Related Party Transactions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

The amounts included in the following discussion are gross expenses, before deferrals for policy acquisition costs.

Service agreement

The Company has entered into an agreement with Phoenix Life to provide substantially all general insurance expenses related to the Company, including rent and employee benefit plan expenses. Expenses are allocated to the Company using specific identification or activity-based costing. The expenses allocated to us were $19.0 million and $22.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amounts payable to Phoenix Life were $6.6 million and $6.3 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Reinsurance agreements

The Company cedes risk associated with certain universal life contracts and the associated riders to Phoenix Life. The reinsurance transaction between the Company and Phoenix Life is structured as a coinsurance agreement.

See Note 3 in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of the 2013 Form 10-K for additional information on related party transactions.

Underwriting agreements

1851 Securities Inc. (“1851”), a wholly owned subsidiary of PM Holdings, Inc., is the principal underwriter of the Company’s variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts. Phoenix Life reimburses 1851 for commissions incurred on our behalf and we in turn reimburse Phoenix Life. Commissions incurred were $1.6 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Sales agreements

Phoenix Life pays commissions to producers who sell our non-registered life and annuity products. Commissions paid by Phoenix Life on our behalf were $16.1 million and $17.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amounts payable to Phoenix Life were $2.9 million and $1.3 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Saybrus, a majority-owned subsidiary of Phoenix, provides life insurance and annuity wholesaling services. Commissions paid to Saybrus were $2.6 million and $2.4 million as of March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Commission amounts payable to Saybrus were immaterial as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Saybrus Equity Services, Inc. (“Saybrus Equity”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saybrus provides wholesaling services to various third party distributors and affiliates of variable life insurance and variable annuities. Commissions paid by Saybrus Equity on our behalf were immaterial as of March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Commission amounts payable to Saybrus Equity were immaterial as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Processing service agreements

We provide payment processing services for Phoenix Life, wherein we receive deposits on Phoenix Life annuity contracts, and forward those payments to Phoenix Life. In connection with this service, we had a net amount due from Phoenix Life of $10.5 million as of March 31, 2014 and a net amount due to Phoenix Life of $2.6 million as of December 31, 2013. We do not charge any fees for this service.

We also provide payment processing services for Phoenix Life and Annuity Company (“Phoenix Life and Annuity”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Phoenix Life, wherein we receive deposits on certain Phoenix Life and Annuity annuity contracts, and forward those payments to Phoenix Life and Annuity. In connection with this service, we had amounts due from Phoenix Life and Annuity of $3.5 million as of March 31, 2014 and due to Phoenix Life and Annuity of $0.5 million as of December 31, 2013. We do not charge any fees for this service.

Indebtedness due to affiliate

PHL Variable issued $30.0 million surplus notes on December 30, 2013 which were purchased by Phoenix. The notes are due on December 30, 2043. Interest is paid annually at a rate of 10.5% and requires the prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut. Payments may be made only out of surplus funds as defined under applicable law and regulations of the State of Connecticut. Upon approval by the Insurance Commissioner, the notes may be redeemed at any time, either in whole or in part, at a redemption price of 100% plus accrued interest to the date set for the redemption. Connecticut Law provides that the notes are not part of the legal liabilities of PHL Variable. For the period ended March 31, 2014, interest expense on the notes was $0.8 million.