SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2018 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements and Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements | Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance that revises the recognition criteria for revenue arising from contracts with customers to provide goods or services, except when those revenue streams are from insurance and investment contracts, leases, rights and obligations that are in the scope of certain financial instruments (i.e., derivative contracts) and guarantees other than product or service warranties, for which existing revenue recognition requirements are not superseded by this guidance. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue recognition guidance on a modified retrospective basis and is reporting the additional disclosures required by the new standard in first quarter 2018. Adoption of this new guidance did not change the amounts or timing of the Company’s revenue recognition for base investment management and advisory fees, distribution revenues, shareholder servicing revenues, and broker-dealer revenues. However, some performance-based fees and carried-interest distributions, that prior to adoption were recognized when no risk of reversal remained, in certain instances under the new standard may be recognized earlier if it is probable that significant reversal will not occur. As a result, on January 1, 2018, the Company recognized a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, to increase opening equity attributable to AXA Equitable and the noncontrolling interest by approximately $8 million and $25 million, respectively, reflecting the impact of carried-interest distributions previously received by AB of approximately $78 million, net of revenue sharing payments to investment team members of approximately $43 million, for which it is probable that significant reversal will not occur and for which incremental tax is provided at AXA Equitable. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The new guidance primarily affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. In addition, the FASB clarified guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities. The new guidance requires equity investments in unconsolidated entities, except those accounted for under the equity method, to be measured at fair value through earnings, thereby eliminating the AFS classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values for which changes in fair value currently are reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”). On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new recognition requirements on a modified retrospective basis for changes in the fair value of AFS equity securities, resulting in no material reclassification adjustment from AOCI to opening retained earnings for the net unrealized gains, net of tax, related to approximately $13 million common stock securities and eliminated their designation as AFS equity securities. The new guidance does not apply to FHLB common stock and prohibits such investments from being classified as equity securities subject to the new guidance. Accordingly, the Company has classified its investment in the FHLB common stock as other invested assets at June 30, 2018. The Company’s investment assets held in the form of equity interests in unconsolidated entities, such as limited partnerships and limited liability companies, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate-related funds, generally are accounted for under the equity method and were not impacted by this new guidance. The Company does not currently report any of its financial liabilities under the fair value option. In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of net periodic pension and post-retirement benefit costs that requires retrospective disaggregation of the service cost component from the other components of net benefit costs on the income statement. The service cost component is required to be presented with other employee compensation costs in “income from operations,” and the remaining components are to be reported separately outside of income from operations. While this standard does not change the rules for how benefits costs are measured, it limits the amount eligible for capitalization on a prospective basis to the service cost component. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the change in the income statement presentation utilizing the practical expedient for determining the historical components of net benefits cost, resulting in no material impact to the consolidated financial statements. In addition, no changes to the Company’s capitalization policies with respect to benefits costs resulted from adoption of the new guidance. In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance on share-based payments. The amendment provides clarity intended to reduce diversity in practice and the cost and complexity of accounting for changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and requires prospective application to awards modified on or after the date of adoption. Adoption of this amendment on January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to simplify elements of cash flow classification. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and should be applied using a retrospective transition method. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements In June 2018, the FASB issued new guidance that largely aligns the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to employees and non-employees. The amendments in the new guidance are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods, with early adoption permitted. Changes to the accounting for non-employee awards should be applied to all new awards as well as outstanding awards using transition provisions intended to simplify adoption by eliminating the need to retrospectively determine fair values at historical grant dates. The Company has granted share-based payment awards only to employees as defined by accounting guidance and does not expect this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued new guidance that will permit, but not require, entities to reclassify to retained earnings tax effects “stranded” in AOCI resulting from the change in federal tax rate enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) on December 22, 2017. An entity that elects this option must reclassify these stranded tax effects for all items in AOCI, including, but not limited to, AFS securities and employee benefits. Tax effects stranded in AOCI for other reasons, such as prior changes in tax law, may not be reclassified. While the new guidance provides entities the option to reclassify these amounts, new disclosures are required regardless of whether entities elect to do so. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Election can be made either to apply the new guidance retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the Tax Reform Act is recognized or in the period of adoption. Management currently is evaluating the options provided for adopting this guidance and the potential impacts on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In August 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on accounting for hedging activities, intended to more closely align the financial statement reporting of hedging relationships to the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities. In addition, the new guidance makes certain targeted modifications to simplify the application of current hedge accounting guidance. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early application permitted. The effect of adoption should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption (that is, the initial application date). All transition requirements and elections should be applied to derivatives positions and hedging relationships existing on the date of adoption. Management currently is evaluating the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance that requires certain premiums on callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date and is intended to better align interest income recognition with the manner in which market participants price these instruments. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted and is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis. Management currently is evaluating the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Management currently is evaluating the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued revised guidance to lease accounting that will require lessees to recognize on the balance sheet a “right-of-use” asset and a lease liability for virtually all lease arrangements, including those embedded in other contracts. The new lease accounting model will continue to distinguish between capital and operating leases. The current straight-line pattern for the recognition of rent expense on an operating lease is expected to remain substantially unchanged by the new guidance but instead will be comprised of amortization of the right-of-use asset and interest cost on the related lease obligation, thereby resulting in an income statement presentation similar to a financing arrangement or capital lease. Lessor accounting will remain substantially unchanged from the current model but has been updated to align with certain changes made to the lessee model. |
Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition Investment Management and Service Fees and Related Expenses Reported as Investment management and service fees in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) are investment advisory and service fees, distribution revenues, and institutional research services revenues principally emerging from the Investment Management and Research segment. Also included are investment management and administrative service fees earned by AXA Equitable Funds Management Group, LLC (“AXA Equitable FMG”) and reported in the Individual Retirement, Group Retirement and Protection Solutions segments as well as certain asset-based fees associated with insurance contracts. Investment management, advisory, and service fees AB provides asset management services by managing customer assets and seeking to deliver returns to investors. Similarly, AXA Equitable FMG provides investment management and administrative services, such as fund accounting and compliance services, to AXA Premier VIP Trust (“VIP Trust”), EQ Advisors Trust (“EQAT”) and 1290 Funds as well as two private investment trusts established in the Cayman Islands, AXA Allocation Funds Trust and AXA Offshore Multimanager Funds Trust (collectively, the “Other AXA Trusts”). The contracts supporting these revenue streams create a distinct, separately identifiable performance obligation for each day the assets are managed for the performance of a series of services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Accordingly, these investment management, advisory, and service base fees are recorded over time as services are performed and entitle the Company to variable consideration. Base fees, generally calculated as a percentage of assets under management (“AUM”), are recognized as revenue at month-end when the transaction price no longer is variable and the value of the consideration is determined. These fees are not subject to claw back and there is minimal probability that a significant reversal of the revenue recorded will occur. Certain investment advisory contracts of AB, including those associated with hedge funds or other alternative investments, provide for a performance-based fee (including carried interest), in addition to a base advisory fee, calculated either as a percentage of absolute investment results or a percentage of investment results in excess of a stated benchmark over a specified period of time. These performance-based fees are forms of variable consideration and therefore, are excluded from the transaction price until it becomes probable there will not be significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized. At each reporting date, the Company evaluates constraining factors surrounding the variable consideration to determine the extent to which, if any, revenues associated with the performance-based fee can be recognized. Constraining factors impacting the amount of variable consideration included in the transaction price include contractual claw-back provisions, the length of time of the uncertainty, the number and range of possible amounts, the probability of significant fluctuations in the fund’s market value, and the level in which the fund’s value exceeds the contractual threshold required to earn such a fee and the materiality of the amount being evaluated. Prior to adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance on January 1, 2018, the Company recognized performance-based fees at the end of the applicable measurement period when no risk of reversal remained, and carried-interest distributions received as deferred revenues until no risk of reversal remained. Sub-advisory and sub-administrative expenses associated with these services are calculated and recorded as the related services are performed in Other operating costs and expense in the consolidated statements of income (loss) as the Company is acting in a principal capacity in these transactions and, as such, reflects these revenues and expenses on a gross basis. Research services Research services revenue principally consists of brokerage transaction charges received by Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC (“SCB LLC”) and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCBL”) for providing equity research services to institutional clients. Brokerage commissions for trade execution services and related expenses are recorded on a trade-date basis when the performance obligations are satisfied. Generally, the transaction price is agreed upon at the point of each trade and based upon the number of shares traded or the value of the consideration traded. Research revenues are recognized when the transaction price is quantified, collectability is assured, and significant reversal of such revenue is not probable. Distribution services Revenues from distribution services include fees received as partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the sale of certain AB sponsored mutual funds and the 1290 Funds and for the distribution primarily of EQAT and VIP Trust shares to separate accounts in connection with the sale of variable life and annuity contracts. The amount and timing of revenues recognized from performance of these distribution services often is dependent upon the contractual arrangements with the customer and the specific product sold as further described below. Most open-end management investment companies, such as U.S. funds and the EQAT and VIP Trusts and the 1290 Funds, have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act that allows for certain share classes to pay out of assets, distribution and service fees for the distribution and sale of its shares (“12b-1 Fees”). These open-end management investment companies have such agreements with the Company, and the Company has selling and distribution agreements pursuant to which it pays sales commissions to the financial intermediaries that distribute the shares. These agreements may be terminated by either party upon notice (generally 30 days) and do not obligate the financial intermediary to sell any specific amount of shares. The Company records 12b-1 fees monthly based upon a percentage of the net asset value (“NAV”) of the funds. At month-end, the variable consideration of the transaction price is no longer constrained as the NAV can be calculated and the value of consideration is determined. These services are separate and distinct from other asset management services as the customer can benefit from these services independently of other services. The Company accrues the corresponding 12b-1 fees paid to sub-distributors monthly as the expenses are incurred. The Company is acting in a principal capacity in these transactions; as such, these revenues and expenses are recorded on a gross basis in the consolidated statements of income (loss). AB sponsored mutual funds offer back-end load shares in limited instances and charge the investor a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) if the investment is redeemed within a certain period. The variable consideration for these contracts is contingent upon the timing of the redemption by the investor and the value of the sales proceeds. Due to these constraining factors, the Company excludes the CDSC fee from the transaction price until the investor redeems the investment. Upon redemption, the cash consideration received for these contractual arrangements is recorded as a reduction of unamortized deferred sales commissions. AB’s Luxembourg subsidiary, the management company for most of its non-U.S. funds earns a management fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate, based on the average daily net assets of the fund. With respect to certain share classes, the management fee also may contain a component paid to distributors and other financial intermediaries and service providers to cover shareholder servicing and other administrative expenses (also referred to as an “All-in-Fee”). Based on the conclusion that asset management is distinct from distribution, the Company allocates a portion of the investment and advisory fee to distribution revenues for the servicing component based on standalone selling prices. Other revenues Also reported as Investment management and service fees in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) are other revenues from contracts with customers, primarily consisting of shareholder servicing fees, mutual fund reimbursements, and other brokerage income. Shareholder services, including transfer agency, administration, and record-keeping are provided by AB to company-sponsored mutual funds. The consideration for these services is based on a percentage of the NAV of the fund or a fixed-fee based on the number of shareholder accounts being serviced. The revenues are recorded at month-end when the constraining factors involved with determining NAV or the numbers of shareholders’ accounts are resolved. Other income Revenues from contracts with customers reported as Other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) primarily consist of commission and expense reimbursements related to business reinsured with affiliates and distribution fees received by the Company’s subsidiary broker-dealer for sales of affiliate insurers’ life insurance and annuity products. These revenues are recognized at month-end when constraining factors, such as premiums ceded and product mix, are resolved and the value of consideration is determined. Contract assets and liabilities The Company applies the practical expedient for contracts that have an original duration of one year or less. Accordingly, the Company accrues the incremental costs of obtaining a contract when incurred and does not consider the time value of money. At June 30, 2018 there are no material balances of contract assets and contract liabilities; as such, no further disclosures are necessary |
Accounting and Consolidation of VIEs | Accounting and Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) A VIE must be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which generally is defined as the party that has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. The Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in a VIE if it has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive income from the VIE that potentially could be significant to the VIE. For purposes of evaluating (ii) above, fees paid to the Company as a decision maker or service provider are excluded if the fees are compensation for services provided commensurate with the level of effort required to be performed and the arrangement includes only customary terms, conditions or amounts present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length. If the Company has a variable interest in an entity that is determined not to be a VIE, the entity then is evaluated for consolidation under the voting interest entity (“VOE”) model. For limited partnerships and similar entities, the Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in a VOE, and would be required to consolidate the entity, if the Company owns a majority of the entity’s kick-out rights through voting limited partnership interests and other limited partners do not hold substantive participating rights (or other rights that would indicate that the Company does not control the entity). For entities other than limited partnerships, the Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in a VOE if it owns a majority voting interest in the entity. The analysis performed to identify variable interests held, determine whether entities are VIEs or VOEs, and evaluate whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in such entities requires the exercise of judgment and is updated on a continuous basis as circumstances change or new entities are developed. The primary beneficiary evaluation generally is performed qualitatively based on all facts and circumstances, including consideration of economic interests in the VIE held directly and indirectly through related parties and entities under common control, as well as quantitatively, as appropriate. At June 30, 2018, the Company held approximately $1,145 million of investment assets in the form of equity interests issued by non-corporate legal entities determined under the new guidance to be VIEs, such as limited partnerships and limited liability companies, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate-related funds. As an equity investor, the Company is considered to have a variable interest in each of these VIEs as a result of its participation in the risks and/or rewards these funds were designed to create by their defined portfolio objectives and strategies. Primarily through qualitative assessment, including consideration of related party interests or other financial arrangements, if any, the Company was not identified as primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs, largely due to its inability to direct the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance. Consequently, the Company continues to reflect these equity interests in the consolidated balance sheet as Other equity investments and to apply the equity method of accounting for these positions. The net assets of these non-consolidated VIEs are approximately $166,099 million, and the Company’s maximum exposure to loss from its direct involvement with these VIEs is the carrying value of its investment of $1,145 million at June 30, 2018. Except for approximately $771 million of unfunded commitments at June 30, 2018, the Company has no further economic interest in these VIEs in the form of guarantees, derivatives, credit enhancements or similar instruments and obligations. At June 30, 2018, the Company consolidated one real estate joint venture for which it was identified as primary beneficiary under the VIE model. The consolidated entity is jointly owned by AXA Equitable and AXA France and holds an investment in a real estate venture. Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2018, are total assets of $37 million related to this VIE, primarily resulting from the consolidated presentation of $37 million of real estate held for production of income. In addition, real estate held for production of income reflects $16 million as related to two non-consolidated joint ventures at June 30, 2018. Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2018 are assets of $225 million, liabilities of $5 million and redeemable non-controlling interest of $93 million associated with the consolidation of AB-sponsored investment funds under the VIE model. Also included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are assets of $108 million, liabilities of $2 million and redeemable non-controlling interest of $10 million from consolidation of AB-sponsored investment funds under the VOE model. The assets of these consolidated funds are presented within Other invested assets and cash and cash equivalents, and liabilities of these consolidated funds are presented with other liabilities on the face of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2018; ownership interests not held by the Company relating to consolidated VIEs and VOEs are presented either as redeemable or non-redeemable noncontrolling interest, as appropriate. The Company is not required to provide financial support to these company-sponsored investment funds, and only the assets of such funds are available to settle each fund’s liabilities. As of June 30, 2018, the net assets of AB sponsored investment products that are non-consolidated VIEs are approximately $47.6 billion, and the Company’s maximum risk of loss is its investment of $6 million in these VIEs and its advisory fee receivables from these VIEs, which are not material. |
Fair Value Disclosures | Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The accounting guidance established a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value, and identifies three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 fair values generally are supported by market transactions that occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 2 Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and inputs to model-derived valuations that are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and often requiring significant management judgment or estimation, such as an entity’s own assumptions about the cash flows or other significant components of value that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company uses unadjusted quoted market prices to measure the fair value of instruments that are actively traded in financial markets. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured using present value or other valuation techniques. The fair value determinations are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about the financial instrument, including estimates of the timing and amount of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of counterparties. Such adjustments do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, nor do they consider the tax impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In many cases, the fair value cannot be substantiated by direct comparison to independent markets, nor can the disclosed value be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. Management is responsible for the determination of the value of investments carried at fair value and the supporting methodologies and assumptions. Under the terms of various service agreements, the Company often utilizes independent valuation service providers to gather, analyze, and interpret market information and derive fair values based upon relevant methodologies and assumptions for individual securities. These independent valuation service providers typically obtain data about market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources and, through the use of widely accepted valuation models, provide a single fair value measurement for individual securities for which a fair value has been requested. As further described below with respect to specific asset classes, these inputs include, but are not limited to, market prices for recent trades and transactions in comparable securities, benchmark yields, interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, quoted prices for similar securities, and other market-observable information, as applicable. Specific attributes of the security being valued also are considered, including its term, interest rate, credit rating, industry sector, and when applicable, collateral quality and other security- or issuer-specific information. When insufficient market observable information is available upon which to measure fair value, the Company either will request brokers knowledgeable about these securities to provide a non-binding quote or will employ internal valuation models. Fair values received from independent valuation service providers and brokers and those internally modeled or otherwise estimated are assessed for reasonableness. |