•U.S. Asset Management and Accumulation, which consists of our asset accumulation operations which provide retirement savings and related investment products and services, and our asset management operations conducted through Principal Global Investors. We provide a comprehensive portfolio of asset accumulation products and services to businesses and individuals in the U.S., with a concentration on small and medium-sized businesses, which we define as businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees. We offer to businesses products and services for defined contribution pension plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit pension plans, non-qualified executive benefit plans, and employee stock ownership plan consulting services. We also offer annuities, mutual funds and bank products and services to the employees of our business customers and other individuals. Principal Global Investors offers an extensive range of equity, fixed income and real estate investments as well as specialized overlay and advisory services to institutional investors.
ABN AMRO Trust Services Company. On December 17, 2004, we announced an agreement to acquire ABN AMRO Trust Services Company ("ABN AMRO") a Chicago-based pension and retirement business. ABN AMRO provides full-service defined contribution recordkeeping and investment services in the U.S. administering, approximately 280 401(k) plans with more than 120,000 participants, representing $4.0 billion in full-service account values. We closed the transaction on December 31, 2004. The operations of ABN AMRO will be reported in our U.S. Asset Management and Accumulation segment.
Principal PNB Asset Management Company. On August 31, 2003, we announced that our wholly owned subsidiary, Principal Financial Group (Mauritius) Ltd., had entered into a joint venture agreement with Punjab National Bank ("PNB") and Vijaya Bank, two large Indian commercial banks, to sell long-term mutual funds and related financial services in India. We closed the transaction on May 5, 2004. The new company is called Principal PNB Asset
BT Financial Group is accounted for as a discontinued operation and therefore, the results of operations (excluding corporate overhead) have been removed from our results of continuing operations, cash flows and segment operating earnings for all periods presented. Corporate overhead allocated to BT Financial Group does not qualify for discontinued operations treatment under SFAS 144, and therefore is included in our results of continuing operations and segment operating earnings for periods prior to October 31, 2002.
(1)The 2002 summary results of operations information is for the ten months ended October 31, 2002, the date of sale of BT Financial Group and, accordingly, there is no statement of operations data to present for 2003 or 2004.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statements of financial position of Principal Financial Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, of Principal Financial Group, Inc. and our report dated February 16, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a final consensus on Issue 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments ("EITF 03-1"). EITF 03-1 provides accounting guidance regarding the determination of when an impairment of debt and marketable equity securities and investments accounted for under the cost method should be considered other-than-temporary and recognized in income. This EITF was originally effective for the period beginning July 1, 2004. However, on September 30, 2004, the FASB issued a Staff Position delaying the accounting and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 until additional clarifying guidance can be issued. Due to the uncertainties that still exist with this guidance, we are unable to estimate the impact EITF 03-1 will have to our consolidated financial statements.
We classify our investments into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading. We determine the appropriate classification of fixed maturity securities at the time of purchase. Fixed maturity securities include bonds, mortgage-backed securities and redeemable preferred stock. We classify fixed maturity securities as either available-for-sale or trading and, accordingly, carry them at fair value. (See Note 17 for policies related to the determination of fair value.) Unrealized gains and losses related to available-for-sale securities are reflected in stockholders' equity, net of related DPAC, sales inducements, unearned revenue reserves, policyholder dividend obligation ("PDO"), and applicable income taxes. Unrealized gains and losses related to trading securities are reflected in net income as net realized/unrealized capital gains (losses).
We, along with other contributors, sell commercial mortgage loans to trusts, which are unconsolidated qualified special purpose entities, which then issue commercial mortgage-backed securities. We retain primary servicing responsibilities and may retain other immaterial interests in the trusts by purchasing portions of the securities from the issuance. Gain or loss on the sales of the loans is reported as fees and other revenues. The retained interests are thereafter carried at fair value with other fixed maturity investments and classified as available-for-sale.
(a)a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment;
Participating business represented approximately 28%, 32% and 33% of our life insurance in force and 64%, 67% and 76% of the number of life insurance policies in force at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Participating business represented approximately 60%, 65% and 68% of life insurance premiums for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The amount of dividends to policyholders is approved annually by Principal Life's Board of Directors. The amount of dividends to be paid to policyholders is determined after consideration of several factors including interest, mortality, morbidity and other expense experience for the year and judgment as to the appropriate level of statutory surplus to be retained by Principal Life. At the end of the reporting period, Principal Life establishes a dividend liability for the pro rata portion of the dividends expected to be paid on or before the next policy anniversary date.
Immediate annuities with life contingencies include products with fixed and guaranteed annuity considerations and benefits and consist principally of group and individual single premium annuities with life contingencies. Under the guidance for limited payment contracts under 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, which refers back to SFAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises ("SFAS 60"), annuity considerations from these products
Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries and affiliates denominated in non-U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the year-end spot foreign exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of stockholders' equity, along with any related hedge effects. Revenues and expenses for these entities are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the year. Revenue, expense and other foreign currency transaction and translation adjustments for foreign subsidiaries and affiliates with the U.S. dollar as the functional currency that affect cash flows are reported in current operations, along with related hedge effects.
Goodwill and other intangibles include the cost of acquired subsidiaries in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets recorded in connection with acquisitions. Due to the adoption of SFAS 142, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter each year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Goodwill impairment testing involves a two-step process described further in the Recent Accounting Pronouncements section within Note 1. Impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value.
We have relationships with various types of special purpose entities and other entities where we have a variable interest. The following serves as a discussion of investments in entities that meet the definition of a VIE under FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised 2003): Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities ("FIN 46R").
Other. In addition to the entities above, we have a number of relationships with a disparate group of entities, which meet the FIN 46R criteria for VIEs. Due to the nature of our direct investment in the equity and/or debt of these VIEs, we are the primary beneficiary of such entities, which requires us to consolidate them. These entities include three financial services companies, a private investment trust and two real estate joint ventures. The consolidation of these VIEs did not have a material effect on either our consolidated statement of financial position or results of operations as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. For the majority of these entities, the creditors have no recourse to the assets of our company.
Proceeds from sales of investments (excluding call and maturity proceeds) in fixed maturities were $1.9 billion, $2.9 billion and $8.2 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The proceeds set forth above include amounts related to sales of mortgage-backed securities of $0.5 billion, $0.1 billion and $4.3 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Gross gains of $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $88.2 million and gross losses of zero, $0.9 million and $11.6 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were realized on sales of mortgage-backed securities.
The expected return on plan assets is the long-term rate we expect to be earned based on the plans' investment strategy. Historical returns of multiple asset classes were analyzed to develop a risk free rate of return and risk premiums for each asset class. The overall rate for each asset class was developed by combining a long-term inflation component, the risk free real rate of return and the associated risk premium. A weighted average rate was developed based on those overall rates and the target asset allocation of the plans.
In the last two years, our Board of Directors has authorized various repurchase programs under which we are allowed to purchase shares of our outstanding common stock. Shares repurchased under these programs are accounted for as treasury stock, carried at cost and reflected as a reduction to stockholders' equity.
Fair values of commercial mortgage loans are determined by discounting the expected total cash flows using market rates that are applicable to the yield, credit quality and maturity of each loan.
Life and health insurance companies are subject to certain risk-based capital ("RBC") requirements as specified by the NAIC. Under those requirements, the amount of capital and surplus maintained by a life and health insurance company is to be determined based on the various risk factors related to it. At December 31, 2004, Principal Life meets the minimum RBC requirements.