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ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES

Our freestanding and embedded derivatives, which are not designated as hedging instruments, are held at fair value and are summarized as follows (dollars in millions):

 
 
Fair value
 
 
June 30,
2019
 
December 31, 2018
Assets:
 
 
 
 
Other invested assets:
 
 
 
 
Fixed index call options
 
$
119.6

 
$
26.6

Reinsurance receivables
 
(1.6
)
 
(6.5
)
Total assets
 
$
118.0

 
$
20.1

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Future policy benefits:
 
 
 
 
Fixed index products
 
$
1,454.2

 
$
1,289.0

Total liabilities
 
$
1,454.2

 
$
1,289.0



Our fixed index annuity products provide a guaranteed minimum rate of return and a higher potential return that is based on a percentage (the "participation rate") of the amount of increase in the value of a particular index, such as the Standard &
Poor's 500 Index, over a specified period.  Typically, on each policy anniversary date, a new index period begins.  We are generally able to change the participation rate at the beginning of each index period during a policy year, subject to contractual minimums.  The Company accounts for the options attributed to the policyholder for the estimated life of the contract as embedded derivatives. These accounting requirements often create volatility in the earnings from these products. We typically buy call options (including call spreads) referenced to the applicable indices in an effort to offset or hedge potential increases to policyholder benefits resulting from increases in the particular index to which the policy's return is linked.  The notional amount of these options was $3.2 billion and $3.0 billion at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

We are required to establish an embedded derivative related to a modified coinsurance agreement pursuant to which we assume the risks of a block of health insurance business. The embedded derivative represents the mark-to-market adjustment for approximately $118 million in underlying investments held by the ceding reinsurer at June 30, 2019.

We purchase certain fixed maturity securities that contain embedded derivatives that are required to be held at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. We have elected the fair value option to carry the entire security at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.

The following table provides the pre-tax gains (losses) recognized in net income for derivative instruments, which are not designated as hedges for the periods indicated (dollars in millions):

 
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net investment income (loss) from policyholder and other special-purpose portfolios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed index call options
 
$
22.5

 
$
13.4

 
$
65.2

 
$
7.8

Net realized gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Embedded derivative related to modified coinsurance agreement
 
2.6

 
(1.5
)
 
4.9

 
(4.2
)
Insurance policy benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Embedded derivative related to fixed index annuities
 
(42.6
)
 
16.0

 
(77.6
)
 
53.0

Total
 
$
(17.5
)
 
$
27.9

 
$
(7.5
)
 
$
56.6



Derivative Counterparty Risk

If the counterparties to the call options fail to meet their obligations, we may recognize a loss.  We limit our exposure to such a loss by diversifying among several counterparties believed to be strong and creditworthy.  At June 30, 2019, all of our counterparties were rated "A-" or higher by S&P Global Ratings ("S&P").

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to master netting arrangements with its counterparties related to entering into various derivative contracts. Exchange-traded derivatives require margin accounts which we offset.

The following table summarizes information related to derivatives with master netting arrangements or collateral as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions):

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
 
Gross amounts offset in the balance sheet
 
Net amounts of assets presented in the balance sheet
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash collateral received
 
Net amount
June 30, 2019:
 
 
 
Fixed index call options
 
$
119.6

 
$

 
$
119.6

 
$

 
$

 
$
119.6

December 31, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed index call options
 
26.6

 

 
26.6

 

 

 
26.6