The Company's home office is located at 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 06156. All Company office space is leased or subleased by the Company or its other affiliates. The Company pays substantially all
In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in this report and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company, whether or not in future filings with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Statements using verbs such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements include statements which represent the Company's beliefs concerning future levels of sales and redemptions of the Company's products, investment spreads and yields, or the earnings and profitability of the Company's activities.
adversely affected by the need to make future accounting adjustments to reflect changes in these estimates and assumptions from time to time.
Because the sale of the domestic individual life insurance business on October 1, 1998 was substantially in the form of an indemnity reinsurance agreement, the Company includes an amount in reinsurance recoverable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, which approximates the Company's total individual life reserves.
During 2004, VOBA amortization increased principally due to higher actual gross profits, as a result of the margins earned on higher fixed and variable assets and fewer other-than-temporary impairments. Also, surrenders increased, which resulted in higher amortization for certain business.
The actual Separate Account return in 2004 exceeded the long-term assumption, thereby producing deceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization of $2.6 before tax. As a part of the regular analysis of DAC/VOBA, at the end of 2004, the Company unlocked its assumptions regarding policyholder withdrawal behavior. Based on experience studies, assumed rates of full surrender for variable annuities were modified downward, producing a deceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization of $1.2 before tax. The combined effect of the actual variable return for 2004 exceeding long-term assumptions and modification of expectations regarding future withdrawal behavior was a deceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization totaling $3.8 before tax, or $2.5, net of $1.3 million of federal income tax expense.
During 2003 the Company reset long-term assumptions for the Separate Account returns from 9.0% to 8.5% (gross before rate of return management fees and mortality, expense, and other policy charges), reflecting a blended return of equity and other sub-accounts. The 2003 unlocking adjustment was primarily driven by improved market performance compared to expected performance during 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company recorded a deceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization totaling $3.7 before tax, or $2.4, net of $1.3 of federal income tax expense.
As part of the regular analysis of DAC/VOBA, at the end of 2002, the Company unlocked its long-term rate of return assumptions. The Company reset long-term return assumptions for the Separate Account returns to 9.0% (gross before fund management fees and mortality, expense, and other policy charges), as of December 31, 2002, reflecting a blended return of equity and other sub-accounts. The unlocking adjustment in 2002 was primarily driven by the sustained downturn in the equity markets and revised expectations for future returns. Dring 2002, the Company recorded an acceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization totaling $45.6 before tax, or $29.7, net of $15.9 of federal income tax benefit.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued) CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
NET INVESTMENT INCOME: Net investment income from General Account assets increased $64.0 to $983.1 for 2004 from $919.1 for 2003. The increase is primarily related to higher fixed assets under management in 2004, as well as to the inclusion of interest income on the guaranteed portion of the separate accounts beginning in 2004 as required with the adoption of Statement of Position ("SOP") 03-1, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts."
PREMIUMS: Premiums for 2004 decreased by $11.6 to $38.5 from $50.1 for 2003, primarily due to a decrease in sales of immediate annuities with life contingencies.
INTEREST CREDITED AND OTHER BENEFITS TO CONTRACTOWNERS: Interest credited and other benefits to contractowners increased $16.0 to $739.4 for 2004 from $723.4 for 2003. The increase in the balance in the year was primarily due to an increase in average assets under management with fixed options, as well as to the inclusion of interest credited to contractowners on the guaranteed portion of the separate accounts, as required by SOP 03-1, partially offset by a decrease in credited interest rates to contractowners resulting from a management decision to lower credited rates to contractowners.
OPERATING EXPENSES: Operating expenses increased by $10.1 to $394.0 for 2004 from $383.9 for 2003. The increase is primarily related to the growth of the business.
The following table presents the investment portfolio at December 31, 2004 and 2003.
agencies. The average quality rating of the Company's fixed maturities portfolio was AA- at December 31, 2004 and 2003. Ratings are calculated using a rating hierarchy that considers S&P, Moody's, and internal ratings.
Fixed maturities rated BB and below (Below Investment Grade) may have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to make principal and interest payments than is the case with higher rated fixed maturities.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued) FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued)
The Company analyzes the General Account investments to determine whether there has been an other-than-temporary decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis. Management considers the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; future economic conditions and market forecasts; and the Company's intent and ability to retain the investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in fair value. If it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of an investment will not be collected, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred.
In addition, the Company invests in structured securities that meet the criteria of Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 99-20 "Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets." Under EITF Issue No. 99-20, a determination of the required impairment is based on credit risk and the possibility of significant prepayment risk that restricts the
The Company's principal sources of liquidity are product charges, investment income, proceeds from the maturing and sale of investments, and capital contributions. Primary uses of funds are payments of commissions and operating expenses, interest and premium credits, investment purchases, contract maturities, withdrawals and surrenders.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued) LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (continued)
Through the normal course of investment operations, the Company commits to either purchase or sell securities, commercial mortgage loans, or money market instruments at a specified future date and at a specified price or yield. The inability of counterparties to honor these commitments may result in either a higher or lower replacement cost. Also, there is likely to be a change in the value of the securities underlying the commitments. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company had off-balance sheet commitments to purchase investments equal to their fair value of $778.2 and $154.3, respectively.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' ("NAIC") risk-based capital requirements require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula. These requirements are intended to allow insurance regulators to monitor the capitalization of insurance companies based upon the type and mixture of risks inherent in a company's operations. The formula includes components
The Company adopted SOP 03-1 on January 1, 2004. SOP 03-1 establishes several new accounting and disclosure requirements for certain nontraditional long-duration contracts and for separate accounts including, among other things, a requirement that assets and liabilities of separate account arrangements that do not meet certain criteria be accounted for as general account assets and liabilities, and that revenues and expenses related to such arrangements be consolidated with the respective lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, SOP 03-1 requires that additional liabilities be established for certain guaranteed death and other benefits and for products with certain patterns of cost of insurance charges. In addition, sales inducements provided to contractholders must be recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets separately from deferred acquisition costs and amortized as a component of benefits expense using methodologies and assumptions consistent with those used for amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs.
The TPA, which was approved in September 2004, provides additional guidance regarding certain implicit assessments that may be used in the testing of the base mortality function on contracts, which is performed to determine whether additional liabilities are required in conjunction with SOP 03-1. In addition, the TPA provides additional guidance surrounding the allowed level of aggregation of additional liabilities determined under SOP 03-1. The adoption of the TPA did not have an impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The implementation of SOP 03-1 also raised questions regarding the interpretation of the requirements of FAS No. 97, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments," concerning when it is appropriate to record an
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued) RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (continued)
The modified-prospective method recognizes the grant-date fair value of compensation for new awards granted after the effective date and unvested awards beginning in the fiscal period in which the recognition provisions are first applied. Prior periods are not restated. The modified-retrospective method permits entities to restate prior periods by recognizing the compensation cost based on amounts previously reported in the pro forma footnote disclosures as required under FAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation."
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 allows tax-free distributions to be made from the Company's Policyholders' Surplus Account in 2005 and 2006. Under prior law, the Company was allowed to defer from taxation a portion of statutory income under certain circumstances. The deferred income was accumulated in the Policyholders' Surplus Account and is taxable only under conditions that management considers to be remote. Therefore, no federal income taxes have been provided on the accumulated balance of $17.2 as of December 31, 2004. Based on currently available information, the Company anticipates that the new law will permanently eliminate any potential tax on the accumulated balance of $17.2.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (continued) LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES (continued)
not currently anticipated, however, that the actual outcome of such action will have a material adverse effect on ING or ING's U.S.-based operations, including the Company.
In light of these and other developments, U.S. affiliates of ING, including the Company, periodically review whether modifications to their business practices are appropriate.
For further discussion of the Company's regulatory matters, see "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1 "Business."
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. 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.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company changed the accounting principle for goodwill and other intangible assets effective January 1, 2002. As discussed in the Note 14 to the financial statements, the Company restated certain amounts presented in the statements of cash flows related to its payables for securities purchased, short-term borrowings, and investment contracts for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company ("ILIAC"), a stock life insurance company domiciled in the state of Connecticut, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") are providers of financial products and services in the United States. These consolidated financial statements include ILIAC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ING Insurance Company of America ("IICA"), ING Financial Advisers, LLC ("IFA") and, through February 28, 2002, ING Investment Adviser Holding, Inc. ("IA Holdco"). Until March 30, 2003, ILIAC was a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Retirement Holdings, Inc. ("HOLDCO"), which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Retirement Services, Inc. ("IRSI"). Until March 30, 2003, IRSI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc. ("Lion"), which in turn was ultimately owned by ING Groep N.V. ("ING"). On March 30, 2003, a series of mergers occurred in the following order: IRSI merged into Lion and HOLDCO merged into Lion. As a result, ILIAC is now a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion, which in turn is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ING. ING is a global financial services company based in The Netherlands, with American Depository Shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ING."
The Company offers qualified and nonqualified annuity contracts that include a variety of funding and payout options for individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans qualified under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401, 403, 408 and 457, as well as nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Company's products are offered primarily to individuals, pension plans, small businesses and employer-sponsored groups in the health care, government, education (collectively "not-for-profit" organizations), and corporate markets. The Company's products generally are distributed through pension professionals, independent agents and brokers, third party administrators, banks, dedicated career agents, and financial planners.
Annuity contracts may be deferred or immediate (payout annuities). These products also include programs offered to qualified plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans that package administrative and record-keeping services along with a variety of investment options, including affiliated and nonaffiliated mutual funds, and variable and fixed investment options. In addition, the Company offers wrapper agreements entered into with retirement plans which contain certain benefit responsive guarantees (i.e. liquidity guarantees of principal and previously accrued interest for benefits paid under the terms of the plan) with respect to portfolios of plan-owned assets not invested with the Company. The Company also offers investment advisory services and pension plan administrative services.
In the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company implemented Technical Practice Aid 6300.05 - 6300.08, "Q&As Related to the Implementation of SOP 03-1, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts" (the "TPA").
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 03-1 ("EITF-03-1"), "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain
Investments," requiring that a three-step impairment model be applied to securities within its scope. The three-step model is applied on a security-by-security basis as follows:
The Derivative Implementation Group ("DIG"), responsible for issuing guidance on behalf of the FASB for implementation of FAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," issued Statement No. 133 Implementation Issue No. B36, "Embedded Derivatives: Modified Coinsurance Arrangements and Debt Instruments That Incorporate Credit Risk Exposures That Are Unrelated or Only Partially Related to the Credit Worthiness of the Obligor under Those Instruments" ("DIG B36"). Under this interpretation, modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance agreements as well as other types of receivables and payables where interest is determined by reference to a pool of fixed maturity assets or a total return debt index may be determined to contain embedded derivatives that are required to be bifurcated from the host instrument. The required date of adoption of DIG B36 for the Company was October 1, 2003. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51" ("FIN 46"). In December 2003, the FASB modified FIN 46 to make certain technical revisions and address certain implementation issues that had arisen. FIN 46 provides a new framework for identifying variable interest entities ("VIEs") and determining when a company should include the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interests and results of activities of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("FAS 123R"), which requires all share-based payments be recognized in the financial statements based upon the fair value. FAS 123R is effective at the beginning of the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. Earlier adoption is encouraged. FAS 123R provides two transition methods, modified-prospective and modified-retrospective.
The modified-prospective method recognizes the grant-date fair value of compensation for new and unvested awards beginning in the fiscal period in which the recognition provisions are first applied. Prior periods are not restated. The modified-retrospective method, entities are allowed to restate prior periods by recognizing the compensation cost in the amount previously reported in the pro forma footnote disclosures as required under FAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation."
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years financial information to conform to the current year presentation, including a reclassification in the amount of $9.2, net of tax, from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2001 (see footnote 14).
Included in available-for-sale securities are investments that support experience-rated products. Experience-rated products are products where the customer, not the Company, assumes investment (including realized capital gains and losses) and other risks, subject to, among other things, minimum principal and interest guarantees. Unamortized realized gains and losses on the sale of and unrealized capital gains and losses on investments supporting these products are included in future policy benefits and claims reserves on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized capital gains and losses on all other investments are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Unrealized capital gains and losses on all other investments are reflected in shareholder's equity, net of related income taxes.
cash flow characteristics of the security. The fair values for actively traded equity securities are based on quoted market prices. For equity securities not actively traded, estimated fair values are based upon values of issues of comparable yield and quality or conversion value where applicable.
Short-term investments, consisting primarily of money market instruments and other fixed maturities issues purchased with an original maturity of 91 days to one year, are considered available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, which approximates amortized cost.
The Company engages in dollar repurchase agreements ("dollar rolls") and repurchase agreements to increase the return on investments and improve liquidity. These transactions involve a sale of securities and an agreement to repurchase substantially the same securities as those sold. Company policies require a minimum of 95% of the fair value of securities pledged under dollar rolls and repurchase agreement transactions to be maintained as collateral. Cash collateral received is invested in fixed maturities and the offsetting collateral liability is included in borrowed money on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company's use of derivatives is limited mainly to hedging purposes. However, these derivatives are not accounted for using hedge accounting treatment under FAS No. 133 and the Company does not seek hedge accounting treatment. The Company enters into interest rate, equity market, and currency contracts, including swaps, caps, and floors to reduce and manage risks associated with changes in value, yield, price or cash flow or exchange rates of assets or liabilities held or intended to be held. Changes in the fair value of open derivative contracts are recorded in net realized capital gains and losses. Derivatives are included in other investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company also has investments in certain fixed maturity instruments and has retail annuity products that contain embedded derivatives, including those whose market value is at least partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short- or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity markets, or credit ratings/spreads. Changes in the fair value of embedded derivatives are recorded in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Embedded derivatives are included in fixed maturities.
At each evaluation date, actual historical gross profits are reflected, and estimated future gross profits and related assumptions are evaluated for continued reasonableness. Any adjustment in estimated profit requires that the amortization rate be revised ("unlocking"), retroactively to the date of the policy or contract issuance. The cumulative prior period adjustment is recognized as a component of current period amortization. In general, increases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future profits, lower the rate of amortization. However, decreases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future profits, increase the rate of amortization.
The Company establishes and carries actuarially determined reserve liabilities which are calculated to meet its future obligations. Changes in or deviations from the assumptions used can significantly affect the Company's reserve levels and related future operations.
Sales inducements represent benefits paid to contractowners that are incremental to the amounts the Company credits on similar contracts and are higher than the contract's expected ongoing crediting rates for periods after the inducement. As of January 1, 2004, such amounts are reported separately and included in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with SOP 03-1. Prior to 2004, sales inducements were recorded as a component of DAC on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Beginning in 2004, sales inducements are amortized as a component of interest credited and other benefits to contractowners using methodologies and assumptions consistent with those used for amortization of DAC.
For most annuity contracts, fee income for the cost of insurance, surrenders, expenses, and other fees are recorded as revenue as charges are assessed against contractowners. Other amounts received for these contracts are reflected as deposits and are not recorded as premiums or revenue. Related policy benefits are recorded in relation to the associated premiums or gross profit so that profits are recognized over the expected lives of the contracts. When annuity payments with life contingencies begin under contracts that were initially investment contracts, the accumulated balance in the account is treated as a single premium for the purchase of an annuity and reflected as an offsetting amount in both premiums and current and future benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Premiums on the Consolidated Statements of Operations primarily represent amounts received for immediate annuities with life contingencies.
Separate Account assets supporting variable options under annuity contracts are invested, as designated by the contractowner or participant (who bears the investment risk subject, in limited cases, to minimum guaranteed rates) under a contract in shares of mutual funds which are managed by the Company or its affiliates, or other selected mutual funds not managed by the Company or its affiliates.
Separate Account assets and liabilities are carried at fair value and shown as separate captions in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deposits, investment income and net realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the Separate Accounts are not reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements (with the exception of realized and unrealized capital gains and losses on the assets supporting the guaranteed interest option). The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows do not reflect investment activity of the Separate Accounts.
Assets and liabilities of separate account arrangements that do not meet the criteria in SOP 03-1 for presentation in the separate caption in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (primarily guaranteed interest options), and revenue and expenses related to such arrangements, are consolidated in the financial statements with the general account. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, unrealized gains of $7.3 and $55.7, respectively, on assets supporting a guaranteed interest option are reflected in shareholder's equity.
Balance Sheets, $2.9 billion and $3.0 billion at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, is related to the reinsurance recoverable from Lincoln National Corporation ("Lincoln") arising from the sale of the Company's domestic life insurance business in 1998 (See Note 11).
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, net unrealized appreciation of $490.8 and $630.5, respectively, on total fixed maturities, including fixed maturities pledged to creditors, and equity securities, included $357.5 and $491.5, respectively, related to experience-rated contracts, which were not reflected in shareholder's equity but in future policy benefits and claim reserves.
The aggregate unrealized losses and related fair values of investments with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2004, are shown below by duration:
Of the unrealized losses, less than 6 months in duration of $37.7, there were $9.5 in unrealized losses that are primarily related to interest rate movement or spread widening for other than credit-related reasons. The remaining unrealized losses of $28.2, as of December 31, 2004, related to securities reviewed for impairment under the guidance proscribed by EITF Issue No. 99-20. This category includes U.S. government-backed securities, principal protected securities, and structured securities which did not have an adverse change in cash flows for which the carrying amount was $1,746.2.
The Company did not have any investments in a single issuer, other than obligations of the U.S. government, with a carrying value in excess of 10% of the Company's shareholder's equity at December 31, 2004 or 2003.
The Company enters into dollar repurchase agreements ("dollar rolls") and repurchase agreements to increase its return on investments and improve liquidity. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the carrying value of the securities pledged in dollar rolls and repurchase agreements was $1,274.3 and $1,644.8, respectively. The carrying value of the securities pledged in dollar rolls and repurchase agreements is included in pledged securities on the Balance Sheets. The repurchase obligation related to dollar rolls and repurchase agreements totaled $1,057.4 and $1,519.3 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The repurchase obligation related to dollar rolls and repurchase agreements is included in borrowed money on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table identifies the Company's other-than-temporary impairments by type as of December 31:
The following valuation methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of the following financial instruments:
ASSETS HELD IN SEPARATE ACCOUNTS: Assets held in separate accounts are reported at the quoted fair values of the individual securities in the separate accounts.
INVESTMENT CONTRACT LIABILITIES (INCLUDED IN FUTURE POLICY BENEFITS AND CLAIM RESERVES):
Interest rate caps are used to manage the interest rate risk in the Company's bond portfolio. Interest rate caps are purchased contracts that provide the Company with an annuity in an increasing interest rate environment. The notional amount, carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's open interest rate caps as of December 31, 2004 were $527.8, $5.9, and $5.9, respectively. The notional amount,
Activity for the year-ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 within VOBA was as follows:
As part of the regular analysis of DAC/VOBA, at the end of third quarter of 2002, the Company unlocked its long-term rate of return assumptions. The Company reset long-term return assumptions for the Separate Account returns to 9.0% (gross before fund management fees and mortality, expense, and other policy charges), as of December 31, 2002, reflecting a blended return of equity and other sub-accounts. The unlocking adjustment in 2002 was primarily driven by the sustained downturn in the equity markets and revised expectations for future returns. During 2002, the Company recorded an acceleration of DAC/VOBA amortization totaling $45.6 before tax, or $29.7, net of $15.9 of federal income tax benefit.
ILIAC paid a cash dividend of $70.0 to Lion in 2004 and did not pay cash dividends to Lion in 2003 or 2002. However, on February 28, 2002, ILIAC contributed 100% of the stock of IA Holdco to HOLDCO in the form of a $60.1 dividend distribution. ILIAC did not receive capital contributions from its parent in 2004 and received $230.0 and $164.3 in capital contributions during 2003 and 2002, respectively.
As of December 31, 2004, the Separate Account liability subject to SOP 03-1 for guaranteed minimum benefits and the additional liability recognized related to minimum guarantees was $4,396.0 and $0.7, respectively.
Net unrealized capital gains and losses are presented as a component of Other Comprehensive Income in shareholder's equity, net of deferred taxes.
The Company establishes reserves for probable proposed adjustments by various taxing authorities. Management believes there are sufficient reserves provided for, or adequate defenses against any such adjustments. The Internal Revenue Service (the "Service") has completed examinations of the federal income tax returns of the Company for all years through the December 13, 2000 short period. The tax benefit associated with the settlement of the most recent audit is included in the 2004 financial statements. The Service has commenced its examination for the tax years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001. Additionally, various state tax audits are in process.
ING North America sponsors the ING Savings Plan and ESOP (the "Savings Plan"). Substantially all employees of ING North America and its subsidiaries and affiliates (excluding certain employees, including but not limited to Career Agents) are eligible to participate, including the Company's employees other than Company agents. Career Agents are certain, full-time insurance salesmen who have entered into a career agent agreement with the Company and certain other individuals who meet specified eligibility criteria. The Savings Plan is a tax-qualified profit sharing and stock bonus plan, which includes an employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP") 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 pre-tax basis. ING North America matches such pre-tax contributions, up to a maximum of 6% of eligible compensation. All matching contributions are subject to a 4-year graded vesting schedule (although certain specified participants are subject to a 5-year graded vesting schedule). All contributions made to the Savings Plan are subject to certain limits imposed by applicable law. Pre-tax charges of operations of the Company for the Savings Plan were $8.0, $7.1 and $7.1 in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.
The Company also sponsors a tax-qualified profit sharing plan for Career Agents that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 401(K).
ILIAC has certain agreements whereby it incurs expenses with affiliated entities. The agreements are as follows:
- Services agreement between the Company and its affiliates effective January 2001, and amended effective January 1, 2002. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, net expenses related to the agreement where incurred in the amount of $8.6, $19.2, and $13.4, respectively.
Management and service contracts and all cost sharing arrangements with other affiliated companies are allocated in accordance with the Company's expense and cost allocation methods.
ILIAC serves as investment advisor to certain variable funds used in Company products (collectively, the "Company Funds"). The Company Funds pay ILIAC, as investment advisor, a daily fee which, on an annual basis, ranged, depending on the Fund, from 0.5% to 1.0% of their average daily net assets. Each of the Company Funds managed by ILIAC are subadvised by investment advisors, in which case ILIAC pays a subadvisory fee to the investment advisors, which may include affiliates. ILIAC is also compensated by the Separate Accounts for bearing mortality and expense risks pertaining to variable life and annuity contracts. Under the insurance and annuity contracts, the Separate Accounts pay ILIAC a daily fee, which, on an annual basis is, depending on the product, up to 3.4% of their average daily net assets. The amount of compensation and fees received from affiliated mutual funds and separate accounts, amounted to $209.2, $201.4 (excludes fees paid to Aeltus Investment Management, Inc., now known as ING Investment Management LLP ("Aeltus")), and $391.8 (includes fees paid to Aeltus through February 28, 2002, when IA Holdco, Aeltus' parent, ceased to be a subsidiary of ILIAC) in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.
In 2004, ILIAC did not receive any capital contributions. In 2003, ILIAC received $230.0 in cash capital contributions from Lion. In addition, ILIAC received capital contributions in the form of investments in affiliated mutual funds of $164.3 from HOLDCO.
ILIAC paid a cash dividend of $70.0 to Lion in 2004 and did not pay any cash dividends to Lion in 2003 or 2002. However, on February 28, 2002, ILIAC contributed 100% of the stock of IA Holdco to HOLDCO in the form of a $60.1 dividend distribution.
On October 1, 1998, the Company sold its domestic individual life insurance business to Lincoln for $1.0 billion in cash. The transaction is generally in the form of an indemnity reinsurance arrangement, under which Lincoln contractually assumed from the Company certain policyholder liabilities and obligations, although the Company remains directly obligated to contractowners.
The effect of reinsurance on premiums and recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, were as follows:
The Company leases its office space and certain other equipment under operating leases that expire through 2009.
For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, rent expense for leases was $18.1, $20.8 and $18.1, respectively. The future net minimum payments under noncancelable leases for the years ended December 31, 2005 through 2009 are estimated to be $16.7, $15.4, $14.0, $1.3, and $0.5, respectively, and $0.1 thereafter. The Company pays substantially all expenses associated with its leased and subleased office properties. Expenses not paid directly by the Company are paid for by an affiliate and allocated back to the Company.
Through the normal course of investment operations, the Company commits to either purchase or sell securities, commercial mortgage loans or money market instruments at a specified future date and at a specified price or yield. The inability of counterparties to honor these commitments may result in either a higher or lower replacement cost. Also, there is likely to be a change in the value of the securities underlying the commitments. At December 31, 2004, the Company had off-balance sheet commitments to purchase investments of $778.2 with an estimated fair value of $778.2.
The Company is a party to threatened or pending lawsuits/arbitrations arising from the normal conduct of business. Due to the climate in insurance and business litigation/arbitration, suits against the Company sometimes include claims for substantial compensatory, consequential or punitive damages and other types of relief. Moreover, certain claims are asserted as class actions, purporting to represent a group of similarly situated individuals. While it is not possible to forecast the outcome of such lawsuits/arbitrations, in light of existing insurance, reinsurance and established reserves, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of such lawsuits/arbitrations will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company's operations or financial position.
The components of other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:
- Certain changes were made to the classification of reinsurance ceded related to certain products, which were included as a reduction to premiums.
In addition, certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year presentation.
Also, during 2004, certain changes were made to the 2003 and 2002 Statements of Cash Flows to restate the correct balances, primarily related to payables for securities purchased, short-term borrowings, and investment contracts. As a result of these adjustments, we have labeled the Statements of Cash Flows for 2003 and 2002 as restated. The following summarizes the adjustments: