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 Financial Statements and related notes contained in Part II, Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reserves for future policy benefits, deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), value of business acquired ("VOBA") and deferred sales inducements ("DSI"), valuation of investments and derivatives, impairments, income taxes and contingencies
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.
Reserves for traditional life insurance contracts (term insurance, participating and non-participating whole life insurance and traditional group life insurance) and accident and health insurance represent the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of contract owners and related expenses, less the present value of future net premiums. Assumptions as to interest rates, mortality, expenses and persistency are based on our estimates of anticipated experience at the period the policy is sold or acquired, including a provision for adverse deviation. Interest rates used to calculate the present value of these reserves ranged from 3.0% to 7.2%.
GMAB, GMWB, GMWBL and FIA: We also issue certain products which contain embedded derivatives that are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host contract. These embedded derivatives include annuity guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits ("GMAB"), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits without life contingencies ("GMWB"), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits with life payouts ("GMWBL") and fixed indexed annuities ("FIA"). Changes in estimated fair value of these derivatives are reported in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations.
The discount rate used to determine the fair value of the liabilities for our GMAB, GMWB, GMWBL and FIA embedded derivatives 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 VIAC, 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 $754 million and $373 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Voya Insurance and Annuity Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
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 Transactions, ING Group has
satisfied the provisions of its agreement with the European Union regarding the divestment of its U.S. insurance and investment operations, which required ING Group to divest 100% of its ownership interest in Voya Financial, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, including the Company by the end of 2016.
VIAC is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Voya Holdings Inc. (formerly Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.) ("Parent"), which is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc.
The Company offers various insurance products, including immediate and deferred fixed annuities. The Company's fixed annuity products are distributed by national and regional brokerage and securities firms, independent broker-dealers, banks, life insurance companies with captive agency sales forces, independent insurance agents, independent marketing organizations and affiliated broker-dealers. The Company's primary annuity customers are individual consumers. The Company ceased new sales of retail variable annuity products with substantial guarantee features in early 2010, as part of a global business strategy and risk reduction plan. New amounts will continue to be deposited in VIAC variable annuities as add-on premiums to existing contracts.
Other Investments: Other investments are comprised primarily of Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") stock and property obtained from foreclosed mortgage loans, as well as other miscellaneous investments. The Company is a member of the FHLB system and is required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors; the Company may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value.
The Company evaluates its available-for-sale general account investments quarterly to determine whether there has been an other-than-temporary decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis. Factors considered in this analysis include, but are not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, the issuer's financial condition and near-term prospects, future economic conditions and market forecasts, interest rate changes and changes in ratings of the security. An extended and severe unrealized loss position on a fixed maturity may not have any impact on: (a) the ability of the issuer to service all scheduled interest and principal payments and (b) the evaluation of recoverability of all contractual cash flows or the ability to recover an amount at least equal to its amortized cost based on the present value of the expected future cash flows to be collected. In contrast, for certain equity securities, the Company gives greater weight and consideration to a decline in market value and the likelihood such market value decline will recover.
gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations as an other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"). If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, but the Company has determined that there has been an other-than-temporary decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis, the OTTI is bifurcated into the amount representing the present value of the decrease in cash flows expected to be collected ("credit impairment") and the amount related to other factors ("noncredit impairment"). The credit impairment is recorded in Net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations. The noncredit impairment is recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss).
The Company enters into interest rate, equity market, credit default and currency contracts, including swaps, futures, forwards, caps, floors and options, to reduce and manage various risks associated with changes in value, yield, price, cash flow or exchange rates of assets or liabilities held or intended to be held, or to assume or reduce credit exposure associated with a referenced asset, index or pool. The Company also utilizes options and futures on equity indices to reduce and manage risks associated with its annuity products.
Open derivative contracts are reported as Derivatives assets or liabilities on the Balance Sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in Net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations.
Cash Flow Hedge: For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of AOCI and reclassified into earnings in the same periods during which the hedged transaction impacts earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction. The ineffective portion of the derivative's change in value, if any, along with any of the derivative's change in value that is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, are recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations.
Contract owners may periodically exchange one contract for another, or make modifications to an existing contract. These transactions are identified as internal replacements. Internal replacements that are determined to result in substantially unchanged contracts are accounted for as continuations of the replaced contracts. Any costs associated with the issuance of the new contracts are considered maintenance costs and expensed as incurred. Unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts continue to be deferred and amortized in connection with the new contracts. Internal replacements that are determined to result in contracts that are substantially changed are accounted for as extinguishments of the replaced contracts, and any unamortized DAC and VOBA related to the replaced contracts are written off to Net amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired in the Statements of Operations.
Other significant assumptions used in the estimation of gross profits include mortality and for products with credited rates include interest rate spreads and credit losses. Estimated gross profits of variable annuity contracts are sensitive to mortality and estimated policyholder behavior assumptions, such as surrender, lapse and annuitization rates.
The liabilities for the GMAB, GMWB, GMWBL and FIA embedded derivatives include a risk margin to capture uncertainties related to policyholder behavior assumptions. The margin represents additional compensation a market participant would require to assume these risks. The discount rate used to determine the fair value of the liabilities for the GMAB, GMWB, GMWBL and FIA embedded derivatives includes an adjustment to reflect the risk that these obligations will not be fulfilled (“nonperformance risk”).
The Company engages in dollar repurchase agreements with MBS ("dollar rolls") and repurchase agreements with other collateral types to increase its return on investments and improve liquidity. Such arrangements meet the requirements to be accounted for as financing arrangements.
The Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities are measured at the balance sheet date using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years the temporary differences are expected to reverse.
For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk. The Company reviews all contractual features, particularly those that may limit the amount of insurance risk to which the reinsurer is subject or features that delay the timely reimbursement of claims. The assumptions used to account for both long and short-duration reinsurance agreements are consistent with those used for the underlying contracts. Ceded Future policy benefits and contract owner account balances are reported gross on the Balance Sheets.
The provisions of ASU 2013-11 were adopted prospectively by the Company on January 1, 2014, to unrecognized tax benefits existing on that date. The adoption had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, as the guidance is consistent with that previously applied.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (ASC Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"), which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The provisions of ASU 2014-15 will not affect a company's financial condition, results of operation, or cash flows, but require disclosure if management determines there is substantial doubt, including management’s plans to alleviate or mitigate the conditions or events that raise substantial doubt.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, "Transfers and Servicing (ASC Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures" ("ASU 2014-11"), which (1) changes the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions to secured borrowing accounting and (2) requires separate accounting for a transfer of a financial asset executed with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty. This will result in secured borrowing accounting for the repurchase agreement. The amendments also require additional disclosures for certain transactions accounted for as a sale and for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any investments in a single issuer, other than obligations of the U.S. Government and government agencies, with a carrying value in excess of 10% of the Company's Shareholder's equity.
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 41.7% and 33.4%, 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.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair value of loaned securities was $121.2 and $128.5, respectively, and is included in Securities pledged on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, collateral retained by the lending agent and invested in liquid assets on the Company's behalf was $125.4 and $132.4, respectively, and recorded in Short-term investments under securities loan agreements, including collateral delivered on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, liabilities to return collateral of $125.4 and $132.4, respectively, were included in Payables under securities loan agreements, including collateral held on the Balance Sheets.
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 $24.6. 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 $7.5 in principal.
The above tables include $3.7, $6.4 and $14.7 of write-downs related to credit impairments for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, in Other-than-temporary impairments, which are recognized in the Statements of Operations. The remaining $2.0, $3.9 and $3.8, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are related to intent impairments.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $0.2 of investments in fixed maturities that did not produce net investment income. As of December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any investments in fixed maturities that did not produce net investment income. Fixed maturities are moved to a non-accrual status when the investment defaults.
Futures: Futures contracts are used to hedge against a decrease in certain equity indices. Such decreases may result in a decrease in variable annuity account values which would increase the possibility of the Company incurring an expense for guaranteed benefits in excess of account values. The Company also uses futures contracts as a hedge against an increase in certain equity indices. Such increases may result in increased payments to the holders of the FIA contracts. The Company enters into exchange traded futures with regulated futures commissions that are members of the exchange. The Company also posts initial and variation margins with the exchange on a daily basis. The Company utilizes exchange-traded futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Options: The Company uses put options to manage the equity, interest rate and equity volatility risk of the economic liabilities associated with certain variable annuity minimum guaranteed benefits. The Company also uses call options to hedge against an increase in various equity indices. Such increases may result in increased payments to the holders of the FIA contracts. The Company pays an upfront premium to purchase these options. The Company utilizes these options in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Embedded derivatives: The Company also invests in certain fixed maturity instruments and has issued certain annuity products that contain embedded derivatives whose market value is at least partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short-term or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity rates, or credit ratings/spreads. In addition, the Company has entered into coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, which contain embedded derivatives.
(1) Changes in value for effective fair value hedges are recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses). Changes in fair value upon disposal for effective cash flow hedges are amortized through Net investment income and the ineffective portion is recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, ineffective amounts were immaterial.
The following table presents the Company's hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014:
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at estimated fair value on the Company's 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.
Broker quotes and prices obtained from pricing services are reviewed and validated through an internal valuation committee price variance review, comparisons to internal pricing models, back testing to recent trades, or monitoring of trading volumes. As of December 31, 2014, $467.8 and $18.1 billion of a total fair value of $23.3 billion in fixed maturities, including securities pledged, were valued using unadjusted broker quotes and unadjusted prices obtained from pricing services, respectively and verified through the review process. The remaining balance in fixed maturities consisted primarily of privately placed bonds valued using a matrix-based pricing. As of December 31, 2013, $110.5 and $17.4 billion of a total fair value of $22.5 billion in fixed maturities, including securities pledged, were valued using unadjusted broker quotes and unadjusted prices obtained from pricing services, respectively and verified through the review process. The remaining balance in fixed maturities consisted primarily of privately placed bonds valued using a matrix-based pricing.
Derivatives: Derivatives are carried at fair value which is determined using the Company's derivative accounting system in conjunction with observable key financial data from third party sources, such as yield curves, exchange rates, S&P 500 Index prices, London Interbank Offered Rates ("LIBOR") and Overnight Index Swap ("OIS") rates. In June 2012, the Company began using OIS rather than LIBOR for valuations of collateralized interest rate derivatives, which are obtained from third-party sources. For those derivatives that are unable to be valued by the accounting system, the Company typically utilizes values established by third-party brokers. Counterparty credit risk is considered and incorporated in the Company's valuation process through counterparty credit rating requirements and monitoring of overall exposure. It is the Company's policy to transact only with investment grade counterparties with a credit rating of A- or better. The Company's nonperformance risk is also considered and incorporated in the Company's valuation process. Valuations for the Company's futures and interest rate forward contracts are based on unadjusted quoted prices from an active exchange and, therefore, are classified as Level 1. The Company also has certain credit default swaps and options that are priced using models that primarily use market observable inputs, but contain inputs that are not observable to market participants, which have been classified as Level 3. However, all other derivative instruments, including those priced by third-party vendors, are valued based on market observable inputs and are classified as Level 2.
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the transfers in and out of Level 3 for fixed maturities and equity securities, were due to the variation in inputs relied upon for valuation each quarter. Securities that are primarily valued using independent broker quotes when prices are not available from one of the commercial pricing services are reflected as transfers into Level 3. When securities are valued using more widely available information, the securities are transferred out of Level 3 and into Level 1 or 2, as appropriate.
The fair value of certain options and swap contracts are valued using observable inputs and were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 during the year ended December 31, 2013.
Correlations: Integrated interest rate and equity scenarios are used in GMAB, GMWB and GMWBL fair value measurements to better reflect market interest rates and interest rate volatility correlations between equity and fixed income fund groups and between equity fund groups and interest rates. The correlations are based on historical fund returns and swap rates from external sources.
(2) Those policyholders who have elected systematic withdrawals are assumed to continue taking withdrawals. As a percent of account value, 30% are taking systematic withdrawals. Of those policyholders who are not taking withdrawals, we assume that 85% will begin systematic withdrawals after a delay period. The utilization function varies by policyholder age and policy duration. Interactions with lapse and mortality also affect utilization. The utilization rate for GMWB and GMWBL tends to be lower for younger contract owners and contracts that have not reached their maximum accumulated GMWB and GMWBL benefit amount. There is also a lower utilization rate, though indirectly, for contracts that are less "in the money" (i.e., where the notional benefit amount is in excess of the account value) due to higher lapses. Conversely, the utilization rate tends to be higher for contract owners near or beyond retirement age and contracts that have accumulated their maximum GMWB or GMWBL benefit amount. There is also a higher utilization rate, though indirectly, for contracts which are highly "in the money". The chart below provides the GMWBL account value by current age group and average expected delay times from the associated attained age group as of December 31, 2013 (account value amounts are in $ billions).
(5) The mortality rate is based on the Annuity 2000 Basic table with mortality improvements.
Higher long-term equity implied volatility is often correlated with lower equity returns, which will result in higher in-the-moneyness, which in turn, results in lower lapses due to the dynamic lapse component reducing the lapses. This increases the projected number of policies that are available to use the GMWBL benefit and may also increase the fair value of the GMWBL.
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.
Supplementary contracts and immediate annuities: Fair value is estimated as the mean present value of the single deterministically modeled cash flows associated with the contract liabilities discounted using stochastically evolving short risk-free rates in the scenarios plus an adjustment for nonperformance risk. The valuation is consistent with current market parameters. Margins for non-financial risks associated with the contract liabilities are also included. These liabilities are classified as Level 3.
While the Company ceased new sales of retail variable annuity products with substantial guarantee features in early 2010, its currently-sold retail variable annuity contracts with separate account options guarantee the contract owner a return of no less than (i) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals, (ii) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return, or (iii) the highest contract value on a specified date minus any withdrawals. These guarantees include benefits that are payable in the event of death, annuitization or at specified dates.
The Company also offers optional guaranteed withdrawal benefit provisions on its indexed annuity products. This provision guarantees an annual withdrawal amount for life that is calculated as a percentage of the benefit base, which equals premium paid at the time of product issue, and can increase by a rollup percentage (mainly 7% or 6%, depending on versions of the benefit) or annual ratchet. The percentage used to determine the guaranteed annual withdrawal amount may vary by age at first withdrawal and depends on whether the benefit is for a single life, or joint lives.
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB): Guarantees a minimum income payout, exercisable only on a contract anniversary on or after a specified date, in most cases 10 years after purchase of the GMIB rider. The income payout is determined based on contractually established annuity factors multiplied by the benefit base. The benefit base equals the premium paid at the time of product issue and may increase over time based on a number of factors, including a rollup percentage (mainly 7% or 6% depending on the version of the benefit) and ratchet frequency subject to maximum caps which vary by product version (200%, 250% or 300% of initial premium).
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (GMAB): Guarantees that the account value will be at least 100% of the eligible premiums paid by the customer after 10 years, adjusted for withdrawals. We offered an alternative design that guaranteed the account value to be at least 200% of the eligible premiums paid by contract owners after 20 years.
The following assumptions and methodology were used to determine the guaranteed reserves for retail variable annuity contracts as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
The Company also calculates additional liabilities for FIA contracts with guaranteed withdrawal benefits. The additional liability represents the expected value of these benefits in excess of the projected account balance, and is accreted based on assessments over the accumulation period of the contract. The additional liability for FIA guaranteed withdrawal benefits was $19.7 and $35.1, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The additional liability is recorded in Future policy benefits and contract owner account balances on the Balance Sheets.
At December 31, 2014, the Company had reinsurance treaties with 14 unaffiliated reinsurers covering a portion of the mortality risks and guaranteed death and living benefits under its life and annuity contracts. The Company, as cedant, also has reinsurance treaties with two affiliates, SLD and SLDI, related to GICs, fixed annuities, variable annuities and universal life insurance policies. In addition, the Company assumed reinsurance risk under reinsurance treaties with its affiliates, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company ("RLI") and SLD related to certain life insurance policies and employee benefit group annual term policies. The Company remains liable to the extent its reinsurers do not meet their obligations under the reinsurance agreements. Furthermore, the Company has agreements with SLD which are accounted for using the deposit method. For additional information regarding these transactions with affiliates, see the Related Party Transactions Note for further detail.
Deposits and reinsurance recoverable was comprised of the following as of the dates indicated:
The Company is required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Division. Such statutory accounting practices primarily differ from U.S. GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities and contract owner account balances using different actuarial assumptions as well as valuing investments and certain assets and accounting for deferred taxes on a different basis. Certain assets that are not admitted under statutory accounting principles are charged directly to surplus. Depending on the regulations of the Division, the entire amount or a portion of an insurance company's asset balance can be non-admitted depending on specific rules regarding admissibility. The most significant non-admitted assets of the Company are typically deferred tax assets.
Statutory net income (loss) was $335.6, $(55.8) and $(9.1), for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Statutory capital and surplus was $2.1 billion and $1.9 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 2013, the Company had total valuation allowances of $549.7 and $423.9, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, $735.4 and $609.6, respectively, of these valuation allowances were allocated to continuing operations, and $(185.7) of these valuation allowances were allocated to Other comprehensive income (loss) related to realized and unrealized capital losses.
The Company had a payable to Voya Financial, Inc. of $2.1 as of December 31, 2014 and a receivable from Voya Financial, Inc. of $22.6 as of December 31, 2013, for federal income taxes under the intercompany tax sharing agreement.
The Company had $5.5, $2.7 and $2.7, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, which would affect the Company's effective tax rate if recognized.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties, if applicable, related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense net of federal income tax. The Company had no accrued interest as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
During April 2014, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") completed its examination of Voya Financial, Inc.'s consolidated return (including the Company) through tax year 2012. The 2012 audit settlement did not have a material impact on the Company. Voya Financial, Inc. (including the Company) is currently under audit by the IRS, and it is expected that the examination of tax year 2013 will be finalized within the next twelve months. Voya Financial, Inc. and the IRS have agreed to participate in the Compliance Assurance Process for the tax years 2013 through 2015.
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.
Effective September 8, 2014, a plan amendment was approved changing the Plan's name from the ING U.S. Retirement Plan to the Voya Retirement Plan. The Retirement Plan is a tax qualified defined benefit plan, the benefits of which are guaranteed (within certain specified legal limits) by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”). Beginning January 1, 2012, the Retirement Plan adopted a cash balance pension formula instead of a final average pay ("FAP") formula, allowing all eligible employees to participate in the Retirement Plan. Participants will earn an annual credit equal to 4% of eligible compensation. Interest is credited monthly based on a 30-year U.S. Treasury securities bond rate published by the Internal Revenue Service in the preceding August of each year. The accrued vested cash pension balance benefit is portable; participants can take it if they leave the Company. For participants in the Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2011, there was a two-year transition period from the Retirement Plan’s current FAP formula to the cash balance pension formula which ended December 31, 2013.
The costs allocated to the Company for its employees' participation in the Retirement Plan were $2.1, $2.3 and $7.7, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in Operating expenses in the Statements of Operations.
Effective December 31, 2001, the Company, in conjunction with Voya Services Company, offers certain eligible employees (other than Career Agents) a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and an Excess Plan (collectively, the "SERPs"). Benefits under the SERPs are determined based on an eligible employee's years of service and average annual compensation for the highest five years during the last ten years of employment.
Amounts recognized on the Balance Sheets in Other liabilities and in AOCI were as follows as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
The weighted-average assumptions used in the measurement of the December 31, 2014 and 2013, benefit obligation for the SERPs were as follows:
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 SERP. 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.
Net periodic benefit costs for the SERPs were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
The Company recognized tax benefits/(expenses) of $5.1, $1.2 and $(3.0) in December 31, 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.
In addition to providing retirement plan benefits, the Company, in conjunction with Voya Services Company, provides certain supplemental retirement benefits to eligible employees and health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees and other eligible dependents. The supplemental retirement plan includes a non-qualified defined benefit pension plan and a non-qualified defined contribution plan, which means all benefits are payable from the general assets of the Company. The postretirement health care plan is contributory, with retiree contribution levels adjusted annually and the Company subsidizes a portion of the monthly per-participant premium. Beginning August 1, 2009, the Company moved from self-insuring its supplemental health care costs and began to use a private-fee-for-service Medicare Advantage program for post-Medicare eligible retired participants. In addition, effective October 1, 2009, the Company no longer subsidizes medical premium costs for early retirees. This change does not impact any participant currently retired and receiving coverage under the plan or any employee who is eligible for coverage under the plan and whose employment ended before October 1, 2009. The Company continues to offer access to medical coverage until retirees become eligible for Medicare. The life insurance plan provides a flat amount of noncontributory coverage and optional contributory coverage. The Voya Financial, Inc. Deferred Compensation Savings Plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that includes a 401(k) excess component. The benefits charges allocated to the Company related to all of these plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, were $3.6, $3.8 and $3.5, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, rent expense for leases was $7.1, $6.8 and $6.9, respectively. The future net minimum payments under non-cancellable leases for the years ended December 31, 2015 through 2017 are estimated to be $7.2, $6.6 and $5.3, respectively, and none thereafter, totaling $19.1. The Company pays substantially all expenses associated with its leased and subleased office properties. Expenses not paid directly by the Company were paid for by an affiliate and allocated to the Company.
Through the normal course of investment operations, the Company commits to either purchase or sell securities, 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.
For some matters, the Company is able to estimate a possible range of loss. For such matters in which a loss is probable, an accrual has been made. For matters where the Company, however, believes a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, no accrual is required. This paragraph contains an estimate of reasonably possible losses above any amounts accrued. For matters for which an accrual has been made, but there remains a reasonably possible range of loss in excess of the amounts accrued, the estimate reflects the reasonably possible range of loss in excess of the accrued amounts. For matters for which a reasonably possible (but not probable) range of loss exists, the estimate reflects the reasonably possible and unaccrued loss or range of loss. As of December 31, 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.
Underwriting and distribution agreement with Directed Services LLC ("DSL") (successor by merger to Directed Services, Inc.), an affiliated broker-dealer, whereby DSL serves as the principal underwriter for variable insurance products issued by the Company. DSL is authorized to enter into agreements with broker-dealers to distribute the Company's variable products and appoint representatives of the broker-dealers as agents. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, commissions were incurred in the amounts of $217.0, 218.4 and $208.0, respectively.
Intercompany agreement with DSL pursuant to which DSL agreed, effective January 1, 2010, to pay the Company, on a monthly basis, a portion of the revenues DSL earns as investment adviser to certain U.S. registered investment companies that are investment options under certain of the Company's variable insurance products. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, revenue under the DSL intercompany agreement was $139.9, $147.4 and $141.1, respectively.
Administrative Services Agreement between the Company, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York ("RLNY"), an affiliate and other U.S. insurance company affiliates dated March 1, 2003, amended effective August 1, 2004, in which the Company and affiliates provide services to RLNY. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, revenue related to the agreement was $2.3, $2.2 and $3.3, respectively.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, total reserves ceded to affiliates were $3,684.4 and $2,455.6, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, premiums ceded to affiliates were $502.5, $112.2 and $36.1, respectively.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the value of the funds withheld liability under this agreement was $180.4 and $190.9, respectively, which is included in Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates on the Balance Sheets. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had an embedded derivative under this agreement with a value of $3.6 and $(3.3), respectively, which is recorded in Funds held under reinsurance treaties with affiliates on the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, reserves ceded by the Company under this agreement were $216.7 and $230.9, respectively.
Also effective June 30, 2008, the Company entered into a services agreement with SLDI, under which the Company provides certain actuarial risk modeling consulting services to SLDI with respect to hedge positions undertaken by SLDI in connection with the reinsurance agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, revenue related to the agreement was $12.3 for each year. For the year ended December 31, 2012, revenue related to the agreement was $12.0.
Company under this agreement were $3.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. In addition, a deferred loss in the amount of $308.1 and $315.7 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is included in Other assets on the Balance Sheets and is amortized over the period of benefit in Other expenses in the Statement of Operations.
On May 8, 2013, following the Voya Financial, Inc. IPO, Voya Financial, Inc. made a capital contribution in the amount of $1.8 billion into SLDI, which SLDI deposited into the funds withheld trust account established to provide collateral for the variable annuity guaranteed living benefit riders ceded to SLDI under the amended and restated automatic reinsurance agreement. Upon deposit of such contributed capital into the funds withheld trust, the Company submitted to ING Bank N.V. ("ING Bank") $1.5 billion of contingent capital LOC issued by ING Bank under the $1.5 billion contingent capital LOC facility between ING Bank and SLDI, and the contingent capital LOCs were canceled and the facility was terminated.
Effective May 1, 2005, the Company entered into a coinsurance agreement with its affiliate, SLD. Under the terms of the agreement, SLD assumed and accepted the responsibility for paying, when due, 100% of the liabilities arising under the multi-year guaranteed fixed annuity contracts issued by the Company between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2003. In addition, the Company assigned to SLD all future premiums received by the Company attributable to the ceded contracts.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Company entered into a stop-loss agreement with RLI, which was amended and restated April 1, 2012 to include the recaptured business described above, under which the Company agreed to indemnify RLI, and RLI agreed to reinsure with the Company, the aggregate mortality risk under the combined blocks of level premium term life insurance policies issued by RLI between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 and also between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. This coverage included certain level premium term life insurance policies assumed by RLI from RLNY under an Automatic Coinsurance Agreement effective March 1, 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will make benefit payments to RLI equal to the amount of claims in excess of the attachment point (equal to a percentage of net reinsurance premium) up to the maximum fully covered benefit.
The stop-loss agreement is accounted for using the deposit method. A fee receivable from affiliate of $0.4 and $0.3 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is included in Other liabilities on the Balance Sheets. The fee is accrued and subsequently settled in cash each quarterly accounting period.
The stop-loss agreement is accounted for using the deposit method. As of December 31, 2014 there was no fee receivable from affiliate and as of December 31, 2013 there was a $0.8 fee receivable from affiliate included in Other liabilities on the Balance Sheets. The fee is accrued and subsequently settled in cash each quarterly accounting period. Effective October 1, 2014, the agreement was terminated.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the value of the funds withheld by ceding companies under this agreement was $467.3 and $488.6, respectively, which is included in Deposit and reinsurance recoverable on the Balance Sheets. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had an embedded derivative under this agreement with a value of $9.6 and $(8.4), 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 January 2004, and based upon its renewal on January 14, 2014, expires on January 14, 2024, either party can borrow from the other up to
The Company is party to several derivative contracts with NN Group and ING Bank and one or more of ING Bank's subsidiaries. Each of these contracts was entered into as a result of a competitive bid, which included unaffiliated counterparties. The Company is exposed to various risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including but not limited to interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and equity market risk. To manage these risks, the Company uses various strategies, including derivatives contracts, certain of which are with related parties, such as interest rate swaps, equity options and currency forwards.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the outstanding notional amounts were $457.1 (consisting of currency forwards of $178.0 and equity options of $279.1) and $511.8 (consisting of interest rate swaps of $328.8 and equity options of $183.0), respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the market values for these contracts were $8.8 and $8.4, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations of $4.6, $0.8 and $20.0, respectively, with ING Bank and NN Group.