UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[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
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 33-28976
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MINNESOTA 41-0823832
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
227 AXP FINANCIAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55474
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) (612) 671-3131
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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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), 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 filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of 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. [Not Applicable] THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS I(1) (a) and (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS
FORM WITH THE PERMITTED ABBREVIATED NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
IDS Life Insurance Company (the Company) is a stock life insurance company
organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota. The Company is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Financial Corporation ("AEFC") and
serves all states except New York. The Company believes it is the fifteenth
largest life insurance company in the United States, with consolidated assets at
December 31, 2001 of approximately $58 billion (under generally accepted
accounting principles). The IDS Life Insurance Company of New York is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and serves New York State residents. The
Company also owns American Enterprise Life Insurance Company ("American
Enterprise Life"), which issues fixed and variable annuity contracts for sale
through insurance agencies and broker-dealers who may also be associated with
financial institutions, such as banks. American Centurion Life Assurance Company
("American Centurion Life") is an IDS Life subsidiary that offers fixed and
variable annuities to American Express(R) Cardmembers and others in New York, as
well as fixed and variable annuities for sale through insurance agencies and
broker-dealers who may also be associated with financial institutions, such as
banks, in New York. The Company owns American Partners Life Insurance Company
("American Partners Life"), which offers fixed and variable annuity contracts to
American Express(R) Cardmembers and others who reside in states other than New
York.
The Company's products include whole life, universal life (fixed and variable),
single premium life and term products (including waiver of premium and
accidental death benefits), disability income and long-term care insurance. The
Company also offers variable universal life insurance products, including
American Express(R) Variable Universal Life III and American Express Succession
Select(SM) Variable Universal Life Insurance.
The Company is one of the nation's largest issuers of single premium and
flexible premium deferred annuities on both a fixed and variable basis.
Immediate annuities are offered as well. The Company's fixed deferred annuities
guarantee a relatively low annual interest rate during the accumulation period
(the time before annuity payments begin). However, the Company has the option of
paying a higher rate set at its discretion. In addition, persons owning one type
of annuity may have their interest calculated based on any movement in a
broad-based stock market index. The Company also offers variable annuities,
including the American Express Retirement Advisor Advantage(SM) Variable Annuity
and the American Express Retirement Advisor Select(SM) Variable Annuity.
Under the Company's variable life insurance and variable annuity products
described above, the purchaser may choose among investment options that include
the Company's "general account" as well as from a variety of portfolios
including common stocks, bonds, managed assets and/or short term securities. The
Company serves as the investment manager and AEFC serves as the investment
adviser of seven portfolios underlying the variable life insurance products and
of nineteen portfolios underlying both the variable life insurance and variable
annuity products. The investment options also include many portfolios managed by
firms other than the Company or its subsidiaries.
Although over the past several years the Company's variable annuity sales have
had an increasing impact on total annuity sales, in 2001, sales of total annuity
products declined four percent over the prior year.
The Company, American Enterprise Life and American Partners Life are subject to
comprehensive regulation by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Insurance
Division), the Indiana Department of Insurance, and the Arizona Department of
Insurance, respectively. American Centurion Life and IDS Life Insurance Company
of New York are regulated by the New York State Department of Insurance. The
laws of the other states in which these companies do business also regulate such
matters as the licensing of sales personnel and, in some cases, the marketing
and contents of insurance policies and annuity contracts. The purpose of such
regulation and supervision is primarily to protect the interests of
policyholders.
-2-
Regulatory scrutiny of market conduct practices of insurance companies,
including sales, marketing and replacements of fixed and variable life insurance
and annuities and "bonus" annuities, has increased significantly in recent years
and is affecting the manner in which companies approach various operational
issues, including compliance. The number of private lawsuits alleging violations
of laws in connection with insurance and annuity market conduct has increased
(see Legal Proceedings below). Virtually all states mandate participation in
insurance guaranty associations, which assess insurance companies in order to
fund claims of policyholders of insolvent insurance companies. On the federal
level, there is periodic interest in enacting new regulations relating to
various aspects of the insurance industry, including taxation of variable
annuities and life insurance policies, accounting procedures, as well as the
treatment of persons differently because of gender, with respect to terms,
conditions, rates or benefits of an insurance contract. New federal regulation
in any of these areas could potentially have an adverse effect upon the Company.
As a distributor of variable annuity and life insurance contracts, the Company
is registered as a broker-dealer and is a member of the NASD. As investment
manager of various investment companies, the Company is registered as an
investment advisor under applicable federal requirements.
The insurance and annuity business is highly competitive, and the Company's
competitors consist of both stock and mutual insurance companies. Competitive
factors applicable to the insurance business include the interest rates credited
to products, the charges deducted from the cash values of such products, the
financial strength of the organization and the services provided to
policyholders.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company occupies office space in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is leased by
its parent, AEFC. The Company reimburses AEFC for rent based on direct and
indirect allocation methods. IDS Life Insurance Company of New York and American
Centurion Life rent office space in Albany, New York. Facilities occupied by the
Company and its subsidiaries are believed to be adequate for the purposes for
which they are used and are well maintained.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A number of lawsuits involving insurance sales practices, alleged agent
misconduct, failure to properly supervise agents and other matters relating to
life insurance policies and annuity contracts have been filed against life and
health insurers in jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates do
business. The Company and its affiliates, like other life and health insurers,
are involved in such litigation. The Company was a named defendant in three
class action lawsuits of this nature. On December 13, 1996, an action entitled
Lesa Benacquisto and Daniel Benacquisto v. IDS Life Insurance Company and
American Express Financial Corporation was commenced in Minnesota state court. A
second action, entitled Arnold Mork, Isabella Mork, Ronald Melchert and Susan
Melchert v. IDS Life Insurance Company and American Express Financial
Corporation was commenced in the same court on March 21, 1997. On October 13,
1998, an action entitled Richard W. and Elizabeth J. Thoresen v. American
Express Financial Corporation, American Centurion Life Assurance Company,
American Enterprise Life Insurance Company, American Partners Life Insurance
Company, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life Insurance Company of New York
was also commenced in Minnesota state court. These three class action lawsuits
included allegations of improper insurance and annuity sales practices including
improper replacement of existing annuity contracts and insurance policies,
improper use of annuities to fund tax deferred contributory retirement plans,
alleged agent misconduct, failure to properly supervise agents and other matters
relating to life insurance policies and annuity contracts.
-3-
In January 2000, AEFC and its subsidiaries reached an agreement in principle to
settle the three class action lawsuits described above. It is expected the
settlement will provide $215 million of benefits to more than two million
participants in exchange for a release by class members of all insurance and
annuity market conduct claims dating back to 1985.
In August 2000, an action entitled Lesa Benacquisto, Daniel Benacquisto, Richard
Thoresen, Elizabeth Thoresen, Arnold Mork, Isabella Mork, Ronald Melchert and
Susan Melchert v. American Express Financial Corporation, American Express
Financial Advisors, American Centurion Life Assurance Company, American
Enterprise Life Insurance Company, American Partners Life Insurance Company, IDS
Life Insurance Company and IDS Life Insurance Company of New York was commenced
in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The complaint
put at issue various alleged sales practices and misrepresentations and
allegations of violations of federal laws.
In May 2001, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and
the District Court, Fourth Judicial District for the State of Minnesota,
Hennepin County entered orders approving the settlement as tentatively reached
in January 2000. Appeals were filed in both federal and state court but
subsequently dismissed by the parties filing the appeals. The orders approving
the settlement were final as of September 24, 2001. Implementation of the
settlement commenced October 15, 2001.
Numerous individuals opted out of the settlement described above and therefore
did not release their claims against AEFC and its subsidiaries. Some of these
class members who opted out were represented by counsel and presented separate
claims to the Company. Most of their claims have been settled.
The outcome of any litigation or threatened litigation cannot be predicted with
any certainty. However, in the aggregate, the Company does not consider any
lawsuits in which it is named as a defendant to be material.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (a) of Form 10-K.
-4-
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2001 Compared to 2000:
Consolidated net loss was $65 million in 2001, compared to consolidated net
income of $586 million in 2000. Consolidated loss before income tax benefit and
cumulative effect of accounting change totaled $189 million in 2001, compared
with consolidated income before income tax expense of $807 million in 2000. This
decline was primarily the result of a $633 million increase in net pretax loss
on investments and a $245 million decrease in investment income.
Total premiums and investment contract deposits received decreased to $5.8
billion in 2001, compared with $6.9 billion in 2000. The reduction is primarily
due to lower variable annuity sales.
Total revenues decreased to $2.1 billion in 2001, compared with $3.0 billion in
2000. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in net investment income and
from the realized investments losses. Net investment income, the largest
component of revenues, decreased by $245 million from the prior year, primarily
reflecting credit related yield adjustments on fixed maturity investments and
overall lower investment yields.
Contractholder charges, which consist primarily of cost of insurance charges on
universal life-type policies, increased 12 percent to $490 million in 2001,
compared with $438 million in 2000. This increase reflects increased total life
insurance in force, which grew 10 percent to $108 billion at December 31, 2001.
Net realized losses on investments were $650 million in 2001, compared to net
realized losses of $17 million in 2000. The net loss for the year was comprised
of a $143 million pretax net loss in the first quarter resulting primarily from
the recognition of impairment losses and the sale of certain high-yield
securities; a $227 million writedown in the second quarter to recognize the
impact of higher default rate assumptions on certain structured investments; a
$262 million writedown of lower-rated securities (most of which were sold during
2001) in the second quarter primarily in connection with the Company's decision
to lower its risk profile by reducing the level of its high-yield fixed maturity
investment portfolio, allocating holdings toward stronger credits, and reducing
the concentration of exposure to individual companies and industry sectors; and
$18 million of other net losses primarily related to the sale and write-down of
investments.
Management and other fees decreased 21 percent to $473 million in 2001, compared
with $598 million in 2000. This decrease reflects lower average separate account
assets outstanding, resulting primarily from equity market depreciation. The
Company provides investment management services for many of the mutual funds
that are available as investment options for variable annuities and variable
life insurance. The Company also receives a mortality and expense risk fee from
the separate accounts.
Total benefits and expenses increased slightly to $2.3 billion in 2001 from $2.2
billion in 2000. The largest component of expenses, interest credited to
policyholder accounts for universal life-type insurance and investment
contracts, decreased slightly to $1.1 billion, reflecting a slight decrease in
fixed annuities in force and lower interest crediting rates due to the lower
interest rate environment. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
(DAC's) increased to $371 million in 2001, compared to $362 million in 2000. The
increase was primarily due to DAC unlocking adjustments (see footnote one of the
attached financial statements for the definition of unlocking adjustments),
which resulted in a net increase in amortization of $33.6 million in 2001 and a
net decrease in amortization of $12.3 million in 2000. Amortization, excluding
unlocking adjustments, was significantly less in 2001 than in 2000, due
primarily to the significant drop in equity-based separate account values and
associated fee revenue.
-5-
Other insurance and operating expenses increased to $408 million in 2001,
compared to $379 million in 2000. This increase was primarily a result of
business growth and technology costs related to growth initiatives.
2000 Compared to 1999:
Consolidated net income decreased 8 percent to $586 million in 2000, compared to
$636 million in 1999. Consolidated income before income taxes totaled $807
million in 2000, compared with $904 million in 1999. The decrease resulted
primarily from a decrease in net investment income. This reflects decreases in
investments owned and decreased investment yields during 2000.
Total premiums and investment contract deposits received increased to $6.9
billion in 2000, compared with $5.0 billion in 1999. This increase is primarily
due to an increase in variable annuity deposits in 2000.
Total revenues decreased to $3.0 billion in 2000, compared with $3.1 billion in
1999. Decreases in net investment income and net realized gains (losses) on
investments were partially offset by increases in insurance premiums,
contractholder charges and management and other fees. Net investment income, the
largest component of revenues, decreased by $189 million from the prior year,
reflecting decreases in investments owned and investment yields.
Contractholder charges, which consist primarily of cost of insurance charges on
universal life-type policies, increased 6 percent to $438 million in 2000,
compared with $412 million in 1999. This increase reflects increased total life
insurance in force, which grew 10 percent to $98 billion at December 31, 2000.
Net realized loss on investments was $17 million in 2000, compared to a net
realized gain of $27 million in 1999. The loss was primarily due to the loss on
sales and writedowns of fixed maturity investments.
Management and other fees increased 26 percent to $598 million in 2000, compared
with $473 million in 1999. This is primarily due to an increase in separate
account fees, which grew 25 percent to $543 million at December 31, 2000, due to
market appreciation and sales. The Company provides investment management
services for mutual funds used as investment options for variable annuities and
variable life insurance. The Company also receives a mortality and expense risk
fee from the separate accounts.
Total benefits and expenses increased slightly to $2.2 billion in 2000. The
largest component of expenses, interest credited to policyholder accounts for
universal life-type insurance and investment contracts, decreased slightly to
$1.2 billion, reflecting a decrease in fixed annuities in force. Amortization of
deferred policy acquisition costs increased to $362 million, compared to $321
million in 1999. This increase was due primarily to the impact of changing
prospective separate account investment performance assumptions.
Other insurance and operating expenses increased to $379 million in 2000,
compared to $347 million in 1999. This increase was primarily a result of
business growth and technology costs related to growth initiatives.
-6-
Certain Critical Accounting Policies
In December 2001, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a
financial reporting release, FR-60, "Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure
About Critical Accounting Policies." In this connection, the following
information has been provided about certain critical accounting policies that
are important to the Consolidated Financial Statements and that entail, to a
significant extent, the use of estimates, assumptions and the application of
management's judgment. These policies relate to the recognition of impairment
within the investment portfolio and deferred acquisition costs.
Generally, investment securities are carried at fair value on the balance sheet.
Gains and losses are recognized in the results of operations upon disposition of
the securities. In addition, losses are also recognized when management
determines that a decline in value is not temporary, which requires judgment
regarding the amount and timing of recovery. Typically, the Company defines an
event of impairment for debt securities as issuer default or bankruptcy. Fair
value is generally based on quoted market prices. However, the Company's
investment portfolio also contains structured investments of various asset
quality, including Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) and Structured Loan
Trusts (backed by high-yield bonds and bank loans, respectively), which are not
readily marketable. As a result, the carrying values of these structured
investments are based on cash flow projections which require a significant
degree of judgment and as such are subject to change. If actual future cash
flows are less than projected, additional losses would be realized.
The Company's deferred acquisition costs (DACs) represent costs of acquiring new
business, principally sales and other distribution and underwriting costs, that
have been deferred on the sale of annuity, insurance, and certain mutual fund
and long-term products. DAC's are amortized over the lives of the products,
either as a constant percentage of projected earnings or as a constant
percentage of projected liabilities associated with such products. Such
projections require use of certain assumptions, including interest margins,
mortality rates, persistency rates, maintenance expense levels and, for variable
products, separate account performance. As actual experience differs from the
current assumptions, management considers on a quarterly basis the need to
change key assumptions underlying the amortization models prospectively. For
example, if the stock market trend rose or declined appreciably, it could impact
assumptions made about separate account performance and result in an adjustment
to income, either positively or negatively. The impact on results of operations
of changing prospective assumptions with respect to the amortization of DACs is
reflected in the period in which such changes are made.
Risk Management
The sensitivity analysis of two different types of market risk discussed below
estimate the effects of hypothetical sudden and sustained changes in the
applicable market conditions on the ensuing year's earnings, based on year-end
positions. The market changes, assumed to occur as of year-end, are a 100 basis
point increase in market interest rates and a 10% decline in the value of equity
securities under management. Computations of the prospective effects of
hypothetical interest rate and equity market changes are based on numerous
assumptions, including relative levels of market interest rates and equity
prices, as well as the levels of assets and liabilities. The hypothetical
changes and assumptions will be different from what actually occur. Furthermore,
the computations do not incorporate actions that management could take if the
hypothetical market changes actually occurred. As a result, actual earnings
consequences will differ from those quantified below.
The Company primarily invests in fixed income securities over a broad range of
maturities for the purpose of providing fixed annuity clients with a competitive
rate of return on their investments while controlling risk, and to provide a
dependable and targeted spread between the interest rate earned on investments
and the interest rate credited to contractholders' accounts. The Company does
not invest in securities to generate trading profits.
-7-
The Company has an investment committee that holds regularly scheduled meetings
and, when necessary, special meetings. At these meetings, the committee reviews
models projecting different interest rate scenarios, risk/return measures, and
their effect on profitability. The objective of the committee is to structure
the investment security portfolio based upon the type and behavior of products
in the liability portfolio so as to achieve targeted levels of profitability
within defined risk parameters and to meet contractual obligations.
Rates credited to contractholders' accounts are generally reset at shorter
intervals than the maturity of underlying investments. Therefore, margins may be
negatively impacted by increases in the general level of interest rates. Part of
the committee's strategy includes the use of derivatives, such as interest rate
caps, swaps and floors, for risk management purposes. These derivatives protect
margins by increasing investment returns if there is a sudden and severe rise in
interest rates, thereby mitigating the impact of an increase in rates credited
to contractholders' accounts.
The negative effect on the Company's pretax earnings of a 100 basis point
increase in interest rates, which assumes repricings and customer behavior based
on the application of proprietary models to the book of business at December 31,
2001, would be approximately $12 million.
On a certain annuity product, the interest is credited to contractholders'
accounts based upon the relative change in a major stock market index between
the beginning and end of the product's term. As a means of hedging the Company's
obligation under the provisions of this product, the committee's strategy is to
purchase and write options on the major stock market index, and to purchase
futures which are marked to market daily and exchange traded, exposing the
Company to no counterparty risk.
The amount of the fee income the Company receives is based upon the daily market
value of the separate account assets. As a result, the Company's fee income
would be negatively impacted by a decline in the equity markets. Another part of
the committee's strategy is to use index options to manage the equity market
risk related to fee income. These derivatives help protect fee income by
providing option income when there is a significant decline in the equity
markets.
The negative effect on the Company's pretax earnings of a 10% decline in equity
prices would be approximately $30 million based on assets under management as of
December 31, 2001.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The liquidity requirements of the Company are met by funds provided by premiums,
investment income, proceeds from sales of investments as well as maturities and
periodic repayments of investment principal.
The primary uses of funds are policy benefits, commissions and operating
expenses, policy loans, dividends and investment purchases.
The Company has available lines of credit with its parent aggregating $200
million ($100 million committed and $100 million uncommitted). The line of
credit is used strictly as a short-term source of funds. There were no
borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2001. At December 31, 2001, there were no
outstanding reverse repurchase agreements.
At December 31, 2001, investments in fixed maturities comprised 80 percent of
the Company's total invested assets. Of the fixed maturity portfolio,
approximately 42 percent is invested in GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed
securities which are considered AAA/Aaa quality.
At December 31, 2001, approximately 4 percent of the Company's investments in
fixed maturities were below investment grade bonds. These investments may be
subject to a higher degree of risk than the investment grade issues because of
the borrower's generally greater sensitivity to adverse economic
-8-
conditions, such as recession or increasing interest rates, and in certain
instances, the lack of an active secondary market. Expected returns on below
investment grade bonds reflect consideration of such factors. The Company has
identified those fixed maturities for which a decline in fair value is
determined to be other than temporary, and has written them down to fair value
with a charge to earnings.
During 2001, the Company placed a majority of its rated Collateralized Debt
Obligation (CDO) (obligations that are backed primarily by high-yield bonds)
securities and related accrued interest, (collectively referred to as
transferred assets), having an aggregate book value of $675 million, into a
securitization trust. In return, the Company received $90 million in cash
relating to sales to unaffiliated investors and retained interests with
allocated book amounts aggregating $586 million. The book amount is determined
by allocating the previous carrying value of the transferred assets between
assets sold and the retained interests based on their relative fair values. Fair
values are based on the estimated present value of future cash flows.
At December 31, 2001, net unrealized appreciation on available-for-sale fixed
maturities included $386 million of gross unrealized appreciation and $251
million of gross unrealized depreciation. The Company does not have any
held-to-maturity fixed maturities at December 31, 2001.
At December 31, 2001, the Company had a reserve for losses for mortgage loans
totaling $21 million and for real estate investments totaling $nil.
In 2001, the Company received a capital contribution from its parent of $400
million.
The economy and other factors have caused a number of insurance companies to go
under regulatory supervision. This circumstance has resulted in assessments by
state guaranty associations to cover losses to policyholders of insolvent or
rehabilitated companies. Some assessments can be partially recovered through a
reduction in future premium taxes in certain states. The Company established an
asset for guaranty association assessments paid to those states allowing a
reduction in future premium taxes over a reasonable period of time. The asset is
being amortized as premium taxes are reduced. The Company has also estimated the
potential effect of future assessments on the Company's financial position and
results of operations and has established a reserve for such potential
assessments.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has established risk-based
capital standards to determine the capital requirements of a life insurance
company based upon the risks inherent in its operations. These standards require
the computation of a risk-based capital amount which is then compared to a
company's actual total adjusted capital. The computation involves applying
factors to various statutory financial data to address four primary risks: asset
default, adverse insurance experience, interest rate risk and external events.
These standards provide for regulatory attention when the percentage of total
adjusted capital to authorized control level risk-based capital is below certain
levels. As of December 31, 2001, the Company's total adjusted capital was well
in excess of the levels requiring regulatory attention.
-9-
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in item #7 of this Form 10-K Annual Report contain
forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause results to differ materially from such statements. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, changes in the
ability of issuers of investment securities held by the Company to meet their
debt obligations, which could result in further losses in the Company's
investment portfolio.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Items required under this section are included in the Mangement's Discussion and
Analysis of financial condition and results of operations under the section
titled risk management.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
1. Financial Statements and Schedules Required under Regulation S-X.
Index to financial statements
The following consolidated financial statements of IDS Life Insurance
Company are included in Item 8:
Report of Independent Auditors 16
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2001 and 2000 17-18
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 19
Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity for the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 20-21
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 22-23
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 24-40
All information on schedules to the consolidated financial statements
required by Article 7 of Regulation S-X is included in the consolidated
financial statements or is not required. Therefore, all schedules have been
omitted.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
-10-
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (c) of Form 10-K.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (c) of Form 10-K.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (c) of Form 10-K.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (c) of Form 10-K.
-11-
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) Financial Statements
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
on page 11.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
See index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules.
All information on schedules to the consolidated financial
statements required by Article 7 of Regulation S-X is included in
the consolidated financial statements or is not required.
Therefore, all schedules have been omitted.
(3) Exhibits
3.1 Copy of Certificate of Incorporation of IDS Life Insurance
Company filed electronically as Exhibit 3.1 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
3.2 Copy of the Amended By-laws of IDS Life Insurance Company
filed electronically as Exhibit 3.2 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is
incorporated herein by reference.
3.3 Copy of Resolution of the Board of Directors of IDS Life
Insurance Company, dated May 5, 1989, establishing IDS Life
Account MGA filed electronically as Exhibit 3.3 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.1 Copy of Non-tax qualified Group Annuity Contract, Form
30363C, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.1 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.2 Copy of Non-tax qualified Group Annuity Certificate, Form
30360C, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.2 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.3 Copy of Endorsement No. 30340C-GP to the Group Annuity
Contract filed electronically as Exhibit 4.3 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.4 Copy of Endorsement No. 30340C to the Group Annuity
Certificate filed electronically as Exhibit 4.4 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.5 Copy of Tax qualified Group Annuity Contract, Form 30369C,
filed electronically as Exhibit 4.5 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.6 Copy of Tax qualified Group Annuity Certificate, Form
30368C, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.6 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement
No. 33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
-12-
4.7 Copy of Group IRA Annuity Contract, Form 30372C, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.7 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.8 Copy of Group IRA Annuity Certificate, Form 30371C, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.8 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.9 Copy of Non-tax qualified Individual Annuity Contract, Form
30365D, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.9 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement
No. 33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.10 Copy of Endorsement No. 30379 to the Individual Annuity
Contract, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.10 to Post
Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement No.
33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.11 Copy of Tax qualified Individual Annuity Contract, Form
30370C, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.11 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement
No. 33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.12 Copy of Individual IRA Annuity Contract, Form 30373C, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.12 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.13 Copy of Endorsement No. 33007 filed electronically as
Exhibit 4.13 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to
Registration Statement No. 33-28976 is incorporated herein
by reference.
4.14 Copy of Group Annuity Contract, Form 30363D, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.1 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-50968 is incorporated
herein by reference.
4.15 Copy of Group Annuity Certificate, Form 30360D, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.2 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-50968 is incorporated
herein by reference.
4.16 Form of Deferred Annuity Contract, Form 30365E, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.3 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-50968 is incorporated
herein by reference.
4.17 Copy of Group Deferred Variable Annuity Contract, Form
34660, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.1 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-48701 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.18 Copy of Non-tax qualified Group Annuity Contract, Form
33111, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration
Statement No. 333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.19 Copy of Non-tax qualified Group Annuity Certificate, Form
33114, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.2 to Registration
Statement No. 333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
-13-
4.20 Copy of Tax qualified Group Annuity Contract, Form 33112,
filed electronically as Exhibit 4.3 to Registration
Statement No. 333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.21 Copy of Tax qualified Group Annuity Certificate, Form 33115,
filed electronically as Exhibit 4.4 to Registration
Statement No. 333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.22 Copy of Group IRA Annuity Contract, Form 33113, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.5 to Registration Statement No.
333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.23 Copy of Group IRA Annuity Certificate, Form 33116, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.6 to Registration Statement No.
333-42793 is incorporated herein by reference.
4.24 Copy of Non-tax qualified Individual Annuity Contract, Form
30484, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.7 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-42793 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.25 Copy of Tax qualified Individual Annuity Contract, Form
30485, filed electronically as Exhibit 4.8 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-42793 is
incorporated herein by reference.
4.26 Copy of Individual IRA Contract, Form 30486, filed
electronically as Exhibit 4.9 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-42793 is
incorporated herein by reference.
21. Copy of List of Subsidiaries filed electronically as Exhibit
22 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration
Statement No. 33-28976 is incorporated herein by reference.
27. Financial data schedule is filed electronically herewith.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K filed in the fourth quarter of 2001
No reports on Form 8-K were required to be filed by the Company for the quarter
ended December 31, 2001.
-14-
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.
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Registrant
3/12/2002 By /s/ Timothy V. Bechtold
--------------------------------
Date Timothy V. Bechtold, President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
3/12/2002 By /s/ Gumer C. Alvero
--------------------------------
Date Gumer C. Alvero, Director and
Executive Vice President - Annuities
3/12/2002 By /s/ Timothy V. Bechtold
--------------------------------
Date Timothy V. Bechtold, President
3/12/2002 By /s/ Barry J. Murphy
--------------------------------
Date Barry J. Murphy, Director
3/12/2002 By /s/ Stephen W. Roszell
--------------------------------
Date Stephen W. Roszell, Director
3/12/2002 By /s/ Bridget M. Sperl
--------------------------------
Date Bridget M. Sperl, Executive Vice
President - Client Services
3/12/2002 By /s/ John T. Sweeney
--------------------------------
Date John T. Sweeney, Executive Vice
President - Finance
3/12/2002 By /s/ Philip C. Wentzel
--------------------------------
Date Philip C. Wentzel, Vice President
and Controller
-15-
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of IDS Life
Insurance Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Financial
Corporation) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholder's equity and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of IDS Life Insurance
Company at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the consolidated 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.
Ernst & Young LLP
January 28, 2002
Minneapolis, Minnesota
-16-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(In thousands, except share amounts)
ASSETS 2001 2000
------------ ----------
Investments:
Fixed maturities:
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: 2000, $6,471,798) $ - $ 6,463,613
Available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2001, $20,022,072; 2000,
$12,929,870) 20,157,137 12,399,990
Common stocks 1,704 10,333
Mortgage loans on real estate 3,680,394 3,738,091
Policy loans 619,571 618,973
Other investments 621,897 575,551
------------ ------------
Total investments 25,080,703 23,806,551
Cash and cash equivalents 1,150,251 316,974
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers 529,166 416,480
Amounts due from brokers 90,794 15,302
Other accounts receivable 46,349 42,324
Accrued investment income 278,199 334,928
Deferred policy acquisition costs 3,107,187 2,951,655
Deferred income taxes, net 156,308 136,588
Other assets 123,246 80,054
Separate account assets 27,333,697 32,349,347
---------- -----------
Total assets $57,895,900 $60,450,203
=========== ===========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-17-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
December 31,
(In thousands, except share amounts)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY 2001 2000
----------- ----------
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits:
Fixed annuities $19,592,273 $19,417,446
Universal life-type insurance 3,433,904 3,410,871
Traditional life insurance 241,165 232,913
Disability income and long-term care insurance 1,227,172 1,012,247
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds 71,879 52,067
Amounts due to brokers 1,740,031 446,347
Other liabilities 437,017 463,561
Separate account liabilities 27,333,697 32,349,347
---------- ------------
Total liabilities 54,077,138 57,384,799
---------- ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity:
Capital stock, $30 par value per share;
100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding 3,000 3,000
Additional paid-in capital 688,327 288,327
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net unrealized securities gains (losses) 85,549 (333,734)
Net unrealized derivative (losses) (774) -
---------- -----------
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 84,775 (333,734)
Retained earnings 3,042,660 3,107,811
----------- -----------
Total stockholder's equity 3,818,762 3,065,404
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity $57,895,900 $60,450,203
=========== ===========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-18-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Years ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2001 2000 1999
------------ ------------- ---------
REVENUES
Premiums:
Traditional life insurance $ 59,415 $ 56,187 $ 53,790
Disability income and long-term care insurance 255,428 231,311 201,637
--------- --------- ---------
Total premiums 314,843 287,498 255,427
Net investment income 1,485,688 1,730,605 1,919,573
Contractholder charges 489,583 438,127 411,994
Management and other fees 473,406 598,168 473,108
Net realized (loss) gain on investments (649,752) (16,975) 26,608
--------- ------------ -----------
Total revenues 2,113,768 3,037,423 3,086,710
--------- --------- ---------
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Death and other benefits:
Traditional life insurance 35,519 29,042 29,819
Universal life-type insurance and investment contracts
175,247 131,467 118,561
Disability income and long-term care insurance 44,725 40,246 30,622
Increase in liabilities for future policy benefits:
Traditional life insurance 7,231 5,765 7,311
Disability income and long-term care insurance 123,227 113,239 87,620
Interest credited on universal life-type insurance and
investment contracts 1,137,636 1,169,641 1,240,575
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs 371,342 362,106 321,036
Other insurance and operating expenses 407,798 378,653 346,849
------- ---------- ----------
Total benefits and expenses 2,302,725 2,230,159 2,182,393
--------- --------- ---------
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense and
cumulative effect of accounting change (188,957) 807,264 904,317
Income tax (benefit) expense (145,222) 221,627 267,864
----------- ---------- ----------
(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change
(43,735) 585,637 636,453
Cumulative effect of accounting change (net of income tax
benefit of $11,532) (21,416) - -
----------- ----------- ---------
Net (loss) income $ (65,151) $ 585,637 $ 636,453
=========== ========== ==========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-19-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
For the three years ended December 31, 2001
(In thousands)
Accumulated
other
Additional comprehensive Total
Capital paid-in income (loss), Retained stockholder's
Stock capital net of tax earnings equity
----- ------- ---------- -------- ------
Balance, January 1, 1999 $ 3,000 $ 288,327 $ 169,584 $ 2,645,721 $ 3,106,632
Comprehensive income:
Net income - - - 636,453 636,453
Unrealized holding losses arising
during the year, net of deferred
policy acquisition costs of $28,444
and income taxes of $304,936
- - (566,311) - (566,311)
Reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of income
tax of $7,810 - - (14,503) - (14,503)
------------ --------------
Other comprehensive loss - - (580,814) - (580,814)
--------------
Comprehensive income 55,639
Cash dividends - - - (350,000) (350,000)
---------- ------------- ---------------- ------------- --------------
Balance, December 31, 1999 3,000 288,327 (411,230) 2,932,174 2,812,271
Comprehensive income:
Net income - - - 585,637 585,637
Unrealized holding gains arising during
the year, net of deferred policy
acquisition costs of ($5,154) and
income taxes of ($46,921)
- - 87,138 - 87,138
Reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of
income tax of $5,192 - - (9,642) - (9,642)
------------- -------------
Other comprehensive income - - 77,496 - 77,496
--------------
Comprehensive income 663,133
Cash dividends - - - (410,000) (410,000)
---------- -------------- --------------- ----------- -------------
Balance, December 31, 2000 $ 3,000 $ 288,327 $ (333,734) $ 3,107,811 $ 3,065,404
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-20-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (continued)
For the three years ended December 31, 2001
(In thousands)
Accumulated
other
Additional comprehensive Total
Capital paid-in income (loss), Retained stockholder's
Stock capital net of tax earnings equity
----- ------- ---------- -------- ------
Balance, December 31, 2000 $ 3,000 $ 288,327 $ (333,734) $3,107,811 $ 3,065,404
Comprehensive income:
Net loss - - - (65,151) (65,151)
Cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No.
133, net of income tax benefit of $626
- - (1,162) - (1,162)
Unrealized holding losses on
available-for-sale securities
arising during the year, net of
deferred policy acquisition costs
of ($20,191) and income taxes of
$15,037
- - (11,262) - (11,262)
Reclassification adjustment for losses on
available-for-sale securities included
in net loss, net of income tax benefit
of $228,003 - - 423,434 - 423,434
Reclassification adjustment for losses on
derivatives included in net loss, net
of income tax benefit of $4,038
- - 7,499 - 7,499
---------- -------------
Other comprehensive income - - 418,509 - 418,509
------------
Comprehensive income 353,358
Capital contribution - 400,000 - - 400,000
--------- --------- --------------- ------------ ------------
Balance, December 31, 2001 $3,000 $ 688,327 $ 84,775 $ 3,042,660 $ 3,818,762
======= ========= ========= =========== ===========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-21-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2001 2000 1999
------------ ------------ ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income $ (65,151) $ 585,637 $ 636,453
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax 21,416 - -
Policy loans, excluding universal life-type insurance:
Issuance (43,687) (61,313) (56,153)
Repayment 54,004 56,088 54,105
Change in amounts recoverable from reinsurers (112,686) (89,312) (64,908)
Change in other accounts receivable (4,025) 6,254 (615)
Change in accrued investment income 56,729 8,521 23,125
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs, net (175,723) (291,634) (140,379)
Change in liabilities for future policy benefits for
traditional life, disability income and long-term care
insurance 223,177 206,377 153,157
Change in policy claims and other policyholder's funds 19,812 27,467 (45,709)
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision (246,205) 37,704 79,796
Change in other liabilities (24,509) (120,256) 169,395
Amortization of premium (accretion of discount), net 108,958 37,909 (17,907)
Net realized loss (gain) on investments 649,752 16,975 (26,608)
Contractholder charges, non-cash (217,496) (151,745) (175,059)
Other, net (83,023) (9,279) (5,324)
--------------- ------------- -----------
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 161,343 $ 259,393 $ 583,369
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-22-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
Years ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2001 2000 1999
------------- ------------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Held-to-maturity securities:
Purchases $ - $ (4,487) $ (3,030)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls - 589,742 741,949
Sales - 50,067 66,547
Available-for-sale securities:
Purchases (9,477,740) (1,454,010) (3,433,128)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls 2,706,147 1,019,403 1,442,507
Sales 5,493,141 1,237,116 1,691,389
Other investments, excluding policy loans:
Purchases (442,876) (706,082) (657,383)
Sales 370,636 435,633 406,684
Change in amounts due from brokers (75,492) (15,157) 182
Change in amounts due to brokers 1,293,684 298,236 (47,294)
--------- ----------- ------------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (132,500) 1,450,461 208,423
----------- ----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Activities related to universal life-type insurance and
investment contracts:
Considerations received 2,088,114 1,842,026 2,031,630
Surrenders and other benefits (2,810,401) (3,974,966) (3,669,759)
Interest credited to account balances 1,137,636 1,169,641 1,240,575
Universal life-type insurance policy loans:
Issuance (83,720) (134,107) (102,239)
Repayment 72,805 82,193 67,881
Capital contribution 400,000 - -
Dividends paid - (410,000) (350,000)
---------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 804,434 (1,425,213) (781,912)
---------- ----------- -----------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 833,277 284,641 9,880
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 316,974 32,333 22,453
----------- ----------- ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 1,150,251 $ 316,974 $ 32,333
=========== =========== ===========
Supplemental disclosures:
Income taxes paid $ - $ 225,704 $ 214,940
Interest on borrowings 23,688 3,299 4,521
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-23-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies
Nature of business
IDS Life Insurance Company (the Company) is a stock life insurance company
organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota. The Company is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC),
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Company. The Company
serves residents of all states except New York. IDS Life Insurance Company
of New York is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and serves New York
State residents. The Company also wholly-owns American Enterprise Life
Insurance Company, American Centurion Life Assurance Company, American
Partners Life Insurance Company and American Express Corporation.
The Company's principal products are deferred annuities and universal life
insurance, which are issued primarily to individuals. It offers single
premium and flexible premium deferred annuities on both a fixed and
variable dollar basis. Immediate annuities are offered as well. The
Company's insurance products include universal life (fixed and variable),
whole life, single premium life and term products (including waiver of
premium and accidental death benefits). The Company also markets disability
income and long-term care insurance.
Revenue Recognition
Profits on fixed deferred annuities are the excess of contractholder
charges and investment income earned from investment of contract
considerations over interest credited to contract values, amortization of
deferred acquisition costs, and other expenses. Profits on variable
deferred annuities also include the excess of management and other fees
over the costs of guaranteed benefits provided. Contractholder charges
include policy fees and surrender charges. Management and other fees
include investment management fees from underlying proprietary mutual
funds, certain fee revenues from underlying nonproprietary mutual funds and
mortality and expense risk fees from the variable annuity separate
accounts.
Profits on fixed universal life insurance are the excess of contractholder
charges and investment income earned from investment of contract
considerations over interest credited to contract values, death and other
benefits paid in excess of contract values, amortization of deferred
acquisition costs, and other expenses. Profits on variable universal life
insurance also include management and other fees. Contractholder charges
include the monthly cost of insurance charges, issue and administrative
fees and surrender charges. These charges also include the minimum death
benefit guarantee fees received from the variable life insurance separate
accounts. Management and other fees include investment management fees from
underlying proprietary mutual funds, certain fee revenues from underlying
nonproprietary mutual funds and mortality and expense risk fees received
from the variable life insurance separate accounts.
Premiums on traditional life, disability income and long-term care
insurance policies are recognized as revenue when due, and related benefits
and expenses are associated with premium revenue in a manner that results
in recognition of profits over the lives of the insurance policies. This
association is accomplished by means of the provision for future policy
benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition
costs.
-24-
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States which vary in certain respects from reporting practices prescribed
or permitted by state insurance regulatory authorities (see Note 4).
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current
year's presentation.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
Investments - securities
Debt securities that the Company has both the positive intent and the
ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and carried
at amortized cost. All other debt securities and marketable equity
securities are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value.
Unrealized gains and losses on securities classified as available-for-sale
are carried as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss), net of the related deferred policy acquisition costs and
income taxes. When evidence indicates there is a decline in a security's
value, which is other than temporary, the security is written down to fair
value through a charge to current year's earnings.
The Company's investment portfolio contains structured investments,
including Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDO's) (obligations that are
primarily backed by high-yield bonds), which are not readily marketable.
The carrying values of these investments are based on cash flow projections
and, as such, these values are subject to change. If actual cash flows are
less than projected, losses would be recognized; increases in cash flows
would be recognized over future periods.
Realized investment gains or losses are determined on an identified cost
basis.
Prepayments are anticipated on certain investments in mortgage-backed
securities in determining the constant effective yield used to recognize
interest income. Prepayment estimates are based on information received
from brokers who deal in mortgage-backed securities.
Investments - mortgage loans on real estate
Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at amortized cost less reserves
for losses. The estimated fair value of the mortgage loans is determined by
discounted cash flow analyses using mortgage interest rates currently
offered for mortgages of similar maturities.
-25-
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Impairment of mortgage loans is measured as the excess of the loan's
recorded investment over its present value of expected principal and
interest payments discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, or the
fair value of collateral. The amount of the impairment is recorded in a
reserve for losses. The reserve for losses is maintained at a level that
management believes is adequate to absorb estimated losses in the
portfolio. The level of the reserve account is determined based on several
factors, including historical experience, expected future principal and
interest payments, estimated collateral values, and current economic and
political conditions. Management regularly evaluates the adequacy of the
reserve for mortgage loan losses.
The Company generally stops accruing interest on mortgage loans for which
interest payments are delinquent more than three months. Based on
management's judgment as to the ultimate collectability of principal,
interest payments received are either recognized as income or applied to
the recorded investment in the loan.
Policy loans
Policy loans are carried at the aggregate of the unpaid loan balances,
which do not exceed the cash surrender values of the related policies.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers investments with a maturity at the date of their
acquisition of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These
securities are carried principally at amortized cost, which approximates
fair value.
Deferred policy acquisition costs
The costs of acquiring new business, principally sales compensation, policy
issue costs, underwriting and certain sales expenses, have been deferred on
insurance and annuity contracts. The deferred acquisition costs for most
single premium deferred annuities and installment annuities are amortized
using the interest method. The costs for universal life and variable
universal life insurance and certain installment annuities are amortized as
a percentage of the estimated gross profits expected to be realized on the
policies. For traditional life, disability income and long-term care
insurance policies, the costs are amortized over an appropriate period in
proportion to premium revenue.
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs requires the use of
assumptions including interest margins, mortality margins, persistency
rates, maintenance expense levels and, for variable products, separate
account performance. For fixed and variable universal life insurance and
deferred annuities, actual experience is reflected in the Company's
amortization models monthly. As actual experience differs from the current
assumptions, management considers the need to change key prospective
assumptions underlying the amortization models. The impact of changing
prospective assumptions is reflected in the period that such changes are
made and is generally referred to as an unlocking adjustment. Unlocking
adjustments resulted in a net increase in amortization of $33,600 in 2001
and net decreases in amortization of $12,300 in 2000 and $56,800 in 1999.
-26-
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
In amortizing deferred policy acquisition costs associated with variable
annuities, the Company assumes contract values will appreciate at a
specified long-term annual rate. The Company may project near-term
appreciation at a different rate in order to maintain the long-term rate
assumption.
Liabilities for future policy benefits
Liabilities for fixed and variable universal life insurance and fixed and
variable deferred annuities are accumulation values.
Liabilities for equity indexed deferred annuities issued in 1997 and 1998
are equal to the present value of guaranteed benefits and the intrinsic
value of index-based benefits. Liabilities for equity indexed deferred
annuities issued in 1999 or later are equal to the accumulation of host
contract values covering guaranteed benefits and the market value of
embedded equity options.
Liabilities for fixed annuities in a benefit status are based on
established industry mortality tables and interest rates ranging from 5% to
9.5%, depending on year of issue.
Liabilities for future benefits on traditional life insurance are based on
the net level premium method, using anticipated mortality, policy
persistency and interest earning rates. Anticipated mortality rates are
based on established industry mortality tables. Anticipated policy
persistency rates vary by policy form, issue age and policy duration with
persistency on cash value plans generally anticipated to be better than
persistency on term insurance plans. Anticipated interest rates range from
4% to 10%, depending on policy form, issue year and policy duration.
Liabilities for future disability income and long-term care policy benefits
include both policy reserves and claim reserves. Policy reserves are based
on the net level premium method, using anticipated morbidity, mortality,
policy persistency and interest earning rates. Anticipated morbidity and
mortality rates are based on established industry morbidity and mortality
tables. Anticipated policy persistency rates vary by policy form, issue
age, policy duration and, for disability income policies, occupation class.
Anticipated interest rates for disability income and long-term care policy
reserves are 3% to 9.5% at policy issue and grade to ultimate rates of 5%
to 7% over 5 to 10 years.
Claim reserves are calculated based on claim continuance tables and
anticipated interest earnings. Anticipated claim continuance rates are
based on established industry tables. Anticipated interest rates for claim
reserves for both disability income and long-term care range from 5% to 8%.
Reinsurance
Reinsurance premiums and benefits paid or provided are accounted for on a
basis consistent with those used in accounting for original policies issued
and with the terms of the reinsurance contracts.
The maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by the Company is $750
on any policy insuring a single life and $1,500 on any policy insuring a
joint-life combination. The Company retains 20% of the mortality risk on
new variable universal life insurance policies and 10% of the risk on new
-27-
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
term insurance policies. Risk not retained is reinsured with other life
insurance companies, primarily on a yearly renewable term basis. Long-term
care policies are primarily reinsured on a coinsurance basis. The Company
retains all accidental death benefit, disability income and waiver of
premium risk.
Federal income taxes
The Company's taxable income is included in the consolidated federal income
tax return of American Express Company. The Company provides for income
taxes on a separate return basis, except that, under an agreement between
AEFC and American Express Company, tax benefit is recognized for losses to
the extent they can be used on the consolidated tax return. It is the
policy of AEFC and its subsidiaries that AEFC will reimburse subsidiaries
for all tax benefits.
Separate account business
The separate account assets and liabilities represent funds held for the
exclusive benefit of the variable annuity and variable life insurance
contract owners. The Company receives investment management fees from the
proprietary mutual funds used as investment options for variable annuities
and variable life insurance. The Company receives mortality and expense
risk fees from the separate accounts.
The Company makes contractual mortality assurances to the variable annuity
contract owners that the net assets of the separate accounts will not be
affected by future variations in the actual life expectancy experience of
the annuitants and beneficiaries from the mortality assumptions implicit in
the annuity contracts. The Company makes periodic fund transfers to, or
withdrawals from, the separate account assets for such actuarial
adjustments for variable annuities that are in the benefit payment period.
The Company also guarantees that the rates at which administrative fees are
deducted from contract funds will not exceed contractual maximums.
For variable life insurance, the Company guarantees that the rates at which
insurance charges and administrative fees are deducted from contract funds
will not exceed contractual maximums. The Company also guarantees that the
death benefit will continue to be payable at the initial level regardless
of investment performance so long as minimum premium payments are made.
Accounting developments
In July 2000, the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issued a
consensus on Issue 99-20, "Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on
Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial
Assets". The Company adopted the consensus as of January 1, 2001. Issue
99-20 prescribes new procedures for recording interest income and measuring
impairment on retained and purchased beneficial interests. The consensus
primarily affects certain high-yield investments contained in structured
securities. Adoption of the consensus required the Company to adjust the
carrying amount of these investments downward by $21,416, net of tax, upon
adoption. See Note 2 for further discussion.
-28-
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities," as amended (SFAS No. 133), which requires an entity to
recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the balance
sheet and measure those instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair
value of a derivative are recorded in earnings or directly to equity,
depending on the instrument's designated use. The adoption of SFAS No. 133
on January 1, 2001, resulted in a cumulative after-tax reduction to other
comprehensive income of $1,162. The cumulative impact to earnings was not
significant. See Note 8 for further discussion of the Company's derivative
and hedging activities.
SFAS No. 133 also provided a one-time opportunity to reclassify
held-to-maturity security investments to available-for-sale without
tainting the remaining securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio. The
Company elected to take the opportunity to reclass all its held-to-maturity
investments to available-for-sale.
The Company adopted SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing
of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," which superceded
SFAS No. 125. The Statement was effective for transfers and servicing of
financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after March
31, 2001. The Statement was effective for recognition and reclassification
of collateral and for disclosures relating to securitization transactions
and collateral for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2000. The impact
on the Company's financial position or results of operations of adopting
the Statement was not significant.
2. Investments
Securities
Pursuant to the adoption of SFAS No. 133 the Company reclassified all
held-to-maturity securities with a carrying value of $6,463,613 and net
unrealized gains of $8,185 to available-for-sale as of January 1, 2001.
The following is a summary of securities available-for-sale at December 31,
2001:
Gross Gross
Amortized unrealized unrealized Fair
cost gains losses value
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government agency obligations $ 31,074 $ 2,190 $ 56 $ 33,208
State and municipal obligations 7,826 149 - 7,975
Corporate bonds and obligations 11,658,888 276,332 218,365 11,716,855
Mortgage-backed securities 8,292,576 103,109 32,801 8,362,884
Foreign government bonds and obligations 31,708 4,507 - 36,215
----------- -------- -------- -----------
Total fixed maturity securities $20,022,072 $386,287 $251,222 $20,157,137
=========== ======== ======== ===========
Common stocks $ 805 $ 899 $ - $ 1,704
=========== ======== ======== ===========
-29-
2. Investments (continued)
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at December
31, 2001 by contractual maturity are as follows:
Amortized Fair
Cost Value
Due within one year $ 1,093,557 $ 1,114,618
Due from one to five years 2,885,509 3,007,435
Due from five to ten years 5,503,284 5,519,588
Due in more than ten years 2,247,146 2,152,612
Mortgage-backed securities 8,292,576 8,362,884
--------- ---------
Total $20,022,072 $20,157,137
=========== ===========
The timing of actual receipts may differ from contractual maturities
because issuers may call or prepay obligations.
The following is a summary of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale
securities at December 31, 2000:
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Held-to-maturity Cost Gains Losses Value
U.S. Government agency obligations $ 38,302 $ 3,455 $ 80 $ 41,677
State and municipal obligations 7,678 16 - 7,694
Corporate bonds and obligations 5,248,517 111,466 114,330 5,245,653
Mortgage-backed securities 1,169,116 9,130 1,472 1,176,774
--------- ----- ----- ---------
Total fixed maturity securities $ 6,463,613 $ 124,067 $115,882 $6,471,798
=========== ========= ======== ==========
Gross Gross
Available-for-sale Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Fixed maturities: Cost Gains Losses Value
U.S. Government agency obligations
$ 96,408 $ 6,134 $ 268 $ 102,274
State and municipal obligations 12,848 247 - 13,095
Corporate bonds and obligations 7,586,423 123,691 693,303 7,016,811
Mortgage-backed securities 5,234,191 57,697 24,078 5,267,810
--------- ------ ------ ---------
Total fixed maturity securities $12,929,870 $187,769 $717,649 $12,399,990
=========== ======== ======== ===========
Common stocks $ 11,829 $ - $ 1,496 $ 10,333
=========== =========== ======== ===========
At December 31, 2001, bonds carried at $14,639 were on deposit with various
states as required by law.
At December 31, 2001, fixed maturity securities comprised approximately 80
percent of the Company's total investments. These securities are rated by
Moody's and Standard & Poor's (S&P), except for approximately $2.6 billion
of securities which are rated by AEFC's internal analysts using criteria
similar to Moody's and S&P. A summary of fixed maturity securities, at
amortized cost, by rating on December 31, is as follows:
-30-
2. Investments (continued)
Rating 2001 2000
Aaa/AAA $ 8,977,075 $ 6,559,188
Aaa/AA - 32,001
Aa/AA 261,252 220,446
Aa/A 372,120 327,147
A/A 2,602,027 2,494,621
A/BBB 911,477 747,636
Baa/BBB 5,904,013 5,828,847
Baa/BB 274,228 287,583
Below investment grade 719,880 2,896,014
------- ---------
Total $ 20,022,072 $19,393,483
============ ===========
At December 31, 2001, approximately 93 percent of the securities rated
Aaa/AAA are GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities. No holdings of
any other issuer were greater than ten percent of stockholder's equity.
During the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, fixed maturities
classified as held-to-maturity were sold with amortized cost of $53,169 and
$68,470, respectively. Net gains and losses on these sales were not
significant. The sale of these fixed maturities was due to significant
deterioration in the issuers' credit worthiness.
Available-for-sale securities were sold during 2001 with proceeds of
$5,493,141 and gross realized gains and losses of $116,485 and $767,144,
respectively. Available-for-sale securities were sold during 2000 with
proceeds of $1,237,116 and gross realized gains and losses of $25,101 and
$10,267, respectively. Available-for-sale securities were sold during 1999
with proceeds of $1,691,389 and gross realized gains and losses of $36,568
and $14,255, respectively.
The net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities as of
December 31, 2001 and 2000, was $135,964 and ($531,376), respectively, with
the $667,340 change, net of taxes and deferred policy acquisition costs,
reflected as a separate component in accumulated other comprehensive income
for the year ended December 31, 2001. For the year ended December 31, 2000
the change in net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities was a
decrease of $122,196. For the year ended December 31, 1999 the change in
net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities was a decrease of
$921,920.
During 2001, the Company recorded pretax losses of $828,175 to recognize
the impact of higher default rate assumptions on certain structured
investments; to write down lower rated securities (most of which were sold
during 2001) in connection with Company's decision to lower its risk
profile by reducing the level of its high-yield portfolio, allocating
holdings toward stronger credits, and reducing the concentration of
exposure to individual companies and industry sectors; to write down
certain other investments; and, to adopt EITF Issue 99-20, as previously
discussed. Within the Consolidated Statements of Income, approximately
$623,958 of these losses are included in Net realized (losses) gains on
investments and approximately $171,269 are included in Net investment
income, with the remaining losses recorded as a cumulative effect of
accounting change.
-31-
2. Investments (continued)
During 2001, the Company placed a majority of its rated Collateralized Debt
Obligation (CDO) (obligations that are backed primarily by high-yield
bonds) securities and related accrued interest, (collectively referred to
as transferred assets), having an aggregate book value of $675,347, into a
securitization trust. In return, the Company received $89,535 in cash
relating to sales to unaffiliated investors and retained interests with
allocated book amounts aggregating $585,812. The book amount is determined
by allocating the previous carrying value of the transferred assets between
assets sold and the retained interests based on their relative fair values.
Fair values are based on the estimated present value of future cash flows.
There was no cash flow related to this transaction other than the receipt
of the initial $89,535. Cash flows on the assets sold to investors and
retained interests are not scheduled to begin until March 31, 2002 in
accordance with governing documents.
Included in Other investments are affordable housing investment credits,
trading securities, and real estate.
Fair values of investments represent quoted market prices and estimated
values when quoted prices are not available. Estimated values are
determined by established procedures involving, among other things, review
of market indices, price levels of current offerings of comparable issues,
price estimates, estimated future cash flows and market data from
independent brokers.
Mortgages loans on real estate
At December 31, 2001, approximately 15 percent of the Company's investments
were mortgage loans on real estate. Concentration of credit risk by region
of the United States and by type of real estate are as follows:
December 31, 2001 December 31, 2000
On Balance Funding On Balance Funding
Region Sheet Commitments Sheet Commitments
East North Central $ 670,387 $ 1,873 $ 691,694 $18,868
West North Central 549,015 - 564,576 7,621
South Atlantic 815,837 9,490 884,723 7,667
Middle Atlantic 352,821 9,363 378,702 13,813
New England 274,486 8,700 279,147 4,604
Pacific 355,945 14,618 318,727 921
West South Central 214,000 600 173,158 28,548
East South Central 55,798 - 49,176 2,763
Mountain 413,053 27 409,677 10,209
------- ----- ------- ------
3,701,342 44,671 3,749,580 95,014
Less reserves for losses 20,948 - 11,489 -
------- ----- ------- ------
Total $3,680,394 $44,671 $3,738,091 $95,014
========== ======= ========== =======
-32-
2. Investments (continued)
December 31, 2001 December 31, 2000
On Balance Funding On Balance Funding
Property type Sheet Commitments Sheet Commitments
Department/retail stores $1,117,195 $13,200 $1,174,763 $11,130
Apartments 694,214 11,531 780,228 -
Office buildings 1,203,090 7,650 1,085,948 59,941
Industrial buildings 333,713 2,263 323,766 23,943
Hotels/motels 108,019 - 100,680 -
Medical buildings 106,927 6,000 128,101 -
Nursing/retirement homes 39,590 - 49,822 -
Mixed use 86,972 27 87,537 -
Other 11,622 4,000 18,735 -
------ ----- ------ ------
3,701,342 44,671 3,749,580 95,014
Less reserves for losses 20,948 - 11,489 -
------ ----- ------ ------
Total $3,680,394 $44,671 $3,738,091 $95,014
========== ======= ========== =======
Mortgage loan fundings are restricted by state insurance regulatory
authorities to 80 percent or less of the market value of the real estate at
the time of origination of the loan. The Company holds the mortgage
document, which gives it the right to take possession of the property if
the borrower fails to perform according to the terms of the agreement.
Commitments to fund mortgages are made in the ordinary course of business.
The fair value of the mortgage commitments is $nil.
At December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Company's recorded investment in
impaired loans was $39,601, $24,999 and $21,375, respectively, with
reserves of $7,225, $4,350 and $5,750, respectively. During 2001, 2000 and
1999, the average recorded investment in impaired loans was $24,498,
$27,063 and $23,815, respectively.
The Company recognized $1,285, $1,033 and $1,190 of interest income related
to impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999,
respectively.
The following table presents changes in the reserves for mortgage loan
losses:
2001 2000 1999
Balance, January 1 $11,489 $28,283 $39,795
Provision (reduction) for mortgage loan losses 14,959 (14,894) (9,512)
Loan payoffs - (1,200) (500)
Foreclosures and write-offs (5,500) (700) (1,500)
------ ---- ------
Balance, December 31 $20,948 $11,489 $28,283
======= ======= =======
-33-
2. Investments (continued)
Sources of investment income and realized (losses) gains on investments
Net investment income for the years ended December 31 is summarized as
follows:
2001 2000 1999
Interest on fixed maturities $1,276,966 $1,473,560 $1,598,059
Interest on mortgage loans 290,608 286,611 285,921
Interest on cash equivalents 2,218 8,084 5,871
Other (44,145) 1,750 70,892
------- ----- ------
1,525,647 1,770,005 1,960,743
Less investment expenses 39,959 39,400 41,170
------ ------ ------
Total $1,485,688 $1,730,605 $1,919,573
========== ========== ==========
Net realized (losses) gains on investments for the years ended December 31
is summarized as follows:
2001 2000 1999
Fixed maturities $(621,400) $(34,857) $ 8,802
Mortgage loans (22,443) 15,845 10,210
Other investments (5,909) 2,037 7,596
------ ----- -----
$(649,752) $(16,975) $26,608
========= ======== =======
3. Income taxes
The Company qualifies as a life insurance company for federal income tax
purposes. As such, the Company is subject to the Internal Revenue Code
provisions applicable to life insurance companies.
The income tax (benefit) expense for the years ended December 31 consists
of the following:
2001 2000 1999
Federal income taxes
Current $ 88,121 $176,397 $178,444
Deferred (234,673) 37,704 79,796
-------- ------ ------
(146,552) 214,101 258,240
State income taxes-current 1,330 7,526 9,624
----- ----- -----
Income tax (benefit) expense before cumulative effect of
accounting change (145,222) 221,627 267,864
Cumulative effect of accounting change income tax benefit (11,532) - -
----- ----- -----
Income tax (benefit) expense $(156,754) $221,627 $267,864
========= ======== ========
-34-
3. Income taxes (continued)
Income tax (benefit) expense before the cumulative effect of accounting
change, differs from that computed by using the United States statutory
rate of 35%. The principal causes of the difference in each year are shown
below:
2001 2000 1999
Provision Rate Provision Rate Provision Rate
Federal income taxes
based on the statutory rate $ (66,136) (35.0%) $282,542 35.0% $316,511 35.0%
Tax-excluded interest and
dividend income (4,663) (2.5) (3,788) (0.5) (9,626) (1.1)
State taxes, net of federal
benefit 865 0.4 4,892 0.6 6,256 0.7
Affordable housing credits (73,200) (38.7) (54,569) (6.8) (31,000) (3.4)
Other, net (2,088) (1.1) (7,450) (0.8) (14,277) (1.6)
------ ---- ------ ---- ------- ----
Total income taxes $(145,222) (76.9%) $221,627 27.5% $267,864 29.6%
========= ===== ======== ==== ======== ====
A portion of life insurance company income earned prior to 1984 was not
subject to current taxation but was accumulated, for tax purposes, in a
"policyholders' surplus account". At December 31, 2001, the Company had a
policyholders' surplus account balance of $20,114. The policyholders'
surplus account is only taxable if dividends to the stockholder exceed the
stockholder's surplus account or if the Company is liquidated. Deferred
income taxes of $7,040 have not been established because no distributions
of such amounts are contemplated.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
Significant components of the Company's deferred income tax assets and
liabilities as of December 31 are as follows:
2001 2000
Deferred income tax assets
Policy reserves $ 705,637 $730,239
Unrealized loss - available-for-sale securities - 179,702
Investments, other 330,675 34,600
Life insurance guaranty fund assessment reserve 1,330 1,365
Other 26,492 -
--------- -------
Total deferred income tax assets 1,064,134 945,906
--------- -------
Deferred income tax liabilities
Deferred policy acquisition costs 861,892 796,292
Unrealized gain - available-for-sale securities 45,934 -
Other - 13,026
--------- -------
Total deferred income tax liabilities 907,826 809,318
--------- -------
Net deferred income tax assets $ 156,308 $136,588
========== ========
-35-
3. Income taxes (continued)
The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion
of the deferred income tax assets that management believes will not be
realized. In the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the
Company will realize the benefit of the deferred tax assets and, therefore,
no such valuation allowance has been established.
4. Stockholder's equity
Retained earnings available for distribution as dividends to AEFC are
limited to the Company's surplus as determined in accordance with
accounting practices prescribed by state insurance regulatory authorities.
Statutory unassigned surplus aggregated $1,262,335 as of December 31, 2001
and $1,493,292 as of December 31, 2000 (see Note 3 with respect to the
income tax effect of certain distributions). In addition, any dividend
distributions in 2002 in excess of approximately $194,435 would require
approval of the Department of Commerce of the State of Minnesota.
Statutory net (loss) income for the years ended December 31 and capital and
surplus as of December 31 are summarized as follows:
2001 2000 1999
Statutory net (loss) income $ (317,973) $ 344,973 $ 478,173
Statutory capital and surplus 1,947,350 1,778,306 1,978,406
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revised the
Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual in a process referred to as
Codification. The revised regulations took effect January 1, 2001. The
domiciliary states of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries have
adopted the provisions of the revised manual. The revised manual has
changed, to some extent, prescribed statutory accounting practices and
resulted in changes to the accounting practices that the Company uses to
prepare its statutory-basis financial statements. The impact of
implementing these changes was an increase of $4,660 to the Company's
statutory-basis capital and surplus as of January 1, 2001.
5. Related party transactions
The Company loans funds to AEFC under a collateral loan agreement. The
balance of the loan was $nil at December 31, 2001 and 2000. This loan can
be increased to a maximum of $75,000 and pays interest at a rate equal to
the preceding month's effective new money rate for the Company's permanent
investments. Interest income on related party loans totaled $nil in 2001,
2000 and 1999.
The Company participates in the American Express Company Retirement Plan
which covers all permanent employees age 21 and over who have met certain
employment requirements. Company contributions to the plan are based on
participants' age, years of service and total compensation for the year.
Funding of retirement costs for this plan complies with the applicable
minimum funding requirements specified by ERISA. The Company's share of the
total net periodic pension cost was $263, $250 and $223 in 2001, 2000 and
1999, respectively.
-36-
5. Related party transactions (continued)
The Company also participates in defined contribution pension plans of
American Express Company which cover all employees who have met certain
employment requirements. Company contributions to the plans are a percent
of either each employee's eligible compensation or basic contributions.
Costs of these plans charged to operations in 2001, 2000 and 1999 were
$662, $1,707 and $1,906, respectively.
The Company participates in defined benefit health care plans of AEFC that
provide health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees and
retired financial advisors. The plans include participant contributions and
service related eligibility requirements. Upon retirement, such employees
are considered to have been employees of AEFC. AEFC expenses these benefits
and allocates the expenses to its subsidiaries. The cost of these plans
charged to operations in 2001, 2000 and 1999 was $1,011, $1,136 and $1,147,
respectively.
Charges by AEFC for use of joint facilities, technology support, marketing
services and other services aggregated $505,526, $582,836 and $485,177 for
2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Certain of these costs are included in
deferred policy acquisition costs. Expenses allocated to the Company may
not be reflective of expenses that would have been incurred by the Company
on a stand-alone basis.
Included in other liabilities at December 31, 2001 and 2000 are $68,919 and
$41,059, respectively, payable to and receivable from AEFC for federal
income taxes.
6. Lines of credit
The Company has available lines of credit with AEFC aggregating $200,000
($100,000 committed and $100,000 uncommitted). The interest rate for any
borrowings is established by reference to various indices plus 20 to 45
basis points, depending on the term. Borrowings outstanding under this
agreement were $nil and $50,000 uncommitted at December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively.
7. Commitments and contingencies
At December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, traditional life and universal
life-type insurance in force aggregated $108,255,014, $98,060,472 and
$89,271,957 respectively, of which $25,986,706, $17,429,851 and $8,281,576
were reinsured at the respective year ends. The Company also reinsures a
portion of the risks assumed under long-term care policies. Under all
reinsurance agreements, premiums ceded to reinsurers amounted to $114,534,
$89,506 and $76,970 and reinsurance recovered from reinsurers amounted to
$43,388, $32,500, and $27,816 for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000
and 1999, respectively. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company
from its primary obligation to policyholders.
At December 31, 2001, the Company had no commitments to purchase
investments other than mortgage loan fundings (see Note 2).
-37-
7. Commitments and contingencies (continued)
In January 2000, AEFC reached an agreement in principle to settle three
class-action lawsuits related to the sales of insurance and annuity
products anticipated to provide for approximately $215 million of benefits.
The Company had been named as a co-defendant in all three of these
lawsuits. In September 2000, both state and federal courts gave preliminary
approval to the proposed settlement and AEFC mailed notices to all of the
over two million class members. In May 2001 the courts entered orders
approving the settlement. The orders became final in August 2001 and in
October 2001 the settlement was implemented. The anticipated costs of
settlement remain unchanged from prior years. The settlement as approved
provides for release by class members of all insurance and annuity market
conduct claims dating back to 1985. Some class members opted out of the
settlement and therefore did not release their claims against AEFC or the
Company. Some of these class members who opted out were represented by
counsel and presented separate claims to AEFC or the Company. Most of their
claims have been settled.
The Company is named as a defendant in various other lawsuits. The outcome
of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. In the opinion of
management, however, the ultimate resolution of these lawsuits, taken in
aggregate should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
consolidated financial position.
The IRS routinely examines the Company's federal income tax returns and is
currently conducting an audit for the 1993 through 1996 tax years.
Management does not believe there will be a material adverse effect on the
Company's consolidated financial position as a result of these audits.
8. Derivative financial instruments
The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates
the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned
fluctuations in earnings caused by interest rate and equity market
volatility. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for
speculative purposes. As prescribed per SFAS No. 133, derivative
instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments are
classified as a cash flow hedge, fair value hedge, or a hedge of a net
investment in a foreign operation, based upon the exposure being hedged.
The Company currently has economic hedges that either do not qualify or are
not designated for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133. For the
year ended December 31, 2001, the net effect on earnings of accounting for
the net changes in fair value of the following undesignated derivatives
under SFAS No. 133 compared with prior rules was not significant.
The Company enters into interest rate swaps, caps and floors to manage the
Company's interest rate risk and options and futures to manage equity-based
risk. The values of derivative financial instruments are based on market
values, dealer quotes or pricing models.
Market risk is the possibility that the value of the derivative financial
instruments will change due to fluctuations in a factor from which the
instrument derives its value, primarily an interest rate or equity market
index. The Company is not impacted by market risk related to derivatives
held for non-
-38-
8. Derivative financial instruments (continued)
trading purposes beyond that inherent in cash market transactions.
Derivatives held for purposes other than trading are largely used to manage
risk and, therefore, the cash flow and income effects of the derivatives
are inverse to the effects of the underlying transactions. Credit risk is
the possibility that the counterparty will not fulfill the terms of the
contract. The Company monitors credit risk related to derivative financial
instruments through established approval procedures, including setting
concentration limits by counterparty, and requiring collateral, where
appropriate. A vast majority of the Company's counterparties are rated A or
better by Moody's and Standard & Poor's.
Interest rate caps, swaps and floors are used principally to manage the
Company's interest rate risk. These instruments are primarily used to
protect the margin between interest rates earned on investments and the
interest rates credited to related annuity contract holders. No interest
rate swaps or floors were outstanding as of December 31, 2001. The interest
rate caps expire by January 2003. The fair value of the interest rate caps
is included in Other assets. Changes in the value of the interest rate caps
are included in Other insurance and operating expenses.
A purchased (written) option conveys the right (obligation) to buy or sell
an instrument at a fixed price for a set period of time or on a specific
date. The Company writes and purchases index options to manage the risks
related to annuity products that pay interest based upon the relative
change in a major stock market index between the beginning and end of the
product's term. The Company views this strategy as a prudent management of
equity market sensitivity, such that earnings are not exposed to undue risk
presented by changes in equity market levels.
The annuity products contain embedded derivatives, essentially the equity
based return of the product, which must be separated from the host contract
and accounted for as derivative instruments per SFAS No. 133. As a result
of fluctuations in equity markets, and the corresponding changes in value
of the embedded derivatives, the amount of interest credited incurred by
the Company related to the annuity product will positively or negatively
impact reported earnings.
The purchased and written options are carried at fair value and included in
Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively. The fair value of the
embedded options are included in Future policy benefits for fixed
annuities. The changes in fair value of the options are recognized in Other
insurance and operating expenses and the embedded derivatives are
recognized in Interest credited on universal life-type insurance and
investment contracts. The purchased and written options expire on various
dates from 2002 to 2008.
The Company also purchases futures to hedge its obligations under equity
indexed annuities. The futures purchased are marked-to-market daily and
exchanged traded, exposing the Company to no counterparty risk. The futures
contracts mature within four months.
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8. Derivative financial instruments (continued)
Index options are used to manage the equity market risk related to the fee
income that the Company receives from its separate accounts and the
underlying mutual funds. The amount of the fee income received is based
upon the daily market value of the separate account and mutual fund assets.
As a result, the Company's fee income could be impacted significantly by
fluctuations in the equity market. There are no index options outstanding
as of December 31, 2001 related to this strategy.
9. Fair values of financial instruments
The Company discloses fair value information for most on- and off-balance
sheet financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that
value. Fair values of life insurance obligations and all non-financial
instruments, such as deferred acquisition costs are excluded.
Off-balance sheet intangible assets, such as the value of the field force,
are also excluded. Management believes the value of excluded assets and
liabilities is significant. The fair value of the Company, therefore,
cannot be estimated by aggregating the amounts presented.
2001 2000
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
Financial Assets Value Value Value Value
Fixed maturities:
Held-to-maturity securities $ - $ - $ 6,463,613 $ 6,471,798
Available-for-sale securities 20,157,137 20,157,137 12,399,990 12,399,990
Common stocks 1,704 1,704 10,333 10,333
Mortgage loans on real estate 3,680,394 3,845,950 3,738,091 3,821,825
Cash and cash equivalents 1,150,251 1,150,251 316,974 316,974
Other securities 75,721 75,721 1,130 1,130
Derivative financial instruments 34,477 34,477 50,387 60,615
Separate account assets 27,333,697 27,333,697 32,349,347 32,349,347
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits for fixed annuities
$18,139,462 $17,671,777 $18,020,824 $17,479,187
Derivative financial instruments 2,506 2,506 3,098 6,069
Separate account liabilities 24,280,092 23,716,854 28,791,949 27,822,667
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the carrying amount and fair value of future
policy benefits for fixed annuities exclude life insurance-related
contracts carried at $1,368,254 and $1,300,018, respectively, and policy
loans of $84,557 and $96,603, respectively. The fair value of these
benefits is based on the status of the annuities at December 31, 2001 and
2000. The fair value of deferred annuities is estimated as the carrying
amount less any applicable surrender charges and related loans. The fair
value for annuities in non-life contingent payout status is estimated as
the present value of projected benefit payments at rates appropriate for
contracts issued in 2001 and 2000.
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the fair value of liabilities related to
separate accounts is estimated as the carrying amount less any applicable
surrender charges and less variable insurance contracts carried at
$3,053,605 and $3,557,398, respectively.
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