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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements 
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

 

We have prepared these unaudited financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which differ materially from the accounting practices prescribed by various insurance regulatory authorities. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

These financials include all adjustments (consisting primarily of accruals) considered necessary for the fair statement of the balance sheet, statements of income, and statements of cash flows for the interim periods. Certain financial information that is not required for interim reporting has been omitted. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of full year results.

 

Use of estimates

 

In preparing these financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions are made in the determination of estimated gross profits (“EGPs”) used in the valuation and amortization of assets and liabilities associated with universal life and annuity contracts; policyholder liabilities and accruals; valuation of investments in debt securities and venture capital partnerships; valuation of deferred tax assets; and accruals for contingent liabilities. We are also subject to estimates made by our ultimate parent company related to discount rates and other assumptions for our pension and other post-employment benefits expense.

 

Adoption of new accounting standards

 

Amendment to Troubled Debt Restructuring Guidance

 

In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued amended guidance to ASC 310, Receivables, to clarify guidance on troubled debt restructurings related to a creditor’s determination of whether or not a restructuring constitutes a concession and if the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. This guidance is effective for interim periods beginning after June 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented on the date of application is also permitted, but not required. Our adoption in the third quarter of 2011 had no material effect on our financial statements.

 

Accounting standards not yet adopted

 

Amendments to the Presentation of Comprehensive Income

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 220, Comprehensive Income, with respect to the presentation of comprehensive income as part of the effort to establish common requirements in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This amended guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. In addition, the amended guidance will require consecutive presentation of the statement of net income and OCI. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011, on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2012 is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Amendments to Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, with respect to measuring fair value and related disclosures as part of the effort to establish common requirements in accordance with GAAP and IFRS. The amended guidance clarifies that the concept of highest and best use should only be used in the valuation of non-financial assets, specifies how to apply fair value measurements to instruments classified in stockholder’s equity and requires that premiums or discounts be applied consistent with what market participants would use absent Level 1 inputs. The amendment also explicitly requires additional disclosures related to the valuation of assets categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Additional disclosures include quantitative information about unobservable inputs, the sensitivity of fair value measurement to changes in unobservable outputs and information on the valuation process used. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011, on a prospective basis. Other than additional disclosures, the adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2012 is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

 

In October 2010, the FASB issued amended guidance to ASC 944, Financial Services – Insurance, to address the diversity in practice for accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The amendment clarifies the definition of acquisition costs (i.e., costs which qualify for deferral) to incremental direct costs that result directly from, and are essential to, a contract and would not have been incurred by the insurance entity had the contract transaction not occurred. Therefore, only costs related to successful efforts of acquiring a new, or renewal, contract should be deferred. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011, on a prospective basis. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented on the date of application is also permitted, but not required. We are in the process of determining the effect on our financial statements.

 

Out-of-Period Adjustments

 

Net income of $11,507 thousand and $20,888 thousand was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflects approximately $2,500 thousand associated with the correction of errors, recorded in the second quarter of 2011 and related to various prior years, which increased income recognized in the current year. The impact of the correction of errors on the individual line items of the statement of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was a $2,800 thousand decrease to net realized investment losses, a $1,300 thousand decrease to other operating expenses, a $1,200 thousand increase to premiums, an $800 thousand increase to policy acquisition cost amortization and a $700 thousand increase in policy benefits. The associated tax impact was a $2,500 thousand decrease in income tax benefit. There were no such entries recorded in the third quarter of 2011.

 

We have assessed the impact of these errors on all prior periods and have determined that the errors were not material to any individual year during the intervening period.

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies are presented in the notes to our financial statements in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes since year end December 31, 2010.