For the purposes of the discussion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms "Company," "we," "our," "us" and "VIAC" refer to Voya Insurance and Annuity Company. We are a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Voya Holdings Inc. (formerly Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) ("Parent"), which is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc.
VIAC is a stock life insurance company domiciled in the State of Iowa and provides financial products and services in the United States. VIAC is authorized to conduct its insurance business in all states, except New York, and in the District of Columbia.
Products currently offered by us include immediate and deferred fixed annuities, designed to address individual customer needs for tax-advantaged savings, retirement needs and wealth-protection concerns and guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements (collectively referred to as "GICs") sold primarily to institutional investors and corporate benefit plans.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Critical estimates and assumptions are evaluated on an on-going basis based on historical developments, market conditions, industry trends and other information that is reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will conform to estimates and assumptions and that reported results of operations will not be materially affected by the need to make future accounting adjustments to reflect changes in these estimates and assumptions from time to time.
These assumptions include mortality, morbidity, policy lapse, contract renewal, payment of subsequent premiums or deposits by the contract owner, retirement, investment returns, inflation, benefit utilization and expenses. The assumptions used require considerable judgments. Changes in, or deviations from, the assumptions used can significantly affect our reserve levels and related results of operations.
A lapse rate is the percentage of in-force policies surrendered by the policyholder or canceled by us due to non-payment of premiums. For certain of our variable products, the lapse rate assumption varies according to the current account value relative to guarantees associated with the product and applicable surrender charges. In general, policies with guarantees that are considered "in the money", or where the benefit is in excess of the account value, are assumed to be less likely to lapse or surrender. Conversely, "out of the money" guarantees may be assumed to be more likely to lapse or surrender as the policyholder has less incentive to retain the policy.
See the Guaranteed Benefit Features Note in our Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on our reserves for future policy benefits, contract owner account balances and product guarantees.
Reserves for payout contracts with life contingencies are equal to the present value of expected future payments. Assumptions as to interest rates, mortality and expenses are based on our estimates of experience at the period the policy is sold or acquired, including a provision for adverse deviation. Such assumptions generally vary by annuity plan type, year of issue and policy duration. Interest rates used to calculate the present value of future benefits ranged from 1.0% to 7.5%.
Although assumptions are "locked-in" upon the issuance of traditional life insurance contracts, certain accident and health insurance contracts and payout contracts with life contingencies, significant changes in experience or assumptions may require us to provide for expected future losses on a product by establishing premium deficiency reserves. Premium deficiency reserves are determined based on best estimate assumptions that exist at the time the premium deficiency reserve is established and do not include a provision for adverse deviation.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Voya Insurance and Annuity Company as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, 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, 2014. 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.
Prior to May 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. (which changed its name from ING U.S., Inc. on April 7, 2014), together with its subsidiaries, including the Company was an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. ("ING Group" or "ING"), a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands, with American Depository Shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2009, ING Group announced the anticipated separation of its global banking and insurance businesses, including the divestiture of Voya Financial, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, including the Company. On April 11, 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. (formerly ING U.S., Inc.) announced plans to rebrand as Voya Financial, Inc. On May 2, 2013, the common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VOYA." On May 7, 2013 and May 31, 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. completed its initial public offering of common stock, including the issuance and sale by Voya Financial, Inc. of 30,769,230 shares of common stock and the sale by ING Insurance International B.V. ("ING International"), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of ING Group and previously the sole stockholder of Voya Financial, Inc., of 44,201,773 shares of outstanding common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. (collectively, "the IPO"). On September 30, 2013, ING International transferred all of its shares of Voya Financial, Inc. common stock to ING Group.
On November 18, 2014, ING Group completed a sale of 30,030,013 shares of common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. in a registered public offering (the "November 2014 Offering"). Also on November 18, 2014, pursuant to the terms of a share repurchase agreement between ING Group and Voya Financial, Inc., Voya Financial Inc. acquired 4,469,987 shares of its common stock from ING Group (the "November 2014 Direct Share Repurchase") (the November 2014 Offering and the November 2014 Direct Share Repurchase collectively, the "November 2014 Transactions"). Upon completion of the November 2014 Transactions, ING Group's ownership stake in Voya Financial, Inc. was reduced to 19%.
The Company measures the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities based on assumptions used by market participants in pricing the asset or liability, which may include inherent risk, restrictions on the sale or use of an asset or nonperformance risk, which is the risk the Company will not fulfill its obligation. The estimate of fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability ("exit price") in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market, or the most advantageous market in the absence of a principal market, for that asset or liability. The Company uses a number of valuation sources to determine the fair values of its financial assets and liabilities, including quoted market prices, third-party commercial pricing services, third-party brokers, industry-standard, vendor-provided software that models the value based on market observable inputs and other internal modeling techniques based on projected cash flows.
Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities: The Company's fixed maturities and equity securities are currently designated as available-for-sale, except those accounted for using the fair value option ("FVO"). Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value and unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are recorded directly in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") and presented net of related changes in DAC, VOBA, DSI and deferred income taxes. In addition, certain fixed maturities have embedded derivatives, which are reported with the host contract on the Balance Sheets.
When assessing the Company's intent to sell a security or if it is more likely than not it will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, management evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, decisions to rebalance the investment portfolio and sales of investments to meet cash flow or capital needs.
When the Company has determined it has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis and the fair value has declined below amortized cost ("intent impairment"), the individual security is written down from amortized cost to fair value, and a corresponding charge is recorded in Net realized capital
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is determined that the derivative is no longer expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item, the derivative continues to be carried on the Balance Sheets at its estimated fair value, with subsequent changes in estimated fair value recognized currently in Other net realized capital gains (losses). The carrying value of the hedged asset or liability under a fair value hedge is no longer adjusted for changes in its estimated fair value due to the hedged risk, and the cumulative adjustment to its carrying value is amortized into income over the remaining life of the hedged item. Provided the hedged forecasted transaction is still probable of occurrence, the changes in estimated fair value of derivatives recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) related to discontinued cash flow hedges are released into the Statements of Operations when the Company's earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item.
DAC represents policy acquisition costs that have been capitalized and are subject to amortization and interest. Capitalized costs are incremental, direct costs of contract acquisition and certain costs related directly to successful acquisition activities. Such costs consist principally of commissions, underwriting, sales and contract issuance and processing expenses directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal business. Indirect or unsuccessful acquisition costs, maintenance, product development and overhead expenses are charged to expense as incurred. VOBA represents the outstanding value of in-force business acquired and is subject to amortization and interest. The value is based on the present value of estimated net cash flows embedded in the insurance contracts at the time of the acquisition and increased for subsequent deferrable expenses on purchased policies. (See also "Sales Inducements" below.)
Reserves for traditional life insurance contracts (term insurance, participating and non-participating whole life insurance and traditional group life insurance) and accident and health insurance represent the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of contract owners and related expenses, less the present value of future net premiums. Assumptions as to interest rates, mortality, expenses and persistency are based on the Company's estimates of anticipated experience at the period the policy is sold or acquired, including a provision for adverse deviation. Interest rates used to calculate the present value of these reserves ranged from 3.0% to 7.2%.
Account balances for GICs are calculated using the amount deposited with the Company, less withdrawals, plus interest accrued to the ending valuation date. Interest on these contracts is accrued by a predetermined index, plus a spread or a fixed rate, established at the issue date of the contract.
8.0% for the years 2014, 2013 and 2012. Account balances for group immediate annuities without life contingent payouts are equal to the discounted value of the payment at the implied break-even rate.
The Company also calculates a benefit ratio for each block of business that meets the requirements for additional reserves and calculates an additional reserve by accumulating amounts equal to the benefit ratio multiplied by the assessments for each period, reduced by excess benefits during the period. The additional reserve is accumulated at interest rates consistent with the DAC model for the period. The calculated reserve includes a provision for UL contracts with patterns of cost of insurance charges that produce expected gains from the insurance benefit function followed by losses from that function in later years. Additional reserves are recorded in Future policy benefits and contract owner account balances on the Balance Sheets.
Most contracts issued on or before December 31, 1999 with enhanced death benefit guarantees were reinsured to third-party reinsurers to mitigate the risk associated with such guarantees. For contracts issued after December 31, 1999, the Company instituted a variable annuity guarantee hedge program to mitigate the risks associated with these guarantees, for which the Company did not seek hedge accounting. The variable annuity guarantee hedge program is based on the Company entering into derivative positions to offset such exposures to GMDB and GMIB due to adverse changes in the equity markets.
Long-term debt is carried at an amount equal to the unpaid principal balance, net of any remaining unamortized discount or premium attributable to issuance. Direct and incremental costs to issue the debt are recorded in Other assets on the Balance Sheets and are amortized as a component of Interest expense in the Statements of Operations over the life of the debt using the effective interest method of amortization.
The Company's policy requires that at all times during the term of the dollar roll and repurchase agreements that cash or other collateral types obtained is sufficient to allow the Company to fund substantially all of the cost of purchasing replacement assets. Cash received is invested in Short-term investments, with the offsetting obligation to repay the loan included within Other liabilities on the Balance Sheets. The carrying value of the securities pledged in dollar rolls and repurchase agreement transactions and the related repurchase obligation are included in Securities pledged and Short-term debt, respectively, on the Balance Sheets.
The Company uses certain assumptions and estimates in determining the income taxes payable or refundable to/from Voya Financial, Inc. for the current year, the deferred income tax liabilities and assets for items recognized differently in its financial statements from amounts shown on its income tax returns and the federal income tax expense. Determining these amounts requires analysis and
interpretation of current tax laws and regulations, including the loss limitation rules associated with change in control. Management exercises considerable judgment in evaluating the amount and timing of recognition of the resulting income tax liabilities and assets. These judgments and estimates are reevaluated on a continual basis as regulatory and business factors change.
Deferred tax assets represent the tax benefit of future deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company evaluates and tests the recoverability of its deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Considerable judgment and the use of estimates are required in determining whether a valuation allowance is necessary and, if so, the amount of such valuation allowance. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers many factors, including:
The nature, frequency, and severity of book income or losses in recent years;
Only those reinsurance recoverable balances deemed probable of recovery are recognized as assets on the Company’s Balance Sheets and are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance. Amounts currently recoverable and payable under reinsurance agreements are included in Reinsurance recoverable and Other liabilities, respectively. Such assets and liabilities relating to reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurer are recorded net on the Balance Sheets if a right of offset exists within the reinsurance agreement. Premiums, Fee income and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders are reported net of reinsurance ceded. Amounts received from reinsurers for policy administration are reported in Other revenue.
The Company currently has significant concentrations of ceded reinsurance with its affiliates, Security Life of Denver Insurance Company ("SLD") and Security Life of Denver International Limited ("SLDI") primarily related to GICs, SLD related to fixed annuities and UL policies and SLDI related to variable annuities. The outstanding recoverable balances may fluctuate from period to period. SLDI re-domesticated from the Cayman Islands to the State of Arizona, effective December 20, 2013. SLDI was approved as an Arizona-domiciled captive reinsurer by the Arizona Department of Insurance.
Participating business approximates 12.9% of the Company's ordinary life insurance in force and 28.8% of life insurance premium income. The amount of dividends to be paid is determined annually by the Board of Directors. Amounts allocable to participating contract owners are based on published dividend projections or expected dividend scales. Dividends to participating policyholders of $8.6, $9.1 and $9.8, were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
A loss contingency is an existing condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Examples of loss contingencies include pending or threatened adverse litigation, threat of expropriation of assets and actual or possible claims and assessments. Amounts related to loss contingencies are accrued and recorded in Other liabilities on the Balance Sheets if it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated, based on the Company's best estimate of the ultimate outcome. If determined to meet the criteria for a reserve, the Company also evaluates whether there are external legal or other costs directly associated with the resolution of the matter and accrues such costs if estimable.
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, "Liabilities (ASC Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date" ("ASU 2013-04"), which requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liable arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of (1) the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and (2) any additional amount it expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. ASU 2013-04 also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation, as well as other information about those obligations.
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities, including securities pledged, as of December 31, 2014, are shown below by contractual maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities as securities may be restructured, called or prepaid. MBS and Other ABS are shown separately because they are not due at a single maturity date.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any securities pledged in dollar rolls, repurchase agreement transactions or reverse repurchase agreements.
The Company holds certain VIEs for investment purposes. VIEs may be in the form of private placement securities, structured securities, securitization transactions, or limited partnerships. The Company has reviewed each of its holdings and determined that consolidation of these investments in the Company's financial statements is not required, as the Company is not the primary beneficiary, because the Company does not have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and the obligation or right to potentially significant losses or benefits, for any of its investments in VIEs. The Company did not provide any non-contractual financial support and its carrying value represents the Company's exposure to loss. The carrying value of the equity tranches of the Collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") of $1.8 and $2.5 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is included in Limited partnerships/corporations on the Balance Sheets. Income and losses recognized on these investments are reported in Net investment income in the Statements of Operations.
On June 4, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to sell certain general account private equity limited partnership investment interest holdings with a carrying value of $146.1 as of March 31, 2012. These assets were sold to a group of private equity funds that are managed by Pomona Management LLC, an affiliate of the Company. The transaction resulted in a net pre-tax loss of $16.9 in the second quarter of 2012 reported in Net investment income on the Statements of Operations. The transaction closed in two tranches with the first tranche closed on June 29, 2012 and the second tranche closed on October 29, 2012. Consideration received included $8.2 of promissory notes which were due in two equal installments at December 31, 2013 and 2014. In connection with these promissory notes, Voya Financial, Inc. unconditionally guaranteed payments of the notes in the event of any default of payment due. No additional loss was incurred on the second tranche since the fair value of the alternative investments was reduced to the agreed-upon sales price as of June 30, 2012.
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 the Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Note to these Financial Statements 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 Statements of Operations. The Company's maximum exposure to loss on these structured investments is limited to the amount of its investment.
Of the unrealized capital losses aged more than twelve months, the average market value of the related fixed maturities was 96.8% and 91.5% of the average book value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Investments with fair values less than amortized cost are included in the Company’s other-than-temporary impairments analysis. Impairments were recognized as disclosed in the "Evaluating Securities for Other-Than-Temporary Impairments" section below. The Company evaluates non-agency RMBS and ABS for "other-than-temporary impairments" each quarter based on actual and projected cash flows, after considering the quality and updated loan-to-value ratios reflecting current home prices of underlying collateral, forecasted loss severity, the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security and amount of any credit enhancements. The Company's assessment of current levels of cash flows compared to estimated cash flows, at the time the securities were acquired, indicates the amount and the pace of projected cash flows from the underlying collateral has generally been lower and slower, respectively. However, since cash flows are typically projected at a trust level, the impairment review incorporates the security's position within the trust structure as well as credit enhancement remaining in the trust to determine whether an impairment is warranted. Therefore, while lower and slower cash flows will impact the trust, the effect on a particular security within the trust will be dependent upon the trust structure. Where the assessment continues to project full recovery of principal and interest on schedule, the Company has not recorded an impairment. Unrealized losses on below investment grade securities are principally related to RMBS (primarily Alt-A RMBS) and ABS (primarily subprime RMBS) largely due to economic and market uncertainties including concerns over unemployment levels, lower interest rate environment on floating rate securities requiring higher risk premiums since purchase and valuations on residential real estate supporting non-agency RMBS. Based on this analysis, the Company determined that the remaining investments in an unrealized loss position were not other-than-temporarily impaired and therefore no further other-than-temporary impairment was necessary.
Variance swaps: The Company uses variance swaps to manage equity volatility risk on the economic liabilities associated with certain minimum guaranteed living benefits and to mitigate certain rebalancing costs resulting from increased volatility. An increase in the equity volatility results in a higher valuations of such liabilities. In an equity variance swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange amounts in the future, based on the changes in equity volatility over a defined period. The Company utilizes equity variance swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Under the terms of the OTC Derivative International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. ("ISDA ") agreements, the Company may receive from, or deliver to, counterparties collateral to assure that terms of the ISDA agreements will be met with regard to the Credit Support Annex ("CSA"). The terms of the CSA call for the Company to pay interest on any cash received equal to the Federal Funds rate. To the extent cash collateral is received and delivered, it is included in Payables under securities loan agreements, including collateral held and Short-term investments under securities loan agreements, including collateral delivered, respectively, on the Balance Sheets and is reinvested in short-term investments. Collateral held is used in accordance with the 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 Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014, the Company held $268.5 of net cash collateral and pledged $5.8 of net cash collateral related to OTC derivative contracts and cleared derivative contracts, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, the Company held $35.2 and $12.3 of net cash collateral related to OTC derivative contracts and cleared derivative contracts, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2014, the Company delivered $505.6 of securities and held $130.5 of securities as collateral. As of December 31, 2013, the Company delivered $830.7 of securities and held $20.4 of securities as collateral.
The Company has entered into various credit default swaps. When credit default swaps are sold, the Company assumes credit exposure to certain assets that it does not own. 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. As of December 31, 2014, the fair values of credit default swaps of $4.1 and $16.3 were included in Derivatives assets and Derivatives liabilities respectively, on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2013, the fair value of credit default swaps of $4.6 was included in Derivatives assets, and there were no credit default swaps included in Derivatives liabilities on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the maximum potential future exposure to the Company was $220.0 on credit default swaps. These instruments are typically written for a maturity period of five years and contain no recourse provisions. If the Company's current debt and claims paying ratings were downgraded in the future, the terms in the Company's derivative agreements may be triggered, which could negatively impact overall liquidity.
Fair values of privately placed bonds are determined primarily using a matrix-based pricing model and are generally classified as Level 2 assets. The model considers the current level of risk-free interest rates, current corporate spreads, the credit quality of the issuer and cash flow characteristics of the security. Also considered are factors such as the net worth of the borrower, the value of collateral, the capital structure of the borrower, the presence of guarantees and the Company's evaluation of the borrower's
The Company's valuation actuaries are responsible for the policies and procedures for valuing the embedded derivatives, reflecting the capital markets and actuarial valuation inputs and nonperformance risk in the estimate of the fair value of the embedded derivatives. The actuarial and capital market assumptions for each liability are approved by each product's Chief Risk Officer
Embedded derivative on reinsurance: The carrying value of the embedded derivative is estimated based upon the change in the fair value of the assets supporting the funds withheld payable under reinsurance agreements. As the fair value of the assets held in trust is based on a quoted market price (Level 1), the fair value of the embedded derivative is based on market observable inputs and is classified as Level 2.
The following table summarizes the change in fair value of the Company's Level 3 assets and liabilities and transfers in and out of Level 3 for the year ended December 31, 2014:
(4) The Company makes dynamic adjustments to lower the lapse rates for contracts that are more "in the money." The table below shows an analysis of policy account values according to whether they are in or out of the surrender charge period and to whether they are "in the money" or "out of the money" as of December 31, 2014 (account value amounts are in $ billions).
(4) The Company makes dynamic adjustments to lower the lapse rates for contracts that are more "in the money." The table below shows an analysis of policy account values according to whether they are in or out of the surrender charge period and to whether they are "in the money" or "out of the money" as of December 31, 2013 (account value amounts are in $ billions).
(1) Certain amounts included in Deferred annuities are also reflected within the Annuity product guarantees section of the table above.
Limited partnerships/corporations: The fair values for these investments, primarily private equity fund of funds and hedge funds, is based on actual or estimated Net Asset Value ("NAV") information as provided by the investee and are classified as Level 3.
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about various financial instruments, such as estimates of timing and amounts of future cash flows. Such estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, nor do they consider the tax impact of the realization of unrealized capital gains (losses). In many cases, the fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets, nor can the disclosed value be realized in immediate settlement
(1) Interest accrued at the following rates for VOBA: 2.0% to 5.8% during 2014, 1.0% to 6.0% during 2013 and 3.0% to 7.0% during 2012.
During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $28.4, $27.4 and $29.8, respectively, of sales inducements. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company amortized $(19.3), $(472.0) and $(303.1), respectively, of sales inducements. The unamortized balance of capitalized sales inducements was $431.3 and $482.2 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The aggregate fair value of equity securities, including mutual funds, supporting separate accounts with additional insurance benefits and minimum investment return guarantees as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $38.5 billion and $42.0 billion, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013, the Company did not receive any capital contributions from its Parent.
On May 8, 2013, the Company reset, on a one-time basis, its negative unassigned funds account as of December 31, 2012 (as reported in its 2012 statutory annual statement) to zero (with an offsetting reduction in gross paid-in capital and contributed surplus). The reset was made pursuant to a permitted practice in accordance with statutory accounting practices granted by the Division. This permitted practice had no impact on total capital and surplus of the Company and was reflected in the Company's second quarter 2013 statutory financial statements.
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, there were total increases in the valuation allowance of $125.8, $203.6 and $208.2, respectively. In 2014, 2013 and 2012, there were increases of $125.8, $203.6 and $247.9, respectively, in the valuation allowance that were allocated to continuing operations. In 2014 and 2013, there were no changes in the valuation allowance allocated to Other comprehensive income. In 2012, there was a (decrease) of $(39.7), that was allocated to Other comprehensive income.
The results of the Company's operations are included in the consolidated tax return of Voya Financial, Inc. Generally, the Company's financial statements recognize the current and deferred income tax consequences that result from the Company's activities during the current and preceding periods pursuant to the provisions of Income Taxes (ASC Topic 740) as if the Company were a separate taxpayer rather than a member of Voya Financial, Inc.'s consolidated income tax return group with the exception of any net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards, which are recorded pursuant to the tax sharing agreement. Under the tax sharing agreement, Voya Financial, Inc. will pay the Company for the tax benefits of ordinary and capital losses only in the event that the consolidated tax group actually uses the tax benefit of losses generated.
The timing of the payment (if any) of the unrecognized tax benefit of $5.5 cannot be reliably estimated.
Voya Services Company sponsors the Voya Savings Plan and ESOP (the "Savings Plan"). Substantially all employees of Voya Services Company and its affiliates (excluding certain employees) are eligible to participate, including the Company's employees other than Company agents. The Savings Plan is a tax qualified defined contribution and stock bonus plan, which includes an employee stock ownership plan component. Savings Plan benefits are not guaranteed by the PBGC. The Savings Plan allows eligible participants to defer into the Savings Plan a specified percentage of eligible compensation on a pretax basis. Voya Services Company matches such pre-tax contributions, up to a maximum of 6.0% of eligible compensation, subject to IRS limits. Matching contributions are subject to a 4-year graded vesting schedule. Contributions made to the Savings Plan are subject to certain limits imposed by applicable law. The cost allocated to the Company for the Savings Plan were $3.3, $3.6 and $3.2, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in Operating expenses in the Statements of Operations.
The following table summarizes the benefit obligations for the SERPs as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
In 2015, the Company is expected to contribute $1.1 to the SERPs. Future expected benefit payments related to the SERPs for the years ended December 31, 2015 through 2019, and thereafter through 2024, are estimated to be $1.1, $1.2, $1.1, $1.2, $1.2 and $6.5, respectively.
Certain employees of the Company participate in the 2013 and 2014 Omnibus Employee Incentive Plans ("the Omnibus Plans") sponsored by Voya Financial, Inc., with respect to awards granted in 2013 and 2014. Certain employees also participate in various ING Group share-based compensation plans with respect to awards granted prior to 2013. Upon closing of the IPO, certain awards granted by ING Group that, upon vesting, would have been issuable in the form of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs") of ING Group were converted into performance shares or restricted stock units ("RSUs") under the Omnibus Plans, that upon vesting, will be issuable in Voya Financial, Inc. common stock.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had off-balance sheet commitments to purchase investments equal to their fair value of $214.1 and $252.7, respectively.
(2) Includes the fair value of loaned securities of $121.2 and $128.5 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which is included in Securities pledged on the Balance Sheets. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company delivered securities as collateral of $505.6 and $830.7, respectively, which was included in Securities pledged on the Balance Sheets.
The Company is a defendant in a number of litigation matters arising from the conduct of its business, both in the ordinary course and otherwise. In some of these matters, claimants seek to recover very large or indeterminate amounts, including compensatory, punitive, treble and exemplary damages. Modern pleading practice in the U.S. permits considerable variation in the assertion of monetary damages and other relief. Claimants are not always required to specify the monetary damages they seek or they may be required only to state an amount sufficient to meet a court's jurisdictional requirements. Moreover, some jurisdictions allow claimants to allege monetary damages that far exceed any reasonable possible verdict. The variability in pleading requirements and past experience demonstrates that the monetary and other relief that may be requested in a lawsuit or claim often bears little relevance to the merits or potential value of a claim. Litigation against the Company includes a variety of claims including negligence, breach of contract, fraud, violation of regulation or statute, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, failure to supervise, elder abuse and other torts.
Asset management agreement with Voya Investment Management LLC ("VIM") (formerly, ING Investment Management LLC), an affiliate, in which VIM provides asset management, administration and accounting services for VIAC's general account. The Company records a fee, which is paid quarterly, based on the value of the assets under management. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred in the amounts of $48.1, $50.0 and $50.3, respectively.
Intercompany agreement with VIM pursuant to which VIM agreed, effective January 1, 2010, to pay the Company, on a monthly basis, a portion of the revenues VIM 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 years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, revenue under the VIM intercompany agreement was $41.8, $34.7 and $33.8, respectively.
Services agreements with Voya Services Company dated September 1, 2000 and January 1, 2001, respectively, for administrative, management, financial, information technology and finance and treasury services. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred in the amounts of $106.9, $101.9 and $109.3, respectively. Effective October 1, 2010, the services agreement with Voya Services Company dated January 1, 2001, was amended in order for the Company to provide Voya Services Company with use of the corporate office facility at 5780 Powers Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, GA (the "Atlanta Office") in exchange for Voya Services Company's payment of the Company's direct and indirect costs for the Atlanta Office.
Services agreement between the Company and its U.S. insurance company affiliates dated January 1, 2001, amended effective January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2007, for administrative, management, professional, advisory, consulting and other services. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses related to the agreements were incurred in the amount of $13.2, $12.1 and $16.4, respectively.
Upon inception of the agreement, the Company paid SLDI a premium of $245.6. At the same time, the Company established a funds withheld liability for $188.5 to SLDI and SLDI purchased a $65.0 LOC to support the ceded Statutory reserves of $245.6. In addition, the Company recognized a gain of $17.9 based on the difference between the premium paid and the ceded U.S. GAAP reserves of $227.7, which offsets the $57.1 ceding allowance paid by SLDI. The ceding allowance will be amortized over the life of the business.
Effective July 1, 2009, the reinsurance agreement was amended and restated to change the reinsurance basis from coinsurance to a combined coinsurance and coinsurance funds withheld basis. On July 31, 2009, SLDI transferred assets with a market value of $3.2 billion to the Company and the Company deposited those assets into a funds withheld trust account. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the assets on deposit in the trust account were $5.5 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively. The Company also established a corresponding funds withheld liability to SLDI, which is included in Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates on the Balance Sheets. Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates had a balance of $5.3 billion as of December 31, 2014 and $3.6 billion as of December 31, 2013. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had an embedded derivative with a value of $207.4 and $(34.7), respectively, which is recorded in Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates on the Balance Sheets.
Effective October 1, 2011, the Company and SLDI entered into an amended and restated automatic reinsurance agreement in order to provide more flexibility to the Company and SLDI with respect to the collateralization of the reserves related to the variable annuity guaranteed living benefits reinsured under the agreement. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, reserves ceded by the
The coinsurance agreement is accounted for using the deposit method. As such, $2.7 billion of Deposit receivable from affiliate was established on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the deposit receivable was $653.2 and $747.2, respectively, and is adjusted over the life of the agreement based on cash settlements and the experience of the contracts, as well as for amortization of the ceding commission. The Company incurred amortization expense of the negative ceding commission of $6.6, $4.8 and $10.8, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which is recorded in Other expenses in the Statements of Operations.
Effective January 1, 2000, the Company entered into a 100% coinsurance agreement with its affiliate, SLD, covering certain universal life policies which had been issued and in force as of, as well as any such policies issued after, the effective date of the agreement. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, reserves ceded by the Company under this agreement were $20.0 and $19.4, respectively.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, total reserves assumed from affiliates were $439.1 and $454.7, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, premiums assumed from affiliates were $407.7, $454.9 and $480.3, respectively.
Effective October 1, 2010, the Company entered into a stop-loss agreement with its affiliate, RLI under which the Company agreed to indemnify and reinsure RLI for the aggregate mortality risk under certain level premium term life insurance policies issued by RLI between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 and certain level premium term life insurance policies assumed by RLI from RLNY under an Automatic Coinsurance Agreement effective March 1, 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company
will make benefit payments to RLI equal to the amount of claims in excess of the attachment point (equal to a percentage of net reinsurance premium) up to the maximum fully covered benefit. Effective April 1, 2012, the agreement was recaptured by RLI and terminated, and there was no consideration received by the Company upon such recapture and termination.
Effective July 1, 2012, the Company entered into a stop-loss agreement with its affiliate, SLD, under which the Company agrees to indemnify SLD, and SLD agrees to reinsure with the Company, aggregate mortality risk under certain level premium term life insurance policies assumed by SLD from RLI and written by either RLI or RLNY with issue dates between January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 and between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will make benefit payments to SLD equal to the amount of claims in excess of the attachment point (equal to a percentage of net reinsurance premium) up to the maximum fully covered benefit.
The initial premium of $219.9 was equal to the aggregate reserve assumed by the Company. Thereafter, premiums are equal to the total earned gross premiums collected by RLI from policyholders. RLI will retain all reinsurance premiums payable to the Company as funds withheld, as security for ceded liabilities and against which ceded losses will be offset. Monthly, the Company will receive or pay a net settlement. This agreement was amended and restated October 1, 2010 to better reflect the current investment environment and to modify the treatment of claims under certain policies under which claims are not paid in the form of a single lump sum; the underlying terms described above remained unchanged. (Please see also description of "Waiver of Premium Coinsurance Funds Withheld" agreement between the Company and SLDI under "Reinsurance Ceded" above). As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, reserves assumed by the Company under this agreement were $439.1 and $454.7, respectively.
3.0% of the Company's statutory net admitted assets, excluding Separate Accounts, as of the preceding December 31. For the year ended December 31, 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 years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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.
Under this agreement, the Company did not incur interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company earned interest income of $0.2, $0.0 and $0.4, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest expense and income are included in Interest expense and Net investment income, respectively, in the Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any outstanding receivable/payable with Voya Financial, Inc. under the reciprocal loan agreement.
The Company issued a 30-year surplus note in the principal amount of $35.0 on December 8, 1999, to its affiliate, SLD, which matures on December 7, 2029. Interest is charged at an annual rate of 7.98%. Payment of the note and related accrued interest is subordinate to payments due to contract owners and claimant and beneficiary claims, as well as debts owed to all other classes of debtors, other than surplus note holders. Any payment of principal and/or interest made is subject to the prior approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. Interest expense was $2.8 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. On December 29, 2004, the Company issued surplus notes in the aggregate principal amount of $400.0 (the "Notes"), scheduled to mature on December 29, 2034, to its affiliates, Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, RLI and SLDI. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.26% per year. Any payment of principal and/or interest is subject to the prior approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. Interest expense was $25.4 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.