COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments And Contingencies Policy [Text Block]

(1) Net of unrealized losses that were temporarily impaired..

20. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Guaranty Funds

Under insurance guaranty fund laws in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, insurers licensed to do business can be assessed by state insurance guaranty associations for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Most of these laws provide, however, that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would threaten an insurer's solvency and further provide annual limits on such assessments. In addition, part of the assessments paid by the Company pursuant to these laws may be used as credits for a portion of the associated premium taxes.During the twelve month-period ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a $9.3 million accrual for guaranteed fund assessments.

Income Taxes

In Revenue Ruling 2007-61, issued on September 25, 2007, the IRS announced its intention to issue regulations with respect to certain computational aspects of the dividends-received-deduction (the “DRD”) on separate account assets held in connection with variable annuity contracts. Revenue Ruling 2007-61 suspended Revenue Ruling 2007-54, issued on August 16, 2007, that purported to change accepted industry and IRS interpretations of the statutes governing computational questions impacting the DRD. On May 30, 2010, the IRS issued an Industry Director Directive which makes clear that IRS interpretations prior to Revenue Ruling 2007-54 should be followed until new regulations are issued. New DRD regulations that the IRS proposes for issuance on this matter will be subject to public comment, at which time the insurance industry and other interested parties will have the opportunity to raise comments and questions about the content, scope and application of new regulations. The timing, substance and effective date of the new regulations are unknown, but they could result in the elimination of some or all of the separate account DRD tax benefit that the Company ultimately receives.For the years endedDecember 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded benefits of $14.8 million and $11.5 million, respectively, related to the separate account DRD. The amounts recorded for the year ended December 31, 2010 included an adjustment of $3.2 million to reflect a reduced run rate of separate account DRD benefits following the filing of the 2009 tax return.

Litigation

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to threatened or pending legal proceedings, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to their business, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. While it is not possible to predict the resolution of these proceedings, management believes, based upon currently available information, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not be materially adverse to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

20. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

Indemnities

In the normal course of its business, the Company has entered into agreements that include indemnities in favor of third parties, such as contracts with advisors and consultants, outsourcing agreements, underwriting and agency agreements, information technology agreements, distribution agreements and service agreements. The Company has also agreed to indemnify its directors, officers and employees in accordance with the Company's by-laws. The Company believes any potential liability under these agreements is neither probable nor estimatable. Therefore, the Company has not recorded any associated liability.

Lease Commitments

The Company leases certain facilities under operating leases with terms of up to five years. As of December 31, 2011, minimum future lease payments under such leases were as follow:

2012	$	506
2013		516
2014		516
2015		516
2016		551
Thereafter		2,327
Total	$	4,932

The Company was party to a guarantee agreement under which the Company guaranteed the lease payment obligations of SLFD. The lease agreement was terminated and the Company was not required to pay or accrue any of the lease termination costs.

Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $7.0 million, $7.2 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, SLNY, received all necessary insurance regulatory approvals to amend the fixed investment option period in their combination fixed and variable annuity contracts and other contracts to remove any negative MVA that can decrease the amount of the withdrawal proceeds. (Refer to Note 15 for additional information concerning the MVA and the fixed investment option period). The SEC declared the associated registration statements effective on March 21, 2012. As a result of the foregoing, the fixed investment option period in the contracts is no longer considered a “security” under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Company subsequently filed a Form 15 on March 28, 2012 to provide notice of suspension of its duty to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. No other changes were made to the contracts, and all other terms and conditions of the contracts remain unchanged. The MVA amendment described above did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position.