10. DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Under a revolving line of credit arrangement that was in effect as of July 17, 2012 (the “Credit Facility”), the Company had the ability to borrow on an unsecured basis up to an aggregate principal amount of $500 million. The Company had the right in certain circumstances to request that the commitment under the Credit Facility be increased up to a maximum principal amount of $600 million. Balances outstanding under the Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to (i) either the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus (ii) a spread based on the ratings of our senior unsecured long-term debt. The Credit Agreement provides that the Company is liable for the full amount of any obligations for borrowings or letters of credit, excluding those of PLC, under the Credit Facility. The maturity date on the Credit Facility was April 16, 2013. The Company did not have an outstanding balance under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2012. PLC had an outstanding balance of $160.0 million at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.40% under the Credit Facility as of July 17, 2012.

On July 17, 2012 the Company replaced the Credit Facility with a new credit facility (“2012 Credit Facility”). Under the 2012 Credit Facility, the Company and PLC has the ability to borrow on an unsecured basis up to an aggregate principal amount of $750 million. The Company has the right in certain circumstances to request that the commitment under the 2012 Credit Facility be increased up to a maximum principal amount of $1.0 billion. Balances outstanding under the 2012 Credit Facility accrue interest at a rate equal to, at the option of the Borrowers, (i) LIBOR plus a spread based on the ratings of PLC’s senior unsecured long-term debt (“Senior Debt”), or (ii) the sum of (A) a rate equal to the highest of (x) the Administrative Agent’s prime rate, (y) 0.50% above the Federal Funds rate, or (z) the one-month LIBOR plus 1.00% and (B) a spread based on the ratings of PLC’s Senior Debt. The 2012 Credit Facility also provides for a facility fee at a rate that varies with the ratings of PLC’s Senior Debt and that is calculated on the aggregate amount of commitments under the 2012 Credit Facility, whether used or unused. The maturity date on the 2012 Credit Facility is July 17, 2017. The Company is not aware of any non-compliance with the financial debt covenants of the 2012 Credit Facility as of December 31, 2012. The Company did not have an outstanding balance under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2012. PLC had an outstanding balance of $50.0 million at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.20% under the 2012 Credit Facility as of December 31, 2012.

Non-Recourse Funding Obligations

Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company

Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate”), a South Carolina special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary, had three series of Surplus Notes with a total outstanding balance of $800 million as of December 31, 2012. PLC holds the entire outstanding balance of Surplus Notes. The Series A1 Surplus Notes have a balance of $400 million and accrue interest at 7.375%, the Series A2 Surplus Notes have a balance of $100 million and accrue interest at 8%, and the Series A3 Surplus Notes have a balance of $300 million and accrue interest at 8.45%.

Golden Gate II Captive Insurance Company

Golden Gate II Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate II”), a wholly owned special purpose financial captive insurance company, had $575.0 million of non-recourse funding obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2012. These outstanding non-recourse funding obligations were issued to special purpose trusts, which in turn issued securities to third parties. Certain of our affiliates purchased a portion of these securities during 2011 and 2012. As a result of these purchases, as of December 31, 2012, securities related to $286.0 million of the outstanding balance of the non-recourse funding obligations was held by external parties, securities related to $60.9 million of the non-recourse funding obligations was held by nonconsolidated affiliates, and $228.1 million was held by consolidated subsidiaries of the Company. These non-recourse funding obligations mature in 2052. $275 million of this amount is currently accruing interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 30 basis points. We have experienced higher borrowing costs than were originally expected associated with $300 million of our non-recourse funding obligations supporting the business reinsured to Golden Gate II. These higher costs are the result of higher spread component of interest expense associated with the illiquidity of the current market for auction rate securities, as well as a rating downgrade of our guarantor by certain rating agencies. The current rate associated with these obligations is LIBOR plus 200 basis points, which is the maximum rate we can be required to pay under these obligations. We have contingent approval to issue an additional $100 million of obligations. Under the terms of the non-recourse funding obligations, the holders of the non-recourse funding obligations cannot require repayment from PLC, us, or any of our subsidiaries, other than Golden Gate II, the direct issuers of the non-recourse funding obligations, although PLC has agreed to indemnify Golden Gate II for certain costs and obligations (which obligations do not include payment of principal and interest on the non-recourse funding obligations). In addition, PLC has entered into certain support agreements with Golden Gate II obligating it to make capital contributions or provide support related to certain of Golden Gate II’s expenses and in certain circumstances, to collateralize certain of PLC’s obligations to Golden Gate II.

Golden Gate V Vermont Captive Insurance Company

On October 10, 2012, Golden Gate V and Red Mountain, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, entered into a 20-year transaction to finance up to $945 million of “AXXX” reserves related to a block of universal life insurance policies with secondary guarantees issued by the Company and its subsidiary, West Coat Life Insurance Company (“WCL”). Golden Gate V issued non-recourse funding obligations to Red Mountain, and Red Mountain issued a note with an initial principal amount of $275 million, increasing to a maximum of $945 million in 2027, to Golden Gate V for deposit to a reinsurance trust supporting Golden Gate V’s obligations under a reinsurance agreement with WCL, pursuant to which WCL cedes liabilities relating to the policies of WCL and retrocedes liabilities relating to the policies of the Company. Through the structure, Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (“Hannover Re”), the ultimate risk taker in the transaction, provides credit enhancement to the Red Mountain note for the 20-year term in exchange for a fee. The transaction is “non-recourse” to Golden Gate V, Red Mountain, WCL, PLC and the Company, meaning that none of these companies are liable for the reimbursement of any credit enhancement payments required to be made. As of December 31, 2012, the principal balance of the Red Mountain note was $300 million. In connection with the transaction, PLC has entered into certain support agreements under which we guarantee or otherwise support certain obligations of Golden Gate V or Red Mountain.

In connection with the transaction outlined above, Golden Gate V had a $300 million outstanding non-recourse funding obligation as of December 31, 2012. This non-recourse funding obligation matures in 2037, has scheduled increases in principal to a maximum of $945 million, and accrues interest at a fixed annual rate of 6.25%.

Non-recourse funding obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2012, on a consolidated basis, are shown in the following table:

				Year-to-Date
			Maturity	Weighted-Avg
Issuer	Balance		Year	Interest Rate
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company	$	800,000	2037	7.86	%
Golden Gate II Captive Insurance Company	346,900		2052	1.22
Golden Gate V Vermont Captive Insurance Company	300,000		2037	6.25
Total	$	1,446,900

Non-recourse funding obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2011, on a consolidated basis, are shown in the following table:

				Year-to-Date
			Maturity	Weighted-Avg
Issuer	Balance		Year	Interest Rate
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Golden Gate Captive Insurance Company	$	800,000	2037	7.88	%
Golden Gate II Captive Insurance Company	448,600		2052	1.37
Total	$	1,248,600

During 2012, the Company repurchased $101.7 million of its outstanding non-recourse funding obligations, at a discount. These repurchases resulted in a $32.0 million pre-tax gain for the Company.

Letters of Credit

Golden Gate III Vermont Captive Insurance Company

Golden Gate III Vermont Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate III”), a Vermont special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary, is party to a Reimbursement Agreement (the “Reimbursement Agreement”) with UBS AG, Stamford Branch (“UBS”), as issuing lender. Under the original Reimbursement Agreement, dated April 23, 2010, UBS issued a letter of credit (the “LOC”) in the initial amount of $505 million to a trust for the benefit of our wholly owned subsidiary, WCL. The LOC balance increased during 2011 in accordance with the terms of the Reimbursement Agreement. The Reimbursement Agreement was subsequently amended and restated effective November 21, 2011, to replace the existing LOC with one or more letters of credit from UBS, and to extend the maturity date from April 1, 2018, to April 1, 2022. The LOC balance was $580 million as of December 31, 2012. Subject to certain conditions, the amount of the LOC will be periodically increased up to a maximum of $610 million in 2013. The term of the LOC is expected to be 12 years, subject to certain conditions including capital contributions made to Golden Gate III by us or one of our affiliates. The LOC was issued to support certain obligations of Golden Gate III to WCL under an indemnity reinsurance agreement.

Golden Gate IV Vermont Captive Insurance Company

Golden Gate IV Vermont Captive Insurance Company (“Golden Gate IV”), a Vermont special purpose financial captive insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary, is party to a Reimbursement Agreement with UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as issuing lender. Under the Reimbursement Agreement, dated December 10, 2010, UBS issued an LOC in the initial amount of $270 million to a trust for the benefit of WCL. The LOC balance has increased, in accordance with the terms of the Reimbursement Agreement, each quarter of 2012 and was $625 million as of December 31, 2012. Subject to certain conditions, the amount of the LOC will be periodically increased up to a maximum of $790 million in 2016. The term of the LOC is expected to be 12 years. The LOC was issued to support certain obligations of Golden Gate IV to WCL under an indemnity reinsurance agreement effective October 1, 2010, which was subsequently amended and restated as of July 1, 2011.

Repurchase Program Borrowings

While the Company anticipates that the cash flows of its operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to meet its investment commitments and operating cash needs in a normal credit market environment, the Company recognizes that investment commitments scheduled to be funded may, from time to time, exceed the funds then available. Therefore, the Company has established repurchase agreement programs for certain of its insurance subsidiaries to provide liquidity when needed. The Company expects that the rate received on its investments will equal or exceed its borrowing rate. Under this program, the Company may, from time to time, sell an investment security at a specific price and agree to repurchase that security at another specified price at a later date. The market value of securities to be repurchased is monitored and collateral levels are adjusted where appropriate to protect the counterparty against credit exposure. Cash received is invested in fixed maturity securities. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of securities pledged under the repurchase program was $168.1 million and the repurchase obligation of $150.0 million was included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (at an average borrowing rate of 15 basis points). During 2012, the maximum balance outstanding at any one point in time related to these programs was $425.0 million. The average daily balance was $266.3 million (at an average borrowing rate of 14 basis points) during the year ended December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no outstanding balance related to such borrowings. These borrowings are for a term less than thirty days. During 2011, the maximum balance outstanding at any one point in time related to these programs was $348.2 million. The average daily balance was $147.7 million (at an average borrowing rate of 13 basis points) during the year ended December 31, 2011.

Other obligations

The Company routinely receives from or pays to affiliates under the control of PLC reimbursements for expenses incurred on one another’s behalf. Receivables and payables among affiliates are generally settled monthly.

Interest Expense

Interest expense on non-recourse funding obligations, letters of credit, and other temporary borrowings was $92.9 million, $90.8 million, and $71.4 million in 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. The $2.1 million variance was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on the Golden Gate V non-recourse funding obligation which was offset by reductions in interest expense as a result of the Company’s repurchase of non-recourse funding obligations during the year.