Additional considerations are made when assessing the unique features that apply to certain structured securities such as subprime, Alt-A, non-agency, RMBS, CMBS and ABS. These additional factors for structured securities include, but are not limited to: the quality of underlying collateral; expected prepayment speeds; loan-to-value ratios; debt service coverage ratios; current and forecasted loss severity; consideration of the payment terms of the underlying assets backing a particular security; and the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security.
When determining the amount of the credit loss for U.S. and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and state and political subdivision securities, the Company considers the estimated fair value as the recovery value when available information does not indicate that another value is more appropriate. When information is identified that indicates a recovery value other than estimated fair value, the Company considers in the determination of recovery value the same considerations utilized in its overall impairment evaluation process, which incorporates available information and the Company's best estimate of scenario-based outcomes regarding the specific security and issuer; possible corporate restructurings or asset sales by the issuer; the quality and amount of any credit enhancements; the security's position within the capital structure of the issuer; fundamentals of the industry and geographic area in which the security issuer operates and the overall macroeconomic conditions.
The Company amortizes DAC and VOBA related to fixed and variable deferred annuity contracts over the estimated lives of the contracts in relation to the emergence of estimated gross profits. Assumptions as to mortality, persistency, interest crediting rates, fee income, returns associated with separate account performance, impact of hedge performance, expenses to administer the business and certain economic variables, such as inflation, are based on the Company's experience and overall capital markets. At each valuation date, estimated gross profits, are updated with actual gross profits and the assumptions underlying future estimated gross profits are evaluated for continued reasonableness. Adjustments to estimated gross profits require that amortization rates be revised retroactively to the date of the contract issuance ("unlocking").
Recoverability testing is performed for current issue year products to determine if gross revenues are sufficient to cover DAC and VOBA estimated benefits and expenses. In subsequent years, the Company performs testing to assess the recoverability of DAC and VOBA balances on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances indicate a potential loss recognition issue exists. If DAC or VOBA are not deemed recoverable from future gross profits, changes will be applied against DAC or VOBA balances before an additional reserve is established.
recorded directly in AOCI, and presented net of related changes in DAC, VOBA, and deferred income taxes. In addition, certain fixed maturities have embedded derivatives, which are reported with the host contract on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company invests in various tranches of securitization entities, including RMBS, CMBS and ABS. Through its investments, the Company is not obligated to provide any financial or other support to these entities. Each of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities are thinly capitalized by design and considered VIEs. The Company's involvement with these entities is limited to that of a passive investor. The Company has no unilateral right to appoint or remove the servicer, special servicer, or investment manager, which are generally viewed to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the securitization entities' economic performance, in any of these entities, nor does the Company function in any of these roles. The Company, through its investments or other arrangements, does not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. Therefore, the Company is not the primary beneficiary and will not consolidate any of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities in which it holds investments. These investments are accounted for as investments available-for-sale as described in "Note 1. Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies" and unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are recorded directly in AOCI, except for certain RMBS which are accounted for under the FVO for which changes in fair value are reflected in Other net realized gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these structured investments is limited to the amount of its investment.
Futures: The Company uses futures contracts as a hedge against an increase in certain equity indices. Such increases may result in increased payments to the holders of the FIA contracts. The Company enters into exchange traded futures with regulated futures commissions that are members of the exchange. The Company also posts initial and variation margin with the exchange on a daily basis. The Company utilizes exchange-traded futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
The Company assumed $25.0 of premium revenue from Aetna Life for the purchase and administration of a life contingent single premium variable payout annuity contract. In addition, the Company is also responsible for administering fixed annuity payments that are made to annuitants receiving variable payments. Reserves of $10.1 were maintained for this contract as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
The benefit charges allocated to the Company related to these plans for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, were $11.3, $11.9 and $9.9, respectively.