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, 2001
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 numbers 33-3630, 333-1783, and 333-13609
KEYPORT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
Rhode Island |
05-0302931 |
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(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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125 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts |
02110-2712 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(617) 526-1400
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
&nb sp;
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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. [X] Yes [ ] 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. / /
There were 2,412,000 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $1.25 par value, outstanding as of April 1, 2002.
KEYPORT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Part I |
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Item 1. |
Business |
3 |
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Item 2. |
Properties |
11 |
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Item 3. |
Legal Proceedings |
11 |
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Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
11 |
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Part II |
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Item 5. |
Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
12 |
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Item 6. |
Selected Financial Data |
12 |
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Item 7. |
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition |
13 |
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Item 7a. |
Quantitative & Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
27 |
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Item 8. |
Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
27 |
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Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
27 |
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Part III |
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Item 10. |
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
28 |
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Item 11. |
Executive Compensation |
32 |
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Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
36 |
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Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
36 |
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Part IV |
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Item 14. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
37 |
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2
PART I
Item 1. Business
General
Keyport Life Insurance Company ("Keyport") is a specialty insurance company providing a diversified line of fixed, indexed and variable annuity products designed to serve the growing retirement savings market. The Company sells its products through multiple distribution channels, including banks, agents and brokerage firms. Keyport seeks to (i) maintain its presence in the fixed annuity market while expanding its sales of variable and equity-indexed annuities, (ii) achieve a broader market presence through the use of diversified distribution channels and (iii) maintain a conservative approach to investment and liability management.
Keyport's wholly owned insurance subsidiaries are Independence Life and Annuity Company ("Independence Life"), Keyport Ltd. and Keyport Benefit Life Insurance Company ("Keyport Benefit"). Other wholly owned subsidiaries are Liberty Advisory Services Corp. (through October 31, 2001), an investment advisory company, and Keyport Financial Services Corp., a broker-dealer (collectively the "Company").
The Company is licensed to sell insurance in all states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Bermuda.
The Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. ("Liberty Financial"), which is a publicly traded holding company. Liberty Financial is an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company ("Liberty Mutual"), a multi-line insurance company.
On May 3, 2001, Liberty Financial, the Company's parent, announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to sell its annuity and bank marketing businesses to Sun Life Financial Services Inc. ("Sun Life Financial"), a Canadian holding company and parent of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life"). The transaction was subject to customary conditions to closing, including receipt of approvals by various state insurance regulators in the U.S., certain other regulatory authorities in the U.S. and Canada, and Liberty Financial's shareholders.
Effective after the close of business on October 31, 2001 all required approvals had been obtained and Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Sun Life, acquired the Company for approximately $1.7 billion in cash. As part of the acquisition, Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Holdings, Inc., another indirect subsidiary of Sun Life, acquired Independent Financial Marketing Group ("IFMG"), an affiliate of the Company. The acquisition of the Company and IFMG complements both Sun Life Financial's product array and distribution capabilities and advances Sun Life Financial towards its strategic goal of reaching a top 10 position in target product markets in North America. Sun Life Financial also expects to reduce costs through economies of scale.
Liberty Financial was an asset accumulation and management company providing investment management and retirement-oriented insurance products through multiple distribution channels (Liberty Financial also sold its asset management business on November 1, 2001 to an unaffiliated company). Keyport issued and underwrote substantially all of Liberty Financial's retirement-oriented insurance products. Liberty Financial's primary investment advisor, asset management and bank distribution operating units were Liberty Funds Group LLC ("LFG"), Colonial Management Associates, Inc. ("Colonial"), Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated ("Stein Roe"), Newport Pacific Management, Inc. ("Newport"), Crabbe Huson Group, Inc., Progress Investment Management Company, Liberty Asset Management Company, Liberty Wanger Asset Management ("Wanger"), and IFMG.
Colonial, Stein Roe and Newport manage certain underlying mutual funds and other invested assets of Keyport's separate accounts. Stein Roe also provided asset management services for a substantial portion of Keyport's general account (through October 31, 2001). IFMG, through its subsidiary, markets Keyport's products through the bank distribution channel.
Keyport's executive and administrative offices are located at 125 High Street, Boston Massachusetts 02110, and its home office is at 695 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865.
3
Products
The Company (primarily Keyport and Keyport Benefit) sells a full range of retirement-oriented insurance products that provide fixed, indexed or variable returns to policyholders. Annuities are insurance products designed to offer individuals protection against the risk of outliving their financial assets during retirement. Annuities offer a tax-deferred means of accumulating savings for retirement needs and provide a tax-efficient source of income in the payout period. The Company earns spread income from fixed and indexed annuities; variable annuities primarily produce fee income. The Company's primary financial objectives are to increase policyholder balances through new sales and asset retention and to earn acceptable investment spreads on its fixed and indexed return products and fee income on its variable annuities.
The Company's principal retirement-oriented insurance products are categorized as follows:
Fixed Annuities. Fixed annuity products are principally single premium deferred annuities ("SPDAs"). A SPDA policyholder typically makes a single premium payment at the time of issuance. The Company obligates itself to credit interest to the policyholder's account at a rate that is guaranteed for an initial term (typically one year) and is reset annually thereafter, subject to a guaranteed minimum rate. Interest crediting continues until the policy is surrendered, upon policyholder death, or when the policyholder turns age 90.
Equity-Indexed Annuities. Equity-indexed annuities are an innovative product first introduced to the marketplace in 1995 by the Company when it began selling its KeyIndex product. The Company's equity-indexed annuities credit interest to the policyholder at a "participation rate" equal to a portion (ranging for existing policies from 25% to 120%) of the change in value of a specified equity index. KeyIndex is currently offered for one, five, seven, and ten-year terms with interest earnings based on a percentage of the increase in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500 Index") ("S&P", "S&P 500", and "Standard & Poor's" are trademarks of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Company). With the five, seven and ten-year terms, the interest earnings are based on the highest policy anniversary date value of the S&P 500 Index during the term. KeyIndex also provides a guarantee of principal at the end of the term. Thus, unlike a direct equity investment, even if the S&P 500 Index declines, there is no market risk to the policyholder's principal. The Multipoint product, a variation of KeyIndex, utilizes the monthly average of the S&P 500 index to calculate the amount due to the policyholder. The Company's market value adjusted ("MVA") annuity product, KeySelect, offers a choice between a fixed and equity-indexed account similar to KeyIndex and a fixed annuity type interest account. KeySelect offers terms for each equity-indexed account of one, three, five, six and seven years, as well as a ten-year term for the fixed interest account. KeySelect shifts some investment risk to the policyholder, since surrender of the policy before the end of the product term will result in increased or decreased account values based on the change in rates of designated U.S. Treasury securities since the beginning of the term.
Variable Annuities. Variable annuities offer a selection of underlying investment alternatives that may satisfy a variety of policyholder risk/return objectives. Under a variable annuity, the policyholder has the opportunity to select separate account investment options (consisting of underlying mutual funds) which pass the investment risk directly to the policyholder in return for the potential of higher returns. Variable annuities also include guaranteed fixed interest options. The Company has several different variable annuity products that currently offer 18 to 24 separate account investment choices, depending on the product, and four guaranteed fixed interest options.
While the Company currently does not offer traditional life insurance products, it manages a closed block of single premium whole life insurance policies ("SPWLs"), a retirement-oriented tax-advantaged life insurance product. The Company discontinued sales of SPWLs in response to certain tax law changes in the 1980s. The Company had SPWL policyholder balances of $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2001.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, returns credited on annuities and life insurance policies during the accumulation period (the period during which interest or other returns are credited) are not subject to federal or state income tax. Proceeds payable on death from a life insurance policy are also free from such taxes. At the maturity or payment date of an annuity policy, the policyholder is entitled to receive the original deposit plus accumulated returns. The policyholder may elect to take this amount in either a lump sum or an annuitized series of payments over time. The return component of such payments is taxed at the time of receipt as ordinary income at the recipient's then applicable tax rate. The demand for the Company's retirement-oriented insurance products could be adversely affected by changes in this tax law.
4
Institutional Annuities. Institutional annuity products are principally single premium deposits made by institutions that provide fixed or variable returns over a fixed period.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's retirement-oriented insurance business for the periods indicated.
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As of or for the Year Ended |
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December 31, |
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2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
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(in thousands, except policy data) |
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Policy and Separate Account Liabilities: |
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Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
$ 8,969,884 |
$ 7,352,641 |
$ 7,196,577 |
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Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
1,396,553 |
2,320,285 |
2,503,050 |
||||||
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Variable annuities........................................................................ |
2,532,557 |
2,820,696 |
2,666,414 |
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Institutional annuities................................................................. |
1,303,089 |
1,524,077 |
950,051 |
||||||
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Life insurance.............................................................................. |
1,957,600 |
2,117,574 |
2,094,504 |
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Total................................................................................... |
$ 16,159,683 |
$ 16,135,273 |
$ 15,410,596 |
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Number of In Force Policies: |
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Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
210,002 |
167,119 |
182,858 |
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Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
35,362 |
48,709 |
49,691 |
||||||
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Variable annuities........................................................................ |
44,214 |
47,256 |
43,677 |
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Institutional annuities..................................................................... |
12 |
11 |
6 |
||||||
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Life insurance.............................................................................. |
19,014 |
20,232 |
21,640 |
||||||
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Total.................................................................................... |
308,604 |
283,327 |
297,872 |
||||||
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Average In Force Policy Amount: |
|||||||||
|
Fixed annuities ............................................................................ |
$ 42,713 |
$ 43,996 |
$ 39,356 |
||||||
|
Equity-indexed annuities......................................................................... |
$ 39,493 |
$ 47,636 |
$ 50,372 |
||||||
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Variable annuities........................................................................ |
$ 57,280 |
$ 59,690 |
$ 61,048 |
||||||
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Institutional annuities.................................................................... |
$ 108,590,750 |
$ 138,552,465 |
$158,342,833 |
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Life insurance.............................................................................. |
$ 102,956 |
$ 104,665 |
$ 96,789 |
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Premiums (statutory basis): |
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Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
$ 1,367,732 |
$ 1,239,408 |
$ 456,461 |
||||||
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Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
229,858 |
139,114 |
150,550 |
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Variable annuities........................................................................ |
982,342 |
715,753 |
885,102 |
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Institutional annuities.................................................................... |
50,000 |
685,000 |
500,000 |
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Life insurance (net of reinsurance).............................................. |
(1,765) |
(1,974) |
(1,749) |
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Total.................................................................................... |
$ 2,628,156 |
$ 2,777,301 |
$ 1,990,364 |
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New Contracts and Policies : |
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Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
54,302 |
42,009 |
17,301 |
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Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
11,397 |
5,935 |
6,395 |
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Variable annuities........................................................................ |
5,089 |
9,963 |
14,886 |
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Institutional annuities.................................................................... |
1 |
3 |
4 |
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Total.................................................................................... |
70,789 |
57,910 |
38,586 |
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Aggregate Amount Subject to Surrender Charges: |
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|
Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
$ 6,845,413 |
$ 5,546,097 |
$ 5,707,985 |
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Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
$ 1,396,553 |
$ 2,250,296 |
$ 2,482,261 |
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5
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Withdrawals and Terminations (statutory basis): |
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Fixed annuities: |
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Death...................................................................................... |
$ 22,750 |
$ 82,336 |
$ 28,162 |
|
Maturity................................................................................. |
$ 75,652 |
$ 165,157 |
$ 141,366 |
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Surrender................................................................................ |
$ 1,107,381 |
$ 1,484,700 |
$ 1,219,687 |
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Equity-indexed annuities: |
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Death...................................................................................... |
$ 14,585 |
$ 20,077 |
$ 11,312 |
|
Maturity................................................................................. |
$ 4,350 |
$ 509 |
$ 407 |
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Surrender................................................................................ |
$ 1,007,832 |
$ 233,348 |
$ 28,278 |
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Variable annuities: |
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Death...................................................................................... |
$ 30,989 |
$ 19,480 |
$ 17,297 |
|
Maturity................................................................................. |
$ 117,675 |
$ 223,201 |
$ 222,581 |
|
Surrender................................................................................ |
$ 385,160 |
$ 214,428 |
$ 198,813 |
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Life Insurance: |
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Death...................................................................................... |
$ 80,262 |
$ 78,398 |
$ 75,999 |
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Surrender................................................................................. |
$ 49,488 |
$ 69,887 |
$ 74,202 |
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Surrender Rates : |
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Fixed annuities............................................................................. |
14.28% |
20.63% |
15.39% |
|
Equity-indexed annuities............................................................. |
43.44% |
9.32% |
1.22% |
|
Variable annuities........................................................................ |
13.65% |
8.04% |
8.04% |
|
Life insurance.............................................................................. |
2.34% |
3.34% |
3.53% |
Sales and Asset Retention
Product sales are influenced primarily by overall market conditions impacting the attractiveness of the Company's retirement-oriented insurance products, and by product features, including interest crediting and participation rates, and innovations and services that distinguish the Company's products from those of its competitors.
The Company's mix of annuity products is designed to include products in demand under a variety of economic and market conditions. Sales of SPDAs tend to be sensitive to prevailing interest rates. Sales can be expected to increase and surrenders to decrease in interest rate environments when SPDA rates are higher than rates offered by competing conservative fixed return investments, such as bank certificates of deposit. SPDA sales can be expected to decline and surrenders to increase in interest rate environments when this differential in rates is not present. SPDA sales also can be adversely affected by low interest rates. Conversely, sales of variable annuities can be expected to increase and surrenders of such products to decrease in a rising equity market, low interest rate environment. Similarly sales of equity-indexed annuities can be expected to increase and surrenders to decrease in a rising equity market, low interest rate environment. While sales of equity-indexed annuities can b e expected to increase and surrenders to decrease in a rising equity market, low interest rate environment, sales of these products can be affected by the participation rate credited by the Company, which may be reduced in a rising but relatively volatile equity market.
The Company's insurance products include important features designed to promote both sales and asset retention, including crediting rates and surrender charges. Initial interest crediting and participation rates on fixed and equity-indexed products significantly influence the sale of new policies. Resetting of rates on SPDAs impacts retention of SPDA assets, particularly on policies where surrender penalties have expired. At December 31, 2001, crediting rates on 56.0% of the Company's in force SPDA policy liabilities were subject to reset during the succeeding 12 months. In setting crediting and participation rates, the Company takes into account yield characteristics on its investment portfolio, surrender rate assumptions and competitive industry pricing. Interest crediting rates on the Company's in force SPDAs ranged from 3.7% to 7.7% at December 31, 2001. Such policies had guaranteed minimum rates ranging from 3.0% to 4.5% as of such date. Initial interest crediting rates on new policie s issued in 2001 ranged from 4.3% to 8.0%. Guaranteed minimum rates on new policies issued during 2001 ranged from 3.0% to 4.5%.
6
Substantially all of the Company's annuities permit the policyholder at anytime to withdraw all or part of the accumulated policy value. Premature termination of an annuity policy results in the loss by the Company of anticipated future earnings related to the premium deposit and the accelerated recognition of the expenses related to policy acquisition (principally commissions), which otherwise are deferred and amortized over the expected life of the policy. Surrender charges provide a measure of protection against premature withdrawal of policy values. Substantially all of the Company's insurance products currently are issued with surrender charges or similar penalties. Such surrender charges for all policies, except KeyIndex and Multipoint, typically start at 7% of the policy premium and then decline to zero over a five to seven year period. KeyIndex and Multipoint imposes a penalty on surrender of up to 10% of the premium deposit for the life of the policy. At December 31, 2001, 76.4% o f the Company's fixed annuity policyholder balances were subject to surrender charges or restrictions. Surrender charges generally do not apply to withdrawals by policyowners of, depending on the policy, either up to 10% per year of the then accumulated value or the accumulated returns. In addition, certain policies may provide for charge-free withdrawals in certain circumstances and at certain times. All policies, except for certain variable annuities, are also subject to "free look" risk (the legal right of a policyholder to cancel the policy and receive back the premium deposit, without interest, for a period ranging from ten days to one year, depending upon the policy). To the extent a policyholder exercises the "free look" option, the Company may realize a loss as a result of any investment losses on the underlying assets during the free look period, as well as the commissions paid on the sale of the policy. While SPWLs also permit withdrawal, withdrawals generally would produce significant adverse tax consequences to the policyholder.
Keyport's strong financial ratings are important to its ability to accumulate and retain assets. Keyport is rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best, "AA+ with negative outlook" (Very strong) by Standard & Poor's ("S&P"), "Aa2 with positive outlook" (Excellent) by Moody's and "AA with positive outlook" (Very strong) by Fitch, Inc. Rating agencies periodically review the ratings they issue. These ratings reflect the opinion of the rating agency as to the relative financial strength of Keyport and Keyport's ability to meet its contractual obligations to its policyholders. Such ratings are not "market" ratings or recommendations to use or invest in Keyport and should not be relied upon when making a decision to invest in the Company. Many financial institutions and broker-dealers focus on the claims-paying ability of an insurer in determining whether to market the insurer's annuities. If any of Keyport's ratings were downgraded from their current levels or if the ratings of Keyport's compet itors improved and Keyport's did not, sales of Keyport's products, the level of surrenders on existing policies and the Company's relationships with distributors could be materially adversely affected. No assurances can be given that Keyport will be able to maintain its financial ratings.
Customer service is essential to asset accumulation and retention. The Company believes it has a reputation for excellent service to its distributors and its policyholders. The Company has developed advanced technology systems for immediate response to customer inquiries, and rapid processing of policy issuance and commission payments (often at the point of sale). These systems also play an important role in controlling costs.
General Account Investments
Premium deposits on fixed and indexed annuities are credited to the Company's general account. Total general account investments include cash and cash equivalents. To maintain its investment spread at acceptable levels, the Company must earn returns on its general account sufficiently in excess of the fixed or equity-indexed returns credited to policyholders. The key element of this investment process is asset/liability management. Successful asset/liability management requires both a quantitative assessment of overall policy liabilities (including maturities, surrenders and crediting of interest) and prudent investment of general and certain separate account assets (through October 31, 2001). The two most important tools in managing policy liabilities are setting crediting rates and establishing surrender periods. The investment process requires portfolio techniques that earn acceptable yields while effectively managing both interest rate risk and credit risk. The Company emphasizes a conservative approach to asset/liability management, which is oriented toward reducing downside risk in adverse markets, as opposed to maximizing spread in favorable markets. The approach is also designed to reduce earnings volatility. Various factors can impact the Company's investment spread, including changes in interest rates and other factors affecting the Company's general account investments (and certain separate account investments through October 31, 2001).
7
The bulk of the Company's general account investments are invested in fixed maturity securities (78.4% at December 31, 2001). The Company's principal strategy for managing interest rate risk is to closely match the duration of its general account investment portfolio to its policyholder balances. The Company also employs hedging strategies to manage this risk, including interest rate swaps and caps. In the case of equity-indexed products, the Company purchases S&P 500 Index call options and futures to hedge its obligations to provide participation rate returns. Credit risk is managed by careful credit analysis and monitoring. A portion of the general account investments ($1.2 million at December 31, 2001) are invested in below investment grade fixed maturity securities to enhance overall portfolio yield. Below investment grade securities pose greater risks than investment grade securities. The Company actively manages its below investment grade portfolio to optimize its risk/ret urn profile. At December 31, 2001, the carrying value of fixed maturity investments that were non-income producing was $81.8 million, which constituted 0.5% of the Company's general account investments.
As of December 31, 2001, the Company owned approximately $3.5 billion of mortgage-backed securities (22.9% of its general account investments), 98.1% of which were investment grade. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks, since the underlying mortgages may be repaid more or less rapidly than scheduled.
As of December 31, 2001, approximately $3.6 billion (23.5% of the Company's general account investments) were invested in securities that were sold without registration under the Securities Act and were not freely tradable under the Securities Act or which were otherwise illiquid. These securities may be resold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If the Company sought to sell such securities, it might be unable to do so at the then current carrying values and might have to dispose of such securities over extended periods of time at uncertain levels.
Marketing and Distribution
Keyport's sales strategy is to use multiple distribution channels to achieve broader market presence. During 2001, the bank channel represented approximately 65.8% of Keyport's annuity sales, and the brokerage channel represented approximately 12.2%. The sale of insurance and investment products through the bank distribution channel is highly regulated. Sales through other distributors of insurance products, such as financial planners, insurance agents and an institutional channel represented approximately 22.0% of total annuity sales.
The following table presents sales information for Keyport's distribution channels for the periods indicated (in millions).
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Sales of Fixed and Indexed Annuities |
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Sales of Variable Annuities |
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|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
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2001 |
|
2000 |
|
1999 |
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2001 |
|
2000 |
|
1999 |
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Bank channel: |
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|
|
|
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Independent |
$ |
430.0 |
$ |
374.0 |
$ |
56.2 |
|
$ |
310.0 |
$ |
215.0 |
$ |
285.5 |
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Third party bank marketers |
|
835.6 |
|
726.9 |
|
457.2 |
|
|
153.2 |
|
74.3 |
|
35.6 |
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Other channels: |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
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Broker-dealers |
|
132.1 |
|
186.5 |
|
56.0 |
|
|
187.8 |
|
160.6 |
|
252.1 |
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Other distributors (1) |
|
197.2 |
|
773.9 |
|
555.0 |
|
|
382.2 |
|
266.8 |
|
292.8 |
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(1) Includes institutional annuities.
8
Regulation
The Company's business activities are extensively regulated. The following briefly summarizes the principal regulatory requirements and certain related matters.
Keyport's retirement-oriented insurance products generally are issued to individuals. The policy is a contract between the issuing insurance company and the policyholder. State law regulates policy forms, including all principal contract terms. In most cases, the policy form must be approved by the insurance department or similar agency of a state in order for the policy to be sold in that state.
Keyport and Independence Life are chartered in Rhode Island and the State of Rhode Island Insurance Department is their primary oversight regulator. Keyport Benefit is chartered in the State of New York and the New York Department of Insurance is its primary oversight regulator. Keyport Benefit primarily operates in New York. Keyport and Independence Life also must be licensed by the state insurance regulators in each other jurisdiction in which they conduct business. They currently are licensed to conduct business in 49 states (the exception being New York), and in the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. State insurance laws generally provide regulators with broad powers related to issuing licenses to transact business, regulating marketing and other trade practices, operating guaranty associations, regulating certain premium rates, regulating insurance holding company systems, establishing reserve requirements, prescribing the form and content of required financial statements an d reports, performing financial and other examinations, determining the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and surplus, regulating the type and amount of investments permitted, limiting the amount of dividends that can be paid and the size of transactions that can be consummated without first obtaining regulatory approval, and other related matters. The regulators also make periodic examinations of individual companies and review annual and other reports on the financial conditions of all companies operating within their respective jurisdictions.
Keyport and Independence Life prepare their statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Department of the State of Rhode Island. Keyport Benefit prepares its statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the New York Department of Insurance. State laws prescribe certain statutory accounting practices. Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices that are not proscribed; such practices may differ between the states and companies within a state. In 1998, the NAIC adopted codified statutory accounting principles ("Codification"). Codification changed, to some extent, prescribed statutory accounting practices and resulted in changes to the accounting practices that the Company uses to prepare its statutory-based financial statements. Codification required adoption by the various states before it became the prescribed statutory basis of accounting for insurance companies domesticated within those states. Accordingly, before Codification became effective for the Company, the State of Rhode Island and New York had to adopt Codification as the prescribed basis of accounting on which domestic insurers must report their statutory-basis results to the Insurance Department. The State of Rhode Island and New York (with modification) have adopted Codification. The adoption of Codification on the Company's statutory-basis financial statements in Rhode Island reduced statutory surplus at January 1, 2001 by approximately $17.4 million.
Risk-Based Capital Requirements. In recent years, various states have adopted new quantitative standards promulgated by the NAIC. These standards are designed to reduce the risk of insurance company insolvencies, in part by providing an early warning of financial or other difficulties. These standards include the NAIC's risk-based capital ("RBC") requirements. RBC requirements attempt to measure statutory capital and surplus needs based on the risks in a company's mix of products and investment portfolio. The requirements provide for four different levels of regulatory attention, which implement increasing levels of regulatory control (ranging from development of an action plan to mandatory receivership). As of December 31, 2001, Keyport's capital and surplus exceeded the level at which the least severe of these regulatory attention levels would be triggered.
9
Guaranty Fund Assessments. Under the insurance guaranty fund laws existing in each state, insurers can be assessed for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Because assessments typically are not made for several years after an insurer fails, Keyport cannot accurately determine the precise amount or timing of its exposure to known insurance company insolvencies at this time. The insolvency of large life insurance companies in future years could result in material assessments to Keyport by state guaranty funds. No assurance can be given that such assessments would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Insurance Holding Company Regulation. Current Rhode Island insurance law permits the payment of dividends or distributions from the Company to Sun Life Financial, which, together with dividends and distributions paid during the preceding 12 months, do not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of statutory surplus as of the preceding December 31 or (ii) the net gain from operations for the preceding fiscal year. Any proposed dividend in excess of this amount is called an "extraordinary dividend" and may not be paid until it is approved by the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Rhode Island. The Company paid $.1 million, $10.0 million and $30.0 million in dividends to Liberty Financial during 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. In connection with the Sun Life acquisition, the Company will not to be allowed to make any dividend payments for a period of 18 months without the prior approval of the Rhode Island Insurance Department. Subsequent to the 18 month period, the amount of dividends that the Company will be able to pay will be based upon current Rhode Island insurance law. In addition, no person or group may acquire, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock or voting power of Keyport unless such person has provided certain required information to the Rhode Island and New York Departments of Business Regulation and such acquisition is approved by the Departments.
General Regulation at Federal Level and Certain Related Matters.
Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures that may significantly affect the insurance business include limitations on antitrust immunity, minimum solvency requirements and the removal of barriers restricting banks from engaging in the insurance business. In particular, several proposals to repeal or modify the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (which prohibits banks from being affiliated with insurance companies) have been made by members of Congress. Moreover, the United States Supreme Court held in 1995 in NationsBank of North Carolina v. Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company that annuities are not insurance for purposes of the National Bank Act. In addition, the Supreme Court also held in 1995 in Barnett Bank of Marion City v. Nelson that state laws prohibiting national banks from selling insurance in small town loca tions are preempted by federal law. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency adopted a ruling in November 1996 that permits national banks, under certain circumstances, to expand into other financial services, thereby increasing competition for the Company. At present, the extent to which banks can sell insurance and annuities without regulation by state insurance departments is being litigated in various courts in the United States. Although the effect of these recent developments on the Company and its competitors is uncertain, there can be no assurance that such developments would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
On November 12, 1999, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 was signed into law. The major provisions of this new law became effective on November 13, 2000. While the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act eliminates legal barriers to affiliates among banks, insurance companies and other financial services companies and therefore effectively repeals the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (which restricted banks from engaging in securities-related businesses), the effect on the Company and its competitors is uncertain.
Competition
The Company's business activities are conducted in extremely competitive markets. Keyport competes with a large number of life insurance companies, some of which are larger and more highly capitalized and have higher ratings than Keyport. No one company dominates the industry. In addition, Keyport's products compete with alternative investment vehicles available through financial institutions, brokerage firms and investment managers. Management believes that Keyport competes principally with respect to product features, pricing, ratings and service; management also believes that Keyport can continue to compete successfully in this market by offering innovative products and superior services. In addition, financial institutions and broker-dealers focus on the insurer's ratings for financial strength or claims-paying ability in determining whether to market the insurer's annuities.
10
Employees
As of December 31, 2001, the Company had 396 full-time employees. The Company provides its employees with a broad range of employee benefit programs. The Company believes that its relations with its employees are excellent.
Item 2. Properties
As of December 31, 2001, the Company maintained its executive, administrative and sales offices in leased facilities. The Company leases approximately 96,500 square feet in two facilities in downtown Boston pursuant to leases that expire in 2008. The Company also leases approximately 19,800 square feet in a single facility in Lincoln, Rhode Island, which expires in 2007. The Company sub-leases approximately 600 square feet from Independent in Purchase, New York under a lease which expires in 2007.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is from time to time involved in litigation incidental to its business. In the opinion of Keyport's management, the resolution of such litigation is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Until October 31, 2001, the Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. ("Liberty Financial"). On May 3, 2001, Liberty Financial announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to sell its annuity and bank marketing businesses, including the Company, to Sun Life Financial. The transaction was subject, among other things, to approval by Liberty Financial's shareholders. On October 31, 2001, the shareholders of Liberty Financial approved the acquisition.
11
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Not applicable.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data (in thousands)
|
|
|
Two-months |
Ten-months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended |
Ended |
|
|||
|
|
|
December 31 |
October 31 |
As of and for the year ended December 31, |
|||
|
|
|
2001 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income statement data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment income |
|
$ 144,918 |
$ 735,641 |
$ 856,808 |
$ 805,216 |
$ 815,226 |
$ 847,048 |
|
Interest credited |
|
107,315 |
498,668 |
539,643 |
526,574 |
562,238 |
594,084 |
|
Investment spread |
|
37,603 |
236,973 |
317,165 |
278,642 |
252,988 |
252,964 |
|
Net change in unrealized and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
undistributed (losses) gains |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in private equity limited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
partnerships |
|
- |
(17,088) |
31,604 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fee income |
|
10,953 |
63,829 |
79,658 |
60,146 |
42,836 |
36,353 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
17,173 |
157,133 |
70,542 |
54,424 |
53,544 |
49,941 |
|
Income before income taxes |
|
133,809 |
104,237 |
199,713 |
140,636 |
161,519 |
172,651 |
|
and cumulative effect of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accounting changes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
86,976 |
16,755 |
142,585 |
94,659 |
108,600 |
113,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash and investments |
|
$15,311,490 |
$13,845,752 |
$13,886,294 |
$13,123,851 |
$13,317,878 |
$13,505,858 |
|
Total assets |
|
19,143,810 |
18,731,852 |
19,008,014 |
17,495,977 |
15,775,231 |
15,342,189 |
|
Stockholder's equity |
|
1,761,681 |
1,381,914 |
1,280,235 |
1,013,388 |
1,135,597 |
1,103,021 |
12
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Change of Control
Through October 31, 2001, Keyport Life Insurance Company ("the Company") was a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial Companies, Incorporated ("Liberty Financial"), which is a majority-owned, indirect subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company ("Liberty Mutual").
On May 3, 2001, Liberty Financial, the Company's parent, announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to sell its annuity and bank marketing businesses to Sun Life Financial Services Inc. ("Sun Life Financial"), a Canadian holding company and parent of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life"). The transaction was subject to customary conditions to closing, including receipt of approvals by various state insurance regulators in the U.S., certain other regulatory authorities in the U.S. and Canada and Liberty Financial's shareholders.
Effective after the close of business on October 31, 2001 all required approvals had been obtained and Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Sun Life, acquired the Company for approximately $1.7 billion in cash. As part of the acquisition, Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Holdings, Inc., another indirect subsidiary of Sun Life, acquired Independent Financial Marketing Group ("IFMG"), an affiliate of the Company. The acquisition of the Company and IFMG complements both Sun Life Financial's product array and distribution capabilities and advances Sun Life Financial towards its strategic goal of reaching a top 10 position in target product markets in North America. Sun Life Financial also expects to reduce costs through economies of scale.
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141 "Business Combinations" and SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". Under the purchase method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. The Company is in the process of completing the valuations of a portion of the assets acquired; thus, the allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of November 1, 2001 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
Fixed-maturity securities |
$ 10,609,150 |
|
|
Equity securities |
35,313 |
|
|
Mortgage loans |
7,216 |
|
|
Policy loans |
631,916 |
|
|
Value of business acquired |
105,400 |
|
|
Goodwill |
714,755 |
|
|
Intangible assets |
12,100 |
|
|
Deferred taxes |
217,633 |
|
|
Other invested assets |
363,586 |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,846,887 |
|
|
Other assets acquired |
465,152 |
|
|
Separate account assets |
3,941,527 |
|
|
Total assets acquired |
$ 18,950,635 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
Policy liabilities |
$ 12,052,071 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
1,262,045 |
|
|
Separate accounts |
3,930,042 |
|
|
Total liabilities assumed |
$ 17,244,158 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets acquired |
$ 1,706,477 |
13
Intangible assets acquired primarily consist of state insurance licenses ($10.1 million) that are not subject to amortization. The remaining $2.0 million of intangible assets relate to product rights that have a weighted-average useful life of 7 years. Most of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
Accounting Changes
The cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax, for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 of $60.8 million includes a loss of $54.3 million relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", and SFAS No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities - an amendment of SFAS No. 133" (collectively hereafter referred to as the "Statement") in the quarter ended March 31, 2001 and a loss of $6.5 million relating to the adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 99-20, "Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets" in the quarter ended June 30, 2001.
The Company adopted the Statement on January 1, 2001. The Statement requires the Company to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives will either be offset by the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value will be immediately recognized in operations.
The cumulative effect, reported after tax and net of related effects on deferred policy acquisition costs, upon adoption of the Statement at January 1, 2001 decreased net income and stockholder's equity by $54.3 million. The adoption of the Statement may increase volatility in future reported income due, among other reasons, to the requirements of defining an effective hedging relationship under the Statement as opposed to certain hedges the Company believes are effective economic hedges. The Company anticipates that it will continue to utilize its current risk management philosophy, which includes the use of derivative instruments.
The Company adopted EITF Issue No. 99-20 on April 1, 2001. EITF Issue 99-20 governs the method of recognizing interest income and impairment on asset-backed investment securities. EITF Issue No. 99-20 requires the Company to update the estimate of cash flows over the life of certain retained beneficial interests in securitization transactions and purchased beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. Pursuant to EITF Issue No. 99-20, based on current information and events, if the Company estimates that the fair value of its beneficial interests is not greater than or equal to its carrying value and if there has been a decrease in the estimated cash flows since the last revised estimate, considering both timing and amount, then an other-than-temporary impairment should be recognized. The cumulative effect, reported after tax and net of related effects on deferred policy acquisition costs, upon adoption of EITF Issue No. 99-20 on April 1, 2001 decreased net income by $6.5 million with a related in crease to accumulated other comprehensive income of $1.8 million.
September 11, 2001
The Company has fixed maturities in its general account portfolio invested in entities associated with the airline, hotel, and hospitality businesses. The national tragedy of September 11, 2001 has had an adverse impact on these industries. The Company has not recorded any other than temporary declines due to the decrease in market value of these investments subsequent to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Company will continue to monitor the recoverability of these investments.
The Company also has a swap agreement in which the Company participates in a reinsurance pool of catastrophic insurance. The Company's maximum exposure under this agreement is $13.6 million per calendar year. The Company's estimated pro-rata share of losses associated with the September 11 terrorist attacks is $11.8 million, which has been recorded as a component of net investment income.
14
Critical Accounting Policies
Keyport's discussion and analysis of its financial position and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principals generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company believes that of its significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.
Derivative Instruments
All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as either (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset ("fair value hedge") or (2) utilizes the derivative as an economic hedge ("non-designated derivative"). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, along with the loss or gain on the hedged asset attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current period operations as a component of net derivative gains. Changes in the fair value of non-designated derivatives are reported in current period operations as a component of net derivative gains.
The Company issues equity-indexed annuity contracts that contain a derivative instrument that is "embedded" in the contract. Upon issuing the contract, the embedded derivative is separated from the host contract (annuity contract), is carried at fair value, and is considered a non-designated derivative.
Fair values are based upon either dealer price quotations or are derived from pricing models that consider current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instrument, as well as time value and yield curve or volatility factors underlying the positions. Pricing models and their underlying assumptions impact the amount and timing of unrealized gains and losses recognized. Changes in the fixed income and equity markets will affect the Company's estimate of fair value in the future, which will affect reported derivative income.
Value of Business Acquired
The value of business acquired represents the actuarially-determined present value of projected future gross profits from policies in force at the date of their acquisition. This amount is amortized in proportion to the projected emergence of profits. Interest is accrued on the unamortized balance at the average interest crediting rate (5% for the two-month period ended December 31, 2001).
The value of business acquired is also adjusted for amounts relating to the recognition of unrealized investment gains and losses. This adjustment, net of tax, is included with the change in net unrealized investment gains or losses that is credited or charged directly to accumulated other comprehensive income. Value of business acquired was increased by $5.7 million at December 31, 2001 relating to this adjustment.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs relate to the costs of acquiring new business, which vary with, and are primarily related to, the production of new annuity business. Such acquisition costs include commissions, costs of policy issuance, and underwriting and selling expenses. These costs are deferred and amortized with interest in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits from mortality; investment spread and expense margins. This amortization is reviewed annually and adjusted retrospectively when the Company revises its estimate of current or future gross profits to be realized, including realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments
Deferred policy acquisition costs are adjusted for amounts relating to unrealized gains and losses on available for sale fixed-maturity securities. This adjustment, net of tax, is included with the change in net unrealized investment gains or losses that is credited or charged directly to accumulated other comprehensive income. Deferred policy acquisition costs increased by $0.1 million and $43.6 million at December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000, respectively, relating to this adjustment.
15
Although realization of deferred policy acquisition costs is not assured, the Company believes it is more likely than not that all of these costs will be realized. The amount of deferred policy acquisition costs considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if the estimates of gross profits or total revenues discussed above are reduced. The amount of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs could be revised in the near term if any of the estimates discussed above are revised.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities. SFAS 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some or all of the net deferred tax asset will not be realized.
The carrying value of the Company's net deferred tax asset assumes that the Company will be able to generate sufficient future taxable income based upon estimates and assumptions. If these estimates and related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record a valuation allowance against its net deferred tax asset resulting in additional income tax expense in the Company's consolidated statement of operations. Management evaluates the recoverability of the deferred tax asset on a quarterly basis.
As part of the Stock Purchase Agreement between Sun Life Financial and Liberty Financial, Liberty Financial is obligated to reimburse the Company for any federal, state or local taxes arising from certain tax elections under Section 338(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Liberty Financial has given notice to the Company of certain objections it has with the calculation of these taxes. The amount in dispute is approximately $37 million. Under the agreement, if Sun Life Financial and Liberty Financial cannot agree on the amount of taxes due, the matter shall be submitted for arbitration. It is not yet possible to know whether arbitration will be necessary. The Company currently assumes the entire amount is recoverable.
Other than Temporary Declines
The Company routinely reviews its portfolio of investment securities. The Company identifies any investments that require additional monitoring on a monthly basis, and carefully reviews the carrying value of such investments at least quarterly to determine whether specific investments should be placed on a nonaccrual basis and to determine declines in value that may be other than temporary. In making these reviews, the Company principally considers the adequacy of collateral (if any), compliance with contractual covenants, the borrower's recent financial performance, news reports and other externally generated information concerning the creditor's affairs. In the case of publicly traded investments, management also considers market value quotations, if available.
The net realized investment losses for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 included losses of $42.8 million, $16.7 million and $18.3 million, respectively, for certain fixed maturity investments where the decline in value was determined to be other than temporary. As of December 31, 2001 and 2000, the carrying value of fixed maturity investments that were non-income producing was $81.8 million and $24.4 million, respectively, which constitutes 0.2% of general account investments.
Results of Operations
Net income was $16.8 million, $142.6 million, $94.7 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The decrease in the ten month period ended October 31, 2001 compared to the year ended December 31, 2000 primarily relates to the $60.8 million cumulative effect of accounting changes and a $48.6 million decrease of the net change in unrealized and undistributed gains in private equity limited partnerships. The increase in the year ended December 31, 2000 compared to 1999 primarily related to the $31.6 million increase in the net change in unrealized and undistributed gains in private equity limited partnerships, coupled with increases in net investment spread, fee income, and decreases in net realized investment gains (losses).
16
Income from operations (income before income taxes, net change in unrealized and undistributed gains in private equity limited partnerships, and net realized gains (losses)) was $144.1 million, $203.9 million and $182.1 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The decrease in 2001 compared to 2000 was primarily attributable to the decrease in net spread. The increase in 2000 compared to 1999 was primarily attributable to increases in net spread and fee income offset by an increase in operating expense.
Investment spread is the amount by which investment income earned on the Company's investments exceeds interest credited to policyholder balances. Investment spread was $237.0 million, $317.2 million and $278.6 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The amount by which the average yield on investments exceeds the average interest credited rate on policyholder balances is the investment spread percentage. The investment spread percentage was 2.07%, 2.26% and 1.97% for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
The investment spread percentage for the two-month period ended December 31, 2001 was 1.71%. The decrease in the investment spread percentage in the two-month period is attributable to the new accounting basis of the assets. The investments were marked to fair value as of November 1, 2001 and the effective yield was decreased due to the market value adjustment.
Investment income was $735.6 million, $856.8 million and $805.2 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The decrease of $121.2 million is primarily attributable to the fact that the 2000 amount is for a full year and the 2001 amount is for a ten-month period. Investment income was $735.6 and $701.5 for the ten-month periods ended October 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The increase of $34.1 million in 2001 compared to 2000 is the result of a higher average investment yield ($47.8 million) offset by a decrease in average invested assets ($13.7 million) for the ten-month periods ended October 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The average investment yield was 7.06% for the ten month period ended October 31, 2001 compared to 6.61% for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2000 (6.74% for the year ended 2000). The increase of $51.6 million in 2000 compared to 1999 is the result of a higher average investment yield ($62.2 million ) offset by a decrease in average invested assets ($10.6 million). The average investment yield was 6.74% in 2000 compared to 6.25% in 1999.
The adoption of FAS133 requires that call options be carried at fair value and the Company's call options are considered non-designated derivatives. The changes of the fair value of the call options are reported as a component of net derivative loss in 2001. In the prior year, the premium paid for a call option was amortized over its contract term and the call option amortization was included as a component of investment income. Investment income for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, includes $79.7 million and $77.2 million, respectively, of S&P 500 Index call option amortization expense related to the Company's equity-indexed annuities. If FAS 133 had not been adopted, call option amortization expense and the average investment yield would have been $73.7 million and 6.38% for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001.
The investment yield for the two-month period ended December 31, 2001 was 6.99%.
Interest credited to policyholders totaled $498.7 million, $539.6 million, $526.6 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The decrease of $40.9 million is primarily attributable to the fact that the 2000 amount is for a full year and the 2001 amount is for a ten-month period. Interest credited was $498.7 million and $440.8 million for the ten-month periods ended October 31, 2001and 2000, respectively. The increase of $57.9 million in 2001 compared to 2000 is the result of a higher average interest credited rate ($60.3 million) offset by a decrease in average policyholder liabilities ($ 2.4 million) for the ten-month periods ended October 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Policyholder balances averaged $ 12.0 billion ($10.1 billion of fixed products and $1.9 billion of equity-indexed annuities) compared to $12.1 billion ($9.7 billion of fixed products and $2.4 billion of equity-indexed annuities) for the ten-month periods ende d October 31, 2001 and 2000. The average interest credited rate was 4.99% (5.20% on fixed products and 3.93 % on equity-indexed annuities) for the ten months ended October 31, 2001 compared to 4.39% (5.18% on fixed products and 0.85% on equity-indexed annuities) for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2000. The increase of $13.0 million in 2000 compared to 1999 is the result of a higher average interest
17
credited rate ($24.1 million) offset by lower average policyholder balances ($11.1 million). Policyholder balances averaged $12.0 billion ($9.7 billion of fixed products and $2.3 billion of equity-indexed annuities) in 2000 compared to $12.3 billion ($10.1 billion of fixed products and $2.2 billion of equity-indexed annuities) in 1999. The average interest credited rate was 4.48% (5.27% on fixed products and 0.85% on equity-indexed annuities) in 2000 compared to 4.28% (5.00% on fixed products and 0.85% on equity-indexed annuities) in 1999.
The Company's equity-indexed annuities credit interest to the policyholder at a "participation rate" equal to a portion (ranging for existing policies from 25% to 120%) of the change in value of the S&P 500 Index. The Company's equity-indexed annuities also provide a full guarantee of principal if held to term, plus interest at 0.85% annually
Under FAS 133, the index annuities are deemed to contain an embedded derivative (the change in value attributable to the change in the S&P 500 index) and a host contract. The host contracts' interest rate is derived at the inception of the contract and an effective interest rate is utilized that will result in a liability equal to the guaranteed minimum account value at the end of the term. The embedded derivative is a non-designated derivative and the changes in fair value are reported as a component of derivative income (loss). In 2000, the interest credited to equity-indexed policyholders related to the participation rate is reflected net of income recognized on the S&P 500 Index call options and futures resulting in a 0.85% net credited rate. If FAS 133 had not been adopted, interest credited and the average interest credited rate would have been $ 478.3 million and 4.77% for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001.
The average interest credited rate for the two-month period ended December 31, 2001 was 4.97%.
Average investments (computed without giving effect to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115), including a portion of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, were $12.5 billion for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001, $12.4 billion for the two-month period ended December 31, 2001, and $12.7 for the year ended December 31, 2000.
Net realized investment losses were $22.8 million, $35.8 million and $41.5 million for the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001 and for years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The net realized investment losses in 2001, 2000 and 1999 included losses of $42.8 million, $16.7 million and $18.3 million, respectively, for certain fixed maturity investments where the decline in value was determined to be other than temporary.
Net derivative gains of $100.0 and $.4 million for the two month period ended December 31, 2001 and the ten-month period ended October 31, 2001, respectively, represent fair value changes of non-designated derivatives and the ineffective portion of fair value hedges, net of related effects on deferred policy acquisition costs.
All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as either (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset ("fair value hedge") or (2) utilizes the derivative as an economic hedge ("non-designated derivative"). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, along with the loss or gain on the hedged asset attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current period operations as a component of net derivative gains. Changes in the fair value of non-designated derivatives are reported in current period operations as a component of net derivative gains.
The Company issues equity-indexed annuity contracts that contain a derivative instrument that is "embedded" in the contract. Upon issuing the contract, the embedded derivative is separated from the host contract (annuity contract), is carried at fair value, and is considered a non-designated derivative.
The Company purchases call options and futures on the S&P 500 Index to economically hedge its obligation under the annuity contract to provide returns based upon this index. The call options and futures are non-designated derivatives. In addition, the Company utilizes non-designated total return swap agreements to hedge its certain policyholder obligations (classified as separate account liabilities through October 31, 2001).
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As a component of its investment strategy and to reduce its exposure to interest rate risk, the Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swap agreements are agreements to exchange with a counterparty, interest rate payments of differing character (e.g., fixed-rate payments exchanged for variable-rate payments)