10-Q 1 d381862d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

  þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

      

      FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2012

OR

 

  ¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

      

      FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                 TO                

Commission file number: 33-03094

 

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Connecticut   06-0566090

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1300 Hall Boulevard, Bloomfield, Connecticut   06002
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(860) 656-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ¨

   

Accelerated filer ¨

 

Non-accelerated filer þ

 

    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨    No þ

At August 10, 2012, 34,595,317 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $2.50 par value per share, were outstanding, of which 30,000,000 shares were owned directly by MetLife, Inc. and the remaining 4,595,317 shares were owned by MetLife Investors Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.

REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT

The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is, therefore, filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

     Page

Part I — Financial Information

  

Item 1.     Financial Statements (at June 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December  31, 2011 and for the

Three Months and Six Months Ended June  30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited))

   5

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   5

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

   6

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

   7

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   8

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   9

Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations

   97

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

   105

Part II — Other Information

   106

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

   106

Item 1A. Risk Factors

   107

Item 6.    Exhibits

   114

Signatures

   115

Exhibit Index

   E-1

 

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As used in this Form 10-Q, “MICC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, a Connecticut corporation incorporated in 1863, and its subsidiaries, including MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (“MLI-USA”). MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”).

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.

Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the actual future results of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These factors include: (1) difficult conditions in the global capital markets; (2) concerns over U.S. fiscal policy and the “fiscal cliff” in the U.S., as well as rating agency downgrades of U.S. Treasury securities; (3) uncertainty about the effectiveness of governmental and regulatory actions to stabilize the financial system, the imposition of fees relating thereto, or the promulgation of additional regulations; (4) increased volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, which may affect our ability to seek financing or access MetLife’s credit facilities; (5) impact of comprehensive financial services regulation reform, including regulation of MetLife by the Federal Reserve, on us; (6) exposure to financial and capital market risk, including as a result of the disruption in Europe and possible withdrawal of one or more countries from the Euro zone; (7) changes in general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates, which may affect our ability to raise capital, generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance statutory reserve requirements and may require us to pledge collateral or make payments related to declines in value of specified assets; (8) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from our participation in a securities lending program and other transactions; (9) investment losses and defaults, and changes to investment valuations; (10) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market value impairments to illiquid assets; (11) defaults on our mortgage loans; (12) the defaults or deteriorating credit of other financial institutions that could adversely affect us; (13) our ability to address unforeseen liabilities, asset impairments, or rating actions arising from acquisitions or dispositions and to successfully integrate and manage the growth of acquired businesses with minimal disruption; (14) economic, political, legal, currency and other risks relating to our international operations, including with respect to fluctuations of exchange rates; (15) downgrades in our claims paying ability, financial strength ratings or MetLife’s credit ratings; (16) ineffectiveness of MetLife’s risk management policies and procedures; (17) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance or indemnification arrangements, as well as default or failure of counterparties to perform; (18) discrepancies between actual claims experience and assumptions used in setting prices for our products and establishing the liabilities for our obligations for future policy benefits and claims; (19) catastrophe losses; (20) heightened competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors, consolidation of distributors, the development of new products by new and existing competitors, distribution of amounts available under U.S. government programs, and for personnel;

 

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(21) unanticipated changes in industry trends; (22) changes in assumptions related to investment valuations, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired or goodwill; (23) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies; (24) increased expenses relating to pension and postretirement benefit plans for employees and retirees of MetLife and its subsidiaries, as well as health care and other employee benefits; (25) exposure to losses related to variable annuity guarantee benefits, including from significant and sustained downturns or extreme volatility in equity markets, reduced interest rates, unanticipated policyholder behavior, mortality or longevity, and the adjustment for nonperformance risk; (26) adverse results or other consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (27) inability to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; (28) discrepancies between actual experience and assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to other contingencies or obligations; (29) regulatory, legislative or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for, our products or services, or increase the cost or administrative burdens of providing benefits to the employees who conduct our business; (30) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to disasters such as terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, other hostilities, or natural catastrophes, including any related impact on our disaster recovery systems, cyber- or other information security systems and management continuity planning; (31) the effectiveness of our programs and practices in avoiding giving our associates incentives to take excessive risks; and (32) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s filings with the SEC.

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut later becomes aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC.

Note Regarding Reliance on Statements in Our Contracts

See “Exhibit Index — Note Regarding Reliance on Statements in Our Contracts” for information regarding agreements included as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Part I — Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011

(In millions, except share and per share data)

 

         June 30, 2012            December 31, 2011    

Assets

     

Investments:

     

Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $46,156 and $44,215, respectively)

   $ 50,408       $ 47,781   

Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $281 and $295, respectively)

     267         252   

Other securities, at estimated fair value

     50         3,665   

Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $42 and $61, respectively; includes $2,932 and $3,138, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)

     9,395         9,800   

Policy loans

     1,232         1,203   

Real estate and real estate joint ventures

     482         503   

Other limited partnership interests

     1,800         1,696   

Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value

     2,525         2,578   

Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value

     3,282         3,354   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     69,441         70,832   

Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value

     968         745   

Accrued investment income (includes $14 and $14, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)

     566         568   

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables

     20,224         20,223   

Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     3,972         4,188   

Current income tax recoverable

     145         140   

Goodwill

     953         953   

Other assets

     817         856   

Separate account assets

     79,608         72,559   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 176,694       $ 171,064   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Liabilities

     

Future policy benefits

   $ 26,063       $ 25,483   

Policyholder account balances

     37,616         42,075   

Other policy-related balances

     3,089         2,989   

Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions

     9,257         8,079   

Long-term debt (includes $2,849 and $3,065, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)

     3,641         3,857   

Deferred income tax liability

     1,331         935   
Other liabilities (includes $14 and $14, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)      5,804         5,384   

Separate account liabilities

     79,608         72,559   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     166,409         161,361   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 9)

     

Stockholders’ Equity

     

Common stock, par value $2.50 per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 34,595,317 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

     86         86   

Additional paid-in capital

     6,673         6,673   

Retained earnings

     1,343         1,173   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     2,183         1,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     10,285         9,703   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 176,694       $ 171,064   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months      Six Months  
     Ended      Ended  
     June 30,      June 30,  
            2012                  2011                  2012                  2011        

Revenues

           

Premiums

   $ 406       $ 641       $ 786       $ 777   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

     575         493         1,119         948   

Net investment income

     656         795         1,548         1,581   

Other revenues

     125         131         248         261   

Net investment gains (losses):

           

Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities

     (18)         (21)         (31)          (30)   

Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)

                           

Other net investment gains (losses)

     85         (12)         104         (15)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net investment gains (losses)

     71         (27)         75         (41)   

Net derivative gains (losses)

     582         133         143         (23)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     2,415         2,166         3,919         3,503   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

     636         818         1,225         1,145   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

     167         304         606         591   

Other expenses

     887         739         1,344         1,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,690         1,861         3,175         2,990   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

     725         305         744         513   

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

     227         97         227         154   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 498       $ 208       $ 517       $ 359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $         1,000       $         555       $         872       $         656   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

(In millions)

 

                      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)        
    Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Net Unrealized
Investment
  Gains (Losses)  
    Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments
    Foreign
Currency
Translation
  Adjustments  
    Total
Equity
 

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ 86      $ 6,673      $ 1,173      $ 1,984      $ (74)      $ (139)      $ 9,703   

Dividend of subsidiary (Note 2)

        (347)        (2)          59        (290)   

Net income

        517              517   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax

          335              17        355   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2012

  $ 86      $ 6,673      $ 1,343      $ 2,317      $ (71)      $ (63)      $ 10,285   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)        
    Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Net Unrealized
Investment
  Gains (Losses)  
    Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments
    Foreign
Currency
Translation
  Adjustments  
    Total
Equity
 

Balance at December 31, 2010

  $ 86      $ 6,719      $ 934      $ 388      $ (51)      $ (125)      $ 7,951   

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax (Note 1)

        (477)                  (472)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2011

    86        6,719        457        393        (51)        (125)        7,479   

Return of capital

      (52)                (52)   

Net income

        359              359   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax

          285        (8)        20        297   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2011

  $ 86      $ 6,667      $ 816      $ 678      $ (59)      $ (105)      $ 8,083   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

(In millions)

 

     Six Months  
     Ended  
     June 30,  
     2012      2011  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 870       $ 403   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

     

Sales, maturities and repayments of:

     

Fixed maturity securities

     5,321         8,910   

Equity securities

     25         131   

Mortgage loans

     795         517   

Real estate and real estate joint ventures

     21          

Other limited partnership interests

     116         171   

Purchases of:

     

Fixed maturity securities

     (7,147)         (10,303)   

Equity securities

     (17)         (6)   

Mortgage loans

     (363)         (387)   

Real estate and real estate joint ventures

     (8)         (48)   

Other limited partnership interests

     (156)         (176)   

Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives

     365         286   

Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives

     (186)         (250)   

Dividend of subsidiary

     (53)         —    

Net change in policy loans

     (29)         —    

Net change in short-term investments

     (107)         (972)   

Net change in other invested assets

     (28)         (250)   

Other, net

     —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,451)         (2,370)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

     

Policyholder account balances:

     

Deposits

     8,438         10,207   

Withdrawals

     (8,594)         (8,858)   

Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions

     1,178         98   

Long-term debt repaid

     (207)         (170)   

Financing element on certain derivative instruments

     (13)         (23)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     802         1,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances

             
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     223         (708)   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     745         1,928   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $             968       $             1,220   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

     

Net cash paid during the period for:

     

Interest

   $ 118       $ 221   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax

   $ 68       $ 20   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-cash transactions during the period:

     

Disposal of subsidiary (1):

     

Assets disposed

   $ 4,857       $ —    

Liabilities disposed

     (4,567)         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets disposed

     290         —    

Cash disposed

     (53)         —    

Dividend of interests in subsidiary

     (237)         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss on dividend of interests in subsidiary

   $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 2.

See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1.  Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business

“MICC” or the “Company” refers to MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, a Connecticut corporation incorporated in 1863, and its subsidiaries, including MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (“MLI-USA”). MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”). The Company offers individual annuities, individual life insurance, and institutional protection and asset accumulation products.

The Company is organized into two segments: Retail and Corporate Benefit Funding. See Note 12 for further information on the reorganization of the Company’s segments in the first quarter of 2012, which was retrospectively applied.

Basis of Presentation

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

In applying the Company’s accounting policies, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries; others are specific to the Company’s business and operations. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries, as well as partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company has control, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in equity securities in which it has a significant influence or more than a 20% interest and for real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests in which it has more than a minor ownership interest or more than a minor influence over the joint venture’s or partnership’s operations, but does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary. The Company uses the cost method of accounting for investments in real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests in which it has a minor equity investment and virtually no influence over the joint venture’s or the partnership’s operations.

Certain amounts in the prior year periods’ interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related footnotes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the 2012 presentation as discussed throughout the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. See “— Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements” for discussion of accounting pronouncements adopted in the first quarter of 2012, which were retrospectively applied.

Since the Company is a member of a controlled group of affiliated companies, its results may not be indicative of those of a stand-alone entity.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company at June 30, 2012, its consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, its consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and its consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, in conformity with GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance. The December 31, 2011 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as revised by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 31, 2012 (as revised, the “2011 Annual Report”), which include all disclosures required by GAAP. Therefore, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding comprehensive income that defers the effective date pertaining to reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments in this guidance are being made to allow the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) time to re-deliberate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. All other requirements in the new comprehensive income standard are not affected by this guidance, including the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements on an annual basis.

On January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding comprehensive income, which was retrospectively applied, that provides companies with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements in annual financial statements. The objective of the standard is to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and to facilitate convergence of GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The standard eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments in this guidance do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified in net income. The Company adopted the two-statement approach for annual financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance on goodwill impairment testing that simplifies how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. This new guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value as a basis for determining whether it needs to perform the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. Only if an entity determines, based on qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value will it be required to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding fair value measurements that establishes common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP and IFRS. Some of the amendments clarify the FASB’s intent on the

 

10


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

application of existing fair value measurement requirements. Other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See also expanded disclosures in Note 5.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding effective control in repurchase agreements. The guidance removes from the assessment of effective control the criterion requiring the transferor to have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding accounting for deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), which was retrospectively applied. The guidance specifies that only costs related directly to successful acquisition of new or renewal contracts can be capitalized as DAC; all other acquisition-related costs must be expensed as incurred. Under the new guidance, advertising costs may only be included in DAC if the capitalization criteria in the direct-response advertising guidance in Subtopic 340-20, Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Capitalized Advertising Costs, are met. As a result, certain direct marketing, sales manager compensation and administrative costs previously capitalized by the Company will no longer be deferred.

The following table presents the effects of the retrospective application of the adoption of such new accounting guidance to the Company’s previously reported consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income:

 

    Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2011
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2011
 
       As Previously  
Reported
      Adjustment         As Adjusted         As Previously  
Reported
      Adjustment       As Adjusted    
    (In millions)  

Revenues

           

Net investment income

  $ 796     $ (1   $ 795     $ 1,584     $ (3   $ 1,581   

Expenses

           

Other expenses

  $ 729     $ 10     $ 739     $ 1,233     $ 21     $ 1,254   

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

  $ 316     $ (11   $ 305     $ 537     $ (24   $ 513   

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

  $ 100     $ (3   $ 97     $ 161     $ (7   $ 154   

Net income (loss)

  $         216     $         (8   $         208     $             376     $         (17   $         359   

The following table presents the effects of the retrospective application of the adoption of such new accounting guidance to the Company’s previously reported consolidated statement of cash flows:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2011
 
       As Previously  
Reported
       Adjustment          As Adjusted    
     (In millions)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $             406       $ (3)       $             403   

Net change in other invested assets

   $ (253)       $               3       $ (250)   

 

 

11


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the FASB issued new guidance regarding balance sheet offsetting disclosures (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities), effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The guidance should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The amendments in ASU 2011-11 require an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effects of those arrangements on its financial position. Entities are required to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The objective of ASU 2011-11 is to facilitate comparison between those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of GAAP and those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of IFRS. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2011, the FASB issued new guidance regarding derecognition of in substance real estate (ASU 2011-10, Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Derecognition of in Substance Real Estate—a Scope Clarification (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after June 15, 2012. The amendments should be applied prospectively to deconsolidation events occurring after the effective date. Under the amendments in ASU 2011-10, when a parent ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary that is in substance real estate as a result of a default on the subsidiary’s nonrecourse debt, the reporting entity should apply the guidance in Subtopic 360-20: Property, Plant, and Equipment—Real Estate Sales to determine whether it should derecognize the in substance real estate. Generally, a reporting entity would not satisfy the requirements to derecognize in substance real estate before the legal transfer of the real estate to the lender and the extinguishment of the related nonrecourse indebtedness. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

2.  Disposition

During June 2012, the Company dividended all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MetLife Europe Limited (“MetLife Europe”) to MetLife. The net book value of MetLife Europe at the time of the dividend was $290 million which was recorded as a dividend of retained earnings of $347 million and an increase to other comprehensive income of $57 million, net of income tax. As of the date of dividend, the Company no longer consolidates the assets, liabilities and operations of MetLife Europe. The net income of MetLife Europe was not material for the periods prior to dividend. MetLife Europe was reported in Corporate & Other. See Note 12 for a discussion of Corporate & Other.

 

12


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

3.  Investments

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

Presented below is certain information about fixed maturity and equity securities for the periods shown. The unrealized loss amounts presented below include the noncredit loss component of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses:

 

    June 30, 2012  
    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
    Gross Unrealized     Estimated
Fair

Value
    % of
Total
 
      Gains     Temporary
Losses
    OTTI
Losses
     
                (In millions)                    

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

U.S. corporate securities

  $ 16,703      $ 1,757      $ 166      $ —       $ 18,294        36.3 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

    7,832        1,325              —         9,156        18.2   

Foreign corporate securities

    7,842        624        61        —         8,405        16.7   

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

    6,270        359        111        126        6,392        12.7   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

    2,337        124        11               2,450        4.8   

State and political subdivision securities

    1,998        309        29               2,278        4.5   

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)

    2,100        51        29               2,122        4.2   

Foreign government securities

    1,074        240                     1,311        2.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

  $     46,156      $     4,789      $       411      $     126      $       50,408            100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity Securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 137      $ 10      $     $      $ 143        53.6 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    144              25               124        46.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

  $ 281      $ 15      $ 29      $      $ 267        100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    December 31, 2011  
    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
    Gross Unrealized     Estimated
Fair
Value
    % of
Total
 
      Gains     Temporary
Losses
    OTTI
Losses
     
             
    (In millions)        

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

U.S. corporate securities

  $ 16,018      $ 1,550      $ 229      $ —       $ 17,339        36.3 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

    6,832        1,217              —         8,048        16.8   

Foreign corporate securities

    7,958        649        114        —         8,493        17.8   

RMBS

    6,478        330        189        125        6,494        13.6   

CMBS

    2,128        115        16        —         2,227        4.7   

State and political subdivision securities

    1,891        222        58        —         2,055        4.3   

ABS

    1,875        45        42        —         1,878        3.9   

Foreign government securities

    1,035        215              —         1,247        2.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

  $     44,215      $     4,343      $     652      $       125      $       47,781            100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity Securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 148      $ 11      $ 13      $ —       $ 146        57.9 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    147              44        —         106        42.1   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

  $ 295      $ 14      $ 57      $ —       $ 252        100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

13


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The Company held non-income producing fixed maturity securities with an estimated fair value of $22 million and $5 million with unrealized gains (losses) of ($1) million and ($2) million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk — Summary.  The Company was not exposed to any concentrations of credit risk of any single issuer within its fixed maturity securities and equity securities greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity, other than U.S. Treasury and agency securities summarized in the table below at:

 

         June 30, 2012            December 31, 2011    
     Carrying Value (1)  
     (In millions)  

U.S. Treasury and agency securities included in:

     

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 9,156       $ 8,048   

Short-term investments

     2,282         2,186   

Cash equivalents

     293         108   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury and agency securities

   $                 11,731       $                 10,342   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents estimated fair value for fixed maturity securities, and for short-term investments and cash equivalents, estimated fair value or amortized cost, which approximates estimated fair value.

Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by contractual maturity date (excluding scheduled sinking funds), were as follows at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Amortized
Cost
     Estimated
Fair
Value
     Amortized
Cost
     Estimated
Fair
Value
 
     (In millions)  

Due in one year or less

   $ 3,358       $ 3,381       $ 2,946       $ 2,970   

Due after one year through five years

     9,932         10,366         8,648         9,022   

Due after five years through ten years

     7,836         8,653         7,905         8,606   

Due after ten years

     14,323         17,044         14,235         16,584   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     35,449         39,444         33,734         37,182   

RMBS, CMBS and ABS

     10,707         10,964         10,481         10,599   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

   $     46,156       $     50,408       $     44,215       $     47,781   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities due to the exercise of call or prepayment options. Fixed maturity securities not due at a single maturity date have been included in the above table in the year of final contractual maturity. RMBS, CMBS and ABS are shown separately in the table, as they are not due at a single maturity.

Evaluating Available-for-Sale Securities for Other-Than-Temporary Impairment

As described more fully in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report, the Company performs a regular evaluation, on a security-by-security basis, of its available-for-sale

 

14


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

securities holdings, including fixed maturity securities, equity securities and perpetual hybrid securities, in accordance with its impairment policy in order to evaluate whether such investments are other-than-temporarily impaired.

Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

The components of net unrealized investment gains (losses), included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), were as follows at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     (In millions)  

Fixed maturity securities

   $                     4,370       $                     3,690  

Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (126)         (125)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     4,244         3,565   

Equity securities

     (10)         (41)   

Derivatives

     331         239   

Short-term investments

     (3)         (2)   

Other

     (3)         (5)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     4,559         3,756   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amounts allocated from:

     

Insurance liability loss recognition

     (508)         (325)   

DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     14          

DAC and VOBA

     (611)         (509)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     (1,105)         (825)   

Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     41         42   

Deferred income tax benefit (expense)

     (1,249)         (1,063)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

   $ 2,246       $ 1,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The changes in fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), were as follows:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2012
     Year
Ended
December 31, 2011
 
     (In millions)  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ (125)       $ (86)   

Noncredit OTTI losses recognized (1)

     (2)          

Securities sold with previous noncredit OTTI loss

            26   

Subsequent changes in estimated fair value

     (8)         (70)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $                     (126)       $                     (125)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Noncredit OTTI losses recognized, net of DAC, were ($7) million and $8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and year ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

15


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) were as follows:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2012
 
     (In millions)  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 1,910   

Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized

     (1)   

Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period

     804   

Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:

  

Insurance liability gain (loss) recognition

     (183)   

DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

      

DAC and VOBA

     (102)   

Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (1)   

Deferred income tax benefit (expense)

     (186)   
  

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $                     2,246   
  

 

 

 

Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)

   $ 336   
  

 

 

 

 

16


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Continuous Gross Unrealized Losses and OTTI Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale by Sector

Presented below is certain information about the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity and equity securities in an unrealized loss position. The unrealized loss amounts presented below include the noncredit component of OTTI loss. Fixed maturity securities on which a noncredit OTTI loss has been recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are categorized by length of time as being “less than 12 months” or “equal to or greater than 12 months” in a continuous unrealized loss position based on the point in time that the estimated fair value initially declined to below the amortized cost basis and not the period of time since the unrealized loss was deemed a noncredit OTTI loss.

 

    June 30, 2012  
    Less than 12 Months     Equal to or Greater
than 12 Months
    Total  
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
    (In millions, except number of securities)  

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

U.S. corporate securities

  $ 1,460      $ 53      $ 708      $ 113      $ 2,168      $ 166   

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

    1,932              —         —         1,932         

Foreign corporate securities

    779        27        218        34        997        61   

RMBS

    463        64        973        173        1,436        237   

CMBS

    239              116              355        11   

State and political subdivision securities

    80              119        27        199        29   

ABS

    427              296        23        723        29   

Foreign government securities

    79              —         —         79         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

  $     5,459      $       159      $     2,430      $       378      $     7,889      $       537   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity Securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 31      $     $ —       $ —       $ 31      $  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

                54        22        61        25   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

  $ 38      $     $ 54      $ 22      $ 92      $ 29   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total number of securities in an
unrealized loss position

    645          450         
 

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

17


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    December 31, 2011  
    Less than 12 Months     Equal to or Greater
than 12 Months
    Total  
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair

Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
    (In millions, except number of securities)  

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

U.S. corporate securities

  $ 1,699      $ 71      $ 786      $ 158      $ 2,485      $ 229   

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

    118        —         20              138         

Foreign corporate securities

    1,213        68        162        46        1,375        114   

RMBS

    784        114        972        200        1,756        314   

CMBS

    152              111        12        263        16   

State and political subdivision securities

          —         367        58        373        58   

ABS

    803        12        261        30        1,064        42   

Foreign government securities

    70                    —         74         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

  $     4,845      $     272      $     2,683      $     505      $     7,528      $     777   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity Securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 35      $ 13      $ —       $ —       $ 35      $ 13   

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    32        16        59        28        91        44   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

  $ 67      $ 29      $ 59      $ 28      $ 126      $ 57   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total number of securities in an
unrealized loss position

    808          479         
 

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

18


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses and OTTI Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

Presented below is certain information about the aging and severity of gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity and equity securities, including the portion of OTTI loss on fixed maturity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at:

 

    June 30, 2012  
    Cost or Amortized Cost     Gross Unrealized Losses     Number of Securities  
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
 
    (In millions, except number of securities)  

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

Less than six months

  $ 4,104      $ 149      $ 39      $ 35        371        18   

Six months or greater but less than nine months

    378        15        14              102         

Nine months or greater but less than twelve months

    1,010        275        57        86        139        23   

Twelve months or greater

    2,137        358        175        127              368                40   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

  $     7,629      $       797      $       285      $       252       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Percentage of amortized cost

            32     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

Equity Securities:

           

Less than six months

  $     $ 14      $     $       19         

Six months or greater but less than nine months

    20        21                           

Nine months or greater but less than twelve months

          22                           

Twelve months or greater

    14        16        —                      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

  $ 48      $ 73      $     $ 25       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Percentage of cost

            34     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

19


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    December 31, 2011  
    Cost or Amortized Cost     Gross Unrealized Losses     Number of Securities  
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
    Less than
      20%      
    20% or
      more      
 
    (In millions, except number of securities)  

Fixed Maturity Securities:

           

Less than six months

  $ 4,205      $ 762      $ 137      $ 213        652        81   

Six months or greater but less than nine months

    507        137        36        42        91        13   

Nine months or greater but less than twelve months

    131        24                    21         

Twelve months or greater

    2,180        359        197        138                373                40   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

  $     7,023      $     1,282      $       378      $       399       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Percentage of amortized cost

            31     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

Equity Securities:

           

Less than six months

  $ 59      $ 85      $     $ 42        17        11   

Six months or greater but less than nine months

    —         —         —         —         —         —    

Nine months or greater but less than twelve months

          —               —               —    

Twelve months or greater

    14        17                           
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

  $ 81      $ 102      $     $ 49       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Percentage of cost

        10      48     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

Equity securities with gross unrealized losses of 20% or more for twelve months or greater were $7 million at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. As shown in the section “— Evaluating Temporarily Impaired Available-for-Sale Securities” below, all of the equity securities with gross unrealized losses of 20% or more for twelve months or greater at June 30, 2012 were financial services industry investment grade non-redeemable preferred stock, of which 43% were rated A or better.

 

20


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Concentration of Gross Unrealized Losses and OTTI Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

The gross unrealized losses related to fixed maturity and equity securities, including the portion of OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were $566 million and $834 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The concentration, calculated as a percentage of gross unrealized losses (including OTTI losses), by sector and industry was as follows at:

 

       June 30, 2012         December 31, 2011    

Sector:

    

RMBS

     42  %      38  % 

U.S. corporate securities

     29       27  

Foreign corporate securities

     11       14  

ABS

     5       5  

State and political subdivision securities

     5       7  

CMBS

     2       2  

Other

     6       7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100  %      100  % 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Industry:

    

Mortgage-backed

     44  %      40  % 

Finance

     18       24  

Consumer

     6       7  

Asset-backed

     5       5  

State and political subdivision securities

     5       7  

Utility

     4       3  

Communications

     4       4  

Industrial

     1       1  

Other

     13       9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100  %      100  % 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Evaluating Temporarily Impaired Available-for-Sale Securities

The following table presents fixed maturity and equity securities, each with gross unrealized losses of greater than $10 million, the number of securities, total gross unrealized losses and percentage of total gross unrealized losses at:

 

     June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  
     Fixed Maturity
Securities
    Equity
Securities
    Fixed Maturity
Securities
    Equity
Securities
 
     (In millions, except number of securities)  

Number of securities

     8              9       1  

Total gross unrealized losses

   $     124     $         —      $         152     $         12  

Percentage of total gross unrealized losses

     23  %       %      20  %      22  % 

Fixed maturity and equity securities, each with gross unrealized losses greater than $10 million, decreased $40 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decline in, or improvement in, gross unrealized

 

21


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

losses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was primarily attributable to a decrease in interest rates and narrowing credit spreads. These securities were included in the Company’s OTTI review process.

As of June 30, 2012, $217 million of unrealized losses were from fixed maturity securities with an unrealized loss position of 20% or more of amortized cost for six months or greater. Of the $217 million, $127 million, or 59%, was related to unrealized losses on investment grade securities. Unrealized losses on investment grade securities were principally related to widening credit spreads or rising interest rates since purchase. Of the $217 million, $90 million, or 41%, was related to unrealized losses on below investment grade securities. Unrealized losses on below investment grade securities were principally related to non-agency RMBS (primarily alternative residential mortgage loans) and U.S. and foreign corporate securities (primarily financial services industry securities) and were the result of significantly wider credit spreads resulting from higher risk premiums since purchase, largely due to economic and market uncertainties including concerns over the financial services sector, unemployment levels and valuations of residential real estate supporting non-agency RMBS. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for the factors management considers in evaluating these corporate and structured securities. See “— Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses and OTTI Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale” for a discussion of equity securities with an unrealized loss position of 20% or more of cost for 12 months or greater.

In the Company’s impairment review process, the duration and severity of an unrealized loss position for equity securities are given greater weight and consideration than for fixed maturity securities. An extended and severe unrealized loss position on a fixed maturity security may not have any impact on the ability of the issuer to service all scheduled interest and principal payments and the Company’s evaluation of recoverability of all contractual cash flows or the ability to recover an amount at least equal to its amortized cost based on the present value of the expected future cash flows to be collected. In contrast, for an equity security, greater weight and consideration are given by the Company to a decline in market value and the likelihood such market value decline will recover.

The following table presents certain information about the Company’s equity securities available-for-sale with gross unrealized losses of 20% or more at June 30, 2012:

 

          Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock  
    All Equity
Securities
    All Types of
Non-Redeemable
Preferred Stock
    Investment Grade  
        All Industries     Financial Services Industry  
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    % of All
Equity
Securities
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    % of All
Non-Redeemable
Preferred Stock
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    % of All
Industries
    % A
Rated or
Better
 
    (In millions)     (In millions)           (In millions)              

Less than six months

  $         4      $         3        75    $         1        33    $         1        100      100 

Six months or greater but less than twelve months

    14        14        100            64            100      89 

Twelve months or greater

                100            100            100      43 
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

All equity securities with gross unrealized losses of 20% or more

  $         25      $         24        96    $         17        71    $         17        100      71 
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

In connection with the equity securities impairment review process, the Company evaluated its holdings in non-redeemable preferred stock, particularly those in the financial services sector. The Company considered

 

22


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

several factors including whether there has been any deterioration in credit of the issuer and the likelihood of recovery in value of non-redeemable preferred stock with a severe or an extended unrealized loss. The Company also considered whether any issuers of non-redeemable preferred stock with an unrealized loss held by the Company, regardless of credit rating, have deferred any dividend payments. No such dividend payments had been deferred.

With respect to common stock holdings, the Company considered the duration and severity of the unrealized losses for securities in an unrealized loss position of 20% or more; and the duration of unrealized losses for securities in an unrealized loss position of less than 20% in an extended unrealized loss position (i.e., 12 months or greater).

Based on the Company’s current evaluation of available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position in accordance with its impairment policy, and the Company’s current intentions and assessments (as applicable to the type of security) about holding, selling and any requirements to sell these securities, the Company has concluded that these securities are not other-than-temporarily impaired.

Future OTTIs will depend primarily on economic fundamentals, issuer performance (including changes in the present value of future cash flows expected to be collected), changes in credit ratings, changes in collateral valuation, changes in interest rates and changes in credit spreads. If economic fundamentals or any of the above factors deteriorate, additional OTTIs may be incurred in upcoming quarters.

Other Securities

The table below presents certain information about the Company’s securities for which the fair value option (“FVO”) has been elected at:

 

       June 30, 2012          December 31, 2011    
     (In millions)  

FVO general account securities

   $                 50       $ 49   

FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments (1)

     —          3,616   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other securities — at estimated fair value

   $ 50       $                 3,665   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

During June 2012, the Company disposed of MetLife Europe which held the FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments. See Note 2 for discussion of this disposition. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for a discussion of FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments.

See “— Net Investment Income” and “— Net Investment Gains (Losses)” for the net investment income recognized on other securities and the related changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase included in earnings for securities still held as of the end of the respective periods.

 

23


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Net Investment Gains (Losses)

The components of net investment gains (losses) were as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended

June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:

           

Total OTTI losses recognized

   $ (18)       $ (21)       $ (31)       $ (30)   

Less: Noncredit portion of OTTI losses transferred to and recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

                           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings

     (14)         (15)         (29)         (26)   

Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals

     63                78         (18)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities

     49         (13)         49         (44)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other net investment gains (losses):

           

Equity securities

            (24)         (3)         (23)   

Other securities — FVO general account securities — changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase

     —          —                 —    

Mortgage loans

     16         14         20         18   

Real estate and real estate joint ventures

     —          —          (3)         —    

Other limited partnership interests

     —          (4)                (2)   

Other investment portfolio gains (losses)

     (1)         (1)         —          (5)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal — investment portfolio gains (losses)

     66         (28)         65         (56)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

FVO consolidated securitization entities (“CSEs”) — changes in estimated fair value:

           

Commercial mortgage loans

     (7)                (1)         25   

Long-term debt — related to commercial mortgage loans

     13         (5)         11         (11)   

Other gains (losses)

     (1)         (1)         —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal FVO CSEs and other gains (losses)

                   10         15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net investment gains (losses)

   $ 71       $ (27)       $ 75       $ (41)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs included in the table above.

Gains (losses) from foreign currency transactions included within net investment gains (losses) were less than $1 million and $1 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and ($2) million and ($3) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

 

24


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities resulting in a net investment gain (loss) and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains (losses) are as shown in the tables below. Investment gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on a specific identification basis.

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,  
        2012               2011                 2012                 2011                 2012                 2011        
      Fixed Maturity Securities       Equity Securities     Total  
    (In millions)  

Proceeds

  $ 1,079      $ 2,529      $     $ 128      $ 1,084      $ 2,657   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross investment gains

  $ 67      $ 33      $     $     $ 69      $ 35   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross investment losses

    (4)        (31)        —         (20)        (4)        (51)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:

           

Credit-related

    (14)        (6)        —         —         (14)        (6)   

Other (1)

    —         (9)        —         (6)        —         (15)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings

    (14)        (15)        —         (6)        (14)        (21)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ 49      $ (13)      $     $ (24)      $ 51      $ (37)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
         2012               2011                 2012                 2011                 2012                 2011        
      Fixed Maturity Securities       Equity Securities     Total  
    (In millions)  

Proceeds

  $ 2,994      $ 5,042      $ 26      $ 144      $ 3,020      $ 5,186   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross investment gains

  $ 104      $ 51      $     $     $ 111      $ 56   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross investment losses

    (26)        (69)        (4)        (22)        (30)        (91)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:

           

Credit-related

    (22)        (17)        —         —         (22)        (17)   

Other (1)

    (7)        (9)        (6)        (6)        (13)        (15)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings

    (29)        (26)        (6)        (6)        (35)        (32)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ 49      $ (44)      $ (3)      $ (23)      $ 46      $ (67)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Other OTTI losses recognized in earnings include impairments on equity securities, impairments on perpetual hybrid securities classified within fixed maturity securities where the primary reason for the impairment was the severity and/or the duration of an unrealized loss position and fixed maturity securities where there is an intent-to-sell or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the decline in estimated fair value.

 

25


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Fixed maturity security OTTI losses recognized in earnings related to the following sectors and industries within the U.S. and foreign corporate securities sector:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June  30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Sector:

           

U.S. and foreign corporate securities — by industry:

           

Finance

   $         —        $         9       $         7       $         9   

Utility

     —          —                 —    

Communications

     —          —                  

Industrial

     —          —                 —    

Other industries

            —                 —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. and foreign corporate securities

                   19         13   

RMBS (1)

                   10          

CMBS

     —          —          —           

ABS (1)

     —          —          —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 14       $ 15       $ 29       $ 26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for discussion of a reclassification from the ABS sector to the RMBS sector for securities backed by sub-prime residential mortgage loans.

Equity security OTTI losses recognized in earnings related to the following sectors and industries:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
      2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Sector:

           

Common stock

   $         —        $         —        $         6       $         —    

Non-redeemable preferred stock

     —                 —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ —        $      $      $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Industry:

           

Financial services industry — perpetual hybrid securities

   $ —        $      $ —        $  

Other industries

     —          —                 —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ —        $      $      $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

26


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Credit Loss Rollforward

Presented below is a rollforward of the cumulative credit loss component of OTTI loss recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities still held for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss):

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 50       $ 43       $ 55       $ 63  

Additions:

           

Initial impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities not previously impaired

                           

Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired

                           

Reductions:

           

Sales, maturities, pay downs and prepayments during the period on securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI

     (3)         (2)         (4)         (4)   

Securities impaired to net present value of expected future cash flows

     —          —          —          (20)   

Increases in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI

     —          —          (6)         (1)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 56       $ 46       $ 56       $ 46   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

27


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Investment income:

           

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 531       $ 538       $ 1,064       $ 1,073   

Equity securities

                           

Other securities — FVO general account securities (1)

     —                 —           

Mortgage loans

     87         87         177         171   

Policy loans

     15         15         30         31   

Real estate and real estate joint ventures

     54         10         68          

Other limited partnership interests

     49         40         97         120   

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

                           

International joint ventures

     (2)                (3)         (2)   

Other

                           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     742         701         1,445         1,411   

Less: Investment expenses

     24         27         48         51   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal, net

     718         674         1,397         1,360   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other securities — FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments (1)

     (106)         25         62         30   

FVO CSEs — Commercial mortgage loans

     44         96         89         191   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     (62)         121         151         221   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

   $ 656       $ 795       $ 1,548       $ 1,581   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase for securities still held as of the end of the respective periods included in net investment income were:

 

Other securities — FVO general account securities

   $           —        $      $              1       $  

Other securities — FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments

   $ —        $ 18       $ —        $ (7)   

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs included in the table above.

See “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for discussion of affiliated net investment income and investment expenses included in the table above.

 

28


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Securities Lending

As described more fully in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report, the Company participates in a securities lending program whereby blocks of securities are loaned to third parties. These transactions are treated as financing arrangements and the associated cash collateral received is recorded as a liability. The Company is obligated to return the cash collateral received to its counterparties.

Elements of the securities lending program are presented below at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     (In millions)  

Securities on loan: (1)

     

Amortized cost

   $                 6,406       $                 5,307   

Estimated fair value

   $ 7,698       $ 6,451   

Cash collateral on deposit from counterparties (2)

   $ 7,853       $ 6,456   

Security collateral on deposit from counterparties

   $ 117       $ 137   

Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value

   $ 7,772       $ 6,295   

 

 

 

(1)

Included within fixed maturity securities, short-term investments and equity securities.

 

(2)

Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.

Security collateral on deposit from counterparties in connection with the securities lending transactions may not be sold or repledged, unless the counterparty is in default, and is not reflected in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Invested Assets on Deposit and Pledged as Collateral

Invested assets on deposit and pledged as collateral are presented in the table below at estimated fair value for cash and cash equivalents and fixed maturity securities and at carrying value for mortgage loans.

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     (In millions)  

Invested assets on deposit (1)

   $                 56       $                 51   

Invested assets pledged as collateral (2)

     869         897   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total invested assets on deposit and pledged as collateral

   $ 925       $ 948   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The Company has invested assets on deposit with regulatory agencies consisting primarily of fixed maturity securities.

 

(2)

The Company has pledged fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans and cash and cash equivalents in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report) and derivative transactions (see Note 4).

 

29


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Mortgage Loans

Mortgage loans are summarized as follows at:

 

     June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  
     Carrying
Value
     % of
Total
    Carrying
Value
     % of
Total
 
     (In millions)            (In millions)         

Mortgage loans:

          

Commercial

   $ 5,252         55.9    $ 5,390         55.0 

Agricultural

     1,253         13.3        1,333         13.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     6,505         69.2         6,723         68.6    

Valuation allowances

     (42)         (0.4)        (61)         (0.6)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal mortgage loans, net

     6,463         68.8         6,662         68.0    

Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs

     2,932         31.2        3,138         32.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans, net

   $ 9,395         100.0    $ 9,800         100.0 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs included in the table above.

See “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for discussion of affiliated mortgage loans included in the table above.

The following tables present certain information about mortgage loans and valuation allowances, by portfolio segment, at:

 

       Commercial          Agricultural          Total    
     (In millions)  

June 30, 2012:

        

Mortgage loans:

        

Evaluated individually for credit losses

   $ 23       $ —        $ 23   

Evaluated collectively for credit losses

     5,229         1,253         6,482   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans

     5,252         1,253         6,505   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Valuation allowances:

        

Specific credit losses

     11         —          11   

Non-specifically identified credit losses

     28                31   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total valuation allowances

     39                42   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mortgage loans, net of valuation allowance

   $ 5,213       $ 1,250       $ 6,463   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2011:

        

Mortgage loans:

        

Evaluated individually for credit losses

   $ 23       $ —        $ 23   

Evaluated collectively for credit losses

     5,367         1,333         6,700   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans

     5,390         1,333         6,723   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Valuation allowances:

        

Specific credit losses

     15         —          15   

Non-specifically identified credit losses

     43                46   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total valuation allowances

     58                61   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mortgage loans, net of valuation allowance

   $ 5,332       $ 1,330       $         6,662   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

30


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The following tables present the changes in the valuation allowance, by portfolio segment:

 

     Mortgage Loan Valuation Allowances  
     Commercial     Agricultural      Total  
     (In millions)  

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

       

Balance, beginning of period

   $             54     $                 3      $             57  

Provision (release)

     (15             (15

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 39     $ 3      $ 42  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

       

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 80     $ 4      $ 84  

Provision (release)

     (14             (14

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 66     $ 4      $ 70  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

       

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 58     $ 3      $ 61  

Provision (release)

     (19             (19

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 39     $ 3      $ 42  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

       

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 84     $ 3      $ 87  

Provision (release)

     (18     1        (17

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 66     $ 4      $ 70  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for a discussion of all credit quality indicators presented herein. Recorded investment data presented herein is prior to valuation allowance. Unpaid principal balance data presented herein is generally prior to charge-offs.

 

31


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Commercial Mortgage Loans — by Credit Quality Indicators with Estimated Fair Value. Presented below is certain information about the credit quality of the commercial mortgage loans at:

 

    Commercial  
    Recorded Investment              
    Debt Service Coverage Ratios     Total     % of
Total
    Estimated
Fair Value
    % of
Total
 
    > 1.20x     1.00x - 1.20x     < 1.00x          
          (In millions)                 (In millions)        

June 30, 2012:

             

Loan-to-value ratios:

             

Less than 65%

  $         3,684      $         83      $         66      $         3,833                73.0    $       4,108                74.2 

65% to 75%

    765        39        —         804        15.3        822        14.8  

76% to 80%

    129        —         26        155        2.9        158        2.9  

Greater than 80%

    278        159        23        460        8.8        448        8.1  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 4,856      $ 281      $ 115      $ 5,252        100.0    $ 5,536        100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2011:

             

Loan-to-value ratios:

             

Less than 65%

  $ 3,324      $ 135      $ 210      $ 3,669        68.1    $ 3,888        69.9 

65% to 75%

    719        54        52        825        15.3        852        15.3   

76% to 80%

    199        —         26        225        4.2        221        4.0   

Greater than 80%

    452        181        38        671        12.4        602        10.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 4,694      $ 370      $ 326      $ 5,390        100.0    $ 5,563        100.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Agricultural Mortgage Loans — by Credit Quality Indicator. Presented below is certain information about the credit quality of agricultural mortgage loans. The estimated fair value of agricultural mortgage loans was $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

     Agricultural  
     June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  
     Recorded
Investment
     % of
Total
    Recorded
Investment
     % of
Total
 
     (In millions)            (In millions)         

Loan-to-value ratios:

          

Less than 65%

   $             1,180                     94.2    $             1,129                     84.7 

65% to 75%

     72         5.7        142         10.7   

76% to 80%

            0.1        62         4.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,253         100.0    $ 1,333         100.0 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans. The Company has a high quality, well performing, mortgage loan portfolio, with approximately 99% of all mortgage loans classified as performing at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The Company defines delinquent mortgage loans consistent with industry practice, when interest and principal payments are past due as follows: commercial mortgage loans — 60 days or more and agricultural mortgage loans — 90 days or more. The Company had no mortgage loans past due and no loans in non-accrual status at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

32


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Impaired Mortgage Loans.  Presented below is certain information about impaired mortgage loans, by portfolio segment, at:

 

     Impaired Mortgage Loans  
     Loans with a Valuation Allowance      Loans without
a Valuation Allowance
     All Impaired Loans  
     Unpaid
Principal
Balance
     Recorded
Investment
     Valuation
Allowances
     Carrying
Value
     Unpaid
Principal
Balance
     Recorded
Investment
     Unpaid
Principal
Balance
     Carrying
Value
 
                          (In millions)                       

June 30, 2012:

                       

Commercial

   $ 23       $ 23       $ 11       $ 12       $ —        $ —        $ 23       $ 12   

Agricultural

     —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 23       $ 23       $ 11       $ 12       $ —        $ —        $ 23       $ 12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2011:

                       

Commercial

   $ 23       $ 23       $ 15       $      $ 15       $ 15       $ 38       $ 23   

Agricultural

     —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 23       $ 23       $ 15       $      $ 15       $ 15       $ 38       $ 23   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The average recorded investment in impaired mortgage loans and the related interest income, by portfolio segment, was:

 

                                                                                      
     Impaired Mortgage Loans  
     Average
Recorded Investment
     Interest Income Recognized  
            Cash Basis      Accrual Basis  
     (In millions)  

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

        

Commercial

   $ 23       $ —        $ —    

Agricultural

     —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 23       $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

        

Commercial

   $ 23       $ —        $ —    

Agricultural

            —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 30       $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

        

Commercial

   $ 28       $      $ —    

Agricultural

     —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 28       $      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

        

Commercial

   $ 23       $      $ —    

Agricultural

            —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 30       $      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

33


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Mortgage Loans Modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for a discussion of loan modifications that are classified as troubled debt restructuring and the types of concessions typically granted. There were no mortgage loans modified during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, there were no mortgage loans with subsequent payment default which were modified as a troubled debt restructuring during the previous 12 months. Payment default is determined in the same manner as delinquency status — when interest and principal payments are past due as described above.

Cash Equivalents

The carrying value of cash equivalents, which includes securities and other investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase, was $752 million and $583 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Purchased Credit Impaired Investments

See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for information about investments acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination and for which it was probable at the acquisition date that the Company would be unable to collect all contractually required payments.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company holds investments in certain entities that are VIEs. In certain instances, the Company holds both the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity, as well as an economic interest in the entity and, as such, is deemed to be the primary beneficiary or consolidator of the entity. The following table presents the total assets and total liabilities relating to VIEs for which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Creditors or beneficial interest holders of VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary have no recourse to the general credit of the Company, as the Company’s obligation to the VIEs is limited to the amount of its committed investment.

 

34


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

       June 30, 2012          December 31, 2011    
     (In millions)  

CSEs: (1)

     

Assets:

     

Mortgage loans held-for-investment (commercial mortgage loans)

   $ 2,932       $ 3,138   

Accrued investment income

     14         14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,946       $ 3,152   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

     

Long-term debt

   $ 2,849       $ 3,065   

Other liabilities

     14         14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 2,863       $ 3,079   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The Company consolidates former qualified special purpose entities (“QSPEs”) that are structured as CMBS. The assets of these entities can only be used to settle their respective liabilities, and under no circumstances is the Company liable for any principal or interest shortfalls should any arise. The Company’s exposure was limited to that of its remaining investment in the former QSPEs of $68 million and $59 million at estimated fair value at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The long-term debt presented above bears interest primarily at fixed rates ranging from 2.25% to 5.57%, payable primarily on a monthly basis and is expected to be repaid over the next four years. Interest expense related to these obligations, included in other expenses, was $42 million and $85 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $94 million and $187 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

The following table presents the carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to VIEs for which the Company holds significant variable interests but is not the primary beneficiary and which have not been consolidated at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Carrying
Amount
     Maximum
Exposure
to Loss (1)
     Carrying
Amount
     Maximum
Exposure
to Loss (1)
 
     (In millions)  

Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:

           

RMBS (2)

   $ 6,392       $ 6,392       $ 6,494       $ 6,494   

CMBS (2)

     2,450         2,450         2,227         2,227   

ABS (2)

     2,122         2,122         1,878         1,878   

U.S. corporate securities

     440         440         424         424   

Foreign corporate securities

     255         255         234         234   

Other limited partnership interests

     1,378         1,955         1,302         1,982   

Real estate joint ventures

     19         23         22         26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $       13,056       $       13,637       $       12,581       $       13,265   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The maximum exposure to loss relating to the fixed maturity securities is equal to their estimated fair value. The maximum exposure to loss relating to the other limited partnership interests and real estate joint

 

35


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

 

ventures is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments of the Company. Such a maximum loss would be expected to occur only upon bankruptcy of the issuer or investee.

 

(2)

For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor.

As described in Note 9, the Company makes commitments to fund partnership investments in the normal course of business. Excluding these commitments, the Company did not provide financial or other support to investees designated as VIEs during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

Related Party Investment Transactions

As more fully described in Note 2 of the Notes of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2011 Annual Report, the Company has loans outstanding to affiliates.

The Company has loans outstanding to wholly-owned real estate subsidiaries of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MLIC”), an affiliate, which are included in mortgage loans. The carrying value of these loans was $306 million and $307 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Net investment income from these loans was $4 million and $8 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $3 million and $7 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

The Company also has loans outstanding to Exeter Reassurance Company Ltd. (“Exeter”), an affiliate, which are included in other invested assets. The carrying value of these loans was $430 million at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Net investment income from these loans was $6 million and $12 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. There was no net investment income from these loans for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011.

The Company receives investment administrative services from an affiliate. These investment administrative service charges were $17 million and $34 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $18 million and $33 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The Company also had affiliated net investment income of less than $1 million for both the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

4. Derivative Financial Instruments

Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, credit spreads and/or other financial indices. Derivatives may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The Company uses a variety of derivatives, including swaps, forwards, futures and option contracts, to manage various risks relating to its ongoing business operations. To a lesser extent, the Company uses credit default swaps to synthetically replicate investment risks and returns which are not readily available in the cash market. The Company also purchases certain securities, issues certain insurance policies and investment contracts and engages in certain reinsurance agreements that have embedded derivatives.

Freestanding derivatives are carried in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets either as assets within other invested assets or as liabilities within other liabilities at estimated fair value as determined through the use of quoted market prices for exchange-traded derivatives or through the use of pricing models for OTC derivatives.

 

36


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The determination of estimated fair value of freestanding derivatives, when quoted market values are not available, is based on market standard valuation methodologies and inputs that management believes are consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing the instruments. Derivative valuations can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, financial indices, credit spreads, default risk, nonperformance risk, volatility, liquidity and changes in estimates and assumptions used in the pricing models.

Accruals on derivatives are generally recorded in accrued investment income or within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. However, accruals that are not scheduled to settle within one year are included with the derivative carrying value in other invested assets or other liabilities.

The Company does not offset the fair value amounts recognized for derivatives executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting agreement.

If a derivative is not designated as an accounting hedge or its use in managing risk does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the estimated fair value of the derivative are generally reported in net derivative gains (losses) except for those (i) in policyholder benefits and claims for economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits; and (ii) in net investment income for economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures. The fluctuations in estimated fair value of derivatives which have not been designated for hedge accounting can result in significant volatility in net income.

To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the hedging relationship, the Company formally documents its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction, as well as its designation of the hedge as either (i) a hedge of the estimated fair value of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value hedge”); or (ii) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”). In this documentation, the Company sets forth how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item and sets forth the method that will be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method which will be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed at inception and periodically throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship. Assessments of hedge effectiveness and measurements of ineffectiveness are also subject to interpretation and estimation and different interpretations or estimates may have a material effect on the amount reported in net income.

The accounting for derivatives is complex and interpretations of the primary accounting guidance continue to evolve in practice. Judgment is applied in determining the availability and application of hedge accounting designations and the appropriate accounting treatment under such accounting guidance. If it was determined that hedge accounting designations were not appropriately applied, reported net income could be materially affected.

Under a fair value hedge, changes in the estimated fair value of the hedging derivative, including amounts measured as ineffectiveness, and changes in the estimated fair value of the hedged item related to the designated risk being hedged, are reported within net derivative gains (losses). The estimated fair values of the hedging derivatives are exclusive of any accruals that are separately reported in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income within interest income or interest expense to match the location of the hedged item.

Under a cash flow hedge, changes in the estimated fair value of the hedging derivative measured as effective are reported within other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity, and the deferred gains or losses on the derivative are reclassified into the consolidated statement of operations and

 

37


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

comprehensive income when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item. Changes in the estimated fair value of the hedging instrument measured as ineffectiveness are reported within net derivative gains (losses). The estimated fair values of the hedging derivatives are exclusive of any accruals that are separately reported in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income within interest income or interest expense to match the location of the hedged item.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (i) it is determined that the derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; (ii) the derivative expires, is sold, terminated, or exercised; (iii) it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur; or (iv) the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is determined that the derivative is not highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item, the derivative continues to be carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized currently in net derivative gains (losses). The carrying value of the hedged recognized asset or liability under a fair value hedge is no longer adjusted for changes in its estimated fair value due to the hedged risk, and the cumulative adjustment to its carrying value is amortized into income over the remaining life of the hedged item. Provided the hedged forecasted transaction is still probable of occurrence, the changes in estimated fair value of derivatives recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) related to discontinued cash flow hedges are released into the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is no longer probable that the forecasted transactions will occur on the anticipated date or within two months of that date, the derivative continues to be carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized currently in net derivative gains (losses). Deferred gains and losses of a derivative recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) pursuant to the discontinued cash flow hedge of a forecasted transaction that is no longer probable are recognized immediately in net derivative gains (losses).

In all other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative is carried at its estimated fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, with changes in its estimated fair value recognized in the current period as net derivative gains (losses).

The Company issues certain products and purchases certain investments that contain embedded derivatives. The Company assesses each identified embedded derivative to determine whether it is required to be bifurcated. If the instrument would not be accounted for in its entirety at estimated fair value and it is determined that the terms of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and that a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for as a freestanding derivative. Such embedded derivatives are carried in the consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value with the host contract and changes in their estimated fair value are generally reported in net derivative gains (losses). If the Company is unable to properly identify and measure an embedded derivative for separation from its host contract, the entire contract is carried on the balance sheet at estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in the current period in net investment gains (losses) or net investment income. Additionally, the Company may elect to carry an entire contract on the balance sheet at estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in the current period in net investment gains (losses) or net investment income if that contract contains an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation.

See Note 5 for information about the fair value hierarchy for derivatives.

 

38


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Primary Risks Managed by Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to various risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, credit risk and equity market risk. The Company uses a variety of strategies to manage these risks, including the use of derivative instruments. The following table presents the gross notional amount, estimated fair value and primary underlying risk exposure of the Company’s derivative financial instruments, excluding embedded derivatives, held at:

 

        June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Primary Underlying

Risk Exposure

 

Instrument Type

  Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair
Value (1)
    Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair
Value (1)
 
      Assets     Liabilities       Assets     Liabilities  
        (In millions)  

Interest rate

 

Interest rate swaps

  $     16,708      $     1,524      $     469      $     13,074      $       1,418      $          427   
 

Interest rate floors

    7,986        355        157        7,986        330        152   
 

Interest rate caps

    8,613              —         10,133        19        —    
 

Interest rate futures

    3,564              21        3,766        10         
 

Interest rate forwards

    519        116        —         620        128        —    

Foreign currency

 

Foreign currency swaps

    1,334        110        53        1,792        297        62   
 

Foreign currency forwards

    143                    149              —    

Credit

 

Credit default swaps

    2,706        15        17        2,426        18        28   

Equity market

 

Equity futures

    1,374        —         38        1,007              —    
 

Equity options

    2,869        507        —         2,111        482        —    
 

Variance swaps

    2,503        20        26        2,430        51         
 

Total rate of return swaps (“TRRs”)

    130        —               129        —          
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Total

  $ 48,449      $       2,663      $          788      $     45,623      $       2,766      $          680   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The estimated fair value of all derivatives in an asset position is reported within other invested assets in the consolidated balance sheets and the estimated fair value of all derivatives in a liability position is reported within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Interest rate swaps are used by the Company primarily to reduce market risks from changes in interest rates and to alter interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (duration mismatches). In an interest rate swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional principal amount. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by the counterparty at each due date. The Company utilizes interest rate swaps in fair value, cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Inflation swaps are used as an economic hedge to reduce inflation risk generated from inflation-indexed liabilities. Inflation swaps are included in interest rate swaps in the preceding table. The Company utilizes inflation swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Implied volatility swaps are used by the Company primarily as economic hedges of interest rate risk associated with the Company’s investments in mortgage-backed securities. In an implied volatility swap, the Company exchanges fixed payments for floating payments that are linked to certain market volatility measures. If implied volatility rises, the floating payments that the Company receives will increase, and if implied volatility falls, the

 

39


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

floating payments that the Company receives will decrease. Implied volatility swaps are included in interest rate swaps in the preceding table. The Company utilizes implied volatility swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

The Company purchases interest rate caps and floors primarily to protect its floating rate liabilities against rises in interest rates above a specified level, and against interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (duration mismatches), as well as to protect its minimum rate guarantee liabilities against declines in interest rates below a specified level, respectively. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased caps and floors by entering into offsetting written caps and floors. The Company utilizes interest rate caps and floors in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

In exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of interest rate securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures are used primarily to hedge mismatches between the duration of assets in a portfolio and the duration of liabilities supported by those assets, to hedge against changes in value of securities the Company owns or anticipates acquiring and to hedge against changes in interest rates on anticipated liability issuances by replicating Treasury or swap curve performance. The Company utilizes exchange-traded interest rate futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

The Company writes covered call options on its portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities as an income generation strategy. In a covered call transaction, the Company receives a premium at the inception of the contract in exchange for giving the derivative counterparty the right to purchase the referenced security from the Company at a predetermined price. The call option is “covered” because the Company owns the referenced security over the term of the option. Covered call options are included in interest rate options. The Company utilizes covered call options in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

The Company enters into interest rate forwards to buy and sell securities. The price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at a specified future date. The Company utilizes interest rate forwards in cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Foreign currency derivatives, including foreign currency swaps and foreign currency forwards, are used by the Company to reduce the risk from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.

In a foreign currency swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between one currency and another at a fixed exchange rate, generally set at inception, calculated by reference to an agreed upon principal amount. The principal amount of each currency is exchanged at the inception and termination of the currency swap by each party. The Company utilizes foreign currency swaps in fair value, cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships.

In a foreign currency forward transaction, the Company agrees with another party to deliver a specified amount of an identified currency at a specified future date. The price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made in a different currency at the specified future date. The Company utilizes foreign currency forwards in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

 

40


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Certain credit default swaps are used by the Company to hedge against credit-related changes in the value of its investments. In a credit default swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party, at specified intervals, to pay a premium to hedge credit risk. If a credit event, as defined by the contract, occurs, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the delivery of par quantities of the referenced investment equal to the specified swap notional in exchange for the payment of cash amounts by the counterparty equal to the par value of the investment surrendered. The Company utilizes credit default swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Credit default swaps are also used to synthetically create credit investments that are either more expensive to acquire or otherwise unavailable in the cash markets. These transactions are a combination of a derivative and one or more cash instruments such as U.S. Treasury securities, agency securities or other fixed maturity securities. These credit default swaps are not designated as hedging instruments.

The Company enters into forwards to lock in the price to be paid for forward purchases of certain securities. The price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for the contract is made at a specified future date. When the primary purpose of entering into these transactions is to hedge against the risk of changes in purchase price due to changes in credit spreads, the Company designates these as credit forwards. The Company utilizes credit forwards in cash flow hedging relationships.

In exchange-traded equity futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of equity securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded equity futures are used primarily to hedge liabilities embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. The Company utilizes exchange-traded equity futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Equity index options are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. To hedge against adverse changes in equity indices, the Company enters into contracts to sell the equity index within a limited time at a contracted price. The contracts will be net settled in cash based on differentials in the indices at the time of exercise and the strike price. In certain instances, the Company may enter into a combination of transactions to hedge adverse changes in equity indices within a pre-determined range through the purchase and sale of options. Equity index options are included in equity options in the preceding table. The Company utilizes equity index options in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Equity variance swaps are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. In an equity variance swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange amounts in the future, based on changes in equity volatility over a defined period. Equity variance swaps are included in variance swaps in the preceding table. The Company utilizes equity variance swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

TRRs are swaps whereby the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between the economic risk and reward of an asset or a market index and the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), calculated by reference to an agreed notional principal amount. No cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract. Cash is paid and received over the life of the contract based on the terms of the

 

41


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

swap. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by the counterparty at each due date. The Company uses TRRs to hedge its equity market guarantees in certain of its insurance products. TRRs can be used as hedges or to synthetically create investments. The Company utilizes TRRs in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Hedging

The following table presents the gross notional amount and estimated fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments by type of hedge designation at:

 

    June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  
    Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair Value     Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair Value  

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

    Assets     Liabilities       Assets     Liabilities  
    (In millions)  

Fair value hedges:

           

Foreign currency swaps

  $         122      $         —       $         18      $         598      $         188      $         19   

Interest rate swaps

    489        38              311        35         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    611        38        26        909        223        25   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges:

           

Foreign currency swaps

    506        41              445        31        12   

Interest rate swaps

    733        155        —         355        96        —    

Interest rate forwards

    490        116        —         620        128        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    1,729        312              1,420        255        12   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total qualifying hedges

  $ 2,340      $ 350      $ 34      $ 2,329      $ 478      $ 37   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the gross notional amount and estimated fair value of derivatives that were not designated or do not qualify as hedging instruments by derivative type at:

 

    June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Derivatives Not Designated or Not

Qualifying as Hedging Instruments

  Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair Value     Notional
Amount
    Estimated Fair Value  
    Assets     Liabilities       Assets     Liabilities  
    (In millions)  

Interest rate swaps

  $ 15,486      $ 1,331      $ 461      $ 12,408      $ 1,287      $ 421   

Interest rate floors

    7,986        355        157        7,986        330        152   

Interest rate caps

    8,613              —         10,133        19        —    

Interest rate futures

    3,564              21        3,766        10         

Interest rate forwards

    29        —         —         —         —         —    

Foreign currency swaps

    706        69        27        749        78        31   

Foreign currency forwards

    143                    149              —    

Credit default swaps

    2,706        15        17        2,426        18        28   

Equity futures

    1,374        —         38        1,007              —    

Equity options

    2,869        507        —         2,111        482        —    

Variance swaps

    2,503        20        26        2,430        51         

TRRs

    130        —               129        —          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-designated or non- qualifying derivatives

  $ 46,109      $ 2,313      $ 754      $ 43,294      $ 2,288      $ 643   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

42


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Net Derivative Gains (Losses)

The components of net derivative gains (losses) were as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Derivatives and hedging gains (losses) (1)

   $ 517       $      $ (36)       $ (94)   

Embedded derivatives

     65         124         179         71   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net derivative gains (losses)

   $         582       $         133       $         143       $         (23)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships, which are not presented elsewhere in this note.

The following table presents earned income on derivatives for the:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Qualifying hedges:

           

Net investment income

   $      $ —        $      $  

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

            12         16         23   

Non-qualifying hedges:

           

Net derivative gains (losses)

     47                55         17   

Policyholder benefits and claims

     (2)         —          (2)         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $         52       $         19       $         70       $         41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair Value Hedges

The Company designates and accounts for the following as fair value hedges when they have met the requirements of fair value hedging: (i) interest rate swaps to convert fixed rate investments to floating rate investments; (ii) interest rate swaps to convert fixed rate liabilities to floating rate liabilities; and (iii) foreign currency swaps to hedge the foreign currency fair value exposure of foreign currency denominated liabilities.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The Company recognizes gains and losses on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedges within net derivative gains (losses). The following table presents the amount of such net derivative gains (losses):

 

Derivatives in Fair Value
Hedging Relationships

  

Hedged Items in Fair Value
Hedging Relationships

  Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
Recognized
for Derivatives
    Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
Recognized for
Hedged Items
    Ineffectiveness
Recognized in
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
 
               (In millions)        

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

     

Interest rate swaps:

   Fixed maturity securities   $ (2)      $     $ (1)   
   Policyholder account balances (“PABs”) (1)     15        (15)        —    

Foreign currency swaps:

   Foreign-denominated PABs (2)     (44)        40        (4)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (31)      $ 26      $ (5)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

     

Interest rate swaps:

   Fixed maturity securities   $ (4)      $     $ (1)   
   PABs (1)           (5)        —    

Foreign currency swaps:

   Foreign-denominated PABs (2)     14        (17)        (3)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 15      $ (19)      $ (4)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

     

Interest rate swaps:

   Fixed maturity securities   $ (2)      $     $ (1)   
   PABs (1)           (3)        (1)   

Foreign currency swaps:

   Foreign-denominated PABs (2)     (32)        24        (8)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (32)      $ 22      $ (10)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

     

Interest rate swaps:

   Fixed maturity securities   $ (3)      $     $ (1)   
   PABs (1)     —         (1)        (1)   

Foreign currency swaps:

   Foreign-denominated PABs (2)     36        (43)        (7)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 33      $ (42)      $ (9)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Fixed rate liabilities.

 

(2)

Fixed rate or floating rate liabilities.

All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company designates and accounts for the following as cash flow hedges when they have met the requirements of cash flow hedging: (i) interest rate swaps to convert floating rate investments to fixed rate investments; (ii) foreign currency swaps to hedge the foreign currency cash flow exposure of foreign currency denominated investments and liabilities; (iii) interest rate forwards and credit forwards to lock in the price to be paid for forward purchases of investments; and (iv) interest rate swaps and interest rate forwards to hedge the forecasted purchases of fixed-rate investments.

 

 

44


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

In certain instances, the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transactions did not occur on the anticipated date, within two months of that date, or were no longer probable of occurring. There were no amounts reclassified into net derivative gains (losses) for both the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, related to such discontinued cash flow hedges. The net amounts reclassified into net derivative gains (losses) were $1 million for both the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, related to such discontinued cash flow hedges.

At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the maximum length of time over which the Company was hedging its exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions did not exceed seven years and five years, respectively.

The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before income tax, related to cash flow hedges:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at beginning of period

   $     142      $   (132)       $     239      $   (109)   

Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges

     187        35         91        14   

Amounts reclassified to net derivative gains (losses)

     2        (2)         1        (4)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at end of period

   $ 331      $ (99)       $ 331      $ (99)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

At June 30, 2012, $4 million of deferred net gains (losses) on derivatives in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

 

45


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The following table presents the effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships on the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and the interim condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity:

 

Derivatives in Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships

  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 Gains (Losses)
Recognized in Income (Loss)
on Derivatives
 
    (Effective Portion)     (Effective Portion)     (Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)
 
          Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
    Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
 
    (In millions)  

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

     

Interest rate swaps

  $ 96      $ —       $ —    

Foreign currency swaps

    19        (2)        —    

Interest rate forwards

    72        —         (1)   

Credit forwards

    —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 187      $ (2)      $ (1)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

     

Interest rate swaps

  $ 15      $     $ —    

Foreign currency swaps

    —         —         —    

Interest rate forwards

    20        —         (8)   

Credit forwards

    —               —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 35      $     $ (8)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

     

Interest rate swaps

  $ 62      $ —       $ —    

Foreign currency swaps

    14        (1)        —    

Interest rate forwards

    15        —         —    

Credit forwards

    —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 91      $ (1)      $ —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

     

Interest rate swaps

  $     $     $ —    

Foreign currency swaps

    (1)              —    

Interest rate forwards

    11        —         (8)   

Credit forwards

    —               —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $                         14      $                                              4      $                                  (8)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Non-Qualifying Derivatives and Derivatives for Purposes Other Than Hedging

The Company enters into the following derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting or for purposes other than hedging: (i) interest rate swaps, implied volatility swaps, caps and floors and interest rate futures to economically hedge its exposure to interest rates; (ii) foreign currency forwards and swaps to economically hedge its exposure to adverse movements in exchange rates; (iii) credit default swaps to economically hedge exposure to adverse movements in credit; (iv) equity futures, equity index options, interest rate futures and equity variance swaps to economically hedge liabilities embedded in certain variable annuity products; (v) credit default swaps to synthetically create investments; (vi) interest rate forwards to buy and sell securities to economically

 

46


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

hedge its exposure to interest rates; (vii) inflation swaps to reduce risk generated from inflation-indexed liabilities; (viii) covered call options for income generation; and (ix) equity options to economically hedge certain invested assets against adverse changes in equity indices.

The following tables present the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized in income for derivatives that were not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments:

 

     Net
Derivative
Gains (Losses)
     Net
Investment
Income (1)
     Policyholder
Benefits and
Claims (2)
 
     (In millions)  

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

        

Interest rate swaps

   $ 217       $ —        $ —    

Interest rate floors

     52         —          —    

Interest rate caps

     (10)         —          —    

Interest rate futures

     140         —          —    

Equity futures

     17         —           

Foreign currency swaps

     10         —          —    

Foreign currency forwards

            —          —    

Equity options

     48         (1)         —    

Interest rate options

     (11)         —          —    

Interest rate forwards

            —          —    

Variance swaps

     11         —          —    

Credit default swaps

     (14)         —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 469       $ (1)       $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

        

Interest rate swaps

   $ 28       $ —        $ —    

Interest rate floors

     18         —          —    

Interest rate caps

     (16)         —          —    

Interest rate futures

     (11)         —          —    

Equity futures

            —          (1)   

Foreign currency swaps

     (1)         —          —    

Foreign currency forwards

     (5)         —          —    

Equity options

            (1)         —    

Interest rate options

     —          —          —    

Interest rate forwards

                     —          —          —    

Variance swaps

     (4)         —          —    

Credit default swaps

                            —                          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 16       $ (1)       $ (1)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

47


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

     Net
Derivative
Gains (Losses)
     Net
Investment
Income (1)
     Policyholder
Benefits and
Claims (2)
 
     (In millions)  

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

        

Interest rate swaps

   $ 39       $ —        $ —    

Interest rate floors

     20         —          —    

Interest rate caps

     (12)         —          —    

Interest rate futures

     79         —          —    

Equity futures

     (93)         —          (23)   

Foreign currency swaps

            —          —    

Foreign currency forwards

            —          —    

Equity options

     (73)         (2)         —    

Interest rate options

     (11)         —          —    

Interest rate forwards

            —          —    

Variance swaps

     (49)         —          —    

Credit default swaps

            —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (84)       $ (2)       $ (23)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

        

Interest rate swaps

   $      $ —        $ —    

Interest rate floors

            —          —    

Interest rate caps

     (17)         —          —    

Interest rate futures

     (12)         —          —    

Equity futures

            —          (1)   

Foreign currency swaps

            —          —    

Foreign currency forwards

     (16)         —          —    

Equity options

     (21)         (2)         —    

Interest rate options

     —          —          —    

Interest rate forwards

     —          —          —    

Variance swaps

     (10)         —          —    

Credit default swaps

            —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (63)       $ (2)       $ (1)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures.

 

(2)

Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.

Credit Derivatives

In connection with synthetically created credit investment transactions, the Company writes credit default swaps for which it receives a premium to insure credit risk. Such credit derivatives are included within the non-qualifying derivatives and derivatives for purposes other than hedging table. If a credit event occurs, as defined by the contract, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the Company paying the counterparty the specified swap notional amount in exchange for the delivery of par quantities of the referenced credit obligation. The Company’s maximum amount at risk, assuming the value of all referenced credit

 

48


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

obligations is zero, was $2.5 billion and $2.1 billion at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company can terminate these contracts at any time through cash settlement with the counterparty at an amount equal to the then current fair value of the credit default swaps. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company would have paid $4 million and $11 million, respectively, to terminate all of these contracts.

The following table presents the estimated fair value, maximum amount of future payments and weighted average years to maturity of written credit default swaps at:

 

     June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Rating Agency Designation of Referenced
Credit Obligations (1)

   Estimated
Fair Value
of Credit
Default
Swaps
    Maximum
Amount

of Future
Payments under
Credit Default
Swaps (2)
    Weighted
Average
Years to
Maturity (3)
    Estimated
Fair Value
of Credit
Default
Swaps
    Maximum
Amount

of Future
Payments under
Credit Default
Swaps (2)
     Weighted
Average
Years to
Maturity (3)
 
     (In millions)           (In millions)         

Aaa/Aa/A

             

Single name credit default swaps (corporate)

   $     $ 167        3.7     $     $ 212         4.3  

Credit default swaps referencing indices

           661        2.6       —         661         3.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Subtotal

           828        2.8             873         3.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Baa

             

Single name credit default swaps (corporate)

     (4)        539        4.2       (6)        434         4.6  

Credit default swaps referencing indices

     (7)        1,124        5.0       (7)        793         4.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Subtotal

     (11)        1,663        4.8       (13)        1,227         4.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Ba

             

Single name credit default swaps (corporate)

     —         —                —         —            

Credit default swaps referencing indices

     —         —                —         —            
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Subtotal

     —         —                —         —            
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

B

             

Single name credit default swaps (corporate)

     —         —                —          —            

Credit default swaps referencing indices

     (1)        36        5.0       —          —            
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Subtotal

     (1)        36        5.0       —          —            
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total

   $ (4)      $ 2,527        4.1     $ (11)      $ 2,100         4.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

(1)

The rating agency designations are based on availability and the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings. If no rating is available from a rating agency, then an internally developed rating is used.

 

(2)

Assumes the value of the referenced credit obligations is zero.

 

49


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

(3)

The weighted average years to maturity of the credit default swaps is calculated based on weighted average notional amounts.

Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives

The Company may be exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative financial instruments. Generally, the current credit exposure of the Company’s derivative contracts is limited to the net positive estimated fair value of derivative contracts at the reporting date after taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements and any collateral received pursuant to credit support annexes.

The Company manages its credit risk related to OTC derivatives by entering into transactions with creditworthy counterparties, maintaining collateral arrangements and through the use of master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one counterparty to another at each due date and upon termination. Because exchange-traded futures are effected through regulated exchanges, and positions are marked to market on a daily basis, the Company has minimal exposure to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to such derivative instruments. See Note 5 for a description of the impact of credit risk on the valuation of derivative instruments.

The Company enters into various collateral arrangements which require both the pledging and accepting of collateral in connection with its OTC derivative instruments. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company was obligated to return cash collateral under its control of $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. This cash collateral is included in cash and cash equivalents or in short-term investments and the obligation to return it is included in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions in the consolidated balance sheets. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had received collateral consisting of various securities with a fair market value of $592 million and $315 million, respectively, which were held in separate custodial accounts. Subject to certain constraints, the Company is permitted by contract to sell or repledge this collateral, but at June 30, 2012, none of the collateral had been sold or repledged.

The Company’s collateral arrangements for its OTC derivatives generally require the counterparty in a net liability position, after considering the effect of netting agreements, to pledge collateral when the fair value of that counterparty’s derivatives reaches a pre-determined threshold. Certain of these arrangements also include credit-contingent provisions that provide for a reduction of these thresholds (on a sliding scale that converges toward zero) in the event of downgrades in the credit ratings of the Company and/or the counterparty. In addition, certain of the Company’s netting agreements for derivative instruments contain provisions that require both the Company and the counterparty to maintain a specific investment grade credit rating from each of Moody’s and S&P. If a party’s credit ratings were to fall below that specific investment grade credit rating, that party would be in violation of these provisions, and the other party to the derivative instruments could terminate the transactions and demand immediate settlement and payment based on such party’s reasonable valuation of the derivative instruments.

 

50


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The following table presents the estimated fair value of the Company’s OTC derivatives that are in a net liability position after considering the effect of netting agreements, together with the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the collateral pledged. The table also presents the incremental collateral that the Company would be required to provide if there was a one notch downgrade in the Company’s credit rating at the reporting date or if the Company’s credit rating sustained a downgrade to a level that triggered full overnight collateralization or termination of the derivative position at the reporting date. Derivatives that are not subject to collateral agreements are not included in the scope of this table.

 

            Estimated
Fair Value of
Collateral
Provided:
     Fair Value of Incremental
Collateral Provided Upon:
 
     Estimated
Fair Value of
Derivatives in Net
  Liability  Position (1)  
         Fixed Maturity    
Securities (2)
     One Notch
    Downgrade    
in the
Company’s
Credit
Rating
     Downgrade in the
  Company’s Credit Rating  
to  a Level that Triggers

Full Overnight
Collateralization or
Termination of
the Derivative Position
 
     (In millions)  

June 30, 2012

   $ 25      $ 7      $ 2      $ 17  

December 31, 2011

   $ 14      $ 9      $ 1      $ 10  

 

 

(1)

After taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements.

 

(2)

Included in fixed maturity securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Subject to certain constraints, the counterparties are permitted by contract to sell or repledge this collateral. At both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company did not provide any cash collateral.

Without considering the effect of netting agreements, the estimated fair value of the Company’s OTC derivatives with credit-contingent provisions that were in a gross liability position at June 30, 2012 was $86 million. At June 30, 2012, the Company provided collateral of $7 million in connection with these derivatives. In the unlikely event that both: (i) the Company’s credit rating was downgraded to a level that triggers full overnight collateralization or termination of all derivative positions; and (ii) the Company’s netting agreements were deemed to be legally unenforceable, then the additional collateral that the Company would be required to provide to its counterparties in connection with its derivatives in a gross liability position at June 30, 2012 would be $79 million. This amount does not consider gross derivative assets of $61 million for which the Company has the contractual right of offset.

The Company also has exchange-traded futures, which may require the pledging of collateral. At both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company did not pledge any securities collateral for exchange-traded futures. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company provided cash collateral for exchange-traded futures of $123 million and $140 million, respectively, which is included in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables.

Embedded Derivatives

The Company issues certain products or purchases certain investments that contain embedded derivatives that are required to be separated from their host contracts and accounted for as freestanding derivatives. These host contracts principally include: variable annuities with guaranteed minimum benefits, including guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWBs”), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMABs”) and certain

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIBs”); affiliated ceded reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs; affiliated assumed reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs and certain GMIBs; ceded reinsurance written on a funds withheld basis; and options embedded in debt or equity securities.

The following table presents the estimated fair value of the Company’s embedded derivatives at:

 

         June 30, 2012            December 31, 2011      
     (In millions)  

Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts:

     

Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits

   $                 2,846       $ 2,815   

Options embedded in debt or equity securities

     (10)         (2)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts

   $ 2,836       $ 2,813   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts:

     

Direct guaranteed minimum benefits

   $ 1,062       $ 1,363   

Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits

             

Funds withheld on ceded reinsurance

     565         416   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts

   $ 1,632       $ 1,783   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
         2012              2011              2012              2011      
     (In millions)  

Net derivative gains (losses) (1), (2)

   $ 65       $ 124       $ 179       $ 71   

 

 

(1)

The valuation of direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses), in connection with this adjustment, were $136 million and ($102) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $1 million and ($28) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. In addition, the valuation of ceded guaranteed minimum benefits includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses), in connection with this adjustment, were ($292) million and $39 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and ($18) million and $23 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

 

(2)

See Note 13 for discussion of affiliated net derivative gains (losses) included in the table above.

5. Fair Value

Considerable judgment is often required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of fair value, and the use of different assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis, including those items for which the Company has elected the FVO, were determined as described below. These estimated fair values and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy are summarized as follows:

 

    June 30, 2012  
    Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using        
    Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets

and Liabilities
(Level 1)
    Significant  Other
Observable

Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
    (In millions)  

Assets:

       

Fixed maturity securities:

       

U.S. corporate securities

  $ —       $ 16,772      $ 1,522      $ 18,294   

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

    4,850        4,306        —         9,156   

Foreign corporate securities

    —         7,707        698        8,405   

RMBS

    —         6,159        233        6,392   

CMBS

    —         2,292        158        2,450   

State and political subdivision securities

    —         2,253        25        2,278   

ABS

    —         1,833        289        2,122   

Foreign government securities

    —         1,309              1,311   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

    4,850        42,631        2,927        50,408   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

    48        73        22        143   

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    —         33        91        124   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    48        106        113        267   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other securities:

       

FVO general account securities

    —         50        —         50   

FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments (1)

    —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other securities

    —         50        —         50   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Short-term investments (2)

    1,837        593        22        2,452   

Mortgage loans held by CSEs

    —         2,932        —         2,932   

Derivative assets: (3)

       

Interest rate contracts

          1,821        183        2,006   

Foreign currency contracts

    —         115        —         115   

Credit contracts

    —                     15   

Equity market contracts

    —         507        20        527   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative assets

          2,450        211        2,663   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (4)

    —         —         2,846        2,846   

Separate account assets (5)

    213        79,246        149        79,608   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 6,950      $ 128,008      $ 6,268      $ 141,226   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

       

Derivative liabilities: (3)

       

Interest rate contracts

  $ 21      $ 612      $ 14      $ 647   

Foreign currency contracts

    —         54        —         54   

Credit contracts

    —         15              17   

Equity market contracts

    38              26        70   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative liabilities

    59        687        42        788   

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (4)

    —         —         1,632        1,632   

Long-term debt of CSEs

    —         2,849        —         2,849   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  $ 59      $ 3,536      $ 1,674      $ 5,269   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

     December 31, 2011  
     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using         
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
and Liabilities
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
     Total
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
     (In millions)  

Assets:

           

Fixed maturity securities:

           

U.S. corporate securities

   $ —        $ 15,907      $ 1,432      $ 17,339  

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

     4,326        3,722        —          8,048  

Foreign corporate securities

     —          7,913        580        8,493  

RMBS

     —          6,255        239        6,494  

CMBS

     —          2,080        147        2,227  

State and political subdivision securities

     —          2,032        23        2,055  

ABS

     —          1,658        220        1,878  

Foreign government securities

     —          1,245        2        1,247  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     4,326        40,812        2,643        47,781  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

     51        74        21        146  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

     —          30        76        106  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     51        104        97        252  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other securities:

           

FVO general account securities

     —          49        —          49  

FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments

     3,616        —          —          3,616  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other securities

     3,616        49        —          3,665  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Short-term investments (2)

     865        1,684        10        2,559  

Mortgage loans held by CSEs

     —          3,138        —          3,138  

Derivative assets: (3)

           

Interest rate contracts

     10        1,708        187        1,905  

Foreign currency contracts

     —          306        —          306  

Credit contracts

     —          12        6        18  

Equity market contracts

     4        482        51        537  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets

     14        2,508        244        2,766  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (4)

     —          —          2,815        2,815  

Separate account assets (5)

     185        72,244        130        72,559  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 9,057      $ 120,539      $ 5,939      $ 135,535  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Derivative liabilities: (3)

           

Interest rate contracts

   $ 1      $ 566      $ 13      $ 580  

Foreign currency contracts

     —          62        —          62  

Credit contracts

     —          21        7        28  

Equity market contracts

     —          2        8        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative liabilities

     1        651        28        680  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (4)

     —          —          1,783        1,783  

Long-term debt of CSEs

     —          3,065        —          3,065  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1      $ 3,716      $ 1,811      $ 5,528  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

During June 2012, the Company disposed of MetLife Europe which held the FVO contractholder-directed unit-linked investments. See Note 2 for discussion of this disposition.

 

(2)

Short-term investments as presented in the tables above differ from the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets because certain short-term investments are not measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

(3)

Derivative assets are presented within other invested assets in the consolidated balance sheets and derivative liabilities are presented within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The amounts are presented gross in the tables above to reflect the presentation in the consolidated balance sheets, but are presented net for purposes of the rollforward in the Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) tables.

 

(4)

Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts are presented within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables in the consolidated balance sheets. Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts are presented primarily within PABs and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. At June 30, 2012, fixed maturity securities and equity securities also included embedded derivatives of $0 and ($10) million, respectively. At December 31, 2011, fixed maturity securities and equity securities included embedded derivatives of $1 million and ($3) million, respectively.

 

(5)

Separate account assets are measured at estimated fair value. Investment performance related to separate account assets is fully offset by corresponding amounts credited to contractholders whose liability is reflected within separate account liabilities. Separate account liabilities are set equal to the estimated fair value of separate account assets.

Investments

On behalf of the Company’s chief investment officer and chief financial officer, a pricing and valuation committee that is independent of the trading and investing functions and comprised of senior management, provides oversight of control systems and valuation policies for securities, mortgage loans and derivatives. On a monthly basis, this committee reviews and approves new transaction types and markets, ensures that observable market prices and market-based parameters are used for valuation, wherever possible, determines that judgmental valuation adjustments, when applied, are based upon established policies and are applied consistently over time and provides oversight of the selection of independent third party pricing providers and the controls and procedures to evaluate third party pricing. Periodically, the chief accounting officer reports to the audit committee on compliance with fair value accounting standards.

The Company reviews its valuation methodologies on an ongoing basis and revises those methodologies when necessary based on changing market conditions. Assurance is gained on the overall reasonableness and consistent application of input assumptions, valuation methodologies and compliance with fair value accounting standards through controls designed to ensure valuations represent an exit price. Several controls are utilized, including certain monthly controls, which include, but are not limited to, analysis of portfolio returns to corresponding benchmark returns, comparing a sample of executed prices of securities sold to the fair value estimates, comparing fair value estimates to management’s knowledge of the current market, reviewing the bid/ask spreads to assess activity, comparing prices from multiple independent pricing services and ongoing due diligence to confirm that independent pricing services use market-based parameters. The process includes a determination of the observability of inputs used in estimated fair values received from independent pricing services or brokers by assessing whether these inputs can be corroborated by observable market data. The Company ensures that prices received from independent brokers, also referred to herein as “consensus pricing,” represent a reasonable estimate of fair value by reviewing such pricing with the Company’s knowledge of the current market dynamics and current pricing for similar financial instruments. While independent non-binding broker quotations are utilized, they are not used for a significant portion of the portfolio. For example, fixed maturity securities priced using independent non-binding broker quotations represent less than 0.5% of the total estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities and represent 7% of the total estimated fair value of Level 3 fixed maturity securities.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The Company also applies a formal process to challenge any prices received from independent pricing services that are not considered representative of estimated fair value. If prices received from independent pricing services are not considered reflective of market activity or representative of estimated fair value, independent non-binding broker quotations are obtained, or an internally developed valuation is prepared. Internally developed valuations of current estimated fair value, which reflect internal estimates of liquidity and nonperformance risks, compared with pricing received from the independent pricing services, did not produce material differences in the estimated fair values for the majority of the portfolio; accordingly, overrides have not been material. This is, in part, because internal estimates of liquidity and nonperformance risks are generally based on available market evidence and estimates used by other market participants. In the absence of such market-based evidence, management’s best estimate is used.

Securities, Short-term Investments and Long-term Debt of CSEs

When available, the estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, equity securities, other securities and short-term investments are based on quoted prices in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. Generally, these are the most liquid of the Company’s securities holdings and valuation of these securities does not involve management’s judgment.

When quoted prices in active markets are not available, the determination of estimated fair value is based on market standard valuation methodologies, giving priority to observable inputs. The significant inputs to the market standard valuation methodologies for certain types of securities with reasonable levels of price transparency are inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. When observable inputs are not available, the market standard valuation methodologies for determining the estimated fair value of certain types of securities that trade infrequently, and therefore have little or no price transparency, rely on inputs that are significant to the estimated fair value that are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. These unobservable inputs can be based in large part on management’s judgment or estimation and cannot be supported by reference to market activity. Even though these inputs are unobservable, management believes they are consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such securities and are considered appropriate given the circumstances.

The estimated fair value of long-term debt of CSEs is determined on a basis consistent with the methodologies described herein for securities.

The use of different methodologies, assumptions and inputs may have a material effect on the estimated fair values of the Company’s securities holdings.

Level 2 Measurements:

This level includes fixed maturity securities and equity securities priced principally by independent pricing services using observable inputs. Other securities and short-term investments within this level are of a similar nature and class to the Level 2 fixed maturity securities and equity securities described below.

U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities

These securities are principally valued using the market and income approaches. Valuations are based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active, or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques that use standard market observable inputs such as benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, new issuances, issuer rating, duration, and trades of identical or comparable securities. Investment

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

grade privately placed securities are valued using discounted cash flow (“DCF”) methodologies using standard market observable inputs, and inputs derived from, or corroborated by, market observable data including market yield curve, duration, call provisions, observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer. This level also includes certain below investment grade privately placed fixed maturity securities priced by independent pricing services that use observable inputs.

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active, or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques using standard market observable inputs such as benchmark U.S. Treasury yield curve, the spread off the U.S. Treasury yield curve for the identical security and comparable securities that are actively traded.

Foreign government and state and political subdivision securities

These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on matrix pricing or other similar techniques using standard market observable inputs including benchmark U.S. Treasury yield or other yields, issuer ratings, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads and reported trades of similar securities, including those within the same sub-sector or with a similar maturity or credit rating.

Structured securities comprised of RMBS, CMBS and ABS

These securities are principally valued using the market approach and income approach. Valuation is based primarily on matrix pricing, DCF methodologies or other similar techniques using standard market inputs including spreads for actively traded securities, spreads off benchmark yields, expected prepayment speeds and volumes, current and forecasted loss severity, rating, weighted average coupon, weighted average maturity, average delinquency rates, geographic region, debt-service coverage ratios and issuance-specific information including, but not limited to: collateral type, payment terms of the underlying assets, payment priority within the tranche, structure of the security, deal performance and vintage of loans.

Common and non-redeemable preferred stock

These securities are principally valued using the market approach where market quotes are available but are not considered actively traded. Valuation is based principally on observable inputs including quoted prices in markets that are not considered active.

Level 3 Measurements:

In general, fixed maturity securities and equity securities classified within Level 3 use many of the same valuation techniques and inputs as described in Level 2 Measurements. However, if key inputs are unobservable, or if the investments are less liquid and there is very limited trading activity, the investments are generally classified as Level 3. The use of independent non-binding broker quotations to value investments generally indicates there is a lack of liquidity or a lack of transparency in the process to develop the valuation estimates generally causing these investments to be classified in Level 3.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Short-term investments within this level are of a similar nature and class to the Level 3 securities described below; accordingly, the valuation techniques and significant market standard observable inputs used in their valuation are also similar to those described below.

U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities

These securities, including financial services industry hybrid securities classified within fixed maturity securities, are principally valued using the market approach. Valuations are based primarily on matrix pricing or other similar techniques that utilize unobservable inputs or inputs that cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data, including illiquidity premium, delta spread adjustments or spreads over below investment grade curves to reflect industry trends or specific credit-related issues; and inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2. Certain valuations are based on independent non-binding broker quotations.

Foreign government and state and political subdivision securities

These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on independent non-binding broker quotations and inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2.

Structured securities comprised of RMBS, CMBS and ABS

These securities are principally valued using the market approach and income approach. Valuation is based primarily on matrix pricing, DCF methodologies or other similar techniques that utilize inputs that are unobservable or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data including spreads over below investment grade curves to reflect industry trends on specific credit-related issues. Below investment grade securities, alternative residential mortgage loan RMBS and RMBS supported by sub-prime mortgage loans included in this level are valued based on inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2. Certain of these valuations are based on independent non-binding broker quotations.

Common and non-redeemable preferred stock

These securities, including privately held securities and financial services industry hybrid securities classified within equity securities, are principally valued using the market and income approaches. Valuations are based primarily on matrix pricing, DCF methodologies or other similar techniques using inputs such as comparable credit rating and issuance structure. Certain of these securities are valued based on inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2 and independent non-binding broker quotations.

Mortgage Loans Held by CSEs

The Company consolidates certain securitization entities that hold mortgage loans.

 

58


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Level 2 Measurements:

These investments are principally valued using the market approach. The principal market for these investments is the securitization market. The Company uses the quoted securitization market price of the obligations of the CSEs to determine the estimated fair value of these commercial loan portfolios. These market prices are determined principally by independent pricing services using observable inputs.

Separate Account Assets

Separate account assets are carried at estimated fair value and reported as a summarized total on the consolidated balance sheets. The estimated fair value of separate account assets is based on the estimated fair value of the underlying assets. Assets within the Company’s separate accounts include: mutual funds, fixed maturity securities, equity securities, derivatives, other limited partnership interests, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents.

Level 2 Measurements:

These assets are comprised of investments that are similar in nature to the instruments described under “— Securities, Short-term Investments and Long-term Debt of CSEs.” Also included are certain mutual funds without readily determinable fair values given prices are not published publicly. Valuation of the mutual funds is based upon quoted prices or reported net asset values (“NAVs”) provided by the fund managers.

Level 3 Measurements:

These assets are comprised of investments that are similar in nature to the instruments described under “— Securities, Short-term Investments and Long-term Debt of CSEs.” Separate account assets within this level also include other limited partnership interests. Other limited partnership interests are valued giving consideration to the value of the underlying holdings of the partnerships and by applying a premium or discount, if appropriate, for factors such as liquidity, bid/ask spreads, the performance record of the fund manager or other relevant variables which may impact the exit value of the particular partnership interest.

Derivatives

The estimated fair value of derivatives is determined through the use of quoted market prices for exchange-traded derivatives or through the use of pricing models for OTC derivatives. The determination of estimated fair value, when quoted market values are not available, is based on market standard valuation methodologies and inputs that management believes are consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such instruments. Derivative valuations can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, financial indices, credit spreads, default risk, nonperformance risk, volatility, liquidity and changes in estimates and assumptions used in the pricing models. The valuation process for derivatives is described above in “— Investments.”

The significant inputs to the pricing models for most OTC derivatives are inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Significant inputs that are observable generally include: interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rate curves, credit curves

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

and volatility. However, certain OTC derivatives may rely on inputs that are significant to the estimated fair value that are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Significant inputs that are unobservable generally include references to emerging market currencies and inputs that are outside the observable portion of the interest rate curve, credit curve, volatility or other relevant market measure. These unobservable inputs may involve significant management judgment or estimation. Even though unobservable, these inputs are based on assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and management believes they are consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such instruments.

The credit risk of both the counterparty and the Company are considered in determining the estimated fair value for all OTC derivatives, and any potential credit adjustment is based on the net exposure by counterparty after taking into account the effects of netting agreements and collateral arrangements. The Company values its derivative positions using the standard swap curve which includes a spread to the risk free rate. This credit spread is appropriate for those parties that execute trades at pricing levels consistent with the standard swap curve. As the Company and its significant derivative counterparties consistently execute trades at such pricing levels, additional credit risk adjustments are not currently required in the valuation process. The Company’s ability to consistently execute at such pricing levels is in part due to the netting agreements and collateral arrangements that are in place with all of its significant derivative counterparties. An evaluation of the requirement to make additional credit risk adjustments is performed by the Company each reporting period.

Most inputs for OTC derivatives are mid-market inputs but, in certain cases, bid level inputs are used when they are deemed more representative of exit value. Market liquidity, as well as the use of different methodologies, assumptions and inputs, may have a material effect on the estimated fair values of the Company’s derivatives and could materially affect net income.

Freestanding Derivatives

Level 2 Measurements:

This level includes all types of derivative instruments utilized by the Company with the exception of exchange-traded derivatives included within Level 1 and those derivative instruments with unobservable inputs as described in Level 3. These derivatives are principally valued using the income approach.

Interest rate contracts

Non-option-based. — Valuations are based on present value techniques, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve and LIBOR basis curves.

Option-based. — Valuations are based on option pricing models, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve, LIBOR basis curves and interest rate volatility.

Foreign currency contracts

Non-option-based. — Valuations are based on present value techniques, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve, LIBOR basis curves, currency spot rates and cross currency basis curves.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Credit contracts

Non-option-based. — Valuations are based on present value techniques, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve, credit curves and recovery rates.

Equity market contracts

Non-option-based. — Valuations are based on present value techniques, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve, spot equity index levels and dividend yield curves.

Option-based. Valuations are based on option pricing models, which utilize significant inputs that may include the swap yield curve, spot equity index levels, dividend yield curves and equity volatility.

Level 3 Measurements:

These derivatives are principally valued using the income approach. Valuations of non-option-based derivatives utilize present value techniques, whereas valuations of option-based derivatives utilize option pricing models. These valuation methodologies generally use the same inputs as described in the corresponding sections above for Level 2 measurements of derivatives. However, these derivatives result in Level 3 classification because one or more of the significant inputs are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

Interest rate contracts

Non-option-based. — Significant unobservable inputs may include the extrapolation beyond observable limits of the swap yield curve and LIBOR basis curves.

Credit contracts

Non-option-based. — Significant unobservable inputs may include credit spreads, repurchase rates and the extrapolation beyond observable limits of the swap yield curve and credit curves. Certain of these derivatives are valued based on independent non-binding broker quotations.

Equity market contracts

Non-option-based. — Significant unobservable inputs may include the extrapolation beyond observable limits of dividend yield curves.

Embedded Derivatives

Embedded derivatives principally include certain direct, assumed and ceded variable annuity guarantees and embedded derivatives related to funds withheld on ceded reinsurance. Embedded derivatives are recorded at estimated fair value with changes in estimated fair value reported in net income.

The Company issues and assumes certain variable annuity products with guaranteed minimum benefits. GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs are embedded derivatives, which are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host variable annuity contract, with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). These embedded derivatives are classified within PABs in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The fair value of these embedded derivatives, estimated as the present value of projected future benefits minus the present value of projected future fees using actuarial and capital market assumptions including expectations concerning policyholder behavior, is calculated by the Company’s actuarial department. The calculation is based on in-force business, and is performed using standard actuarial valuation software which projects future cash flows from the embedded derivative over multiple risk neutral stochastic scenarios using observable risk free rates.

Capital market assumptions, such as risk free rates and implied volatilities, are based on market prices for publicly traded instruments to the extent that prices for such instruments are observable. Implied volatilities beyond the observable period are extrapolated based on observable implied volatilities and historical volatilities. Actuarial assumptions, including mortality, lapse, withdrawal and utilization, are unobservable and are reviewed at least annually based on actuarial studies of historical experience.

The valuation of these guarantee liabilities includes adjustments for nonperformance risk and for a risk margin related to non-capital market inputs.

The nonperformance adjustment is determined by taking into consideration publicly available information relating to spreads in the secondary market for MetLife’s debt, including related credit default swaps. These observable spreads are then adjusted, as necessary, to reflect the priority of these liabilities and the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance subsidiaries compared to MetLife.

Risk margins are established to capture the non-capital market risks of the instrument which represent the additional compensation a market participant would require to assume the risks related to the uncertainties of such actuarial assumptions as annuitization, premium persistency, partial withdrawal and surrenders. The establishment of risk margins requires the use of significant management judgment, including assumptions of the amount and cost of capital needed to cover the guarantees. These guarantees may be more costly than expected in volatile or declining equity markets. Market conditions including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, equity indices, market volatility and foreign currency exchange rates; changes in nonperformance risk; and variations in actuarial assumptions regarding policyholder behavior, mortality and risk margins related to non-capital market inputs may result in significant fluctuations in the estimated fair value of the guarantees that could materially affect net income.

The Company assumed, from an affiliated insurance company, the risk associated with certain GMIBs and GMWBs. These embedded derivatives are included in other policy-related balances in the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). The value of the embedded derivatives on these assumed risks is determined using a methodology consistent with that described previously for the guarantees directly written by the Company.

The Company ceded, to an affiliated reinsurance company, the risk associated with certain of the GMIBs, GMABs and GMWBs described above that are also accounted for as embedded derivatives. In addition to ceding risks associated with guarantees that are accounted for as embedded derivatives, the Company also cedes, to the same affiliated reinsurance company, certain directly written GMIBs that are accounted for as insurance (i.e., not as embedded derivatives), but where the reinsurance agreement contains an embedded derivative. These embedded derivatives are included within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables in the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). The value of the embedded derivatives on these ceded risks is determined using a methodology consistent with that described

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

previously for the guarantees directly written by the Company with the exception of the input for nonperformance risk that reflects the credit of the reinsurer.

The estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives within funds withheld related to certain ceded reinsurance is determined based on the change in estimated fair value of the underlying assets held by the Company in a reference portfolio backing the funds withheld liability. The estimated fair value of the underlying assets is determined as previously described in “— Securities, Short-term Investments and Long-term Debt of CSEs.” The estimated fair value of these embedded derivatives is included, along with their funds withheld hosts, in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value recorded in net derivative gains (losses). Changes in the credit spreads on the underlying assets, interest rates and market volatility may result in significant fluctuations in the estimated fair value of these embedded derivatives that could materially affect net income.

Embedded Derivatives Within Asset and Liability Host Contracts

Level 3 Measurements:

Direct and Assumed Guaranteed Minimum Benefits

These embedded derivatives are principally valued using the income approach. Valuations are based on option pricing techniques, which utilize significant inputs that may include swap yield curve, currency exchange rates and implied volatilities. These embedded derivatives result in Level 3 classification because one or more of the significant inputs are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Significant unobservable inputs generally include: the extrapolation beyond observable limits of the swap yield curve and implied volatilities, actuarial assumptions for policyholder behavior and mortality and the potential variability in policyholder behavior and mortality, nonperformance risk and cost of capital for purposes of calculating the risk margin.

Reinsurance Ceded on Certain Guaranteed Minimum Benefits

These embedded derivatives are principally valued using the income approach. The valuation techniques and significant market standard unobservable inputs used in their valuation are similar to those described above in “— Direct and Assumed Guaranteed Minimum Benefits” and also include counterparty credit spreads.

Transfers between Levels:

Overall, transfers between levels occur when there are changes in the observability of inputs and market activity. Transfers into or out of any level are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period.

Transfers between Levels 1 and 2:

During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, there were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, transfers between Levels 1 and 2 were not significant. Any amounts for transfers between Levels 1 and 2 relate to assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value and still held at June 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Transfers into or out of Level 3:

Transfers into or out of Level 3 are presented in the tables which follow. Assets and liabilities are transferred into Level 3 when a significant input cannot be corroborated with market observable data. This occurs when market activity decreases significantly and underlying inputs cannot be observed, current prices are not available, and/or when there are significant variances in quoted prices, thereby affecting transparency. Assets and liabilities are transferred out of Level 3 when circumstances change such that a significant input can be corroborated with market observable data. This may be due to a significant increase in market activity, a specific event, or one or more significant input(s) becoming observable.

Transfers into Level 3 for fixed maturity securities and separate account assets were due primarily to a lack of trading activity, decreased liquidity and credit ratings downgrades (e.g., from investment grade to below investment grade) which have resulted in decreased transparency of valuations and an increased use of independent non-binding broker quotations and unobservable inputs to determine estimated fair value.

Transfers out of Level 3 for fixed maturity securities and separate account assets resulted primarily from increased transparency of both new issuances that subsequent to issuance and establishment of trading activity, became priced by independent pricing services and existing issuances that, over time, the Company was able to obtain pricing from, or corroborate pricing received from, independent pricing services with observable inputs or increases in market activity and upgraded credit ratings.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

The following table presents certain quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement for the more significant asset and liability classes measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

   

Valuation

Techniques

  

Significant Unobservable Inputs

   Range     Weighted
Average
 

Fixed maturity securities:

              

U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities

 

•  Matrix pricing

  

•  Delta spread adjustments (1)

     (100             420       51   
    

•  Illiquidity premium (1)

     30               30    
    

•  Spreads from below
investment grade curves (1)

     (158             1,776       538   
 

•  Consensus pricing

  

•  Offered quotes (2)

                    200          

RMBS

 

•  Market pricing

  

•  Quoted prices (2)

     100               300       200   

CMBS

 

•  Matrix pricing and DCF

  

•  Spreads from below investment grade curves (1)

                    18,555       9,838   

ABS

 

•  Matrix pricing and DCF

  

•  Spreads from below investment grade curves (1)

                    31,443       5,587   
 

•  Market pricing

  

•  Quoted prices (2)

     97               300       192   
 

•  Consensus pricing

  

•  Offered quotes (2)

                    107          

Foreign government securities

 

•  Consensus pricing

  

•  Offered quotes (2)

     192               198          

Derivatives:

              

Interest rate contracts

 

•  Present value techniques

  

•  Swap yield (1)

     228               340          

Credit contracts

 

•  Present value techniques

  

•  Credit spreads (1)

                    100    
 

•  Consensus pricing

  

•  Offered quotes (3)

                                 

Equity market contracts

 

•  Present value techniques

  

•  Volatility

     19             30        

Embedded derivatives:

              

Direct and ceded guaranteed minimum benefits

 

•  Option pricing techniques

  

•  Mortality rates:

         
    

Ages 0 - 40

     0             0.10  
    

Ages 41 - 60

     0.05             0.64  
    

Ages 61 - 115

     0.32             100  
    

•  Lapse rates:

         
    

Durations 1 - 10

     0.50             100  
    

Durations 11 - 20

     3             100  
    

Durations 21 - 116

     3             100  
    

•  Utilization rates (4)

     20             50  
    

•  Withdrawal rates

     0.07             10  
    

•  Long-term equity volatilities

     17.40             25  
      

•  Nonperformance risk spread

     0.35             1.05        

 

 

(1)

For this unobservable input, range and weighted average are presented in basis points.

 

(2)

For this unobservable input, range and weighted average are presented in accordance with the market convention for fixed maturity securities of dollars per hundred dollars of par.

 

(3)

At June 30, 2012, independent non-binding broker quotations were used in the determination of less than 1% of the total net derivative estimated fair value.

 

(4)

This range is attributable to certain GMIB and lifetime withdrawal benefits.

The following is a summary of the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement for other types of financial instruments classified within Level 3. These financial instruments

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

are subject to the controls described under “— Investments.” Generally, equity securities, other securities, short-term investments and securities included within separate account assets and embedded derivatives within funds withheld related to certain ceded reinsurance classified within Level 3 use the same valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs as previously described for fixed maturity securities. This includes matrix pricing and DCF methodologies, inputs such as quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2, as well as independent non-binding broker quotations.

A description of the sensitivity of the estimated fair value to changes in the significant unobservable inputs for certain of the major asset and liability classes described above is as follows:

U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities

Significant spread widening in isolation will adversely impact the overall valuation, while significant spread tightening will lead to substantial valuation increases. Significant increases (decreases) in illiquidity premiums in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations. Significant increases (decreases) in expected default rates in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations. Significant increases (decreases) in offered quotes in isolation would result in substantially higher (lower) valuations.

Foreign government securities

Significant spread widening in isolation will adversely impact the overall valuation, while significant spread tightening will lead to substantial valuation increases. Significant increases (decreases) in expected default rates in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations. Significant increases (decreases) in offered quotes in isolation would result in substantially higher (lower) valuations.

Structured securities comprised of RMBS, CMBS and ABS

Significant spread widening in isolation will adversely impact the overall valuation, while significant spread tightening will lead to substantial valuation increases. Significant increases (decreases) in offered quotes in isolation would result in substantially higher (lower) valuations. In general, changes in the assumptions used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates.

Interest rate contracts

Significant increases (decreases) in the unobservable portion of the swap yield curve in isolation will result in substantial valuation changes.

Credit contracts

Credit contracts with significant unobservable inputs are primarily comprised of credit default swaps written by the Company. Significant credit spread widening in isolation will result in substantially higher adverse valuations, while significant spread tightening will result in substantially lower adverse valuations. Significant increases (decreases) in offered quotes in isolation will result in substantially higher (lower) valuations.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Equity market contracts

Significant decreases in the equity volatility in isolation will adversely impact overall valuation, while significant increases in equity volatility will result in substantial valuation increases.

Direct and ceded guaranteed minimum benefits

For any increase (decrease) in mortality and lapse rates, the fair value of the guarantees will decrease (increase). For any increase (decrease) in utilization and volatility, the fair value of the guarantees will increase (decrease). Specifically for GMWBs, for any increase (decrease) in withdrawal rates, the fair value of the guarantees will increase (decrease). Specifically for GMABs and GMIBs, for any increase (decrease) in withdrawal rates, the fair value of the guarantees will decrease (increase).

The following tables summarize the change of all assets and (liabilities) measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), including realized and unrealized gains (losses) of all assets and (liabilities) and realized and unrealized gains (losses) of all assets and (liabilities) still held at the end of the respective periods:

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Fixed Maturity Securities:  
    U.S.
Corporate
Securities
    U.S.
Treasury and
Agency
Securities
    Foreign
Corporate
Securities
    RMBS     CMBS     State and
Political
Subdivision
Securities
    ABS     Foreign
Government
Securities
 
    (In millions)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,493      $ —       $ 622      $ 356      $ 152      $ 25      $ 257      $  

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

          —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         (6)        (3)        (1)        —         —         —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    14        —         19                    —         —         —    

Purchases (3)

    30        —         77              20        —         52        —    

Sales (3)

    (31)        —         (11)        (99)        (19)        —         (1)        —    

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    17        —         37        —         15        —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    (3)        —         (40)        (31)        (10)        —         (19)        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,522      $ —       $ 698      $ 233      $ 158      $ 25      $ 289      $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets
and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012 included in
net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ (6)      $ (2)      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Equity Securities:           Net Derivatives: (5)              
    Common
Stock
    Non-
redeemable
Preferred
Stock
    Short-term
Investments
    Interest
Rate
Contracts
    Credit
Contracts
    Equity
Market
Contracts
    Net
Embedded
Derivatives (6)
    Separate
Account
Assets (7)
 
    (In millions)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 25      $ 92      $ 20      $ 95      $     $ (17)      $ 1,148      $ 149   

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         22        (3)        11        69        —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (1)        (1)        —         71        —         —         —         —    

Purchases (3)

    —         —         22        —         —         —         —          

Sales (3)

    (2)        —         (20)        —         —         —         —         (1)   

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         (19)        —         —         (3)        —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 22      $ 91      $ 22      $ 169      $     $ (6)      $ 1,214      $ 149   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012 included in net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 19      $ (3)      $ 11      $ 72      $ —    

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Fixed Maturity Securities:  
    U.S.
Corporate
Securities
    U.S.
Treasury
and Agency
Securities
    Foreign
Corporate
Securities
    RMBS (8)     CMBS     State and
Political
Subdivision
Securities
    ABS (8)     Foreign
Government
Securities
 
    (In millions)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,428      $ 32      $ 782      $ 255      $ 152      $ 32      $ 324      $  

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

    —         —               —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

          —         (19)        (2)              —         —         —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    12        —         18        (2)        —         (7)        (1)        —    

Purchases (3)

    64        —         293              18        —               —    

Sales (3)

    (42)        —         (286)        (2)        (9)        —         (18)        —    

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

          —         11        —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    (24)        (32)        (44)        (4)        (8)        —         (232)        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,445      $ —       $ 756      $ 250      $ 155      $ 25      $ 77      $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets
and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011 included in
net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $ —       $ —       $     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ (6)      $ (2)      $ —       $ —       $ (1)      $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

69


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Equity Securities:           Net Derivatives: (5)              
    Common
Stock
    Non-
redeemable
Preferred
Stock
    Short-term
Investments
    Interest
Rate
Contracts
    Credit
Contracts
    Equity
Market
Contracts
    Net
Embedded
Derivatives (6)
    Separate
Account
Assets (7)
 
    (In millions)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 31      $ 219      $ 82      $ (75)      $ 11      $     $ 647      $ 130   

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         (24)        —         —         —         —         —         (1)   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —               —         (4)        126        —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

          24        —         12        —         —         —         —    

Purchases (3)

    —         —         58        —         —         —         —          

Sales (3)

    —         (98)        (48)        —         —         —         —         —    

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         (1)        —               —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (1)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 32      $ 121      $ 92      $ (62)      $ 10      $     $ 782      $ 130   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011 included in net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ (5)      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $     $ —       $ (4)      $ 126      $ —    

 

70


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Fixed Maturity Securities:  
    U.S.
Corporate
Securities
    U.S.
Treasury
and Agency
Securities
    Foreign
Corporate
Securities
    RMBS     CMBS     State and
Political
Subdivision
Securities
    ABS     Foreign
Government
Securities
 
    (In millions)  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,432       $ —       $ 580       $ 239       $ 147       $ 23       $ 220      $   

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

           —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         (8)        (2)        (2)        —         —         —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (2)        —         20         16                            —    

Purchases (3)

    122         —         80         —         21         —         95        —    

Sales (3)

    (55)        —         (16)        (20)        (29)        —         (9)        —    

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    27        —         53         —         15         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    (5)        —         (11)        —         —         —         (18)        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,522      $ —       $ 698       $ 233       $ 158      $ 25      $ 289      $   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012 included in net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ (6)      $ (2)      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

71


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Equity Securities:           Net Derivatives: (5)              
    Common
Stock
    Non-
redeemable
Preferred
Stock
    Short-term
Investments
    Interest
Rate
Contracts
    Credit
Contracts
    Equity
Market
Contracts
    Net
Embedded
Derivatives (6)
    Separate
Account
Assets (7)
 
    (In millions)  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 21       $ 76       $ 10       $ 174       $ (1)      $ 43       $ 1,032       $ 130    

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

    (3)        —         —         —         —         —         —         19    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         10                (49)        181         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

           15         —         14         —         —         —         —    

Purchases (3)

    —         —         22        —         —         —         —           

Sales (3)

    —         —         (10)        —         —         —         —         (2)   

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         (29)        —         —                —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 22       $ 91       $ 22       $ 169       $      $ (6)      $ 1,214       $ 149    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012 included in net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ (3)      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $      $      $ (49)      $ 186       $ —    

 

72


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Fixed Maturity Securities:  
    U.S.
Corporate
Securities
    U.S.
Treasury
and Agency
Securities
    Foreign
Corporate
Securities
    RMBS (8)     CMBS     State and
Political
Subdivision
Securities
    ABS (8)     Foreign
Government
Securities
 
    (In millions)  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,510       $ 34       $ 880       $ 282       $ 130       $ 32       $ 321       $ 14    

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

           —                —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

           —         (17)        (2)        —         —         (6)        —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    21         —         35               17         (7)               —    

Purchases (3)

    88         —         296         —         18         —         16         —    

Sales (3)

    (91)        (1)        (392)        (15)        (10)        —         (34)        (12)   

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers into Level 3(4)

          —         11        —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3(4)

    (91)        (33)        (58)        (16)        —         —         (227)        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,445       $ —       $ 756       $ 250       $ 155       $ 25       $ 77       $   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets
and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011 included in
net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $      $ —       $      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ (6)      $ (2)      $ —       $ —       $ (3)      $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

73


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
    Equity Securities:     Short-term
Investments
    Net Derivatives: (5)     Net
Embedded
Derivatives (6)
    Separate
Account
Assets (7)
 
    Common
Stock
    Non-
redeemable
Preferred
Stock
      Interest
Rate
Contracts
    Credit
Contracts
    Equity
Market
Contracts
     
    (In millions)  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011:

               

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 22      $ 214      $ 173      $ (61)      $ 11      $ 12      $ 677      $ 133   

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

               

Net income (loss): (1), (2)

               

Net investment income

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Net investment gains (losses)

          (24)        (1)        —         —         —         —         (5)   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —                     (10)        73        —    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

          28        —               —         —         —         —    

Purchases (3)

          —         92        —         —         —         —          

Sales (3)

    (5)        (97)        (172)        —         —         —         —         (1)   

Issuances (3)

    —         —         —         —         (1)        —         —         —    

Settlements (3)

    —         —         —         —         (1)        —         32        —    

Transfers into Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfers out of Level 3 (4)

    —         —         —         (7)        —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 32      $ 121     $ 92      $ (62)      $ 10      $     $ 782      $ 130   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011 included in net income (loss):

               

Net investment income

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net investment gains (losses)

  $ —       $ (5)      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net derivative gains (losses)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $     $     $ (10)      $ 75      $ —    

 

 

(1)

Amortization of premium/discount is included within net investment income. Impairments charged to earnings on securities are included in net investment gains (losses). Lapses associated with net embedded derivatives are included in net derivative gains (losses).

 

(2)

Interest and dividend accruals, as well as cash interest coupons and dividends received, are excluded from the rollforward.

 

(3)

The amount reported within purchases, sales, issuances and settlements is the purchase or issuance price and the sales or settlement proceeds based upon the actual date purchased or issued and sold or settled, respectively. Items purchased/issued and sold/settled in the same period are excluded from the rollforward. Fees attributed to embedded derivatives are included in settlements.

 

(4)

Total gains and losses (in earnings and other comprehensive income (loss)) are calculated assuming transfers into and/or out of Level 3 occurred at the beginning of the period. Items transferred into and/or out of Level 3 in the same period are excluded from the rollforward.

 

(5)

Freestanding derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.

 

(6)

Embedded derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

(7)

Investment performance related to separate account assets is fully offset by corresponding amounts credited to contractholders within separate account liabilities. Therefore, such changes in estimated fair value are not recorded in net income. For the purpose of this disclosure, these changes are presented within net investment gains (losses).

 

(8)

See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for discussion of a reclassification from the ABS sector to the RMBS sector for securities backed by sub-prime residential mortgage loans.

Fair Value Option

Assets and Liabilities Held by CSEs

The Company has elected the FVO for the following assets and liabilities held by CSEs: commercial mortgage loans and long-term debt. The following table presents these commercial mortgage loans accounted for under the FVO at:

 

                                                             
       June 30, 2012          December 31, 2011    
     (In millions)  

Unpaid principal balance

   $ 2,814       $ 3,019   

Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance

     118         119   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Carrying value at estimated fair value

   $ 2,932       $ 3,138   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the long-term debt accounted for under the FVO related to commercial mortgage loans at:

 

                                                             
       June 30, 2012          December 31, 2011    
     (In millions)  

Contractual principal balance

   $ 2,719       $ 2,925   

Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance

     130         140   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Carrying value at estimated fair value

   $ 2,849       $ 3,065   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest income on commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs is recorded in net investment income. Interest expense on long-term debt of CSEs is recorded in other expenses. Gains and losses from initial measurement, subsequent changes in estimated fair value and gains or losses on sales of both the commercial mortgage loans and the long-term debt are recognized in net investment gains (losses). See Note 3.

 

75


Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

Certain assets are measured at estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis and are not included in the tables presented above. The amounts below relate to certain investments measured at estimated fair value during the period and still held at the reporting dates and which are categorized as Level 3 measurements.

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2012     2011  
    Carrying
Value Prior to
Measurement
    Estimated
Fair
Value  After
Measurement
    Net
Investment
Gains
(Losses)
    Carrying
Value Prior to
Measurement
    Estimated
Fair
Value After
Measurement
    Net
Investment
Gains
(Losses)
 
    (In millions)  

Mortgage loans, net (1)

  $     $ 12      $     $ —       $     $  

Other limited partnership interests (2)

  $     $     $ (1)      $     $     $ (1)   

Real estate joint ventures (3)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2012     2011  
    Carrying
Value Prior to
Measurement
    Estimated
Fair

Value After
Measurement
    Net
Investment
Gains
(Losses)
    Carrying
Value Prior to
Measurement
    Estimated
Fair
Value After
Measurement
    Net
Investment
Gains
(Losses)
 
    (In millions)  

Mortgage loans, net (1)

  $     $ 12      $     $ —       $     $  

Other limited partnership interests (2)

  $     $     $ (2)      $     $     $ (1)   

Real estate joint ventures (3)

  $     $     $ (3)      $ —       $ —       $ —    

 

 

 

(1)

Mortgage loansThese impaired mortgage loans are written down to their estimated fair values which are reported as losses. Subsequent improvements in estimated fair value on previously impaired loans recorded through a reduction in the previously established valuation allowance are reported as gains. Estimated fair values for impaired mortgage loans are based on market prices or, if the loans are in foreclosure or are otherwise determined to be collateral dependent, on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, or the present value of the expected future cash flows.

 

(2)

Other limited partnership interests — These impaired investments were accounted for using the cost method. Impairments were recognized at estimated fair value determined from information provided in the financial statements of the underlying entities. These investments include private equity and debt funds that typically invest primarily in various strategies including domestic and international leveraged buyout funds; power, energy, timber and infrastructure development funds; venture capital funds; and below investment grade debt and mezzanine debt funds. The estimated fair values of these investments have been determined using NAV data. Distributions will be generated from investment gains, from operating income from the underlying investments of the funds and from liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. It is estimated that the underlying assets of the funds will be liquidated over the next two to 10 years. Unfunded commitments for these investments were $2 million and less than $1 million at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

(3)

Real estate joint ventures — These impaired investments were accounted for using the cost method. Impairments were recognized at estimated fair value determined from information provided in the financial statements of the underlying entities. These investments include several real estate funds that typically invest primarily in commercial real estate. The estimated fair values of these investments have been determined using NAV data. Distributions will be generated from investment gains, from operating income from the underlying investments of the funds and from liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. It is estimated that the underlying assets of the funds will be liquidated over the next two to 10 years. Unfunded commitments for these investments were $3 million at June 30, 2012. There were no unfunded commitments for these investments at June 30, 2011.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The tables below exclude certain financial instruments. The excluded financial instruments are as follows: cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions and those short-term investments that are not securities, such as time deposits, and are excluded from the preceding three level hierarchy table. The estimated fair value of these financial instruments, which are primarily classified in Level 2, approximate carrying value as they are short-term in nature such that the Company believes there is minimal risk of material changes in interest rates or credit quality. The table below also excludes financial instruments reported at estimated fair value on a recurring basis. See “— Recurring Fair Value Measurements.” All remaining balance sheet amounts excluded from the table below are not considered financial instruments subject to this disclosure.

The carrying values, estimated fair values and, for June 30, 2012, their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy, for such financial instruments, are summarized as follows:

 

    June 30, 2012  
          Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using        
    Carrying
Value
    Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets

and Liabilities
(Level 1)
    Significant Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
    Total
Estimated
Fair

Value
 
    (In millions)  

Assets:

         

Mortgage loans, net

  $ 6,463      $ —       $ —       $ 6,859      $ 6,859   

Policy loans

  $ 1,232      $ —       $ 863      $ 475      $ 1,338   

Real estate joint ventures

  $ 61      $ —       $ —       $ 105      $ 105   

Other limited partnership interests

  $ 101      $ —       $ —       $ 121      $ 121   

Other invested assets

  $ 430      $ —       $ —       $ 511      $ 511   

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables

  $ 5,972      $ —       $ 123      $ 6,813      $ 6,936   

Liabilities:

         

PABs

  $ 22,851      $ —       $ —       $ 24,533      $ 24,533   

Long-term debt

  $ 792      $ —       $ 961      $ —       $ 961   

Other liabilities

  $ 379      $ —       $ 230      $ 149      $ 379   

Separate account liabilities

  $ 1,286      $ —       $ 1,286      $ —       $ 1,286   

Commitments: (1)

         

Mortgage loan commitments

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $     $  

Commitments to fund bank credit facilities and private corporate bond investments

  $ —       $ —       $     $ —       $  

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

     December 31, 2011  
     Carrying
Value
     Estimated
Fair

Value
 
     (In millions)  

Assets:

     

Mortgage loans, net

   $ 6,662       $ 6,946   

Policy loans

   $ 1,203       $ 1,307   

Real estate joint ventures

   $ 69       $ 107   

Other limited partnership interests

   $ 98       $ 126   

Other invested assets

   $ 430       $ 477   

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables

   $ 5,973       $ 6,880   

Liabilities:

     

PABs

   $ 23,144       $ 24,732   

Long-term debt

   $ 792       $ 970   

Other liabilities

   $ 224       $ 224   

Separate account liabilities

   $ 1,240       $ 1,240   

Commitments: (1)

     

Mortgage loan commitments

   $ —        $ —    

Commitments to fund bank credit facilities and
private corporate bond investments

   $ —        $  

 

 

(1)

Commitments are off-balance sheet obligations. Negative estimated fair values represent off-balance sheet liabilities. See Note 9 for additional information on these off-balance sheet obligations.

The methods, assumptions and significant valuation techniques and inputs used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments are summarized as follows:

Mortgage Loans

The estimated fair value of mortgage loans was primarily determined by estimating expected future cash flows and discounting them using current interest rates for similar mortgage loans with similar credit risk.

Policy Loans

Policy loans with fixed interest rates are classified within Level 3. The estimated fair values for these loans are determined using a DCF model applied to groups of similar policy loans determined by the nature of the underlying insurance liabilities. Cash flow estimates are developed by applying a weighted-average interest rate to the outstanding principal balance of the respective group of policy loans and an estimated average maturity determined through experience studies of the past performance of policyholder repayment behavior for similar loans. These cash flows are discounted using current risk-free interest rates with no adjustment for borrower credit risk as these loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the underlying insurance policy. Policy loans with variable interest rates are classified within Level 2 and the estimated fair value approximates carrying value due to the absence of borrower credit risk and the short time period between interest rate resets, which presents minimal risk of a material change in estimated fair value due to changes in market interest rates.

Real Estate Joint Ventures and Other Limited Partnership Interests

The amounts disclosed in the preceding tables consist of those investments accounted for using the cost method.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

The estimated fair values for cost method real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests are generally based on the Company’s share of the NAV as provided in the financial statements of the investees. In certain circumstances, management may adjust the NAV by a premium or discount when it has sufficient evidence to support applying such adjustments.

Other Invested Assets

Other invested assets within the preceding tables are comprised of loans to affiliates. The estimated fair value of loans to affiliates is determined by discounting the expected future cash flows using market interest rates currently available for instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Premiums, Reinsurance and Other Receivables

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables in the preceding tables are principally comprised of certain amounts recoverable under reinsurance agreements, amounts on deposit with financial institutions to facilitate daily settlements related to certain derivative positions and amounts receivable for securities sold but not yet settled.

Amounts recoverable under ceded reinsurance agreements, which the Company has determined do not transfer significant risk such that they are accounted for using the deposit method of accounting, have been classified within Level 3. The valuation is based on DCF methodologies using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value is determined using interest rates determined to reflect the appropriate credit standing of the assuming counterparty.

The amounts on deposit for derivative settlements, classified within Level 2, essentially represent the equivalent of demand deposit balances and amounts due for securities sold are generally received over short periods such that the estimated fair value approximates carrying value.

PABs

PABs in the preceding tables include investment contracts. Embedded derivatives on investment contracts and certain variable annuity guarantees accounted for as embedded derivatives are excluded from this caption in the preceding tables as they are separately presented in “— Recurring Fair Value Measurements.”

The investment contracts primarily include certain funding agreements, fixed deferred annuities, modified guaranteed annuities, fixed term payout annuities and total control accounts. The valuation of these investment contracts is based on DCF methodologies using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value is determined using current market risk-free interest rates adding a spread to reflect the nonperformance risk in the liability.

Long-term Debt

The estimated fair values of long-term debt are principally valued using market standard valuation methodologies. Valuations are based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques that use standard market observable inputs such as quoted prices in markets that are not active and observable yields and spreads in the market. Instruments valued using DCF methodologies use standard market observable inputs including market yield curve, duration, observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Other Liabilities

Other liabilities consist primarily of interest payable, amounts due for securities purchased but not yet settled and funds withheld amounts payable, which are contractually withheld by the Company in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreements and are recorded using the deposit method of accounting. The Company evaluates the specific terms, facts and circumstances of each instrument to determine the appropriate estimated fair values, which are not materially different from the carrying values.

Separate Account Liabilities

Separate account liabilities included in the preceding tables represent those balances due to policyholders under contracts that are classified as investment contracts.

Separate account liabilities classified as investment contracts primarily represent variable annuities with no significant mortality risk to the Company such that the death benefit is equal to the account balance and certain contracts that provide for benefit funding.

Since separate account liabilities are fully funded by cash flows from the separate account assets which are recognized at estimated fair value as described in the section “— Recurring Fair Value Measurements,” the value of those assets approximates the estimated fair value of the related separate account liabilities. The valuation techniques and inputs for separate account liabilities are similar to those described for separate account assets.

Mortgage Loan Commitments and Commitments to Fund Bank Credit Facilities and Private Corporate Bond Investments

The estimated fair values for mortgage loan commitments that will be held for investment and commitments to fund bank credit facilities and private corporate bonds that will be held for investment reflected in the above tables represent the difference between the discounted expected future cash flows using interest rates that incorporate current credit risk for similar instruments on the reporting date and the principal amounts of the commitments.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

6.  Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Information regarding DAC and value of business acquired (“VOBA”) was as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2012      2011  
     DAC      VOBA      Total      DAC      VOBA      Total  
                   (In millions)                

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 3,182       $ 1,006       $ 4,188       $ 2,705       $ 1,686       $ 4,391   

Capitalizations

     494         —          494         631         —          631   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     3,676         1,006         4,682         3,336         1,686         5,022   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization related to:

                 

Net investment gains (losses)

     (65)         (3)         (68)         (52)                (51)   

Other expenses

     (280)         (106)         (386)         (214)         (137)         (351)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amortization

     (345)         (109)         (454)         (266)         (136)         (402)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized investment gains (losses)

     (19)         (78)         (97)         (14)         (68)         (82)   

Disposition and other (1)

     (159)         —          (159)                —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 3,153       $ 819       $ 3,972       $ 3,058       $ 1,482       $ 4,540   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 2 for discussion of the disposition.

Amortization of DAC and VOBA is attributed to both investment gains and losses and to other expenses for the amount of gross margins or profits originating from transactions other than investment gains and losses. Unrealized investment gains and losses represent the amount of DAC and VOBA that would have been amortized if such gains and losses had been recognized.

See Note 1 for information on the retrospective application of the adoption of new accounting guidance related to DAC.

Information regarding DAC and VOBA by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows:

 

     DAC      VOBA      Total  
     June 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     June 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     June 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 
     (In millions)  

Retail

   $ 3,145       $ 3,042       $ 819       $ 1,005       $ 3,964       $ 4,047   

Corporate Benefit Funding

            12         —                        13   

Corporate & Other

     —          128         —          —          —          128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,153       $ 3,182       $ 819       $ 1,006       $ 3,972       $ 4,188   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

7.  Goodwill

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company reorganized its business into two segments: Retail and Corporate Benefit Funding. See Note 12 for a discussion of the Company’s new segments. As a result of the reorganization, the Company reallocated goodwill from the former segments to the new segments as shown in the below table under “Goodwill Transfers.”

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is the operating segment or a business one level below the operating segment, if discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. For each operating segment, the reporting units were determined to be either the operating segment or the components thereof.

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill in each of the Company’s segments, as well as Corporate & Other, and the balances at:

 

         December 31, 2011          Goodwill
    Transfers    
         June 30, 2012      
     (In millions)  

2011

        

Insurance Products

   $ 22       $ (22)       $ —    

Retirement Products

     219         (219)         —    

Corporate Benefit Funding

     307         (307)         —    

Corporate & Other

     405         (405)         —    

2012 

        

Retail

     —          236         236   

Corporate Benefit Funding

     —          307         307   

Corporate & Other

     —          410         410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 953       $ —        $ 953   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company had no accumulated goodwill impairment at June 30, 2012. In 2012, Corporate & Other includes goodwill associated with the non-medical health business (see Note 12).

8.  Insurance

Insurance Liabilities

Insurance liabilities, including affiliated insurance liabilities on reinsurance assumed and ceded, were as follows:

 

    Future  Policy
Benefits
    Policyholder  Account
Balances
    Other  Policy-Related
Balances
 
    June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
    June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
    June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
    (In millions)  

Retail

  $ 5,689      $ 5,175      $ 28,994      $ 30,001      $ 2,727      $ 2,577   

Corporate Benefit Funding

    14,401        14,028        8,621        8,375        16        14   

Corporate & Other (1)

    5,973        6,280              3,699        346        398   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 26,063      $ 25,483      $ 37,616      $ 42,075      $ 3,089      $ 2,989   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 2 for discussion of a disposition.

See Note 13 for discussion of affiliated reinsurance liabilities included in the table above.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Guarantees

As discussed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report, the Company issues variable annuity products with guaranteed minimum benefits. The non-life-contingent portion of GMWB, GMAB and the portion of certain GMIB that does not require annuitization are accounted for as embedded derivatives in PABs. These guarantees are recorded at estimated fair value with changes in estimated fair value recorded in net derivative gains (losses), and are excluded from the net amount at risk and other disclosures below.

Based on the type of guarantee, the Company defines net amount at risk as listed below.

 

   

In the Event of Death — Defined as the guaranteed minimum death benefit less the total contract account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date.

 

   

At Annuitization — Defined as the amount (if any) that would be required to be added to the total contract account value to purchase a lifetime income stream, based on current annuity rates, equal to the minimum amount provided under the guaranteed benefit. This amount represents the Company’s potential economic exposure to such guarantees in the event all contractholders were to annuitize on the balance sheet date, even though the contracts contain terms that only allow annuitization of the guaranteed amount after the 10th anniversary of the contract, which not all contractholders have achieved.

 

   

Universal and Variable Life Contracts — Defined as the guarantee amount less the account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date.

These amounts include direct business, but exclude offsets from hedging or reinsurance, if any. As discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report, the Company has reinsured substantially all of these living and death benefit guarantees associated with its variable annuities issued since 2006 to an affiliated reinsurer, and certain portions of the living and death benefit guarantees associated with its variable annuities issued prior to 2006 to affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurers. Therefore, the net amounts at risk presented below reflect the economic exposures of the living and death benefit guarantees associated with the variable annuities, but not necessarily their impact to the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Information regarding the liabilities for guarantees (excluding base policy liabilities) relating to annuity and universal and variable life contracts was as follows:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     In the
Event of Death
     At
Annuitization
     In the
Event of Death
     At
Annuitization
 
     (In millions)  

Annuity Contracts (1)

           

Variable Annuity Guarantees

           

Total contract account value

   $ 83,063       $ 46,654          $ 76,550       $ 41,713      

Separate account value

   $ 77,613       $ 44,858          $ 70,635       $ 39,454      

Net amount at risk

   $ 4,326       $ 1,781(2)       $ 5,515       $ 1,444(2)   

Average attained age of contractholders

     63 years          63 years             62 years          62 years       

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Secondary Guarantees  
     (In millions)  

Universal and Variable Life Contracts (1)

     

Account value (general and separate account)

   $ 5,559       $ 5,177   

Net amount at risk

   $ 83,991       $ 80,477   

Average attained age of policyholders

     58 years          58 years    

 

 

(1)

The Company’s annuity and life contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract. Therefore, the amounts listed above may not be mutually exclusive.

 

(2)

The Company has previously disclosed the net amount at risk based on the excess of the benefit base over the contractholder’s total contract account value on the balance sheet date. Such amounts were $6.3 billion and $6.6 billion at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company has provided, in the table above, the net amount as risk as defined above. The Company believes that this definition is more representative of the potential economic exposures of these guarantees as the contractholders do not have access to this difference other than through annuitization.

See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report.

9.  Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees

Contingencies

Litigation

The Company is a defendant in a number of litigation matters. In some of the matters, large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought. Modern pleading practice in the U.S. permits considerable variation in the assertion of monetary damages or other relief. Jurisdictions may permit claimants not to specify the monetary damages sought or may permit claimants to state only that the amount sought is sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of the trial court. In addition, jurisdictions may permit plaintiffs to allege monetary damages in amounts well exceeding reasonably possible verdicts in the jurisdiction for similar matters. This variability in pleadings, together with the actual experience of the Company in litigating or resolving through settlement numerous claims over an extended period of time, demonstrates to management that the monetary relief which may be specified in a lawsuit or claim bears little relevance to its merits or disposition value.

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Due to the vagaries of litigation, the outcome of a litigation matter and the amount or range of potential loss at particular points in time may normally be difficult to ascertain. Uncertainties can include how fact finders will evaluate documentary evidence and the credibility and effectiveness of witness testimony, and how trial and appellate courts will apply the law in the context of the pleadings or evidence presented, whether by motion practice, or at trial or on appeal. Disposition valuations are also subject to the uncertainty of how opposing parties and their counsel will themselves view the relevant evidence and applicable law.

The Company establishes liabilities for litigation and regulatory loss contingencies when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Liabilities have been established for some of the matters below. It is possible that some of the matters could require the Company to pay damages or make other expenditures or establish accruals in amounts that could not be estimated at June 30, 2012.

Matters as to Which an Estimate Can Be Made

For some of the matters discussed below, the Company is able to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss. For such matters where a loss is believed to be reasonably possible, but not probable, no accrual has been made. As of June 30, 2012, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued for these matters was not material for the Company.

Matters as to Which an Estimate Cannot Be Made

For other matters disclosed below, the Company is not currently able to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. The Company is often unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss until developments in such matters have provided sufficient information to support an assessment of the range of possible loss, such as quantification of a damage demand from plaintiffs, discovery from other parties and investigation of factual allegations, rulings by the court on motions or appeals, analysis by experts, and the progress of settlement negotiations. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Company reviews relevant information with respect to litigation contingencies and updates its accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of loss based on such reviews.

Sales Practices Claims

Over the past several years, the Company has faced claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper marketing or sales of individual life insurance policies, annuities, mutual funds or other products. Some of the current cases seek substantial damages, including punitive and treble damages and attorneys’ fees. The Company continues to vigorously defend against the claims in these matters. The Company believes adequate provision has been made in its consolidated financial statements for all probable and reasonably estimable losses for sales practices matters.

Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut are engaged in an arbitration proceeding to determine whether MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut is owed money from Connecticut General Life Insurance Company or is required to refund several million dollars it collected and/or should stop submitting certain claims under reinsurance contracts in which Connecticut General Life Insurance Company reinsured death benefits payable under certain MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut annuities.

A former Tower Square Securities, Inc. (“Tower Square”) financial services representative is alleged to have misappropriated funds from customers. The Illinois Securities Division, the U.S. Postal Inspector, the Internal Revenue Service, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have

 

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Table of Contents

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

conducted inquiries. Tower Square has made remediation to all the affected customers. The Illinois Securities Division has issued a Statement of Violations to Tower Square, and Tower Square is conducting discussions with the Illinois Securities Division.

Unclaimed Property Inquiries

In April 2012, MetLife, for itself and on behalf of entities including MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, reached agreements with representatives of the U.S. jurisdictions that were conducting audits of MetLife and certain of its affiliates for compliance with unclaimed property laws, and with state insurance regulators directly involved in a multistate targeted market conduct examination relating to claim-payment practices and compliance with unclaimed property laws. The effectiveness of each agreement was conditioned upon the approval of a specified number of jurisdictions. In each case, the threshold for effectiveness has been reached. Pursuant to the agreements, MetLife will, among other things, take specified action to identify liabilities under life insurance, annuity, and retained asset contracts, to adopt specified procedures for seeking to contact and pay owners of the identified liabilities, and, to the extent that it is unable to locate such owners, to escheat these amounts with interest at a specified rate to the appropriate states. Additionally, MetLife has agreed to accelerate the final date of certain industrial life policies and to escheat unclaimed benefits of such policies. It is possible that other jurisdictions may pursue similar exams or audits and that such exams or audits may result in additional payments to beneficiaries, additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws, administrative penalties, interest, and/or further changes to the Company’s procedures. The Company is not currently able to estimate these additional possible costs.

Summary

Various litigation, claims and assessments against the Company, in addition to those discussed previously and those otherwise provided for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, have arisen in the course of the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, in connection with its activities as an insurer, employer, investor, investment advisor and taxpayer. Further, state insurance regulatory authorities and other federal and state authorities regularly make inquiries and conduct investigations concerning the Company’s compliance with applicable insurance and other laws and regulations.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of all pending investigations and legal proceedings. In some of the matters referred to previously, large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought. Although, in light of these considerations it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain cases could have a material effect upon the Company’s financial position, based on information currently known by the Company’s management, in its opinion, the outcomes of such pending investigations and legal proceedings are not likely to have such an effect. However, given the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated net income or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.

Commitments

 Commitments to Fund Partnership Investments

The Company makes commitments to fund partnership investments in the normal course of business. The amounts of these unfunded commitments were $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company anticipates that these amounts will be invested in partnerships over the next five years.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

 Mortgage Loan Commitments

The Company commits to lend funds under mortgage loan commitments. The amounts of these mortgage loan commitments were $191 million and $167 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 Commitments to Fund Bank Credit Facilities and Private Corporate Bond Investments

The Company commits to lend funds under bank credit facilities and private corporate bond investments. The amounts of these unfunded commitments were $195 million and $248 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 Other Commitments

The Company has entered into collateral arrangements with affiliates, which require the transfer of collateral in connection with secured demand notes. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had agreed to fund up to $86 million and $90 million, respectively, of cash upon the request by these affiliates and had transferred collateral consisting of various securities with a fair market value of $107 million and $109 million, respectively, to custody accounts to secure the notes. Each of these affiliates is permitted by contract to sell or repledge this collateral.

Guarantees

The Company has provided a guarantee on behalf of MetLife International Insurance Company, Ltd. (“MLII”), a former affiliate, that is triggered if MLII cannot pay claims because of insolvency, liquidation or rehabilitation. Life insurance coverage in-force, representing the maximum potential obligation under this guarantee, was $241 million and $272 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company does not hold any collateral related to this guarantee, but has a recorded liability of $1 million that was based on the total account value of the guaranteed policies plus the amounts retained per policy at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The remainder of the risk was ceded to external reinsurers.

10. Equity

Dividend Restrictions

During June 2012, the Company distributed all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of MetLife Europe to MetLife as an in-kind extraordinary dividend of $202 million, as calculated on a statutory basis. Regulatory approval for this extraordinary dividend was obtained due to the timing of payment. Remaining dividends permitted to be paid in 2012 without regulatory approval total $302 million. See Note 2.

See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report for additional information on dividend restrictions.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

11. Other Expenses

Information on other expenses was as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
         2012              2011              2012              2011      
     (In millions)  

Compensation

   $ 83       $ 76       $ 176       $ 151   

Commissions

     246         368         526         674   

Volume-related costs

     39         44         98         82   

Affiliated interest costs on ceded reinsurance

     98         51         147         105   

Capitalization of DAC

     (217)         (349)         (494)         (631)   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

     416         302         454         402   

Interest expense on debt and debt issuance costs

     59         110         119         220   

Premium taxes, licenses and fees

     16         13         40         28   

Professional services

            20         12         29   

Rent

                   17         15   

Other

     133         96         249         179   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other expenses

   $ 887       $ 739       $ 1,344       $ 1,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capitalization of DAC and Amortization of DAC and VOBA

See Note 6 for DAC and VOBA by segment and a rollforward of each including impacts of capitalization and amortization. See Note 1 for information on the retrospective application of the adoption of new accounting guidance related to DAC.

Affiliated Expenses

Commissions, capitalization of DAC and amortization of DAC include the impact of affiliated reinsurance transactions. See Note 13 for a discussion of affiliated expenses included in the table above.

12.  Segment Information

As announced in November 2011, MetLife reorganized its business into three broad geographic regions. As a result, in the first quarter of 2012, the Company reorganized into two segments: Retail and Corporate Benefit Funding. In addition, the Company reports certain of its results of operations in Corporate & Other. Prior period results have been revised in connection with this reorganization.

The Retail segment offers a broad range of protection products and a variety of annuities primarily to individuals, and is organized into two businesses: Annuities and Life. Annuities include a variety of variable and fixed annuities which provide for both asset accumulation and asset distribution needs. Life insurance products include variable life, universal life, term life and whole life products. Additionally, through our broker-dealer affiliates, we offer a full range of mutual funds and other securities products.

The Corporate Benefit Funding segment includes an array of annuity and investment products, including guaranteed interest products and other stable value products, income annuities, and separate account contracts for the investment management of defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets. This segment also includes certain products to fund company-, bank- or trust-owned life insurance used to finance non-qualified benefit programs for executives.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not allocated to the segments, run-off business, the Company’s ancillary international operations and non-medical health business, interest expense related to the majority of the Company’s outstanding debt, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings and income tax audit issues. Corporate & Other also includes the elimination of intersegment amounts.

Operating earnings is the measure of segment profit or loss the Company uses to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Consistent with GAAP accounting guidance for segment reporting, operating earnings is the Company’s measure of segment performance and is reported below. Operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP net income (loss). The Company believes the presentation of operating earnings as the Company measures it for management purposes enhances the understanding of its performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business.

Operating earnings is defined as operating revenues less operating expenses, both net of income tax.

Operating revenues excludes net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses). The following additional adjustments are made to GAAP revenues, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating revenues:

 

   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees excludes the amortization of unearned revenue related to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses) and certain variable annuity GMIB fees (“GMIB Fees”); and

 

   

Net investment income: (i) includes amounts for scheduled periodic settlement payments and amortization of premium on derivatives that are hedges of investments but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, (ii) excludes certain amounts related to contractholder-directed unit-linked investments, and (iii) excludes certain amounts related to securitization entities that are VIEs consolidated under GAAP.

The following adjustments are made to GAAP expenses, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating expenses:

 

   

Policyholder benefits and claims excludes: (i) amounts associated with periodic crediting rate adjustments based on the total return of a contractually referenced pool of assets, (ii) benefits and hedging costs related to GMIBs (“GMIB Costs”), and (iii) market value adjustments associated with surrenders or terminations of contracts (“Market Value Adjustments”);

 

   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances includes adjustments for scheduled periodic settlement payments and amortization of premium on derivatives that are hedges of PABs but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and excludes amounts related to net investment income earned on contractholder-directed unit-linked investments;

 

   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA excludes amounts related to: (i) net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses), (ii) GMIB Fees and GMIB Costs, and (iii) Market Value Adjustments;

 

   

Interest expense on debt excludes certain amounts related to securitization entities that are VIEs consolidated under GAAP; and

 

   

Other expenses excludes costs related to implementation of new insurance regulatory requirements and acquisition and integration costs.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Set forth in the tables below is certain financial information with respect to the Company’s segments, as well as Corporate & Other for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. The segment accounting policies are the same as those used to prepare the Company’s consolidated financial statements, except for operating earnings adjustments as defined above. In addition, segment accounting policies include the method of capital allocation described below.

Economic capital is an internally developed risk capital model, the purpose of which is to measure the risk in the business and to provide a basis upon which capital is deployed. The economic capital model accounts for the unique and specific nature of the risks inherent in MetLife’s business.

MetLife’s economic capital model aligns segment allocated equity with emerging standards and consistent risk principles. Segment net investment income is credited or charged based on the level of allocated equity; however, changes in allocated equity do not impact the Company’s consolidated net investment income, operating earnings or net income.

 

    Operating Earnings     Adjustments     Total
Consolidated
 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

  Retail     Corporate
Benefit
Funding
    Corporate
& Other
    Total      
    (In millions)  

Revenues

           

Premiums

  $ 116      $ 236      $ 54      $ 406      $ —       $ 406   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

    528                    541        34        575   

Net investment income

    383        317        60        760        (104)        656   

Other revenues

    123              —         125        —         125   

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         71        71   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         582        582   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    1,150        562        120        1,832        583        2,415   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

    169        369        50        588        48        636   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

    235        41        —         276        (109)        167   

Capitalization of DAC

    (204)        —         (13)        (217)        —         (217)   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

    207                    209        207        416   

Interest expense on debt

    —         —         17        17        42        59   

Other expenses

    585              26        620              629   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    992        420        81        1,493        197        1,690   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

    56        50        (13)        93        134        227   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating earnings

  $ 102      $ 92      $ 52        246       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Adjustments to:

           

Total revenues

  

    583       

Total expenses

  

    (197)       

Provision for income tax (expense) benefit

  

    (134)       
       

 

 

     

Net income

  

  $ 498        $ 498   
       

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Operating Earnings              

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

  Retail     Corporate
Benefit
Funding
    Corporate
& Other
    Total       Adjustments       Total
  Consolidated  
 
    (In millions)  

Revenues

           

Premiums

  $ 164       $ 475       $      $ 641       $ —       $ 641    

Universal life and investment-type
product policy fees

    453                13         472         21         493    

Net investment income

    356         299         44         699         96         795    

Other revenues

    129                —         131         —         131    

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         (27)        (27)   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         133         133    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    1,102         782         59         1,943         223         2,166    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

    199         595                795         23         818    

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

    244         45         —         289         15         304    

Capitalization of DAC

    (331)        (1)        (17)        (349)        —         (349)   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

    185                       187         115         302    

Interest expense on debt

    —         —         16         16         94         110    

Other expenses

    621                37         665         11         676    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    918         647         38         1,603         258         1,861    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

    64         47         (4)        107         (10)        97    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating earnings

  $ 120       $ 88       $ 25         233        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Adjustments to:

           

Total revenues

  

    223        

Total expenses

  

    (258)       

Provision for income tax (expense) benefit

  

    10        
       

 

 

     

Net income

  

  $ 208         $ 208    
       

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Operating Earnings       Adjustments       Total
  Consolidated  
 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

  Retail     Corporate
Benefit
Funding
    Corporate
& Other
    Total      
    (In millions)  

Revenues

           

Premiums

  $ 297      $ 353      $ 136      $ 786      $ —       $ 786   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

    1,028        15        14        1,057        62        1,119   

Net investment income

    755        600        113        1,468        80        1,548   

Other revenues

    245              —         248        —         248   

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         75        75   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         143        143   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    2,325        971        263        3,559        360        3,919   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

    399        606        131        1,136        89        1,225   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

    475        86        —         561        45        606   

Capitalization of DAC

    (457)        (3)        (34)        (494)        —         (494)   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

    377                    388        66        454   

Interest expense on debt

    —         —         34        34        85        119   

Other expenses

    1,160        19        82        1,261              1,265   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,954        716        216        2,886        289        3,175   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

    130        89        (26)        193        34        227   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating earnings

  $ 241      $ 166      $ 73        480       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Adjustments to:

           

Total revenues

  

    360       

Total expenses

  

    (289)       

Provision for income tax (expense) benefit

  

    (34)       
       

 

 

     

Net income

  

  $ 517        $ 517   
       

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

    Operating Earnings              

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

  Retail     Corporate
Benefit
Funding
    Corporate
& Other
    Total       Adjustments       Total
  Consolidated  
 
    (In millions)  

Revenues

           

Premiums

  $ 237      $ 537      $     $ 777      $ —       $ 777   

Universal life and investment-type
product policy fees

    870        17        20        907        41        948   

Net investment income

    716        597        92        1,405        176        1,581   

Other revenues

    258              —         261        —         261   

Net investment gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         (41)        (41)   

Net derivative gains (losses)

    —         —         —         —         (23)        (23)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    2,081        1,154        115        3,350        153        3,503   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

    329        783              1,115        30        1,145   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

    484        95        —         579        12        591   

Capitalization of DAC

    (596)        (6)        (29)        (631)        —         (631)   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

    344                    349        53        402   

Interest expense on debt

    —         —         33        33        187        220   

Other expenses

    1,162        23        67        1,252        11        1,263   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,723        897        77        2,697        293        2,990   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

    124        90        (15)        199        (45)        154   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating earnings

  $ 234      $ 167      $ 53        454       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Adjustments to:

           

Total revenues

  

    153       

Total expenses

  

    (293)       

Provision for income tax (expense) benefit

  

    45       
       

 

 

     

Net income

  

  $ 359        $ 359   
       

 

 

     

 

 

 

The following table presents total assets with respect to the Company’s segments, as well as Corporate & Other, at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     (In millions)  

Retail

   $ 128,752      $ 120,633  

Corporate Benefit Funding

     32,012        30,836  

Corporate & Other

     15,930        19,595  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 176,694      $ 171,064  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income is based upon the actual results of each segment’s specifically identifiable asset portfolio adjusted for allocated equity. Other costs are allocated to each of the segments based upon: (i) a review of the nature of such costs; (ii) time studies analyzing the amount of employee compensation costs incurred by each segment; and (iii) cost estimates included in the Company’s product pricing.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

13.  Related Party Transactions

Service Agreements

The Company has entered into various agreements with affiliates for services necessary to conduct its activities. Typical services provided under these agreements include management, policy administrative functions, personnel, investment advice and distribution services. For certain agreements, charges are based on various performance measures or activity-based costing. The bases for such charges are modified and adjusted by management when necessary or appropriate to reflect fairly and equitably the actual incidence of cost incurred by the Company and/or affiliate. The aforementioned expenses and fees incurred with affiliates were comprised of the following:

 

     Three Months
Ended

June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Compensation

   $ 85       $ 64       $ 175       $ 127   

Commissions

     137         241         291         426   

Volume-related costs

     58         61         133         109   

Professional services

                   10          

Rent

                   17         12   

Other

     130         80         236         151   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other expenses

   $ 423       $ 457       $ 862       $ 834   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenues received from affiliates related to these agreements were recorded as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended

June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

   $ 44       $ 36       $ 86       $ 69   

Other revenues

   $ 40       $ 34       $ 80       $ 65   

The Company had net receivables from affiliates of $37 million and $93 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, related to the items discussed above. These amounts exclude affiliated reinsurance balances discussed below. See Note 3 for expenses related to investment advice under these agreements, recorded in net investment income.

Reinsurance Transactions

The Company has reinsurance agreements with certain MetLife subsidiaries, including MLIC, MetLife Reinsurance Company of South Carolina, Exeter, General American Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investors Insurance Company and MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont, all of which are related parties.

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Information regarding the effect of affiliated reinsurance included in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income was as follows:

 

      Three Months
Ended
June 30,
     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
      2012      2011      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Premiums:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $       3       $         6       $         6       $         4   

Reinsurance ceded

     (105)         (55)         (197)         (109)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net premiums

   $ (102)       $ (49)       $ (191)       $ (105)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $ 23       $ 23       $ 44       $ 43   

Reinsurance ceded

     (94)         (97)         (205)         (188)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees

   $ (71)       $ (74)       $ (161)       $ (145)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other revenues:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Reinsurance ceded

     67         78         134         158   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net other revenues

   $ 67       $ 78       $ 134       $ 158   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Policyholder benefits and claims:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $      $      $      $ 12   

Reinsurance ceded

     (187)         (113)         (320)         (228)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net policyholder benefits and claims

   $ (184)       $ (104)       $ (314)       $ (216)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest credited to policyholder account balances:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $ 17       $ 17       $ 35       $ 33   

Reinsurance ceded

     (26)         (19)         (52)         (37)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net interest credited to policyholder account balances

   $ (9)       $ (2)       $ (17)       $ (4)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other expenses:

           

Reinsurance assumed

   $      $ 13       $ 21       $ 28   

Reinsurance ceded

     83         37         98         82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net other expenses

   $ 91       $ 50       $ 119       $ 110   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

(A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.)

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) — (Continued)

 

Information regarding the effect of affiliated reinsurance included in the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets was as follows at:

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Assumed      Ceded      Assumed      Ceded  
       (In millions)         

Assets:

           

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables

   $         34       $         12,565       $         34       $         12,345   

Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of

business acquired

     126         (616)         134         (585)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 160       $ 11,949       $ 168       $ 11,760   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Future policy benefits

   $ 46       $ —        $ 44       $ —    

Other policy-related balances

     1,551         833         1,515         758   

Other liabilities

     12         4,202         10         3,903   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1,609       $ 5,035       $ 1,569       $ 4,661   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company ceded risks to affiliates related to guaranteed minimum benefit guarantees written directly by the Company. These ceded reinsurance agreements contain embedded derivatives and changes in their fair value are also included within net derivative gains (losses). The embedded derivatives associated with the cessions are included within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables and were assets of $2.8 billion at both June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Net derivative gains (losses) associated with the embedded derivatives were $990 million and ($13) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $195 million and ($248) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

MLI-USA cedes two blocks of business to an affiliate on a 90% coinsurance with funds withheld basis. Certain contractual features of this agreement qualify as embedded derivatives, which are separately accounted for at estimated fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The embedded derivative related to the funds withheld associated with this reinsurance agreement is included within other liabilities and increased the funds withheld balance by $565 million and $416 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Net derivative gains (losses) associated with the embedded derivatives were ($226) million and ($149) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and ($50) million and ($25) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

 

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

For purposes of this discussion, “MICC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, a Connecticut corporation incorporated in 1863, and its subsidiaries, including MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (“MLI-USA”). MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut is a wholly- owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”). Management’s narrative analysis of the results of operations is presented pursuant to General Instruction H(2)(a) of Form 10-Q. This discussion should be read in conjunction with MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as revised by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2012 (as revised, the “2011 Annual Report”), the forward-looking statement information included below, the “Risk Factors” set forth in Part II, Item 1A, and the additional risk factors referred to therein, and the Company’s interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein.

This narrative analysis may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results. Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. See “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

The following discussion includes references to our performance measure, operating earnings, that is not based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Operating earnings is the measure of segment profit or loss we use to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Consistent with GAAP accounting guidance for segment reporting, operating earnings is our measure of segment performance.

Operating earnings is defined as operating revenues less operating expenses, both net of income tax.

Operating revenues excludes net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses). The following additional adjustments are made to GAAP revenues, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating revenues:

 

   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees excludes the amortization of unearned revenue related to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses) and certain variable annuity guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”) fees (“GMIB Fees”); and

 

   

Net investment income: (i) includes amounts for scheduled periodic settlement payments and amortization of premium on derivatives that are hedges of investments but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, (ii) excludes certain amounts related to contractholder-directed unit-linked investments, and (iii) excludes certain amounts related to securitization entities that are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) consolidated under GAAP.

The following adjustments are made to GAAP expenses, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating expenses:

 

   

Policyholder benefits and claims excludes: (i) amounts associated with periodic crediting rate adjustments based on the total return of a contractually referenced pool of assets, (ii) benefits and hedging costs related

 

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to GMIBs (“GMIB Costs”), and (iii) market value adjustments associated with surrenders or terminations of contracts (“Market Value Adjustments”);

 

   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances includes adjustments for scheduled periodic settlement payments and amortization of premium on derivatives that are hedges of policyholder account balances (“PABs”) but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and excludes amounts related to net investment income earned on contractholder-directed unit-linked investments;

 

   

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”) excludes amounts related to: (i) net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses), (ii) GMIB Fees and GMIB Costs, and (iii) Market Value Adjustments;

 

   

Interest expense on debt excludes certain amounts related to securitization entities that are VIEs consolidated under GAAP; and

 

   

Other expenses excludes costs related to implementation of new insurance regulatory requirements and acquisition and integration costs.

We believe the presentation of operating earnings, as we measure it for management purposes, enhances the understanding of our performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of our business. Operating revenues, operating expenses and operating earnings should not be viewed as substitutes for the following financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP: GAAP revenues, GAAP expenses and GAAP net income, respectively. Reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in “— Results of Operations.”

In this discussion, we sometimes refer to sales activity for various products. These sales statistics do not correspond to revenues under GAAP, but are used as relevant measures of business activity.

Business

As announced in November 2011, MetLife reorganized its business into three broad geographic regions. As a result, in the first quarter of 2012, MICC reorganized into two segments: Retail and Corporate Benefit Funding. In addition, the Company reports certain of its results of operations in Corporate & Other. Management continues to evaluate the Company’s segment performance and allocated resources and may adjust such measurements in the future to better reflect segment profitability.

Our Retail segment offers a broad range of protection products and a variety of annuities primarily to individuals, and is organized into two businesses: Annuities and Life. Annuities include a variety of variable and fixed annuities which provide for both asset accumulation and asset distribution needs. Our Life insurance products include variable life, universal life, term life and whole life products. Additionally, through our broker-dealer affiliates, we offer a full range of mutual funds and other securities products.

Our Corporate Benefit Funding segment includes an array of annuity and investment products, including guaranteed interest products and other stable value products, income annuities, and separate account contracts for the investment management of defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets. This segment also includes certain products to fund company-, bank- or trust-owned life insurance used to finance non-qualified benefit programs for executives.

Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not allocated to the segments, run-off business, the Company’s ancillary international operations and non-medical health business, interest expense related to the majority of the Company’s outstanding debt, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings and income tax audit issues. Corporate & Other also includes the elimination of intersegment amounts.

 

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Also in the first quarter of 2012, the Company adopted new guidance regarding accounting for DAC. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Financial Statements for further information. As a result, prior period results have been revised in connection with MetLife’s reorganization and the retrospective application of the first quarter 2012 adoption of new guidance regarding accounting for DAC.

Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:

 

  (i)

estimated fair values of investments in the absence of quoted market values;

 

  (ii)

investment impairments;

 

  (iii)

estimated fair values of freestanding derivatives and the recognition and estimated fair value of embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation;

 

  (iv)

capitalization and amortization of DAC and the establishment and amortization of VOBA;

 

  (v)

measurement of goodwill and related impairment, if any;

 

  (vi)

liabilities for future policyholder benefits and the accounting for reinsurance;

 

  (vii)

measurement of income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets; and

 

  (viii)

liabilities for litigation and regulatory matters.

In applying the Company’s accounting policies, we make subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries; others are specific to the Company’s business and operations. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The above critical accounting estimates are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” and Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Also, for a discussion of the new accounting guidance on DAC, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Economic Capital

Economic capital is an internally developed risk capital model, the purpose of which is to measure the risk in the business and to provide a basis upon which capital is deployed. The economic capital model accounts for the unique and specific nature of the risks inherent in MetLife’s business.

MetLife’s economic capital model aligns segment allocated equity with emerging standards and consistent risk principles. Segment net investment income is credited or charged based on the level of allocated equity; however, changes in allocated equity do not impact the Company’s consolidated net investment income, operating earnings or net income.

 

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Disposition

During June 2012, the Company disposed of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MetLife Europe Limited (“MetLife Europe”) to MetLife. As a result of this disposition, the net worth maintenance agreement between MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and MetLife Europe terminated automatically in accordance with its terms. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Results of Operations

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Compared with the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

Consolidated Results

We have experienced growth and an increase in market share, specifically, in our variable and universal life and term life businesses. Pension closeout sales in the United Kingdom remain strong, however, premiums decreased $183 million, before income tax, due to a significant sale in the prior period. While premiums for this business were almost entirely offset by the related change in policyholder benefits, the favorable results contributed to the growth in our investment portfolio. Sales of annuities declined $2.5 billion, before income tax, or 28% compared to the prior period, in response to actions taken to manage sales volume in order to strike the right balance among growth, profitability and risk.

 

    Six Months
Ended
June 30,
             
    2012     2011     Change     % Change  
    (In millions)  

Revenues

       

Premiums

  $ 786       $ 777       $        1.2 

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

    1,119         948         171         18.0 

Net investment income

    1,548         1,581         (33)        (2.1)

Other revenues

    248         261         (13)        (5.0)

Net investment gains (losses)

    75         (41)        116     

Net derivative gains (losses)

    143         (23)        166     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total revenues

          3,919             3,503                416         11.9 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Expenses

       

Policyholder benefits and claims

    1,225         1,145         80         7.0 

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

    606         591         15         2.5 

Capitalization of DAC

    (494)        (631)        137         21.7 

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

    454         402         52         12.9 

Interest expense on debt

    119         220         (101)        (45.9)

Other expenses

    1,265         1,263                0.2 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total expenses

    3,175         2,990         185         6.2 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

    744         513         231         45.0 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

    227         154         73         47.4 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

  $ 517       $ 359       $ 158         44.0 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

During the six months ended June 30, 2012, income (loss) before provision for income tax, increased $231 million ($158 million, net of income tax) over the prior period primarily driven by a favorable change in net derivative gains (losses) and a favorable change in net investment gains (losses).

We manage our investment portfolio using disciplined Asset/Liability Management principles, focusing on cash flow and duration to support our current and future liabilities. Our intent is to match the timing and amount of liability cash outflows with invested assets that have cash inflows of comparable timing and amount, while optimizing risk-adjusted net investment income and risk-adjusted total return. Our investment portfolio is heavily

 

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weighted toward fixed income investments, with over 80% of our portfolio invested in fixed maturity securities and mortgage loans. These securities and loans have varying maturities and other characteristics which cause them to be generally well suited for matching the cash flow and duration of insurance liabilities. Other invested asset classes including, but not limited to, equity securities, other limited partnership interests and real estate and real estate joint ventures, provide additional diversification and opportunity for long-term yield enhancement in addition to supporting the cash flow and duration objectives of our investment portfolio. We also use derivatives as an integral part of our management of the investment portfolio to hedge certain risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currencies, credit spreads and equity market levels. Additional considerations for our investment portfolio include current and expected market conditions and expectations for changes within our specific mix of products and business segments. In addition, the general account investment portfolio included, within other securities, contractholder-directed unit-linked investments supporting variable annuity type liabilities, which did not qualify as separate account assets. The returns on these contractholder-directed unit-linked investments, which can vary significantly period to period, included changes in estimated fair value subsequent to purchase, inure to contractholders and are offset in earnings by a corresponding change in PABs through interest credited to policyholder account balances. During June 2012, the Company disposed of MetLife Europe, which held these contractholder-directed unit-linked investments.

The composition of the investment portfolio of each business segment is tailored to the specific characteristics of its insurance liabilities, causing certain portfolios to be shorter in duration and others to be longer in duration. Accordingly, certain portfolios are more heavily weighted in longer duration, higher yielding fixed maturity securities, or certain sub-sectors of fixed maturity securities, than other portfolios.

Investments are purchased to support our insurance liabilities and not to generate net investment gains and losses. However, net investment gains and losses are incurred and can change significantly from period to period due to changes in external influences, including changes in market factors such as interest rates, foreign currencies, credit spreads and equity markets; counterparty specific factors such as financial performance, credit rating and collateral valuation; and internal factors such as portfolio rebalancing. Changes in these factors from period to period can significantly impact the levels of both impairments and realized gains and losses on investments sold.

We use freestanding interest rate, equity, credit and currency derivatives to hedge certain invested assets and insurance liabilities. Certain of these hedges are designated and qualify as accounting hedges, which reduce volatility in earnings. For those hedges not designated as accounting hedges, changes in market factors lead to the recognition of fair value changes in net derivative gains (losses) generally without an offsetting gain or loss recognized in earnings for the item being hedged.

Certain direct or assumed variable annuity products with minimum benefit guarantees contain embedded derivatives that are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host variable annuity contract, with changes in estimated fair value recorded in net derivative gains (losses). The Company hedges certain of the market risks inherent in these variable annuity guarantees through a combination of reinsurance and freestanding derivatives. Ceded reinsurance of direct or assumed variable annuity products with minimum benefit guarantees generally contain embedded derivatives that are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host variable annuity contract, with changes in estimated fair value recorded in net derivative gains (losses). The valuation of these embedded derivatives includes a nonperformance risk adjustment, which is unhedged, and can be a significant driver of net derivative gains (losses) but does not have an economic impact on the Company.

 

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Direct, assumed, and ceded variable annuity embedded derivatives and the associated freestanding derivative hedges are collectively referred to as “VA program derivatives” in the following table. All other derivatives that are economic hedges of certain invested assets and insurance liabilities are referred to as “non-VA program derivatives” in the following table. The table below presents the impact on net derivative gains (losses) from non-VA program derivatives and VA program derivatives:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
        
     2012      2011      Change  
     (In millions)  

Non-VA program derivatives

        

Interest rate

   $ 55       $ (28)       $ 83   

Foreign currency

            (55)         57   

Credit

     15                11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-VA program derivatives

     72         (79)         151   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

VA program derivatives

        

Embedded derivatives-direct/assumed guarantees:

        

Market and other risks

     327         262         65   

Nonperformance risk

     (102)         (28)         (74)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     225         234         (9)   

Embedded derivatives-ceded reinsurance:

        

Market and other risks

     (82)         (185)         103   

Nonperformance risk

     39         23         16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     (43)         (162)         119   

Freestanding derivatives hedging direct/assumed embedded derivatives

     (111)         (16)         (95)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total VA program derivatives

     71         56         15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net derivative gains (losses)

   $ 143       $ (23)       $ 166   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The favorable change in net derivative gains (losses) on non-VA program derivatives was $151 million ($98 million, net of income tax). This reflects long-term interest rates decreasing more in the current period than in the prior period, which primarily impacted receive-fixed interest rate swaps, long interest rate floors and long interest rate futures, partially offset by lower interest rates in the U.K. which impacted our pay-fixed inflation swaps. These freestanding derivatives are primarily hedging interest rate risk in long duration liability portfolios and hedging inflation-indexed liabilities. In addition, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other key currencies favorably impacted foreign currency swaps and forwards, which primarily hedge certain foreign denominated bonds. Because certain of these hedging strategies are not designated or do not qualify as accounting hedges, the changes in the estimated fair value of these freestanding derivatives are recognized in net derivative gains (losses) without an offsetting gain or loss recognized in earnings for the item being hedged.

The favorable change in net derivative gains (losses) on VA program derivatives was $15 million ($10 million, net of income tax). This was due to a favorable change of $73 million ($47 million, net of income tax) related to market and other risks on direct and assumed variable annuity embedded derivatives, net of the impact of market and other risks on the ceded reinsurance embedded derivatives and net of freestanding derivatives hedging these risks; partially offset by a net unfavorable change of $58 million ($38 million, net of income tax) related to the changes in the nonperformance risk adjustment on the direct, assumed, and ceded variable annuity embedded derivatives.

Generally, a higher portion of the ceded reinsurance for GMIBs is accounted for as an embedded derivative as compared to the direct guarantees since the settlement provisions of the reinsurance contracts generally meet the

 

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accounting criteria of “net settlement.” This mismatch in accounting can lead to significant volatility in earnings, even though the risks inherent in these direct guarantees are fully covered by the ceded reinsurance.

The foregoing favorable change of $73 million ($47 million, net of income tax) was driven by changes in market factors. As discussed in the preceding paragraph, changes in market and other risks lead to volatility in earnings due to the mismatch in accounting on GMIBs. The primary changes in market factors are summarized as follows:

 

   

Equity index levels improved more in the current period than in the prior period and equity volatility decreased more in the current period than in the prior period. These changes contributed to an unfavorable change in our ceded reinsurance asset and our freestanding equity derivatives and favorable changes in our embedded derivatives; and

 

   

Long-term interest rates decreased more in the current period than in the prior period and contributed to a favorable change in our ceded reinsurance asset and our freestanding interest rate derivatives and unfavorable changes in our embedded derivatives.

The favorable change in net investment gains of $116 million ($75 million, net of income tax) was primarily due to higher net gains on sales of fixed maturity securities.

Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $227 million, or 31% of income (loss) before provision for income tax, compared with income tax expense of $154 million, or 30% of income (loss) before provision for income tax, for the prior period. The Company’s 2012 and 2011 effective tax rates differ from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the impact of certain permanent tax differences, including non-taxable investment income and tax credits for investments in low income housing, in relation to income (loss) before provision for income tax.

As more fully described in the discussion of performance measures above, we use operating earnings, which does not equate to net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to analyze our performance, evaluate segment performance, and allocate resources. We believe that the presentation of operating earnings, as we measure it for management purposes, enhances the understanding of our performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business. Operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP net income. Operating earnings increased $26 million, net of income tax, to $480 million, net of income tax, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 from $454 million, net of income tax, in the prior period.

Reconciliation of net income to operating earnings

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Net income

   $ 517       $ 359   

Less: Net investment gains (losses)

     75         (41)   

Less: Net derivative gains (losses)

     143         (23)   

Less: Other adjustments to net income (1)

     (147)         (76)   

Less: Provision for income tax (expense) benefit

     (34)         45   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ 480       $ 454   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See definitions of operating revenues and operating expenses for the components of such adjustments.

 

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Reconciliation of GAAP revenues to operating revenues and GAAP expenses to operating expenses

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
     2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Total revenues

   $ 3,919        $ 3,503    

Less: Net investment gains (losses)

     75          (41)   

Less: Net derivative gains (losses)

     143          (23)   

Less: Adjustments related to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)

             (2)   

Less: Other adjustments to revenues (1)

     141          219    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

   $ 3,559        $ 3,350    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

   $ 3,175        $ 2,990    

Less: Adjustments related to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)

     68          51    

Less: Other adjustments to expenses (1)

     221          242    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

   $     2,886        $     2,697    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See definitions of operating revenues and operating expenses for the components of such adjustments.

Consolidated Results – Operating

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30,
               
     2012      2011      Change      % Change  
            (In millions)                

OPERATING REVENUES

           

Premiums

   $ 786       $ 777       $        1.2 %   

Universal life and investment-type product policy fees

     1,057         907         150         16.5 %   

Net investment income

     1,468         1,405         63         4.5 %   

Other revenues

     248         261         (13)         (5.0)%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total operating revenues

     3,559         3,350         209         6.2 %   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

OPERATING EXPENSES

           

Policyholder benefits and claims

     1,136         1,115         21         1.9 %   

Interest credited to policyholder account balances

     561         579         (18)         (3.1)%   

Capitalization of DAC

     (494)         (631)         137         21.7 %   

Amortization of DAC and VOBA

     388         349         39         11.2 %   

Interest expense on debt

     34         33                3.0 %   

Other expenses

     1,261         1,252                0.7 %   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total operating expenses

         2,886             2,697                189         7.0 %   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Provision for income tax expense (benefit)

     193         199         (6)         (3.0)%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Operating earnings

   $ 480       $ 454       $ 26         5.7 %   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Unless otherwise stated, all amounts discussed below are net of income tax.

 

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The $26 million increase in operating earnings was driven by growth in most of our businesses, which increased our policy fees, favorable impacts from changes in market factors and a higher income tax benefit, partially offset by increased expenses.

Positive net cash flows, generated from the majority of our businesses, were the primary driver of increases in both invested assets and separate account assets. This growth in separate account assets, in turn, generated an increase in operating earnings of $90 million, primarily from higher policy fees and other revenues from our annuity business. In our variable annuity products, policy fees are calculated as a percentage of the average assets in separate accounts. In addition to positive net cash flows, invested assets increased from higher collateral posted by our derivative counterparties, which, combined, generated higher net investment earnings of $12 million. Consistent with our increase in invested assets, the growth in insurance liabilities resulted in higher interest credited on long-duration contracts and on our PABs, which resulted in a decrease in operating earnings of $8 million. Reduced annuity sales in the current period resulted in lower DAC capitalization, which was offset by a decline in deferrable expenses. However, strong annuity sales in the prior period significantly increased our in-force business which contributed to an increase in non-deferrable expenses of $66 million.

Market factors, including improved real estate markets on our real estate joint venture investments, net of lower returns on our private equity investments, favorably impacted investment yields and contributed a $29 million increase in operating earnings. As a result of the decline in interest rates, average crediting rates on annuity fixed rate funds declined, contributing an increase of $5 million to operating earnings. The favorable equity market performance increased our average separate account balances, triggering an increase in policy fees and other revenues, most notably in our annuity business, resulting in a $5 million increase in operating earnings.

The aforementioned business growth, combined with favorable market impacts, resulted in a $25 million increase in DAC, VOBA and deferred sales inducements amortization and a $27 million increase in affiliated reinsurance–related expenses. In addition, we experienced favorable mortality in our life, pension and structured settlement businesses, which improved operating earnings by $3 million, while certain insurance-related liabilities and reserve refinements decreased operating earnings by $7 million.

The Company also benefited from a higher income tax benefit in the first half of 2012 of $13 million over the prior period, as a result of a higher utilization of tax-preferenced investments which provided tax credits and deductions.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There were no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(f) during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II — Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The following should be read in conjunction with (i) Part I, Item 3, of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as revised by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 31, 2012 (as revised, the “2011 Annual Report”); (ii) Part II, Item 1, of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and (iii) Note 9 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I of this report.

Unclaimed Property Inquiries

In April 2012, MetLife, for itself and on behalf of entities including MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, reached agreements with representatives of the U.S. jurisdictions that were conducting audits of MetLife and certain of its affiliates for compliance with unclaimed property laws, and with state insurance regulators directly involved in a multistate targeted market conduct examination relating to claim-payment practices and compliance with unclaimed property laws. The effectiveness of each agreement was conditioned upon the approval of a specified number of jurisdictions. In each case, the threshold for effectiveness has been reached. Pursuant to the agreements, MetLife will, among other things, take specified action to identify liabilities under life insurance, annuity, and retained asset contracts, to adopt specified procedures for seeking to contact and pay owners of the identified liabilities and, to the extent that it is unable to locate such owners, to escheat these amounts with interest at a specified rate to the appropriate states. Additionally, MetLife has agreed to accelerate the final date of certain industrial life policies and to escheat unclaimed benefits of such policies. It is possible that other jurisdictions may pursue similar exams or audits and that such exams or audits may result in additional payments to beneficiaries, additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws, administrative penalties, interest, and/or further changes to the Company’s procedures.

Summary

Various litigation, claims and assessments against the Company, in addition to those discussed previously and those otherwise provided for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, have arisen in the course of the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, in connection with its activities as an insurer, employer, investor, investment advisor and taxpayer. Further, state insurance regulatory authorities and other federal and state authorities regularly make inquiries and conduct investigations concerning the Company’s compliance with applicable insurance and other laws and regulations.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of all pending investigations and legal proceedings. In some of the matters referred to previously, large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought. Although, in light of these considerations it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain cases could have a material effect upon the Company’s financial position, based on information currently known by the Company’s management, in its opinion, the outcomes of such pending investigations and legal proceedings are not likely to have such an effect. However, given the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated net income or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.

 

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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The following, together with the information under “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A, of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference, should be read in conjunction with, and supplements and amends, the factors that may affect the Company’s business or operations described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, of the 2011 Annual Report.

Concerns Over U.S. Fiscal Policy and the “Fiscal Cliff” in the U.S., as well as Rating Agency Downgrades of U.S. Treasury Securities, Could Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business, Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Financial markets have recently been affected by concerns over U.S. fiscal policy, including the uncertainty regarding the “fiscal cliff” composed of tax increases and automatic spending cuts that will become effective at the end of 2012 unless steps are taken to delay or offset them, as well as the need to again raise the U.S. federal government’s debt ceiling by the end of 2012 and reduce the federal deficit. These issues could, on their own, or combined with the slowing of the global economy generally, send the U.S. into a new recession, have severe repercussions to the U.S. and global credit and financial markets, further exacerbate concerns over sovereign debt of other countries and disrupt economic activity in the U.S. and elsewhere. All of these factors could affect our ability to meet liquidity needs and obtain capital. In addition, a recession in the U.S. could adversely impact the demand for our products, negatively impact earnings, adversely affect the performance of our investments or result in impairments and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. See “Risk Factors – Difficult Conditions in the Global Capital Markets and the Economy Generally May Materially Adversely Affect Our Business and Results of Operations and These Conditions May Not Improve in the Near Future” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services downgraded the AAA rating on U.S. Treasury securities to AA+ with a negative outlook, while Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) affirmed the Aaa rating on U.S. Treasury securities, but with a negative outlook. In October 2011, Moody’s affirmed its August 2011 ratings, but revised its negative outlook to stable. In November 2011, Fitch Ratings affirmed its AAA rating on U.S. Treasury securities but changed its U.S. credit rating outlook to negative from stable, citing the failure of a special Congressional committee to agree on certain deficit reduction measures. Further rating agency downgrades of U.S. Treasury securities are possible.

As a result of downgrades of U.S. Treasury securities, the market value of some of our investments may decrease, and our capital adequacy could be adversely affected, which could require us to raise additional capital during a period of distress in financial markets, potentially at a higher cost. Further downgrades, together with uncertainty regarding the fiscal cliff, would significantly exacerbate the risks we face and any resulting adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including those described under “Risk Factors — Difficult Conditions in the Global Capital Markets and the Economy Generally May Materially Adversely Affect Our Business and Results of Operations and These Conditions May Not Improve in the Near Future,” “Risk Factors — Adverse Capital and Credit Market Conditions May Significantly Affect Our Ability to Meet Liquidity Needs, Access to Capital and Cost of Capital,” “Risk Factors — Our Participation in a Securities Lending Program Subjects Us to Potential Liquidity and Other Risks” and “Risk Factors — The Determination of the Amount of Allowances and Impairments Taken on Our Investments is Subjective and Could Materially Impact Our Results of Operations or Financial Position” included in the 2011 Annual Report. We cannot predict whether or when these adverse consequences may occur, what other unforeseen consequences may result, or the extent, severity and duration of the impact of such consequences on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Our Insurance and Brokerage Businesses Are Highly Regulated, and Changes in Regulation and in Supervisory and Enforcement Policies May Reduce Our Profitability and Limit Our Growth

Insurance Regulation. Our insurance operations are subject to a wide variety of insurance and other laws and regulations. See “Business — Regulation — Insurance Regulation” included in the 2011 Annual Report. State insurance laws regulate most aspects of our U.S. insurance businesses, and our U.S insurance companies are regulated by the insurance regulators of the states in which they are domiciled and the states in which they are licensed.

State laws in the U.S. grant insurance regulatory and other state authorities broad administrative powers with respect to, among other things:

 

   

licensing companies and agents to transact business;

 

   

calculating the value of assets to determine compliance with statutory requirements;

 

   

mandating certain insurance benefits;

 

   

regulating certain premium rates;

 

   

reviewing and approving policy forms;

 

   

regulating unfair trade and claims practices, including through the imposition of restrictions on marketing and sales practices, distribution arrangements and payment of inducements, and identifying and paying to the states benefits and other property that is not claimed by the owners;

 

   

regulating advertising;

 

   

protecting privacy;

 

   

establishing statutory capital and reserve requirements and solvency standards;

 

   

fixing maximum interest rates on insurance policy loans and minimum rates for guaranteed crediting rates on life insurance policies and annuity contracts;

 

   

approving changes in control of insurance companies;

 

   

restricting the payment of dividends and other transactions between affiliates; and

 

   

regulating the types, amounts and valuation of investments.

State insurance guaranty associations have the right to assess insurance companies doing business in their state for funds to help pay the obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Because the amount and timing of an assessment is beyond our control, the liabilities that we have currently established for these potential liabilities may not be adequate. See “Business — Regulation — Insurance Regulation — Guaranty Associations and Similar Arrangements” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

State insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, that are made for the benefit of the consumer sometimes lead to additional expense for the insurer and, thus, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In July 2012, our New York domestic insurer affiliates received, as part of an industry-wide inquiry, a request from the New York Department of Financial Services to provide information regarding their

 

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use of affiliated captives or off-shore entities to reinsure insurance risks. Like many life insurance companies, we, and certain of our subsidiaries and affiliates utilize captive reinsurers in order to comply with certain reserve requirements related to universal life and term life insurance policies. The financing arrangements with the captives support non-economic reserves, representing reserves required by regulation but above estimates of needed reserves. It is possible that other state insurance departments could make similar inquiries. If Connecticut, Delaware or other state insurance regulators determine to restrict the use of such captives for purposes of funding reserve requirements related to universal life and term life insurance policies, it could impair our ability to write such products or require us to increases prices on such products unless alternate reserve funding solutions are found.

U.S. Federal Regulation Affecting Insurance. Currently, the U.S. federal government does not directly regulate the business of insurance. However, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) allows federal regulators to compel state insurance regulators to liquidate an insolvent insurer under some circumstances if the state regulators have not acted within a specific period. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve Board”) has also proposed that it be given authority to compel insurance companies to take prompt corrective action in certain circumstances if they are part of a large bank holding company or of a company that has been designated by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (“FSOC”) as a non-bank systemically important financial institution (“non-bank SIFI”). It also establishes the Federal Insurance Office within the Department of the Treasury, which has the authority to participate in the negotiations of international insurance agreements with foreign regulators for the U.S., as well as to collect information about the insurance industry and recommend prudential standards. While not having a general supervisory or regulatory authority over the business of insurance, the director of this office will perform various functions with respect to insurance, including serving as a non-voting member of the FSOC and making recommendations to the FSOC regarding insurers to be designated for more stringent regulation. The director is also required to submit a report to Congress regarding how to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States, including by increasing national uniformity through either a federal charter or effective action by the states.

Federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. These areas include financial services regulation, securities regulation, derivatives regulation, mortgage regulation, pension regulation, health care regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation. In addition, various forms of direct and indirect federal regulation of insurance have been proposed from time to time, including proposals for the establishment of an optional federal charter for insurance companies. Other aspects of our insurance operations could also be affected by Dodd-Frank. For example, effective July 21, 2012, Dodd-Frank imposes prohibitions on Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)-insured depository institutions (such as MetLife Bank, National Association (“MetLife Bank”)) and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading or sponsoring or investing in hedge funds or private equity funds (commonly known as the Volcker Rule). In December 2011, MetLife Bank and MetLife entered into a definitive agreement to sell most of the depository business of MetLife Bank. Once MetLife Bank has completely exited its depository business, MetLife plans to terminate MetLife Bank’s FDIC insurance, putting MetLife in a position to be able to deregister as a bank holding company. If and when MetLife Bank’s FDIC insurance is terminated, MetLife and its affiliates will not be subject to the bans on proprietary trading and fund activities under the Volcker Rule. However, because the Volcker Rule nevertheless imposes additional capital requirements and quantitative limits on such trading and activities by a non-bank SIFI, MetLife and its affiliates could be subject to such requirements and limits were they to be designated non-bank SIFIs. Regulations defining and governing such requirements and limits on non-bank SIFIs have not been proposed. Commencing from the date of designation, a non-bank SIFI will have a two-year period, subject to further extension by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Reserve Board (collectively, the “Federal Reserve”), to conform to any such requirements and limits. Subject to safety and soundness determinations as part of rulemaking that could require additional capital requirements and quantitative limits, Dodd-Frank provides that the exemptions under the Volcker Rule also are available to exempt any additional capital requirements and quantitative limits on non-bank SIFIS. See “Business — Regulation — Dodd-Frank and Other Legislative and Regulatory Developments — Volcker Rule” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

 

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Regulation of Brokers and Dealers. Dodd-Frank also authorizes the SEC to establish a standard of conduct applicable to brokers and dealers when providing personalized investment advice to retail and other customers. This standard of conduct would be to act in the best interest of the customer without regard to the financial or other interest of the broker or dealer providing the advice. See “Business — Regulation — Securities, Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Regulation” and “Risk Factors — Changes in U.S. Federal and State Securities Laws and Regulations, and State Insurance Regulations Regarding Suitability of Annuity Product Sales, May Affect Our Operations and Our Profitability” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

International Regulation. Our international insurance operations are principally regulated by insurance regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in which they are located or operate. The authority of our international operations to conduct business is subject to licensing requirements, permits and approvals, and these authorizations are subject to modification and revocation. See “Risk Factors — Our International Operations Face Political, Legal, Operational and Other Risks, Including Exposure to Local and Regional Economic Conditions, That Could Negatively Affect Those Operations or Our Profitability” and “Business — Regulation” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Summary. From time to time, regulators raise issues during examinations or audits of us and our regulated subsidiaries that could, if determined adversely, have a material impact on us. We cannot predict whether or when regulatory actions may be taken that could adversely affect our operations. In addition, the interpretations of regulations by regulators may change and statutes may be enacted with retroactive impact, particularly in areas such as accounting or statutory reserve requirements. We are also subject to other regulations and may in the future become subject to additional regulations. See “Business — Regulation” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase our direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus having a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As a Bank Holding Company and Financial Holding Company, MetLife is Subject to Regulation by the Federal Reserve, Including Risk-Based and Leverage Capital Guidelines, Which May Adversely Affect Our Competitive Position

Currently, as the owner of MetLife Bank, MetLife is regulated as a bank holding company and financial holding company by the Federal Reserve. In December 2011, MetLife Bank and MetLife entered into a definitive agreement to sell most of the depository business of MetLife Bank to GE Capital Bank. The transaction is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Utah Department of Financial Institutions has approved the transaction and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) has granted approval of a change in the composition of all or substantially all of MetLife Bank’s assets in connection with the transaction. GE Capital Bank has filed an application with the FDIC seeking approval of the assumption of the deposits to be transferred to it, and MetLife Bank has filed an application with the FDIC to terminate MetLife Bank’s FDIC deposit insurance contingent upon certification that MetLife Bank has no remaining deposits (which is dependent on the assumption by GE Capital Bank of the deposits to be transferred to it). The parties have each responded to questions on their applications from the staff of the FDIC, and GE Capital Bank is in the process of responding to recent additional requests from the FDIC. The parties are awaiting action by the FDIC on their applications. Once MetLife Bank has completely exited its depository business, MetLife plans to terminate MetLife Bank’s FDIC insurance, putting MetLife in a position to be able to deregister as a bank holding company. Upon completion of the foregoing, MetLife will no longer be regulated as a bank holding company or subject to enhanced supervision and prudential standards as a bank holding company with assets of $50 billion or more.

However, if, in the future, the FSOC designates MetLife as a non-bank SIFI (as discussed below), it would once again be subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve and enhanced supervision and prudential standards, such as Regulation YY and the requirements relating to resolution planning and (when adopted) credit exposure reporting. For information regarding Regulation YY, see “Risk Factors — Various Aspects of Dodd-Frank Could Impact Our Business Operations, Capital Requirements and Profitability and Limit Our Growth” included in the

 

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2011 Annual Report. Regulation of MetLife as a bank holding company or possibly as a non-bank SIFI could affect our business. For example, enhanced capital requirements applicable to MetLife may adversely affect our ability to compete with other insurers that are not subject to those requirements, and counterparty exposure limits may affect our ability to engage in hedging activities. In addition, it could give the Federal Reserve Board the right to require that any of our insurance companies, or insurance company affiliates, take prompt action to correct any financial weaknesses.

In April 2012, the FSOC adopted final rules setting forth the process it will follow and the criteria it will use to assess whether a non-bank financial company should be subject to enhanced supervision by the Federal Reserve as a non-bank SIFI. The FSOC will follow a three-stage process. In Stage 1, a set of uniform quantitative metrics will be applied to a broad group of non-bank financial companies in order to identify non-bank financial companies for further evaluation. If MetLife meets the total consolidated assets threshold and at least one of the other five quantitative thresholds used in the first stage, the FSOC will continue with two stages of further analysis using additional sources of data and qualitative and quantitative factors. MetLife is currently a bank holding company and, as a result, it is not subject to designation as a non-bank SIFI. However, if MetLife succeeds in deregistering as a bank holding company, it could be considered for designation as a non-bank SIFI. See “Business — Regulation — Regulation of MetLife as a Bank Holding Company” included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Capital. MetLife is subject to risk-based and leverage capital guidelines issued by the federal banking regulatory agencies for banks and bank and financial holding companies which may adversely affect our ability to compete with other insurers that are not subject to those requirements. The federal banking regulatory agencies are required by law to take specific prompt corrective actions with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital standards. As a bank holding company with more than $50 billion in assets, MetLife is subject to capital planning requirements administered by the Federal Reserve, including the Federal Reserve’s capital plan rule which requires MetLife to submit annual capital plans which include projections of MetLife’s capital levels under baseline and stress scenarios over a nine-quarter period. The Federal Reserve will approve or object to a company’s proposed capital actions, such as dividends and stock repurchases, based on the results of those capital plans and the Federal Reserve’s assessment of the robustness of the company’s capital planning processes. In addition, in recent years, the Federal Reserve has conducted its own assessment of bank holding companies’ internal capital planning processes, capital adequacy and proposed capital distributions. MetLife participated in the assessment conducted by the Federal Reserve in 2012, the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review. Based on its assessment, the Federal Reserve objected to the incremental capital actions described in MetLife’s capital distribution plan, which included a proposed stock repurchase and dividend increase. In June 2012, the Federal Reserve Board granted MetLife an extension of time until September 30, 2012 to resubmit its capital plan under the capital plans rule. If MetLife remains a bank holding company, or if it is designated a non-bank SIFI and is required to submit capital plans to the Federal Reserve in the future, there can be no assurance that the Federal Reserve will approve its future capital plans. Capital planning requirements could have the effect, in practice, of increasing the amounts of capital held by companies subject to the requirements, including MetLife, which could affect their competitive position.

If it remains a bank holding company, MetLife may become required to comply with further requirements relating to the calculation of capital, commonly referred to as “Basel II,” as well as increased capital and liquidity requirements (commonly referred to as “Basel III”) for bank holding companies. In June 2012, the OCC, the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC published three notices of proposed rulemaking (the “Bank Capital NPRs”) that would revise and replace the agencies’ current capital rules with rules consistent with (i) the final rules for increased capital and liquidity requirements for bank holding companies, such as MetLife, of Basel III, as well as the applicable sections of Dodd-Frank, (ii) a series of revisions adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to the market risk capital requirements for exposures in a banking organization’s trading book (Basel II.5), and (iii) the market risk capital requirements of Basel II. It is possible that even more stringent capital and liquidity requirements could be imposed if, in the future, MetLife is designated by the FSOC as a non-bank SIFI. Certain of our international operations could also be affected by Solvency II, a new capital adequacy regime for the European insurance industry.

 

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Changes in Market Interest Rates May Significantly Affect Our Profitability

Some of our products, principally traditional whole life insurance, fixed annuities and guaranteed interest contracts, expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates will reduce our investment margin or “spread,” or the difference between the amounts that we are required to pay under the contracts in our general account and the rate of return we are able to earn on general account investments intended to support obligations under the contracts. Our spread is a key component of our net income.

As interest rates decrease or remain at low levels, we may be forced to reinvest proceeds from investments that have matured or have been prepaid or sold at lower yields, reducing our investment margin. Moreover, borrowers may prepay or redeem the fixed income securities, commercial or agricultural mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in our investment portfolio with greater frequency in order to borrow at lower market rates, which exacerbates this risk. Lowering interest crediting rates can help offset decreases in investment margins on some products. However, our ability to lower these rates could be limited by competition or contractually guaranteed minimum rates and may not match the timing or magnitude of changes in asset yields. As a result, our spread could decrease or potentially become negative. Our expectation for future spreads is an important component in the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”), and significantly lower spreads may cause us to accelerate amortization, thereby reducing net income in the affected reporting period. In addition, during periods of declining interest rates, life insurance and annuity products may be relatively more attractive investments to consumers, resulting in increased premium payments on products with flexible premium features, repayment of policy loans and increased persistency, or a higher percentage of insurance policies remaining in force from year to year, during a period when our new investments carry lower returns. A decline in market interest rates could also reduce our return on investments that do not support particular policy obligations. During periods of sustained lower interest rates, policy liabilities may not be sufficient to meet future policy obligations and may need to be strengthened. Accordingly, declining and sustained lower interest rates may materially affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows and significantly reduce our profitability. In June 2012, the Federal Reserve Board reiterated its plans to keep interest rates low until at least through late 2014, in order to revive the slow recovery from stressed economic conditions. It also extended to the end of 2012 “Operation Twist.” Central banks around the world, including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Australia, the Central Bank of Brazil and the Central Bank of China, followed the recent actions of the Federal Reserve Board to lower interest rates. The collective effort globally to lower interest rates was in response to concerns about Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and slowing global economic growth.

Increases in market interest rates could also negatively affect our profitability. In periods of rapidly increasing interest rates, we may not be able to replace, in a timely manner, the investments in our general account with higher yielding investments needed to fund the higher crediting rates necessary to keep interest sensitive products competitive. We, therefore, may have to accept a lower spread and, thus, lower profitability or face a decline in sales and greater loss of existing contracts and related assets. In addition, policy loans, surrenders and withdrawals may tend to increase as policyholders seek investments with higher perceived returns as interest rates rise. This process may result in cash outflows requiring that we sell investments at a time when the prices of those investments are adversely affected by the increase in market interest rates, which may result in realized investment losses. Unanticipated withdrawals and terminations may cause us to accelerate the amortization of DAC and VOBA, which reduces net income. An increase in market interest rates could also have a material adverse effect on the value of our investment portfolio, for example, by decreasing the estimated fair values of the fixed income securities that comprise a substantial portion of our investment portfolio. Finally, an increase in interest rates could result in decreased fee income associated with a decline in the value of variable annuity account balances invested in fixed income funds.

 

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Litigation and Regulatory Investigations Are Increasingly Common in Our Businesses and May Result in Significant Financial Losses and/or Harm to Our Reputation

We face a significant risk of litigation and regulatory investigations and actions in the ordinary course of operating our businesses, including the risk of class action lawsuits. Our pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to us and others generally applicable to business practices in the industries in which we operate. In connection with our insurance operations, plaintiffs’ lawyers may bring or are bringing class actions and individual suits alleging, among other things, issues relating to sales or underwriting practices, claims payments and procedures, product design, disclosure, administration, denial or delay of benefits and breaches of fiduciary or other duties to customers. Plaintiffs in class action and other lawsuits against us may seek very large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages. Modern pleading practice in the U.S. and other countries permits considerable variation in the assertion of money damages or other relief. This variability in pleadings, together with our actual experience in litigating or resolving through settlement numerous claims over an extended period of time, demonstrates to management that the monetary relief which may be specified in a lawsuit or claim bears little relevance to its merits or disposition value. See Note 9 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Due to the vagaries of litigation, the outcome of a litigation matter and the amount or range of potential loss at particular points in time may normally be difficult to ascertain. Uncertainties can include how fact finders will evaluate documentary evidence and the credibility and effectiveness of witness testimony, and how trial and appellate courts will apply the law in the context of the pleadings or evidence presented, whether by motion practice, or at trial or on appeal. Disposition valuations are also subject to the uncertainty of how opposing parties and their counsel will themselves view the relevant evidence and applicable law.

We establish liabilities for litigation and regulatory loss contingencies when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Liabilities have been established for a number of matters noted in Note 9 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. It is possible that some of the matters could require us to pay damages or make other expenditures or establish accruals in amounts that could not be estimated at June 30, 2012.

Over the past several years, we have faced numerous claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper marketing or sales of individual life insurance policies, annuities, mutual funds or other products.

We are also subject to various regulatory inquiries, such as information requests, subpoenas and books and record examinations, from state and federal regulators and other authorities. A substantial legal liability or a significant regulatory action against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, even if we ultimately prevail in the litigation, regulatory action or investigation, we could suffer significant reputational harm, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including our ability to attract new customers, retain our current customers and recruit and retain employees.

In April 2012, MetLife, for itself and on behalf of entities including MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, reached agreements with representatives of the U.S. jurisdictions that were conducting audits of MetLife and certain of its affiliates for compliance with unclaimed property laws, and with state insurance regulators directly involved in a multistate targeted market conduct examination relating to claim-payment practices and compliance with unclaimed property laws. The effectiveness of each agreement was conditioned upon the approval of a specified number of jurisdictions. In each case, the threshold for effectiveness has been reached. Pursuant to the agreements, MetLife will, among other things, take specified action to identify liabilities under life insurance, annuity, and retained asset contracts, to adopt specified procedures for seeking to contact and pay owners of the identified liabilities, and, to the extent that it is unable to locate such owners, to escheat these amounts with interest at a specified rate to the appropriate states. Additionally, MetLife has agreed to accelerate the final date of certain industrial life policies and to escheat unclaimed benefits of such policies. It is

 

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possible that other jurisdictions may pursue similar exams or audits and that such exams or audits may result in additional payments to beneficiaries, additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws, administrative penalties, interest, and/or further changes to the Company’s procedures.

We cannot give assurance that current claims, litigation, unasserted claims probable of assertion, investigations and other proceedings against us will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. It is also possible that related or unrelated claims, litigation, unasserted claims probable of assertion, investigations and proceedings may be commenced in the future, and we could become subject to further investigations and have lawsuits filed or enforcement actions initiated against us. Increased regulatory scrutiny and any resulting investigations or proceedings could result in new legal actions and precedents and industry-wide regulations that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

(Note Regarding Reliance on Statements in Our Contracts: In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, please remember that they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries, or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement; (iii) may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to investors; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time. Additional information about MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries may be found elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s other public filings, which are available without charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.)

 

Exhibit
No.
 

Description

  31.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  31.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS  

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT
By:   /s/  Peter M. Carlson
Name:   Peter M. Carlson
Title:   Executive Vice President, Finance
    Operations and Chief Accounting Officer
    (Authorized Signatory and Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: August 10, 2012

 

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Exhibit Index

(Note Regarding Reliance on Statements in Our Contracts: In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, please remember that they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries, or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement; (iii) may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to investors; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time. Additional information about MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and its subsidiaries may be found elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s other public filings, which are available without charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.)

 

Exhibit
No.
 

Description

  31.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  31.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS  

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

E-1