Management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Immaterial Correction of an Error. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company revised previously reported amounts to include cash held in a bank custody account representing collateral provided to us by third parties for equity-option derivative transactions. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99, Materiality, and SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, management evaluated the materiality of the error from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and concluded the error was immaterial to the current and prior periods. The correction revised only the consolidated statements of financial position and statements of cash flows . There was no revision to the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income or changes in equity. Detail regarding the revision amounts is included in Part II, Item 8, Note 2-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Increased Role of Advanced Technology: The use of mobile technology has changed the way consumers want to conduct their business, including real-time access to information. Many customers expect to complete transactions in a digital format instead of traditional methods that require a phone call or submission of paper forms. Social media and other customer-facing technologies also reshape the way companies communicate and collaborate with key stakeholders, and new tools exist to better collect and analyze information for potential business opportunities and better manage risks. For example, American National has mobile-enabled all of its Internet-based access and leverages social media channels to reach out to potential customers to promote awareness of the company, including the products and services offered. We expect that technology will continue to evolve, offering new and more effective ways to reach and service our customers and shareholders. We evaluate available and evolving technologies and incorporate those that we believe offer appropriate benefits to the company and its customers.
Increased Challenges of Talent Attraction and Retention: Attracting individuals with the right skills and retaining employees for the longer term remains a business challenge. These challenges may become more difficult as the working population ages, causing loss of valuable work knowledge and experience through attrition. The cost of higher education may result in fewer people attending college or a university, thus leaving a potential workforce that is less prepared for the higher thinking challenges of the new workplace. Competitors who develop stronger appeal to applicants who seek innovative and paradigm shifting companies will have an edge. We are increasing our talent development efforts so that we can promote from within. In addition, we are expanding the use of technology to broaden our candidate base when recruiting and to deliver targeted training to augment the current skill level of our employees.
Demographics: We believe a key driver shaping the actions of the life insurance industry is the rising income protection, wealth accumulation and insurance needs of retiring Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). As a result of increasing longevity and uncertainty regarding the Social Security System and an ongoing transition from defined benefit pension plans to 401(k) type retirement plans, retirees will need to accumulate sufficient savings to support retirement income requirements.
Most of the major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a reconciliation measure, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, “the Healthcare Acts”), phased in effective January 1, 2014. The Healthcare Acts mandate broad changes in the delivery of health care benefits that have impacted our current business model including our relationships with current and future customers, producers, and health care providers, as well as our products, services and processes. As a result, the Healthcare Acts generated new opportunities in the limited benefit and supplemental product markets. In recent years, we built a portfolio of such products to be sold in the worksite market as well as to individuals. We had some success with the individual products in 2014 and 2015 although these products were restricted somewhat in 2015 and 2016 due to regulatory changes. We are now expanding our presence in the worksite market to generate new opportunities in the broker market, as well as designing and implementing a captive sales force. With the recent changes in the Presidency and Congress, the future of the Healthcare Acts is questionable. We continue to monitor possible changes and maintain a wait and see attitude, allowing us to be opportunistic to new markets.
Our primary focus is to acquire and retain profitable business. To accomplish this objective, we use sophisticated pricing models and risk segmentation, along with a focused distribution force. We believe this approach allows us to make product enhancements and offer programs that are tailored to our target markets while charging an appropriate premium for the risk.
On an ongoing basis, management reviews the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the financial statements. If current facts and circumstances warrant modifications in estimates and assumptions, our financial position and results of operations as reported in the consolidated financial statements could change significantly.
IBNR-IBNR reserves are estimated based on many variables, including historical statistical information, inflation, legal developments, economic conditions, and general trends in claim severity, frequency and other factors that could affect the adequacy of claims reserves. Loss and premium data is aggregated by exposure class and by accident year. IBNR reserves are estimated by projecting ultimate losses on each class of business and subtracting paid losses and case reserves. Our overall reserve practice provides for ongoing claims evaluation and adjustment based on the development of related data and other relevant information pertaining to claims. Adjustments in aggregate reserves, if any, are included in the results of operations of the period during which such adjustments are made.
The evaluation process to determine reserves involves the collaboration of underwriting, claims and actuarial departments. The process also includes consultation with independent actuarial firms as part of our process of gaining reassurance that claims and CAE reserves estimate sufficiently, all obligations arising from all losses incurred as of year-end. The independent actuarial firm completes the Statements of Actuarial Opinion required by individual state insurance regulations at each year-end, opining that the recorded statutory claims and CAE reserves are reasonable.
Premium Deficiency Reserve-Deficiency reserves are recorded when the expected claims payments and policy maintenance costs for a product line exceed the expected premiums for that product line. The estimation of a deficiency reserve considers the current profitability of a product line using anticipated claims, CAE, and policy maintenance costs. The assumptions and methods used to determine the need for deficiency reserves are reviewed periodically for reasonableness. There were no reserves of this type at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
The analysis of our credit insurance line of business quantifies the estimated impact on gross loss reserves of a reasonably likely scenario of varying the ratio applied to the earned premium to determine the IBNR reserves at December 31, 2016. IBNR reserving methodology for this line of business focuses primarily on the use of a ratio applied to the unearned premium for each credit insurance product. The selected ratios are based on historical loss and claim data. In our analysis, we varied this ratio by +/- 5% across all credit insurance products combined. The results of our analysis show an increase or decrease in gross reserves across all accident years combined of approximately $8.3 million.
Management believes our reserves at December 31, 2016 are adequate. New information, regulation, events or circumstances unknown at the original valuation date, however, may result in future development resulting in ultimate losses being significantly greater or less than the recorded reserves at December 31, 2016.
We had a DAC asset of approximately $1.29 billion and $1.32 billion at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. See Note 10, Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
We manage our insurance underwriting risk exposures by purchasing reinsurance. We manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements with reinsurers we consider creditworthy, generally measured by the individual entity or entities’ financial strength rating. However, we do not require a specified minimum rating. We monitor the concentrations of the reinsurers and reduce the participation percentage of lower-rated and unrated companies when appropriate in our judgment. In the third quarter of 2015, we recognized a loss related to a reinsurer being unable to fulfill its obligations. While we believe we currently have no significant credit risk related to reinsurance counterparties, we continue to monitor their financial condition.
The fair value of available-for-sale securities (equity and fixed maturity securities) is determined by management using one of the three primary sources of information: the quoted prices in active markets; third-party pricing services; or independent broker quotations. Estimated fair value of securities based on quoted prices in active markets is readily and regularly available; therefore, valuation of these securities generally does not involve management judgment. For securities without quoted prices, fair value measurement is determined using third-party pricing services’ proprietary pricing applications. Typical inputs used by the models are relevant market information, benchmark curves, benchmark pricing of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. Any securities remaining unpriced after utilizing the first two pricing methods are submitted to independent brokers for prices. We have analyzed the third-party pricing services and independent brokers’ valuation methodologies and related inputs, and have evaluated the various types of securities in our investment portfolio to determine an appropriate fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Management completes certain tests throughout the year and at year-end to determine that prices provided by our pricing services are reasonable.
The Company has frozen each of its defined benefit pension plans. Our pension and postretirement benefit obligations and related costs covering our employees are estimated using actuarial concepts in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance. The discount rate and the expected return on plan assets are important elements of expense and/or liability measurements. Each year, these key assumptions are reevaluated to determine whether they reflect the best estimates for the current period. Changes in the methodology used to determine the best estimates are made when facts or circumstances change. Other assumptions involve demographic factors such as retirement age, mortality and turnover. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined using the building-block method which is described further in Note 18, Pension and Postretirement Benefits, of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Early in 2017, the Company commenced a one time window offering to terminated, vested participants of our qualified defined benefit pension plans. The offer allows participants to take a lump sum or annuity payout which will be funded from pension plan assets.
Policyholder benefits increased during 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to the above-mentioned change in estimate. Policyholder benefits increased during 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to an increase in claims although claims were within our product pricing measures.
Earnings increased during 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to increased assets, as measured by account value and reserves, leading to an increase in margins earned on net investment income. The favorable decrease in DAC for 2016 was related to lower surrenders. Earnings decreased during 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to the decrease in investment margins. Net investment income declined in 2015 primarily due to unrealized losses in income on over-the-counter-equity-indexed option derivatives and a decrease in investment income.
Policyholder benefits consist of annuity payments and reserve increases for SPIA contracts. Reserve increases are highly correlated to the sales volume of SPIA contracts. The level of benefits for 2016, 2015, and 2014 was commensurate with increases in SPIA premium during these periods.
Other operating expenses were relatively flat during 2016 compared to 2015 despite the increase in annuity volume. Other operating expenses also decreased during 2015 compared to 2014.
The change in DAC increased during 2016 compared to 2015, and 2015 compared to 2014, due to an increase in capitalization which is primarily driven by the increase in commissions.
The following table summarizes the incremental impact of the investment performance of “option return” on net investment income, and the impact of the equity-indexed annuity embedded derivatives to interest credited to policyholder’s account balances (in thousands):
Earned premiums decreased during 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to a decline in Medicare Supplement and MGU premiums. Medicare Supplement earned premiums decreased due to lapses that were greater than new sales, compounded by the continuing shift in sales from comprehensive higher premium plans to the lower premium high deductible plan. MGU premiums decreased due to the removal of lesser performing groups by several MGUs. New sources of business have originated during the current year and it is intended that premiums written for these groups will replace portions of the cancelled groups. Medical expense premiums continued to decline due to lapsation of this closed block of business. Supplemental insurance declined during 2016 compared to 2015, due to lapsation, which more than offset the increase in sales relative to 2015. Earned premiums decreased during 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to the continued contraction of the closed medical expense blocks of business, and a decrease in Medicare Supplement sales.
Effective January 1, 2017, the majority of the Group premium, which is in runoff, did not renew. Consequently, 2017 earned premium for this component of business will be significantly lower than in prior periods.
Index to Financial Statements Our in-force certificates or policies as of the dates indicated are as follows:
In-force policies decreased in all blocks of health business, except for group and MGU during 2016. Since the MGU policy counts include 100% reinsured certificates, the increase does not always translate into corresponding increases in premiums. Total in-force policies decreased during 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to decreases in the MGU line, credit accident and health business, and supplemental insurance. MGU inforce certificate counts decreased during 2015 primarily as a result of removing lesser performing groups by several MGUs. Credit accident and health decreased due to contraction in that market as distributors continued to shift their marketing emphasis to property and casualty products.
For 2016, the companies to which we have ceded reinsurance for the Health segment are shown below (in thousands, except percentages):
Index to Financial Statements Property and Casualty pre-tax earnings decreased during 2016 compared to 2015, as continued premium growth and the favorable results in our commercial lines were outpaced by the increase in losses attributable to personal auto claims and higher catastrophe losses. Gross catastrophe losses for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased compared to 2015 as the losses reverted to what we believe is a more “normal” level. Property and Casualty earnings decreased during 2015 compared to 2014 due to increased non-catastrophe claims and growth related operating expenses.
Claims incurred increased during 2016 compared to 2015 as a result of increases in catastrophe losses as well as an increase in frequency and severity of claims related to the automobile lines of business. The increase in claims during 2015 compared to 2014 was primarily a result of an increase in non-catastrophe weather related losses.
The underwriting expense ratio decreased in 2016 compared to 2015. Operating expenses increased during 2016 compared to 2015, and 2015 compared to 2014, as a result of costs related to growth initiatives.
Gross catastrophe losses for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased compared to 2015 as the losses reverted to what we believe is a more “normal” level. Gross catastrophe losses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were relatively flat compared to 2014. Average severity of catastrophe losses increased by 6% in 2016 compared to 2015 but decreased by 17% in 2015 compared to 2014.
Automobile: Net premiums written and earned increased in the personal automobile line during 2016 compared to 2015, due to an increase of policies in force and rate increases. The loss and combined ratio increased during 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to an increase in the frequency and severity of claims and catastrophe losses compared to the prior year. Net premiums written and earned increased during 2015 compared to 2014, due to increases in sales volume and rates.
Homeowner: Net premiums written and earned increased during 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to increases in sales of homeowner products to renters. The loss and combined ratio increased during 2016 compared to 2015, due to increases in catastrophe claim activity compared to the prior year. Net premiums written increased during 2015 compared to 2014 given growth in policy counts.
Agricultural Business: Our agricultural business product allows policyholders to customize and cover their agriculture exposure using a package policy which includes coverage for residences and household contents, farm buildings and building contents, personal and commercial liability and personal property. Net premiums written and earned increased during 2016 compared to 2015, primarily as a result of improved rate adequacy. The loss ratio decreased during 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to a decrease in catastrophe losses. Net premiums earned increased during 2015 compared to 2014 primarily as a result of improved rate adequacy.
Net written and earned premiums increased during 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to increases in our collateral protection business. The loss ratio increased during 2016 compared to 2015 and 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to an increase in claims in our Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) business lines. Net written and earned premiums increased during 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to increases in our Collateral Protection business and updated pricing initiatives in our GAP business. The loss ratio increased during 2015 compared to 2014 mostly due to an increase in claims in our GAP business lines.
Index to Financial Statements Each per-event coverage above includes one automatic reinstatement except for a 12.5% portion of the Corporate Program (12.5% of $35 million to $500 million). The automatic reinstatement requires us to pay additional reinsurance premium for any losses into each reinsurance layer. The reinstatement premium is prorated by the percentage of actual loss to the coverage, with the exception of losses from $35 million to $100 million, which reflect a 50% reduction on the prorated amount, and the losses from $17.5 million to $35 million, which are free for the first limit and reflect a 50% reduction on the second limit. The 12.5% placement of non-reinstateable coverage reduces the amount of reinstatement premium we are obligated to pay.
We purchase a Catastrophe Aggregate reinsurance coverage that provides for $30 million of limit excess of $90 million of aggregated catastrophe losses. Qualifying losses include amounts of retained losses below $10 million on Property Claims Services (“PCS”) declared catastrophe events and internally declared catastrophe events exceeding $5 million. The Catastrophe Aggregate reinsurance coverage has been placed at 100.0% for 2017 and does not include a reinstatement.
A Stretch & Aggregate cover is purchased which consists of a $35 million annual limit available either wholly or in part across two layers. The first layer is 8.75% of $400 million excess of $100 million on an occurrence basis. The second layer provides aggregate protection for a subject loss and is $35 million excess of $5 million of each catastrophe. Recoveries follow satisfaction of a $45 million annual aggregate deductible. This cover was placed at 100% on July 1, 2015, and again on July 1, 2016. It is in place until June 30, 2017. American National expects to place the cover again on July 1, 2017.
We use multiple reinsurers with each reinsurer absorbing part of the overall risk ceded. The primary reinsurers in the 2016 programs and the coverage each provides are shown in the following table:
While we believe that our claims reserves at December 31, 2016 are adequate, new information, events or circumstances, unknown at the original valuation date, may lead to future developments in ultimate losses in amounts significantly greater or less than the reserves currently recorded. The actual final cost of settling both claims outstanding at December 31, 2016 and claims expected to arise from unexpired periods of risk is uncertain. There are many other possible changes that would cause losses to increase or decrease, which include but are not limited to: claim severity; the expected level of reported claims; judicial action changing the scope or liability of coverage; the regulatory, social and economic environment; and unexpected changes in loss inflation. For additional information regarding prior year development of our claims and CAE reserves, refer to Note 12, Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Corporate and Other business segment recorded other-than-temporary impairments of $17.7 million, $27.9 million, and $6.6 million in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, which are in “Realized investment gains, net.”
Policy Loans-For certain life insurance products, policyholders may borrow funds using the policy’s cash value as collateral. The maximum amount of the policy loan depends upon the policy’s surrender value. As of December 31, 2016, we had $384.4 million in policy loans with a loan to surrender value of 64.6%, and at December 31, 2015, we had $407.5 million in policy loans with a loan to surrender value of 61.3%. Interest rates on policy loans primarily range from 3.0% to 12.0% per annum. Policy loans may be repaid at any time by the policyholder and have priority to any claims on the policy. If the policyholder fails to repay the policy loan, funds are withdrawn from the policy’s benefits.
Investment Real Estate-We invest in commercial real estate where positive cash flows and/or appreciation in value is expected. Real estate may be owned directly by our insurance companies or non-insurance affiliates or indirectly in joint ventures with real estate developers or investors we determine share our perspective regarding risk and return relationships. The carrying value of real estate is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and valuation allowances, if any. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the properties.
Index to Financial Statements Changes in interest rates during 2016 and market expectations for potentially higher rates through 2017 may lead to an increase in the volume of annuity contracts, which may be partially offset by increases in surrenders. Our defined benefit plans are frozen and currently adequately funded; however, low interest rates, increased longevity of participants, and rising Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums may cause us to increase our funding of the plans. Future contributions to our defined benefit plans are not expected to significantly impact cash flow and are expected to enhance overall funded status of plans. No unusually large capital expenditures are expected in the next 12-24 months. We have paid dividends to stockholders for over 110 consecutive years and expect to continue this trend. There are no other known trends or uncertainties regarding product pricing, changes in product lines or rising costs that are expected to have a significant impact to cash flows from operations.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American National Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 10, 2017, expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Material weaknesses related to ineffective internal controls over the measurement and presentation of deferred income taxes, the recognition and disclosure of the amount of collateral under equity option derivative arrangements and the information and communication controls over these areas have been identified and included in management’s assessment.
In our opinion, because of the effect of the aforementioned material weaknesses on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, American National Insurance Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Immaterial Correction of an Error. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company revised previously reported amounts to include cash held in a bank custody account representing collateral provided to us by third parties for equity-option derivative transactions. For details, see Note 7, Derivative Instruments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99, Materiality, and SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, management evaluated the materiality of the error from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and concluded the error was immaterial to the current and prior periods. The correction of the immaterial error revised the consolidated statements of financial position and statements of cash flows only. There was no revision to the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income or changes in equity. The Company revised its historical financial statements for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 herein, and will revise the quarters within fiscal 2016, when they are published in future filings.
Index to Financial Statements Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices - (Continued)
Real Estate Joint Ventures and Other Limited Partnership Interests in which the Company has more than a minor interest or influence over the investee’s operations, but it does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for using the equity method. These investments are reported as “Investments in unconsolidated affiliates” in the consolidated statements of financial position. For certain joint ventures, American National records its share of earnings using a lag methodology of one to three months when timely financial information is not available and the contractual right does not exist to receive such financial information. In addition to the investees’ impairment analysis of its underlying investments, American National routinely evaluates its investments in those investees for impairments. American National considers financial and other information provided by the investee, other known information and inherent risks in the underlying investments, as well as future capital commitments, in determining whether impairment has occurred. When an impairment is deemed to have occurred at the joint venture level, American National recognizes its share within “Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates” to record the investment at its fair value. When an impairment results from American National’s separate analysis, an adjustment is made through “Net realized investment gains” to record the investment at its fair value.
All fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses are assessed to determine if the creditworthiness of any of those securities has deteriorated to a point where its carrying value will not be realized at maturity. For fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2016, the unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities that were not other-than-temporarily impaired were the result of credit spread widening. There were no delinquent coupon payments attributed to these securities at December 31, 2016.
Derivative instruments are purchased to hedge against future interest rate increases in liabilities indexed to market rates, and are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial position at fair value net of collateral provided by counterparties. The change in fair value of derivative assets and liabilities is reported in the consolidated statements of operations as “Net investment income” and “Interest credited to policyholder’s account balances,” respectively. American National does not apply hedge accounting treatment to its derivative instruments. The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge our business risk and holds collateral to offset exposure from its counterparties. Unrestricted collateral that supports credit risk is reported in the consolidated statements of financial position as an offset to “Other invested assets” with an associated payable to “Other liabilities” for excess collateral. Restricted collateral is recorded as “Other liabilities” due to the uncertainty of the collateral’s availability to offset exposure losses.
Liabilities for future policy benefits for traditional products have been provided on a net level premium method based on estimated investment yields, withdrawals, mortality, and other assumptions that were appropriate at the time policies were issued. Estimates are based on historical experience, adjusted for possible adverse deviation. These estimates are periodically reviewed and compared with actual experience. When it is determined that future expected experience differs significantly from existing assumptions, the estimates are revised for current and future issues.
Reserves for claims and claim adjustment expenses (“CAE”) are established to provide for the estimated costs of paying claims. These reserves include estimates for both case reserves and incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claim reserves. Case reserves include the liability for reported but unpaid claims. IBNR reserves include a provision for potential development on case reserves, losses on claims currently closed which may reopen in the future, as well as incurred but not reported claims. These reserves also include an estimate of the expense associated with settling claims, including legal and other fees and the general expenses of administering the claims adjustment process.
For the Farm Family Life participating business, profits earned on participating business are reserved for the payment of dividends to policyholders, except for the stockholders’ share of profits on participating policies, which is limited to the greater of 10% of the profit on participating business, or 50 cents per thousand dollars of the face amount of participating life insurance in-force. Participating policyholders’ interest includes the accumulated net income from participating policies reserved for payment to such policyholders in the form of dividends (less net income allocated to stockholders as indicated above) as well as a pro rata portion of unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax.
Restricted Stock (“RS”) equity and compensation cost is based on the fair value of the underlying stock at grant date. The compensation cost accrued is included in “Additional paid-in capital” in the consolidated statements of financial position.
In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance amending the consolidation analysis. The guidance modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities. The guidance eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership and affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs. The Company adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that will require significant changes to the statement of financial position of lessees. With certain limited exceptions, lessees will need to recognize virtually all of their leases on the statement of financial position, by recording a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Lessor accounting is updated to align with certain changes in the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard. The standard is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption, which is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
In accordance with various regulations, American National had bonds on deposit with regulating authorities with a carrying value of $52,349,000 and $51,877,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, American National has pledged bonds in connection with agreements and transactions, such as financing and reinsurance agreements. The carrying value of bonds pledged was $76,558,000 and $77,360,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Generally, commercial mortgage loans are secured by first liens on income-producing real estate. American National attempts to maintain a diversified portfolio by considering the location of the underlying collateral. The distribution based on carrying amount of mortgage loans by location are is as follows:
American National regularly invests in real estate partnerships and joint ventures. American National frequently participates in the design of these entities with the sponsor, but in most cases, its involvement is limited to financing. Through analysis performed by American National, some of these partnerships and joint ventures have been determined to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”). In certain instances, in addition to an economic interest in the entity, American National holds the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity and is deemed the primary beneficiary or consolidator of the entity. The assets of the consolidated VIEs are restricted and must first be used to settle their liabilities. Creditors or beneficial interest holders of these VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of American National, as American National’s obligation is limited to the amount of its committed investment. American National has not provided financial or other support to the VIEs in the form of liquidity arrangements, guarantees, or other commitments to third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of its variable interest in the VIEs in 2016 or 2015.
For other VIEs in which American National is a partner, it is not the primary beneficiary, and these entities are not consolidated, as the major decisions that most significantly impact the economic activities of the VIE require unanimous consent of all partners. The carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to unconsolidated VIEs follows (in thousands):
The Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is the Company’s share of operating earnings and realized gains from investments in real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests (“joint ventures”) using the equity method of accounting. In 2016 and 2015 certain joint ventures took advantage of market opportunities to generate realized gains on the sale of real estate held or developed by the venture.
The Company’s income from and investment in each joint venture did not exceed 20% and therefore no separate financial disclosure is required. The Company’s income from, assets held, and investment in each joint venture did not exceed 10% except for 2015 when it was determined one joint venture slightly exceeded the income test threshold of 10% at 10.89% of operating income before tax. However, 96.8% of this joint venture’s income in 2015 was attributable to realized gain resulting from the sale of its operating assets. Additionally, the Company’s investment in joint ventures continues to be 2% or less of the Company’s total assets, and investments in individual joint ventures is not considered to be material to the Company in relation to its financial position or ongoing results of operations. Therefore, summarized financial information of equity method investees has not been included.
The Company’s use of derivative instruments exposes it to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties. The Company has adopted a policy of only dealing with counterparties we believe are credit worthy and obtaining sufficient collateral where appropriate, as a means of mitigating the financial loss from defaults. The non-performance risk is the net counterparty exposure based on the fair value of the open contracts, less collateral held. The Company maintains master netting agreements with its current active trading partners. As such, a right of offset has been applied to unrestricted collateral that supports credit risk and has been recorded in the consolidated statements of financial position as an offset to “Other invested assets” with an associated payable to “Other liabilities” for excess collateral. Restricted collateral has been recorded as “Other liabilities” because of the uncertainty of its availability to offset exposure losses. Information regarding the Company’s exposure to credit loss on the options it holds is presented below (in thousands):
Index to Financial Statements Note 8 - Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs reflect American National’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models and third-party evaluation, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
For securities priced using a quote from an independent broker, such as the equity options and certain fixed maturity securities, American National uses a market-based fair value analysis to validate the reasonableness of prices received from an independent broker. Price variances above a certain threshold are analyzed further to determine if any pricing issue exists. This analysis is performed quarterly.
Within the net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income were unrealized gains of $44,615,000, unrealized losses of $50,114,000, and unrealized gains of $24,108,000 relating to assets still held at December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Index to Financial Statements Note 11 - Liability for Future Policy Benefits and Policyholder Account Balances
American National estimates liabilities for amounts payable under insurance and annuity policies. Generally, amounts are payable over an extended period of time and related liabilities are calculated as the present value of expected benefit payments reduced by the present value of expected premiums. Such liabilities are established on a block of business based on methods and underlying assumptions in accordance with GAAP and applicable actuarial standards. Principal assumptions used in the establishment of liabilities for future policy benefits are mortality, morbidity, policy lapse, renewal, retirement, disability incidence, disability termination, investment return, inflation, expenses, and other contingent events as appropriate to the respective product type.
Future policy benefit liabilities for non-medical health insurance are calculated using the net level premium method and assumptions as to future morbidity, withdrawals and interest, which provide a margin for adverse deviation. The interest rate used in establishing such liabilities range from 3.5% to 8.0%.
The liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses (“claims”) for accident and health, and property and casualty insurance is included in “Policy and contract claims” in the consolidated statements of financial position and is the amount estimated for claims that have been reported but not settled and incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims. Liability for unpaid claims are estimated based upon American National’s historical experience and actuarial assumptions that consider the effects of current developments, anticipated trends and risk management programs, less anticipated salvage and subrogation. The effects of the changes are included in the consolidated results of operations in the period in which the changes occur. The time value of money is not taken into account for the purposes of calculating the liability for unpaid claims. There have been no significant changes in methodologies or assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses.
The net and gross reserve calculations have shown favorable development as a result of favorable loss emergence compared to what was implied by the loss development patterns used in the original estimation of losses in prior years. Estimates for ultimate incurred claims attributable to insured events of prior years decreased by approximately $36,788,000 in 2016 and $22,830,000 in 2015 and $44,806,000 in 2014. This was a reflection of lower-than-anticipated losses in the multi-peril line of business in 2016 and lower-than-anticipated losses in the personal auto, other liability and multi-peril lines of business in 2015 and 2014.
Index to Financial Statements Note 12 - Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses - (Continued)
Bornhuetter-Ferguson-This method uses as a starting point an assumed initial expected loss ratio method and blends in the loss ratio implied by the claims experience to date by using loss development patterns based on our historical experience.
Pegged Frequency and Severity - uses actual claims count data and emergence patterns of older accident periods to project the ultimate number of reported claims for a given accident year. A similar process projects the ultimate average severity per claim so that the product of the 2 projections results in a projection of ultimate loss for a given accident year.
The following contains information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2016, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims included within the net incurred claims amounts. The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2007, to 2015, is presented as supplementary information.
Index to Financial Statements Note 12 - Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses- (Continued)
American National made income tax payments of $33,367,000, $80,759,000 and $61,821,000 during 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities are shown below (in thousands):
Management believes that a sufficient taxable income will be achieved over time to utilize the deferred tax assets in the consolidated federal tax return; therefore, no valuation allowance was recorded as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. There are no ordinary loss tax carryforwards that will expire by December 31, 2017.
Index to Financial Statements Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
American National has one class of common stock with a par value of $1.00 per share and 50,000,000 authorized shares. The amounts outstanding at the dates indicated are shown below:
RSU awards allow the recipient of the awards to settle the vested RSUs in either shares of American National’s common stock or cash. RSUs vest after a three-year graded vesting requirement or over a shorter period as a result of death, disability or retirement after age 65.
Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) is a measure insurance regulators use to evaluate the capital adequacy of American National Insurance Company and its insurance subsidiaries. RBC is calculated using formulas applied to certain financial balances and activities that consider, among other things, investment risks related to the type and quality of investments, insurance risks associated with products and liabilities, interest rate risks and general business risks. Insurance companies that do not maintain capital and surplus at a level at least 200% of the authorized control level RBC are required to take certain actions. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, American National Insurance Company’s statutory capital and surplus was $2,985,909,000 and $2,925,935,000, respectively. American National Insurance Company and each of its insurance subsidiaries had statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2016 and 2015, substantially above 200% of the authorized control level.
American National Insurance Company’s payment of dividends to stockholders is restricted by statutory regulations. The restrictions require life insurance companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and surplus, and in the absence of special approval, limit the payment of dividends to the greater of the prior year’s statutory net income from operations, or 10% of prior year statutory surplus. American National Insurance Company is permitted to pay total dividends of $298,591,000 during 2017, without prior approval of the Texas Department of Insurance. Similar restrictions on amounts that can transfer in the form of dividends, loans, or advances to American National Insurance Company apply to its insurance subsidiaries.
American National County Mutual Insurance Company (“County Mutual”) is a mutual insurance company that is owned by its policyholders. American National has a management agreement that effectively gives it control of County Mutual. As a result, County Mutual is included in the consolidated financial statements of American National. Policyholder interests in the financial position of County Mutual are reflected as noncontrolling interest of $6,750,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Annuity-offers fixed, indexed, and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through independent agents, brokers, and financial institutions, along with multiple-line and career agents.
Expenses are allocated based upon various factors, including premium and commission ratios of the operating segments.
Index to Financial Statements Note 18 - Pension and Postretirement Benefits
American National sponsors a qualified defined contribution (401(k) plan) for all employees, and non-qualified defined contribution plans for certain employees whose otherwise eligible earnings exceed the statutory limits under the qualified plans. The total expense associated with these plans was $13,658,000, $12,146,000, and $12,350,000 for 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
American National sponsors qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans each of which have been frozen. As such, no additional benefits are accrued through these plans for additional years of service credit or future salary increase credit, and no new participants are added to the plans. Benefits earned by eligible employees prior to the plans being frozen have not been affected. Early in 2017, the Company commenced a one- time window offering to terminated, vested participants of our qualified defined benefit pension plans. The offer allows participants to take a lump sum or annuity payout which will be funded from pension plan assets.
The qualified pension plans are noncontributory. The plans provide benefits for salaried and management employees and corporate clerical employees subject to a collective bargaining agreement based on years of service and employee compensation. The non-qualified pension plans cover key employees and restore benefits that would otherwise be curtailed by statutory limits on qualified plan benefits.
American National’s funding policy for the qualified pension plans is to make annual contributions to meet the minimum funding standards of ERISA. American National contributed $40,090,000, $18,630,000, and $12,482,500 to the qualified pension plans in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. American National and its affiliates expect to contribute $20,000,000 to its qualified plans in 2017. The benefits paid from the non-qualified plans were $12,319,000, $10,082,000 and $8,615,000 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Future payments from the non-qualified pension benefit plans will be funded out of general corporate assets.
American National and its subsidiaries lease insurance sales office space in various cities. The remaining long-term lease commitments at December 31, 2016 were approximately $5,086,000.
American National had aggregate commitments at December 31, 2016, to purchase, expand or improve real estate, to fund fixed interest rate mortgage loans, and to purchase other invested assets of $787,077,000 of which $538,260,000 is expected to be funded in 2017 with the remainder funded in 2018 and beyond.