DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies

The Company utilizes a risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to certain risks, including but not limited to, interest rate risk, currency exchange risk, volatility risk, and equity market risk. These strategies are developed through the Company’s analysis of data from financial simulation models and other internal and industry sources, and are then incorporated into the Company’s risk management program.

Derivative instruments expose the Company to credit and market risk and could result in material changes from period to period. The Company attempts to minimize its credit in connection with its overall asset/liability management programs and risk management strategies. In addition, all derivative programs are monitored by our risk management department.

Derivatives Related to Interest Rate Risk Management

Derivative instruments that are used as part of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy include interest rate swaps, interest rate futures, interest rate caps, and interest rate swaptions.

Derivatives Related to Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management

Derivative instruments that are used as part of the Company’s foreign currency exchange risk management strategy include foreign currency swaps, foreign currency futures, foreign equity futures, and foreign equity options.

Derivatives Related to Risk Mitigation of Certain Annuity Contracts

The Company may use the following types of derivative contracts to mitigate its exposure to certain guaranteed benefits related to VA contracts, fixed indexed annuities, and indexed universal life contracts:

•Foreign Currency Futures

•Variance Swaps

•Interest Rate Futures

•Equity Options

•Equity Futures

•Credit derivatives

•Interest Rate Swaps

•Interest Rate Swaptions

•Volatility Futures

•Volatility Options

•Funds Withheld Agreement

•Total Return Swaps

•Foreign Currency Options

Other Derivatives

PLC terminated its derivatives with Golden Gate, Golden Gate II, Golden Gate V, and WCL as part of the Captive Merger and entered into a new portfolio maintenance agreement with Golden Gate, also as part of the Captive Merger. The derivatives terminated included an interest support agreement, YRT premium support agreements, and portfolio maintenance agreements.

The Company has funds withheld accounts that consists of various derivative instruments held by us that are used to hedge certain GLWB and GMDB riders, as well as certain fixed indexed annuity products. The economic performance of derivatives in the funds withheld accounts are ceded to Shades Creek and Protective Re. The funds withheld accounts are accounted for as a derivative financial instrument.

Accounting for Derivative Instruments

GAAP requires that all derivative instruments be recognized in the balance sheet at fair value. The Company records its derivative financial instruments in the consolidated balance sheet in other long-term investments and other liabilities. The change in the fair value of derivative financial instruments is reported either in the statement of income or in other comprehensive income (loss), depending upon whether it qualified for and also has been properly identified as being part of a hedging relationship, and also on the type of hedging relationship that exists.

It is the Company's policy not to offset assets and liabilities associated with open derivative contracts. However, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) rules characterize variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. As a result, derivative assets and liabilities associated with centrally cleared derivatives for which the CME serves as the central clearing party are presented as if these derivatives had been settled as of the reporting date.

For a derivative financial instrument to be accounted for as an accounting hedge, it must be identified and documented as such on the date of designation. For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of their realized gain or loss is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into operations in the same period during which the hedged item impacts operations. Any remaining gain or loss, the ineffective portion, is recognized in current operations. For fair value hedge derivatives, their gain or loss as well as the offsetting loss or gain attributable to the hedged risk of the hedged item is recognized in current operations. Effectiveness of the Company’s hedge relationships is assessed on a quarterly basis.

The Company reports changes in fair values of derivatives that are not part of a qualifying hedge relationship through operations in the period of change. Changes in the fair value of those derivatives are recognized in realized gains (losses).

Derivative Instruments Designated and Qualifying as Hedging Instruments

Cash-Flow Hedges

•To hedge a fixed rate note denominated in a foreign currency, the Company entered into a fixed-to-fixed foreign currency swap in order to hedge the foreign currency exchange risk associated with the note. The cash flows received on the swap are identical to the cash flows paid on the note.

•To hedge a floating rate note, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to exchange the floating rate on the note for a fixed rate in order to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the note. The cash flows received on the swap are identical to the cash flow variability paid on the note.

Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments

The Company uses various other derivative instruments for risk management purposes that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized in realized gains (losses) during the period of change.

Derivatives Related to Variable Annuity Contracts

•The Company uses equity futures, equity options, total return swaps, interest rate futures, interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions, currency futures, currency options, volatility futures, volatility options, and variance swaps to mitigate the risk related to certain guaranteed minimum benefits, including GLWB, within its VA products. In general, the cost of such benefits varies with the level of equity and interest rate markets, foreign currency levels, and overall volatility.

•The Company markets certain VA products with a GLWB rider. The GLWB component is considered an embedded derivative, not considered to be clearly and closely related to the host contract.

Derivatives Related to Fixed Annuity Contracts

•The Company uses equity futures and options to mitigate the risk within its fixed indexed annuity products. In general, the cost of such benefits varies with the level of equity and overall volatility.

•The Company markets certain fixed indexed annuity products. The FIA component is considered an embedded derivative as it is, not considered to be clearly and closely related to the host contract.

•The Company has a funds withheld account that consists of various derivative instruments held by the Company that are used to hedge the fixed indexed annuity products. The economic performance of derivatives in the funds withheld account is ceded to Protective Re. The funds withheld account is accounted for as a derivative financial instrument.

Derivatives Related to Indexed Universal Life Contracts

•The Company uses equity futures and options to mitigate the risk within its indexed universal life products. In general, the cost of such benefits varies with the level of equity markets.

•The Company markets certain IUL products. The IUL component is considered an embedded derivative as it is, not considered to be clearly and closely related to the host contract.

Other Derivatives

•The Company uses various swaps and other types of derivatives to manage risk related to other exposures.

•The Company is involved in various modified coinsurance and funds withheld arrangements which contain embedded derivatives. Changes in their fair value are recorded in realized gains (losses). The investment portfolios that support the related modified coinsurance reserves and funds withheld arrangements had fair value changes which substantially offset the gains or losses on these embedded derivatives.

•Certain of the Company and its subsidiaries had an interest support agreement, YRT premium support agreements, and portfolio maintenance agreements with PLC through October 1, 2020. These agreements were terminated as part of the Captive Merger and a new portfolio maintenance agreement was entered into between Golden Gate and PLC on that date.

The following table sets forth realized gains and losses for the periods shown:

Realized gains (losses) - derivative financial instruments


	For The Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Derivatives related to VA contracts:
Interest rate futures	$	611	$	(20,012)	$	(25,473)
Equity futures	108,881		5,069		(88,208)
Currency futures	(9,533)		3,095		10,275
Equity options	(29,301)		(149,700)		38,083
Currency options	—		(94)		—
Interest rate swaptions	—		—		(14)
Interest rate swaps	274,961		229,641		(45,185)
Total return swaps	(49,643)		(78,014)		77,225
Embedded derivative - GLWB	(217,613)		(107,108)		(27,761)
Funds withheld derivative	17,133		145,140		(25,541)
Total derivatives related to VA contracts	95,496		28,017		(86,599)
Derivatives related to FIA contracts:
Embedded derivative	(69,137)		(85,573)		35,397
Funds withheld derivative	(9,982)		—		—
Equity futures	(4,969)		1,717		330

Equity options	47,775		84,079		(38,885)
Other derivatives	(1,183)		—		—
Total derivatives related to FIA contracts	(37,496)		223		(3,158)
Derivatives related to IUL contracts:
Embedded derivative	3,498		(12,894)		9,062
Equity futures	(2,344)		420		261
Equity options	8,663		14,882		(6,338)
Total derivatives related to IUL contracts	9,817		2,408		2,985
Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties	(97,930)		(187,004)		166,757
Derivatives with PLC(1)	23,450		27,038		(902)
Other derivatives	15,342		(2,141)		14
Total realized gains (losses) - derivatives	$	8,679	$	(131,459)	$	79,097

(1)The Company and certain of its subsidiaries had an interest support agreement, YRT premium support agreements, and portfolio maintenance agreements with PLC through October 1, 2020. These agreements were terminated as part of the Captive Merger and a new portfolio maintenance agreement was entered into with PLC on that date.

The following tables present the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as a cash flow hedging relationship:

Gain (Loss) on Derivatives in Cash Flow Relationship


	Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Derivatives		Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss)		Amount and Location of (Losses) Recognized in Income (Loss) on Derivatives
	(Effective Portion)		(Effective Portion)		(Ineffective Portion)
			Benefits and settlement expenses		Realized gains (losses) - derivatives
	(Dollars In Thousands)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020
Foreign currency swaps	$	(2,892)	$	(870)	$	—
Interest rate swaps	206		(2,231)		—
Total	$	(2,686)	$	(3,101)	$	—

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019
Foreign currency swaps	$	(9,638)	$	(1,031)	$	—
Interest rate swaps	(2,743)		(1,247)		—
Total	$	(12,381)	$	(2,278)	$	—

For The Year Ended December 31, 2018
Foreign currency swaps	$	(812)	$	(798)	$	—
Interest rate swaps	(1,574)		(633)		—
Total	$	(2,386)	$	(1,431)	$	—

Based on expected cash flows of the underlying hedged items, the Company expects to reclassify $0.8 million out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into realized gains (losses) during the next twelve months.

The table below presents information about the nature and accounting treatment of the Company’s primary derivative financial instruments and the location in and effect on the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented below:


	As of December 31,
	2020				2019
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Other long-term investments



Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps	$	1,478,000	$	184,943	$	2,228,000	$	98,655
Total return swaps	158,181		2,294		269,772		941
Derivatives with PLC(1)	4,076,499		—		2,830,889		115,379
Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties	1,248,887		100,505		1,280,189		31,926
Embedded derivative - GLWB	763,917		61,356		1,147,436		62,538
Embedded derivative - FIA	335,000		60,134		—		—
Interest rate futures	690,398		4,170		896,073		7,557
Equity futures	202,839		4,189		159,901		2,109
Currency futures	—		—		72,593		131
Equity options	7,208,113		1,141,814		6,685,670		676,257


	$	16,161,834	$	1,559,405	$	15,570,523	$	995,493
Other liabilities
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	—	$	350,000	$	—
Foreign currency swaps	117,178		10,186		117,178		11,373
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps	1,354,000		—		50,000		—
Total return swaps	1,002,691		14,986		579,675		3,229
Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties	2,910,662		388,521		2,263,685		231,516
Funds withheld derivative	2,427,320		66,331		1,845,649		70,583
Embedded derivative - GLWB	3,397,244		465,012		2,892,926		248,577
Embedded derivative - FIA	3,888,985		633,350		2,892,803		332,869
Embedded derivative - IUL	356,641		201,331		301,598		151,765
Interest rate futures	414,874		3,389		669,223		10,375
Equity futures	189,808		4,713		174,743		2,376
Currency futures	264,367		3,612		192,306		1,836
Equity options	5,498,929		834,407		4,827,714		429,434
Other	303,454		55,613		199,387		53,245
	$	22,126,153	$	2,681,451	$	17,356,887	$	1,547,178