The Company's home office is located at One Orange Way, Windsor, Connecticut, 06095-4774. All Company office space other than the home office is leased or subleased by the Company or its other affiliates. The Company pays substantially all expenses associated with its owned or leased and subleased office properties. Affiliates within Voya Financial, Inc.'s operations provide the Company with various management, finance, investment management and other administrative services, primarily from facilities located at 5780 Powers Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30327-4390. The affiliated companies are reimbursed for the Company's use of these services and facilities under a variety of intercompany agreements.
The following discussion and analysis presents a review of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and financial condition as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. This item should be read in its entirety and in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes contained in Part II, Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
VRIAC is a stock life insurance company domiciled in the State of Connecticut. VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") provide financial products and services in the United States. VRIAC is authorized to conduct its insurance business in all states and in the District of Columbia.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Voya Financial Partners, LLC (formerly ING Financial Advisers, LLC) ("VFP") and Directed Services LLC ("DSL"). Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
The determination of future policy benefit reserves is dependent on actuarial assumptions. The principal assumptions used to establish liabilities for future policy benefits are based on our experience and periodically reviewed against industry standards. These assumptions include mortality, morbidity, policy lapse, contract renewal, payment of subsequent premiums or deposits by the contract owner, retirement, investment returns, inflation, benefit utilization and expenses. The assumptions used require considerable judgments. Changes in, or deviations from, the assumptions used can significantly affect our reserve levels and related results of operations.
The discount rate used to determine the fair value of the liabilities for our FIA and Stabilizer embedded derivatives and the stand-alone derivative for MCG includes an adjustment to reflect the risk that these obligations will not be fulfilled (“nonperformance risk”). Our nonperformance risk adjustment is based on a blend of observable, similarly rated peer holding company credit default swap ("CDS") spreads, adjusted to reflect the credit quality of VRIAC, the issuer of the guarantee as well as an adjustment to reflect the priority of policyholder claims.The impact of the nonperformance risk adjustment on the fair value of these liabilities was a reduction of approximately $21.0 million and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company ("VRIAC"), which changed its name from ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company on September 1, 2014, is a stock life insurance company domiciled in the State of Connecticut. VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, "the Company") provide financial products and services in the United States. VRIAC is authorized to conduct its insurance business in all states and in the District of Columbia.
Prior to May 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. (which changed its name from ING U.S., Inc. on April 7, 2014), together with its subsidiaries, including the Company was an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. ("ING Group" or "ING"), a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands, with American Depository Shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2009, ING Group announced the anticipated separation of its global banking and insurance businesses, including the divestiture of Voya Financial, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, including the Company. On April 11, 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. (formerly ING U.S., Inc.) announced plans to rebrand as Voya Financial, Inc. On May 2, 2013, the common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VOYA." On May 7, 2013 and May 31, 2013, Voya Financial, Inc. completed its initial public offering of common stock, including the issuance and sale by Voya Financial, Inc. of 30,769,230 shares of common stock and the sale by ING Insurance International B.V. ("ING International"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ING Group and previously the sole stockholder of Voya Financial, Inc., of 44,201,773 shares of outstanding common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. (collectively, the "IPO"). On September 30, 2013, ING International transferred all of its shares of Voya Financial, Inc. common stock to ING Group.
On October 29, 2013, ING Group completed a sale of 37,950,000 shares of common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. in a registered public offering ("Secondary Offering"), reducing ING Group's ownership stake in Voya Financial, Inc. to 57%.
On March 9, 2015, ING Group completed a sale of 32,018,100 shares of common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. in a registered public offering (the “March 2015 Offering”). Also on March 9, 2015, pursuant to the terms of a share repurchase agreement between ING Group and Voya Financial, Inc., Voya Financial, Inc. acquired 13,599,274 shares of its common stock from ING Group (the “March 2015 Direct Share Buyback”) (the March 2015 Offering and the March 2015 Direct Share Buyback collectively, the “March 2015 Transactions”). Upon completion of the March 2015 Transactions, ING Group has exited its stake in Voya Financial, Inc. common stock. ING Group continues to hold warrants to purchase up to 26,050,846 shares of Voya Financial, Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $48.75, in each case subject to adjustments. As a result of the completion of the March 2015
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, 457 and 501, as well as nonqualified deferred compensation plans and related services. The Company's products are offered primarily to individuals, pension plans, small businesses and employer-sponsored groups in the health care, government and education markets (collectively "tax exempt markets") and corporate markets. Additionally, the Company provides pension risk transfer solutions to individual plan sponsors looking to transfer their defined benefit plan obligations to us. The Company's products are generally distributed through pension professionals, independent agents and brokers, third-party administrators, banks, dedicated career agents and financial planners.
Products offered by the Company include deferred and immediate (i.e., payout) annuity contracts. Company 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., 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 retirement savings plan administrative services.
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP").
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Voya Financial Partners, LLC ("VFP"), which changed its name from ING Financial Advisers, LLC on September 1, 2014, and Directed Services LLC ("DSL"). Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial information to conform to the current year classifications. During 2014, certain changes were made to the Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2013 to reclassify $79.2 from Operating Activities to Financing Activities for reinsurance transactions that use the deposit method of accounting.
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate: The Company's mortgage loans on real estate are all commercial mortgage loans, which are reported at amortized cost, less impairment write-downs and allowance for losses. If a mortgage loan is determined to be impaired
The Company's use of derivatives is limited mainly to economic hedging to reduce the Company's exposure to cash flow variability of assets and liabilities, interest rate risk, credit risk, exchange rate risk and market risk. It is the Company's policy not to offset
amounts recognized for derivative instruments and amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement.
The Company also has investments in certain fixed maturities and has issued certain annuity products that contain embedded derivatives whose fair value is at least partially determined by levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short-term or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity markets or credit ratings/spreads. Embedded derivatives within fixed maturities are included with the host contract on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in fair value of the embedded derivatives are recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Embedded
derivatives within certain annuity products are included in Future policy benefits and contract owner account balances on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Recoverability testing is performed for current issue year products to determine if gross profits are sufficient to cover DAC and VOBA estimated benefits and expenses. In subsequent years, the Company performs testing to assess the recoverability of DAC and VOBA balances on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances indicate a potential loss recognition issue exists. If DAC or VOBA are not deemed recoverable from future gross profits, charges will be applied against DAC or VOBA balances before an additional reserve is established.
Several assumptions are considered significant in the estimation of gross profits associated with the Company's variable products. One significant assumption is the assumed return associated with the variable account performance. To reflect the volatility in the equity markets, this assumption involves a combination of near-term expectations and long-term assumptions regarding market performance. The overall return on the variable account is dependent on multiple factors, including the relative mix of the underlying sub-accounts among bond funds and equity funds, as well as equity sector weightings. The Company's practice assumes that intermediate-term appreciation in equity markets reverts to the long-term appreciation in equity markets ("reversion to the mean"). The Company monitors market events and only changes the assumption when sustained deviations are expected. This methodology incorporates a 9% long-term equity return assumption, a 14% cap and a five-year look-forward period.
For fixed-indexed annuity contracts ("FIA"), the aggregate initial liability is equal to the deposit received, plus a bonus, if applicable, and is split into a host component and an embedded derivative component. Thereafter, the host liability accumulates at a set interest rate, and the embedded derivative liability is recognized at fair value.
FIA: FIAs contain embedded derivatives that are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host contracts. Such embedded derivatives are recorded in Future policy benefits and contract owner account balances on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in estimated fair value, along with attributed fees collected or payments made, reported in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations.
Separate account assets and liabilities generally represent funds maintained to meet specific investment objectives of contract owners or participants who bear the investment risk, subject, in limited cases, to minimum guaranteed rates. Investment income and investment gains and losses generally accrue directly to such contract owners. The assets of each account are legally segregated and are not subject to claims that arise out of any other business of the Company or its affiliates.
Long-term debt is carried at an amount equal to the unpaid principal balance, net of any remaining unamortized discount or premium attributable to issuance. Direct and incremental costs to issue the debt are recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized as a component of Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the life of the debt using the effective interest method of amortization.
The primary risk associated with short-term collateralized borrowings is that the counterparty will be unable to perform under the terms of the contract. The Company's exposure is limited to the excess of the net replacement cost of the securities over the value
of the short-term investments. The Company believes the counterparties to the dollar rolls and repurchase agreements are financially responsible and that the counterparty risk is minimal.
The Company uses certain assumptions and estimates in determining the income taxes payable or refundable to/from Voya Financial, Inc. for the current year, the deferred income tax liabilities and assets for items recognized differently in its consolidated financial statements from amounts shown on its income tax returns and the federal income tax expense. Determining these amounts requires analysis and interpretation of current tax laws and regulations, including the loss limitation rules associated with change in control. Management exercises considerable judgment in evaluating the amount and timing of recognition of the resulting income tax liabilities and assets. These judgments and estimates are reevaluated on a continual basis as regulatory and business factors change.
Only those reinsurance recoverable balances deemed probable of recovery are reflected as assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets and are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance. Amounts currently recoverable and payable under reinsurance agreements are included in Reinsurance recoverable and Other liabilities, respectively. Such assets and liabilities relating to reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurer are recorded net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets if a right of offset exists within the reinsurance agreement. Premiums, Fee income and Interest credited and other benefits to contract owners/policyholders are reported net of reinsurance ceded. Amounts received from reinsurers for policy administration are reported in Other revenue.
The provisions of ASU 2013-04 were adopted by the Company on January 1, 2014. The adoption had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, as the Company did not have any fixed obligations under joint and several liable arrangements during 2014.
The provisions of ASU 2011-06 were adopted by the Company on January 1, 2014, when the fee initially became effective. The adoption of ASU 2011-06 had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, as the Company does not sell qualifying health insurance and, thus, is not subject to the fee.
Modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar entities are Variable Interest Entities("VIEs") or Voting Interest Entities ( "VOEs"), including the requirement to consider the rights of all equity holders at risk to determine if they have the power to direct the entity's most significant activities.
The provisions of ASU 2014-09 are effective retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2014-09.
recorded directly in AOCI and presented net of related changes in DAC, VOBA and Deferred income taxes. In addition, certain fixed maturities have embedded derivatives, which are reported with the host contract on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company invests in various categories of CMOs, including CMOs that are not agency-backed, that are subject to different degrees of risk from changes in interest rates and defaults. The principal risks inherent in holding CMOs are prepayment and extension risks related to significant decreases and increases in interest rates resulting in the prepayment of principal from the underlying mortgages, either earlier or later than originally anticipated. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately 57.3% and 50.4%, respectively, of the Company's CMO holdings, such as interest-only or principal-only strips, were invested in those types of CMOs that are subject to more prepayment and extension risk than traditional CMOs.
The Company invests in various tranches of securitization entities, including RMBS, CMBS and ABS. Through its investments, the Company is not obligated to provide any financial or other support to these entities. Each of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities are thinly capitalized by design and considered VIEs. The Company's involvement with these entities is limited to that of a passive investor. The Company has no unilateral right to appoint or remove the servicer, special servicer or investment manager, which are generally viewed to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the securitization entities' economic performance, in any of these entities, nor does the Company function in any of these roles. The Company, through its investments or other arrangements, does not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. Therefore, the Company is not the primary beneficiary and will not consolidate any of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities in which it holds investments. These investments are accounted for as investments available-for-sale as described in the Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Note to these Consolidated Financial Statements and unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are recorded directly in AOCI, except for certain RMBS which are accounted for under the FVO for which changes in fair value are reflected in Other net realized gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these structured investments is limited to the amount of its investment.
Of the unrealized capital losses aged more than twelve months, the average market value of the related fixed maturities was 95.9% and 89.7% of the average book value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Investments with fair values less than amortized cost are included in the Company's other-than-temporary impairments analysis. Impairments were recognized as disclosed in the "Evaluating Securities for Other-Than-Temporary Impairments" section below. The Company evaluates non-agency RMBS and ABS for "other-than-temporary impairments" each quarter based on actual and projected cash flows after considering the quality and updated loan-to-value ratios reflecting current home prices of underlying collateral, forecasted loss severity, the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security and amount of any credit enhancements. The Company's assessment of current levels of cash flows compared to estimated cash flows at the time the securities were acquired indicates the amount and the pace of projected cash flows from the underlying collateral has generally been lower and slower, respectively. However, since cash flows are typically projected at a trust level, the impairment review incorporates the security's position within the trust structure as well as credit enhancement remaining in the trust to determine whether an impairment is warranted. Therefore, while lower and slower cash flows will impact the trust, the effect on a particular security within the trust will be dependent upon the trust structure. Where the assessment continues to project full recovery of principal and interest on schedule, the Company has not recorded an impairment. Unrealized losses on below investment grade securities are principally related to RMBS (primarily Alt-A RMBS) and ABS (primarily subprime RMBS) largely due to economic and market uncertainties including concerns over unemployment levels, lower interest rate environment on floating rate securities requiring higher risk premiums since purchase and valuations on residential real estate supporting non-agency RMBS. Based on this analysis, the Company determined that the remaining investments in an unrealized loss position were not other-than-temporarily impaired and therefore no further other-than-temporary impairment was necessary.
The Company invests in high quality, well performing portfolios of commercial mortgage loans and private placements. Under certain circumstances, modifications are granted to these contracts. Each modification is evaluated as to whether a troubled debt restructuring has occurred. A modification is a troubled debt restructuring when the borrower is in financial difficulty and the creditor makes concessions. Generally, the types of concessions may include reducing the face amount or maturity amount of the debt as originally stated, reducing the contractual interest rate, extending the maturity date at an interest rate lower than current market interest rates and/or reducing accrued interest. The Company considers the amount, timing and extent of the concession granted in determining any impairment or changes in the specific valuation allowance recorded in connection with the troubled debt restructuring. A valuation allowance may have been recorded prior to the quarter when the loan is modified in a troubled debt restructuring. Accordingly, the carrying value (net of the specific valuation allowance) before and after modification through a troubled debt restructuring may not change significantly, or may increase if the expected recovery is higher than the pre-modification recovery assessment. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had no new troubled debt restructurings for private placement or commercial mortgage loans. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company had no new private placement troubled debt restructuring and had 20 new commercial mortgage loan troubled debt restructurings with a pre-modification and post modification carrying value of $39.4. The 20 commercial mortgage loans comprise a portfolio of cross-defaulted, cross-collateralized individual loans, which are owned by the same sponsor. Between the date of the troubled debt restructurings and December 31, 2014, these loans have repaid $12.1 in principal.
The Company defines delinquent mortgage loans consistent with industry practice as 60 days past due. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest income until a loan becomes 90 days delinquent or foreclosure proceedings are commenced, at which point interest accrual is discontinued. Interest accrual is not resumed until the loan is brought current.
There were no mortgage loans in the Company's portfolio in process of foreclosure as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. There were no loans 90 days or more past due or loans in arrears with respect to principal and interest as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
The Company may sell securities during the period in which fair value has declined below amortized cost for fixed maturities or cost for equity securities. In certain situations, new factors, including changes in the business environment, can change the Company's previous intent to continue holding a security. Accordingly, these factors may lead the Company to record additional intent related capital losses.
Under the terms of the OTC Derivative International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. ("ISDA") agreements, the Company may receive from, or deliver to, counterparties collateral to assure that terms of the ISDA agreements will be met with regard to the Credit Support Annex ("CSA"). The terms of the CSA call for the Company to pay interest on any cash received equal to the Federal Funds rate. To the extent cash collateral is received and delivered, it is included in Payables under securities loan agreements, including collateral held and Short-term investments under securities loan agreements, including collateral delivered, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is reinvested in short-term investments. Collateral held is used in accordance with the CSA to satisfy any obligations. Investment grade bonds owned by the Company are the source of noncash collateral posted, which is reported in Securities pledged on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014, the Company held $161.5 and $130.2 of net cash collateral related to OTC derivative contracts and cleared derivative contracts, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, the Company held $127.4 and $1.2 of net cash collateral related to OTC derivative contracts and cleared derivative contracts, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2014, the Company delivered $60.4 of securities and held $6.6 of securities as collateral. As of December 31, 2013, the Company delivered $42.5 of securities and held $16.3 of securities as collateral.
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at estimated fair value on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an "exit price") in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The exit price and the transaction (or entry) price will be the same at initial recognition in many circumstances. However, in certain cases, the transaction price may not represent fair value. The fair value of a liability is based on the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a third-party with an equal credit standing. Fair value is required to be a market-based measurement that is determined based on a hypothetical transaction at the measurement date, from a market participant's perspective. The Company considers three broad valuation techniques when a quoted price is unavailable: (i) the market approach, (ii) the income approach and (iii) the cost approach. The Company determines the most appropriate valuation technique to use, given the instrument being measured and the availability of sufficient inputs. The Company prioritizes the inputs to fair valuation techniques and allows for the use of unobservable inputs to the extent that observable inputs are not available.
The discount rate used to determine the fair value of the embedded derivatives and stand-alone derivative associated with the Company's product guarantees includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. The nonperformance risk adjustment incorporates a blend of observable, similarly rated peer holding company credit default swap spreads, adjusted to reflect the credit quality of the Company, the issuer of the guarantee, as well as an adjustment to reflect the priority of policyholder claims.
There were no securities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out as of the beginning of the reporting period.
is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument.
Funding agreements without a fixed maturity and deferred annuities: Fair value is estimated as the mean present value of stochastically modeled cash flows associated with the contract liabilities taking into account assumptions about contract holder behavior. The stochastic valuation scenario set is consistent with current market parameters and discount is taken using stochastically evolving risk-free rates in the scenarios plus an adjustment for nonperformance risk. Margins for non-financial risks associated with the contract liabilities are also included. These liabilities are classified as Level 3.
As of December 31, 2014, the account value for the separate account contracts with guaranteed minimum benefits was $39.0 billion. The additional liability recognized related to minimum guarantees was $111.5. As of December 31, 2013, the account value for the separate account contracts with guaranteed minimum benefits was $38.0 billion. The additional liability recognized related to minimum guarantees was $7.1.
During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, VRIAC did not receive any capital contributions from its Parent.
Statutory net income (loss) was $321.7, $175.2 and $261.6, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Statutory capital and surplus was $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Valuation allowances are provided when it is considered unlikely that deferred tax assets will be realized. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had total valuation allowances of approximately $10.7 and $11.1, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $130.0 and $130.4, respectively, of these valuation allowances were allocated to continuing operations, and $(119.3) as of the end of each period were allocated to Other comprehensive income related to realized and unrealized capital losses.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the increases (decreases) in the valuation allowances were $(0.4), $0.0 and $0.0, respectively. In 2014, 2013 and 2012 there were increases (decreases) of $(0.4), $67.6, and $0.0, respectively, in the valuation allowances that were allocated to operations. In 2014, 2013 and 2012 there were increases (decreases) of $0.0, $(67.6), and $0.0, respectively, that were allocated to Other comprehensive income.
Voya Services Company (formerly ING North America Insurance Corporation) sponsors the Voya Retirement Plan (the "Retirement Plan"). Substantially all employees of Voya Services Company and its affiliates (excluding certain employees) are eligible to participate, including the Company's employees other than Company agents.
The costs allocated to the Company for its employees' participation in the Retirement Plan were $6.2, $6.5 and $19.1 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in Operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Voya Services Company sponsors the Voya Savings Plan and ESOP (the "Savings Plan"). Substantially all employees of Voya Services Company and its affiliates (excluding certain employees, 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 salespeople 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 defined contribution retirement plan, which includes an employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP") component. The Savings Plan is a tax qualified defined contribution and stock bonus plan, which includes an employee stock ownership plan component. Savings Plan benefits are not guaranteed by the PBGC. The Savings Plan allows eligible participants to defer into the Savings Plan a specified percentage of eligible compensation on a pre-tax basis. Voya Services Company matches such pre-tax contributions, up to a maximum of 6.0% of eligible compensation. Matching contributions are subject to a 4-year graded vesting schedule. Contributions made to the Savings Plan are subject to certain limits imposed by applicable law. The cost allocated to the Company for the Savings Plan were $10.6, $10.8 and $9.7, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in Operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The following table summarizes the benefit obligations for the SERPs and Agents Non-Qualified Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other liabilities and in AOCI were as follows as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
In determining the discount rate assumption, the Company utilizes current market information provided by its plan actuaries, including a discounted cash flow analysis of the Company's pension obligation and general movements in the current market environment. The discount rate modeling process involves selecting a portfolio of high quality, noncallable bonds that will match the cash flows of the Retirement Plan. Based upon all available information, it was determined that 4.36% was the appropriate discount rate as of December 31, 2014, to calculate the Company's accrued benefit liability.
The Company recognized tax benefits of $8.6, $6.0 and $3.9 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Excess tax benefits are recognized in Additional paid-in capital and are accounted for in a single pool available to all share-based compensation awards. Excess tax benefits in Additional paid-in capital are not recognized until the benefits result in a reduction in taxes payable. The Company uses tax law ordering when determining when excess tax benefits have been realized.
The benefit charges allocated to the Company related to these plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, were $12.8, $11.3 and $11.9, respectively.
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amount of the loan outstanding was $4.9, which was reflected in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(1) Includes the fair value of loaned securities of $174.9 and $97.6 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which is included in Securities pledged on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company delivered securities as collateral of $60.4 and $42.5, respectively, which was included in Securities pledged on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As with other financial services companies, the Company periodically receives informal and formal requests for information from various state and federal governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations in connection with inquiries and investigations of the products and practices of the Company or the financial services industry. It is the practice of the Company to cooperate fully in these matters. Regulatory investigations, exams, inquiries and audits could result in regulatory action against the Company. The potential outcome of such action is difficult to predict but could subject the Company to adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, settlement payments, additional payments to beneficiaries and additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws. They may also result in fines and penalties and changes to the Company's procedures for the identification and escheatment of abandoned property or the correction of processing errors and other financial liability.
2014, the Company estimates the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses, in excess of any amounts accrued for these matters, as of such date, is not material to the Company.
Investment Advisory agreement with Voya Investment Management LLC ("VIM") (formerly ING Investment Management LLC), an affiliate, in which VIM provides asset management, administrative and accounting services for VRIAC's general account. VRIAC incurs a fee, which is paid quarterly, based on the value of the assets under management. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred in the amounts of $30.3, $27.7 and $27.0, respectively.
Services agreement with Voya Services Company for administrative, management, financial and information technology services, dated January 1, 2001 and amended effective January 1, 2002. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred in the amounts of $197.7, $187.1 and $183.5, respectively.
Services agreement between VRIAC and its U.S. insurance company affiliates for administrative, management, financial and information technology services, dated January 1, 2001 and amended effective January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2007. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, net expenses related to the agreement were incurred in the amount of $26.9, $22.6 and $30.8, respectively.
Intercompany agreements with each of VIAC, VRIAC, VIPS, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company and Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (individually, the "Contracting Party") pursuant to which DSL agreed, effective January 1, 2010, to pay the Contracting Party, on a monthly basis, a portion of the revenues DSL earns as investment adviser to certain U.S. registered investment companies that are either investment option under certain variable insurance products of the Contracting Party or are purchased for certain customers of the Contracting Party. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred under these intercompany agreements in the aggregate amount of $231.5, $230.5 and $212.3, respectively.
Service agreement with RLNY whereby DSL receives managerial and supervisory services and incurs a fee. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses were incurred under this service agreement in the amount of $3.3, $3.4 and $3.2, respectively.
The Company has entered into the following agreements that were accounted for under the deposit method with two of its affiliates. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had deposit assets of $93.9 and $39.7, respectively, and deposit liabilities of $201.1 and $83.5, respectively related to these agreements. Deposit assets and liabilities are included in Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Effective January 1, 2007, VRIAC's investment advisory agreement to serve as investment advisor to certain variable funds offered in Company products (collectively, the "Company Funds"), was assigned to DSL. VRIAC 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 VRIAC daily fees that, on an annual basis are, depending on the product, up to 3.4% of their average daily net assets. The total amount of compensation and fees received by the Company from the Company Funds and separate accounts totaled $210.4, $152.4 and $135.0 (excludes fees paid to Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (formerly ING Investment Management Co. LLC)) in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Company maintains a reciprocal loan agreement with Voya Financial, Inc., an affiliate, to facilitate the handling of unanticipated short-term cash requirements that arise in the ordinary course of business. Under this agreement, which became effective in June 2001 and expires on April 1, 2016, either party can borrow from the other up to 3.0% of the Company's statutory admitted assets as of the preceding December 31. For the year ended December 31, 2014, interest on any borrowing by either the Company or Voya Financial, Inc. was charged at a rate based on the prevailing market rate for similar third-party borrowings or securities. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, interest on any Company borrowing was charged at the rate of Voya Financial, Inc.'s cost of funds for the interest period, plus 0.15%. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, interest on any Voya Financial, Inc. borrowing was charged at a rate based on the prevailing interest rate of U.S. commercial paper available for purchase with a similar duration.
On December 29, 2004, VIAC issued a surplus note in the principal amount of $175.0 (the "Note") scheduled to mature on December 29, 2034, to VRIAC. The Note bears interest at a rate of 6.26% per year. Interest is scheduled to be paid semi-annually in arrears on June 29 and December 29 of each year, commencing on June 29, 2005. Interest income was $11.1 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.