U.S. operations consist of two major sub-segments: Traditional and Non-Traditional. The Traditional sub-segment primarily specializes in individual mortality-risk reinsurance and to a lesser extent, group, health and long-term care reinsurance. The Non-Traditional sub-segment consists of Asset-Intensive and Financial Reinsurance.
In 2011, the change in fair value of the embedded derivative decreased revenues by $89.6 million and related deferred acquisition expenses decreased benefits and expenses by $75.5 million, for a negative pre-tax income impact of $14.1 million. Decrease in the current year can primarily be attributed to a recapture of a retrocession agreement relating to an existing funds withheld treaty during the fourth quarter. Also contributing to the decrease was an increase in investment credit spreads. In 2010, the change in fair value of the embedded derivative increased revenues by $160.3 million and related deferred acquisition expenses increased benefits and expenses by $115.9 million, for a positive pre-tax income impact of $44.4 million, primarily due to a decrease in investment credit spreads.
The current U.S. interest rate environment is negatively affecting the Company’s earnings. Investment yield has decreased 33 basis points in 2011 as compared to 2010. In addition, the Company’s insurance liabilities, in particular its annuity products, are sensitive to changing market factors. Unfavorable market performance has contributed to a decrease in earnings on the Company’s annuity products, particularly with variable annuities that contain embedded derivatives. Results of operations in 2011 and 2010 reflect unfavorable changes in the value of embedded derivatives as credit spreads have widened during both periods. There has been continued improvement in gross unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities and equity securities available-for-sale, which were $2,306.6 million and $1,283.4 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Gross unrealized losses have not been as volatile, totaling $292.5 million and $319.1 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, far below the gross unrealized gains. The increase in the gross unrealized gains is primarily due to lower interest rates.
See Note 3 - “Stock Transactions” and Note 13 - “Debt and Trust Preferred Securities” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company’s securities transactions.
The Company enters into derivative agreements with counterparties that reference either the Company’s debt rating or its financial strength rating. If either rating is downgraded in the future it could trigger certain terms in the Company’s derivative agreements, which could negatively affect overall liquidity. For the majority of the Company’s derivative agreements, there is a termination event should the long-term senior debt ratings drop below either BBB+ (S&P) or Baa1 (Moody’s) or the financial strength ratings drop below either A- (S&P) or A3 (Moody’s).
During 2009 the Company repurchased $80.2 million face amount of its 6.75% junior subordinated debentures for $39.2 million. The debt was purchased by RGA Reinsurance. As a result, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $38.9 million, after fees and unamortized discount, in other revenues in 2009.
The Company has established target asset portfolios for each major insurance product, which represent the investment strategies intended to profitably fund its liabilities within acceptable risk parameters. These strategies include
Market risk is the risk of change in the value of a financial instrument that may occur as a result of changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, equity prices and commodity prices. Both derivative and non-derivative financial instruments have market risk so the Company’s risk management extends beyond derivatives to encompass all financial instruments held that are sensitive to market risk. The Company is primarily exposed to interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, equity risk and inflation risk. On a limited basis, the Company uses equity options to minimize its exposure to movements in equity markets that have a direct correlation with certain of its reinsurance products.
The Company reinsures variable annuities including those with guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”), guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”) and guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”). Strong equity markets, increases in interest rates and decreases in volatility will generally decrease the fair value of the liabilities underlying the benefits. Conversely, a decrease in the equity markets along with a decrease in interest rates and an increase in volatility will generally result in an increase in the fair value of the liabilities underlying the benefits, which has the effect of increasing reserves and lowering earnings. The Company maintains a customized dynamic hedging program that is designed to mitigate the risks associated with income volatility around the change in reserves on guaranteed benefits. However, the hedge positions may not fully offset the changes in the carrying value of the guarantees due to, among other things, time lags, high levels of volatility in the equity and derivative markets, extreme swings in interest rates, unexpected contract holder behavior, and divergence between the performance of the underlying funds and hedging indices. These factors, individually or collectively, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net income, financial condition or liquidity. The table below provides a summary of variable annuity account values and the fair value of the guaranteed benefits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Claims payable for incurred but not reported losses are determined using case-basis estimates and lag studies of past experience. The time lag from the date of the claim or death to when the ceding company reports the claim to the Company can vary significantly by ceding company, business segment and product type, but generally averages around 2.8 months. Incurred but not reported claims are estimates on an undiscounted basis, using actuarial estimates of historical claims expense, adjusted for current trends and conditions. These estimates are continually reviewed and the ultimate liability may vary significantly from the amount recognized, which are reflected in net income in the period in which they are determined.
The realization of deferred tax assets depends upon the existence of sufficient taxable income within the carryback or carryforward periods under the tax law in the applicable tax jurisdiction. The Company has significant deferred tax assets related to net operating and capital losses. Most of the Company’s exposure related to its deferred tax assets are within legal entities that file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. The Company has projected its ability to utilize its net operating losses and has determined that predominately all of these losses are expected to be utilized prior to their expiration. The Company has also done extensive analysis of its capital losses and has determined that sufficient unrealized capital gains exist within its investment portfolios that should offset any capital loss realized. It is also the Company’s intention to hold all unrealized loss securities until maturity or until their market value recovers. However, future unforeseen circumstances could create a situation in which the Company would prematurely sell securities in an unrealized loss position.
The translation of the foreign currency into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using a weighted-average exchange rate during each year. Gains or losses, net of applicable deferred income taxes, resulting from such translation are included in accumulated currency translation adjustments, in AOCI on the consolidated balance sheets until the underlying subsidiary is sold or substantially liquidated. The Company’s material functional currencies are the U.S. dollar, Canadian dollar, British pound, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, Korean won, Euro and South African rand.
In April 2009, the FASB amended the general accounting principles for Investments as it relates to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments. This amendment updates the other-than-temporary impairment guidance for fixed maturity securities to make it more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) on fixed maturity and equity securities in the financial statements. This amendment is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this amendment resulted in a net after-tax increase to retained earnings and a decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income of $4.4 million, as of April 1, 2009. The required disclosures are provided in Note 4 - “Investments”.
The following tables present the estimated fair values and gross unrealized losses, including other-than-temporary impairment losses reported in AOCI, for fixed maturity and equity securities that have estimated fair values below amortized cost as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively (dollars in thousands). These investments are presented by class and grade of security, as well as the length of time the related market value has remained below amortized cost.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company has the ability and intent to hold the equity securities until the recovery of the fair value up to the current cost of the investment. However, unforeseen facts and circumstances may cause the Company to sell equity securities in the ordinary course of managing its portfolio to meet certain diversification, credit quality and liquidity guidelines.
(2) Embedded liability is included on the consolidated balance sheets with the host contract in funds withheld at interest, at fair value.
The Company also purchases credit default swaps to reduce its risk against a drop in bond prices due to credit concerns of certain bond issuers. If a credit event, as defined by the contract, occurs, the Company is able to put the bond back to the counterparty at par.
Fixed Maturity Securities - The fair values of the Company’s public fixed maturity securities, which include corporate and structured securities, are generally based on prices obtained from independent pricing services. Prices from pricing services are sourced from multiple vendors, and a vendor hierarchy is maintained by asset type based on historical pricing experience and vendor expertise. The Company generally receives prices from multiple pricing services for each security, but ultimately uses the price from the pricing service highest in the vendor hierarchy based on the respective asset type. To validate reasonability, prices are periodically reviewed by internal asset managers through comparison with directly observed recent market trades and internal estimates of current fair value, developed using market observable inputs and economic indicators. Consistent with the fair value hierarchy described above, securities with validated quotes from pricing services are generally reflected within Level 2, as they are primarily based on observable pricing for similar assets and/or other market observable inputs. If the pricing information received from third party pricing services is not reflective of market activity or other inputs observable in the market, the Company may challenge the price through a formal process with the pricing service.
The Company expects to contribute to the plans $4.7 million in pension benefits and $0.2 million in other benefits during 2012.
The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized below (dollars in thousands):
Manor Re has obtained $300.0 million of collateral financing through 2020 from an international bank which enabled Manor Re to deposit assets in trust to support statutory reserve credit for an affiliated reinsurance transaction. The bank has recourse to RGA should Manor Re fail to make payments or otherwise not perform its obligations under this financing.
In accordance with the general accounting principles for Consolidation, Timberlake Financial is considered to be a variable interest entity and the Company is deemed to hold the primary beneficial interest because it owns 100% of the voting rights. As a result, Timberlake Financial has been consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets include the assets of Timberlake Financial recorded as fixed maturity investments and other invested assets, which consists of restricted cash and cash equivalents, with the liability for the notes recorded as collateral finance facility. The Company’s consolidated statements of income include the investment return of Timberlake Financial as investment income and the cost of the facility is reflected in collateral finance facility expense.