The Company occupies office space in Shelton, Connecticut, which is leased from an affiliate, American Skandia Information Services and Technology Corporation. The Company entered into a lease for office space in Westminster, Colorado, effective January 1, 2001, and established an additional customer service center at that location. The Company believes that its current facilities are satisfactory for its near term needs.
Benefits and Expenses: Annuity and life insurance $ 3,391 $ 1,955 $ 751 $ 612 $ 558 benefits Change in annuity and life insurance policy reserves 2,741 (39,898) 49,339 (671) 1,053 (c) Guaranteed minimum death benefit claims, net of 23,256 20,370 2,618 4,785 - hedge (b) Return credited to contract 5,196 5,796 8,463 (1,639) (8,930) owners Underwriting, acquisition and other insurance expenses 188,728 196,755 150,597 125,434 86,306 Amortization of deferred acquisition costs (b) (d) 510,059 224,047 184,616 83,861 86,628 Interest expense 14,544 73,424 85,998 69,502 41,004 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Income tax (benefit) expense $ (102,810) $ 7,168 $ 30,779 $ 30,344 $ 8,154 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Net (loss) income $ (165,257) $ 33,099 $ 64,817 $ 76,169 $ 34,767 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Shareholder's equity $ 683,061 $ 577,668 $ 496,911 $ 359,434 $ 250,417 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Annuity and life insurance sales were $3,472,044, $3,834,167 and $8,216,167, in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The decrease in sales in 2002 and 2001 was primarily the result of the general decline in sales in the industry, attributed in large part to the continued uncertainty in the equity markets. In addition, the Company believes uncertainty regarding its future ownership has adversely impacted sales, primarily in the latter part of 2002. The Company announced, in the first quarter of 2002, its intention to focus on the growth of its core variable annuity business.
Net realized capital losses in 2002 were primarily from $9,593 of losses on sales and $3,769 of other-than-temporary impairments of mutual fund investments that are held in support of a deferred compensation program for certain of the Company's employees. The deferred compensation program losses were offset by net gains of $3,746 during 2002 on sales of fixed maturities. Included in those net gains on sales of fixed maturities for 2002, was a realized loss of approximately $1,236 on the sale of a WorldCom, Inc. bond. The net capital gains in 2001 related primarily to sales of fixed maturity investments, were partially offset by losses on securities in the fixed maturity portfolio. The most significant loss was $2,636 related to Enron securities. In addition net realized capital losses of $3,534 in 2001 were incurred due to sales of mutual fund holdings in support of the Company's non-qualified deferred compensation program.
General operating expenses decreased during 2002 and 2001 as a result of lower sales-based compensation, as well as expense reduction programs implemented during 2001 and continued strong expense management in 2002. Variable compensation and long-term incentive plan expenses have decreased due to the slowdown in sales and the decline in the equity markets.
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased over the past two years, in general, due to the further depressed equity markets in 2002 and 2001, thereby decreasing expectations of future gross profits and actual gross profits from asset based fees and increased expected and actual claim costs associated with minimum death benefit guarantees. During 2002, the Company also performed a recoverability study and an analysis of its short-term assumptions of future gross profits and determined those assumptions of future profits to be excessive. This analysis resulted in a current year acceleration of amortization of $206,000. During 2002 and 2001, the Company also updated its future estimated gross profits with respect to certain mortality assumptions reflecting actual experience and the decline in the equity markets resulting in additional increased amortization. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion on amortization of deferred acquisition costs.
The Company's income tax (benefit) expense varies directly with increases or decreases in (loss) income from operations. The effective income tax rate varied from the corporate rate of 35% due primarily to the deduction for dividends received.
The costs of acquiring new business, which vary with and are primarily related to new business generated, are deferred, net of reinsurance. These costs include commissions, purchase credits, costs of contract issuance, and certain selling expenses that vary with production.
The proceeds from the transfers have been recorded as a liability and are being amortized over the remaining surrender charge period of the designated contracts using the interest method. The Company did not transfer the right to receive future fees and charges after the expiration of the surrender charge period.
Under the terms of the securitization purchase agreements, the rights transferred provide for ASI to receive a percentage (60%, 80% or 100% depending on the underlying commission option) of future mortality and expense charges and contingent deferred sales charges, after reinsurance, expected to be realized over the remaining surrender charge period of the designated contracts (generally 6 to 8 years). The liability for future fees payable to ASI at the balance sheet date is based on the consideration received less principal repayments according to amortization schedules that were developed at the inception of the transactions. If actual mortality and expense charges and contingent deferred sales charges are less than those projected in the original amortization schedules, calculated on a transaction by transaction basis, ASI has no recourse against the Company. As account values associated with the designated contracts have declined, consistent with the overall decline in the equity markets, historical mortality and expense charges have been lower than expected on certain transactions and it is likely that future mortality and expense charges, on those same transactions, will be lower than originally projected. As a result, the ultimate cash flows associated with these transactions that will transfer to ASI may be lower than the current carrying amount of the liability.
The Company has determined, using assumptions for lapses, mortality, free withdrawals and a long-term fund growth rate of 8% on the Company's assets under management, that the present value of future payments to ASI would be $429,773.
As of December 31, 2002, the Company has approximately $361,000 gross deferred tax assets related principally to net operating loss carryforwards that expire in 2016 and 2017 and insurance reserve differences. After considering the impact of gross reversing temporary liabilities of $323,000, the Company estimates that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize gross deferred tax assets within 2 years (prior to the expiration of the net operating losses).
On May 8, 2002, Fitch Ratings downgraded the Company's "insurer financial strength" rating to A+ from AA- with a "stable" outlook.
On September 19, 2002, Fitch Ratings lowered the Company's "insurer financial strength" rating to A- from A+ with an "evolving" outlook.
On September 27, 2002, A.M. Best Co. lowered the Company's "financial strength" rating to A- from A with negative implications.
On October 16, 2002, Standard and Poor's lowered the Company's "counter party credit" and "financial strength" ratings to A- from A+ with a negative outlook and removed the Company from Credit Watch.
Various other legislative initiatives could impact the Company such as pension reform and capital gains and estate tax changes. These include the proposed exclusion from tax for corporate dividends, potential changes to the deductibility of dividends received from the Company's separate accounts and newly proposed tax-advantaged savings programs. Additional pension reform may change current tax deferral rules and allow increased contributions to retirement plans, which may lead to higher investments in tax-deferred products and create growth opportunities for the Company. A capital gains tax reduction may cause tax-deferred products to be less attractive to consumers, which could adversely impact the Company.