The discussion and analysis of our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity and capital resources is based on our consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions continually, including those related to investments, deferred acquisition costs, value of insurance business acquired and policy liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors and assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following accounting policies, judgments and estimates are the most critical to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance to clarify when the separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share is required. That is, an entity will continue to evaluate whether the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative feature are clearly and closely related to those of the host contract. Specifically, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of the host contract. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that no single term or feature would necessarily determine the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract. Rather, the nature of the host contract depends upon the economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument.
The $124,753 increase in accrued investment income is due to the $33,525,075 increase in invested assets during 2014.
Our operations have been financed primarily through the private placement of equity securities and intrastate public stock offerings. Through December 31, 2014, we have received $27,119,480 from the sale of our shares.
Our operations have been profitable and have generated $7,887,137 of net income from operations since we were incorporated in 2004. The Company also issued 702,705 shares of its common stock in connection with two stock dividends paid to shareholders in 2011 and 2012 that resulted in accumulated earnings being charged $5,270,288 with an offsetting credit of $5,270,288 to common stock and additional paid-in capital.
The Company’s liability for policyholders’ account balances represents the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the financial statement date. This liability is generally equal to the accumulated account deposits plus interest credited less policyholders’ withdrawals and other charges assessed against the account balance. Interest crediting rates for individual annuities range from 2.25% to 5.00%. Interest crediting rates for deposit-type liabilities range from 2.50% to 4.00%.
The Company’s investment in lottery prize cash flows was $21,781,925 and $21,763,648 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The lottery prize cash flows are assignments of the future rights from lottery winners purchased at a discounted price. Payments on these investments are made by state run lotteries.
TLIC is a party to an Automatic Retrocession Pool Agreement (the “Reinsurance Pool”) with Optimum Re Insurance Company, Catholic Order of Foresters, American Home Life Insurance Company and Woodmen of the World. The agreement provides for automatic retrocession of coverage in excess of Optimum Re Insurance Company’s retention on business ceded to Optimum Re Insurance Company by the other parties to the Reinsurance Pool. TLIC’s maximum exposure on any one insured under the Reinsurance Pool is $75,000. As of January 1, 2008, the Reinsurance Pool stopped accepting new cessions.
The Petition asserts claims for breach of contract and anticipatory breach of contract and alleges that FBLIC breached, and will anticipatorily breach, the Decreasing Term to 95 policies of insurance by not providing a dividend sufficient to purchase a one year term life insurance policy which would keep the death benefit under the Decreasing Term to 95 policies the same as that provided during the first year of coverage under the policy. In addition to these claims, the Petition asserts claims for negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (“MMPA”). It alleges that during its sale of the Decreasing Term to 95 policies, FBLIC represented that the owners of these policies would always be entitled to dividends to purchase a one-year term life insurance policy and that the owners would have a level death benefit without an increase in premium.