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Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, renewal commissions receivable, income taxes, and valuation of intangible assets and goodwill. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation

Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-period amounts to conform to current-period reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net income or total stockholders’ equity.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation. Assets and liabilities of our Canadian subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates, and the translation adjustments are reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Revenues and expenses of our Canadian subsidiaries are translated monthly at amounts that approximate weighted-average exchange rates.

Investments

Investments. Investments are reported on the following bases:

Available-for-sale (“AFS”) fixed-maturity securities, including bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value.
Our held-to-maturity fixed-maturity security is carried at amortized cost.
Equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value of equity securities are included in realized investment gains (losses) in the period in which the change occurred.
Trading securities, which primarily consist of bonds held by PFS Investments, are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value of trading securities are included in realized investment gains (losses) in the period in which the change occurred.
Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances, which approximate fair value.

Investment transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis. We use the specific-identification method to determine the realized gains or losses from securities transactions and report the investment gains or losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities are included as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss), except for credit loss impairment discussed below, in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

For an AFS security with an amortized cost that exceeds its fair value, we first determine if we intend to sell or will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost. If we intend to sell or will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security, then we recognize the impairment as a credit loss in our consolidated statements of income by writing down the security’s amortized cost to its fair value. If we do not intend to sell or it is not more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost, we recognize the portion of the impairment that is due to a credit loss, if any, in our consolidated statement of income through an allowance. The portion of the impairment that is due to factors other than a credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as an unrealized loss. Credit losses recognized in the allowance for credit losses are reversed in situations where the estimate of credit losses on those securities has declined. When determining whether an impairment is due to a credit loss or other factors, we determine the extent to which we do not expect to recover the security’s amortized cost and record such amount, if any, as a credit loss. Factors we consider in determining whether the security’s decline in fair value is below amortized cost due to a credit loss include the magnitude of the security’s decline in fair value below its amortized cost, the financial condition, long and near-term prospects for the issuer, industry conditions and trends, rating agency actions, the payment structure of the security, likelihood of the recoverability of principal and interest, and our ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for the anticipated recovery of its amortized cost. In assessing our ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time to allow for the anticipated recovery of its amortized cost, we also consider our anticipated sources of cash to fund operating activities and share repurchases. If we do not anticipate recovering a security’s amortized cost basis, we estimate the present value of the security’s expected cash flows and recognize the difference from amortized cost (using fair value as a floor) as a credit loss.

Interest income on fixed-maturity securities is recorded when earned by determining the effective yield, which gives consideration to amortization of premiums, accretion of discounts, and any previous credit losses. Dividend income on equity securities is recorded when declared. These amounts are included in net investment income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Included within fixed-maturity securities are loan-backed and asset-backed securities. Amortization of the premium or accretion of the discount uses the retrospective method. The effective yield used to determine amortization/accretion is calculated based on actual and historical projected future cash flows and updated quarterly.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments, and all other highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition.

Reinsurance

Reinsurance. We use reinsurance extensively, utilizing yearly renewable term (“YRT”) and coinsurance agreements. Under YRT agreements, we reinsure only the mortality risk, while under coinsurance, we reinsure a proportionate part of all risks arising under the reinsured policy. Under coinsurance, the reinsurer receives a proportionate part of the premiums, less commission allowances, and is liable for a corresponding part of all benefit payments.

All reinsurance contracts in effect for the three-year period ended December 31, 2022 transfer a reasonable possibility of substantial loss to the reinsurer or are accounted for under the deposit method of accounting.

Ceded premiums are treated as a reduction to direct premiums and are recognized when due to the assuming company. Ceded claims are treated as a reduction to direct benefits and are recognized when the claim is incurred on a direct basis. Ceded policy reserve changes are also treated as a reduction to benefits and claims expense and are recognized during the applicable financial reporting period.

Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements and benefits and reserves related to reinsured long-duration contracts are accounted for over the life of the underlying contracts using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liabilities and future policy benefits associated with reinsured policies. Ceded policy reserves and claims liabilities relating to insurance ceded are shown as reinsurance recoverables on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

We analyze and monitor the credit-worthiness of each of our reinsurance partners to minimize collection issues. For reinsurance contracts with unauthorized reinsurers, we require collateral such as letters of credit.

To the extent we receive ceding allowances to cover policy and claims administration under reinsurance contracts, these allowances are treated as a reduction to insurance commissions and expenses and are recognized when due from the assuming company. To the extent we receive ceding allowances reimbursing commissions that would otherwise be deferred, the amount of commissions deferrable will be reduced. The corresponding DAC balances are reduced on a pro rata basis by the portion of the business reinsured with reinsurance agreements that meet risk transfer provisions. The reduced DAC will result in a corresponding reduction of amortization expense.

We estimate and recognize lifetime expected credit losses for reinsurance recoverables. In estimating the allowance for expected credit losses for reinsurance recoverables, we factor in the underlying collateral for reinsurance agreements where available. Specifically, for reinsurers with underlying trust assets, we compare the reinsurance recoverables balance to the underlying trust assets that mitigate the potential exposure to credit losses. We also analyze the financial condition of the reinsurers, as determined by third-party rating agencies, to determine the probability of default for the reinsurers. We then utilize a third-party credit default study to calculate an expected credit loss given default rate or recovery rate. The probability of default and loss given default rates are then applied to the

reinsurers’ recoverable balance, while also factoring in any third-party letters of credit that support the reinsurance agreement, in order to calculate our current expected credit loss allowance.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

DAC. We defer incremental direct costs of successful contract acquisitions that result directly from and are essential to the contract transaction(s) and that would not have been incurred had the contract transaction(s) not occurred. These deferred policy acquisition costs mainly include commissions and policy issue expenses. All other acquisition-related costs, including unsuccessful acquisition and renewal efforts, are charged to expense as incurred. Also, administrative costs, rent, depreciation, occupancy, equipment, and all other general overhead costs are considered indirect costs and are charged to expense as incurred.

DAC for term life insurance policies is amortized over the initial premium-paying period of the related policies in proportion to premium revenue. DAC for Canadian segregated funds is amortized over the life of the underlying policies at a constant rate based on the present value of the estimated gross profits expected to be realized over the life of the underlying policies. DAC is subject to recoverability testing annually and when impairment indicators exist.

Business Combination Business Combination. The Company acquired e-TeleQuote on July 1, 2021 and accounts for the acquisition as a business combination in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), which requires most identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date, subject to certain exceptions. Additionally, ASC 805 requires transaction-related costs to be expensed in the period incurred. The Company allocates the fair value of the purchase consideration of its acquired business to the tangible assets, liabilities assumed, and intangible assets acquired at the acquisition date. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the acquired values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Transaction-related costs are recognized separately from the business combination and expensed as incurred. Refer to Note 20 (Acquisition) for further details.
Goodwill

Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated acquired values of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination at the acquisition date. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, goodwill is not amortized. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually on July 1 and whenever events occur or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying value of goodwill more likely than not exceeds its fair value. All of the Company’s goodwill was obtained from the e-TeleQuote acquisition and the e-TeleQuote business has been designated as a separate operating segment called Senior Health. Therefore, goodwill has been allocated solely to the Senior Health segment and is evaluated for impairment at the Senior Health segment level, which is also defined as the reporting unit. For additional information on the results of the annual goodwill impairment test, see Note 21 (Goodwill) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets. Intangible assets, which are included in other assets, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Any intangible asset that was deemed to have an indefinite useful life is not amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test. An impairment exists if the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value. For the other intangible assets, which are subject to amortization, an impairment is recognized if the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds the fair value of the intangible asset.

The components of intangible assets were as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

Gross carrying amount

 

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

Net carrying amount

 

 

Gross carrying amount

 

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

Net carrying amount

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Indefinite-lived intangible asset

 

$

45,275

 

 

n/a

 

 

$

45,275

 

 

$

45,275

 

 

n/a

 

 

$

45,275

 

Amortizing intangible assets

 

 

156,000

 

 

 

(15,750

)

 

 

140,250

 

 

 

156,000

 

 

 

(5,450

)

 

 

150,550

 

Total intangible assets

 

$

201,275

 

 

$

(15,750

)

 

$

185,525

 

 

$

201,275

 

 

$

(5,450

)

 

$

195,825

 

 

We have an indefinite-lived intangible asset related to the 1989 purchase of the right to contract with the sales force. This asset represents the core distribution model of our business, which is our primary competitive advantage to profitably distribute term life insurance and investment and savings products on a significant scale, and as such, is considered to have an indefinite life. This indefinite-lived intangible asset is supported by a significant portion of the discounted cash flows of our future business. We assessed this asset for impairment as of October 1, 2022 and determined that no impairment had occurred. There have been no subsequent events requiring further analysis.

 

Intangible assets acquired from the acquisition of e-TeleQuote consist primarily of relationships with health insurance carriers, who are our customers, and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company uses an estimated useful life of 15 years as our relationships with health insurance carriers are not expected to turn over rapidly because these relationships are in-depth, non-exclusive, and pay-for-performance. Intangible asset amortization expense was $10.3 million and $5.5 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Amortization expense is expected to be approximately $10.5 million annually for the next five years. Intangible assets subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment in the event factors indicate that the net carrying value may not be recoverable or the asset will not be used throughout its estimated useful life. No events have occurred, and no factors exist as of December 31, 2022 that would indicate that the net carrying value of our amortizing intangible assets may not be recoverable or will not be used throughout their estimated useful life.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment, which are included in other assets, are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recognized on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life, which is estimated as follows:

 

 

 

Estimated Useful Life

Data processing equipment and software

 

3 to 7 years

Leasehold improvements

 

Lesser of 15 years or remaining life of lease

Furniture and other equipment

 

5 to 15 years

 

Depreciation expense is included in other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Depreciation expense was $24.1 million, $24.6 million, and $18.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Property and equipment balances were as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Data processing equipment and software

 

$

132,596

 

 

$

127,151

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

18,137

 

 

 

18,631

 

Other, principally furniture and equipment

 

 

35,592

 

 

 

36,460

 

 

 

 

186,325

 

 

 

182,242

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(133,668

)

 

 

(115,220

)

Net property and equipment

 

$

52,657

 

 

$

67,022

 

 

Separate Accounts

Separate Accounts. The separate accounts are primarily comprised of contracts issued by the Company through its subsidiary, Primerica Life Canada, pursuant to the Insurance Companies Act (Canada). The Insurance Companies Act authorizes Primerica Life Canada to establish the separate accounts.

The separate accounts are represented by individual variable insurance contracts. Purchasers of variable insurance contracts issued by Primerica Life Canada have a direct claim to the benefits of the contract that entitles the holder to units in one or more investment funds (the “Funds”) maintained by Primerica Life Canada. The Funds invest in assets that are held for the benefit of the owners of the contracts. The benefits provided vary in amount depending on the fair value of the Funds’ net assets. The Funds’ assets are administered by Primerica Life Canada and are held separate and apart from the general assets of the Company. The liabilities reflect the variable insurance contract holders’ interests in the Funds’ net assets based upon actual investment performance of the respective Funds. Separate account operating results relating to contract holders’ interests are excluded from our consolidated statements of income.

Primerica Life Canada’s contract offerings guarantee the maturity value at the date of maturity (or upon death, whichever occurs first) to be equal to 75% of the sum of all contributions made, net of withdrawals, on a first-in, first-out basis. Otherwise, the maturity value or death benefit will be the accumulated value of units allocated to the contract at the specified valuation date.

Renewal Commissions Receivable

Renewal Commissions Receivable. Renewal commissions receivable are contract assets that represent the renewal portion of estimated constrained variable consideration recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Renewal commissions receivable primarily consist of the expected value of commissions to be collected by e-TeleQuote from the distribution of Medicare-related health insurance policies where the performance obligation has been satisfied but payment is not due as the underlying policy has not yet renewed. The estimate of renewal commissions requires significant judgment subject to the same assumptions as noted under “Commissions and Fees – Senior Health” below. Cash collections for these receivables are expected to occur over a period of several years. Renewal commissions receivable will be adjusted for differences between actual and expected cash collections as well as for changes in estimates. Under ASC 606, these receivables are not discounted as the timing for collection of payments is dependent on future policyholder renewals and not due to the presence of a significant financing component. Refer to Note 20 (Acquisition) for renewal commissions receivable recognized as part of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote.

Future Policy Benefits Liability

Policyholder Liabilities. Future policy benefits are accrued over the current and renewal periods of the contracts. Liabilities for future policy benefits on traditional life insurance products are reserves established for death claims and waiver of premium benefits and have been computed using a net level method, using assumptions as to interest rates, mortality, persistency, disability rates and other assumptions based on our experience, modified as necessary to reflect anticipated trends and to include provisions for possible adverse deviation. The underlying mortality tables are the Society of Actuaries (“SOA”) 65-70, SOA 75-80, SOA 85-90, and the 91 Bragg, modified to reflect various underwriting classifications and assumptions. Interest rate reserve assumptions ranged from 2.5% to 7.0% at December 31, 2022 and ranged from 2.5% to 7.0% at December 31, 2021. For policies issued in 2010 and after, we have been using an increasing interest rate assumption to reflect the historically low interest rate environment. The liability for policy claims and other benefits payable on traditional life insurance products includes estimated unpaid claims that have been reported to us and claims incurred but not yet reported.

The future policy benefit reserves we establish are necessarily based on estimates, assumptions and our analysis of historical experience. We do not modify the assumptions used to establish future policy benefit reserves during the policy term unless a premium deficiency is identified. Our results depend significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims experience is consistent with the assumptions we used in determining our future policy benefit reserves and pricing our products. Our future policy benefit

reserve assumptions and estimates require significant judgment and, therefore, are inherently uncertain. We cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we will pay for actual claims or the timing of those payments.

Other Policyholders’ Funds. Other policyholders’ funds primarily represent claim payments left on deposit with us.

Unearned and Advance Premiums

Unearned and Advance Premiums. Unearned and advance premiums primarily consist of premiums received from policyholders in advance of the premiums due date. Unearned and advance premiums are deferred upon collection and recognized as premiums revenue upon the premium due date.

Litigation

Litigation. The Company is involved from time-to-time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. Contingent litigation-related losses are recognized when probable and can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs, such as attorneys’ fees and other litigation-related expenses that are incurred in connection with resolving litigation are expensed as incurred. These disputes are subject to uncertainties, including indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. Due to the difficulty of estimating costs of litigation, actual costs may be substantially higher or lower than any amounts reserved.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. We are subject to the income tax laws of the United States, its states, municipalities, and certain unincorporated territories, as well as foreign jurisdictions, most notably Canada. These tax laws can be complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant governmental taxing authorities. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, we must make judgments and interpretations about the applicability of these tax laws. We also must make estimates about the future impact certain items will have on taxable income in the various tax jurisdictions, both domestic and foreign.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to: (i) differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of acquired assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and (ii) acquired e-TeleQuote net operating loss and interest deduction carryforwards available for future use. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management’s judgment that realization is more-likely-than-not applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary difference will reverse. The Company has not recognized any material deferred taxes associated with goodwill as it has not acquired any material goodwill with tax basis. Refer to Note 20 (Acquisition) for deferred income taxes recognized as part of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling Interest. In connection with the Company’s acquisition of e-TeleQuote, the Company entered into a shareholders’ agreement with the noncontrolling equity holders of Primerica Health (the “Shareholders’ Agreement”). Under the terms of the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company agreed to purchase, and the noncontrolling equity holders agreed to sell, the remaining 20% stake over a period of up to four years through a series of call and put rights. The Shareholders’ Agreement provided for the purchase of the noncontrolling equity holders’ equity interests in Primerica Health at a contractually defined formulaic purchase price (the “Formulaic Price”), which was based on a discounted calculation of selected peer company equity value multiples times the trailing twelve months of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) reduced by the balance of intercompany debt owed by e-TeleQuote to the Parent Company. The noncontrolling equity holders’ interests in Primerica Health was recognized as redeemable noncontrolling interests (“Redeemable NCI”) in the temporary stockholders’ equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. Effective July 1, 2022, the Company executed its call option to acquire the remaining 20% of Primerica Health. The Formulaic Price calculation resulted in a purchase price of zero. As such, no further consideration was required to obtain the outstanding 20% stake in Primerica Health and the noncontrolling interest in the Company's consolidated financial statements was redeemed.

Prior to redemption, the Company adjusted the Redeemable NCI for net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests in Primerica Health. Upon redemption, the Redeemable NCI in the temporary stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets was eliminated through an adjustment to additional paid in capital as no further consideration was required.

Premium Revenues

Premium Revenues. Traditional life insurance products consist principally of those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits, and are primarily related to term products. Premiums are recognized as revenues when due.

Commissions and Fees

Commissions and Fees. We receive commissions and fees revenue from the sale of various non-life insurance products. Commissions revenue is generally received on the sale of mutual funds and annuities. We also receive trail commissions revenue from mutual fund and annuity products based on the net asset value of shares sold by us. We, in turn, pay sales commissions to the sales force. We also receive investment advisory and administrative fees based on the average daily net asset value of client assets held in managed investments programs and contracts related to separate account assets issued by Primerica Life Canada. We, in turn, pay asset-based commissions to the sales force. We earn recordkeeping fees for transfer agent recordkeeping services that we perform on behalf of several of our mutual fund providers and custodial fees for services performed as a non-bank custodian of our clients’ retirement plan accounts. See Note 18 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) for details related to our commission and fees revenues recognition policies.

Commissions and Fees ? Senior Health

Commissions and Fees – Senior Health. As a result of the acquisition of e-TeleQuote, the Company distributes Medicare-related insurance policies offered by third-party health insurance carriers to eligible Medicare participants. e-TeleQuote receives initial commissions from health insurance carriers, who are considered its customers, for enrollments in policies it has distributed as well as

ongoing renewal commissions that coincide with the period an eligible Medicare participant remains enrolled in a policy after the first policy effective date (collectively, “Lifetime value of commissions” or “LTV”). Revenue is recognized at the point in time e-TeleQuote’s single performance obligation to health insurance carriers is satisfied, which is generally on the date the policy application is approved by the health insurance carrier. The expected commissions represent variable consideration that will not be resolved until after the performance obligation has been satisfied. The Company estimates variable consideration in the transaction price for policies it has distributed as the expected amount of initial and renewal commissions to be received over the life of the enrolled policy. Variable consideration is estimated by using a portfolio approach to policies grouped together by health insurance carrier, Medicare product type, and policy effective date (referred to as a “cohort”). This approach to estimating the initial and renewal commissions expected to be collected involves the evaluation of various factors, including but not limited to, contracted commission rates, disenrollment experience and renewal persistency rates. Upon development of the estimate of expected renewal commissions using the portfolio approach, management applies a constraint so that it is probable that a subsequent change in estimate will not result in a significant revenue reversal. Management judgment is required to determine the inputs to these estimates and the inputs are established primarily based on historical activity. There could be situations where new facts or circumstances, that were not available at the time of the initial estimate, may indicate that the expected renewal commissions are higher or lower than our renewal commissions receivable. In those situations, the expected renewal commissions receivable will be written down or up to its revised expected value by adjustments to revenue, which we refer to as tail revenue adjustments. Refer to Note 18 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) for detail related to commissions and fees revenues recognized by e-TeleQuote.

Benefits and Expenses

Benefits and Expenses. Benefit and expense items are charged to income in the period in which they are incurred. Both the change in policyholder liabilities, which is included in benefits and claims, and the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs will vary with policyholder persistency.

Share-Based Transactions

Share-Based Transactions. For employee and director share-based compensation awards, we determine a grant date fair value based on the price of our publicly-traded common stock and recognize the related compensation expense, adjusted for actual forfeitures, in the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. For non-employee share-based compensation, we recognize the impact during the period of performance, and the fair value of the award is measured as of the grant date, which occurs in the same quarter as the service period. To the extent non-employee share-based compensation is an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions or renewals of life insurance policies that result directly from and are essential to the policy acquisition(s) and would not have been incurred had the policy acquisition(s) not occurred, we defer and amortize the fair value of the awards in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”). The Company has outstanding equity awards that consist of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance-based stock units (“PSUs”), and stock options. The RSUs maintain non-forfeitable dividend rights that result in dividend payment obligations on a one-to-one ratio with common shares for any future dividend declarations. Unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating EPS as they maintain dividend rights.

See Note 13 (Earnings Per Share) for details related to the calculations of our basic and diluted EPS using the two-class method.

New Accounting Principles

Future Application of Accounting Standards. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944) — Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (“ASU 2018-12” or “LDTI”). The amendments in this update change accounting guidance for insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts, including term life insurance. ASU 2018-12 requires companies that issue long-duration insurance contracts to update assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits and DAC, including mortality, disability, and persistency, at least annually instead of locking those assumptions at contract inception and reflecting differences in assumptions and actual performance as the experience occurs. ASU 2018-12 also changes how insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts amortize DAC and determine and update the discount rate assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits reserves while increasing the level of financial statement disclosures required. The guidance in ASU 2018-12 will be applied to the earliest period presented in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the effective date of January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require changes to certain of our processes, systems, and controls. We will continue to evaluate the impact the adoption will have on our business until we issue our condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ending March 31, 2023. We continue to work on model refinement and model governance, finalizing actuarial assumptions and documenting our control process.

Below is a list of topics relevant to the adoption of ASU 2018-12 and the expected impact on the Company.

 

Topic

Description

Planned Approach

Transition Approach

 

LDTI guidance can be applied using either:

the retrospective method, which applies the provisions of the standard from the original policy inception; or

The Company will elect to adopt the standard using the modified retrospective method for both future policy benefits reserves and amortization of DAC. The Company will adopt the standard effective January 1, 2023, which corresponds with the issuance of our condensed consolidated

 

the modified retrospective method, which applies the provisions of the standard by pivoting off the historical December 31, 2020 future policy benefits reserve (“Pre-transition Reserve”) and DAC balances just prior to January 1, 2021 (the “Transition Date”).

 

financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

 

Cohort Definition

Cohorts refer to the level of policy grouping used in the calculation of the future policy benefits reserve (“FPBR”) and amortization of DAC.

 

Under LDTI, cohorts must vary by policy issue year and may be set more granularly to reflect additional policy characteristics.

The net premium ratio for each policy cohort is used to calculate FPBR. At the Transition Date, the Net Premium Ratio is defined as the present value of future benefits and claim settlement expenses less the Pre-transition Reserve divided by the present value of the gross premiums. The present value of both the future benefits and gross premiums use best estimate cash flow assumptions at the locked-in discount rate (discount rate at the Transition Date). Under LDTI, a cohort’s Net Premium Ratio is capped at 100%. This concept replaces the need for loss recognition analysis under current GAAP. Any adjustments necessary at the Transition Date to cap the Net Premium Ratio for a cohort at 100% are recognized in retained earnings. After the Transition Date, the Net Premium Ratio will be updated each quarter as projected benefits and premiums are replaced with actual amounts.

 

The Company will define the Term Life Insurance segment cohorts based on the legal entity that issued the policy and the year the policy was issued.

 

The Company expects the impact to retained earnings as of the Transition Date of capping the Net Premium Ratio at 100% to be less than $50.0 million. The identified impact from capping the Net Premium Ratio at 100% is primarily attributable to a limited amount of older policy year cohorts.

Discount Rates

 

LDTI requires entities to use market observable rates, based on an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yield, to measure future policy benefits reserves each period.

 

The difference between the FPBR calculated using market observable rates and the Pre-transition Reserve is recognized as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) at the Transition Date. After the Transition Date, the impact of changes in market observable rates each quarter will be recorded to AOCI and may add volatility to our reported equity.

The Company will use discount rates applied by geography to align with local currency cash flows. Discount rates will consist of yield curves that will be developed using Bloomberg’s Evaluated Pricing Product (BVAL) based on senior unsecured fixed rate bonds ratings of A+, A or A-.

Given how low market observable rates were at the Transition Date, we expect that the amount recorded in AOCI as of the Transition Date will reduce our AOCI and equity balances by approximately $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion, net of income tax.

As of December 31, 2022, market observable rates have increased relative to the Transition Date, which will significantly reduce the AOCI impact in equity on our current balance sheet. If we were to apply market observable rates as of December 31, 2022 to the FPBR as of the Transition Date, the impact on AOCI would be between a $150 million increase and a $150 million decrease on an after-tax basis.

 

Cash Flow Assumptions

 

LDTI requires entities to use their best estimates for cash flow assumptions with no provision for adverse deviation. Cash flow assumptions are to be reviewed at least annually at the same time each year, or more frequently if experience suggests.

Forecasted cash flow assumptions must be replaced with actual cash flows in FPBR at least annually.

The Company expects to formally review cash flow assumptions during the third quarter each year and update these assumptions as necessary.

 

The Company will replace forecasted cash flow assumptions with actual cash flows in FPBR each quarter.

The impact of assumption changes and experience variances will be partly reflected in the current period and partly spread to future periods, based on the remaining duration of the impacted cohort(s), by unlocking the Net Premium Ratio in FPBR.

 

DAC Amortization

 

LDTI requires DAC to be amortized on a constant-level basis over the expected term of the contracts using an appropriate unit of measure. Companies can amortize DAC either at an individual contract level on a straight-line basis or at a cohort level that approximates a straight-line basis.

Under current GAAP, DAC is amortized using amortization models linked to revenue or profit. Also, interest is accrued on unamortized DAC under current GAAP while LDTI disallows the accrual of interest.

The Company anticipates it will use current face amount as a unit of measure to amortize DAC for its term life insurance products and policy count as a unit of measure to amortize DAC for its Canadian segregated funds products. In addition, the Company expects to group contracts by cohort to amortize DAC.

For term life insurance products, we expect DAC to be amortized more slowly under LDTI as compared with current GAAP.

For Canadian segregated funds, we expect DAC amortization to be less volatile than under current GAAP as it will no longer be based on the present value of gross profits, which are subject to changes in the market value of assets under management.

 

Market Risk Benefits (“MRBs”)

MRBs are benefits that protect policyholders from capital market risk. Under LDTI, MRBs are measured at fair value.

The Company has MRBs from limited guaranteed benefits provided as part of our Canadian segregated funds products.

We currently anticipate that the fair value of MRBs associated with this product will be immaterial when LDTI is adopted.

 

Recently-issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business.