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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
FORM 10-K
________________
|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
OR
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________to ________
Commission file number 33-28976
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 41-0823832
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
829 AXP Financial Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 671-3131
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes __X__ No _____
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this Form 10-K. [Not Applicable]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the act). Yes _____ No __X__
THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS I(1) (a)
and (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE REDUCED
DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Form 10-K
Item Number
Page
PART I
1. Business................................................................1
Introduction.......................................................1
Insurance: Product Features and Risks.............................1
Variable Life Insurance............................................1
Universal Life Insurance...........................................2
Traditional Life Insurance Products................................2
Disability Income Insurance........................................2
Long-term Care Insurance...........................................3
Insurance Risks....................................................3
Annuities: Product Features and Risks.............................3
Variable Annuities.................................................3
Fixed Annuities....................................................3
Annuity Risks......................................................4
The General Account................................................5
The Variable Accounts..............................................6
Regulation.........................................................7
Ratings............................................................7
Risk Based Capital.................................................8
2. Properties..............................................................8
3. Legal Proceedings.......................................................8
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.....................9
PART II
5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters...9
6. Selected Financial Data.................................................9
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.....................................9
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk..............21
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.............................21
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure....................................................21
9A. Controls and Procedures.................................................21
PART III
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services..................................21
PART VI
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.........22
Signatures..............................................................23
Index to Financial Statements...........................................F-1
Exhibit Index...........................................................E-1
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
IDS Life Insurance Company is a stock life insurance company organized under the
laws of the State of Minnesota. IDS Life Insurance Company is a wholly owned
subsidiary of American Express Financial Corporation ("AEFC"), which is a wholly
owned subsidiary of American Express Company. IDS Life Insurance Company serves
residents of the District of Columbia and all states except New York. IDS Life
Insurance Company distributes its fixed and variable insurance and annuities
products exclusively through the American Express Financial Advisors Inc.'s
("AEFAI") retail sales force. IDS Life Insurance Company has four wholly owned
life insurance company subsidiaries that distribute their products through
various distribution channels. IDS Life Insurance Company of New York ("IDS Life
of New York") is a wholly owned subsidiary of IDS Life Insurance Company and
serves New York State residents. IDS Life of New York distributes its fixed and
variable insurance and annuity products exclusively through AEFAI's retail sales
force. IDS Life Insurance Company also owns American Enterprise Life Insurance
Company ("American Enterprise Life"), an Indiana corporation, which primarily
issues fixed and variable annuity contracts for sale through non-affiliated
representatives and agents of third party distributors. American Centurion Life
Assurance Company ("American Centurion Life") is also a subsidiary of IDS Life
Insurance Company. American Centurion Life offers fixed and variable annuities
to American Express(R) Cardmembers and others in New York, as well as fixed and
variable annuities for sale through non-affiliated representatives and agents of
third party distributors, in New York. IDS Life Insurance Company owns American
Partners Life Insurance Company ("American Partners Life"), an Arizona
corporation which offers fixed and variable annuity contracts to American
Express(R) Cardmembers and others who reside in states other than New York. IDS
Life Insurance Company also owns IDS REO 1, LLC and IDS REO II, LLC. At December
31, 2003, these two subsidiaries held real estate and mortgage loans on real
estate. (IDS Life Insurance Company distributed via dividend all of its interest
in American Express Corporation ("AEC") to AEFC in December 2003. See Note 1 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.) IDS Life
Insurance Company and its six subsidiaries are referred to collectively as "IDS
Life" in this Form 10-K.
Business sold through AEFAI's retail distribution channel for IDS Life Insurance
Company and IDS Life of New York represents the majority of the insurance and
annuity business for IDS Life. Business sold through third-party distribution
for American Enterprise Life and American Centurion Life ranks second. Business
sold through the direct channel for American Partners Life and American
Centurion Life ranks a distant third.
Insurance: Product Features and Risks
IDS Life issues a wide range of insurance products including variable life
insurance, universal life insurance, traditional whole life insurance,
traditional term life insurance and disability income insurance. IDS Life issues
only non-participating life insurance contracts and does not issue
short-duration life insurance policies.
Variable Life Insurance
IDS Life Insurance Company's and IDS Life of New York's biggest selling life
insurance products are variable life insurance policies. Variable life insurance
provides life insurance coverage along with investment returns linked to the
underlying investments the policyholder chooses. These products also offer a
fixed account with a guaranteed minimum interest crediting rate ranging from
4.0% to 4.5%. According to LIMRA, IDS Life Insurance Company ranked third in
variable life insurance sales on the basis of premiums in 2003.
-1-
IDS Life Insurance Company's variable life insurance products include American
Express(R) Variable Universal Life IV/American Express(R) Variable Universal
Life IV - Estate Series, which are individual flexible premium policies. The
Estate Series policy is available to policyholders with initial specified
amounts of $1 million or more. IDS Life Insurance Company also issues American
Express Succession Select, a flexible premium survivorship policy that insures
two lives. Succession Select is often used for estate planning purposes.
Finally, IDS Life Insurance Company issues American Express(R) Single Premium
Variable Life, an individual single premium variable life insurance policy.
Beginning in 1999 and 2000, respectively, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS
Life of New York reinsured 80% of the mortality risk attributable to new sales
of individual flexible premium variable life insurance. This means that on these
product sales, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York are at risk
for only 20% of each policy's death benefit from the first dollar of coverage.
Beginning at the end of 2002 for IDS Life Insurance Company and the third
quarter of 2003 for IDS Life of New York, the amount reinsured was increased to
90%, with 10% retained by IDS Life. In contrast and prior to this arrangement,
IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York generally retained risk up
to $750,000 on each insured life and reinsured only those amounts in excess of
$750,000. Generally, the prior arrangement left IDS Life Insurance Company and
IDS Life of New York with more of the risk for the death benefit than the more
recent practice.
Universal Life Insurance
IDS Life Insurance Company's and IDS Life of New York's universal life insurance
products provide life insurance coverage and cash value that increases by a
fixed interest rate. The rate is periodically reset according to the terms of
the policy at the discretion of the issuing company. Policies issued by IDS Life
Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York also provide a guaranteed minimum
interest crediting rate ranging from 4% to 5%.
IDS Life Insurance Company's universal life insurance products include Life
Protection Plus, Life Protection Select and Life Protection Select Estate
Series. The Estate Series policy is available to policyholders with initial
specified amounts of $1 million or more.
Traditional Life Insurance Products
IDS Life Insurance Company's and IDS Life of New York's traditional life
insurance products include whole life insurance and term life insurance. Whole
life insurance combines a death benefit with a cash value that generally
increases gradually in amount over a period of years and does not pay a
dividend. IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York have sold very
little traditional whole life insurance in recent years. Term life insurance
provides only a death benefit, does not build up cash value and does not pay a
dividend. The policyholder chooses the guarantee period at the time of
application. During the chosen term, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of
New York cannot raise premium rates even if claims experience were to
deteriorate. Beginning in 2001 and 2002, respectively, IDS Life Insurance
Company and IDS Life of New York have reinsured 90% of the mortality risk
attributable to new term insurance sales. This means that on these more recent
product sales, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York are at risk
for only 10% of each policy's death benefit from the first dollar of coverage.
In contrast and prior to this arrangement, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS
Life of New York generally retained risk up to $750,000 on each insured life and
reinsured only amounts in excess of $750,000. Generally, the prior arrangement
left IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York with more of the risk
for the death benefit than the more recent practice.
Disability Income Insurance
IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York also issue disability income
("DI") insurance. DI insurance provides monthly benefits to individuals who are
unable to earn income at either their occupation at time of disability ("own
occupation") or at any suitable occupation ("any occupation"). Depending upon
occupational and medical underwriting criteria, applicants for DI insurance can
choose "own occupation" and "any occupation" coverage for varying benefit
periods up to age 65. Applicants may also choose various benefit riders to help
them integrate individual DI insurance benefits with Social Security or similar
benefit plans and to help them protect their DI
-2-
insurance benefits from the risk of inflation. IDS Life Insurance Company
believes it has a significant presence in the DI insurance market.
Long-Term Care Insurance
IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York no longer issue long-term
care ("LTC") insurance, but do retain risk on a large block of existing
contracts, 50% of which is reinsured by General Electric Capital Assurance
Company ("GECA"). As of December 31, 2002, IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS
Life of New York generally discontinued underwriting LTC insurance. (A small
number of applications were taken in early 2003.) In addition, in May 2003, IDS
Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York began outsourcing claims
administration to GECA.
Insurance Risks
IDS Life's sales of individual life insurance in 2003, as measured by scheduled
annual premiums and excluding lump sum premiums, consisted of 82% variable life,
6% universal life and 12% term life.
Competitive factors applicable to the insurance business include product
features, the interest rates credited to products, the charges deducted from the
cash values of such products, investment performance, the financial strength of
the organization, distribution and management expenses, claims paying ratings
and the services provided to policyholders.
For long-term profitability, it is crucial to ensure adequate pricing to cover
insurance risks and to accumulate adequate reserves. Reserves are a measure of
the assets that IDS Life estimates are needed to adequately provide for future
benefits and expenses. These reserves are also discussed in the "Certain
Critical Accounting Policies" section herein.
Annuities: Product Features and Risks
IDS Life offers variable and fixed annuities to a broad range of consumers
through multiple distribution channels. Annuities may be deferred, where assets
accumulate until the contract is surrendered, the contract owner dies, or the
contract owner begins receiving benefits under an annuity payout option; or
immediate, where payments begin within one year of issue and continue for life
or for a fixed period of time.
IDS Life Insurance Company is one of the largest issuers of annuities in the
United States. As of the end of the third quarter of 2003, IDS Life Insurance
Company, on a consolidated basis, ranked 11th among the top annuity writers. IDS
Life posted annuity cash sales in 2003 of over $8 billion, a decrease of 2%
across all distribution channels.
Variable Annuities
Like variable life insurance, variable annuities provide contract owners with
investment returns linked to the underlying investments the contract owner
chooses. These products also offer a fixed account with a guaranteed minimum
interest crediting rate ranging from 1.5% to 4%. One of IDS Life Insurance
Company's variable annuities, the American Express Retirement Advisor
Advantage(R) Variable Annuity, was the 12th largest-selling annuity in the
country in 2003. In January 2004 IDS Life Insurance Company introduced an
enhanced version of this annuity named American Express Retirement Advisor
Advantage PlusSM Variable Annuity.
Fixed Annuities
IDS Life's fixed annuities provide cash value that increases by a fixed interest
rate. The rate is periodically reset according to the terms of the contract at
the discretion of IDS Life. At December 31, 2003, the contracts provide a
guaranteed minimum interest crediting rate ranging from 1.5% to 5%. In 2003, a
number of states adopted a model regulation providing for an indexed guaranteed
minimum interest crediting rate, and a number of states now follow this model.
IDS Life filed a number of contract changes to begin taking advantage of the
lower rate guarantee offer on new product sales.
-3-
Annuity Risks
The relative proportion between fixed and variable annuities sales is generally
driven by the relative performance of the equity and fixed income markets. In
times of lackluster performance in equity markets, fixed sales are generally
stronger. In times of superior performance in equity markets, variable sales are
generally stronger. In addition, investment management performance is critical
to the profitability of an annuity business.
In past years, innovative features for annuity products have continually been
evolving. These features include guaranteed minimum death benefits ("GMDBs")
that protect beneficiaries from a drop in death benefits due to performance of
the related underlying investments. The standard GMDB in the "flagship" annuity
offered by IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York in 2003, the
American Express Retirement Advisor Advantage Variable Annuity, provides that if
the contract owner and annuitant are age 80 or younger on the date of death, the
beneficiary will receive the greatest of (i) the contract value, (ii) purchase
payments minus adjusted partial surrenders, or (iii) the contract value as of
the most recent sixth contract anniversary, plus purchase payments and minus
adjusted partial surrenders since that anniversary. Under the new American
Express Retirement Advisor Advantage PlusSM Variable Annuity, the standard GMDB
provides that if the contract owner is age 75 or younger on the date of death,
the beneficiary will receive the greater of (i) the contract value less a pro
rata portion of any rider fees, or (ii) purchase payments minus adjusted partial
surrenders.
Additional optional GMDBs are also available. For example, IDS Life Insurance
Company and IDS Life of New York contract owners may purchase a maximum
anniversary value death benefit for an additional charge. This death benefit
rider guarantees that the death benefit will not be less than the highest
contract value achieved on a contract anniversary before the contract owner
reaches the age of 81, adjusted for partial withdrawals. IDS Life Insurance
Company contract owners also may purchase an enhanced earnings death benefit or
an enhanced earnings plus death benefit for an additional charge. These death
benefit riders are intended to provide additional benefits to a beneficiary to
offset expenses after the contract owner's death.
American Enterprise Life and other subsidiaries of IDS Life Insurance Company
also offer variable annuities with a variety of guaranteed minimum death benefit
features and certain optional benefits. For example, American Enterprise Life
issues certain variable annuity contracts that contain a guaranteed minimum
income benefit feature which, if elected by the contract owner after a
stipulated waiting period from contract issuance, guarantees a minimum lifetime
annuity based on predetermined annuity purchase rates that may be in excess of
what the contract account value can purchase at then-current annuity purchase
rates. American Enterprise Life bears the risk that protracted under-performance
of the financial markets could result in guaranteed minimum income benefits
being higher than what accumulated contract owner account balances would
support.
To the extent a GMDB or GMIB is higher than the current account value at the
time of death, IDS Life incurs a cost. For fiscal years beginning before
December 16, 2003, GAAP did not prescribe advance recognition of the projected
future net costs associated with these guarantees, and accordingly, IDS Life did
not record a liability corresponding to these future obligations for death
benefits in excess of annuity account value. Through December 31, 2003, the
amount paid in excess of contract value was expensed when payable. Amounts
expensed in 2003 and 2002 were $31.5 million and $37.4 million, respectively.
In July 2003, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued
Statement of Position 03-1, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises
for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts"
(SOP 03-1) with an effective date of January 1, 2004. SOP 03-1 requires
insurance enterprises to establish additional liabilities for benefits that may
become payable under variable annuity death benefit guarantees or other
insurance or annuity contract provisions. Where additional liabilities are
established, the recognition of this liability may also impact the valuation and
amortization of DAC associated with those insurance or annuity contracts. SOP
03-1 also provides clarifying guidance as to the recognition of bonus interest
and other sales inducement benefits and the presentation of any deferred amounts
in the financial statements
-4-
Detailed interpretations of SOP 03-1 and related implementation guidance
continue to emerge and, accordingly, IDS Life continues to evaluate its impact.
Current estimates of applying SOP 03-1, partially offset by related impacts to
DAC balances, would reduce first quarter 2004 net income by approximately $30
million.
The general account assets of IDS Life support these GMDBs (see "The General
Account" section below). IDS Life bears the risk that protracted
under-performance of the financial markets could result in GMDBs being higher
than what current account values would support. Actual experience may differ
from IDS Life's estimates. IDS Life's exposure to risk from these guarantees
generally will increase when equity markets decline.
The General Account
Assets supporting contract values associated with fixed account life insurance
and annuity products, as well as those associated with fixed account options
under variable insurance and annuity products (collectively, the "fixed
accounts"), are part of IDS Life's "general account." Under fixed accounts, IDS
Life bears the investment risk. In investing their general account assets, IDS
Life seeks to maintain a dependable and targeted difference or "spread" between
the interest rate earned on general account assets and the interest rate IDS
Life credits to contract owners' fixed accounts. This spread is a major driver
of net income for IDS Life.
The general account assets also include funds accumulated through insurance
premiums and cost of insurance and annuity product charges. These premiums and
charges are major sources of revenue for IDS Life.
In the general account, IDS Life primarily invests in fixed income securities
over a broad range of maturities for the purpose of providing a targeted rate of
return on their investments while controlling risk. The majority of these fixed
income securities are interest-bearing investments such as government
obligations, mortgage backed obligations and various corporate debt instruments.
IDS Life does not invest in securities to generate trading profits.
IDS Life Insurance Company and its four life insurance company subsidiaries,
through their respective Boards of Directors' investment committees or staff
functions, reviews models projecting different interest rate scenarios,
risk/return measures, and their effect on profitability. They also review the
distribution of assets in the portfolio by type and credit risk sector. The
objective is to structure the investment security portfolio based upon the type
and expected behavior of products in the liability portfolio to meet contractual
obligations and achieve targeted levels of profitability within defined risk
parameters.
IDS Life has the discretion to set the rate of interest credited to contract
owners' accounts. However, this discretion is limited by the contract's
guaranteed minimum interest crediting rate. As of December 31, 2003, this rate
varied among fixed accounts and was as low as 1.5% and as high as 5%. To the
extent the yield on IDS Life's invested general account asset portfolio declines
below its target spread plus the minimum guarantee, IDS Life's profitability
would be negatively affected.
The interest rates credited to contract owners' fixed accounts are generally
reset at shorter intervals than the maturity of underlying investments.
Therefore, margins may be negatively impacted by increases in the general level
of interest rates. Part of IDS Life's strategy includes the use of derivatives,
such as interest rate caps, swaps and floors, for risk management purposes.
These derivatives help protect margins by increasing investment returns if there
is a sudden and severe rise in interest rates, thereby mitigating the impact of
an increase in rates credited to contract owners' fixed accounts. Conversely, in
a low interest rate environment, such as that experienced recently, margins may
be negatively impacted as the interest rates available on IDS Life's invested
assets approach guaranteed minimum interest rates on the insurance or annuity
contracts. This negative impact may be compounded by the fact that many of these
interest-bearing investments are callable or pre-payable by the issuer and calls
and prepayments are more likely to occur in a low interest rate environment. In
light of the present environment in which interest rates are at historic lows,
IDS Life imposed fixed account allocation and transfer rules for new variable
annuity sales in the summer of 2003.
-5-
IDS Life sold approximately $16 billion of their invested assets during the
year, on a consolidated basis. In addition, approximately $3 billion in assets
were redeemed during the year. The cash generated by these sales and redemptions
has been or will be re-invested.
The Variable Accounts
Variable insurance and annuity products also offer variable account investment
options in addition to fixed account options. Under variable accounts, contract
owners bear the investment risk. The variable accounts are registered as unit
investment trusts under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
IDS Life's major source of revenue from the variable insurance and annuities is
the fees it receives, including mortality and expense fees. Prior to November
2003, these fees included investment advisory fees for internally managed funds.
In the fourth quarter of 2003, AEFC assumed these duties for the funds and
retained IDS Life Insurance Company, and its non-New York subsidiaries, to
provide underlying administrative services. In March 2004, a similar structure
for the New York subsidiaries was approved by the New York Insurance Department
effective as of February 1, 2004. Fees payable from AEFC to IDS Life include
administrative service fees.
Generally, the variable accounts consist of a number of subaccounts, each of
which invests in shares of a particular fund. Contract owners can allocate their
payments among these variable subaccounts. The underlying funds are managed both
by internal and unaffiliated third-party money managers. Internally managed
proprietary funds for IDS Life's variable annuities include the nineteen AXP
Variable Portfolio Funds. Internally managed proprietary funds for IDS Life's
variable life business include the AXP Variable Portfolio Funds and the seven
IDS Life Series Fund portfolios.
As noted above and in the fourth quarter of 2003, AEFC replaced IDS Life
Insurance Company as the investment manager of these internally managed
proprietary funds. Concurrent with the investment manager change, IDS Life
Insurance Company entered into an agreement with AEFC to receive administrative
services fees for the fund management services, other than investment
management, that IDS Life Insurance Company provides the underlying proprietary
mutual funds. Previous to this change, IDS Life Insurance Company received
management fees directly from the proprietary funds and was a party to an
agreement with AEFC to compensate AEFC for the investment sub-advisory services
AEFC provided to the proprietary funds.
IDS Life's variable life insurance and annuities also offer funds managed by
third-party money managers. For example, the investment advisers under the
American Express Retirement Advisor Advantage(R) Variable Annuity ("RAVA") and
the American Express(R) Variable Universal Life IV/Variable Universal Life IV -
Estate Series include AIM Advisors Inc., Alliance Capital Management, L.P.,
American Century Investment Management, Inc., Calvert Asset Management Company,
Inc., Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC., Fidelity Management &
Research Company, Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, Franklin Advisers, Inc.,
Franklin Advisory Services, LLC, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc., Janus Capital, Lazard Asset Management, LLC, MFS Investment
Management(R), Pioneer Investment Management, Inc., Putnam Investment
Management, LLC, Strong Capital Management, Inc., Liberty Wanger Asset
Management, L.P. and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC.
Funds underlying the variable accounts invest in portfolios containing a variety
of securities including common stocks, bonds, managed assets and/or short-term
securities. The value of the subaccounts fluctuates with the investment return
of the funds in which the subaccounts invest.
IDS Life earns fee revenues from the variable accounts related to the underlying
proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds and mortality and expense risk fees
from variable subaccounts.
-6-
Variable life insurance and annuities are "separate account" rather than general
account products. This means that state insurance law prohibits charging
variable accounts with liabilities of the general business. Under the
subaccounts of each variable account, IDS Life credits or charges income,
capital gains and capital losses only to that subaccount.
Regulation
IDS Life Insurance Company, American Enterprise Life and American Partners Life
are subject to comprehensive regulation by the Minnesota Department of Commerce
(Insurance Division), the Indiana Department of Insurance, and the Arizona
Department of Insurance, respectively (collectively, and with the New York
Insurance Department, "Domiciliary Regulators"). American Centurion Life and IDS
Life of New York are regulated by the New York State Department of Insurance.
The laws of the other states in which these companies do business also regulate
such matters as the licensing of sales personnel and, in some cases, the
marketing and contents of insurance policies and annuity contracts. The primary
purpose of such regulation and supervision is to protect the interests of
contractholders and policyholders. Financial regulation of IDS Life is
extensive. IDS Life's financial and intercompany transactions (such as
intercompany dividends, capital contributions and investment activity) are often
subject to pre-approval and continuing evaluation by the Domiciliary Regulators.
Regulatory and judicial scrutiny of market conduct practices of insurance
companies, including sales, marketing and replacements of life insurance and
annuities, agent practices, "bonus" annuities and market timing and late trading
under variable insurance and annuities, increased significantly in recent years
and continues to affect the manner in which companies approach various
operational issues, including compliance. Virtually all states mandate
participation in insurance guaranty associations, which assess insurance
companies in order to fund claims of contract owners of insolvent insurance
companies.
On the federal level, there is periodic interest in enacting new regulations
relating to various aspects of the insurance industry, including taxation of
annuity contracts and life insurance policies, accounting procedures, as well as
the treatment of persons differently because of gender, with respect to terms,
conditions, rates or benefits of an annuity contract and insurance policy. New
federal regulation in any of these areas could potentially have an adverse
effect upon IDS Life. More specifically, recent federal legislative proposals
aimed at the promotion of tax-advantaged savings through Lifetime Savings
Accounts and Retirement Savings Accounts may adversely impact IDS Life's sales
of annuity and life insurance products if enacted.
Ratings
IDS Life had consolidated assets at December 31, 2003 of approximately $65.9
billion, based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
(GAAP), and had total capital and surplus as of December 31, 2003 of $2.8
billion, on a statutory accounting basis.
IDS Life Insurance Company receives ratings from independent rating agencies.
Generally, its four insurance subsidiaries do not receive an individual rating,
but receive the same rating as IDS Life Insurance Company. These agencies
evaluate the financial soundness and claims-paying ability of insurance
companies based on a number of different factors. The ratings reflect each
agency's estimation of IDS Life's ability to meet their contractual obligations
such as making annuity payouts and paying death benefits and other distributions
from the contracts. As such, the ratings relate to IDS Life's general accounts
and not to the management or performance of the variable accounts of the
contracts.
Ratings are important to maintaining public confidence in IDS Life Insurance
Company and its four life insurance company subsidiaries. Lowering of IDS Life
Insurance Company's ratings could have a material adverse effect on IDS Life
Insurance Company's and its four life insurance company subsidiaries' ability to
market their products and could lead to increased surrenders of their products.
Rating agencies continually review the financial performance and condition of
insurers. As of the end of 2003, IDS Life Insurance Company was rated "A+"
(Superior) by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and its claims-paying ability/financial
strength was rated "Aa3" (Excellent) by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
(Moody's), and "AA" (Very Strong) by Fitch.
-7-
The foregoing ratings reflect each rating agency's opinion of IDS Life's
financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet its obligations to
contract owners. Such factors are of primary concern to contract owners, agents
and intermediaries, but also may be of interest to investors.
Risk Based Capital
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") adopted Risk Based
Capital ("RBC") requirements for life insurance companies. The RBC requirements
are to be used as minimum capital requirements by the NAIC and states to
identify companies that merit further regulatory action. At December 31, 2003,
IDS Life Insurance Company had total adjusted capital of approximately $3.1
billion on a statutory accounting basis. As defined by the NAIC, total adjusted
capital includes certain asset valuation reserves excluded from the $2.8 billion
of statutory capital and surplus referred to above. The Minnesota Department of
Commerce, IDS Life Insurance Company's insurance regulator, requires insurance
companies to maintain a minimum RBC called the "authorized control level." If
total adjusted capital fell below the authorized control level, the Minnesota
Department of Commerce would be authorized to exercise management control over
IDS Life Insurance Company. For IDS Life Insurance Company, the authorized
control level capital was $507.1 million at December 31, 2003.
In addition, IDS Life Insurance Company, like other life insurance companies, is
expected to maintain capital at a level above which would require a company to
file an action plan with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. This is referred
to as the "company action level." For IDS Life Insurance Company, the company
action level capital was $1 billion at December 31, 2003.
As described above, IDS Life Insurance Company maintains levels of RBC far in
excess of the authorized control and company action levels required by the
Minnesota Department of Commerce. The level of capital maintained in IDS Life
Insurance Company is thought to be appropriate by management and is more
commensurate with standards necessary to maintain IDS Life Insurance Company's
ratings with the various credit and claims-paying rating agencies.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
IDS Life Insurance Company occupies office space in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
which is leased or owned by AEFC. IDS Life Insurance Company reimburses AEFC for
rent based on direct and indirect allocation methods. IDS Life of New York and
American Centurion Life rent office space in Albany, New York. Facilities
occupied by IDS Life are believed to be adequate for the purposes for which they
are used and are well maintained.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Association of
Securities Dealers (NASD) and several state attorneys general have brought
proceedings challenging several mutual fund and variable account financial
practices, including suitability generally, late trading, market timing,
disclosure of revenue sharing arrangements and inappropriate sales. IDS Life
Insurance Company has received requests for information and has been contacted
by regulatory authorities concerning its practices and is cooperating fully with
these inquiries.
In November 2002, IDS Life Insurance Company was named in a purported class
action entitled John Haritos, et al. v. American Express Financial Advisors,
Inc. et al., No. 02 2255, United States District Court, District of Arizona. The
complaint originally named IDS Life Insurance Company as a defendant, but IDS
Life Insurance Company was dismissed when plaintiffs chose to file an Amended
Complaint not naming IDS Life Insurance Company. This action alleges that
defendants violated the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C., in the sale
of financial plans and various products including those of IDS Life Insurance
Company. The complaint seeks certification of a
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nationwide class, restitution, injunctive relief, and punitive damages.
Defendants have moved to dismiss the action and that motion is pending.
IDS Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries are involved in a number of
other legal and arbitration proceedings concerning matters arising in connection
with the conduct of their respective business activities. IDS Life believes it
has meritorious defenses to each of these actions and intends to defend them
vigorously. IDS Life believes that it is not a party to, nor are any of its
properties the subject of, any pending legal or arbitration proceedings that
would have a material adverse effect on IDS Life's consolidated financial
condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, it is possible that the
outcome of any such proceedings could have a material impact on results of
operations in any particular reporting period as the proceedings are resolved.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions I(2) (a) of Form 10-K.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
IDS Life follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
(GAAP), and the following discussion is presented on a consolidated basis
consistent with GAAP.
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
IDS Life's 2003 income before accounting change rose 33 percent to $507.6
million. IDS Life's net income increased 44 percent to $552.1 million in 2003,
up from $382.2 million in 2002. Among other things described below, IDS Life's
2003 results reflect a $41.3 million reduction in tax expense due to adjustments
related to the finalization of the 2002 tax return filed during the third
quarter of 2003 and the publication of favorable technical guidance related to
the taxation of dividend income.
Results for 2003 also reflect the impact of IDS Life's adoption of Financial
Accounting Standard Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities," revised December 2003 (FIN 46), which addresses the
consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs). The impact of the FIN 46
adoption is discussed in more detail below.
Revenues
Total revenues increased 6 percent in 2003 primarily due to higher net
investment income and disability income premium revenues, together with net
realized gains on investments versus net realized losses in 2002, partially
offset by lower management and other fee revenues.
Net investment income increased 9 percent in 2003 as higher levels of invested
assets and the effect of appreciation in the S&P 500 on the value of options
hedging equity indexed annuities this year versus depreciation last year,
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which was offset in interest credited expenses. The positive effects of the
foregoing were partially offset by a lower average yield on IDS Life's invested
assets.
Total premium revenue increased $14.5 million reflecting a higher number of
disability income and traditional life insurance policies.
Net realized gain (loss) on investments was $4.1 million in 2003 compared to
($4.5 million) in 2002. In 2003, $257.1 million of investment gains, were
partially offset by $253.0 million of impairments and losses. Included in these
total investment gains and losses were $255.3 million of gross realized gains
and $135.5 million of gross realized losses from the sales of securities, as
well as $102.6 million of other-than-temporary investment impairment losses,
classified as Available-for-Sale. In 2002, $300.4 million of investment gains
were more than offset by $304.9 million of impairments and losses. Included in
these total investment gains and losses were $297.6 million of gross realized
gains and $137.4 million of gross realized losses from the sales of securities,
as well as $144.1 million of other-than-temporary investment impairment losses
(including $45 million related to directly-held WorldCom debt holdings),
classified as Available-for-Sale.
Management and other fee revenues decreased $14.3 million, or 4 percent, as a
result of lower average market values of separate account assets throughout the
full year of 2003 compared to 2002. While equity markets increased in the second
half of 2003, average market values of separate account assets for the full year
of 2003 remained below 2002 levels. For 2003 and 2002, IDS Life provided mutual
fund management services for many of the mutual funds available as investment
options within IDS Life's variable annuity and variable life insurance products.
IDS Life also receives mortality and expense risk fees from the separate
accounts based on asset levels.
Expenses
Total death and other benefit expenses increased $3.4 million, or 1 percent,
reflecting increased claims on long-term care and universal-life type policies,
partially offset by lower costs related to GMDBs. The 2003 increase also
reflects the 2002 benefit of $7 million ($4 million after-tax), which resulted
from a reversal of a portion of the 2001 September 11th related reserves as a
result of lower than previously anticipated insured loss claims.
Disability and long-term care insurance liability for future policy benefit
expenses increased $7.9 million, or 6 percent, reflecting increases in
underlying policies in force.
Interest credited on investment contracts and universal-life type insurance
increased $67.3 million, or 6 percent, due to higher average in force levels of
both annuities and insurance products and the effect of appreciation in the S&P
500 on equity indexed annuities in 2003 versus depreciation in 2002, partially
offset by the benefit of lower interest crediting rates on both fixed annuity
and fixed life insurance contract values reflecting the relatively lower
interest rate environment during 2003.
Amortization expense of deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) decreased $47.5
million, or 14 percent, reflecting a net $18.0 million increase in DAC
amortization expense in the third quarter of 2002, and a net $1.8 million
decrease in DAC amortization expense in the third quarter of 2003, both as a
result of IDS Life's annual third quarter review of various DAC assumptions and
practices. Additionally, DAC amortization expense in 2003 was favorably impacted
by recently improved equity market performance during 2003 as compared with
2002. Faster-than-assumed growth in customer asset values associated with IDS
Life's variable annuity and insurance products resulted in a decrease in DAC
amortization expense during 2003, whereas declines in variable annuity and
insurance customer asset values resulted in an increase in DAC amortization
expense during 2002. See the DAC section below for further discussion of DAC and
related adjustments.
Other insurance and operating expenses increased $26.4 million, or 6 percent,
due to the unfavorable impact of fewer capitalized costs due to the ongoing
impact of the third quarter 2002 comprehensive review of DAC-related practices.
The change in investment manager of the proprietary mutual funds underlying IDS
Life's separate account products, more fully described above, has the effect of
reducing operating expenses as the agreement to compensate AEFC for
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investment sub-advisory services was terminated at the same time the investment
manager change was put into effect.
IDS Life's 2003 income tax provision reflects a $41.3 million reduction in tax
expense resulting from adjustments related to the finalization of the 2002 tax
return filed during the third quarter of 2003 and publication of favorable
technical guidance related to the taxation of dividend income. Partially
offsetting this reduction in tax expenses was the after-tax impact of realized
losses from sales of mortgage-backed securities as IDS Life made adjustments to
the level of such investments during the third quarter of 2003, such that
mortgage-backed securities were 32 percent of IDS Life's overall investment
portfolio at December 31, 2003 compared to 43 percent at December 31, 2002.
As described more fully in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section below,
the consolidation of FIN 46-related entities resulted in a cumulative effect of
accounting change that increased net income through a non-cash gain of $44.5
million ($68.4 million pretax) related to the consolidation of three secured
loan trusts (SLTs).
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001
Net income was $382.2 million in 2002, compared to a net loss of ($65.2 million)
in 2001. Income before income tax provision was $470.0 million in 2002, compared
with a loss before income tax benefit and cumulative effect of accounting change
of ($189.0 million) in 2001. This favorable change from 2001 to 2002 was
primarily a result of the 2001 writedown and sale of high-yield securities that
reduced risk within the investment portfolio, as explained below.
Revenues
Total revenues increased by 33 percent to $2.8 billion in 2002, compared with
$2.1 billion in 2001. The increase was primarily due to higher net investment
income and lower levels of realized losses, primarily reflecting the impact of
the 2001 high-yield securities' realized losses. In addition, invested assets
were higher in 2002. Insurance premiums and policyholder and contractholder
charges also increased. Partially offsetting were declines in management and
other fees, as separate account assets dropped 20 percent from 2001 levels.
Net investment income, the largest component of revenues, increased by $76.2
million from 2001. This increase primarily reflects the effect of credit related
yield adjustments on fixed maturity investments in 2001 and higher invested
asset levels in 2002, which were somewhat offset by lower portfolio yields in
2002, driven by investment portfolio repositioning as described below.
Investment income also benefited from the effect of less depreciation in the S&P
500 in 2002 on the value of options hedging outstanding equity indexed
annuities, which is offset in the related provisions for losses and benefits.
Contractholder and policyholder charges increased 7 percent to $525.7 million in
2002, compared with $492.4 million in 2001. This increase relates to the 10
percent growth in total life insurance inforce, which grew to $119 billion at
December 31, 2002.
Management and other fees decreased 14 percent to $404.8 million in 2002,
compared with $473.4 million in 2001. This decrease was primarily due to lower
levels of average separate account assets, resulting primarily from market
depreciation of equity securities as weak equity markets continued throughout
2002. For 2002 and 2001, IDS Life provided investment management services for
many of the mutual funds that are available as investment options for variable
annuities and variable life insurance.
Net realized losses on investments were ($4.5 million) in 2002, compared to net
realized losses of ($649.8 million) in 2001. The 2002 net realized losses on
investments reflect ($146 million) from impairments recognized on
Available-for-Sale securities (including $45 million related to directly-held
WorldCom debt holdings). The net realized loss for 2001 was comprised of a ($143
million) pretax net loss in the first quarter resulting primarily from the
recognition of impairment losses and the sale of certain high-yield securities;
a ($227 million) writedown in the second quarter to recognize the impact of
higher default rate assumptions on certain structured investments; a ($262
million) writedown of lower-rated securities (most of which were sold during
2001) in the second quarter of 2001 primarily in
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connection with IDS Life's decision to lower its risk profile by reducing the
level of its high-yield fixed maturity investment portfolio, allocating holdings
toward stronger credits, and reducing the concentration of exposure to
individual companies and industry sectors; and ($18 million) of other net losses
primarily related to the sale and write-down of other investments.
Expenses
Total benefits and expenses were $2.4 billion in 2002 and $2.3 billion in 2001.
The largest component of expenses, interest credited to policyholder accounts
for universal life-type insurance and investment contracts, increased 1 percent
to $1.2 billion, reflecting the growth in fixed annuities in force and the
effect of less depreciation in the S&P 500 on equity indexed annuities,
partially offset by lower interest crediting rates from the lower interest rate
environment. The $39.9 million increase in total death and other benefits
reflects higher insurance claims and a significant increase in guaranteed
minimum death benefits on variable annuity contracts with $37.4 million expensed
in 2002 versus $16.2 million in 2001. 2001's results also include an $11 million
charge for anticipated insured loss claims from the September 11th terrorist
attacks while 2002 results include a $7 million reversal of a portion of these
reserves as a result of lower than anticipated insured loss claims. Amortization
of DAC decreased to $335.7 million in 2002, compared to $376.0 million in 2001.
The decrease in 2002's amortization was primarily from the $67 million
amortization increase in the first quarter of 2001 of DAC for variable annuity
and insurance products as a result of the significant decline in equity-based
separate account values and the associated fee revenues. In addition, during the
third quarter of 2002 IDS Life completed a comprehensive review of its DAC
related practices that resulted in a net increase in DAC amortization, as
described below.
Other insurance and operating expenses increased to $426.5 million in 2002,
compared to $397.2 million in 2001. This increase was primarily due to lower
levels of expenses deferred in 2002 as described below and from business growth
and technology costs related to growth initiatives.
Deferred policy acquisition costs
For IDS Life's annuity and insurance products, the projections underlying the
amortization of DAC require the use of certain assumptions, including interest
margins, mortality rates, persistency rates, maintenance expense levels and
customer asset value growth rates for variable products. Management routinely
monitors a wide variety of trends in the business, including comparisons of
actual and assumed experience. The customer asset value growth rate is the rate
at which contract values are assumed to appreciate in the future. The rate is
net of asset fees and anticipates a blend of equity and fixed income
investments. Management reviews and, where appropriate, adjusts its assumptions
with respect to customer asset value growth rates on a quarterly basis.
Management monitors other principal DAC assumptions, such as persistency,
mortality rates, interest margin and maintenance expense level assumptions, each
quarter. Unless management identifies a material deviation over the course of
the quarterly monitoring, management reviews and updates these DAC assumptions
annually in the third quarter of each year. When assumptions are changed, the
percentage of estimated gross profits or portion of interest margins used to
amortize DAC might also change. A change in the required amortization percentage
is applied retrospectively; an increase in amortization percentage will result
in an increase in DAC amortization expense while a decrease in amortization
percentage will result in a decrease in DAC amortization expense. The impact on
results of operations of changing assumptions with respect to the amortization
of DAC can be either positive or negative in any particular period and is
reflected in the period in which such changes are made. As a result of these
reviews, IDS Life took actions in both 2003 and 2002 that impacted DAC balance
and expenses.
In the third quarter of 2003, based on its detailed review, IDS Life took
certain actions that resulted in a net $1.8 million DAC amortization expense
reduction reflecting:
o A $106 million DAC amortization reduction resulting from extending 10-15
year amortization periods for certain Flex Annuity contracts to 20 years.
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o A $92 million DAC amortization increase resulting from the recognition of a
premium deficiency on IDS Life's Long-Term Care (LTC) business.
o A $12 million net DAC amortization increase across IDS Life's universal
life, variable universal life and fixed and variable annuity products.
In the third quarter of 2002, IDS Life completed a comprehensive review of its
DAC-related practices and took actions that resulted in a net $44 million
increase in expenses reflecting:
o A $173 million DAC amortization increase resulting from resetting the
customer asset value growth rate assumptions for variable annuity and
variable life products to anticipate near-term and long-term growth at an
annual rate of 7%.
o A $155 million DAC amortization reduction from revising certain mortality
and persistency assumptions for universal and variable universal life
insurance products and fixed and variable annuity products to better
reflect actual experience and future expectations.
o A $26 million operating expense increase from the revision of the types and
amounts of costs deferred, in part to reflect the impact of advisor
platform changes and the effects of related reengineering. This revision,
which resulted in an increase in ongoing expenses, continued to impact 2003
results.
DAC balances for various insurance and annuity products sold by IDS Life are set
forth below:
December 31, (Millions) 2003 2002
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life and health insurance $ 1,602 $ 1,654
Annuities 2,013 1,655
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 3,615 $ 3,309
==============================================================================
Certain Critical Accounting Policies
IDS Life's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements. The following provides information about
certain critical accounting policies that are important to the Consolidated
Financial Statements and that involve estimates requiring significant management
assumptions and judgments about the effect of matters that are uncertain. These
policies relate to reserves for investment securities valuation, deferred
acquisition costs and liabilities for future policy benefits.
Investment securities valuation
Generally, investment securities are carried at fair value on the balance sheet
with unrealized gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)
within equity, net of income tax provisions (benefits). At December 31, 2003,
IDS Life had net unrealized pretax gains on Available-for-Sale securities of
$697.8 million. Gains and losses are recognized in results of operations upon
disposition of the securities. In addition, losses are also recognized when
management determines that a decline in value is other-than-temporary, which
requires judgment regarding the amount and timing of recovery. Indicators of
other-than-temporary impairment for debt securities include issuer downgrade,
default or bankruptcy. IDS Life also considers the extent to which cost exceeds
fair value, the duration and size of that gap, and management's judgment about
the issuer's current and prospective financial condition. Fair value is
generally based on quoted market prices. As of December 31, 2003, there were
$146.3 million in gross unrealized losses that related to $8.2 billion of
securities (excluding structured investments), of which only $3.4 million has
been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. IDS Life
does not believe that the unrealized loss on any individual security at December
31, 2003 represents an other-than-temporary impairment, and IDS Life has the
ability and intent to hold these securities for a time sufficient to recover its
amortized cost.
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IDS Life's investment portfolio also contains structured investments of various
asset quality, including collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) (backed by
high-yield bonds and bank loans), which are not readily marketable. As a result,
the carrying values of these structured investments are based on future cash
flow projections that require a significant degree of management judgment as to
the amount and timing of cash payments, defaults and recovery rates of the
underlying investments and, as such, are subject to change. The carrying value
will vary if the actual cash flows differ from projected due to actual defaults
or an increase in the near-term default rate. As an example, an increase in the
near-term default rate by 100 basis points, in and of itself, would reduce the
cash flow projections by approximately $12 million based on underlying
investments as of December 31, 2003.
Deferred policy acquisition costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) represent the costs of acquiring new
business, principally direct sales commissions and other distribution and
underwriting costs that have been deferred on the sale of annuity and life and
health insurance products. For annuity and life and health insurance products,
DAC are amortized over periods approximating the lives of the business,
generally as a percentage of premiums or estimated gross profits or as a portion
of the interest margins associated with the products.
For annuity and life and health insurance products, the DAC balances at any
reporting date are supported by projections that show management expects there
to be adequate premiums, estimated gross profits or interest margins after that
date to amortize the remaining balances. These projections are inherently
uncertain because they require management to make assumptions about financial
markets and policyholder behavior over periods extending well into the future.
Projection periods used for IDS Life's annuity business are typically 10 to 25
years, while projection periods for IDS Life's life and health insurance
products are often 50 years or longer. Management regularly monitors financial
market conditions and compares actual policyholder behavior experience to its
assumptions. For annuity and universal life insurance products, the assumptions
made in projecting future results and calculating the DAC balance and DAC
amortization expense are management's best estimates. Management is required to
update these assumptions whenever it appears that, based on actual experience or
other evidence, earlier estimates should be revised. When assumptions are
changed, the percentage of estimated gross profits or portion of interest
margins used to amortize DAC might also change. A change in the required
amortization percentage is applied retrospectively; an increase in amortization
percentage will result in a decrease in DAC balance and increase in DAC
amortization expense while a decrease in amortization percentage will result in
an increase in DAC balance and a decrease in DAC amortization expense. The
impact on results of operations of changing assumptions can be either positive
or negative in any particular period and is reflected in the period in which
such changes are made.
For other life and health insurance products, the assumptions made in
calculating the DAC balance and DAC amortization expense are intended to provide
for adverse deviations in experience and are revised only if management
concludes experience will be so adverse that DAC is not recoverable.
For annuity and life and health insurance products, key assumptions underlying
these long-term projections include interest rates, equity market performance,
mortality and morbidity rates and the rates at which policyholders are expected
to surrender their contracts, make withdrawals from their contracts and make
additional deposits to their contracts. Assumptions about interest rates drive
projected interest margins, while assumptions about equity market performance
drive projected customer asset value growth rates and assumptions about
surrenders, withdrawals and deposits comprise projected persistency rates.
Management must also make assumptions to project maintenance expenses associated
with servicing its annuity and insurance business during the DAC amortization
period.
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The customer asset value growth rate is the rate at which contract values are
assumed to appreciate in the future. The rate is net of asset fees and
anticipates a blend of equity and fixed income investments. Management reviews
and, where appropriate, adjusts its assumptions with respect to customer asset
value growth rates on a quarterly basis. IDS Life uses a mean reversion method
as a guideline in setting near-term customer asset value growth rates based on a
long-term view of financial market performance. In periods when market
performance results in actual contract value growth at a rate that is different
than that assumed, IDS Life will reassess the near-term rate in order to
continue to project its best estimate of long-term growth. Management is
currently assuming a 7 percent long-term customer asset value growth rate. If
IDS Life increased or decreased its assumption related to this growth rate by
100 basis points, the impact on the DAC balance would be an increase or decrease
of approximately $40 million.
Management monitors other principal DAC assumptions, such as persistency,
mortality, morbidity, interest margin and maintenance expense levels each
quarter. Unless management identifies a material deviation over the course of
the quarterly monitoring, management reviews and updates these DAC assumptions
annually in the third quarter of each year.
The analysis of DAC balances and the corresponding amortization is a dynamic
process that considers all relevant factors and assumptions discussed above.
Therefore, an assessment of sensitivity associated with changes in any single
assumption would not necessarily be an indicator of future results.
Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits
Liabilities for reported and unpaid life insurance claims are equal to the death
benefits payable. For disability income and long-term care claims, unpaid claim
liabilities are equal to benefit amounts due and accrued. Liabilities for
incurred but not reported claims are estimated based on periodic analysis of the
actual reported claim lag. Where applicable, amounts recoverable from reinsurers
are separately recorded as receivables. For life insurance, no claim adjustment
expense reserve is held. The claim adjustment expense reserves for disability
income and long-term care are based on the claim reserves.
Liabilities for fixed and variable universal life insurance and fixed and
variable deferred annuities are accumulation values.
Liabilities for equity indexed deferred annuities issued in 1999 or later are
equal to the accumulation of host contract values covering guaranteed benefits
and the market value of embedded equity options. Liabilities for equity indexed
deferred annuities issued before 1999 are equal to the present value of
guaranteed benefits and the intrinsic value of index-based benefits.
Liabilities for fixed annuities in a benefit status are based on established
industry mortality tables and interest rates, ranging from 4.6% to 9.5%,
depending on year of issue, with an average rate of approximately 6.3%.
Liabilities for future benefits on term and whole life insurance are based on
the net level premium method, using anticipated mortality, policy persistency
and interest earning rates. Anticipated mortality rates are based on established
industry mortality tables, with modifications based on IDS Life's experience.
Anticipated policy persistency rates vary by policy form, issue age and policy
duration with persistency on level term and cash value plans generally
anticipated to be better than persistency on yearly renewable term insurance
plans. Anticipated interest rates range from 4% to 10%, depending on policy
form, issue year and policy duration.
Liabilities for future disability income and long-term care policy benefits
include both policy reserves and claim reserves. Policy reserves are based on
the net level premium method, using anticipated morbidity, mortality, policy
persistency and interest earning rates. Anticipated morbidity and mortality
rates are based on established industry morbidity and mortality tables.
Anticipated policy persistency rates vary by policy form, issue age, policy
duration and, for disability income policies, occupation class. Anticipated
interest rates for disability income policy reserves
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are 7.5% at policy issue and grade to 5% over 5 years. Anticipated interest
rates for long-term care policy reserves are currently 5.9% grading up to 8.9%
over 30 years.
Claim reserves are calculated based on claim continuance tables and anticipated
interest earnings. Anticipated claim continuance rates are based on established
industry tables. Anticipated interest rates for claim reserves for both
disability income and long-term care range from 5% to 8%, with an average rate
of approximately 5.7%. IDS Life issues only non-participating life insurance
contracts and does not issue short duration life insurance liabilities.
Impact of Recent Market-Volatility on Results of Operations
Various aspects of IDS Life's business are impacted by equity market levels and
other market-based events. Several areas in particular, as of December 31, 2003,
involve DAC, management and other fee revenues, structured investments and
GMDBs. The direction and magnitude of the changes in equity markets can increase
or decrease DAC amortization expense levels and management and other fee
revenues and correspondingly affect results of operations in any particular
period. Similarly, the value of IDS Life's structured investment portfolio and
derivatives resulting from the consolidation of certain secured loan trusts are
impacted by various market factors. Persistency of, or increases in, bond and
loan default rates, among other factors, could result in negative adjustments to
the market values of these investments in the future, which would adversely
impact results of operations. See discussion of structured investments and
consolidated derivatives below.
The majority of the variable annuity contracts offered by IDS Life contain GMDB
provisions. The standard GMDB provision in the "flagship" variable annuity
product offered by IDS Life Insurance Company and IDS Life of New York
throughout 2003, American Express Retirement Advisor Advantage(R) Variable
Annuity, provides that if the contract owner and annuitant are age 80 or younger
on the date of death, the beneficiary will receive the greatest of (i) the
contract value on the date of death, (ii) purchase payments minus adjusted
partial surrenders, or (iii) the contract value as of the most recent sixth
contract anniversary, plus purchase payment and minus adjusted partial
surrenders since that anniversary.
To the extent that the GMDB is higher than the current account value at the time
of death, IDS Life incurs a benefit cost. For the results through December 31,
2003, GAAP did not prescribe advance recognition of the projected future net
costs associated with these guarantees, and accordingly, IDS Life did not record
a liability corresponding to these future obligations for death benefits in
excess of annuity account value. The amount paid in excess of contract value was
expensed when payable. Amounts expensed for the years ended December 31, 2003
and 2002 were $31.5 million and $37.4 million, respectively. IDS Life also
issues certain variable annuity contracts that contain a guaranteed minimum
income benefit (GMIB) feature which, if elected by the contract owner and after
a stipulated waiting period from contract issuance, guarantees a minimum
lifetime annuity based on predetermined annuity purchase rates. To date, IDS
Life has not expensed any amount related to GMIBs as all terms on GMIB features
are within the stipulated waiting periods.
In July 2003, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued
Statement of Position 03-1, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises
for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts"
(SOP 03-1) with an effective date of January 1, 2004. SOP 03-1 requires
insurance enterprises to establish additional liabilities for benefits that may
become payable under variable annuity death benefit guarantees or other
insurance or annuity contract provisions. Where additional liabilities are
established, the recognition of this liability may also impact the valuation and
amortization of DAC associated with those insurance or annuity contracts. SOP
03-1 also provides clarifying guidance as to the recognition of bonus interest
and other sales inducement benefits and the presentation of any deferred amounts
in the financial statements.
Detailed interpretations of SOP 03-1 and related implementation guidance
continue to emerge and, accordingly, IDS Life continues to evaluate its impact.
Current estimates of applying SOP 03-1, partially offset by related impacts to
DAC balances, would reduce first quarter 2004 net income by approximately $30
million.
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IDS Life's annuity and life products all have minimum interest rate guarantees
in their fixed accounts. These guarantees range from 1.5% to 5%. To the extent
the yield on IDS Life's invested asset portfolio declines below its target
spread plus the minimum guarantee, IDS Life's profitability would be negatively
affected.
For long-term profitability, it is crucial to ensure adequate pricing to cover
risks, and to accumulate adequate reserves. Reserves are a measure of the assets
IDS Life estimates are needed to adequately provide for future benefits and
expenses. Such reserves are discussed in more detail in the "Certain Critical
Accounting Policies" section below.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The liquidity requirements of IDS Life are generally met by funds provided by
premiums, investment income, proceeds from sales of investments as well as
maturities, periodic repayments of investment principal and capital
contributions from AEFC. The primary uses of funds are policy benefits,
commissions and operating expenses, policy loans, dividends and investment
purchases. IDS Life routinely reviews its sources and uses of funds in order to
meet its ongoing obligations.
IDS Life has available lines of credit with AEFC aggregating $200 million ($100
million committed and $100 million uncommitted). There were no line of credit
borrowings outstanding with AEFC at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2003, IDS
Life had outstanding reverse repurchase agreements totaling $67.5 million. Both
the line of credit and the reverse repurchase agreements are used strictly as
short-term sources of funds.
IDS Life's total assets and liabilities increased in 2003 primarily due to
higher investments, client contract reserves and separate account assets and
liabilities, which increased mainly as a result of market appreciation.
Investments primarily include corporate bonds and obligations and mortgage and
other asset-backed securities. IDS Life's corporate bonds and obligations
securities comprise a diverse portfolio with the largest concentrations,
accounting for approximately 65 percent of the portfolio, in the following
industries: banking and finance, utilities, and communications and media.
Investments also include $4.6 billion and $4.8 billion of mortgage loans on real
estate, policy loans and other investments at December 31, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. Investments are principally funded by sales of annuities and
insurance and by reinvested income.
At December 31, 2003 and based on amortized costs, approximately 9 percent of
IDS Life's investments in Available-for-Sale fixed maturity securities were
below investment grade. These investments may be subject to a higher degree of
risk than investment grade issues because of the borrower's generally greater
sensitivity to adverse economic conditions, such as a recession or increasing
interest rates, and in certain instances, the lack of an active secondary
market. Expected returns on below investment grade bonds reflect consideration
of such factors. IDS Life has identified certain Available-for-Sale fixed
maturity securities for which a decline in fair value has been determined to be
other-than-temporary, and has written them down to fair value with a charge to
net income.
Assets consolidated as a result of the December 31, 2003 adoption of FIN 46 were
$907 million. The newly consolidated assets consisted of $834 million of cash
and $73 million of derivatives, essentially all of which are restricted. The
effect of consolidating these assets on IDS Life's balance sheet was offset by
IDS Life's previously recorded carrying values of its investment in the three
secured loan trusts ("SLTs"), which totaled $673 million and $166 million of
newly consolidated liabilities.
-17-
The consolidation of FIN 46-related entities resulted in a cumulative effect of
accounting change that increased 2003 net income through a non-cash gain of
$44.5 million ($68.4 million pretax) related to the consolidation of the three
SLTs.
The initial gain related to the application of FIN 46 for the three SLTs had no
cash flow effect on IDS Life. To the extent losses are incurred on the three
SLTs, charges could be incurred that may or may not be reversed. Taken together
over the lives of the structures through their maturity, IDS Life's maximum
cumulative exposure to pretax loss as a result of its investment in these
entities is represented by the carrying value prior to adoption of FIN 46, which
was $673 million for the three SLTs, as well as the $68.4 million pretax
non-cash gain recorded upon consolidation of the three SLTs.
During 2003, IDS Life continued to hold investments in CDOs, some of which are
also managed by an affiliate, and were not consolidated pursuant to the adoption
of FIN 46 as IDS Life was not considered a primary beneficiary. IDS Life
invested in CDOs as part of its investment strategy in order to offer a
competitive rate to contractholders' accounts. IDS Life's exposure as an
investor is limited solely to its aggregate investment in the CDOs, and it has
no obligations or commitments, contingent or otherwise, that could require any
further funding of such investments. As of December 31, 2003, the carrying
values of the CDO residual tranches, managed by an affiliate, were $5 million.
IDS Life also has an interest in a CDO securitization described below, as well
as an additional $24 million in rated CDO tranches managed by a third party.
CDOs are illiquid investments. As an investor in the residual tranche of CDOs,
IDS Life's return correlates to the performance of portfolios of high-yield
bonds and/or bank loans.
The carrying value of the CDOs, as well as derivatives recorded on the balance
sheet as a result of consolidating the three SLTs, and IDS Life's projected
return are based on discounted cash flow projections that require a significant
degree of management judgment as to assumptions primarily related to default and
recovery rates of the high-yield bonds and/or bank loans either held directly by
the CDO or in the reference portfolio of the SLT and, as such, are subject to
change. Although the exposure associated with IDS Life's investment in CDOs is
limited to the carrying value of such investments, they have significant
volatility associated with them because the amount of the initial value of the
loans and/or other debt obligations in the related portfolios is significantly
greater than IDS Life's exposure. In addition, the derivatives recorded as a
result of consolidating certain SLTs under FIN 46 are valued based on the
expected performance of a reference portfolio of high-yield loans. As previously
mentioned, the exposure to loss related to these derivatives is represented by
the $673 million carrying value of the SLTs prior to adoption of FIN 46 and the
$68.4 million pretax non-cash gain recorded upon consolidation. Deterioration in
the value of the high-yield bonds or bank loans would likely result in
deterioration of IDS Life's investment return with respect to the relevant CDO
or consolidated derivative, as the case may be. In the event of significant
deterioration of a portfolio, the relevant CDO or SLT structure containing the
consolidated derivative may be subject to early liquidation, which could result
in further deterioration of the investment return or, in severe cases, loss of
the CDO or consolidated derivative carrying amount. See Note 1 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
During 2001, IDS Life placed a majority of its rated CDO securities and related
accrued interest, as well as a relatively minor amount of other liquid
securities (collectively referred to as transferred assets), having an aggregate
book value of $675.3 million, into a securitization trust. In return, IDS Life
received $89.5 million in cash (excluding transaction expenses) relating to
sales to unaffiliated investors and retained interests in the trust with
allocated book amounts aggregating $585.8 million. As of December 31, 2003, the
retained interests had a carrying value of $518.0 million, of which $381.7
million is considered investment grade. IDS Life has no obligations, contingent
or otherwise, to such unaffiliated investors. One of the results of this
transaction is that increases and decreases in future cash flows of the
individual CDOs are combined into one overall cash flow for purposes of
determining the carrying value of the retained interests and related impact on
results of operations.
-18-
IDS Life holds reserves for current and future obligations related to fixed
annuities and life and health insurance. Reserves for fixed annuities and
universal life contracts are equal to the underlying contract accumulation
values. Reserves for other life and health insurance products are based on
various assumptions, including mortality rates, morbidity rates and policy
persistency.
Separate account assets represent funds held for the exclusive benefit of
variable annuity and variable life insurance contract holders. These assets are
generally carried at market value, and separate account liabilities are equal to
separate account assets. IDS Life earns fees from the related accounts.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has prescribed
Risk-Based Capital (RBC) requirements for insurance companies. The RBC
requirements are to be used as minimum capital and surplus requirements by the
NAIC and state insurance regulators to identify companies that merit further
regulatory attention. At December 31, 2003, each of IDS Life's insurance
companies had adjusted capital and surplus in excess of amounts requiring such
attention.
State insurance statutes also contain limitations as to the amount of dividends
and distributions that insurers may make without providing prior notification to
state regulators. For IDS Life, any dividends or distributions in 2004, whose
amount, together with that of other distributions made within the preceding 12
months, exceeds IDS Life's 2003 statutory net gain from operations, would
require notification to the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce who would have
the option to disapprove the proposed distribution based on consideration of
general solvency as well as RBC results.
Contingent Liquidity Planning
AEFC has developed a contingent funding plan that enables IDS Life to meet daily
customer obligations during periods in which its customers do not roll over
maturing certificate contracts and elect to withdraw funds from their annuity
and insurance contracts. This plan is designed to ensure that IDS Life could
meet these customer withdrawals by selling or obtaining financing, through
repurchase agreements, of portions of its investment securities portfolio.
Risk Management
At IDS Life, interest rate exposures arise primarily within the fixed account
portion of its annuity and insurance products. Rates credited to customers'
accounts generally reset at shorter intervals than the yield on underlying
investments. Therefore, IDS Life's interest spread margins are affected by
changes in the general level of interest rates. The extent to which the level of
interest rates affects spread margins is managed primarily by a combination of
modifying the maturity structure of the investment portfolio and entering into
swaps or other derivative instruments that effectively lengthen the interest
crediting rate reset interval on customer liabilities. Additionally, IDS Life
has entered into interest rate swaptions with notional amounts totaling $1.2
billion to hedge the impact of increasing interest rates.
The negative effect on IDS Life's pretax earnings of a 100 basis point increase
in interest rates, which assumes repricings and customer behavior based on the
application of proprietary models, to the book of business at December 31, 2003
and 2002 would be approximately $19.6 million and $10.7 million for 2003 and
2002, respectively.
-19-
IDS Life has two primary exposures to the general level of equity markets. One
exposure is that IDS Life earns fees from variable annuity and variable life
insurance products. The amount of such fees is generally based on the value of
the portfolios, and thus is subject to fluctuation with the general level of
equity market values. To reduce the sensitivity of IDS Life's fee revenues to
the general performance of equity markets, IDS Life has from time to time
entered into various combinations of financial instruments that mitigate the
negative effect on fees that would result from a decline in the equity markets.
The second exposure is that IDS Life writes and purchases index options to
manage the margin related to certain annuity products that pay interest based
upon the relative change in a major stock market index between the beginning and
end of the annuity product's term. At December 31, 2003, equity-based
derivatives with a net notional amount of $257.6 million were outstanding to
hedge the margin related to certain annuity products that pay interest based
upon the relative change in a major stock market index.
The negative effect on IDS Life's pretax earnings of a 10 percent decline in
equity markets would be approximately $39.3 million and $23.0 million based on
annuity and insurance business inforce and equity index options as of December
31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
IDS Life's owned investment securities are primarily invested in long-term and
intermediate-term fixed maturity securities to provide clients with a
competitive rate of return on their investments while controlling risk.
Investment in fixed maturity securities is designed to provide IDS Life with a
targeted margin between the yield earned on investments and the interest rate
credited to clients' accounts. IDS Life does not trade in securities to generate
short-term profits for its own account.
AEFC's Balance Sheet Management Committee along with American Express Company's
Enterprisewide Risk Management Committee regularly review models projecting
various interest rate scenarios and risk/return measures and their effect on the
profitability of IDS Life. The committees' objectives are to structure their
investment security portfolios based upon the type and behavior of the products
in the liability portfolios to achieve targeted levels of profitability within
defined risk parameters and to meet contractual obligations. Part of the
committees' strategies include the use of derivatives, such as equity
market-related derivatives and interest rate caps, swaps and floors, for risk
management purposes.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in Item 7. of this Form 10-K Annual Report contain
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause results to differ materially from such statements. The words
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "optimistic," "intend," "plan," "aim,"
"will," "should," "could," "likely," and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they are made. IDS Life undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from IDS Life's forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to: fluctuations in external markets, which can affect the
amount and types of investment products sold, the market value of its managed
assets, fees received based on those assets and the amount of amortization of
DAC; potential deterioration in high-yield and other investments, which could
result in further losses in IDS Life's investment portfolio; changes in
assumptions relating to DAC which also could impact the amount of DAC
amortization; the ability to sell certain high-yield investments at expected
values and within anticipated timeframes and to maintain its high-yield
portfolio at certain levels in the future; the types and the value of certain
death benefit features on variable annuity contracts; the affect of assessments
and other surcharges for guaranty funds; the response of reinsurance companies
under reinsurance contracts; the impact of reinsurance rates and the
availability and adequacy of reinsurance to protect IDS Life against losses;
negative changes in IDS Life Insurance Company's and its four life insurance
company subsidiaries' credit ratings; increasing competition in all IDS Life's
major businesses; the adoption of recently issued rules related to the
consolidation of variable interest entities, including those involving SLTs that
IDS Life invests in which could affect both IDS Life's balance sheet and results
of operations; and outcomes of litigation.
-20-
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Items required under this section are included in the Management's Discussion
and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations under the section
titled Risk Management.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
1. Financial Statements.
See Index to Financial Statements at page F-1 hereof.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
IDS Life's management, with the participation of IDS Life's Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of IDS
Life's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based
on such evaluation, IDS Life's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, IDS Life's disclosure
controls and procedures are effective. There have not been any changes in IDS
Life's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during IDS Life's fourth
fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to
materially affect, IDS Life's internal control over financial reporting.
PART III
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of American Express Company has
appointed Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors to audit the consolidated
financial statements of IDS Life for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Audit Fees
The aggregated fees billed or to be billed by Ernst & Young for each of the last
two years for professional services rendered for the audit of IDS Life's annual
financial statements and services that were provided in connection with
statutory and regulatory filings or engagements and other attest services were
$1,894,000 for 2003 and $1,219,000 for 2002.
Audit-Related Fees
IDS Life was not billed by Ernst & Young for any fees for audit-related services
for 2003 or 2002.
Tax Fees
IDS Life was not billed by Ernst & Young for any tax fees for 2003 or 2002.
-21-
All Other Fees
IDS Life was not billed by Ernst & Young for any other fees for 2003 or 2002.
Policy on Pre-Approval of Services Provided by Independent Auditor
Pursuant to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the terms of the
engagement of Ernst & Young are subject to the specific pre-approval of the
Audit Committee of American Express Company. All audit and permitted non-audit
services to be performed by Ernst & Young for IDS Life required pre-approval by
the Audit Committee of American Express Company in accordance with pre-approval
procedures established by the Audit Committee of American Express Company. The
procedures require all proposed engagements of Ernst & Young for services to IDS
Life of any kind to be directed to the General Auditor of American Express
Company and then submitted for approval to the Audit Committee of American
Express Company prior to the beginning of any services.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) Financial Statements
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement
Schedules on page F-1 hereof.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement
Schedules on page F-1 hereof.
All information on schedules to the consolidated financial
statements required by Article 7 of Regulation S-X is included
in the consolidated financial statements or is not required.
Therefore, all schedules have been omitted.
(3) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index on pages E-1 through E-3 hereof.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K filed in the fourth quarter of 2003.
Form 8-K, dated November 15, 2003, Item 5, reporting that, on November
15, 2003, IDS Life Insurance Company appointed Arthur H. Berman as
Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds John T. Sweeney, who was recently
appointed Vice President, Brokerage and Banking at AEFC.
-22-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Registrant
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Mark E. Schwarzmann
- -------------- ------------------------
Date Mark E. Schwarzmann, Director,
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Gumer C. Alvero
- -------------- -------------------
Date Gumer C. Alvero, Director and
Executive Vice President - Annuities
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Timothy V. Bechtold
- -------------- -----------------------
Date Timothy V. Bechtold, Director and
President
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Arthur H. Berman
- -------------- --------------------
Date Arthur H. Berman, Director and
Executive Vice President - Finance
and Chief Financial Officer
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Jeryl A. Millner
- -------------- --------------------
Date Jeryl A. Millner, Vice President and
Controller
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Roger Natarajan
- -------------- -------------------
Date Roger Natarajan, Director
March 29, 2004 By /s/ Mark E. Schwarzmann
- -------------- ------------------------
Date Mark E. Schwarzmann, Director,
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
-23-
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
COVERED BY REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
(Item 14 (a))
Page Number
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Report of Management F-2
Report of Independent Auditors F-3
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2003 and 2002 F-4 to F-5
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three
years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three
years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 F-7 to F-8
Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity for each of
the three years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 F-9 to F-11
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-12 to F-32
Schedules:
All information on schedules to the consolidated financial statements required
by Article 7 of Regulation S-X is included in the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto or is not required. Therefore, all schedules have
been omitted.
F-1
Report of Management
The management of IDS Life Insurance Company is responsible for the preparation
and fair presentation of its Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been
prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States, and include amounts based on the best judgment of management. IDS
Life Insurance Company's management is also responsible for the accuracy and
consistency of other financial information included in this annual report.
In recognition of its responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of data
in the financial statements, IDS Life Insurance Company maintains a system of
internal control over financial reporting which is designed to provide
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance with respect to the reliability of IDS
Life Insurance Company's financial statements. The concept of reasonable
assurance is based on the notion that the cost of the internal control system
should not exceed the benefits derived.
The internal control system is founded on an ethical climate and includes: (i)
an organizational structure with clearly defined lines of responsibility,
policies and procedures; (ii) a Code of Conduct; and (iii) a careful selection
and training of employees. Internal auditors monitor and assess the
effectiveness of the internal control system and report their findings to
management and the Board of Directors throughout the year. IDS Life Insurance
Company's independent auditors are engaged to express an opinion on the year-end
financial statements and, with the coordinated support of the internal auditors,
review the financial records and related data and test the internal control
system over financial reporting to the extent they believed necessary to support
their report.
F-2
Report of Ernst & Young LLP Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of IDS Life
Insurance Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Financial
Corporation) as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, stockholder's equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements
are the responsibility of IDS Life Insurance Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of IDS Life Insurance
Company at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2003 IDS
Life Insurance Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards
Board Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), "Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities."
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 26, 2004
F-3
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(Thousands, except share amounts)
2003 2002
----------- -----------
ASSETS
Investments: (Note 2)
Available-for-sale:
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2003, $26,626,709; 2002,
$23,209,226) $27,324,491 $24,052,104
Common stocks, at fair value (cost: 2003,
$19; 2002, $19) 120 21
Mortgage loans on real estate 3,180,020 3,417,651
Policy loans 578,000 597,144
Other investments 801,871 753,247
----------- -----------
Total investments 31,884,502 28,820,167
Cash and cash equivalents 400,294 4,424,061
Restricted cash 834,448 --
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers 754,514 633,510
Amounts due from brokers 1,792 501
Other accounts receivable 68,422 56,245
Accrued investment income 355,374 296,595
Deferred policy acquisition costs (Note 3) 3,615,179 3,309,094
Other assets 253,858 117,788
Separate account assets 27,774,319 21,980,674
----------- -----------
Total assets $65,942,702 $59,638,635
=========== ===========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-4
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
December 31,
(Thousands, except share amounts)
2003 2002
----------- -----------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits:
Fixed annuities $26,376,944 $23,411,314
Universal life-type insurance 3,569,882 3,515,010
Traditional life insurance 254,641 247,441
Disability income and long-term care insurance 1,724,204 1,466,171
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds 67,911 85,400
Amounts due to brokers 228,707 3,342,989
Deferred income taxes, net 139,814 182,059
Other liabilities 408,444 463,326
Separate account liabilities 27,774,319 21,980,674
----------- -----------
Total liabilities 60,544,866 54,694,384
----------- -----------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity:
Capital stock, $30 par value per share;
100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding 3,000 3,000
Additional paid-in capital 1,370,388 1,088,327
Retained earnings 3,624,837 3,354,841
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net unrealized securities gains 405,456 497,319
Net unrealized derivative (losses) gains (5,845) 764
----------- -----------
Total accumulated other comprehensive income 399,611 498,083
Total stockholder's equity 5,397,836 4,944,251
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity $65,942,702 $59,638,635
=========== ===========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-5
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Years ended December 31,
(Thousands)
2003 2002 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
REVENUES
Premiums:
Traditional life insurance $ 64,890 $ 60,740 $ 59,415
Disability income and long-term care insurance 284,111 273,737 255,428
---------- ---------- ----------
Total premiums 349,001 334,477 314,843
Net investment income 1,705,530 1,561,856 1,485,688
Contractholder and policyholder charges 530,101 525,708 492,441
Management and other fees 390,516 404,787 473,406
Net realized gain (loss) on investments 4,100 (4,507) (649,752)
---------- ---------- ----------
Total revenues 2,979,248 2,822,321 2,116,626
---------- ---------- ----------
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Death and other benefits:
Traditional life insurance 38,870 36,850 35,492
Investment contracts and universal life-type insurance 202,205 205,147 174,868
Disability income and long-term care insurance 57,339 52,972 44,743
(Decrease) increase in liabilities for future policy
benefits:
Traditional life insurance (2,401) 2,841 7,167
Disability income and long-term care insurance 142,532 134,605 123,227
Interest credited on investment contracts and universal
life-type insurance 1,224,910 1,157,636 1,146,866
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs 288,276 335,729 375,984
Other insurance and operating expenses 452,978 426,534 397,236
---------- ---------- ----------
Total benefits and expenses 2,404,709 2,352,314 2,305,583
---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit) and
cumulative effect of accounting change 574,539 470,007 (188,957)
Income tax provision (benefit) 66,945 87,826 (145,222)
---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change 507,594 382,181 (43,735)
Cumulative effect of accounting change (net of income tax
provision of $23,942 for 2003 and income tax benefit of
$11,532 for 2001) (Note 1) 44,463 -- (21,416)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss) $ 552,057 $ 382,181 $ (65,151)
========== ========== ==========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-6
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years ended December 31,
(Thousands)
2003 2002 2001
--------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) $ 552,057 $ 382,181 $ (65,151)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
(Note 1) (44,463) -- 21,416
Policy loans, excluding universal life-type insurance:
Issuance (34,490) (35,345) (43,687)
Repayment 43,596 49,256 54,004
Change in amounts recoverable from reinsurers (121,004) (104,344) (112,686)
Change in other accounts receivable (12,177) (9,896) (4,025)
Change in accrued investment income (64,359) (5,139) 56,729
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs, net (300,491) (277,258) (175,723)
Change in liabilities for future policy benefits for
traditional life, disability income and long-term care
insurance 265,233 245,275 223,177
Change in policy claims and other policyholder's funds (17,489) 13,521 19,812
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision (30,714) 116,995 (246,205)
Change in other assets and liabilities, net (95,537) 26,309 (24,509)
Amortization of premium, net 160,862 65,869 108,958
Net realized (gain) loss on investments (4,100) 4,507 649,752
Net realized (gain) loss on trading securities (30,400) 2,480 --
Policyholder and contractholder charges, non-cash (234,098) (232,725) (217,496)
Other, net (7,561) 10,651 (92,253)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 24,865 $ 252,337 $ 152,113
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-7
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
Years ended December 31,
(Thousands)
2003 2002 2001
------------ ------------ -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Available-for-sale securities:
Sales $ 12,232,235 $ 10,093,228 $ 5,493,141
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls 4,152,088 3,078,509 2,706,147
Purchases (20,527,995) (16,287,891) (9,477,740)
Other investments, excluding policy loans:
Sales 668,071 509,588 370,636
Purchases (853,647) (543,843) (442,876)
Change in amounts due from brokers (1,291) 90,293 (75,492)
Change in amounts due to brokers (3,260,310) 1,602,958 1,293,684
------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash used in investing activities (7,590,849) (1,457,158) (132,500)
------------ ------------ -----------
CASH