The Company's executive offices are located in Hartford, Connecticut. The Company moved its executive offices to One Cityplace, Hartford, Connecticut, during the first quarter of 2003. The Company occupies 373,000 square feet at this location under an operating lease that runs through October 31, 2008.
Other leasehold interests of the Company include approximately 939,000 square feet of office space in 24 locations throughout the United States.
Deferred acquisition costs (DAC) represent costs that are deferred and amortized over the estimated life of the related insurance policies. DAC principally includes commissions and certain expenses related to policy issuance, underwriting and marketing, all of which vary with and are primarily related to the production of new business. The method for determining amortization of deferred acquisition costs varies by product type based upon three different accounting pronouncements: Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 60, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises" (SFAS 60), SFAS No. 91, "Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases" (SFAS 91) and SFAS No. 97, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments" (SFAS 97).
DAC for deferred annuities, both fixed and variable, and payout annuities is amortized employing a level effective yield methodology per SFAS 91 as indicated by AICPA Practice Bulletin 8, generally over 10-15 years. An amortization rate is developed using the outstanding DAC balance and projected account balances. This rate is applied to actual account balances to determine the amount of DAC amortization. The projected account balances are derived using a model that contains assumptions related to investment returns and persistency. The model rate is evaluated at least annually, and changes in underlying lapse and interest rate assumptions are to be treated retrospectively. Variances in expected equity market returns versus actual returns are treated prospectively and a new amortization pattern is developed so that the DAC balances will be amortized over the remaining estimated life of the business.
Future policy benefits represent liabilities for future insurance policy benefits for payout annuities and traditional life products and are prepared in accordance with industry standards and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The annuity payout reserves are calculated using the mortality and interest assumptions used in the actual pricing of the benefit. Mortality assumptions are based on the Company's experience and are adjusted to reflect deviations such as substandard mortality in structured settlement benefits. The interest rates range from 1.7% to 8.7%, with a weighted average rate of 6.5% for these annuity products. Traditional life products include whole life and term insurance. Future policy benefits for traditional life products are estimated on the basis of actuarial assumptions as to mortality, persistency and interest, established at policy issue. Actuarial and interest assumptions include a margin for adverse deviation and are based on the Company's experience. Interest assumptions applicable to traditional life products range from 2.5% to 7.0%, with a weighted average of 5.3%.
Net income in 2004 increased 9% from 2003, primarily attributable to increased revenues due to earnings from business volume growth and improved retained investment margins. These increases were partially offset by higher operating expenses and higher DAC amortization and lower investment yields. See the detailed description of each business segment for additional information.
TLA revenues increased to $4.7 billion in 2004, 5% higher than 2003. This increased revenue was driven by NII and fee revenue, partially offset by a decline in premiums.
The following table shows net written premiums and deposits by product line for each of the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. The majority of the annuity business and a substantial portion of the life business written by TLA are accounted for as investment contracts, with the result that the deposits collected are reported as liabilities and are not included in revenues. Deposits represent a statistic used for measuring business volumes, which management of the Company uses to manage the life insurance and annuities operations, and may not be comparable to similarly captioned measurements used by other life insurance companies.
Retail annuity deposits increased 23% in 2004 to $5.6 billion from $4.5 billion in 2003, reflecting strong variable annuity sales due to improved equity market conditions in 2004 and sales of the guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit feature of the variable annuity product. Retail annuity account balances and benefit reserves were $37.2 billion at December 31, 2004, up from $32.9 billion at December 31, 2003. This increase reflects equity market growth in variable annuity investments of $2.3 billion in 2004 and $2.1 billion of net sales from good in-force retention.
DAC capitalization increased $227 million or 39% in 2004 over 2003 driven by the $121 million or 55% increase in UL and COLI, and the $108 million or 32% increase in deferred and payout annuities, which is consistent with the increase in premiums and deposits for those lines of business. The increase in amortization expense in 2004 was primarily driven by business volume growth in deferred annuities and UL, and also included a one-time adjustment for the change in pattern in the estimated gross profits on the UL business and a one-time increase in deferred annuities DAC amortization due to changes in underlying lapse and expense adjustments.
TLA should benefit from growth in the aging population which is becoming more focused on the need to accumulate adequate savings for retirement, to protect these savings and to plan for the transfer of wealth to the next generation. TLA is well positioned to take advantage of the favorable long-term demographic trends through its strong financial position, widespread brand name recognition and broad array of competitive life, annuity, retirement and estate planning products sold through established distribution channels.
Citigroup, the Company's ultimate parent, has agreed to sell its Life Insurance and Annuities business to MetLife, Inc. TIC and TLA are included in Citigroup's Life Insurance and Annuities business. The transaction is expected to close this summer. At that time TLA, after giving effect to certain dispositions to be effected prior to the closing, will become part of MetLife, Inc. See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Due to the proposed transaction, there may be a negative impact on institutional annuity sales in 2005, in particular fixed rate GICs, as potential customers assess the concentration risk associated with the combination of MetLife, Inc. and TLA.
Federal and state regulators have focused on, and continue to devote substantial attention to, the mutual fund and variable insurance product industries. As a result of publicity relating to widespread perceptions of industry abuses, there have been numerous proposals for legislative and regulatory reforms, including mutual fund governance, new disclosure requirements concerning mutual fund share classes, commission breakpoints, revenue sharing, advisory fees, market timing, late trading, portfolio pricing, annuity products, hedge funds, producer compensation and other issues. It is difficult to predict at this time whether changes resulting from new laws and regulations will affect the industries or the Company's businesses, and, if so, to what degree.
The statements above are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. See "Forward-Looking Statements" on page 16.
Over the last few years, training programs, primarily sales and product training, have been developed and deployed to maintain high compliance standards, increase the number of producing agents and customer contacts and, ultimately, increase production levels. A continuation of these trends could positively influence future operations. This statement is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. See "Forward-Looking Statements" on page 16.
Certain of the statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "may increase," "may fluctuate," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," and "could." These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, regulatory matters, the resolution of legal proceedings, the impact that the proposed sale to MetLife, Inc., and the transactions to be effected before that sale, may have on the Company and its prospects, the potential impact of a decline in credit quality of investments on earnings; the Company's market risk and the discussions of the Company's prospects under "Outlook" on the previous pages.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Travelers Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ($ in millions)
The Travelers Insurance Company (TIC, together with its subsidiaries, the Company), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Insurance Holding Corporation (CIHC), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc. (Citigroup), a diversified global financial services holding company whose businesses provide a broad range of financial services to consumer and corporate customers around the world. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries on a fully consolidated basis. The primary insurance entities of the Company are TIC and its subsidiaries, The Travelers Life and Annuity Company (TLAC), Primerica Life Insurance Company (Primerica Life), and its subsidiaries, Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada, CitiLife Financial Limited (CitiLife) and National Benefit Life Insurance Company (NBL). Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company consolidates entities deemed to be variable interest entities when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" (FIN 46).
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation.
On January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 03-1, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts" (SOP 03-1). The main components of SOP 03-1 provide guidance on accounting and reporting by insurance enterprises for separate account presentation, accounting for an insurer's interest in a separate account, transfers to a separate account, valuation of certain liabilities, contracts with death or other benefit features, contracts that provide annuitization benefits, and sales inducements to contract holders.
The Company's adoption of SOP 03-1 resulted in the consolidation on the Company's balance sheet of approximately $500 million of investments previously held in separate and variable account assets and approximately $500 million of contractholder funds previously held in separate and variable account liabilities.
The Company determined that the mortality risk on its GMDB features was not a significant component of the overall variable annuity product, and accordingly continued to classify these products as investment contracts. Prior to the adoption of SOP 03-1, the Company held a reserve of approximately $8 million to cover potential GMDB exposure. This reserve was released during the first quarter of 2004 as part of the implementation of SOP 03-1.
The Company's UL and VUL products were reviewed to determine if an additional reserve is required under SOP 03-1. The Company determined that SOP 03-1 applied to some of its UL and VUL contracts with these features and established an additional reserve of approximately $1 million.
Sales Inducements to Contract Holders. SOP 03-1 provides, prospectively, that sales inducements provided to contract holders meeting certain criteria are capitalized and amortized over the expected life of the contract as a component of benefit expense. During 2004, the Company capitalized sales inducements of approximately $50.6 million in accordance with SOP 03-1. These inducements relate to bonuses on certain products offered by the Company. For 2004, amortization of these capitalized amounts was insignificant.
On January 1, 2004, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (revised December 2003)," (FIN 46-R), which includes substantial changes from the original FIN 46. Included in these changes, the calculation of expected losses and expected residual returns has been altered to reduce the impact of decision maker and guarantor fees in the calculation of expected residual returns and expected losses. In addition, the definition of a variable interest has been changed in the revised guidance. FIN 46 and FIN 46-R change the method of determining
whether certain entities should be included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company has evaluated the impact of applying FIN 46-R to existing VIEs in which it has variable interests. The effect of adopting FIN 46-R on the Company's consolidated balance sheet is immaterial. See Note 3.
An entity is subject to FIN 46 and FIN 46-R and is called a variable interest entity (VIE) if it has (1) equity that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (2) equity investors that cannot make significant decisions about the entity's operations or that do not absorb the expected losses or receive the expected returns of the entity. All other entities are evaluated for consolidation under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 94, "Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries" (SFAS 94). A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is the party involved with the VIE that has a majority of the expected losses or a majority of the expected residual returns or both.
On September 30, 2004, the FASB voted unanimously to delay the effective date of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 03-1, "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments" (EITF 03-1). The delay applies to both debt and equity securities and specifically applies to impairments caused by interest rate and sector spreads. In addition, the provisions of EITF 03-1 that have been delayed relate to the requirements that a company declare its intent to hold the security to recovery and designate a recovery period in order to avoid recognizing an other-than-temporary impairment charge through earnings.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS 123-R), which replaces the existing SFAS 123 and supersedes APB 25. SFAS 123-R requires companies to measure and record compensation expense for stock options and other share-based payment based on the instruments' fair value. SFAS 123-R is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company will adopt SFAS 123-R on July 1, 2005 by using a modified prospective approach. For unvested stock-based awards granted before January 1, 2003 (APB 25 awards), the Company will expense the fair value of the awards as at the grant date over the remaining vesting period. The impact of recognizing compensation expense for the unvested APB 25 awards will be immaterial in the third and fourth quarters of 2005. In addition, the amount of additional compensation expense that will be disclosed as the impact in the first and second quarters of 2005, as if the standard had been adopted as of January 1, 2005, but will not be recognized in earnings, will be immaterial. The Company continues to evaluate other aspects of adopting SFAS 123-R.
Equity securities, which include common and non-redeemable preferred stocks, are classified as "available for sale" and carried at fair value based primarily on quoted market prices. Changes in fair values of equity securities are charged or credited directly to shareholder's equity, net of income taxes.
Cash includes certificates of deposits and other time deposits with original maturities of less than 90 days.
To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedge relationship is designated and formally documented at inception detailing the particular risk management objective and strategy for the hedge. This documentation includes the item and risk that is being hedged, the derivative that is being used, as well as how effectiveness is being assessed.
A derivative must be highly effective in accomplishing the objective of offsetting either changes in fair value or cash flows for the risk being hedged.
The effectiveness of these hedging relationships is evaluated on a retrospective and prospective basis using quantitative measures of effectiveness. If a hedge relationship is found to be ineffective, it no longer qualifies for hedge accounting and any gains or losses attributable to such ineffectiveness as well as subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in realized investment gains and losses.
The Company bifurcates an embedded derivative from the host contract where the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, the entire instrument would not otherwise be remeasured at fair value and a separate instrument with the same terms of the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative under SFAS 133.
The Company markets certain investment contracts that have embedded derivatives, primarily variable annuity contracts. These embedded derivatives are carried at fair value, with changes in value reflected in realized investment gains and losses. Derivatives embedded in variable annuity contracts are classified in the consolidated balance sheet as future policy benefits and claims.
The Company may enter into derivative contracts to hedge the exposures represented by these embedded derivatives. These are economic hedges, however they do not qualify for hedge accounting. These derivatives are carried at fair value, with the changes in value reflected in realized gains and losses.
Realized investment gains and losses are included as a component of pre-tax revenues based upon specific identification of the investments sold on the trade date. Realized gains and losses also result from fair value changes in derivative contracts that do not qualify, or are not designated, as hedging instruments, and the application of fair value hedges under SFAS 133. Impairments are recognized as realized losses when investment losses in value are deemed other-than-temporary. The Company conducts regular reviews to assess whether other-than-temporary losses exist. Also included in pre-tax revenues are gains and losses arising from the remeasurement of the local currency value of foreign investments to U.S. dollars, the functional currency of the Company. The foreign exchange effects of Canadian operations are included in unrealized gains and losses.
years. An amortization rate is developed using the outstanding DAC balance and projected account balances and is applied to actual account balances to determine the amount of DAC amortization. The projected account balances are derived using a model that contains assumptions related to investment returns and persistency. The model rate is evaluated at least annually, and changes in underlying lapse and interest rate assumptions are to be treated retrospectively. Variances in expected equity market returns versus actual returns are treated prospectively and a new amortization pattern is developed so that the DAC balances will be amortized over the remaining estimated life of the business.
All DAC is reviewed at least annually to determine if it is recoverable from future income, including investment income, and if not recoverable, is charged to expenses. All other acquisition expenses are charged to operations as incurred. See Note 5.
Reserving for Universal Life and Variable Universal Life Contracts. SOP 03-1 requires that a reserve, in addition to the account balance, be established for certain insurance benefit features provided under UL and VUL products if the amounts assessed against the contract holder each period for the insurance benefit feature are assessed in a manner that is expected to result in profits in earlier years and losses in subsequent years from the insurance benefit function.
Future policy benefits represent liabilities for future insurance policy benefits for payout annuities and traditional life products and are prepared in accordance with industry standards and U.S. GAAP. The annuity payout reserves are calculated using the mortality and interest assumptions used in the actual pricing of the benefit. Mortality assumptions are based on Company experience and are adjusted to reflect deviations such as substandard mortality in structured settlement benefits. The interest rates range from 1.7% to 8.7% with a weighted average of 6.5% for these products. Traditional life products include whole life and term insurance. Future policy benefits for traditional life products are estimated on the basis of actuarial assumptions as to mortality, persistency and interest, established at policy issue. Interest assumptions applicable to traditional life products range from 2.5% to 7.0%, with a weighted average of 5.3%. Assumptions established at policy issue as to mortality and persistency are based on the Company's experience, which, together with interest assumptions, include a margin for adverse deviation. Appropriate recognition has been given to experience rating and reinsurance.
The PRIMERICA business segment consolidates the businesses of Primerica Life, Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada, CitiLife and NBL. The Primerica business segment offers individual life products,
primarily term insurance, to customers through a sales force of approximately 106,000 representatives. A great majority of the domestic licensed sales force works on a part-time basis.
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2004, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company held CMOs classified as available for sale with a fair value of $6.0 billion and $5.2 billion, respectively. Approximately 28% and 30%, respectively, of the Company's CMO holdings are fully collateralized by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC securities at December 31, 2004 and 2003. In addition, the Company held $2.9 billion and $3.0 billion of GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed pass-through securities at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. All of these securities are rated AAA.
The Company engages in securities lending transactions whereby certain securities from its portfolio are loaned to other institutions for short periods of time. The Company generally receives cash collateral from the borrower, equal to at least the market value of the loaned securities plus accrued interest, and invests it in the Company's short-term money market pool (See Note 13). The loaned securities remain a recorded asset of the Company, however, the Company records a liability for the amount of the cash collateral held, representing its obligation to return the cash collateral, and reports that liability as part of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company held cash collateral of $2.2 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. The Company also had $382.7 million of investments held as collateral with a third party at December 31, 2004. The Company does not have the right to sell or pledge this collateral and it is not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. No such collateral existed at December 31, 2003.
The Company participates in dollar roll repurchase transactions as a way to generate investment income. These transactions involve the sale of mortgage-backed securities with the agreement to repurchase substantially the same securities from the same counterparty. Cash is received from the sale, which is invested in the Company's short-term money market pool. The cash is returned at the end of the roll period when the mortgage-backed securities are repurchased. The Company will generate additional investment income based upon the difference between the sale and repurchase prices. These transactions are recorded as secured borrowings. The mortgage-backed securities remain recorded as assets. The cash proceeds are reflected in short-term investments and a liability is established to reflect the Company's obligation to repurchase the securities at the end of the roll period. The liability is classified as other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and fluctuates based upon the timing of the repayments. The balances were insignificant at December 31, 2004 and 2003.
Management has determined that the unrealized losses on the Company's investments in fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2004 are temporary in nature. The Company conducts a periodic review to identify and evaluate investments that have indications of possible impairment. An investment in a debt or equity security is impaired if its fair value falls below its cost and the decline is considered other-than-temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is other-than-temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer;
and the Company's ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery. The Company's review for impairment generally entails:
The table below shows the fair value of investments in fixed maturities and equity securities that are available for sale and have been in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2004:
At December 31, 2004, the cost of approximately 825 investments in fixed maturity and equity securities exceeded their fair value by $69 million. Of the $69 million, $50 million represents fixed maturity investments that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for less than a year and of these 93% are rated investment grade. Fixed maturity investments that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for a year or more total $16 million and 89% of these investments are rated investment grade. The gross unrealized loss on equity securities was $3 million at December 31, 2004.
At December 31, 2003, the cost of approximately 670 investments in fixed maturity and equity securities exceeded their fair value by $122 million. Of the $122 million, $91 million represents fixed maturity investments that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for less than a year and of these 78% are rated investment grade. Fixed maturity investments that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for a year or more total $29 million and 38% of these investments are rated investment grade. The gross unrealized loss on equity securities was $2 million at December 31, 2003.
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company's mortgage loan portfolios consisted of the following:
Aggregate annual maturities on mortgage loans at December 31, 2004 are shown below. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.
The Company held investments in foreign banks in the amount of $1,321 million and $1,018 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, which are included in the table above.
Investments included in the consolidated balance sheets that were non-income producing amounted to $105.3 million and $104.4 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
The Company had mortgage loans and debt securities that were restructured at below market terms at December 31, 2004 and 2003. The balances of the restructured investments were insignificant. The new terms typically defer a portion of contract interest payments to varying future periods. Gross interest income on restructured assets that would have been recorded in accordance with the original terms of such loans was insignificant in 2004, 2003 and 2002. Interest on these assets, included in net investment income, was also insignificant in 2004, 2003 and 2002.
For Primerica Life, business sold prior to 1991 was reinsured under a coinsurance arrangement with approximately 50% of the face amount being ceded. For business sold from 1991 through June 1994, only amounts over the company retention of $1.0 million were reinsured through an excess loss YRT treaty. In June 1994, Primerica Life began reinsuring almost all business under a 1st dollar quota share YRT treaty with 80% being ceded. Beginning with business sold in January 1997, the amount ceded was increased from 80% to 90%.
Business sold in Canada is not included in the U.S. YRT quota share treaties. In Canada, the business sold from April 2000 through December 2003, was reinsured under a separate 1st dollar quota share YRT arrangement, with the ceding amount ranging from 70% to 90%. Beginning with business sold in January 2004, Canada began reinsuring only amounts above their company retention of $500,000.
Primerica has also entered into several reinsurance assumed treaties with Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. The reinsurance assumed treaties generated a $79 million pre-tax loss in 2001 and a $95 million pre-tax loss in 2002. The pre-tax impact from these reinsurance assumed treaties has been minor for 2003 and 2004.
During 2004, The Travelers Life and Annuity Reinsurance Company (TLARC) was formed as a pure captive insurer in order to permit the Company to cede 100% of its statutory based risk associated with the death benefit guarantee rider on certain universal life contracts. The reinsurance transaction related to statutory-only reserves, and had no impact on GAAP premiums and benefits. TLARC is a direct subsidiary of CIHC, the Company's parent. See Note 13.
On January 3, 1995, the Company sold its group life business to The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) under the form of an indemnity insurance arrangement. Premiums written and earned in 2004, 2003 and 2002 were insignificant.
TIC writes workers' compensation business. This business is reinsured through a 100% quota-share agreement with The Travelers Indemnity Company, an insurance subsidiary of St. Paul Travelers. See Note 14.
The Travelers Indemnity Company was an affiliate for part of 2002.
Reinsurance recoverables for the life and accident and health business include $1,876 million and $1,617 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, from General Electric Capital Assurance Company. Assets collateralizing these receivables in the amount of $1,894 million and $1,632 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were held in trust for the purpose of paying Company claims.
The Company's intangible assets are DAC, goodwill and the value of insurance in force. DAC and the value of insurance in force are amortizable.
Additional tax benefits (expense) attributable to employee stock plans allocated directly to shareholder's equity for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $3 million, $3 million and $(17) million, respectively.
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return with Citigroup. Federal income taxes are allocated to each member of the consolidated group, according to a Tax Sharing Agreement (the Agreement), on a separate return basis adjusted for credits and other amounts required by the Agreement.
The Company's 2004 dividends were paid in the following amounts: $467.5 million on March 30; $152.5 million on June 30; and $152.5 million on September 30. Due to the timing of the payments, these dividends were considered extraordinary.
In December 2004, the Company requested and received prior approval from the State of Connecticut Insurance Department to pay an extraordinary dividend on January 3, 2005. Under Connecticut law, the ordinary dividend limitation amount is based upon the cumulative total of all dividend payments made within
the preceding twelve months. The Company's proposed dividend payment of $302.5 million payable on January 3, 2005 exceeded the ordinary dividend limitation by approximately $167 million, based on the 2005 dividend limit of $908 million. The State of Connecticut Insurance Department approved the request on December 19, 2004. TIC paid the dividend to its parent on January 3, 2005.
The Company also participates in a non-qualified, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan sponsored by Citigroup. During 2002, the Company assumed Travelers Property Casualty Corporation's (TPC) share of the non-qualified pension plan related to inactive employees of the former Travelers Insurance entities as part of the TPC spin-off. See Note 14. The Company's share of net expense for this plan was insignificant for 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Substantially all of the Company's employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) savings plan sponsored by Citigroup. The Company's expenses in connection with the 401(k) savings plan were not significant in 2004, 2003 and 2002. See Note 13.
Future sublease rental income of approximately $54 million will partially offset these commitments. Also, the Company will be reimbursed for 50%, totaling $120 million through 2011, of the rental expense for a particular lease by an affiliate.
The Company uses derivative financial instruments, including financial futures contracts, swaps, interest rate caps, options and forward contracts, as a means of hedging exposure to interest rate changes, equity price changes, credit and foreign currency risk. The Company also uses derivative financial instruments to enhance portfolio income and replicate cash market investments. The Company, through Tribeca Citigroup Investments Ltd., holds and issues derivative instruments in conjunction with these investment strategies designed to enhance portfolio returns.
The Company enters into interest rate swaps in connection with other financial instruments to provide greater risk diversification and better match the cash flows from assets and related liabilities. In addition, the Company enters into interest rate swaps in connection with macro hedges intended to reduce interest rate risk by adjusting portfolio duration. Under interest rate swaps, the Company agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional principal amount. The Company also enters into basis swaps in which both legs of the swap are floating with each based on a different index. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by either party. A single net payment is usually made by one counterparty at each due date.
The Company enters into currency swaps in connection with other financial instruments to provide greater risk diversification and better match assets purchased in U.S. Dollars with a corresponding liability originated in a foreign currency. Under currency swaps, the Company agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, foreign currency for U.S. Dollars. Generally, there is an exchange of foreign currency for U.S. Dollars at the outset of the contract based upon prevailing foreign exchange rates. Swap agreements are not exchange traded so they are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty.
The following table summarizes certain information related to the Company's hedging activities for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003:
During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 there were no discontinued forecasted transactions. The amount expected to be reclassified from accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources into pre-tax earnings within twelve months from December 31, 2004 is $(76.1) million.
In the normal course of business, the Company issues fixed and variable rate loan commitments and has unfunded commitments to partnerships and joint ventures. All of these commitments are to unaffiliated entities. The off-balance sheet risk of fixed and variable rate loan commitments was $375.5 million and $253.5 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company had unfunded commitments of $1,075.8 million and $527.8 million to these partnerships at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Included in other invested assets are 987 shares of Citigroup Cumulative Preferred Stock Series YY, carried at cost of $987 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. This Series YY Preferred Stock pays cumulative dividends at 5.321%, has a liquidation value of $1 million per share, and has perpetual duration, is not subject to a sinking fund or mandatory redemption but may be optionally redeemed by Citigroup at any time on or after December 22, 2018. Dividends totaling $53 million were received during each of 2004, 2003 and 2002. There is no established market for this investment and it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the preferred stock.
The carrying values of $567 million and $698 million of financial instruments classified as other assets approximated their fair values at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The carrying value of $3.0 billion and $2.5 billion of financial instruments classified as other liabilities at December 31, 2004 and 2003 also approximated their fair values at both December 31, 2004 and 2003. Fair value is determined using various methods, including discounted cash flows, as appropriate for the various financial instruments.
Both the assets and liabilities of separate accounts providing a guaranteed return had a carrying value and a fair value of $350 million at December 31, 2003. This separate account was fully consolidated in 2004 per the adoption of SOP 03-1. See Note 1.
claims. On May 26, 2004, the Connecticut Superior Court certified a nation wide class action. The class action claims against TLA are violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice Statute, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy. On June 15, 2004, the Defendants, including TLA, appealed the Connecticut Superior Court's May 26, 2004 class certification order.
In addition, the Company is a defendant or co-defendant in various other litigation matters in the normal course of business. These include civil actions, arbitration proceedings and other matters arising in the normal course of business out of activities as an insurance company, a broker and dealer in securities or otherwise.
The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank), and in this capacity has entered into a funding agreement (the agreement) with the Bank where a blanket lien has been granted to collateralize the Bank's deposits. The Company maintains control of these assets, and may use, commingle, encumber or dispose of any portion of the collateral as long as there is no event of default and the remaining qualified collateral is sufficient to satisfy the collateral maintenance level. The agreement further states that upon any event of default, the Bank's recovery is limited to the amount of the member's outstanding funding agreement. The amount of the Company's liability for funding agreements with the Bank as of December 31, 2004 is $1.1 billion, included in contractholder funds. The Company holds $60.3 million of common stock of the Bank, included in equity securities.
The Company has provided a guarantee on behalf of Citicorp International Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (CILIC), an affiliate. The Company has guaranteed to pay claims up to $1 billion of life insurance coverage for CILIC. This guarantee takes effect if CILIC cannot pay claims because of insolvency, liquidation or rehabilitation. Life insurance coverage in force under this guarantee at December 31, 2004 is $466 million. The Company does not hold any collateral related to this guarantee.
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company had outstanding loaned securities to an affiliate, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (CGMI), of $361.5 million and $238.5 million, respectively.
The Company had investments in an affiliated joint venture, Tishman Speyer, in the amount of $92.9 million and $166.3 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Income of $54.2 million, $18.6 million and $99.7 million was earned on these investments in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company purchases and sells securities through affiliated broker-dealers, including SB. These transactions are conducted on an arm's-length basis. Amounts due to SB were $363.7 million and $134.4 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
The Company markets deferred annuity products and life insurance through its affiliate, Smith Barney (SB), a division of CGMI. Annuity deposits related to these products were $877 million, $835 million, and $1.0 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Life
The Company also markets individual annuity and life insurance through CitiStreet Retirement Services, a division of CitiStreet LLC, (CitiStreet), a joint venture between Citigroup and State Street Bank. Deposits received from CitiStreet were $1.5 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Commissions and fees paid to CitiStreet were $45.9 million, $52.9 million and $54.0 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The Company markets individual annuity products through an affiliate Citibank, N.A. (together with its subsidiaries, Citibank). Deposits received from Citibank were $525 million, $357 million and $321 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Commissions and fees paid to Citibank were $44.3 million, $29.8 million and $24.0 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Primerica Financial Services, Inc. (PFS), an affiliate, is a distributor of products for TLA. PFS or its affiliates sold $983 million, $714 million and $787 million of individual annuities in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Commissions and fees paid to PFS were $75.4 million, $58.1 million and $60.4 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Primerica Life has entered into a General Agency Agreement with PFS that provides that PFS will be Primerica Life's general agent for marketing all insurance of Primerica Life. In consideration of such services, Primerica Life agreed to pay PFS marketing fees of no less than $10 million per year based upon U.S. gross direct premiums received by Primerica Life. The fees paid by Primerica Life were $15 million in 2004 and $12.5 million in each of 2003 and 2002.
The Company participates in a stock option plan sponsored by Citigroup that provides for the granting of stock options in Citigroup common stock to officers and other employees. To further encourage employee stock ownership, Citigroup introduced the WealthBuilder stock option program during 1997 and the Citigroup Ownership Program in 2001. Under these programs, all employees meeting established requirements have been granted Citigroup stock options. During 2001, Citigroup introduced the Citigroup 2001 Stock Purchase Program for new employees, which allowed eligible employees of Citigroup, including the Company's employees, to enter into fixed subscription agreements to purchase shares at the market value on the date of the agreements. During 2003 Citigroup introduced the Citigroup 2003 Stock Purchase Program, which allowed eligible employees of Citigroup, including the Company's employees, to enter into fixed subscription agreements to purchase shares at the lesser of the market value on the first date of the offering period or the market value at the close of the offering period. Enrolled employees are permitted to make one purchase prior to the expiration date. The Company's charge to income for these plans was insignificant in 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Unearned compensation expense associated with the Citigroup restricted common stock grants, which represents the market value of Citigroup's common stock at the date of grant, is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet and is recognized as a charge to income ratably over the vesting period. The Company's charge to income was insignificant during 2004, 2003 and 2002.
On April 1, 2004 TPC merged with a subsidiary of The St. Paul Companies to form St. Paul Travelers.
- TLA Holdings LLC, a non-insurance subsidiary valued at $142 million, was contributed to the Company by TPC.
The Company has a license from St. Paul Travelers to use the names "Travelers Life & Annuity," "The Travelers Insurance Company," "The Travelers Life and Annuity Company" and related names in connection with the Company's business.
In 2004, significant non-cash investing and financing activities include the minority interest reversal of joint ventures held by TPC in the amount of $(58) million. In 2003, these activities include the acquisition of real estate through foreclosures of mortgage loans amounting to $53 million and the inclusion of the TPC minority interest in joint ventures in the amount of $63 million. In 2002, these activities include the contribution of $2,225 million of Citigroup YYY Preferred Stock and related deferred tax liability of $779 million; a $17 million COLI asset and $98 million deferred tax asset related to the transfer of $279 million of pension and postretirement benefits, transferred for $172 million cash; and the contribution of a non-insurance company, TLA Holdings, LLC, for $142 million.
The Company's Primerica segment and certain other assets will remain with Citigroup. Accordingly, prior to the closing, TIC will distribute to its parent company by way of dividend (i) all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company's 100% owned subsidiary, Primerica Life Insurance Company (Primerica Life), (ii) all shares of Citigroup's Series YYY and Series YY preferred stock held by the Company and (iii) certain other assets, including certain assets and liabilities related to the Company's share of the non-qualified pension plan, and post retirement benefits related to inactive employees of the former Travelers Insurance entities, assumed during Citigroup's 2002 spin-off of the Travelers Property Casualty operations (collectively, the Dispositions). The Dispositions require certain regulatory approvals.