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DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS  
DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

6.                                      DEBTAND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company has access to a Credit Facility that provides the Company and PLC 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 Credit Facility be increased up to a maximum principal amount of $1.0 billion. Balances outstanding under the 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 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 Credit Facility, whether used or unused. The maturity date on the Credit Facility is July 17, 2017. The Company is not aware of any non-compliance with the financial debt covenants of the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2013. The Company did not have an outstanding balance under the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2013. PLC had an outstanding balance of $360.0 million at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.20% under the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2013.

 

Non-RecourseFunding 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 June 30, 2013. PLC holds the entire outstanding balance of Surplus Notes. The Series A1 Surplus Notes have a balance of $400 million and accrue interest at a fixed rate of 7.375%, the Series A2 Surplus Notes have a balance of $100 million and accrue interest at a fixed rate of 8%, and the Series A3 Surplus Notes have a balance of $300 million and accrue interest at a fixed rate of 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 June 30, 2013. These outstanding non-recourse funding obligations were issued to special purpose trusts, which in turn issued securities to third parties. Certain of our affiliates own a portion of these securities. As of June 30, 2013, securities related to $269.9 million of the outstanding balance of the non-recourse funding obligations was held by external parties, securities related to $72.0 million of the non-recourse funding obligations was held by nonconsolidated affiliates, and $233.1 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 Coast 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 June 30, 2013, the principal balance of the Red Mountain note was $335 million. In connection with the transaction, PLC has entered into certain support agreements under which it guarantees or otherwise supports certain obligations of Golden Gate V or Red Mountain.

 

In connection with the transaction outlined above, Golden Gate V had a $335 million outstanding non-recourse funding obligation as of June 30, 2013. 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 June 30, 2013, 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(1)

 

$

800,000

 

2037

 

n/m

 

Golden Gate II Captive Insurance Company

 

341,900

 

2052

 

1.13

%

Golden Gate V Vermont Captive Insurance Company

 

335,000

 

2037

 

6.25

%

Total

 

$

1,476,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)  The weighted average rate is not meaningful as these are fixed rate obligations.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company repurchased $5.0 million of its outstanding non-recourse funding obligations, at a discount. These repurchases resulted in a $1.3 million pre-tax gain for the Company. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company repurchased $91.7 million of its outstanding non-recourse funding obligations, at a discount.  These repurchases resulted in a $29.3 million pre-tax gain. These gains are recorded in other income in the consolidated condensed statements of income.

 

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. These borrowings are for a term less than ninety days. 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, and the agreements provided for net settlement in the event of default or on termination of the agreements. As of June 30, 2013, the fair value of securities pledged under the repurchase program was $356.1 million and the repurchase obligation of $340.0 million was included in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets (at an average borrowing rate of 8 basis points). During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the maximum balance outstanding at any one point in time related to these programs was $645.1 million. The average daily balance was $423.9 million (at an average borrowing rate of 12 basis points) during the six months ended June 30, 2013. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had a $150.0 million outstanding balance related to such borrowings. 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.