Net income increased 12% to $491 million from $440 million in 2003. The increase in net income reflects growth in life insurance in force from $503.6 billion at December 31, 2003 to $545.4 billion at December 31, 2004 and higher NII from a larger invested capital base. These were partially offset by volume-related increases in DAC amortization. Other general expense increased slightly consistent with the increase of life insurance in-force. Mortality experience was favorable in 2004, compared to 2003, however, there was an increase in incurred claims. This increase is provided for by growth in the in-force, associated premium revenues and policyholders reserve balances.
For those fair value and cash flow hedge relationships that are terminated, hedge designations removed, or forecasted transactions that are no longer expected to occur, the hedge accounting treatment described in the paragraphs above will no longer apply. For fair value hedges, any changes to the hedged item remain as part of the basis of the asset or liability and are ultimately reflected as an element of the yield. For cash flow hedges, any changes in fair value of the derivative remains in the accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources in shareholder's equity and are included in earnings of future periods when earnings are also affected by the variability of the hedged cash flow. If the hedged relationship is discontinued because a forecasted transaction will not occur when scheduled, the accumulated changes in fair value of the derivative recorded in shareholder's equity are immediately reflected in realized investment gains and losses.
Deferred acquisition costs (DAC) represent costs that are deferred and amortized over the estimated life of the related insurance policies. DAC principally includes commissions and certain expenses related to policy issuance, underwriting and marketing, all of which vary with and are primarily related to the production of new business. The method for determining amortization of deferred acquisition costs varies by product type based upon three different accounting pronouncements: SFAS No. 60, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises" (SFAS 60), SFAS No. 91, "Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases" (SFAS 91) and SFAS No. 97, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments" (SFAS 97).
Included in contractholder funds and in the preceding paragraph are GICs totaling $14.2 billion. These GICs have a weighted average interest rate of 4.23% and scheduled maturities are as follows:
The Company's statutory net income, which includes the statutory net income of all insurance subsidiaries, was $842 million, $1,104 million and $256 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company's statutory capital and surplus was $7.9 billion and $7.6 billion at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
The Company uses various financial instruments in the normal course of its business. Certain insurance contracts are excluded by SFAS No. 107, "Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments," and therefore are not included in the amounts discussed.
Included in other invested assets are 2,225 shares of Citigroup Cumulative Preferred Stock Series YYY, carried at cost of $2,225 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, acquired as a contribution from TPC. This Series YYY Preferred Stock pays cumulative dividends at 6.767%, has a liquidation value of $1 million per
In 2003 and 2004, several issues in the mutual fund and variable insurance product industries have come under the scrutiny of federal and state regulators. Like many other companies in our industry, the Company has received a request for information from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and a subpoena from the New York Attorney General regarding market timing and late trading. During 2004 the SEC requested additional information about the Company's variable product operations on market timing, late trading and revenue sharing, and the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers and the New York Insurance Department have made inquiries into these issues and other matters associated with the sale and distribution of insurance products. In addition, like many insurance companies and agencies, in 2004 and 2005 the Company received inquiries from certain state Departments of Insurance regarding producer compensation and bidding practices. The Company is cooperating fully with all of these requests and is not able to predict their outcomes.