Competition could negatively affect the ability to maintain or increase profitability.
As part of a restructuring plan approved by the European Commission (“EC”), ING has agreed to separate its banking and insurance businesses by 2013. ING intends to achieve this separation by divestment of its insurance and investment management operations, including the Company. ING has announced that it will explore all options for implementing the separation including one or more initial public offerings, sales, or a combination thereof. On November 10, 2010, ING announced
including a margin for adverse deviations. Such assumptions generally vary by annuity type plan, year of issue, and policy duration. For the years 2010, 2009, and 2008, reserve interest rates ranged from 4.5% to 6.0%.
(d) Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means.
dependent on multiple factors, including the relative mix of the underlying sub-accounts among bond funds and equity funds, as well as equity sector weightings. Other significant assumptions include surrender and lapse rates, estimated interest spread, and estimated mortality.
The period after the balance sheet date during which an entity should evaluate events or transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements;
Derivatives: The carrying amounts for these financial instruments, which can be assets or liabilities, reflect the fair value of the assets and liabilities. Derivatives are carried at fair value (on the Consolidated Balance Sheets), which is determined using the Company’s derivative accounting system in conjunction with observable key financial data from third party sources, such as yield curves, exchange rates, Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index prices, and London Inter Bank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”), or through values established by third party brokers. Counterparty credit risk is considered and incorporated in the Company’s valuation process through counterparty credit rating requirements and monitoring of overall exposure. It is the Company’s policy to transact only with investment grade counterparties with a credit rating of A- or better. The Company’s own credit risk is also considered and incorporated in the Company’s valuation process. Valuations for the Company’s futures contracts are based on unadjusted quoted prices from an active exchange and, therefore, are classified as Level 1. The Company also has certain credit default swaps that are priced using models that primarily use market observable inputs, but contain inputs that are not observable to market participants, which have been classified as Level 3. However, all other derivative instruments are valued based on market observable inputs and are classified as Level 2.
The Company engages in securities lending whereby certain securities from its portfolio are loaned to other institutions for short periods of time. Initial collateral, primarily cash, is required at a rate of 102% of the market value of the loaned domestic securities. The collateral is deposited by the borrower with a lending agent, and retained and invested by the lending agent according to the Company’s guidelines to generate additional income. The market value of the loaned securities is monitored on a daily basis with additional collateral obtained or refunded as the market value of the loaned securities fluctuates. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the fair value of loaned securities was $651.7 and $339.5, respectively, and is included in Securities pledged on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
VOBA represents the outstanding value of in force business capitalized in purchase accounting when the Company was acquired and is subject to amortization. The value is based on the present value of estimated profits embedded in the Company’s contracts.
Sources of Net investment income were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
All valuation methods and assumptions are validated at least quarterly to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the fair values. There were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values during 2010, except for the Company’s use of commercial pricing services to value CMO-Bs which commenced in the first quarter of 2010. CMO-Bs were previously valued using an average of broker quotes when more than one broker quote is provided.
Credit default swaps may also be purchased to reduce credit exposure in the Company’s portfolio. Credit default swaps involve a transfer of credit risk from one party to another in exchange for periodic payments. These instruments are typically written for a maturity period of five years and do not contain recourse provisions, which would enable the seller to recover from third parties. The Company has International Swaps and Derivatives Associations, Inc. (“ISDA”) agreements with each counterparty with which it conducts business and tracks the collateral positions for each counterparty. To the extent cash collateral is received, it is included in Payables under securities loan agreement, including collateral held, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is reinvested in short-term investments. Collateral held is used in accordance with the Credit Support Annex (“CSA”) to satisfy any obligations. Investment grade bonds owned by the Company are the source of noncash collateral posted, which is reported in Securities pledged on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the event of a default on the underlying credit exposure, the Company will either receive an additional payment (purchased credit protection) or will be required to make an additional payment (sold credit protection) equal to par minus recovery value of the swap contract. At December 31, 2010, the fair value of credit default swaps of $6.7 and $14.7 was included in Derivatives and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2009, the fair value of credit default swaps of $0.2 and $53.5 was included in Derivatives and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the maximum potential future exposure to the Company on the sale of credit protection under credit default swaps was $625.6 and $84.4, respectively.
Reconciliations of the change in the unrecognized income tax benefits for the periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
Intercompany agreement with IIM pursuant to which IIM agreed, effective January 1, 2010, to pay the Company, on a monthly basis, a portion of the revenues IIM earns as investment adviser to certain U.S. registered investment companies that are investment options under certain of the Company’s variable insurance products. For the year ended December 31, 2010, revenue under the IIM intercompany agreement was $24.1.
At both December 31, 2010 and 2009, the amount of the loan outstanding was $4.9 which was reflected in Notes payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(1) Pretax unrealized capital holding gains (losses) arising during the year were $417.6, $751.2, and $(1,714.8), for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.