We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Voya Insurance and Annuity Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is no longer probable that the forecasted transactions will occur on the anticipated date or within two months of that date, the derivative continues to be carried on the Balance Sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized currently in Other net realized capital gains (losses). Derivative gains and losses recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) pursuant to the discontinued cash flow hedge of a forecasted transaction that is no longer probable are recognized immediately in Other net realized capital gains (losses).
In addition, the Company has entered into coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance arrangements that contain embedded derivatives, the fair value of which is based on the change in the fair value of the underlying assets held in trust. The embedded derivatives within coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements are reported with the host contract in Deposits and reinsurance recoverable or Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates on the Balance Sheets, and changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recorded in Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders in the Statements of Operations.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Deferred Sales Inducements
The Company reports separate account assets that meet the above criteria at fair value on the Balance Sheets based on the fair value of the underlying investments. Separate account liabilities equal separate account assets. Investment income and net realized and unrealized capital gains (losses) of the separate accounts, however, are not reflected in the Statements of Operations, and the Statements of Cash Flows do not reflect investment activity of the separate accounts.
If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company records the agreement using the deposit method of accounting. Deposits received are included in Other liabilities, and deposits made are included in Deposits and reinsurance recoverable on the Balance Sheets. As amounts are paid or received, consistent with the underlying contracts, the deposit assets or liabilities are adjusted. Interest on such deposits is recorded as Other revenues or Other expenses in the Statements of Operations, as appropriate. Periodically, the Company evaluates the adequacy of the expected payments or recoveries and adjusts the deposit asset or liability through Other revenues or Other expenses, as appropriate.
Embedded derivatives: The Company also invests in certain fixed maturity instruments and has issued certain products that contain embedded derivatives whose market value is at least partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short-term or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity rates, or credit ratings/spreads. In addition, the Company has entered into coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, which contain embedded derivatives.
Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of FIAs include nonperformance risk and policyholder behavior assumptions, such as lapses and partial withdrawals. Such inputs are monitored quarterly.
While the Company stopped actively writing new retail variable annuity products with substantial guarantee features in early 2010, its currently-sold retail variable annuity contracts with separate account options guarantee the contract owner a return of no less than (i) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals, (ii) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return, or (iii) the highest contract value on a specified date minus any withdrawals. These guarantees include benefits that are payable in the event of death, annuitization or at specified dates.
Ratchet: Guarantees that, upon the death of the individual specified in the policy, the death benefit will be no less than the greater of (1) Standard or (2) the maximum policy anniversary (or quarterly) value of the variable annuity, adjusted for withdrawals.
annuity guaranteed living benefit riders ceded to SLDI under the amended and restated automatic reinsurance agreement. Upon deposit of such contributed capital into the funds withheld trust, the Company submitted to ING Bank N.V. ("ING Bank") $1.5 billion of contingent capital LOC issued by ING Bank under the $1.5 billion contingent capital LOC facility between ING Bank and SLDI, and the contingent capital LOCs were canceled and the facility was terminated.
The Company maintains a reciprocal loan agreement with Voya Financial, Inc., an affiliate, to facilitate the handling of unanticipated short-term cash requirements that arise in the ordinary course of business. Under this agreement, which became effective in January 2004, and based upon its renewal on January 14, 2014, expires on January 14, 2024, either party can borrow from the other up to 3.0% of the Company's statutory net admitted assets, excluding Separate Accounts, as of the preceding December 31. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, interest on any borrowing by either the Company or Voya Financial, Inc. was charged at a rate based on the prevailing market rate for similar third-party borrowings or securities. During the year ended December 31, 2013, interest on any Company borrowing was charged at the rate of Voya Financial, Inc.'s cost of funds for the interest period, plus 0.15%. During the year ended December 31, 2013, interest on any Voya Financial, Inc. borrowing was charged at a rate based on the prevailing interest rate of U.S. commercial paper available for purchase with a similar duration.