ----------------------- CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE (IN THOUSANDS) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed income securities $ 91,969 $ 91,969 $ 93,030 $ 93,030 Short-term 5,746 5,746 3,859 3,859 Separate Accounts 6,236,902 6,236,902 7,614,673 7,614,673
Fair values for exchange traded fixed income securities are based upon quoted market prices or dealer quotes. The fair value of non-exchange traded fixed income securities is based on either independent third party pricing sources or widely accepted pricing valuation models which utilize internally developed ratings and independent third party data as inputs. Short-term investments are highly liquid investments with maturities of less than one year whose carrying values are deemed to approximate fair value. Separate Accounts assets are carried in the statements of financial position at fair value based on quoted market prices. FINANCIAL LIABILITIES The carrying value and fair value of financial liabilities at December 31, are as follows:
2001 2000 ----------------------- ----------------------- CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE (IN THOUSANDS) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Contractholder funds on investment contracts $1,721,592 $1,708,679 $1,652,039 $1,644,231 Separate Accounts 6,236,902 6,236,902 7,614,673 7,614,673
Contractholder funds include interest-sensitive life insurance contracts and investment contracts. Interest-sensitive life insurance contracts and certain other contractholder liabilities are not considered to be financial instruments subject to fair value disclosure requirements. The fair value of investment contracts is based on the terms of the underlying contracts. Fixed annuities and immediate annuities without life contingencies are valued at the account balance less F-10 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- surrender charges. Market value adjusted annuities' fair value is estimated to be the market adjusted surrender value. Separate Accounts liabilities are carried at the fair value of the underlying assets. 7. RESERVE FOR LIFE-CONTINGENT CONTRACT BENEFITS AND CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS At December 31, the Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits consists of the following:
2001 2000 (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- Immediate annuities: Structured settlement annuities $108,911 $108,441 Other immediate annuities 41,438 40,670 -------- -------- Total Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits $150,349 $149,111 ======== ========
The assumptions for mortality generally utilized in calculating reserves include the U.S. population with projected calendar year improvements and age setbacks for impaired lives for structured settlement annuities; and the 1983 group annuity mortality table for other immediate annuities. Interest rate assumptions vary from 3.0% to 10.0% for immediate annuities. Other estimation methods used include the present value of contractually fixed future benefits for structured settlement annuities and other immediate annuities. Premium deficiency reserves are established, if necessary, for the immediate annuity business, to the extent the unrealized gains on fixed income securities would result in a premium deficiency had those gains actually been realized. The Company did not have a premium deficiency reserve at December 31, 2001 and 2000. At December 31, Contractholder funds consists of the following:
2001 2000 (IN THOUSANDS) ---------- ---------- Interest-sensitive life $ 175,011 $ 171,192 Fixed annuities: Immediate annuities 69,857 66,051 Deferred annuities 1,651,779 1,588,819 ---------- ---------- Total Contractholder funds $1,896,647 $1,826,062 ========== ==========
Contractholder funds are equal to deposits received and interest credited for the benefit of the contractholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses. Interest rates credited range from 5.8% to 6.3% for interest-sensitive life contracts; 3.2% to 10.2% for immediate annuities and 4.3% to 6.8% for deferred annuities. Withdrawal and surrender charge protection includes: i) for interest-sensitive life, either a percentage of account balance or dollar amount grading off generally over 20 years; and, ii) for deferred annuities not subject to a market value adjustment, either a declining or a level percentage charge generally over nine years or less. Approximately 49.7% of deferred annuities are subject to a market value adjustment. 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES REGULATION AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company's business is subject to the effects of a changing social, economic and regulatory environment. State and federal regulatory initiatives have varied and have included employee benefit regulations, removal of barriers preventing banks from engaging in the securities and insurance businesses, tax law changes affecting the taxation of insurance companies, the tax treatment of insurance products and its impact on the relative desirability of various personal investment vehicles, and the overall expansion of regulation. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain. From time to time, the Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation in the normal course of business in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, in one or more of these actions in excess of amounts currently reserved is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company. GUARANTY FUNDS Under state insurance guaranty fund laws, insurers doing business in a state can be assessed, up to prescribed limits, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Amounts assessed to each company are typically related to its proportion of business written in a particular state. The Company's expenses related to these funds are immaterial and are ceded to ALIC under reinsurance agreements. 9. INCOME TAXES The Company joins the Corporation and its other eligible domestic subsidiaries (the "Allstate Group") in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax return and is party to a federal income tax allocation agreement (the "Allstate Tax Sharing Agreement"). Under the Allstate Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company pays to or receives from the Corporation the amount, if any, by which the Allstate Group's federal income tax liability is affected by virtue of inclusion of the Company in the consolidated federal income tax return. The Company has also entered into a supplemental tax sharing agreement with respect to reinsurance ceded to ALIC to allocate to ALIC the tax consequences of such reinsurance. Effectively, these agreements result in the Company's annual income tax provision being computed as if the Company filed F-11 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- a separate return, as adjusted for the reinsurance ceded to ALIC. Prior to June 30, 1995, the Corporation was a subsidiary of Sears Roebuck & Co. ("Sears") and, with its eligible domestic subsidiaries, was included in the Sears consolidated federal income tax return and federal income tax allocation agreement. Effective June 30, 1995, the Corporation and Sears entered into a new tax sharing agreement, which governs their respective rights and obligations with respect to federal income taxes for all periods during which the Corporation was a subsidiary of Sears, including the treatment of audits of tax returns for such periods. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has completed its review of the Allstate Group's federal income tax returns through the 1993 tax year. Any adjustments that may result from IRS examinations of tax returns are not expected to have a material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of the Company. The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, are as follows:
2001 2000 (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- DEFERRED LIABILITIES Difference in tax bases of investments $1,697 $1,618 Unrealized net capital gains 1,297 661 ------ ------ Total deferred liability $2,994 $2,279 ====== ======
The components of income tax expense for the year ended December 31, are as follows:
2001 2000 1999 (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- -------- Current $2,080 $2,193 $2,249 Deferred 79 100 15 ------ ------ ------ Total income tax expense $2,159 $2,293 $2,264 ====== ====== ======
The Company paid income taxes of $2.1 million, $2.3 million and $1.9 million in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective income tax rate on income from operations for the year ended December 31, is as follows:
2001 2000 1999 -------- -------- -------- Statutory federal income tax rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Tax-exempt income (0.1) (0.1) (0.1) Other -- -- (0.2) ---- ---- ---- Effective income tax rate 34.9% 34.9% 34.7% ==== ==== ====
Prior to January 1, 1984, the Company was entitled to exclude certain amounts from taxable income and accumulate such amounts in a "policyholder surplus" account. The balance in this account at December 31, 2001, approximately $16 thousand, will result in federal income taxes payable of $6 thousand if distributed by the Company. No provision for taxes has been made as the Company has no plan to distribute amounts from this account. No further additions to the account have been permitted since 1983. 10. STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION The following table reconciles Net income for the year ended December 31, and Shareholder's equity at December 31, as reported herein in conformity with GAAP with total statutory net income and capital and surplus of the Company, determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities:
SHAREHOLDER'S NET INCOME EQUITY ------------------------------ ------------------- 2001 2000 1999 2001 2000 (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Balance per GAAP $4,034 $4,279 $4,256 $ 95,418 $90,203 Unrealized gain/loss on fixed income securities -- -- -- (3,706) (1,889) Deferred income taxes 79 440 895 2,027 1,567 Employee benefits (29) -- 1 1,040 1,022 Reserves and non-admitted assets (30) 174 (312) (13,888) (5,505) Other 28 -- -- 11,010 (1,063) ------ ------ ------ -------- ------- Balance per statutory accounting practices $4,082 $4,893 $4,840 $ 91,901 $84,335 ====== ====== ====== ======== =======
The Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the State of Arizona. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed. Effective January 1, 2001, the State of Arizona required insurance companies domiciled in its state to prepare statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual--Version effective January 1, 2001 ("codification") subject to any deviations prescribed or permitted by the State of Arizona insurance commissioner. Accounting changes adopted to the provisions of codification are reported as changes in accounting principles. The cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles is reported as an adjustment to unassigned funds (surplus) in the period of the change in accounting principle. The cumulative effect is the difference between the amount of capital and surplus at the beginning of the year and the amount of capital and surplus that would have been reported F-12 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- at that date if the new accounting principles had been applied retroactively for all periods. The Company reported an increase to surplus of $239 thousand effective January 1, 2001 as a result of recognizing a net deferred tax asset. The NAIC is currently in the process of clarifying and interpreting requirements as the insurance industry implements codification. As the NAIC announces changes and as they are approved by the Arizona Department of Insurance, the impact of the changes will be recorded. DIVIDENDS The ability of the Company to pay dividends is dependent on business conditions, income, cash requirements of the Company and other relevant factors. The payment of shareholder dividends by the Company without the prior approval of the state insurance regulator is limited to formula amounts based on statutory surplus and statutory net gain from operations, determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices, as well as the timing and amount of dividends paid in the preceding twelve months. The maximum amount of dividends that the Company can distribute during 2002 without prior approval of the Arizona Department of Insurance is $4.1 million. In December of 2000, the Company paid a cash dividend of $4.0 million to ALIC. RISKED-BASED CAPITAL The NAIC has a standard for assessing the solvency of insurance companies, which is referred to as risk-based capital ("RBC"). The requirement consists of a formula for determining each insurer's RBC and a model law specifying regulatory actions if an insurer's RBC falls below specified levels. At December 31, 2001, RBC for the Company was significantly above levels that would require regulatory action. 11. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The components of other comprehensive income on a pretax and after-tax basis for the year ended December 31 are as follows:
2001 2000 1999 ------------------------------- ------------------------------- ------------------------------- PRETAX TAX AFTER-TAX PRETAX TAX AFTER-TAX PRETAX TAX AFTER-TAX (IN THOUSANDS) -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- --------- UNREALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES: ---------------------------- Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period $1,912 $(669) $1,243 $3,843 $(1,344) $2,499 $(6,877) $2,407 $(4,470) Less: reclassification adjustments 95 (33) 62 (253) 89 (164) 510 (178) 332 ------ ----- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- Unrealized net capital gains (losses) 1,817 (636) 1,181 4,096 (1,433) 2,663 (7,387) 2,585 (4,802) ------ ----- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- Other comprehensive income (loss) $1,817 $(636) $1,181 $4,096 $(1,433) $2,663 $(7,387) $2,585 $(4,802) ====== ===== ====== ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== =======
F-13 NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE (IN THOUSANDS)
GROSS NET AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT -------- -------- -------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 Life insurance in force..................................... $450,633 $450,633 $ -- ======== ======== ======== Premiums and contract charges: Life and annuities........................................ $109,665 $109,665 $ -- ======== ======== ========
GROSS NET AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT -------- -------- -------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000 Life insurance in force..................................... $460,143 $460,143 $ -- ======== ======== ======== Premiums and contract charges: Life and annuities........................................ $124,621 $124,621 $ -- ======== ======== ========
GROSS NET AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT -------- -------- -------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 Life insurance in force..................................... $474,824 $474,824 $ -- ======== ======== ======== Premiums and contract charges: Life and annuities........................................ $121,351 $121,351 $ -- ======== ======== ========
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