On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new standard and completed implementation of its updated CECL models, processes and controls related to the identified financial assets that fall within the scope of the new standard. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to reduce the opening retained earnings balance by approximately $40 million, on a pre-tax and pre-DAC basis. The adjustment is primarily attributable to an increase in the allowance for credit losses associated with the Company’s commercial and agricultural mortgage loan portfolios and reinsurance.
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) reflect changes in fair value of only those fixed maturities classified as AFS and do not reflect any change in fair value of policyholders’ account balances and future policy benefits.
Individual health benefit liabilities for active lives are estimated using the net level premium method and assumptions as to future morbidity, withdrawals and interest. Benefit liabilities for disabled lives are estimated using the present value of benefits method and experience assumptions as to claim terminations, expenses and interest. While management believes its DI reserves have been calculated on a reasonable basis and are adequate, there can be no assurance reserves will be sufficient to provide for future liabilities.
Equitable Advisors and certain of the Company’s other subsidiaries provide investment management, brokerage and distribution services for affiliates and third parties. Third-party revenues earned from these services are reported in other income in the Company’s consolidated statement of income (loss).
For all new investment products and entities developed by the Company, the Company first determines whether the entity is a VIE, which involves determining an entity’s variability and variable interests, identifying the holders of the equity investment at risk and assessing the five characteristics of a VIE. Once an entity has been determined to be a VIE, the Company then determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE based on its beneficial interests. If the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, then the Company consolidates the entity.
(2)Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative liabilities of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.
(1)The Company’s non-performance risk impact of $(764) million for the GMxB Derivative Features Liability and $7 million for the GMIB Reinsurance Contract Asset during the year ended December 2020, respectively, is recorded through Net derivative gains (losses).
The Company cedes substantially all of its group health business to a third-party insurer. Insurance liabilities ceded totaled $48 million and $57 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The AB Credit Facility contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, which are customary for facilities of this type, including, among other things, restrictions on dispositions of assets, restrictions on liens, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2020, AB was in compliance with these covenants. The AB Credit Facility also includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans may be accelerated and/or lender’s commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency- or bankruptcy-related events of default, all amounts payable under the AB Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender’s commitments would automatically terminate.
Equitable Financial entered into a stop loss reinsurance agreement with AGL to protect Equitable Financial with respect to a deterioration in its claims experience following the occurrence of an extreme mortality event.
EIM provides investment management and administrative services to EQAT, EQ Premier VIP Trust, 1290 Funds and the Other AXA Trusts, all of which are considered related parties. Investment management and service fees earned are calculated as a percentage of assets under management and are recorded as revenue as the related services are performed.
The company made no funding contributions the year ended 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Equitable Financial made a funding contribution to the Equitable Foundation of $25 million. The Equitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Equitable Financial.
The expected long-term rate of return assumption on plan assets is based upon the target asset allocation of the plan portfolio and is determined using forward-looking assumptions in the context of historical returns and volatilities for each asset class. Prior to 1987, participants’ benefits under the Equitable Financial QP were funded through the purchase of non-participating annuity contracts from Equitable Financial. Benefit payments under these contracts were approximately $5 million and $5 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The following table discloses the amounts included in AOCI as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic post-retirement benefits cost:
During 2020, 2019, and 2018 AB granted 5.7 million, 7.7 million, and 8.7 million restricted AB Holding units to AB employees and directors, respectively.
The following table summarizes Holdings and AXA performance awards activity for 2020.
•The Protection Solutions segment includes our life insurance and group employee benefits businesses. Our life insurance business offers a variety of VUL, UL and term life products to help affluent and high net worth individuals, as well as small and medium-sized business owners, with their wealth protection, wealth transfer and corporate needs. Our group employee benefits business offers a suite of dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability and other insurance products to small and medium-size businesses across the United States.
(3)Carrying value for mortgage loans on real estate represents original cost adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discount and reduced by credit loss allowance.
See Note 13 “Reorganization Transactions with AXA Affiliates” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.