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EX-32 - EX-32 - ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COa18-39458_1ex32.htm
EX-31.(I) - EX-31.(I) - ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COa18-39458_1ex31di.htm
EX-15 - EX-15 - ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COa18-39458_1ex15.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H (1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format.

 

[X]          QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

 

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 0-31248

 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Illinois

36-2554642

 

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

 

 

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

 

3075 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062

(Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)

 

(847) 402-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

 

Yes   X             No ___

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ____

 

Accelerated filer                 ____  

 

 

Non-accelerated filer    X    

Smaller reporting company ____

 

 

 

Emerging growth company  ____

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ____

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes ___           No   X  

 

As of November 5, 2018, the registrant had 23,800 common shares, $227 par value, outstanding, all of which are held by Allstate Insurance Company.

 


 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2018

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PAGE

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Three Month and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)

4

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

5

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

35

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights

36

 

Operations

37

 

Investments

42

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

49

 

Forward-Looking Statements

51

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

52

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

53

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

53

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

53

 


 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

174

 

$

172

 

$

526

 

$

511

Contract charges

 

170

 

174

 

519

 

530

Other revenue

 

10

 

9

 

26

 

30

Net investment income

 

385

 

439

 

1,211

 

1,316

Realized capital gains and losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses

 

(3)

 

(4)

 

(5)

 

(45)

OTTI losses reclassified from other comprehensive income (“OCI”)

 

(1)

 

(2)

 

(2)

 

2

Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings

 

(4)

 

(6)

 

(7)

 

(43)

Sales and valuation changes on equity investments and derivatives

 

52

 

25

 

31

 

57

Total realized capital gains and losses

 

48

 

19

 

24

 

14

 

 

787

 

813

 

2,306

 

2,401

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract benefits

 

362

 

331

 

1,089

 

1,049

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

150

 

161

 

450

 

483

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

39

 

32

 

117

 

116

Operating costs and expenses

 

63

 

78

 

199

 

236

Restructuring and related charges

 

 

1

 

2

 

1

Interest expense

 

1

 

1

 

3

 

4

 

 

615

 

604

 

1,860

 

1,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on disposition of operations

 

1

 

1

 

4

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations before income tax expense

 

173

 

210

 

450

 

517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(20)

 

70

 

33

 

171

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

193

 

140

 

417

 

346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

(44)

 

45

 

(280)

 

228

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(9)

 

8

 

 

5

Other comprehensive (loss) income, after-tax

 

(53)

 

53

 

(280)

 

233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

140

 

$

193

 

$

137

 

$

579

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1


 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

($ in millions, except par value data)

 

September 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

Assets

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $21,291 and $22,004)

 

$

21,752

 

$

23,261

Mortgage loans

 

3,923

 

3,876

Equity securities, at fair value (cost $1,193 and $1,306)

 

1,483

 

1,614

Limited partnership interests

 

3,394

 

3,147

Short-term, at fair value (amortized cost $926 and $725)

 

926

 

725

Policy loans

 

564

 

561

Other

 

1,343

 

1,254

Total investments

 

33,385

 

34,438

Cash

 

71

 

145

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

1,220

 

1,156

Reinsurance recoverables from non-affiliates

 

2,165

 

2,243

Reinsurance recoverables from affiliates

 

424

 

437

Accrued investment income

 

263

 

263

Other assets

 

476

 

501

Separate Accounts

 

3,282

 

3,422

Total assets

 

$

41,286

 

$

42,605

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds

 

$

17,759

 

$

18,592

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits

 

11,255

 

11,625

Unearned premiums

 

4

 

4

Payable to affiliates, net

 

35

 

55

Other liabilities and accrued expenses

 

1,088

 

1,076

Deferred income taxes

 

755

 

836

Notes due to related parties

 

140

 

140

Separate Accounts

 

3,282

 

3,422

Total liabilities

 

34,318

 

35,750

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 7)

 

 

 

 

Shareholder’s equity

 

 

 

 

Redeemable preferred stock - series A, $100 par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

Redeemable preferred stock - series B, $100 par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

Common stock, $227 par value, 23,800 shares authorized and outstanding

 

5

 

5

Additional capital paid-in

 

2,024

 

2,024

Retained income

 

4,612

 

3,981

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses:

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses on fixed income securities with OTTI

 

50

 

47

Other unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

315

 

1,186

Unrealized adjustment to DAC, DSI and insurance reserves

 

(48)

 

(398)

Total unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

317

 

835

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

10

 

10

Total accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”)

 

327

 

845

Total shareholder’s equity

 

6,968

 

6,855

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

 

$

41,286

 

$

42,605

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

($ in millions)

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

(unaudited)

Common stock

 

$

5

 

$

5

 

 

 

 

 

Additional capital paid-in

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

2,024

 

1,990

Gain on reinsurance with an affiliate

 

 

34

Balance, end of period

 

2,024

 

2,024

 

 

 

 

 

Retained income

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

3,981

 

3,736

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

314

 

Net income

 

417

 

346

Dividends

 

(100)

 

(500)

Balance, end of period

 

4,612

 

3,582

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

845

 

678

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

(238)

 

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

(280)

 

228

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

5

Balance, end of period

 

327

 

911

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholder’s equity

 

$

6,968

 

$

6,522

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

($ in millions)

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

(unaudited)

Net income

 

$

417

 

$

346

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

Amortization and other non-cash items

 

(44)

 

(49)

Realized capital gains and losses

 

(24)

 

(14)

Gain on disposition of operations

 

(4)

 

(5)

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

450

 

483

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

Policy benefits and other insurance reserves

 

(472)

 

(425)

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

55

 

27

Reinsurance recoverables, net

 

51

 

45

Income taxes

 

(51)

 

156

Other operating assets and liabilities

 

69

 

(185)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

447

 

379

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

4,057

 

3,319

Equity securities

 

1,114

 

1,062

Limited partnership interests

 

223

 

347

Other investments

 

16

 

7

Investment collections

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

1,077

 

1,226

Mortgage loans

 

349

 

450

Other investments

 

137

 

140

Investment purchases

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

(4,470)

 

(3,529)

Equity securities

 

(919)

 

(1,028)

Limited partnership interests

 

(426)

 

(479)

Mortgage loans

 

(395)

 

(246)

Other investments

 

(201)

 

(162)

Change in short-term investments, net

 

(124)

 

(79)

Change in policy loans and other investments, net

 

(46)

 

(32)

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

392

 

996

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder fund deposits

 

577

 

605

Contractholder fund withdrawals

 

(1,418)

 

(1,362)

Dividends paid

 

(100)

 

(500)

Other

 

28

 

(14)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(913)

 

(1,271)

Net (decrease) increase in cash

 

(74)

 

104

Cash at beginning of period

 

145

 

138

Cash at end of period

 

$

71

 

$

242

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


 

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.  General

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”).  ALIC is wholly owned by Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), which is wholly owned by Allstate Insurance Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”).  These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2018 and for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Reinsurance transaction

 

Effective January 1, 2017, ALIC entered into a coinsurance reinsurance agreement with Allstate Assurance Company to assume certain term life insurance policies.  The agreement covered policies issued from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017.  In connection with the agreement, the Company recorded cash of $20 million, deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) of $45 million, other assets of $11 million, reserve for life-contingent contract benefits of $24 million and deferred tax liabilities of $18 million.  The $34 million gain on the transaction was recorded as an increase to additional capital paid-in since the transaction was between entities under common control.

 

Dividends

 

The Company paid cash dividends of $100 million to AIC in third quarter 2018.

 

Premiums and contract charges

 

The following table summarizes premiums and contract charges by product.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional life insurance

 

$

143

 

$

143

 

$

435

 

$

429

Accident and health insurance

 

31

 

29

 

91

 

82

Total premiums

 

174

 

172

 

526

 

511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-sensitive life insurance

 

165

 

170

 

508

 

520

Fixed annuities

 

5

 

4

 

11

 

10

Total contract charges

 

170

 

174

 

519

 

530

Total premiums and contract charges

 

$

344

 

$

346

 

$

1,045

 

$

1,041

 

Adopted accounting standard

 

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted new Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance requiring equity investments, including equity securities and limited partnership interests not accounted for under the equity method of accounting or that do not result in consolidation to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.  The guidance clarifies that an entity should evaluate the realizability of deferred tax assets related to available-for-sale fixed income securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets.  The Company’s adoption of the new FASB guidance included adoption of the relevant elements of Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments, issued in February 2018.

 

Upon adoption of the new guidance on January 1, 2018, $308 million of pre-tax unrealized net capital gains for equity securities were reclassified from AOCI to retained income. The after-tax change in accounting for equity securities did not affect the

 

5


 

Company’s total shareholder’s equity and the unrealized net capital gains of $238 million reclassified to retained income will never be recognized in net income.

 

Upon adoption of the new guidance on January 1, 2018, the carrying value of cost method limited partnership interests increased $95 million, pre-tax, to fair value.  The after-tax cumulative-effect increase in retained income of $76 million increased the Company’s shareholder’s equity but will never be recognized in net income.

 

Changes to significant accounting policies

 

Investments

 

Changes were made to the Company’s Significant Accounting Policies upon adoption of new FASB guidance related to the recognition and measurement of financial assets.  Equity securities primarily include common stocks, exchange traded and mutual funds, non-redeemable preferred stocks and real estate investment trust equity investments.  Equity securities are carried at fair value.  The periodic change in fair value of equity securities is recognized within realized capital gains and losses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income effective January 1, 2018.

 

Investments in limited partnership interests include interests in private equity funds, real estate funds and other funds.  Where the Company’s interest is so minor that it exercises virtually no influence over operating and financial policies, investments in limited partnership interests purchased prior to January 1, 2018 are accounted for at fair value primarily utilizing the net asset value (“NAV”) as a practical expedient to determine fair value.  All other investments in limited partnership interests, including those purchased subsequent to January 1, 2018, are accounted for in accordance with the equity method of accounting (“EMA”).

 

Investment income from limited partnership interests carried at fair value is recognized based upon the changes in fair value of the investee’s equity primarily determined using NAV.  Income from EMA limited partnership interests is recognized based on the Company’s share of the partnerships’ earnings.  Income from EMA limited partnership interests is generally recognized on a three month delay due to the availability of the related financial statements from investees.

 

Tax Reform

 

On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Legislation”) became effective, permanently reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning January 1, 2018.  As a result, the corporate tax rate is not comparable between periods.

 

During 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded liabilities related to the transition to the modified territorial system for international taxation.  The impact of the Tax Legislation was adjusted from the Company’s preliminary estimate due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company previously made, guidance that was issued and actions the Company took as a result of the Tax Legislation.  During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a reduction of $53 million to income tax expense related to these provisional amounts.  The Company may make adjustments to these provisional amounts as additional information becomes available and future guidance is issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Pending accounting standards

 

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance which revises the credit loss recognition criteria for certain financial assets measured at amortized cost, including reinsurance recoverables.  The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss recognition model with an expected loss recognition model.  The objective of the expected credit loss model is for the reporting entity to recognize its estimate of expected credit losses for affected financial assets in a valuation allowance deducted from the amortized cost basis of the related financial assets that results in presenting the net carrying value of the financial assets at the amount expected to be collected.  The reporting entity must consider all relevant information available when estimating expected credit losses, including details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts over the life of an asset.  Financial assets may be evaluated individually or on a pooled basis when they share similar risk characteristics.  The measurement of credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities measured at fair value is not affected except that credit losses recognized are limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost and the carrying value adjustment is recognized through a valuation allowance and not as a direct write-down.  The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and for most affected instruments must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to beginning retained income.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption.

 

Accounting for Hedging Activities

 

In August 2017, the FASB issued amendments intended to better align hedge accounting with an organization’s risk management activities.  The amendments expand hedge accounting for nonfinancial and financial risk components and revise the measurement methodologies to better align with an organization’s risk management activities.  Separate presentation of hedge ineffectiveness is eliminated to provide greater transparency of the full impact of hedging by requiring presentation of the results

 

6


 

of the hedged item and hedging instrument in a single financial statement line item.  In addition, the amendments are designed to reduce complexity by simplifying the manner in which assessments of hedge effectiveness may be performed.  The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  The presentation and disclosure guidance is effective on a prospective basis.  The impact of adoption is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

Accounting for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance revising the accounting for certain long-duration insurance contracts.  The new guidance changes the measurement of the Company’s reserves for traditional life, life-contingent immediate annuities and certain voluntary accident and health insurance products.  Under the new guidance, measurement assumptions, including those for mortality, morbidity and policy terminations, will be required to be reviewed and updated at least annually.  The effect of updating measurement assumptions other than the discount rate are required to be determined on a retrospective basis and reported in net income.  In addition, cash flows under the new guidance are required to be discounted using an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yield that is updated through OCI at each reporting date.  These changes will replace current GAAP, which utilizes assumptions set at policy issuance until such time as the assumptions result in reserves that are deficient when compared to reserves computed using current assumptions.  When this occurs under current GAAP, premium deficiency reserves are recognized by unlocking reserve assumptions to eliminate a reserve deficiency.

 

The new guidance requires DAC and other capitalized balances currently amortized in proportion to premiums or gross profits to be amortized on a constant level basis over the expected term for all long-duration insurance contracts.  DAC will not be subject to loss recognition testing but rather will be reduced when actual experience exceeds expected experience (i.e. as a result of unexpected contract terminations).  The new guidance will no longer require adjustments to DAC and deferred sales inducement costs (“DSI”) related to unrealized gains and losses.

 

Market risk benefit product features are required to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in net income with the exception of changes in the fair value attributable to a change in the instrument’s credit risk, which are required to be recognized in OCI.  Substantially all of the Company’s market risk benefits are reinsured and therefore these impacts are not expected to be material to the Company.

 

The guidance is to be included in the comparable financial statements issued in reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, thereby requiring restatement of prior periods presented.  Early adoption is permitted.  The new guidance will be applied to affected contracts and DAC on the basis of existing carrying amounts at the earliest period presented or the new guidance may be applied retrospectively using actual historical experience as of contract inception.  The guidance for market risk benefits is required to be adopted retrospectively.

 

The Company is evaluating the anticipated impacts of applying the new guidance to both retained income and AOCI.  While the requirements of the new guidance represent a material change from existing GAAP, the underlying economics of the business and related cash flows are unchanged.  The Company has not completed an evaluation of the specific impacts of adopting the new guidance, but anticipates the financial statement impact of migrating from existing GAAP to that required by the new guidance to be material, largely attributed to the impact of transitioning from an original investment-based discount rate to one based on an upper-medium grade fixed income investment yield and updates to mortality assumptions that had previously been locked in at issuance.  The Company expects the most significant impacts will occur in the run-off annuity business.  The revised accounting for DAC will be applied prospectively using the new model and any DAC effects existing in AOCI as a result of applying existing GAAP will be reversed.

 

Other revenue presentation

 

The Company revised the presentation of total revenue to include other revenue.  Previously, components of other revenue were presented within operating costs and expenses and primarily represent gross dealer concessions received in connection with Allstate exclusive agencies and exclusive financial specialists sales of non-proprietary products.  Other revenue is recognized when performance obligations are fulfilled.  Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current separate presentation of other revenue.

 

7


 

2.  Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

Non-cash investing activities include $38 million and $16 million related to mergers and exchanges completed with equity securities, fixed income securities and limited partnerships, and modifications of certain mortgage loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Liabilities for collateral received in conjunction with the Company’s securities lending program and over-the-counter (“OTC”) and cleared derivatives are reported in other liabilities and accrued expenses or other investments.  The accompanying cash flows are included in cash flows from operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows along with the activities resulting from management of the proceeds, which are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

Net change in proceeds managed

 

 

 

 

Net change in fixed income securities

 

$

78

 

$

38

Net change in short-term investments

 

(72)

 

(64)

Operating cash flow provided (used)

 

6

 

(26)

Net change in cash

 

 

1

Net change in proceeds managed

 

$

6

 

$

(25)

Net change in liabilities

 

 

 

 

Liabilities for collateral, beginning of period

 

$

(542)

 

$

(550)

Liabilities for collateral, end of period

 

(536)

 

(575)

Operating cash flow (used) provided

 

$

(6)

 

$

25

 

3.  Investments

 

Fair values

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for fixed income securities are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Amortized

 

Gross unrealized

 

Fair

 

 

cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

value

September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

592

 

$

24

 

$

(2)

 

$

614

Municipal

 

2,002

 

190

 

(6)

 

2,186

Corporate

 

17,982

 

488

 

(297)

 

18,173

Foreign government

 

169

 

8

 

 

177

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)

 

324

 

4

 

(3)

 

325

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

 

166

 

48

 

 

214

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

 

43

 

7

 

(1)

 

49

Redeemable preferred stock

 

13

 

1

 

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

$

21,291

 

$

770

 

$

(309)

 

$

21,752

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

768

 

$

38

 

$

(2)

 

$

804

Municipal

 

2,001

 

275

 

(3)

 

2,273

Corporate

 

18,262

 

960

 

(86)

 

19,136

Foreign government

 

279

 

20

 

 

299

ABS

 

383

 

6

 

(4)

 

385

RMBS

 

205

 

49

 

(1)

 

253

CMBS

 

93

 

6

 

(2)

 

97

Redeemable preferred stock

 

13

 

1

 

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

$

22,004

 

$

1,355

 

$

(98)

 

$

23,261

 

8


 

Scheduled maturities

 

The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows as of September 30, 2018:

 

($ in millions)

 

Amortized cost

 

Fair value

Due in one year or less

 

$

1,161

 

$

1,170

Due after one year through five years

 

8,322

 

8,420

Due after five years through ten years

 

7,251

 

7,212

Due after ten years

 

4,024

 

4,362

 

 

20,758

 

21,164

ABS, RMBS and CMBS

 

533

 

588

Total

 

$

21,291

 

$

21,752

 

Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of calls and make-whole payments by the issuers.  ABS, RMBS and CMBS are shown separately because of the potential for prepayment of principal prior to contractual maturity dates.

 

Net investment income

 

Net investment income is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Fixed income securities

 

$

247

 

$

263

 

$

745

 

$

800

Mortgage loans

 

44

 

46

 

141

 

140

Equity securities

 

7

 

9

 

30

 

38

Limited partnership interests (1) (2)

 

74

 

115

 

262

 

315

Short-term investments

 

7

 

3

 

16

 

6

Policy loans

 

8

 

8

 

23

 

23

Other

 

23

 

17

 

68

 

57

Investment income, before expense

 

410

 

461

 

1,285

 

1,379

Investment expense

 

(25)

 

(22)

 

(74)

 

(63)

Net investment income

 

$

385

 

$

439

 

$

1,211

 

$

1,316

_______________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, limited partnerships previously reported using the cost method are now reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net investment income.

 

(2)          Includes net investment income of $39 million and $179 million for EMA limited partnership interests and $35 million and $83 million for limited partnership interests carried at fair value for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

Realized capital gains and losses by asset type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Fixed income securities

 

$

(8)

 

$

4

 

$

(26)

 

$

(9)

Mortgage loans

 

 

1

 

2

 

1

Equity securities

 

56

 

7

 

50

 

3

Limited partnership interests

 

(4)

 

11

 

(12)

 

34

Derivatives

 

4

 

(4)

 

11

 

(13)

Other

 

 

 

(1)

 

(2)

Realized capital gains and losses

 

$

48

 

$

19

 

$

24

 

$

14

 

9


 

Realized capital gains and losses by transaction type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Impairment write-downs (1)

 

$

(4)

 

$

(6)

 

$

(7)

 

$

(39)

Change in intent write-downs (1)

 

 

 

 

(4)

Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings

 

(4)

 

(6)

 

(7)

 

(43)

Sales (1)

 

(2)

 

29

 

(14)

 

70

Valuation of equity investments (1)

 

50

 

 

37

 

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments

 

4

 

(4)

 

8

 

(13)

Realized capital gains and losses

 

$

48

 

$

19

 

$

24

 

$

14

_______________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in valuation of equity investments and are no longer included in impairment write-downs, change in intent write-downs and sales.

 

Gross gains of $5 million and $22 million and gross losses of $9 million and $8 million were realized on sales of fixed income securities during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Gross gains of $25 million and $77 million and gross losses of $45 million and $52 million were realized on sales of fixed income and equity securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Valuation changes included in net income for investments still held as of September 30, 2018 are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2018

Equity securities (1)

 

$

51

 

$

71

Limited partnership interests carried at fair value (1)

 

35

 

84

Total valuation changes

 

$

86

 

$

155

______________

 

(1)          Investments held at the end of a prior quarter that were sold in the current quarter are not included in the year-to-date amounts shown in the table above; therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the year-to-date amount.

 

10


 

OTTI losses by asset type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2018

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2017

 

 

Gross

 

Included
in OCI

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Included
in OCI

 

Net

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

ABS

 

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMBS

 

(3)

 

 

(3)

 

1

 

(2)

 

(1)

Total fixed income securities

 

(3)

 

(1)

 

(4)

 

 

(2)

 

(2)

Mortgage loans

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Equity securities (1)

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Limited partnership interests (1)

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

(2)

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTTI losses

 

$

(3)

 

$

(1)

 

$

(4)

 

$

(4)

 

$

(2)

 

$

(6)

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2018

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2017

 

 

Gross

 

Included
in OCI

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Included
in OCI

 

Net

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

 

$

(1)

Corporate

 

 

 

 

(7)

 

3

 

(4)

ABS

 

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

RMBS

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

 

 

(2)

 

(2)

CMBS

 

(3)

 

(1)

 

(4)

 

(8)

 

1

 

(7)

Total fixed income securities

 

(4)

 

(2)

 

(6)

 

(17)

 

2

 

(15)

Mortgage loans

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Equity securities (1)

 

 

 

 

(16)

 

 

(16)

Limited partnership interests (1)

 

 

 

 

(9)

 

 

(9)

Other

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

 

(2)

 

 

(2)

OTTI losses

 

$

(5)

 

$

(2)

 

$

(7)

 

$

(45)

 

$

2

 

$

(43)

_______________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, equity securities and limited partnerships previously reported using the cost method are now reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income and are no longer included in the table above.

 

The total amount of OTTI losses included in AOCI at the time of impairment for fixed income securities, which were not included in earnings, are presented in the following table.  The amounts exclude $110 million and $113 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, of net unrealized gains related to changes in valuation of the fixed income securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

Municipal

 

$

(4)

 

$

(4)

Corporate

 

 

ABS

 

(6)

 

(8)

RMBS

 

(33)

 

(37)

CMBS

 

(3)

 

(4)

Total

 

$

(46)

 

$

(53)

 

11


 

Rollforwards of the cumulative credit losses recognized in earnings for fixed income securities held as of the end of the period are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Beginning balance

 

$

(124)

 

$

(160)

 

$

(138)

 

$

(176)

Additional credit loss for securities previously other-than-temporarily impaired

 

(3)

 

(2)

 

(5)

 

(7)

Additional credit loss for securities not previously other-than-temporarily impaired

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

 

(8)

Reduction in credit loss for securities disposed or collected

 

2

 

13

 

18

 

42

Change in credit loss due to accretion of increase in cash flows

 

1

 

 

1

 

Ending balance

 

$

(125)

 

$

(149)

 

$

(125)

 

$

(149)

 

The Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected from the fixed income security, discounted at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, to calculate a recovery value and determine whether a credit loss exists.  The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the security.  All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable assumptions and forecasts, are considered when developing the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected.  That information generally includes, but is not limited to, the remaining payment terms of the security, prepayment speeds, foreign exchange rates, the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer, expected defaults, expected recoveries, the value of underlying collateral, vintage, geographic concentration of underlying collateral, available reserves or escrows, current subordination levels, third party guarantees and other credit enhancements.  Other information, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, financial condition of the bond insurer for insured fixed income securities, and other market data relevant to the realizability of contractual cash flows, may also be considered.  The estimated fair value of collateral will be used to estimate recovery value if the Company determines that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for ultimate settlement.  If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an OTTI for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings.  The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in AOCI.  If the Company determines that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, the Company may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses included in AOCI are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Gross unrealized

 

Unrealized net

September 30, 2018

 

Fair value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

gains (losses)

Fixed income securities

 

$

21,752

 

$

770

 

$

(309)

 

$

461

Short-term investments

 

926

 

 

 

EMA limited partnerships (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

462

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance reserves (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAC and DSI (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(61)

Amounts recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(61)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(84)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

317

_______________

 

(1)          Unrealized net capital gains and losses for limited partnership interests represent the Company’s share of EMA limited partnerships’ other comprehensive income.  Fair value and gross unrealized gains and losses are not applicable.

 

(2)          The insurance reserves adjustment represents the amount by which the reserve balance would increase if the net unrealized gains in the applicable product portfolios were realized and reinvested at lower interest rates, resulting in a premium deficiency. This adjustment primarily relates to structured settlement annuities with life contingencies (a type of immediate fixed annuities).

 

(3)          The DAC and DSI adjustment balance represents the amount by which the amortization of DAC and DSI would increase or decrease if the unrealized gains or losses in the respective product portfolios were realized.

 

12


 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Gross unrealized

 

Unrealized net

December 31, 2017

 

Fair value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

gains (losses)

Fixed income securities

 

$

23,261

 

$

1,355

 

$

(98)

 

$

1,257

Equity securities

 

1,614

 

311

 

(3)

 

308

Short-term investments

 

725

 

 

 

Derivative instruments (1)

 

2

 

2

 

 

2

EMA limited partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,568

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(315)

DAC and DSI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(189)

Amounts recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(504)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(229)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

835

_______________

(1)           Included in the fair value of derivative instruments is $2 million classified as liabilities.

 

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

The change in unrealized net capital gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

$

(796)

Equity securities (1)

 

Derivative instruments

 

(2)

Total

 

(798)

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

Insurance reserves

 

315

DAC and DSI

 

128

Amounts recognized

 

443

Deferred income taxes

 

75

Decrease in unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

$

(280)

______________

 

(1)  Upon adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard on January 1, 2018, $308 million of pre-tax unrealized net capital gains for equity securities were reclassified from AOCI to retained income.  See Note 1 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Portfolio monitoring

 

The Company has a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be other-than-temporarily impaired.

 

For each fixed income security in an unrealized loss position, the Company assesses whether management with the appropriate authority has made the decision to sell or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity, contractual or regulatory purposes.  If a security meets either of these criteria, the security’s decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded in earnings.

 

If the Company has not made the decision to sell the fixed income security and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the Company evaluates whether it expects to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  The Company calculates the estimated recovery value by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, and compares this to the amortized cost of the security.  If the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the fixed income security, the credit loss component of the impairment is recorded in earnings, with the remaining amount of the unrealized loss related to other factors recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

For fixed income securities managed by third parties, either the Company has contractually retained its decision making authority as it pertains to selling securities that are in an unrealized loss position or it recognizes any unrealized loss at the end of the period through a charge to earnings.

 

The Company’s portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all securities to identify instances where the fair value of a security compared to its amortized cost is below established thresholds.  The process also includes the monitoring of other impairment indicators such as ratings, ratings downgrades and payment defaults.  The securities identified, in addition to other securities for which the Company may have a concern, are evaluated for potential OTTI using all reasonably available

 

13


 

information relevant to the collectability or recovery of the security.  Inherent in the Company’s evaluation of OTTI for these securities are assumptions and estimates about the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer.  Some of the factors that may be considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other than temporary are: 1) the financial condition, near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer, including relevant industry specific market conditions and trends, geographic location and implications of rating agency actions and offering prices; 2) the specific reasons that a security is in an unrealized loss position, including overall market conditions which could affect liquidity; and 3) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost.

 

The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair value of securities by the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

($ in millions)

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

 

 

Number
of issues

 

Fair
value

 

Unrealized
losses

 

Number
of issues

 

Fair
value

 

Unrealized
losses

 

unrealized
losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

22

 

$

311

 

$

(2)

 

1

 

$

 

$

 

$

(2)

Municipal

 

79

 

148

 

(3)

 

2

 

17

 

(3)

 

(6)

Corporate

 

1,202

 

7,487

 

(179)

 

198

 

1,626

 

(118)

 

(297)

Foreign government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABS

 

39

 

161

 

(1)

 

7

 

15

 

(2)

 

(3)

RMBS

 

60

 

4

 

 

39

 

10

 

 

CMBS

 

6

 

18

 

 

2

 

 

(1)

 

(1)

Redeemable preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities

 

1,408

 

$

8,129

 

$

(185)

 

249

 

$

1,668

 

$

(124)

 

$

(309)

Investment grade fixed income securities

 

1,097

 

$

6,971

 

$

(156)

 

213

 

$

1,552

 

$

(110)

 

$

(266)

Below investment grade fixed income securities

 

311

 

1,158

 

(29)

 

36

 

116

 

(14)

 

(43)

Total fixed income securities

 

1,408

 

$

8,129

 

$

(185)

 

249

 

$

1,668

 

$

(124)

 

$

(309)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

17

 

$

443

 

$

(2)

 

2

 

$

25

 

$

 

$

(2)

Municipal

 

4

 

14

 

 

1

 

11

 

(3)

 

(3)

Corporate

 

456

 

2,899

 

(28)

 

144

 

1,324

 

(58)

 

(86)

ABS

 

33

 

170

 

(1)

 

8

 

24

 

(3)

 

(4)

RMBS

 

70

 

3

 

 

56

 

18

 

(1)

 

(1)

CMBS

 

2

 

1

 

 

6

 

23

 

(2)

 

(2)

Redeemable preferred stock

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities

 

583

 

3,530

 

(31)

 

217

 

1,425

 

(67)

 

(98)

Equity securities

 

87

 

66

 

(3)

 

1

 

 

 

(3)

Total fixed income and equity securities

 

670

 

$

3,596

 

$

(34)

 

218

 

$

1,425

 

$

(67)

 

$

(101)

Investment grade fixed income securities

 

472

 

$

3,192

 

$

(22)

 

181

 

$

1,320

 

$

(52)

 

$

(74)

Below investment grade fixed income securities

 

111

 

338

 

(9)

 

36

 

105

 

(15)

 

(24)

Total fixed income securities

 

583

 

$

3,530

 

$

(31)

 

217

 

$

1,425

 

$

(67)

 

$

(98)

 

As of September 30, 2018, $294 million of the $309 million unrealized losses are related to securities with an unrealized loss position less than 20% of amortized cost, the degree of which suggests that these securities do not pose a high risk of being other-than-temporarily impaired.  Of the $294 million, $254 million are related to unrealized losses on investment grade fixed income securities.  Of the remaining $40 million, $30 million have been in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months.  Investment grade is defined as a security having a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s, a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), a comparable rating from another nationally recognized rating agency, or a comparable internal rating if an externally provided rating is not available.  Market prices for certain securities may have credit spreads which imply higher or lower credit quality than the current third party rating.  Unrealized losses on investment grade securities are principally related to an increase in market yields which may include increased risk-free interest rates and/or wider credit spreads since the time of initial purchase. The unrealized losses are expected to reverse as the securities approach maturity.

 

As of September 30, 2018, the remaining $15 million of unrealized losses are related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost.  Investment grade fixed income securities comprising $12 million of these unrealized losses were evaluated based on factors such as discounted cash flows and the financial condition and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations.  Of the $15

 

14


 

million, $3 million are related to below investment grade fixed income securities. Of these amounts, $2 million are related to below investment grade fixed income securities that had been in an unrealized loss position greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost for a period of twelve or more consecutive months as of September 30, 2018.

 

ABS, RMBS and CMBS in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on actual and projected collateral losses relative to the securities’ positions in the respective securitization trusts, security specific expectations of cash flows, and credit ratings.  This evaluation also takes into consideration credit enhancement, measured in terms of (i) subordination from other classes of securities in the trust that are contractually obligated to absorb losses before the class of security the Company owns, and (ii) the expected impact of other structural features embedded in the securitization trust beneficial to the class of securities the Company owns, such as overcollateralization and excess spread.  Municipal bonds in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on the underlying credit quality of the primary obligor, obligation type and quality of the underlying assets.

 

As of September 30, 2018, the Company has not made the decision to sell and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell fixed income securities with unrealized losses before recovery of the amortized cost basis.

 

Limited partnerships

 

Investments in limited partnership interests include interests in private equity funds, real estate funds and other funds.  As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of EMA limited partnerships totaled $2.63 billion and $2.54 billion, respectively, and limited partnerships carried at fair value as of September 30, 2018, while at cost method as of December 31, 2017, totaled $761 million and $611 million, respectively.

 

Mortgage loans

 

Mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment on a specific loan basis through a quarterly credit monitoring process and review of key credit quality indicators.  Mortgage loans are considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will not collect the contractual principal and interest.  Valuation allowances are established for impaired loans to reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell or the present value of the loan’s expected future repayment cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate.  Impaired mortgage loans may not have a valuation allowance when the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell is higher than the carrying value.  Valuation allowances are adjusted for subsequent changes in the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell or present value of the loan’s expected future repayment cash flows.  Mortgage loans are charged off against their corresponding valuation allowances when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.  The impairment evaluation is non-statistical in respect to the aggregate portfolio but considers facts and circumstances attributable to each loan.  It is not considered probable that additional impairment losses, beyond those identified on a specific loan basis, have been incurred as of September 30, 2018.

 

Accrual of income is suspended for mortgage loans that are in default or when full and timely collection of principal and interest payments is not probable.  Cash receipts on mortgage loans on nonaccrual status are generally recorded as a reduction of carrying value.

 

Debt service coverage ratio is considered a key credit quality indicator when mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment.  Debt service coverage ratio represents the amount of estimated cash flows from the property available to the borrower to meet principal and interest payment obligations.  Debt service coverage ratio estimates are updated annually or more frequently if conditions are warranted based on the Company’s credit monitoring process.

 

The following table reflects the carrying value of non-impaired mortgage loans summarized by debt service coverage ratio distribution.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

Debt service coverage ratio distribution

 

Fixed rate
mortgage
loans

 

Variable rate
mortgage
loans

 

Total

 

Fixed rate
mortgage
loans

 

Variable rate
mortgage
loans

 

Total

Below 1.0

 

$

2

 

$

15

 

$

17

 

$

3

 

$

 

$

3

1.0 - 1.25

 

190

 

 

190

 

326

 

 

326

1.26 - 1.50

 

1,083

 

 

1,083

 

1,033

 

15

 

1,048

Above 1.50

 

2,587

 

42

 

2,629

 

2,482

 

13

 

2,495

Total non-impaired mortgage loans

 

$

3,862

 

$

57

 

$

3,919

 

$

3,844

 

$

28

 

$

3,872

 

Mortgage loans with a debt service coverage ratio below 1.0 that are not considered impaired primarily relate to instances where the borrower has the financial capacity to fund the revenue shortfalls from the properties for the foreseeable term, the decrease in cash flows from the properties is considered temporary, or there are other risk mitigating circumstances such as additional collateral, escrow balances or borrower guarantees.

 

15


 

The net carrying value of impaired mortgage loans is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

Impaired mortgage loans with a valuation allowance

 

$

4

 

$

4

Impaired mortgage loans without a valuation allowance

 

 

Total impaired mortgage loans

 

$

4

 

$

4

Valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans

 

$

3

 

$

3

 

The valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans had no activity for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The average balance of impaired loans was $4 million and $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Payments on all mortgage loans were current as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Short-term investments

 

Short-term investments, including commercial paper, U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds and other short-term investments, are carried at fair value. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the fair value of short-term investments totaled $926 million and $725 million, respectively.

 

Policy loans

 

Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances.  As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of policy loans totaled $564 million and $561 million, respectively.

 

Other investments

 

Other investments primarily consist of agent loans, bank loans, real estate and derivatives.  Agent loans are loans issued to exclusive Allstate agents and are carried at unpaid principal balances, net of valuation allowances and unamortized deferred fees or costs.  Bank loans are primarily senior secured corporate loans and are carried at amortized cost.  Real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Derivatives are carried at fair value.  The following table summarizes other investments.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

Agent loans

 

$

597

 

$

538

Bank loans

 

422

 

437

Real estate

 

217

 

157

Derivatives and other

 

107

 

122

Total

 

$

1,343

 

$

1,254

 

4.  Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available.  Assets and liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

 

Level 1:  Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Company can access.

 

Level 2:  Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:

 

(a)         Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

(b)         Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or

(c)          Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3:  Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.  Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.

 

The availability of observable inputs varies by instrument.  In situations where fair value is based on internally developed pricing models or inputs that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.  The degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is typically greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.  In

 

16


 

many instances, valuation inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  The category level in the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption.  In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments.

 

The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies.  The Company gains assurance that assets and liabilities are appropriately valued through the execution of various processes and controls designed to ensure the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies, including inputs and assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards.  For fair values received from third parties or internally estimated, the Company’s processes and controls are designed to ensure that the valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied, the inputs and assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded.  For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual fair values that have stale security prices or that exceed certain thresholds as compared to previous fair values received from valuation service providers or brokers or derived from internal models.  The Company performs procedures to understand and assess the methodologies, processes and controls of valuation service providers.  In addition, the Company may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from valuation service providers or brokers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities.  The Company performs ongoing price validation procedures such as back-testing of actual sales, which corroborate the various inputs used in internal models to market observable data.  When fair value determinations are expected to be more variable, the Company validates them through reviews by members of management who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investment transactions.

 

The Company has two types of situations where investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.  The first is where specific inputs significant to the fair value estimation models are not market observable.  This primarily occurs in the Company’s use of broker quotes to value certain securities where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, and the use of valuation models that use significant non-market observable inputs.

 

The second situation where the Company classifies securities in Level 3 is where quotes continue to be received from independent third-party valuation service providers and all significant inputs are market observable; however, there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset when compared to normal market activity such that the degree of market observability has declined to a point where categorization as a Level 3 measurement is considered appropriate.  The indicators considered in determining whether a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for a specific asset has occurred include the level of new issuances in the primary market, trading volume in the secondary market, the level of credit spreads over historical levels, applicable bid-ask spreads, and price consensus among market participants and other pricing sources.

 

Certain assets are not carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including investments such as mortgage loans, bank loans, agent loans and policy loans.  Accordingly, such investments are only included in the fair value hierarchy disclosure when the investment is subject to remeasurement at fair value after initial recognition and the resulting remeasurement is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In determining fair value, the Company principally uses the market approach which generally utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments.  To a lesser extent, the Company uses the income approach which involves determining fair values from discounted cash flow methodologies.  For the majority of Level 2 and Level 3 valuations, a combination of the market and income approaches is used.

 

Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

 

Level 1 measurements

 

·       Fixed income securities:  Comprise certain U.S. Treasury fixed income securities.  Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

 

·       Equity securities:  Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed equity securities.  Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

 

·       Short-term:  Comprise U.S. Treasury bills valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access and actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.

 

·       Separate account assets:  Comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values that are readily determinable for identical assets that the Company can access.  Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the separate account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers.

 

17


 

Level 2 measurements

 

·       Fixed income securities:

 

U.S. government and agencies:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

 

Municipal:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

 

Corporate - public:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

 

Corporate - privately placed:  Valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses market observable inputs and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.  The primary inputs to the discounted cash flow model include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets in markets that are not active that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

 

Foreign government:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

 

ABS - collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”) and ABS - consumer and other:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads.  Certain ABS - CDO and ABS - consumer and other are valued based on non-binding broker quotes whose inputs have been corroborated to be market observable.

 

RMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads.

 

CMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, collateral performance and credit spreads.

 

Redeemable preferred stock:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, underlying stock prices and credit spreads.

 

·       Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active.

 

·       Short-term:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  For certain short-term investments, amortized cost is used as the best estimate of fair value.

 

·       Other investments:  Free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are not actively traded are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active.

 

OTC derivatives, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, total return swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, certain options and certain credit default swaps, are valued using models that rely on inputs such as interest rate yield curves, implied volatilities, index price levels, currency rates, and credit spreads that are observable for substantially the full term of the contract.  The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.

 

Level 3 measurements

 

·       Fixed income securities:

 

Municipal:  Comprise municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies.  The primary inputs to the valuation of these municipal bonds include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  Also included are municipal bonds valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and municipal bonds in default valued based on the present value of expected cash flows.

 

Corporate - public and Corporate - privately placed:  Primarily valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  Other inputs include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

 

ABS - CDO, ABS - consumer and other:  Valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.

 

18


 

·       Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements.

 

·       Other investments:  Certain OTC derivatives, such as interest rate caps, certain credit default swaps and certain options (including swaptions), are valued using models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs such as volatility.  Other primary inputs include interest rate yield curves and credit spreads.

 

·       Contractholder funds:  Derivatives embedded in certain life and annuity contracts are valued internally using models widely accepted in the financial services industry that determine a single best estimate of fair value for the embedded derivatives within a block of contractholder liabilities.  The models primarily use stochastically determined cash flows based on the contractual elements of embedded derivatives, projected option cost and applicable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and equity index volatility assumptions.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs.

 

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis

 

Mortgage loans written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing impairments are valued based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell.  EMA limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing OTTI losses are generally valued using net asset values.

 

Investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy

 

Limited partnerships carried at fair value, which do not have readily determinable fair values, use NAV provided by the investees and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.  These investments are generally not redeemable by the investees and generally cannot be sold without approval of the general partner.  We receive distributions of income and from liquidation of the underlying assets of the investees over the life of these investments, typically 10-12 years.  As of September 30, 2018, the Company has commitments to invest $313 million in these limited partnership interests.

 

19


 

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

 

Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting

 

Balance as of
September 30,
2018

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

337

 

$

277

 

$

 

 

 

$

614

Municipal

 

 

2,130

 

56

 

 

 

2,186

Corporate - public

 

 

12,382

 

42

 

 

 

12,424

Corporate - privately placed

 

 

5,583

 

166

 

 

 

5,749

Foreign government

 

 

177

 

 

 

 

177

ABS - CDO

 

 

28

 

8

 

 

 

36

ABS - consumer and other

 

 

264

 

25

 

 

 

289

RMBS

 

 

214

 

 

 

 

214

CMBS

 

 

49

 

 

 

 

49

Redeemable preferred stock

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

337

 

21,118

 

297

 

 

 

21,752

Equity securities

 

1,347

 

15

 

121

 

 

 

1,483

Short-term investments

 

513

 

413

 

 

 

 

926

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives

 

 

105

 

1

 

$

(6)

 

100

Separate account assets

 

3,282

 

 

 

 

 

3,282

Total recurring assets at fair value

 

$

5,479

 

$

21,651

 

$

419

 

$

(6)

 

$

27,543

% of total assets at fair value

 

19.9%

 

78.6%

 

1.5%

 

—%

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments reported at NAV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

761

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

28,304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

(262)

 

 

 

$

(262)

Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives

 

 

(39)

 

 

$

2

 

(37)

Total recurring liabilities at fair value

 

$

 

$

(39)

 

$

(262)

 

$

2

 

$

(299)

% of total liabilities at fair value

 

—%

 

13.1%

 

87.6%

 

(0.7)%

 

100%

 

20


 

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2017.

 

($ in millions)

 

Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

 

Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting

 

Balance as of
December 31,
2017

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

488

 

$

316

 

$

 

 

 

$

804

Municipal

 

 

2,216

 

57

 

 

 

2,273

Corporate - public

 

 

13,168

 

49

 

 

 

13,217

Corporate - privately placed

 

 

5,699

 

220

 

 

 

5,919

Foreign government

 

 

299

 

 

 

 

299

ABS - CDO

 

 

38

 

10

 

 

 

48

ABS - consumer and other

 

 

297

 

40

 

 

 

337

RMBS

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

253

CMBS

 

 

97

 

 

 

 

97

Redeemable preferred stock

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

488

 

22,397

 

376

 

 

 

23,261

Equity securities

 

1,508

 

16

 

90

 

 

 

1,614

Short-term investments

 

110

 

615

 

 

 

 

725

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives

 

 

117

 

1

 

$

(3)

 

115

Separate account assets

 

3,422

 

 

 

 

 

3,422

Total recurring assets at fair value

 

$

5,528

 

$

23,145

 

$

467

 

$

(3)

 

$

29,137

% of total assets at fair value

 

19.0%

 

79.4%

 

1.6%

 

—%

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

(284)

 

 

 

$

(284)

Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives

 

 

(62)

 

 

$

1

 

(61)

Total recurring liabilities at fair value

 

$

 

$

(62)

 

$

(284)

 

$

1

 

$

(345)

% of total liabilities at fair value

 

—%

 

18.0%

 

82.3%

 

(0.3)%

 

100%

 

The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements.

 

($ in millions)

 

Fair value

 

Valuation
technique

 

Unobservable
input

 

Range

 

Weighted
average

September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options

 

$

(235)

 

Stochastic cash flow model

 

Projected option cost

 

1.0 - 2.2%

 

1.74%

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options

 

$

(250)

 

Stochastic cash flow model

 

Projected option cost

 

1.0 - 2.2%

 

1.74%

 

The embedded derivatives are equity-indexed and forward starting options in certain life and annuity products that provide customers with interest crediting rates based on the performance of the S&P 500.  If the projected option cost increased (decreased), it would result in a higher (lower) liability fair value.

 

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Level 3 fair value measurements of fixed income securities total $297 million and $376 million, respectively, and include $157 million and $237 million, respectively, of securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  The Company does not develop the unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value; therefore, these are not included in the table above.  However, an increase (decrease) in credit spreads for fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes would result in a lower (higher) fair value.

 

21


 

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Total gains (losses)
included in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of
June 30, 2018

 

Net
income (1)

 

OCI

 

Transfers
into
Level 3

 

Transfers
out of
Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

58

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

Corporate - public

 

47

 

 

(1)

 

 

(3)

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

187

 

 

(1)

 

 

(9)

 

ABS - CDO

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

47

 

 

 

6

 

(13)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

348

 

 

(3)

 

6

 

(26)

 

Equity securities

 

113

 

3

 

 

 

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

462

 

$

3

 

$

(3)

 

$

6

 

$

(26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

(257)

 

$

(6)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

(257)

 

$

(6)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

Sales

 

Issues

 

Settlements

 

Balance as of
September 30,
2018

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

56

 

Corporate - public

 

 

(1)

 

 

 

42

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

 

 

 

(11)

 

166

 

ABS - CDO

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

8

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

7

 

(6)

 

 

(16)

 

25

 

Total fixed income securities

 

7

 

(7)

 

 

(28)

 

297

 

Equity securities

 

5

 

 

 

 

121

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 

 

 

1

(2)

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

12

 

$

(7)

 

$

 

$

(28)

 

$

419

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

(262)

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

(262)

 

 ____________

(1)   The effect to net income totals $(3) million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows:$3 million in realized capital gains and losses, $(8) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $2 million in contract benefits.

(2)          Comprises $1 million of assets.

 

22


 

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Total gains (losses)
included in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of
December 31,
2017

 

Net
income (1)

 

OCI

 

Transfers
into
Level 3

 

Transfers
out of
Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

57

 

$

 

$

(2)

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

Corporate - public

 

49

 

 

(2)

 

3

 

(3)

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

220

 

(2)

 

(2)

 

10

 

(32)

 

ABS - CDO

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

40

 

 

 

12

 

(15)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

376

 

(2)

 

(6)

 

25

 

(51)

 

Equity securities

 

90

 

10

 

 

 

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

467

 

$

8

 

$

(6)

 

$

25

 

$

(51)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

(284)

 

$

19

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

(284)

 

$

19

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

Sales

 

Issues

 

Settlements

 

Balance as of
September 30,
2018

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

2

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

56

 

Corporate - public

 

 

(2)

 

 

(3)

 

42

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

11

 

 

 

(39)

 

166

 

ABS - CDO

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

8

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

20

 

(14)

 

 

(18)

 

25

 

Total fixed income securities

 

33

 

(16)

 

 

(62)

 

297

 

Equity securities

 

28

 

(7)

 

 

 

121

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 

 

 

1

(2)

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

61

 

$

(23)

 

$

 

$

(62)

 

$

419

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

4

 

$

(262)

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

4

 

$

(262)

 

 

 ____________

(1)    The effect to net income totals $27 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows:  $8 million in realized capital gains and losses, $12 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $7 million in contract benefits.

(2)    Comprises $1 million of assets.

 

23


 

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Total gains (losses)
included in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of
June 30, 2017

 

Net
income
 (1)

 

OCI

 

Transfers
into
Level 3

 

Transfers
out of
Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

60

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Corporate - public

 

36

 

 

 

 

(3)

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

250

 

1

 

2

 

 

(14)

 

ABS - CDO

 

24

 

 

1

 

 

(1)

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

63

 

 

 

 

(16)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

433

 

1

 

3

 

 

(34)

 

Equity securities

 

75

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

509

 

$

2

 

$

4

 

$

 

$

(34)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

(284)

 

$

(8)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

(284)

 

$

(8)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

Sales

 

Issues

 

Settlements

 

Balance as of
September 30,
2017

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

60

 

Corporate - public

 

16

 

 

 

(2)

 

47

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

4

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

 

241

 

ABS - CDO

 

 

 

 

(5)

 

19

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

46

 

Total fixed income securities

 

20

 

(1)

 

 

(9)

 

413

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

77

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 

 

 

1

(2)

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

20

 

$

(1)

 

$

 

$

(9)

 

$

491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2

 

$

(290)

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2

 

$

(290)

 

 

__________

(1)          The effect to net income totals $(6) million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $2 million in net investment income, $(4) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(4) million in contract benefits.

(2)          Comprises $1 million of assets.

 

24


 

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Total gains (losses)
included in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of
December 31,
2016

 

Net
income (1)

 

OCI

 

Transfers
into
Level 3

 

Transfers
out of
Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

59

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

 

Corporate - public

 

47

 

1

 

 

 

(13)

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

264

 

6

 

 

11

 

(14)

 

ABS - CDO

 

27

 

 

3

 

4

 

(10)

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

42

 

 

 

 

(21)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

439

 

7

 

4

 

15

 

(58)

 

Equity securities

 

76

 

7

 

3

 

 

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

(2)

 

3

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

1

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

514

 

$

16

 

$

7

 

$

15

 

$

(58)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

(289)

 

$

(5)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

(289)

 

$

(5)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

Sales

 

Issues

 

Settlements

 

Balance as of
September 30,
2017

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

60

 

Corporate - public

 

16

 

 

 

(4)

 

47

 

Corporate - privately placed

 

7

 

(30)

 

 

(3)

 

241

 

ABS - CDO

 

5

 

 

 

(10)

 

19

 

ABS - consumer and other

 

29

 

 

 

(4)

 

46

 

Total fixed income securities

 

57

 

(30)

 

 

(21)

 

413

 

Equity securities

 

 

(9)

 

 

 

77

 

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 

 

 

1

(2)

Other assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

57

 

$

(39)

 

$

 

$

(21)

 

$

491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

5

 

$

(290)

 

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1)

 

$

5

 

$

(290)

 

__________

(1)    The effect to net income totals $11 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $8 million in realized capital gains and losses, $9 million in net investment income, $(10) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $4 million in contract benefits.

(2)    Comprises $1 million of assets.

 

Transfers between level categorizations may occur due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume or bid-ask spreads.  Transfers between level categorizations may also occur due to changes in the valuation source.  Transfers in and out of level categorizations are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred.  Therefore, for all transfers into Level 3, all realized and changes in unrealized gains and losses in the quarter of transfer are reflected in the Level 3 rollforward table.

 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or 2017.

 

Transfers into Level 3 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result

 

25


 

the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs had not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3.  Transfers out of Level 3 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 included situations where a broker quote was used in the prior period and a fair value quote became available from the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider in the current period.  A quote utilizing the new pricing source was not available as of the prior period, and any gains or losses related to the change in valuation source for individual securities were not significant.

 

The following table provides valuation changes included in net income for Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

1

Equity securities

 

3

 

1

 

10

 

8

Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

(3)

 

 

Other assets

 

 

 

 

(1)

Total recurring Level 3 assets

 

$

3

 

$

(1)

 

$

10

 

$

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

 

$

(6)

 

$

(8)

 

$

19

 

$

(5)

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

 

$

(6)

 

$

(8)

 

$

19

 

$

(5)

 

The amounts in the table above represent gains and losses related to valuation changes included in net income for the period of time that the asset or liability was held and determined to be in Level 3.  These gains and losses result in $(3) million of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and are reported as follows: $3 million in realized capital gains and losses, $(8) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $2 million in contract benefits.  These gains and losses result in $(9) million of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and are reported as follows: $(3) million in realized capital gains and losses, $2 million in net investment income, $(4) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(4) million in contract benefits.  These gains and losses result in $29 million of net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and are reported as follows: $10 million in realized capital gains and losses, $12 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $7 million in contract benefits.  These gains and losses result in $3 million of net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and are reported as follows: $9 million in net investment income, $(10) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $4 million in contract benefits.

 

Presented below are the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value.

 

Financial assets

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

Carrying
value

 

Fair
value

 

Carrying
value

 

Fair
value

Mortgage loans

 

$

3,923

 

$

3,936

 

$

3,876

 

$

4,052

Agent loans

 

597

 

586

 

538

 

536

Bank loans

 

422

 

423

 

437

 

437

 

The fair value measurements for mortgage loans, bank loans and agent loans are categorized as Level 3.

 

Financial liabilities

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

Carrying
value

 

Fair
value

 

Carrying
value

 

Fair
value

Contractholder funds on investment contracts

 

$

9,510

 

$

9,916

 

$

10,331

 

$

11,036

Liability for collateral

 

536

 

536

 

542

 

542

Notes due to related parties

 

140

 

137

 

140

 

141

 

The fair value measurement is Level 3 for contractholder funds on investment contracts and notes due to related parties and Level 2 for liability for collateral.

 

26


 

5.  Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company uses derivatives for risk reduction and to increase investment portfolio returns through asset replication.  Risk reduction activity is focused on managing the risks with certain assets and liabilities arising from the potential adverse impacts from changes in risk-free interest rates, changes in equity market valuations, increases in credit spreads and foreign currency fluctuations.  Asset replication refers to the “synthetic” creation of assets through the use of derivatives.  The Company replicates fixed income securities using a combination of a credit default swap, index total return swap, or a foreign currency forward contract and one or more highly rated fixed income securities, primarily investment grade host bonds, to synthetically replicate the economic characteristics of one or more cash market securities.  The Company replicates equity securities using futures, index total return swaps, and options to increase equity exposure.

 

The Company utilizes several derivative strategies to manage risk.  Asset-liability management is a risk management strategy that is principally employed to balance the respective interest-rate sensitivities of the Company’s assets and liabilities.  Depending upon the attributes of the assets acquired and liabilities issued, derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps, swaptions and futures are utilized to change the interest rate characteristics of existing assets and liabilities to ensure the relationship is maintained within specified ranges and to reduce exposure to rising or falling interest rates.  Fixed income index total return swaps are used to offset valuation losses in the fixed income portfolio during periods of declining fixed income market values.  Credit default swaps are typically used to mitigate the credit risk within the Company’s fixed income portfolio.  Futures and options are used for hedging the equity exposure contained in the Company’s equity indexed life and annuity product contracts that offer equity returns to contractholders.  In addition, the Company uses equity index total return swaps, options and futures to offset valuation losses in the equity portfolio during periods of declining equity market values.  Foreign currency swaps and forwards are primarily used by the Company to reduce the foreign currency risk associated with holding foreign currency denominated investments.

 

The Company also has derivatives embedded in non-derivative host contracts that are required to be separated from the host contracts and accounted for at fair value with changes in fair value of embedded derivatives reported in net income.  The Company’s primary embedded derivatives are equity options in life and annuity product contracts, which provide returns linked to equity indices to contractholders.

 

When derivatives meet specific criteria, they may be designated as accounting hedges and accounted for as fair value, cash flow, foreign currency fair value or foreign currency cash flow hedges.  The Company designates certain investment risk transfer reinsurance agreements as fair value hedges when the hedging instrument is highly effective in offsetting the risk of changes in the fair value of the hedged item.  The Company designates certain of its foreign currency swap contracts as cash flow hedges when the hedging instrument is highly effective in offsetting the exposure of variations in cash flows for the hedged risk that could affect net income.  Amounts are reclassified to net investment income or realized capital gains and losses as the hedged item affects net income.

 

The notional amounts specified in the contracts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual payments under the agreements and are generally not representative of the potential for gain or loss on these agreements.  However, the notional amounts specified in credit default swaps where the Company has sold credit protection represent the maximum amount of potential loss, assuming no recoveries.

 

Fair value, which is equal to the carrying value, is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the derivative contracts at the reporting date.  The carrying value amounts for OTC derivatives are further adjusted for the effects, if any, of enforceable master netting agreements and are presented on a net basis, by counterparty agreement, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

For those derivatives which qualify for fair value hedge accounting, net income includes the changes in the fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged risk, and therefore reflects any hedging ineffectiveness.  For cash flow hedges, gains and losses are amortized from AOCI and are reported in net income in the same period the forecasted transactions being hedged impact net income.

 

Non-hedge accounting is generally used for “portfolio” level hedging strategies where the terms of the individual hedged items do not meet the strict homogeneity requirements to permit the application of hedge accounting.  For non-hedge derivatives, net income includes changes in fair value and accrued periodic settlements, when applicable.  With the exception of non-hedge derivatives used for asset replication and non-hedge embedded derivatives, all of the Company’s derivatives are evaluated for their ongoing effectiveness as either accounting hedge or non-hedge derivative financial instruments on at least a quarterly basis.

 

27


 

The following table provides a summary of the volume and fair value positions of derivative instruments as well as their reporting location in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions, except number of contracts)

 

 

 

Volume (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance sheet location

 

Notional
amount

 

Number
of
contracts

 

Fair
value,
net

 

Gross
asset

 

Gross
liability

Asset derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate cap agreements

 

Other investments

 

$

20

 

n/a

 

$

 

$

 

$

Options

 

Other investments

 

 

620

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options

 

Other investments

 

 

3,320

 

99

 

99

 

Futures

 

Other assets

 

 

39

 

 

 

Total return index contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return swap agreements - equity

 

Other assets

 

23

 

n/a

 

 

 

Total return swap agreements - fixed income

 

Other assets

 

9

 

n/a

 

 

 

Foreign currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forwards

 

Other investments

 

212

 

n/a

 

5

 

6

 

(1)

Credit default contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – buying protection

 

Other investments

 

29

 

n/a

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Other contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Other assets

 

3

 

 

 

 

Total asset derivatives

 

 

 

$

296

 

3,979

 

$

103

 

$

105

 

$

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate cap agreements

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

$

18

 

n/a

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

Options

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

 

3,248

 

(37)

 

 

(37)

Futures

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

 

35

 

 

 

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guaranteed accumulation benefits

 

Contractholder funds

 

200

 

n/a

 

(17)

 

 

(17)

Guaranteed withdrawal benefits

 

Contractholder funds

 

248

 

n/a

 

(10)

 

 

(10)

Equity-indexed and forward starting options in life and annuity product contracts

 

Contractholder funds

 

1,719

 

n/a

 

(235)

 

 

(235)

Credit default contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – selling protection

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

1

 

n/a

 

 

 

Total liability derivatives

 

 

 

2,186

 

3,283

 

(298)

 

$

1

 

$

(299)

Total derivatives

 

 

 

$

2,482

 

7,262

 

$

(195)

 

 

 

 

________

 

(1)          Volume for OTC and cleared derivative contracts is represented by their notional amounts.  Volume for exchange traded derivatives is represented by the number of contracts, which is the basis on which they are traded.  (n/a = not applicable)

 

28


 

The following table provides a summary of the volume and fair value positions of derivative instruments as well as their reporting location in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2017.

 

($ in millions, except number of contracts)

 

 

 

Volume (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance sheet location

 

Notional
amount

 

Number
of
contracts

 

Fair
value,
net

 

Gross
asset

 

Gross
liability

Asset derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate cap agreements

 

Other investments

 

$

15

 

n/a

 

$

 

$

 

$

Equity and index contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options

 

Other investments

 

 

4,485

 

114

 

114

 

Credit default contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – buying protection

 

Other investments

 

3

 

n/a

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – selling protection

 

Other investments

 

80

 

n/a

 

1

 

1

 

Other contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Other assets

 

3

 

n/a

 

 

 

Total asset derivatives

 

 

 

$

101

 

4,485

 

$

115

 

$

115

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as accounting hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency swap agreements

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

$

19

 

n/a

 

$

2

 

$

2

 

$

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate cap agreements

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

30

 

n/a

 

1

 

1

 

Equity and index contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options and futures

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

 

4,464

 

(53)

 

 

(53)

Foreign currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forwards

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

207

 

n/a

 

(8)

 

 

(8)

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guaranteed accumulation benefits

 

Contractholder funds

 

225

 

n/a

 

(22)

 

 

(22)

Guaranteed withdrawal benefits

 

Contractholder funds

 

274

 

n/a

 

(12)

 

 

(12)

Equity-indexed and forward starting options in life and annuity product contracts

 

Contractholder funds

 

1,735

 

n/a

 

(250)

 

 

(250)

Credit default contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – buying protection

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

34

 

n/a

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Credit default swaps – selling protection

 

Other liabilities & accrued expenses

 

1

 

n/a

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

 

2,506

 

4,464

 

(345)

 

1

 

(346)

Total liability derivatives

 

 

 

2,525

 

4,464

 

(343)

 

$

3

 

$

(346)

Total derivatives

 

 

 

$

2,626

 

8,949

 

$

(228)

 

 

 

 

________

 

(1)          Volume for OTC and cleared derivative contracts is represented by their notional amounts.  Volume for exchange traded derivatives is represented by the number of contracts, which is the basis on which they are traded.  (n/a = not applicable)

 

The following table provides gross and net amounts for the Company’s OTC derivatives, all of which are subject to enforceable master netting agreements.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Offsets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross
amount

 

Counter-
party
netting

 

Cash
collateral
(received)
pledged

 

Net
amount on
balance
sheet

 

Securities
collateral
(received)
pledged

 

Net
amount

September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset derivatives

 

$

7

 

$

(3)

 

$

(3)

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

1

Liability derivatives

 

(2)

 

3

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset derivatives

 

$

4

 

$

(3)

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

1

Liability derivatives

 

(10)

 

3

 

(2)

 

(9)

 

3

 

(6)

 

29


 

The following table provides a summary of the impacts of the Company’s foreign currency contracts in cash flow hedging relationships.  There was no hedge ineffectiveness reported in realized gains and losses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or 2017.  As of September 30, 2018, the Company had no derivatives used in cash flow hedging relationships.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives during the period

 

$

 

$

(3)

 

$

1

 

$

(5)

Gain recognized in OCI on derivatives during the term of the hedging relationship

 

 

1

 

 

1

Loss reclassified from AOCI into income (net investment income)

 

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Gain reclassified from AOCI into income (realized capital gains and losses)

 

 

 

3

 

 

The following tables present gains and losses from valuation and settlements reported on derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.  For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no derivatives used in fair value hedging relationships.

 

($ in millions)

 

Realized capital
gains and losses

 

Contract benefits

 

Interest
credited to
contractholder
funds

 

Total gain (loss)
recognized in
net income on
derivatives

Three months ended September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

Equity and index contracts

 

(2)

 

 

18

 

16

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

2

 

(7)

 

(5)

Foreign currency contracts

 

4

 

 

 

4

Total return swaps

 

1

 

 

 

1

Total

 

$

4

 

$

2

 

$

11

 

$

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

Equity and index contracts

 

(2)

 

 

 

24

 

22

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

7

 

15

 

22

Foreign currency contracts

 

8

 

 

 

8

Total return swaps

 

1

 

 

 

1

Total

 

$

8

 

$

7

 

$

39

 

$

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts

 

$

(3)

 

$

 

$

10

 

$

7

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

(4)

 

(2)

 

(6)

Foreign currency contracts

 

(2)

 

 

 

(2)

Credit default contracts

 

1

 

 

 

1

Total

 

$

(4)

 

$

(4)

 

$

8

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts

 

$

(5)

 

$

 

$

32

 

$

27

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 

 

4

 

(6)

 

(2)

Foreign currency contracts

 

(11)

 

 

 

(11)

Credit default contracts

 

3

 

 

 

3

Total

 

$

(13)

 

$

4

 

$

26

 

$

17

 

The Company manages its exposure to credit risk by utilizing highly rated counterparties, establishing risk control limits, executing legally enforceable master netting agreements (“MNAs”) and obtaining collateral where appropriate.  The Company uses MNAs for OTC derivative transactions that permit either party to net payments due for transactions and collateral is either pledged or obtained when certain predetermined exposure limits are exceeded.  As of September 30, 2018, counterparties pledged $4 million in collateral to the Company.  The Company has not incurred any losses on derivative financial instruments due to

 

30


 

counterparty nonperformance.  Other derivatives, including futures and certain option contracts, are traded on organized exchanges which require margin deposits and guarantee the execution of trades, thereby mitigating any potential credit risk.

 

Counterparty credit exposure represents the Company’s potential loss if all of the counterparties concurrently fail to perform under the contractual terms of the contracts and all collateral, if any, becomes worthless.  This exposure is measured by the fair value of OTC derivative contracts with a positive fair value at the reporting date reduced by the effect, if any, of legally enforceable master netting agreements.

 

The following table summarizes the counterparty credit exposure by counterparty credit rating as it relates to the Company’s OTC derivatives.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

Rating (1)

 

Number of
counter-
parties

 

Notional
amount 
(2)

 

Credit
exposure 
(2)

 

Exposure,
net of
collateral
 (2)

 

Number of
counter-
parties

 

Notional
amount (2)

 

Credit
exposure (2)

 

Exposure,
net of
collateral
 (2)

A+

 

4

 

$

281

 

$

5

 

$

2

 

2

 

$

59

 

$

3

 

$

A

 

1

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

5

 

$

283

 

$

5

 

$

2

 

2

 

$

59

 

$

3

 

$

________

 

(1)          Rating is the lower of S&P or Moody’s ratings.

(2)          Only OTC derivatives with a net positive fair value are included for each counterparty.

 

For certain exchange traded and cleared derivatives, margin deposits are required as well as daily cash settlements of margin accounts.  As of September 30, 2018, the Company pledged $4 million in the form of margin deposits.

 

Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in market rates and prices.  Market risk exists for all of the derivative financial instruments the Company currently holds, as these instruments may become less valuable due to adverse changes in market conditions.  To limit this risk, the Company’s senior management has established risk control limits.  In addition, changes in fair value of the derivative financial instruments that the Company uses for risk management purposes are generally offset by the change in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged risk component of the related assets, liabilities or forecasted transactions.

 

Certain of the Company’s derivative instruments contain credit-risk-contingent termination events, cross-default provisions and credit support annex agreements.  Credit-risk-contingent termination events allow the counterparties to terminate the derivative agreement or a specific trade on certain dates if AIC’s, ALIC’s or Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York’s (“ALNY”) financial strength credit ratings by Moody’s or S&P fall below a certain level.  Credit-risk-contingent cross-default provisions allow the counterparties to terminate the derivative agreement if the Company defaults by pre-determined threshold amounts on certain debt instruments.  Credit-risk-contingent credit support annex agreements specify the amount of collateral the Company must post to counterparties based on AIC’s, ALIC’s or ALNY’s financial strength credit ratings by Moody’s or S&P, or in the event AIC, ALIC or ALNY are no longer rated by either Moody’s or S&P.

 

The following summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments with termination, cross-default or collateral credit-risk-contingent features that are in a liability position, as well as the fair value of assets and collateral that are netted against the liability in accordance with provisions within legally enforceable MNAs.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

Gross liability fair value of contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features

 

$

2

 

$

12

Gross asset fair value of contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features and subject to MNAs

 

(2)

 

(5)

Collateral posted under MNAs for contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features

 

 

(3)

Maximum amount of additional exposure for contracts with credit-risk-contingent features if all features were triggered concurrently

 

$

 

$

4

 

Credit derivatives - selling protection

 

A credit default swap (“CDS”) is a derivative instrument, representing an agreement between two parties to exchange the credit risk of a specified entity (or a group of entities), or an index based on the credit risk of a group of entities (all commonly referred to as the “reference entity” or a portfolio of “reference entities”), in return for a periodic premium.  In selling protection, CDS are used to replicate fixed income securities and to complement the cash market when credit exposure to certain issuers is not available or when the derivative alternative is less expensive than the cash market alternative.  CDS typically have a five-year term.

 

31


 

The following table shows the CDS notional amounts by credit rating and fair value of protection sold.

 

($ in millions)

 

Notional amount

 

 

 

 

AA

 

A

 

BBB

 

BB and
lower

 

Total

 

Fair
value

September 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate debt

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

Total

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate debt

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate debt

 

1

 

19

 

45

 

15

 

80

 

1

Total

 

$

1

 

$

19

 

$

45

 

$

16

 

$

81

 

$

1

 

In selling protection with CDS, the Company sells credit protection on an identified single name, a basket of names in a first-to-default (“FTD”) structure or credit derivative index (“CDX”) that is generally investment grade, and in return receives periodic premiums through expiration or termination of the agreement.  With single name CDS, this premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the reference entity’s public fixed maturity cash instruments and swap rates at the time the agreement is executed.  With a FTD basket, because of the additional credit risk inherent in a basket of named reference entities, the premium generally corresponds to a high proportion of the sum of the credit spreads of the names in the basket and the correlation between the names.  CDX is utilized to take a position on multiple (generally 125) reference entities.  Credit events are typically defined as bankruptcy, failure to pay, or restructuring, depending on the nature of the reference entities.  If a credit event occurs, the Company settles with the counterparty, either through physical settlement or cash settlement.  In a physical settlement, a reference asset is delivered by the buyer of protection to the Company, in exchange for cash payment at par, whereas in a cash settlement, the Company pays the difference between par and the prescribed value of the reference asset.  When a credit event occurs in a single name or FTD basket (for FTD, the first credit event occurring for any one name in the basket), the contract terminates at the time of settlement.  For CDX, the reference entity’s name incurring the credit event is removed from the index while the contract continues until expiration.  The maximum payout on a CDS is the contract notional amount.  A physical settlement may afford the Company with recovery rights as the new owner of the asset.

 

The Company monitors risk associated with credit derivatives through individual name credit limits at both a credit derivative and a combined cash instrument/credit derivative level.  The ratings of individual names for which protection has been sold are also monitored.

 

6.  Reinsurance

 

The effects of reinsurance on premiums and contract charges are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Direct

 

$

184

 

$

182

 

$

553

 

$

545

Assumed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

60

 

58

 

181

 

166

Non-affiliate

 

184

 

191

 

558

 

582

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

(13)

 

(13)

 

(38)

 

(39)

Non-affiliate

 

(71)

 

(72)

 

(209)

 

(213)

Premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance

 

$

344

 

$

346

 

$

1,045

 

$

1,041

 

32


 

The effects of reinsurance on contract benefits are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Direct

 

$

253

 

$

236

 

$

776

 

$

752

Assumed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

44

 

30

 

112

 

93

Non-affiliate

 

101

 

116

 

358

 

379

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

(7)

 

(8)

 

(27)

 

(24)

Non-affiliate

 

(29)

 

(43)

 

(130)

 

(151)

Contract benefits, net of reinsurance

 

$

362

 

$

331

 

$

1,089

 

$

1,049

 

The effects of reinsurance on interest credited to contractholder funds are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Direct

 

$

119

 

$

137

 

$

378

 

$

413

Assumed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

2

 

2

 

6

 

6

Non-affiliate

 

38

 

33

 

96

 

97

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate

 

(5)

 

(5)

 

(15)

 

(16)

Non-affiliate

 

(4)

 

(6)

 

(15)

 

(17)

Interest credited to contractholder funds, net of reinsurance

 

$

150

 

$

161

 

$

450

 

$

483

 

7.  Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities

 

In the normal course of business, the Company provides standard indemnifications to contractual counterparties in connection with numerous transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures.  The types of indemnifications typically provided include indemnifications for breaches of representations and warranties, taxes and certain other liabilities, such as third party lawsuits.  The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business based on an assessment that the risk of loss would be remote.  The terms of the indemnifications vary in duration and nature.  In many cases, the maximum obligation is not explicitly stated and the contingencies triggering the obligation to indemnify have not occurred and are not expected to occur.  Consequently, the maximum amount of the obligation under such indemnifications is not determinable.  Historically, the Company has not made any material payments pursuant to these obligations.

 

Related to the sale of Lincoln Benefit Life Company on April 1, 2014, the Company agreed to indemnify Resolution Life Holdings, Inc. in connection with certain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company, and certain liabilities specifically excluded from the transaction, subject to specific contractual limitations regarding the Company’s maximum obligation.  Management does not believe these indemnifications will have a material effect on results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company.

 

Related to the disposal through reinsurance of substantially all of the Company’s variable annuity business to Prudential in 2006, the Company and the Corporation have agreed to indemnify Prudential for certain pre-closing contingent liabilities (including extra-contractual liabilities of the Company and liabilities specifically excluded from the transaction) that the Company has agreed to retain.  In addition, the Company and the Corporation will each indemnify Prudential for certain post-closing liabilities that may arise from the acts of the Company and its agents, including certain liabilities arising from the Company’s provision of transition services.  The reinsurance agreements contain no limitations or indemnifications with regard to insurance risk transfer, and transferred all of the future risks and responsibilities for performance on the underlying variable annuity contracts to Prudential, including those related to benefit guarantees.  Management does not believe this agreement will have a material effect on results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company.

 

The aggregate liability balance related to all guarantees was not material as of September 30, 2018.

 

Regulation and compliance

 

The Company is subject to extensive laws, regulations and regulatory actions.  From time to time, regulatory authorities or legislative bodies seek to impose additional regulations regarding agent and broker compensation, regulate the nature of and amount of investments, impose fines and penalties for unintended errors or mistakes, impose additional regulations regarding cybersecurity and privacy, and otherwise expand overall regulation of insurance products and the insurance industry.  In addition,

 

33


 

the Company is subject to laws and regulations administered and enforced by federal agencies, international agencies, and other organizations, including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the U.S. Department of Justice.  The Company has established procedures and policies to facilitate compliance with laws and regulations, to foster prudent business operations, and to support financial reporting.  The Company routinely reviews its practices to validate compliance with laws and regulations and with internal procedures and policies.  As a result of these reviews, from time to time the Company may decide to modify some of its procedures and policies.  Such modifications, and the reviews that led to them, may be accompanied by payments being made and costs being incurred.  The ultimate changes and eventual effects of these actions on the Company’s business, if any, are uncertain.

 

8.  Other Comprehensive Income

 

The components of other comprehensive (loss) income on a pre-tax and after-tax basis are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

Pre-
tax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

Pre-
tax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

Unrealized net holding gains and losses arising during the period, net of related offsets

 

$

(64)

 

$

14

 

$

(50)

 

$

90

 

$

(31)

 

$

59

Less: reclassification adjustment of realized capital gains and losses

 

(8)

 

2

 

(6)

 

21

 

(7)

 

14

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

(56)

 

12

 

(44)

 

69

 

(24)

 

45

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(11)

 

2

 

(9)

 

13

 

(5)

 

8

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(67)

 

$

14

 

$

(53)

 

$

82

 

$

(29)

 

$

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

Pre-
tax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

Pre-
tax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

Unrealized net holding gains and losses arising during the period, net of related offsets

 

$

(379)

 

$

80

 

$

(299)

 

$

366

 

$

(128)

 

$

238

Less: reclassification adjustment of realized capital gains and losses

 

(24)

 

5

 

(19)

 

15

 

(5)

 

10

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

(355)

 

75

 

(280)

 

351

 

(123)

 

228

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

8

 

(3)

 

5

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(355)

 

$

75

 

$

(280)

 

$

359

 

$

(126)

 

$

233

 

34


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of

Allstate Life Insurance Company

Northbrook, Illinois 60062

 

Results of Review of Interim Financial Information

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position of Allstate Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”), an affiliate of The Allstate Corporation, as of September 30, 2018, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, shareholder’s equity and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “condensed consolidated financial statements”).  Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated statement of financial position of Allstate Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholder’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 5, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2017 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated statement of financial position from which it has been derived.

 

Basis for Review Results

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB.  A review of condensed consolidated financial statements consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Emphasis of a Matter

 

As discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its presentation and method of accounting for the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities due to an adopted accounting standard.

 

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Chicago, Illinois

November 5, 2018

 

35


 

Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTH AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 AND 2017

 

OVERVIEW

 

The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of Allstate Life Insurance Company (referred to in this document as “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” or “ALIC”).  It should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found under Part I. Item 1. contained herein, and with the discussion, analysis, consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Part I. Item 1. and Part II. Item 7. and Item 8. of the Allstate Life Insurance Company annual report on Form 10-K for 2017.  We operate as a single segment entity based on the manner in which we use financial information to evaluate business performance and to determine the allocation of resources.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

·      Net income was $193 million and $417 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $140 million and $346 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.

 

·      Premiums and contract charges totaled $344 million in the third quarter of 2018, a decrease of 0.6% from $346 million in the third quarter of 2017, and $1.05 billion in the first nine months of 2018, an increase of 0.4% from $1.04 billion in the first nine months of 2017.

 

·      Investments totaled $33.39 billion as of September 30, 2018, a decrease of $1.05 billion from $34.44 billion as of December 31, 2017.  Net investment income decreased 12.3% to $385 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 8.0% to $1.21 billion in the first nine months of 2018 from $439 million and $1.32 billion in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.

 

·      Net realized capital gains totaled $48 million and $24 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $19 million and $14 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.

 

·      During third quarter 2018, a $5 million pre-tax decrease to income was recorded related to our annual comprehensive review of the deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), deferred sales inducement costs and secondary guarantee liability balances.  This compares to a $1 million pre-tax increase to income in the third quarter of 2017.

 

·      Contractholder funds totaled $17.76 billion as of September 30, 2018, reflecting a decrease of $833 million from $18.59 billion as of December 31, 2017.

 

·      On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Legislation”) became effective, permanently reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning January 1, 2018.  As a result, the corporate tax rate is not comparable between periods.  During 2017, we revalued deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded liabilities related to the transition to the modified territorial system for international taxation.  The impact of the Tax Legislation was adjusted from our preliminary estimate due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions we previously made, guidance that may be issued and actions we took as a result of the Tax Legislation.  During the third quarter of 2018, we recorded a reduction of $53 million to income tax expense related to these provisional amounts.   We may make adjustments to these provisional amounts as additional information becomes available and future guidance is issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

36


 

OPERATIONS

 

Summary analysis  Summarized financial data is presented in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

 $

174

 

 $

172

 

 $

526

 

 $

511

Contract charges

 

170

 

174

 

519

 

530

Other revenue

 

10

 

9

 

26

 

30

Net investment income

 

385

 

439

 

1,211

 

1,316

Realized capital gains and losses

 

48

 

19

 

24

 

14

Total revenues

 

787

 

813

 

2,306

 

2,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract benefits

 

(362)

 

(331)

 

(1,089)

 

(1,049)

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

(150)

 

(161)

 

(450)

 

(483)

Amortization of DAC

 

(39)

 

(32)

 

(117)

 

(116)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(63)

 

(78)

 

(199)

 

(236)

Restructuring and related charges

 

 

(1)

 

(2)

 

(1)

Interest expense

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(3)

 

(4)

Total costs and expenses

 

(615)

 

(604)

 

(1,860)

 

(1,889)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on disposition of operations

 

1

 

1

 

4

 

5

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

20

 

(70)

 

(33)

 

(171)

Net income

 

 $

193

 

 $

140

 

 $

417

 

 $

346

 

Net income was $193 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $140 million in the third quarter of 2017.  The increase was primarily due to adjustments to initial estimates for Tax Legislation, a lower effective tax rate and higher realized capital gains, partially offset by lower net investment income and higher contract benefits.  Net income was $417 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $346 million in the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to a lower effective tax rate, adjustments to initial estimates for Tax Legislation, and decreased operating costs and expenses and interest credited to contractholder funds, partially offset by lower net investment income and higher contract benefits.  The results in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 include a tax benefit of $53 million related to the Tax Legislation.

 

Analysis of revenues  Total revenues decreased 3.2% or $26 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017, primarily due to lower net investment income, partially offset by higher realized capital gains.  Total revenues decreased 4.0% or $95 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to lower net investment income, partially offset by higher premiums.

 

Premiums represent revenues generated from traditional life insurance, accident and health insurance products, and immediate annuities with life contingencies that have significant mortality or morbidity risk.

 

Contract charges are revenues generated from interest-sensitive and variable life insurance and fixed annuities for which deposits are classified as contractholder funds or separate account liabilities.  Contract charges are assessed against the contractholder account values for maintenance, administration, cost of insurance and surrender prior to contractually specified dates.

 

37


 

The following table summarizes premiums and contract charges by product.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Underwritten products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional life insurance premiums

 

 $

143

 

 $

143

 

 $

435

 

 $

429

Accident and health insurance premiums

 

31

 

29

 

91

 

82

Interest-sensitive life insurance contract charges

 

165

 

170

 

508

 

520

Subtotal

 

339

 

342

 

1,034

 

1,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annuities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed annuity contract charges

 

5

 

4

 

11

 

10

Premiums and contract charges (1)

 

 $

344

 

 $

346

 

 $

1,045

 

 $

1,041

 

____________

 

(1)    Contract charges related to the cost of insurance totaled $120 million and $122 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $368 million and $371 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Premiums and contract charges decreased 0.6% or $2 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017, primarily due to lower contract charges on interest-sensitive life insurance, partially offset by growth in voluntary accident and health insurance.  Premiums and contract charges increased 0.4% or $4 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to growth in voluntary accident and health insurance and traditional life insurance, partially offset by lower contract charges on interest-sensitive life insurance.

 

Analysis of costs and expenses  Total costs and expenses increased 1.8% or $11 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017, primarily due to higher contract benefits, partially offset by lower operating costs and expenses and interest credited to contractholder funds.  Total costs and expenses decreased 1.5% or $29 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to lower operating costs and expenses and lower interest credited to contractholder funds, partially offset by higher contract benefits.

 

Contract benefits increased 9.4% or $31 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 3.8% or $40 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to higher claim experience on both traditional and interest-sensitive life insurance.  The nine-month period was also impacted by lower reinsurance ceded on traditional and interest-sensitive life insurance.

 

Our annual review of assumptions in third quarter 2018 resulted in a $3 million increase in reserves primarily for guaranteed withdrawal benefits on equity-indexed annuities due to higher projected guaranteed benefits and secondary guarantees on interest-sensitive life insurance due to higher than anticipated policyholder persistency.  In third quarter 2017, the review resulted in a $13 million increase in reserves primarily on interest-sensitive life insurance due to increased projected exposure to benefits paid under secondary guarantees resulting from continued low interest rates.

 

We analyze our mortality and morbidity results using the difference between premiums and contract charges earned for the cost of insurance and contract benefits excluding the portion related to the implied interest on immediate annuities with life contingencies (“benefit spread”).  This implied interest totaled $123 million and $370 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $125 million and $377 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.

 

The benefit spread by product group is disclosed in the following table.

 

( $ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Life insurance

 

 $

62

 

 $

82

 

 $

194

 

 $

225

Accident and health insurance

 

14

 

21

 

46

 

43

Annuities

 

(21)

 

(15)

 

(65)

 

(58)

Total benefit spread

 

 $

55

 

 $

88

 

 $

175

 

 $

210

 

Benefit spread decreased 37.5% or $33 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017, primarily due to higher claim experience on life insurance and worse immediate annuity mortality experience.  Benefit spread decreased  16.7% or $35 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to higher claim experience and lower reinsurance coverage on life insurance and worse immediate annuity mortality experience.

 

38


 

Interest credited to contractholder funds decreased 6.8% or $11 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 6.8% or $33 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to lower average contractholder funds.  Valuation changes on derivatives embedded in equity-indexed annuity contracts that are not hedged decreased interest credited to contractholder funds by zero and $6 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to increases of $2 million and $3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.

 

In order to analyze the impact of net investment income and interest credited to contractholders on net income, we monitor the difference between net investment income and the sum of interest credited to contractholder funds and the implied interest on immediate annuities with life contingencies, which is included as a component of contract benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (“investment spread”).

 

The investment spread is shown in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives not hedged

 

 $

112

 

 $

155

 

 $

385

 

 $

459

Valuation changes on derivatives embedded in equity-indexed annuity contracts that are not hedged

 

 

(2)

 

6

 

(3)

Total investment spread

 

 $

112

 

 $

153

 

 $

391

 

 $

456

 

Investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives not hedged decreased 27.7% or $43 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 16.1% or $74 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to lower investment income, partially offset by lower credited interest.

 

To further analyze investment spreads, the following table summarizes the weighted average investment yield on assets supporting product liabilities and capital, interest crediting rates and investment spreads.  Investment spreads may vary significantly between periods due to the variability in investment income, particularly for immediate fixed annuities where the investment portfolio includes performance-based investments.

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

 

Weighted average
investment yield

 

Weighted average
interest crediting rate

 

Weighted average
investment spreads

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Interest-sensitive life insurance

 

5.1%

 

5.1%

 

3.7%

 

3.8%

 

1.4%

 

1.3%

Deferred fixed annuities

 

4.1

 

4.3

 

2.8

 

2.8

 

1.3

 

1.5

Immediate fixed annuities with and without life contingencies

 

6.0

 

7.8

 

6.0

 

6.0

 

 

1.8

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products

 

3.5

 

3.8

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

Weighted average
investment yield

 

Weighted average
interest crediting rate

 

Weighted average
investment spreads

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Interest-sensitive life insurance

 

5.2%

 

5.2%

 

3.7%

 

3.8%

 

1.5%

 

1.4%

Deferred fixed annuities

 

4.1

 

4.3

 

2.8

 

2.8

 

1.3

 

1.5

Immediate fixed annuities with and without life contingencies

 

6.6

 

7.7

 

6.0

 

6.0

 

0.6

 

1.7

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products

 

3.5

 

3.8

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

39


 

Amortization of DAC  The components of amortization of DAC are summarized in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Amortization of DAC before amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses, valuation changes on embedded derivatives not hedged and changes in assumptions

 

 $

35

 

 $

43

 

 $

107

 

 $

119

Amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses (1) and valuation changes on embedded derivatives not hedged

 

2

 

3

 

8

 

11

Amortization acceleration (deceleration) for changes in assumptions (“DAC unlocking”)

 

2

 

(14)

 

2

 

(14)

Total amortization of DAC

 

 $

39

 

 $

32

 

 $

117

 

 $

116

____________

 

(1)    The impact of realized capital gains and losses on amortization of DAC is dependent upon the relationship between the assets that give rise to the gain or loss and the product liability supported by the assets.  Fluctuations result from changes in the impact of realized capital gains and losses on actual and expected gross profits.

 

Amortization of DAC increased 21.9% or $7 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 0.9% or $1 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to amortization acceleration in the third quarter of 2018 compared to amortization deceleration in the third quarter of 2017 for changes in assumptions, partially offset by lower gross profits on interest-sensitive life insurance.

 

Our annual comprehensive review of assumptions underlying estimated future gross profits for our interest-sensitive life covers assumptions for mortality, persistency, expenses, investment returns, including capital gains and losses, interest crediting rates to policyholders, and the effect of any hedges in all product lines.  In third quarter 2018, the review resulted in an acceleration of DAC amortization (decrease to income) of $2 million related to interest-sensitive life insurance.  In third quarter 2017, the review resulted in a deceleration of DAC amortization of $14 million related to interest-sensitive life insurance.

 

The following table provides the effect on DAC amortization of changes in assumptions relating to the gross profit components of investment margin, benefit margin and expense margin.

 

($ in millions)

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

Investment margin

 

 $

9

 

 $

9

Benefit margin

 

(7)

 

(22)

Expense margin

 

 

(1)

Net acceleration (deceleration)

 

 $

2

 

 $

(14)

 

In 2018, DAC amortization acceleration for changes in the investment margin component of estimated gross profits was due to lower projected investment returns.  The deceleration related to benefit margin was due to a decrease in projected mortality.

 

In 2017, DAC amortization acceleration for changes in the investment margin component of estimated gross profits was due to continued low interest rates and lower projected investment returns.  The deceleration related to benefit margin was due to a decrease in projected mortality.

 

Operating costs and expenses decreased 19.2% or $15 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 15.7% or $37 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to lower non-deferred acquisition-related costs as we stopped assuming new term life insurance business from Allstate Assurance Company (“AAC”) effective January 1, 2018.

 

40


 

Analysis of reserves and contractholder funds

 

The following table summarizes our product liabilities.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

Traditional life insurance

 

 $

2,493

 

 $

2,458

Accident and health insurance

 

230

 

238

Immediate fixed annuities with life contingencies

 

 

 

 

Sub-standard structured settlements and group pension terminations (1)

 

5,010

 

5,304

Standard structured settlements and SPIA (2)

 

3,438

 

3,540

Other

 

84

 

85

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits

 

 $

11,255

 

 $

11,625

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-sensitive life insurance

 

 $

7,387

 

 $

7,387

Deferred fixed annuities

 

7,389

 

8,093

Immediate fixed annuities without life contingencies

 

2,565

 

2,697

Other

 

418

 

415

Contractholder funds

 

 $

17,759

 

 $

18,592

 

____________

 

(1)       Comprises structured settlement annuities for annuitants with severe injuries or other health impairments which increased their expected mortality rate at the time the annuity was issued (“sub-standard structured settlements”) and group annuity contracts issued to sponsors of terminated pension plans.

 

(2)       Comprises structured settlement annuities for annuitants with standard life expectancy (“standard structured settlements”) and single premium immediate annuities (“SPIA”) with life contingencies.

 

Contractholder funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sale of products such as interest-sensitive life insurance and fixed annuities.  The balance of contractholder funds is equal to the cumulative deposits received and interest credited to the contractholder less cumulative contract benefits, surrenders, withdrawals and contract charges for mortality or administrative expenses.  The following table shows the changes in contractholder funds.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Contractholder funds, beginning balance

 

 $

18,016

 

 $

19,013

 

 $

18,592

 

 $

19,470

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-sensitive life insurance

 

206

 

213

 

631

 

665

Fixed annuities

 

2

 

6

 

11

 

23

Total deposits

 

208

 

219

 

642

 

688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest credited

 

149

 

161

 

447

 

481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits, withdrawals and other adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

 

(204)

 

(214)

 

(619)

 

(667)

Surrenders and partial withdrawals

 

(257)

 

(224)

 

(808)

 

(703)

Contract charges

 

(161)

 

(163)

 

(483)

 

(490)

Net transfers from separate accounts

 

1

 

 

5

 

3

Other adjustments (1)

 

7

 

31

 

(17)

 

41

Total benefits, withdrawals and other adjustments

 

(614)

 

(570)

 

(1,922)

 

(1,816)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractholder funds, ending balance

 

 $

17,759

 

 $

18,823

 

 $

17,759

 

 $

18,823

____________

 

(1)    The table above illustrates the changes in contractholder funds, which are presented gross of reinsurance recoverables on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  The table above is intended to supplement our discussion and analysis of revenues, which are presented net of reinsurance on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.  As a result, the net change in contractholder funds associated with products reinsured is reflected as a component of the other adjustments line.

 

Contractholder funds decreased 1.4% and 4.5% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, primarily due to the continued runoff of our deferred fixed annuity business.  We discontinued the sale of annuities over an eight year period from 2006 to 2014, but still accept additional deposits on existing contracts.

 

Contractholder deposits decreased 5.0% and 6.7% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to lower deposits on interest-sensitive life insurance and fixed annuities.

 

Surrenders and partial withdrawals on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products increased 14.7% to $257 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 14.9% to $808 million in the first nine months of 2018 from $224 million and

 

41


 

$703 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively.  2018 had elevated surrenders on fixed annuities resulting from a large number of contracts reaching the 30-45 day period (typically at their 5, 7 or 10 year anniversary) during which there is no surrender charge.  The annualized surrender and partial withdrawal rate on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products, based on the beginning of year contractholder funds, was 7.3% in the first nine months of 2018 compared to 6.0% in the first nine months of 2017.

 

INVESTMENTS

 

Portfolio composition  The composition of the investment portfolio as of September 30, 2018 is presented in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Percent to total

Fixed income securities (1)

 

 $

21,752

 

65.2%

Mortgage loans

 

3,923

 

11.7

Equity securities (2)

 

1,483

 

4.4

Limited partnership interests

 

3,394

 

10.2

Short-term investments (3)

 

926

 

2.8

Policy loans

 

564

 

1.7

Other

 

1,343

 

4.0

Total

 

 $

33,385

 

100.0%

__________

 

(1)    Fixed income securities are carried at fair value.  Amortized cost basis for these securities was $21.29 billion.

 

(2)    Equity securities are carried at fair value.  The fair value of equity securities held as of September 30, 2018 was $290 million in excess of cost.  These net gains were primarily concentrated in the consumer goods and technology sectors and in domestic equity index funds.  Beginning January 1, 2018, the periodic changes in fair value are reflected in realized capital gains and losses.

 

(3)    Short-term investments are carried at fair value.

 

Investments totaled $33.39 billion as of September 30, 2018, decreasing from $34.44 billion as of December 31, 2017, primarily due to net reductions in contractholder funds and lower fixed income valuations, partially offset by positive operating cash flows.

 

Adopted Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

 

Beginning January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in realized capital gains and losses.

 

Limited partnerships previously reported using the cost method are now reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net investment income.

 

Portfolio composition by investment strategy

 

We utilize two primary strategies to manage risks and returns and to position our portfolio to take advantage of market opportunities while attempting to mitigate adverse effects.  As strategies and market conditions evolve, the asset allocation may change or assets may be moved between strategies.

 

Market-based strategies include investments primarily in public fixed income and equity securities.  Market-based core seeks to deliver predictable earnings aligned to business needs and returns consistent with the markets in which we invest.  Private fixed income assets, such as commercial mortgages, bank loans and privately placed debt that provide liquidity premiums are also included in this category.  Market-based active seeks to outperform within the public markets through tactical positioning and by taking advantage of short-term opportunities.  This category may generate results that meaningfully deviate from those achieved by market indices, both favorably and unfavorably.

 

Performance-based strategy seeks to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns and supplement market risk with idiosyncratic risk primarily through investments in private equity and real estate.

 

42


 

The following table presents the investment portfolio by strategy as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

Market-based
core

 

Market-based
active

 

Performance-
based

 

Total

Fixed income securities

 

$

 20,668

 

$

 1,076

 

$

 8

 

$

 21,752

Mortgage loans

 

3,923

 

 

 

3,923

Equity securities

 

1,312

 

83

 

88

 

1,483

Limited partnership interests

 

158

 

 

3,236

 

3,394

Short-term investments

 

837

 

89

 

 

926

Policy loans

 

564

 

 

 

564

Other

 

1,110

 

2

 

231

 

1,343

Total

 

$

 28,572

 

$

 1,250

 

$

 3,563

 

$

 33,385

% of total

 

85%

 

4%

 

11%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

$

 472

 

$

 (11)

 

$

 

$

 461

Limited partnership interests

 

 

 

1

 

1

Total

 

$

 472

 

$

 (11)

 

$

 1

 

$

 462

 

Fixed income securities by type are listed in the following table.

 

 

 

Fair value as of

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

 614

 

$

 804

Municipal

 

2,186

 

2,273

Corporate

 

18,173

 

19,136

Foreign government

 

177

 

299

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)

 

325

 

385

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

 

214

 

253

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

 

49

 

97

Redeemable preferred stock

 

14

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

$

 21,752

 

$

 23,261

 

Fixed income securities are rated by third party credit rating agencies and/or are internally rated.  As of September 30, 2018, 87.5% of the fixed income securities portfolio was rated investment grade, which is defined as a security having a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s, a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), a comparable rating from another nationally recognized rating agency, or a comparable internal rating if an externally provided rating is not available.  Credit ratings below these designations are considered low credit quality or below investment grade, which includes high yield bonds.  Market prices for certain securities may have credit spreads which imply higher or lower credit quality than the current third party rating.  Our initial investment decisions and ongoing monitoring procedures for fixed income securities are based on a thorough due diligence process which includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of the credit quality, sector, structure, and liquidity risks of each issue.

 

43


 

The following table summarizes the fair value and unrealized net capital gains and losses for fixed income securities by credit quality as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

Investment grade

 

Below investment grade

 

Total

 

 

Fair
value

 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

 

Fair
value

 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

 

Fair
value

 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

 614

 

$

 22

 

$

 

$

 

$

 614

 

$

 22

Municipal

 

2,148

 

182

 

38

 

2

 

2,186

 

184

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public

 

10,947

 

106

 

1,477

 

(2)

 

12,424

 

104

Privately placed

 

4,789

 

84

 

960

 

3

 

5,749

 

87

Foreign government

 

168

 

8

 

9

 

 

177

 

8

ABS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”)

 

26

 

(1)

 

10

 

1

 

36

 

Consumer and other asset-backed securities (“Consumer and other ABS”)

 

288

 

 

1

 

1

 

289

 

1

RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government sponsored entities (“U.S. Agency”)

 

29

 

1

 

 

 

29

 

1

Non-agency

 

12

 

1

 

173

 

46

 

185

 

47

CMBS

 

3

 

 

46

 

6

 

49

 

6

Redeemable preferred stock

 

14

 

1

 

 

 

14

 

1

Total fixed income securities

 

$

 19,038

 

$

 404

 

$

 2,714

 

$

 57

 

$

 21,752

 

$

 461

 

Municipal bonds totaled $2.19 billion as of September 30, 2018 with 98.3% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $184 million.  The municipal bond portfolio includes general obligations of state and local issuers and revenue bonds (including pre-refunded bonds, which are bonds for which an irrevocable trust has been established to fund the remaining payments of principal and interest).

 

Corporate bonds, including publicly traded and privately placed, totaled $18.17 billion as of September 30, 2018, with 86.6% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $191 million.  Privately placed securities primarily consist of corporate issued senior debt securities that are directly negotiated with the borrower or are in unregistered form.

 

ABS, including CDO and Consumer and other ABS, totaled $325 million as of September 30, 2018, with 96.6% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $1 million.  Credit risk is managed by monitoring the performance of the underlying collateral.  Many of the securities in the ABS portfolio have credit enhancement with features such as overcollateralization, subordinated structures, reserve funds, guarantees and/or insurance.

 

CDO totaled $36 million as of September 30, 2018, with 72.2% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of zero.  CDO consist of obligations collateralized by cash flow CDO, which are structures collateralized primarily by below investment grade senior secured corporate loans.  Consumer and other ABS totaled $289 million as of September 30, 2018, with 99.7% rated investment grade.

 

RMBS totaled $214 million as of September 30, 2018, with 19.2% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $48 million.  The RMBS portfolio is subject to interest rate risk, but unlike other fixed income securities, is additionally subject to prepayment risk from the underlying residential mortgage loans.  RMBS consists of a U.S. Agency portfolio having collateral issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and a non-agency portfolio consisting of securities collateralized by Prime, Alt-A and Subprime loans.  The non-agency portfolio totaled $185 million as of September 30, 2018, with 6.5% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $47 million.

 

CMBS totaled $49 million as of September 30, 2018, with 6.1% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $6 million.  All of the CMBS investments are traditional conduit transactions collateralized by commercial mortgage loans, broadly diversified across property types and geographical area.

 

Mortgage loans totaled $3.92 billion as of September 30, 2018 and primarily comprise loans secured by first mortgages on developed commercial real estate.  Key considerations used to manage our exposure include property type and geographic diversification.  For further detail on our mortgage loan portfolio, see Note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Equity securities primarily include common stocks, exchange traded and mutual funds, non-redeemable preferred stocks and real estate investment trust equity investments. Certain exchange traded and mutual funds have fixed income securities as their underlying investments.  The equity securities portfolio was $1.48 billion as of September 30, 2018.

 

44


 

Limited partnership interests include interests in private equity funds, real estate funds and other funds.  The following table presents carrying value and other information about our limited partnership interests as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

Limited
partnership
interests 
(1) (2)

 

Number of
managers

 

Number of
individual
investments

 

Largest
exposure to
single
investment

Private equity

 

$

 2,791

 

139

 

270

 

$

 149

Real estate

 

445

 

24

 

49

 

53

Other

 

158

 

5

 

5

 

57

Total

 

$

 3,394

 

168

 

324

 

 

_________________________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, limited partnerships previously reported using the cost method are now reported at fair value.  See Note 1 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

(2)          We have commitments to invest in additional limited partnership interests totaling $1.24 billion.

 

Unrealized net capital gains totaled $462 million as of September 30, 2018 compared to $1.57 billion as of December 31, 2017.

 

The following table presents unrealized net capital gains and losses.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

U.S. government and agencies

 

$

 22

 

$

 36

Municipal

 

184

 

272

Corporate

 

191

 

874

Foreign government

 

8

 

20

ABS

 

1

 

2

RMBS

 

48

 

48

CMBS

 

6

 

4

Redeemable preferred stock

 

1

 

1

Fixed income securities

 

461

 

1,257

Equity securities (1)

 

 

308

Derivatives

 

 

2

EMA limited partnerships

 

1

 

1

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

$

 462

 

$

 1,568

_________________________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in realized capital gains and losses and are no longer included in the table above.  Upon adoption of the new guidance on January 1, 2018, $308 million of pre-tax unrealized net capital gains for equity securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained income.  See Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

The unrealized net capital gain for the fixed income portfolio totaled $461 million, comprised of $770 million of gross unrealized gains and $309 million of gross unrealized losses as of September 30, 2018.  This compares to an unrealized net capital gain for the fixed income portfolio totaling $1.26 billion, comprised of $1.36 billion of gross unrealized gains and $98 million of gross unrealized losses as of December 31, 2017.  Fixed income valuations decreased primarily due to an increase in risk-free interest rates and wider credit spreads.

 

45


 

Gross unrealized gains and losses on fixed income securities by type and sector as of September 30, 2018 are provided in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Amortized

 

Gross unrealized

 

Fair

 

 

cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

value

Corporate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer goods (cyclical and non-cyclical)

 

$

 5,023

 

$

 75

 

$

 (97)

 

$

 5,001

Capital goods

 

2,248

 

35

 

(52)

 

2,231

Utilities

 

3,445

 

208

 

(51)

 

3,602

Banking

 

897

 

5

 

(21)

 

881

Communications

 

1,228

 

21

 

(17)

 

1,232

Transportation

 

949

 

35

 

(14)

 

970

Technology

 

984

 

10

 

(13)

 

981

Financial services

 

1,083

 

26

 

(12)

 

1,097

Basic industry

 

861

 

25

 

(11)

 

875

Energy

 

1,143

 

45

 

(7)

 

1,181

Other

 

121

 

3

 

(2)

 

122

Total corporate fixed income portfolio

 

17,982

 

488

 

(297)

 

18,173

U.S. government and agencies

 

592

 

24

 

(2)

 

614

Municipal

 

2,002

 

190

 

(6)

 

2,186

Foreign government

 

169

 

8

 

 

177

ABS

 

324

 

4

 

(3)

 

325

RMBS

 

166

 

48

 

 

214

CMBS

 

43

 

7

 

(1)

 

49

Redeemable preferred stock

 

13

 

1

 

 

14

Total fixed income securities

 

$

 21,291

 

$

 770

 

$

 (309)

 

$

 21,752

 

The consumer goods, utilities and capital goods sectors comprise 27.5%, 19.8% and 12.3%, respectively, of the fair value of our corporate fixed income securities portfolio as of September 30, 2018.  The consumer goods, capital goods and utilities sectors had the highest concentration of gross unrealized losses in our corporate fixed income securities portfolio as of September 30, 2018.  In general, the gross unrealized losses are related to an increase in market yields which may include increased risk-free interest rates and/or wider credit spreads since the time of initial purchase.  Similarly, gross unrealized gains reflect a decrease in market yields since the time of initial purchase.

 

46


 

Net investment income  The following table presents net investment income.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Fixed income securities

 

$

 247

 

$

 263

 

$

 745

 

$

 800

Mortgage loans

 

44

 

46

 

141

 

140

Equity securities

 

7

 

9

 

30

 

38

Limited partnership interests (1)

 

74

 

115

 

262

 

315

Short-term investments

 

7

 

3

 

16

 

6

Policy loans

 

8

 

8

 

23

 

23

Other

 

23

 

17

 

68

 

57

Investment income, before expense

 

410

 

461

 

1,285

 

1,379

Investment expense (2) (3)

 

(25)

 

(22)

 

(74)

 

(63)

Net investment income

 

$

 385

 

$

 439

 

$

 1,211

 

$

 1,316

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market-based core

 

$

 321

 

$

 333

 

$

 977

 

$

 1,018

Market-based active

 

10

 

10

 

29

 

29

Performance-based

 

79

 

118

 

279

 

332

Investment income, before expense

 

$

 410

 

$

 461

 

$

 1,285

 

$

 1,379

_________________________

 

(1)    Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, limited partnerships previously reported using the cost method are now reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net investment income.

 

(2)    Investment expense includes $6 million and $4 million of investee level expenses in the third quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $17 million and $12 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Investee level expenses include depreciation and asset level operating expenses on directly held real estate and other consolidated investments.

 

(3)    Investment expense includes $3 million and $1 million related to the portion of reinvestment income on securities lending collateral paid to the counterparties in the third quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $7 million and $3 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Net investment income decreased 12.3% or $54 million in the third quarter of 2018 and 8.0% or $105 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to lower performance-based investment results, mainly from limited partnership interests, and a decline in average investment balances.

 

Performance-based investments primarily include private equity and real estate. The following table presents investment income for performance-based investments.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Limited partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity

 

$

 52

 

$

 99

 

$

 216

 

$

 260

Real estate

 

22

 

16

 

46

 

55

Performance-based - limited partnerships

 

74

 

115

 

262

 

315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-limited partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity

 

 

 

1

 

6

Real estate

 

5

 

3

 

16

 

11

Performance-based - non-limited partnerships

 

5

 

3

 

17

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity

 

52

 

99

 

217

 

266

Real estate

 

27

 

19

 

62

 

66

Total performance-based

 

$

 79

 

$

 118

 

$

 279

 

$

 332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investee level expenses (1)

 

$

 (6)

 

$

 (4)

 

$

 (17)

 

$

 (12)

________________________

 

(1)          Investee level expenses include depreciation and asset level operating expenses reported in investment expense.

 

Performance-based investment income decreased 33.1% or $39 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017, primarily due to lower private equity valuations, partially offset by income on sales of underlying investments

 

47


 

related to real estate.  Performance-based investment income decreased 16.0% or $53 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017, primarily due to the prior periods including strong equity market appreciation.

 

Performance-based investment results and income can vary significantly between periods and are influenced by economic conditions, equity market performance, comparable public company earnings multiples, capitalization rates, operating performance of the underlying investments and the timing of asset sales.

 

Realized capital gains and losses  The following table presents the components of realized capital gains and losses and the related tax effect.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Impairment write-downs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

$

 (4)

 

$

 (2)

 

$

 (6)

 

$

 (15)

Mortgage loans

 

 

(1)

 

 

(1)

Equity securities (1)

 

 

(1)

 

 

(12)

Limited partnership interests

 

 

(2)

 

 

(9)

Other investments

 

 

 

(1)

 

(2)

Total impairment write-downs

 

(4)

 

(6)

 

(7)

 

(39)

Change in intent write-downs (1)

 

 

 

 

(4)

Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings

 

(4)

 

(6)

 

(7)

 

(43)

Sales (1)

 

(2)

 

29

 

(14)

 

70

Valuation of equity investments (1)

 

50

 

 

37

 

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments

 

4

 

(4)

 

8

 

(13)

Realized capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

48

 

19

 

24

 

14

Income tax expense

 

(10)

 

(7)

 

(5)

 

(6)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

$

 38

 

$

 12

 

$

 19

 

$

 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market-based core

 

$

 35

 

$

 15

 

$

 8

 

$

 15

Market-based active

 

7

 

7

 

(3)

 

17

Performance-based

 

6

 

(3)

 

19

 

(18)

Realized capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

$

 48

 

$

 19

 

$

 24

 

$

 14

_________________________

 

(1)          Due to the adoption of the recognition and measurement accounting standard, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in valuation of equity investments and are no longer included in impairment write-downs, change in intent write-downs, and sales.

 

Net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 primarily related to increased valuation of equity investments, partially offset by losses on sales of fixed income securities.

 

Sales resulted in $2 million and $14 million of net realized capital losses in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.  Sales related primarily to fixed income securities in connection with ongoing portfolio management.

 

Valuation of equity investments resulted in net realized capital gains of $50 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, which included $56 million of appreciation in the valuation of equity securities and $6 million in declines in value primarily for certain limited partnerships where the underlying assets are predominately public equity securities.  Valuation of equity investments resulted in net realized capital gains of $37 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, which included $50 million of appreciation in the valuation of equity securities and $13 million of declines in value primarily for certain limited partnerships where the underlying assets are predominately public equity securities.

 

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments generated net realized capital gains of $4 million and $8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and were primarily comprised of gains on foreign currency contracts due to the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar.

 

48


 

The following table presents realized capital gains and losses for performance-based investments.

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

Impairment write-downs

 

$

 

$

 (2)

 

$

 

$

 (9)

Change in intent write-downs

 

 

 

 

Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings

 

 

(2)

 

 

(9)

Sales

 

2

 

1

 

1

 

Valuation of equity investments

 

1

 

 

10

 

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments

 

3

 

(2)

 

8

 

(9)

Total performance-based

 

$

 6

 

$

 (3)

 

$

 19

 

$

 (18)

 

Net realized capital gains on performance-based investments were $6 million in the third quarter of 2018 and primarily related to gains on valuation and settlements of derivative instruments.  Net realized capital gains on performance-based investments were $19 million in the first nine months of 2018 and primarily related to increased valuation of equity investments and gains on valuation and settlements of derivative instruments.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

Capital resources consist of shareholder’s equity and notes due to related parties, representing funds deployed or available to be deployed to support business operations.  The following table summarizes our capital resources.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

Common stock, retained income and additional capital paid-in

 

$

 6,641

 

$

 6,010

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

327

 

845

Total shareholder’s equity

 

6,968

 

6,855

Notes due to related parties

 

140

 

140

Total capital resources

 

$

 7,108

 

$

 6,995

 

Shareholder’s equity increased in the first nine months of 2018, primarily due to net income, partially offset by decreased unrealized net capital gains on investments and dividends paid to Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”).

 

Financial ratings and strength  Our ratings are influenced by many factors including our operating and financial performance, asset quality, liquidity, asset/liability management, overall portfolio mix, financial leverage (i.e., debt), exposure to risks, the current level of operating leverage and AIC’s ratings.  In April 2018, A.M. Best affirmed our insurance financial strength rating of A+ and the outlook for the rating is stable.  In August 2018, S&P affirmed our insurance financial strength rating of A+ and the outlook for the rating is stable.  In August 2018, Moody’s affirmed our insurance financial strength rating of A1 and the outlook for the rating is stable.

 

Liquidity sources and uses  We actively manage our financial position and liquidity levels in light of changing market, economic, and business conditions.  Liquidity is managed at both the entity and enterprise level across the Company, and is assessed on both base and stressed level liquidity needs.  We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet these needs.  Additionally, we have existing intercompany agreements in place that facilitate liquidity management across the Company to enhance flexibility.

 

The Company is party to an Amended and Restated Intercompany Liquidity Agreement (“Liquidity Agreement”) with certain of its affiliates, which include, but are not limited to, AIC, AAC and the Corporation.  The Liquidity Agreement allows for short-term advances of funds to be made between parties for liquidity and other general corporate purposes.  The Liquidity Agreement does not establish a commitment to advance funds on the part of any party.  The Company and AIC each serve as a lender and borrower, AAC and certain other affiliates serve only as borrowers, and the Corporation serves only as a lender.  The Company also has a capital support agreement with AIC.  Under the capital support agreement, AIC is committed to providing capital to the Company to maintain an adequate capital level.  The maximum amount of potential funding under each of these agreements is $1.00 billion.

 

In addition to the Liquidity Agreement, the Company also has an intercompany loan agreement with the Corporation.  The amount of intercompany loans available to the Company is at the discretion of the Corporation.  The maximum amount of loans the Corporation will have outstanding to all its eligible subsidiaries at any given point in time is limited to $1.00 billion.  The Corporation may use commercial paper borrowings, bank lines of credit and securities lending to fund intercompany borrowings.

 

Allstate parent company capital capacity  At the parent holding company level, the Corporation has deployable assets totaling $3.38 billion as of September 30, 2018 comprising cash and investments that are generally saleable within one quarter.  This provides funds for the parent company’s fixed charges and other corporate purposes.

 

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The Company has access to resources to support liquidity through the Corporation as follows.  The amount available to the Company is at the discretion of the Corporation.

 

·                   A commercial paper facility with a borrowing limit of $1.00 billion to cover short-term cash needs.  As of September 30, 2018, there were no balances outstanding and therefore the remaining borrowing capacity was $1.00 billion; however, the outstanding balance can fluctuate daily.

 

·                   A $1.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that is available for short-term liquidity requirements.  The maturity date of this facility is April 2021.  The facility is fully subscribed among 11 lenders with the largest commitment being $115 million.  The commitments of the lenders are several and no lender is responsible for any other lender’s commitment if such lender fails to make a loan under the facility. This facility contains an increase provision that would allow up to an additional $500 million of borrowing.  This facility has a financial covenant requiring that the Corporation not exceed a 37.5% debt to capitalization ratio as defined in the agreement.  This ratio was 15.0% as of September 30, 2018.  Although the right to borrow under the facility is not subject to a minimum rating requirement, the costs of maintaining the facility and borrowing under it are based on the ratings of the Corporation’s senior unsecured, unguaranteed long-term debt.  There were no borrowings under the credit facility during the third quarter of 2018.

 

·                   A universal shelf registration statement that was filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 30, 2018.  The Corporation can use this shelf registration to issue an unspecified amount of debt securities, common stock (including 555 million shares of treasury stock as of September 30, 2018), preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and securities of trust subsidiaries.  The specific terms of any securities the Corporation issues under this registration statement will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplements.

 

Liquidity exposure  Contractholder funds were $17.76 billion as of September 30, 2018.  The following table summarizes contractholder funds by their contractual withdrawal provisions as of September 30, 2018.

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Percent
to total

Not subject to discretionary withdrawal

 

$

 2,833

 

15.9%

Subject to discretionary withdrawal with adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Specified surrender charges (1)

 

4,545

 

25.6

Market value adjustments (2)

 

1,098

 

6.2

Subject to discretionary withdrawal without adjustments (3)

 

9,283

 

52.3

Total contractholder funds (4)

 

$

 17,759

 

100.0%

____________

 

(1)          Includes $858 million of liabilities with a contractual surrender charge of less than 5% of the account balance.

 

(2)          $603 million of the contracts with market value adjusted surrenders have a 30-45 day period at the end of their initial and subsequent interest rate guarantee periods (which are typically 1, 5, 7 or 10 years) during which there is no surrender charge or market value adjustment.

 

(3)          89% of these contracts have a minimum interest crediting rate guarantee of 3% or higher.

 

(4)          Includes $712 million of contractholder funds on variable annuities reinsured to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., in 2006.

 

Retail life and annuity products may be surrendered by customers for a variety of reasons.  Reasons unique to individual customers include a current or unexpected need for cash or a change in life insurance coverage needs.  Other key factors that may impact the likelihood of customer surrender include the level of the contract surrender charge, the length of time the contract has been in force, distribution channel, market interest rates, equity market conditions and potential tax implications.  In addition, the propensity for retail life insurance policies to lapse is lower than it is for fixed annuities because of the need for the insured to be re-underwritten upon policy replacement.  The annualized surrender and partial withdrawal rate on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products, based on the beginning of year contractholder funds, was 7.3% and 6.0% in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  We strive to promptly pay customers who request cash surrenders; however, statutory regulations generally provide up to six months in most states to fulfill surrender requests.

 

Our asset-liability management practices enable us to manage the differences between the cash flows generated by our investment portfolio and the expected cash flow requirements of our life insurance and annuity product obligations.

 

Cash flows  As reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, higher cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017 was primarily due to lower payments for operating expenses and higher premiums.

 

Lower cash provided by investing activities in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017 was the result of increased purchases of fixed income securities, higher originations of mortgage loans and lower collections on investments, partially offset by increased sales on fixed income securities.

 

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Lower cash used in financing activities in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017 was primarily due to lower dividends paid to AIC in 2018, partially offset by increased payments for contractholder surrenders and withdrawals on fixed annuities.

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

Life risk-based capital (“RBC”) changes as a result of Tax Legislation.  The National Association of Insurance Commissioners approved a change in the RBC formula to reflect the impact of the Tax Legislation on year-end 2018 RBC calculations for life insurers.  Since RBC requirements are net of tax, the decrease in the tax rate from 35% to 21% results in an increase in the amount of after-tax RBC required to be held by the Company.  Changes in capital requirements could decrease deployable capital and potentially reduce future dividends to AIC.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements” that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “seeks,” “expects,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “believes,” “likely,” “targets” and other words with similar meanings. We believe these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans. However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements include risks related to:

 

Insurance Industry Risks (1) the availability of reinsurance at current levels and prices; (2) risk of our reinsurers; (3) changes in underwriting and actual experience; (4) changes in reserve estimates for life-contingent contract benefits payable; (5) changes in estimates of profitability on interest-sensitive life products

 

Financial Risks (6) conditions in the global economy and capital markets; (7) a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; (8) the effect of adverse capital and credit market conditions; (9) the realization of deferred tax assets

 

Investment Risks (10) market risk and declines in credit quality relating to our investment portfolio; (11) our subjective determination of the amount of realized capital losses recorded for impairments of our investments and the fair value of our fixed income and equity securities; (12) the influence of changes in market interest rates or performance-based investment returns on our spread-based products

 

Operational Risks (13) failure in cyber or other information security, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning; (14) the impact of a large scale pandemic, the threat or occurrence of terrorism or military action; (15) loss of key vendor relationships or failure of a vendor to protect confidential, proprietary and personal information; (16) intellectual property infringement, misappropriation and third party claims

 

Regulatory and Legal Risks (17) regulatory reforms and restrictive regulations; (18) changes in tax laws; (19) our ability to mitigate the capital impact associated with statutory reserving and capital requirements; (20) changes in accounting standards; (21) losses from legal and regulatory actions

 

Strategic Risks (22) competition in the insurance industry; (23) divestitures of businesses; and (24) reducing our concentration in spread-based business and exiting certain distribution channels

 

Additional information concerning these and other factors may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon this evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act is made known to management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

52


 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

Information required for Part II, Item 1 is incorporated by reference to the discussion under the heading “Regulation and compliance” in Note 7 of the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

 

(a)    Exhibits

 

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Form 10-Q.

 

 

 

Incorporated by Reference

 

Exhibit
Number

Exhibit Description

Form

File
Number

Exhibit

Filing
Date

Filed or
Furnished
Herewith

15

Acknowledgment of awareness from Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated November 5, 2018, concerning unaudited interim financial information

 

 

 

 

X

31(i)

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

X

31(i)

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

X

32

Section 1350 Certifications

 

 

 

 

X

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

 

 

X

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

 

 

 

 

X

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

 

 

 

 

X

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

 

 

 

 

X

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

 

 

 

 

X

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

 

 

 

X

 

53


 

SIGNATURE

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

 

Allstate Life Insurance Company

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 5, 2018

 

 

 

By

/s/ Eric K. Ferren

 

 

Eric K. Ferren

 

 

Senior Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

(Authorized Signatory and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

54